Live Salsa Queens NYC

groovetpt

groovetpt

Son Montuno
Live Salsa in Queens NYC

Inspired by DJ Ara's videos of live action at Salsotecas in Cali, a few videos from live Salsa gigs I played in the area where I live in Queens, New York City. These are the clubs where Colombians, Peruvians, Ecuadoreans in NYC go to party. Always a very late night crowd... we usually start playing at about 2:00 am.

What I love about these clubs is that the (mostly) young crowd wants old school classic Salsa. It always amazes me to watch young people singing word for word and dancing to songs that were originally recorded years before they were even born.

Club Extravaganza (aka Club Ex):
www youtube.com/watch?v=F6a8Ndd7RyU
Singers are Wito Colon, Renzo Padilla, Chamaco Rivera, Pupy Cantor and Primi Cruz. This is a long video.

Chango Night Club:
www youtube.com/watch?v=fa7M0UNUIk4
Cheo Andujar is the singer. This was part of a Feria de Cali en Nueva York event. Sorry, the bass is a distorted in the audio.

La Kantera:
www youtube.com/watch?v=xWKYPql4yHo
Singer/artist/entertainer Sergio Rivero, born 1930 Santiago de Cuba. I just heard about him and met him last week. He's got some energy at 3:30 am when this was recorded last week!
 
groovetpt said:
Inspired by DJ Ara's videos of live action at Salsotecas in Cali, a few videos from live Salsa gigs I played in the area where I live in Queens, New York City. These are the clubs where Colombians, Peruvians, Ecuadoreans in NYC go to party. Always a very late night crowd... we usually start playing at about 2:00 am.

What I love about these clubs is that the (mostly) young crowd wants old school classic Salsa. It always amazes me to watch young people singing word for word and dancing to songs that were originally recorded years before they were even born.

Club Extravaganza (aka Club Ex):
www youtube.com/watch?v=F6a8Ndd7RyU
Singers are Wito Colon, Renzo Padilla, Chamaco Rivera, Pupy Cantor and Primi Cruz. This is a long video.

Chango Night Club:
www youtube.com/watch?v=fa7M0UNUIk4
Cheo Andujar is the singer. This was part of a Feria de Cali en Nueva York event. Sorry, the bass is a distorted in the audio.

La Kantera:
www youtube.com/watch?v=xWKYPql4yHo
Singer/artist/entertainer Sergio Rivero, born 1930 Santiago de Cuba. I just heard about him and met him last week. He's got some energy at 3:30 am when this was recorded last week!
Click to expand...

Thank you for posting. They are all great links. It must be great for all musicians to play for crowds that appreciate the music for real and sing along and interact with them.

I wish I will have Sergio Rivero's energy when I am 49. The man radiates.

I hope that New York's live salsa scene is maintained and grows more, as that is one of the thermometers of a healthy salsa scene.

Thanks again! :D
 
DJ Ara said:
Thank you for posting. They are all great links. It must be great for all musicians to play for crowds that appreciate the music for real and sing along and interact with them.

I wish I will have Sergio Rivero's energy when I am 49. The man radiates.

I hope that New York's live salsa scene is maintained and grows more, as that is one of the thermometers of a healthy salsa scene.

Thanks again! :D
Click to expand...
Thanks, DJ Ara.

Sergio Rivero! Yeah, most people his age are asleep by 8 pm but he's out there entertaining and partying until 5 am! And he's lived quite a life, from Cuba to Spain to New York to Venezuela... Very inspiring man.
 
I just realized that the title of my thread, "Live Salsa Queens NYC", could be interpreted as something very different from what the thread is actually about...

not that there's anything wrong with that. :-)
 
groovetpt said:
I just realized that the title of my thread, "Live Salsa Queens NYC", could be interpreted as something very different from what the thread is actually about...

not that there's anything wrong with that. :-)
Click to expand...


LOL, you are right, I just realized that. No harm, I guess, as most people, just like me, probably did not notice it. Anyway, now that we are on the subject, when one looks at some dance floors in certain parts of the world, there seem to be more Queens than Kings doing the dancing, if you get my meaning.

Again, nothing wrong with that, but I wonder if some guys are aware of how feminine they look when they are trying on all that choreography, which often has nothing to do with the real sabor connected to salsa dancing? Anyway, different strokes, I guess......

By the way, you really should come Cali way during La Feria de Cali. I bet you will find the whole experience amazing, specially as a musician and a person who feels the music.
 
DJ Ara said:
By the way, you really should come Cali way during La Feria de Cali. I bet you will find the whole experience amazing, specially as a musician and a person who feels the music.
Click to expand...
Well, that is at the top of my list, for sure. I actually had an opportunity to go to Cali with a band some years ago but commitment to another group I was working with prevented it. If/when I do make it I will definitely look you up!

We are having some "Feria de Cali en Nueva York" events here in Queens right now, but of course they are only a taste of the real thing.
 
groovetpt said:
Well, that is at the top of my list, for sure. I actually had an opportunity to go to Cali with a band some years ago but commitment to another group I was working with prevented it. If/when I do make it I will definitely look you up!
Click to expand...
Please do look me up. So far this year we have had DJ Matt (Matty) visiting Cali. In December I will be meeting the forum member known as Bailar y Tocar. Also, I have already crossed paths with some visiting Facebook salsa friends. I know as a musician you will get a lot out of Cali.


groovetpt said:
We are having some "Feria de Cali en Nueva York" events here in Queens right now, but of course they are only a taste of the real thing.
Click to expand...

Yes, but I am sure it is a good taste of the Feria. Honestly speaking the Feria de Cali has been getting better and better each year, and that is saying something, as it has always been great.

This year will be great as well. There will be dozens of orchestras playing in 5 days of events. The salsa hotel is fully booked for the period, with more enquiries coming in constantly.

Anyway, I hope that you get to checkout the Feria de Cali events in Queens and perhaps write about them here in the forum. :)
 
From what I've seen the past few months, Queens still has a great salsa following & it's funny cuz the great folks that are promoting & hosting live salsa bands aren't Puerto Ricans (which I am). You have Colombians, Salvadorians, Ecuadorians, etc. But Chango is a popular spot. I personally haven't visited any of these spots since Queens is a tad outta my way but I would definitely suggest them.

And believe it or not, NJ is pretty decent with live salsa. Can't think of the name, but there's a VERY popular spot I think in Elizabeth called Tropicana or something like that. I ALWAYS see their hosting live bands ranging from salsa, bachata & merengue. Kudos to all these spots!!!!!!!!
 
groovetpt said:
Live Salsa in Queens NYC

Chango Night Club:
www youtube.com/watch?v=fa7M0UNUIk4
Cheo Andujar is the singer. This was part of a Feria de Cali en Nueva York event. Sorry, the bass is a distorted in the audio.
Click to expand...
I've heard so much about this club, mostly from younger crowd from Colombia & Venezuela.
I will have to go there sometime!
 
EMOYENO said:
I've heard so much about this club, mostly from younger crowd from Colombia & Venezuela.
I will have to go there sometime!
Click to expand...
Chango is a very small club, and usually extremely packed, depending on who is playing. Mostly a young, enthusiastic Colombian crowd, with some other South American nationalities mixed in. I'm scheduled to play there on Dec. 7 with Ray De La Paz.
 
awesome! thankyou for the insight into the clubs in new york !
all great songs in the videos !
i want to go there now and visit these places! hmmm.....:rolleyes:
 
I will be going to Queen's with some Puerto Rican friends. It is on my to-do-list. Hope you keep us posted on what is happening there because most of the NY info is about mainstream on2 events.
 
sunsoul said:
I will be going to Queen's with some Puerto Rican friends. It is on my to-do-list. Hope you keep us posted on what is happening there because most of the NY info is about mainstream on2 events.
Click to expand...

You're coming to NY soon? I am slightly offended you didn't mention this to me...
 
Ray De La Paz is excellent. I've been lucky enough to see him perform at a few congresses with various backing bands. Great voice; always a good show.
 
Sabrosura said:
Ok, your post made it sound like it would be soon.
Click to expand...

Yes, I am thinking of all the great places I want to go so it sounds like next week! I think I will fly to NY and then on down to DR/PR/Cuba. I am mostly only interested in Queen's because of the Latin scene. Of course, will let you know when/if I arrive!
 
sunsoul said:
Yes, I am thinking of all the great places I want to go so it sounds like next week! I think I will fly to NY and then on down to DR/PR/Cuba. I am mostly only interested in Queen's because of the Latin scene. Of course, will let you know when/if I arrive!
Click to expand...

If you are interested in NY's Latin scene, you need to check out Spanish Harlem. :) Especially since you will be with PR friends.
 
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