Live music and dance in Santander, December 2019

My last month in Santander started on a high note and finished on even higher one. Keep reading...

• 1 December: Jazz Jam @ Rvbicón, Calle del Sol 4, Santander
  With the base band featuring Nadir Ibarra (tenor sax), Fer Serrano (piano), Manuel Cavero (double bass) and Daniel Rodríguez (drums) with guest musicians Manuel San Emeterio (guitar), Tom Ranby (alto sax) and others.
• 4 December: Dr. Bobô @ Rvbicón
  Modern jazz fusion trio featuring Juan Saiz (saxophones, flute), Pedro A. Terán Camus (drums, percussion) and Sergio Di Finizio (electric bass).
  

• 7 December: Sandman Cabaret @ Black Bird Club, Calle Vista Alegre 13
  This Dark Fusion & Tribal Fusion Bellydance show, purportedly inspired by The Sandman comic saga, was a strange and somewhat disappointing experience. I’ve seen a lot of tattoos but altogether it was not funny, daring or provocative enough even to be called cabaret. It was more like an end-of-the course showcase of several dance schools linked by a not very clear storyline narrated in a very annoying voice and interspersed with no less annoying Mr. Sandman sung by The Chordettes. Featuring Ai Khanum (Italy), Aicha Dance Troupe (Basque Country), Alicia Tuya (Asturias), Béu Riot (Cantabria), Caroline Crane (Basque Country), Cernéula Galupa (Basque Country and Cantabria), Delirium (Cantabria), Deyanira & Laura Malizia (Cantabria / Basque Country), Idhun (Valencia), Idunna Patricia Everglot (Cantabria), Mai Bastet (Cantabria), Marina Bartual (Cantabria), Miguel Palomera (Cantabria), Nur Bloodrose (Barcelona), Om Mayura (Cantabria), Paola Olaskoaga (Italy), TribalRock Fusion (Madrid) and Una Shamaa (Germany).
  

• 11 December: Surikato Blues @ Rvbicón
  Energetic rhythm and blues and rock’n’roll from Madrid featuring Víctor Sánchez (bass, guitar, vocals), Miguel Galván (drums), Joe O’Boyle (guitar, bass, vocals) and Cristian Castellanos (lead vocals).
  

• 14 December: Mujeres que cantan a mujeres @ Salón de actos de la Fundación Botín, Pedrueca 1
  A mini-concert by Yenia Popova, Mehnai and Gema Martínez at the closing of the 1^st Cantabrian Conference on Women and Aging.

• 17 December: Paula Bilá Quartet @ Canela Bar, Plaza de Cañadio
  This young singer-songwriter from Cádiz treated us to the delightful programme of blues and soul standards such as I Just Want to Make Love to You, I’d Rather Go Blind and River. With Rafael Santana (piano), Toño Gutiérrez (double bass) and Rodri Irizábal (drums).
• 20 December: Ara Malikian @ Palacio de Deportes de Santander
  I missed quite a few Ara Malikian shows during the last couple of years, consistent sold out being the main reason. But this time, he came practically to my workplace, so I had no excuses to miss him once again. Quite fittingly, this was the last musical event I’ve been not just in Santander but this year as well. Malikian is not only a brilliant violinist and showman; he’s got quite a sense of humour and, between the musical numbers, entertained us with hilarious personal anecdotes of ever diminishing plausibility. He was backed by no less amazing band featuring Humberto Armas (viola), Tony Carmona (guitar), Iván Ruiz Machado (double bass, electric bass), Anna Milman (violin), Iván “Melón” Lewis (piano), Georvis Pico (drums) and Cristina Suey (cello).

Goodbye, Santander. And now, it’s time to say: Happy New Year!

Live music and things in Santander, November 2019

November in Santander. Pretty quiet (and rainy, as expected)...

• 3 November: Jazz Jam @ Rvbicón, Calle del Sol 4, Santander
  With the base band featuring Marcelo Véliz (trombone), Rafa Santana (piano), Toño Gutiérrez (double bass) and Yeyo Pilatti (drums).
• 6 November: Ferenc Nemeth Trio @ Rvbicón
  Amazing Ferenc Nemeth (drums) with Greg Tardy (tenor sax) and Tzumo Aprad (keyboards) presented their brand-new collaboration (they never played together before). Unfortunately, the CD is not released yet, otherwise I would have bought it.
  

• 13 November: Max Ionata Trio @ Rvbicón
  Max Ionata (tenor sax) with Jesper Bodilsen (double bass) and Martin Andersen (drums).
  

• 20 November: Rémi Dugué Trio @ Rvbicón
  An evening of manouche jazz with Rémi Dugué (guitar), Dany García (guitar) and Manuel Cavero (double bass).
  

• 22 November: Kolektiv Lapso Cirk @ La estación de tren de Adif, Santander
  David and Tomas of Kolektiv Lapso Cirk presented Ovvio, an entertaining equilibristic show employing simple objects such as wooden planks and deckchairs. It was free of charge and took place at the foyer of the Santander Adif rail station, where additional enertainment was provided by the train departure announcements. The show was a part of the VIII International Circus Festival En la Cuerda Floja.

• 24 November: Maddy Smith, José A. Gallego and Kate Gass @ La Pirula, Calle Peña Herbosa, 21
  A charming programme of English, Irish, French and (sometimes) Spanish folk and folk-y songs.
• 27 November: Asere Quartet @ Rvbicón
  Another international modern jazz collective featuring Fèlix Rossy (trumpet), Leandro Irarragorri (piano), Josep Cordobés (drums) and Calvin Lennig (double bass).
  

It’s almost Christmas time — and only three weeks till I leave these shores.