Free live music and other cultural events in Las Palmas, May 2019

Another month, another great choice of live music and more.

• 1 May: Canarias FeelGood! by Arehucas @ Plaza del Pilar, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
  Sponsored by Arehucas (yes, the rum distillery), this one-day festival presented seven bands from seven Canary islands. I saw the last song Abel Cordovez & Benahoare Reggae Band (naturally, reggae, from La Palma), the complete performances of Barrabass Sound System (also reggae and dub from Lanzarote) and Guineo Colectivo (Afro-beat from Fuerteventura) and the first two songs by El Monstruo de Funkenstein (as you can imagine, funk, from La Gomera).
  

• 2 May: Aubrey Logan @ Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, Avda. Príncipe de Asturias
  Before playing two dates with Perinké Big Band, Aubrey Logan (of Postmodern Jukebox fame) gave an illuminating masterclass of jazz vocal and jazz improvisation.
• 4 May: Rocío Márquez @ Parque Doramas
  The cantaora from Huelva was accompanied by Canito (guitar) and Agustín Diassera (percussion).

• 16 May: Jonay González Mesa @ Teatro Guiniguada, Plaza F. Mesa de León
  I heard Jonay G. Mesa some three years ago as one-half of Touché! and last month with Althay Páez. I have to say that his masterclass, like the one by Javier Sánchez in January, was heavy on content — scales, harmony, rhythm — and light on interaction. There was very little of the latter. I loved the way Jonay plays samba/bossa nova and the fact he does not use any pedals or effects. In the end of the class, Jonay was joined on stage by his bandmates Ruiman Martin Leon (double bass) and Amilcar Mendoza Pros (drums) for a beautiful rendition of Someday My Prince Will Come.

• 18 May: Noche Europea de los Museos @ Museo Castillo de Mata, Calle Domingo Guerra del Río, 147
  We’ve never been to Castillo de Mata before, and this year the European Night of Museums provided an opportunity. It was a free event but we had to get the tickets in advance (two tickets per person only). Altogether, there was eight one-hour long shows/installations/whatever you call it, four on Friday (21:00, 22:00, 23:00 and 24:00) and four on Saturday, with up to 150 people attending the show. The programme included:
  • La compañía Pieles: Barco y Acequia
  • Ana Alcaide with Bill Cooley and Rainer Seiferth: Luna Sefardita
  • Arte corporal: Los esclavos en la Isla del Azúcar
  • Ludovica Rambelli Teatro: 23 Tableaux Vivants of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
  • Jeringonza & Ballet del Atlante: Danzas del Canario y de las Hachas
• 19 May: Moonlight Benjamin @ Auditorio José Antonio Ramos, Parque Doramas
  Last month I was wondering how better to call “the venue” in the Parque Doramas where I almost religiously go every week or so. Well, now it’s officially called Auditorio José Antonio Ramos, after the celebrated Canarian musician José Antonio Ramos (1969—2008). The Haitian-French singer (and Voodoo priestess) Moonlight Benjamin was the first to play in the newly christened auditorium. She presented her fascinating “voodoo-blues-rock” fusion in a company of Matthieu Vial-Collet (guitar), Yohann Marra (guitars), Quentin Rochas (bass) and Bertrand Noel (drums).

  

  More photos of Moonlight Benjamin @ Shutterstock

• 29 May: Cristina Ramos @ Plaza de Santa Ana
  Timur and I went to Vegueta to hear this by now world-famous Canarian singer and were not disappointed. It was almost like a night at the opera... with Bad Romance, Highway to Hell, I Will Always Love You, Love of My Life, Sabor a Mí, The Show Must Go On, Waterloo, and, pun intended or not, both It’s Raining Men and Hallelujah in quick succession.
• 31 May: La Noche de Cuba @ Auditorio José Antonio Ramos
  Originally scheduled for 11 May, this concert was postponed until yesterday. Absolutely fabulous night of son, guaracha, salsa, mozambique and timba performed by vocalists Diamela del Pozo, Edulman Aragon Gonzalez and Sofiel del Pino and the band of Totó Noriega (congas, vocals) featuring Yoriell Carmona (tres cubano), Osvaldo Hernández (timbales), Fofi Lusson (bass), Armiche Jonay Moreno Suárez (percussion), Josue Santana (piano), Arístides Sosa Benítez (trumpet) and Fran Suárez (saxophones).

And so, May is over.