Latin Jazz This Week will bring you a weekly look into news from the Latin Jazz world. You’ll find new releases, recommended performances, web finds, and more. Information about New Releases will be kept in the Current & Upcoming Releases tab at the top of the page. Performance dates will be kept in the Live Latin Jazz tab at the top of the page.

NEWS
I have to apologize about the lack of posts lately; the past week has been a bit crazy for me. I just took a group of high school students to Seattle to perform in a jazz festival and competition, which is a pretty major undertaking. The massive amount of last minute details and then the trip itself ate all of my time last week, so I really couldn’t write much. It was a great experience though and our Latin Jazz group won first place in their division! After getting home late last night, things are back to normal and LJC will be running as usual - thanks for your patience!

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While in Seattle this past weekend, I had the opportunity to check out a clinic on Puerto Rican Bomba by local percussionist Arturo Rodriguez. He guided a large group through the basics of the music, getting an all ages group playing and dancing bomba. I picked up his Latin Jazz CD entitled A Little Rice and Beans, and I was pleased to hear an interesting mix of music. I’ll be offering more about Rodriguez’s music later, but for now, check out his website and his MySpace page.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Angel David Mattos: Traditions

Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz Project: Encuentro

Gilberto “Pulpo” Colon, Jr.: Hot Bread

LIVE LATIN JAZZ
If you’re on the EAST COAST this week . . .
ALEX GARCIA’S AFROMANTRA
WHEN: Sunday 5/4/08
WHERE: Queens Theater in the Park
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Queens, NY
TIME: 3:00 p.m.

ANDREA BRACHFELD
Phoenix Rising
WHEN: Friday 5/2/08
WHERE: Herb Eckert Auditorium
Municipal Complex
Monmouth Junction, NJ
TIME: 8:00 p.m.

BOBBY SANABRIA
Manhattan Country School’s Big Night Out
Grupo Ache
WHEN: Saturday 5/3/08
WHERE: Twenty Four Fifth
24 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY
TIME: 7:00 p.m.

CHEMBO CORNIEL
Grupo Chaworo
WHEN: Thursday 5/1/08
WHERE: Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe
236 East 3rd Street
New York, NY
TIME: 9:00 p.m.
TICKETS: $7

Nuyorican Poets Cafe 35 Year Celebration
Grupo Chaworo
WHEN: Saturday 5/3/08
WHERE: The Town Hall
123 W. 43rd Street
New York, NY
TIME: 8:00 p.m.
TICKETS: $35 - $40

CHICO O’FARRILL’S AFRO-CUBAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA
WHEN: Sunday 5/4/08
WHERE: Birdland
315 W. 44th Street
Manhattan, NY
TIME: 9:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m.
TICKETS: $25

DAFNIS PRIETO
Absolute Quintet
WHEN: Monday 4/28/08
WHERE: Merkin Concert Hall
129 W. 67th St.
New York, NY
TIME: 8:00 p.m.
TICKETS: Advance Tickets $30; Day of Show $35

LUIS MARIO OCHOA
Momentos Cubanos CD Release Concert
WHEN: Sunday 5/4/08
WHERE: Lula Lounge
1585 Dundas St. West
Toronto, ON
TIME: 8:00 p.m.
TICKETS: $15

PABLO ASLAN
Avantango
WHEN: Friday 5/2/08
WHERE: Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning
161-04 Jamaica Avenue
Queens, NY
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
TICKETS: FREE

VENISSA SANTÍ
WHEN: Wednesday 4/30/08
WHERE: Cachaca
35 West 8th Street
New York, NY
TIME: 7:00 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
TICKETS: $15 cover; $5 minimum

If you’re on the WEST COAST this week . . .
ARTURO RODRIGUEZ & PANGEA
Brazilian Jazz Trio
WHEN: Wednesday 4/30/08
WHERE: Trader Vics, Lincoln Square
700 Bellevue Way NE
Bellvue WA
TIME: 6:00 p.m.
TICKETS: Free

Latin Jazz Trio
WHEN: Thursday 5/1/08
WHERE: Sip Wine Bar and Restaurant
1084 NE Park Drive
Issaquah WA
TIME: 6:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., & 8:15 p.m.
TICKETS: Free

World Music Duet
WHEN: Saturday 5/3/08
WHERE: Fish Club - Seattle Marriott Waterfront
2100 Alaskan Way
Seattle WA
TIME: 7:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., & 9:15 p.m.
TICKETS: Free

ESTRADA BROTHERS
WHEN: Saturday 5/3/08
WHERE: Steamer’s Jazz Cafe
138 W. Commonwealth
Fullerton, CA
TIME: 8:30 p.m.
TICKETS: $8

JOHN SANTOS
Tribute To Cachao
Quintet
WHEN: Monday 4/28/08 - Tuesday 4/29/08
WHERE: Yoshi’s San Francisco
1330 Fillmore
San Francisco, CA
TIME: Mon - 9:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m.; Tues - 8:00 p.m. & 10 p.m.
TICKETS: $24 - $28

KAT PARRA
WHEN: Sunday 5/4/08
WHERE: Belmont Library
1110 Alameda de las Pulgas
Belmont, CA
TIME: 2:00 p.m.

OSKAR CARTAYA’S ENCLAVE
WHEN: Tuesday 4/29/08
WHERE: The Baked Potato
3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West
Studio City, CA
TIME: 9:30 p.m. & 11:00 p.m.
TICKETS: $15

PONCHO SANCHEZ
WHEN: Saturday 5/4/08
WHERE: Steamer’s Jazz Cafe
138 W. Commonwealth
Fullerton, CA
TIME: 8:30 p.m.
TICKETS: $5

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