Amazing timba event in Cali

[timberamayor]

On August 5th Tirso Duarte and Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor will face off at theater Jorge Isaacs. Only one band can come out the winner but all the fans will win! More info at timba.com. Wish I could be there.

http://www.timba.com/blog_posts/tirso-duarte-vs-maykel-blanco

 

[sunsoul]

On August 5th Tirso Duarte and Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor will face off at theater Jorge Isaacs. Only one band can come out the winner but all the fans will win! More info at timba.com. Wish I could be there.

http://www.timba.com/blog_posts/tirso-duarte-vs-maykel-blanco

I hope to head out there next year, and going to events such as this will be high on my agenda.....

 

[timberamayor]

I hope to head out there next year, and going to events such as this will be high on my agenda.....

It's too bad it doesn't coincide with the salsa festival. Oh well.

 

[DJ Ara]

It's too bad it doesn't coincide with the salsa festival. Oh well.

Still, most times of the year one can easily get a salsa overdose here in the world salsa capital.

 

[catarina]

awesome! wish I could go too!

 

[timberamayor]

Maykel just uploaded a video about the event as well. I think they should have just gone with Take 1

timba.com/blog_posts/maykel-blanco-y-salsa-mayor-in-cali

 

[El Caobo]

Still, most times of the year one can easily get a salsa overdose here in the world salsa capital.

DJ Ara,

You mentioned once before in another thread that Colombia was the world salsa capital. Then, I had my reservations, but based on what I've been seeing in many online sites, I can no longer dismiss that claim. You might just be right, hermano. It certainly is beginning to look that way.

 

[sunsoul]

DJ Ara,

You mentioned once before in another thread that Colombia was the world salsa capital. Then, I had my reservations, but based on what I've been seeing in many online sites, I can no longer dismiss that claim. You might just be right, hermano. It certainly is beginning to look that way.

When you add up all the street festivals, strong musical tradition, buzzing salsa clubs, and the new bands now springing up and making waves, I think you can say that Cali/Colombia would be hard to beat.

 

[DJ Ara]

DJ Ara,

You mentioned once before in another thread that Colombia was the world salsa capital. Then, I had my reservations, but based on what I've been seeing in many online sites, I can no longer dismiss that claim. You might just be right, hermano. It certainly is beginning to look that way.

Thank you amigo. The fact is when you come here and spend a week or two during ANY (not just the festivals and special events) part of the year, I guarantee that you will be convinced.

Maestros like Papo Lucca, The Lebron Brothers, Luisito Ayala (who sang with the Lebron some years ago), Cheo Feliciano, among others have referred to Cali as the World Salsa Capital on record.

The sonero, Maestro Papo Cocote of the Roberto y su Nuevo Montuno fame who stayed at the "Salsa-Boutique"- the salsa themed hotel here in Cali, told me in person that he believed Cali to be the World Salsa Capital. He was taken aback by the way people here were familiar with his repetoire and their fantacism.

There are literally dozens of top class orchestras in this city as well as many world class salsa dance schools and salsa clubs and of course DJs.

There are salsa collectors' associations. Many serious collectors have any where between 20 to 30 thousand records. There are regular get togethers where these afficionados play their special hard to find tunes. Many salsa clubs still play original vinyls as well as the usual cds and MP3s.

The smaller salsotecas that are generally EVEN more hardcore than the discotecas, sometimes organize "audiciones" where the theme of the night may be the music of Eddie Palmieri or la Ponceña, etc.- where the various songs will be played, preceded by a quick explanation of the musicians and date of release, etc.

Also, there are five or six radio stations that play mainly salsa. One of them plays pure salsa 24 hours a day.

I believe that there will be at least two forum members visiting Cali this year. One of them has been here before. Hopefully they will post their take on Cali in this forum.

Meanwhile, I hope that you El Caobo, make it here soon as well. Remember that you have a salsero friend here.

 

[DJ Ara]

When you add up all the street festivals, strong musical tradition, buzzing salsa clubs, and the new bands now springing up and making waves, I think you can say that Cali/Colombia would be hard to beat.

Don't forget the world class salsa dancers and dance schools, the radio stations and the "extreme" collectors.

 

[El Caobo]

So, how "amazing" was this event?

 

[DJ Ara]

So, how "amazing" was this event?

I wouldn't know as Timba is not really my thing (even if I do like certain songs), as I am more into the more traditional Cuban sounds. Most of my salsa friends here do not really like Timba either. There are few exceptions who may have attended this event and I will be asking them about it when the opportunity presents itself.

Actually, Timba has been gaining ground here in Cali for the past few years, but most salsa collectors/melomanos that I know do not really like this rhythm (even though they will be first to admit that the new generation Cuban musicians are excellent artists), again there are notable exceptions who love this "new" Cuban sound.

Just worth mentioning that among the general salsero community and fans, few Orchestras will ever match, the likes of Roberto Roena, La Sonora Ponceña, Willie Rosario, Bobby Valentin, El Gran Combo and Grup Niche, just to give you an idea. The music in the top salsa clubs in the city reflects this, even if one might hear the odd Timba song once in a while.

 

[timberamayor]

I wouldn't know as Timba is not really my thing (even if I do like certain songs), as I am more into the more traditional Cuban sounds. Most of my salsa friends here do not really like Timba either. There are few exceptions who may have attended this event and I will be asking them about it when the opportunity presents itself.

Actually, Timba has been gaining ground here in Cali for the past few years, but most salsa collectors/melomanos that I know do not really like this rhythm (even though they will be first to admit that the new generation Cuban musicians are excellent artists), again there are notable exceptions who love this "new" Cuban sound.

Just worth mentioning that among the general salsero community and fans, few Orchestras will ever match, the likes of Roberto Roena, La Sonora Ponceña, Willie Rosario, Bobby Valentin, El Gran Combo and Grup Niche, just to give you an idea. The music in the top salsa clubs in the city reflects this, even if one might hear the odd Timba song once in a while.

Timba isn't a rhythm but rather a concept. Just like salsa isn't a rhythm. But that aside.

It seems to have been well attended anyway. The "amazing" aspect of the event was the fact of having both Maykel and Tirso at the same concert. the problem with having two bands is that usually they each only play one set rather than having a full 4 hour concert. It was plugged as mano-a-mano between the two bands.

Tirso and Maykel are two of the most popular young bandleaders, so it was a great opportunity to see both of these bands in one night.

There is some Maykel Blanco video up at YouTube. The audio was taken from the mixer and they didn't quite get it perfectly aligned with the video. You can especially see it when the guys do some dance moves to the efectos, or when there is a close-up of the drums or Maykel on piano. Also you really lose the sound of the audience singing along and cheering because all you get is what the mics on stage pick up. The Tirso video isn't up because they didn't get the audio from the mixer and felt that the audio from their vantage point wasn't good enough.

I haven't heard anyone comment on who they thought did a better job. It's really a shame the Tirso video isn't available. But here is the entire Maykel Blanco & Salsa Mayor section.

Esto está
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8b04sM05uQ

Another clip that might be interesting since a couple of girls come up to dance. Livan and his partner seem to dance quite well together while it goes less well for Yasser and his partner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imXGMmuXSKc

Here is some Tirso from a concert in Colombia a few years ago. Not audio from the mixer but I love how the audience knows the song by heart and sings along so you can barely hear Tirso. I wonder if the audience was all Cuban.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AhKvn-kP94

 

[DJ Ara]

Timba isn't a rhythm but rather a concept. Just like salsa isn't a rhythm. But that aside.

Perhaps, but when we hear it, we recongnize it, just like "salsa".

And I personally, don't see any problems in describing Timba as Cuban salsa, or "modern/new" Cuban salsa, either.

It seems to have been well attended anyway. The "amazing" aspect of the event was the fact of having both Maykel and Tirso at the same concert. the problem with having two bands is that usually they each only play one set rather than having a full 4 hour concert. It was plugged as mano-a-mano between the two bands.

Tirso and Maykel are two of the most popular young bandleaders, so it was a great opportunity to see both of these bands in one night.

There is some Maykel Blanco video up at YouTube. The audio was taken from the mixer and they didn't quite get it perfectly aligned with the video. You can especially see it when the guys do some dance moves to the efectos, or when there is a close-up of the drums or Maykel on piano. Also you really lose the sound of the audience singing along and cheering because all you get is what the mics on stage pick up. The Tirso video isn't up because they didn't get the audio from the mixer and felt that the audio from their vantage point wasn't good enough.

I haven't heard anyone comment on who they thought did a better job. It's really a shame the Tirso video isn't available. But here is the entire Maykel Blanco & Salsa Mayor section.

Esto está
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8b04sM05uQ

Another clip that might be interesting since a couple of girls come up to dance. Livan and his partner seem to dance quite well together while it goes less well for Yasser and his partner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imXGMmuXSKc

Here is some Tirso from a concert in Colombia a few years ago. Not audio from the mixer but I love how the audience knows the song by heart and sings along so you can barely hear Tirso. I wonder if the audience was all Cuban.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AhKvn-kP94

Thanks....all interesting stuff. I liked the Tirso clip most, and I doubt if there were more than a handful of Cubans, if any, in the crowd.

The crowd reaction is very "Cali". You can expect to see the same kind of atmosphere in most salsa concerts where the orchestra in questions has a healthy fan base.

Have a look at this clip of the great and legendary Roberto Roena and his Apollo Sound in concert in Teatro Jorge Isaac some years ago, performing their classic, "Guaguanco del Adios". See the way the crowd "takes over" the song, word for word, so much so that the singers stop and let public sing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz_INZQH81E&playnext=1&list=PL265E297ABCAE76D3

This is the type of salsa fanaticism that contributes to Cali's fame as the World Salsa Capital, where the music and the musicians are paid their due, as opposed to serving as accessories to dancers and theri performances. This is something that has to experienced to be appreciated!

 

[timberamayor]

Perhaps, but when we hear it, we recongnize it, just like "salsa".

And I personally, don't see any problems in describing Timba as Cuban salsa, or "modern/new" Cuban salsa, either.

Actually I am finding here at SF that there are some people who have a completely erroneous idea of what timba is. That doesn't mean they'd like it even if they have a better idea of what it is, but I just want more correct information to be available. But that will be a thread one of these days in the music section.

Thanks....all interesting stuff. I liked the Tirso clip most, and I doubt if there were more than a handful of Cubans, if any, in the crowd.

The crowd reaction is very "Cali". You can expect to see the same kind of atmosphere in most salsa concerts where the orchestra in questions has a healthy fan base.

Have a look at this clip of the great and legendary Roberto Roena and his Apollo Sound in concert in Teatro Jorge Isaac some years ago, performing their classic, "Guaguanco del Adios". See the way the crowd "takes over" the song, word for word, so much so that the singers stop and let public sing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz_INZQH81E&playnext=1&list=PL265E297ABCAE76D3

This is the type of salsa fanaticism that contributes to Cali's fame as the World Salsa Capital, where the music and the musicians are paid their due, as opposed to serving as accessories to dancers and theri performances. This is something that has to experienced to be appreciated!

That is my kind of audience. OK. I'm not much for theater venues with chairs in them but I always sing along with all the songs etc.

 

[DJ Ara]

Actually I am finding here at SF that there are some people who have a completely erroneous idea of what timba is. That doesn't mean they'd like it even if they have a better idea of what it is, but I just want more correct information to be available. But that will be a thread one of these days in the music section.

I am looking forward to it.

That is my kind of audience. OK. I'm not much for theater venues with chairs in them but I always sing along with all the songs etc.

Well, I hope you make it to Cali during the "Feria de Cali" and experience the salsa fanaticism here for yourself.

Personally speaking, when it comes to seeing live performances of the great and/or my favorite salsa orchestras, then I prefer to be seating down and watching the musicians play and interact with each other and the audience.

Of course, if I am in a live show with an available dancefloor, then I might have a few dances, but generally my focus is towards the musicians in such events.

 

[timberamayor]

Well, I hope you make it to Cali during the "Feria de Cali" and experience the salsa fanaticism here for yourself.

Yes I hope so too.

Personally speaking, when it comes to seeing live performances of the great and/or my favorite salsa orchestras, then I prefer to be seating down and watching the musicians play and interact with each other and the audience.

Of course, if I am in a live show with an available dancefloor, then I might have a few dances, but generally my focus is towards the musicians in such events.

If I'm into the music I find it hard, almost painful, to sit still so I like to be able to stand and dance. I don't dance with a partner during the concerts, just by myself (some basic steps, despelote etc) so I can focus on the band and sing along. I leave the partner dancing to pre and post-show.

I do like the girls in the front row in this video dancing and singing. During the cuerpo they are doing a basic son step along with the band (@ 1.15)
Then when the montuno hits with the piano tumbao they switch to despelote and they are singing along (@2.02). That would be me. That's the way I dance at concerts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PnFpaR5dBs