Live music in Las Palmas, April 2023

This is what I’ve seen in April:

• 1 April: «Tarasca» @ Auditorio José Antonio Ramos, Parque Doramas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
  A show by Compañía Pieles, featuring José Félix Álvarez, Laura Álvarez, Fátima Rodríguez (vocals), Juan Antonio Mora (double bass), Itahisa Darias (violin), Jeremías Martín (piano, accordion), Fernanda Alonso (flute), Ventor de la Guardia, Fede Beuster, Jonatan Rodríguez, Carlos Castañeda and Guillermo Molina (percussion).

• 12 April: Coro vocal & Grupo coral @ Palacete Rodríguez Quegles, Calle Benito Pérez Galdós, 4
  The first of three concerts dedicated to the 50^th anniversary of Conservatorio Profesional de Música de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. I didn’t know until now that Palacete, bought 50 years ago by the Auyntamiento, was the first home of the Conservatory until, 16 years later, it moved to the bigger building. Featuring voices of Cristina Batista, Kati Brzoska, Gaire Concepción Suárez, Ana Falcón Muñoz, Noemi González, Jennibel Hernández, Joel Hernández Díaz, Paula Herrera Hernández, Teresa de Los Ángeles Rodríguez Vázquez, Daniel Marrero González, Francesco Pisapia, Andrea Quintana and Herminia Sánchez Déniz, accompanied, in turns, by Cristina Díaz Álamo, Diego Rodríguez Ramírez and Ulrika Törnros (piano) and Mireia Santana (guitar). The complete programme of the evening is available here.

  

• 15 April: «Recordando a Nino Bravo» @ Plaza de Santa Ana
  Serafín Zubiri and Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria conducted by Juan Roda, with special guest Cristina Ramos, paid a tribute to Nino Bravo, on occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the singer’s untimely death.
• 19 April: Grupos de cámara @ Palacete Rodríguez Quegles
  The evening of classical chamber music. Featuring talents of Ysaren García, (violin), Ayose Alonso (violin), Celia Santana (cello), Inés Alén González (flute), Adriana Cabrera Almeida (clarinet), Clara Reyes (violin), David Martín (violin), Nuria Hernando (cello), Indara Saavedra (violin), Claudia Ramírez (cello), Marta de J. López Falcón (flute), Paqui Santana Pérez (flute), Fernando Barrio (bandurria), Eleazar Pérez (bandurria), Aarón Díaz (laúd), Marta García (guitar) and Sofía Pérez (guitar). The complete programme is available here.

  

• 22 April: Mayte Martín «Tatuajes» @ Auditorio José Antonio Ramos
  A new programme by the Catalan cantaora, accompanied by Nelsa Baró (piano), Guillermo Prats (double bass), and Vicens Soler (drums), covering standards such as Eu sei que vou te amar, La bien pagá, Ne me quitte pas and Procuro olvidarte.

• 26 April: Piano @ Palacete Rodríguez Quegles
  The evening of piano music, with (in the order of appearance): Lidia Tabraue Santiago, Clara Quintana Jiménez, Darío Díaz-Flores Martín, Lía Zimmermann González, Valentina Cabrera Kalinina, Martina Gómez Vázquez, Aaron Grande Castilla, Valentina López Jáuregui, Ariadna Dipierri Romero, Irene Caballero Cerpa, Jorge Vega Saavedra, Noah Mesa Martínez, Luis Rodríguez González, Laura Salazar Sánchez, Orlando Cabrera Martín, Diego Rodríguez Ramírez, Yeling Li Ye, Miguel Raith Corimanya and Miguel Alonso Corimanya. The complete programme is available here.

  

• 27 April: Pedro Martínez @ Teatro Guiniguada, Plaza F. Mesa de León
  A masterclass of South American rhythms and guitar, with focus on samba, festejo, chacarera and polka paraguaya, this latter completely different from polka as we know it.

• 29 April: La Mare @ Espacio Cultural Jesús Arencibia, Avenida 8 de Marzo / Rotonda Cruz del Ovejero
  With La Mare (vocals, Spanish guitar, pandero cuadrado), Pablo López (bass, vocals) and Xerach Peñate (drums, vocals). This is the first time we’ve been to the brand new (opened this February) Centro de Actividades Culturales y Comunitarias Jesús Arencibia in Tamaraceite. The verdict: nice concert venue, with really comfy chairs; accessible by public transport (city and Global buses); not particularly well-advertised so the auditorium was not exactly full. I wouldn’t know about this concert if not for a note on Xerach’s Facebook page.

  

And that was it for April.

Sixteen very short films

Just like last year, and year before, I went to Teatro Guiniguada to see the 16 winning films (selected by public vote out of 111 entries) of the San Rafael en Corto festival. Once again and once again, it was a mixed bag. Some of the shorts were no more — although no less — than social issue ads. In any case, I think it was a small miracle that the festival took place at all. My favourite films were Casa Chano by Emilio González, Oficina de reencarnaciones by Darío López, Guiño, guiño, sonrisa by Isaí Escalada and Y yo by Nayra Ortega.

Proyección del palmarés de la XVI edición de SREC Teatro Guiniguada, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Tuesday, 19 January 2021, 19:30

Oficina de reencarnaciones by Darío López Ápice by Cándido Pérez De Armas ¿Dónde acaban las carreteras? by Leticia Márquez Casa Chano by Emilio González Márcale un gol a la vida by Lila Domínguez & Ana Conejo ¿Pero cómo se os ocurre llevar tambores a África? by Gotzon Cañada & Erika Urquiola Sin cura by Bárbara Aguilera 52 by Daniel Mendoza Y yo by Nayra Ortega Cereza by Marta Fuenar, Jon Arráe & Aarón Hernández El monstruo del armario by Carlos Alberto Mejías Guiño, guiño, sonrisa by Isaí Escalada La cancha by Eva Sicilia & Ismael Cabrera Mayarí by Elisa Cano Storni by Agustín Domínguez El invitado by Víctor Hubara

Live music in and around Valencia, August 2019

My two short and incredibly hot months in Valencia came to an end. Here’s the summary of the events of August.

• 10 August: NES @ Monestir de Sant Jeroni de Cotalba, Alfahuir
  Valencia-based blues-soul-world music fusion trio featuring Nesrine Belmokh (vocals, cello), Matthieu Saglio (cello) and David Gadea (percussion).
• 11 August: Jhonetsu — Passion @ Teatro Romano, Sagunto
  The Taiko drummers Yamato brought their fantastic new show to the scene Roman theatre of Sagunto.
• 17 August: Ximo Caffarena Quartet FolkenJazz @ El Perrellonet
  The XXIII Festival de Jazz de València continues in the charming fishing village El Perrellonet. Ximo Caffarena (saxophones, flute and vocals), Christian Molina (piano), Luis Llario (double bass) and Juanjo Garcerà (drums) play jazz versions of traditional Valencian songs.
• 21 August: Recital del Piano @ Espai Cultural, Albalat dels Sorells
  Charitable recital organised by Josep Carreras Foundation. Great choice of piano music and impeccable performances by two young pianists, Fernando Alarcón and Alejandro Espina, who look like brothers. Or at least they go to the same hairdresser.
  Fernando Alarcón
  • Johann Sebastian Bach, Prelude and Fugue No. 16 in G minor
  • Ludwig van Beethoven, Sonata No. 16 in G major, Op. 31, No. 1
  • George Gershwin, Three Preludes
  Alejandro Espina
  • Bach, Prelude and Fugue No. 12 in F minor
  • Beethoven, Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31, No. 2
  • Frédéric Chopin, Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 31
• 24 August: Sergio Pereira & Thaïs Morell @ Pinedo
  More concerts of the XXIII Festival de Jazz de València next to the beach. Brazilian guitarist and composer Sergio Pereira was accompanied by Alberto Palau (piano), Ariel Ramírez (bass), Mariano Steimberg (drums) and Alexey León (saxphones, flute). The best part was provided by the fellow Brazilian singer-songwriter Thaïs Morell (although I could live without yet another cover of Aquarela do Brasil).

Au, València. Hola, Santander.

Free live music in Las Palmas, June 2019

Some amazing musical events took place in June — many at the same time, so I was able to see but a fraction.

• 1 June: Islazz @ Auditorio José Antonio Ramos, Parque Doramas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
  Yul Ballesteros & Friends, a true Canarian jazz “supergroup” closed this Musicando season presenting Islazz, a cycle of eight compositions dedicated to the islands of our archipelago: Fuerteventura, El Hierro, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Graciosa, La Palma, Lanzarote and Tenerife. Featuring Juan Bosco Arencibia (trombone), Yul Ballesteros (guitar), Jose Carlos Cubas (percussion), Sebastián Gil Armas (trumpet), José Alberto Medina (piano), Gustavo Navarro (theorbo), Gladys Pérez Molina (flute), Yone Rodríguez Monzón (timple), Tana Santana (bass), Suso Vega (drums) and Jose Angel Vera (saxophone).

• 4 June: Exsurge Domine @ Casa de Colón, calle Colón, 1
  Part of the cycle Música antigua en el patio, this recital by the Valencian musician Vicent Bru i Soler was dedicated to the composers of the times of Martin Luther and the Counter-Reformation such as Antonio de Cabezón, Arnolt Schlick, Conrad Paumann, Hans Buchner, Hans Kotter, Francisco Correa de Arauxo y Pablo Bruna. Vicent played a beautiful harpsichord, a replica of the 16^th century instrument.
• 6 June: Seamus Blake @ Teatro Guiniguada, Plaza F. Mesa de León
  The last masterclass organised by Mousikê La Laguna before the summer break.
• 7 June: Nancy Fabiola canta a Canarias @ Plaza de Santa Ana
  Every year, to celebrate the foundation of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (the official date is 24 June of 1478), our city celebrates Fiestas fundacionales. This year, they started with the opening speeches by Dania Dévora (I am sure she is a good producer but man it was boring) and then by our mayor, Augusto Hidalgo (shorter and better). The concert, when it finally started, was quite good. Nancy Fabiola Herrera (mezzo-soprano) was accompanied by Orquesta Sinfónica de Las Palmas conducted by Rafael Sánchez-Araña and guest artists Berna Perles (soprano), Enrique Ferrer (tenor), Silvia Gómez Tuñón (soprano), María del Mar Moreno (baile), José María Curbelo (piano) and Leonel Gasso (bandoneon).
• 8 June: Música en el corazón de Vegueta @ various locations (in Vegueta)
  I just learned that this is the fourth year that patios of Vegueta hosting a number of musical events. As for us, we just discovered it this year. Altogether, there were ten patios and two plazas, but we had time to visit just three. Nayaband were playing in the patio of Fundación Juan Negrín (c/Reyes Católicos, 30); Francisco Navarro (marimba and drums) at Ilustre Colegio de Abogados (Plaza de San Agustín) — jolly good building they've got there, the lawyers I mean — and Abraham Ramos (timple) at Casa de la Iglesia (c/Doctor Chil, 17).
• 9 June: Eme Alfonso @ Auditorio José Antonio Ramos
  A brilliant Cuban singer-songwriter accompanied by Kiki Ferrer (drums), Santiago Greco (bass), Israel Sandoval (guitar) and Alejandro Vargas (piano).

• 15 June: Robert Jon & The Wreck and Morgane Ji @ Auditorio José Antonio Ramos
  A double bill of two very different but equally impressive bands. Blues-rockers from Orange County, California, Robert Jon & The Wreck are Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocal, guitar), Andrew Espantman (drums), Henry James (lead guitar, vocals), Steve Maggiora (keyboards, vocals) and Warren Murrel (bass, vocals). The band’s former guitarist, Kristopher Butcher, defined their sound as “Southern cosmic rock’n’soul”, and I think it still holds true.
  Morgane Ji (lead vocals, banjo) with E.r.k. (guitar, keyboards, samples), Olivier Carole (bass, vocals) and Mogan Cornebert (drums), currently on their Woman Soldier tour, play catchy rock/electronica/world music fusion that makes everybody dance.

• 22 June: Lila Downs @ Plaza de la Música, Avenida Roberto Clemente Benijófar (next to Auditorio Alfredo Kraus)
  What a treat! It’s been more than ten years since I saw Lila Downs playing in London — and she is still as young as I remember her. She was accompanied by Nikki Campbell (percussion, quijada), Josh Deutsch (trumpet), Rafa Gómez (guitar), Luis Guzmán (bass), Sinuhe Padilla Isunza (jarana, quijada), George Saenz (trombone, accordion) and Yayo Serka (drums). With repertoire spanning her career, or at least from La Sandunga to her latest offering, Al Chile, Lila and the band were a pinnacle of already fantastic Fiestas fundacionales programme. I didn’t know until now that we have so many Mexicans in Gran Canaria.

Lila Downs’ concert was the last music event I went to in Las Palmas before heading to the Peninsula. It was so good that I didn’t even want to go to any other concert until my departure. Hasta luego, Gran Canaria!

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.

Na Afriki

by Dobet Gnahoré

After listening to Na Afriki, I went to check some of her live videos on YouTube. What an amazing woman: composer, singer, dancer, percussionist. Dobet left school at 12 to study theatre, dance, music and singing with her father and his fellow artists. She is now on the top of my “to watch” (live!) list.

This song, Djiguene (Woman), is sung in Wolof. On this album, Dobet also sings in Dida, Fon, Guéré, Lingala, Malinke and Xhosa.

Na Afriki Dala (sung in Dida) Djiguene (sung in Wolof) Issa (sung in Malinke) Inyembezi zam (sung in Xhosa) Télo dé (sung in Dida) Khabone-n’daw (sung in Wolof) Jho avido (sung in Fon) Yekiyi (sung in Malinke) Ma poô (sung in Guéré) Pygmées Palea (sung in Dida and Arabic) Pillage (sung in Lingala) Loubou (sung in Dida) Massacre (sung in Dida) Mousso Tilou (sung in Malinke)

Ian Paice On The Drums

by Ian Paice

He played with The Velvet Underground, Gary Moore and even Sir Paul. Enough memoir material by any standard. But for me, as probably for about everybody else, he always was — still is — the Deep Purple drummer. There never was DP without Ian Paice.

You’d think there should be plenty of DVDs around showcasing Paice’s talent. Well... (drum roll please...) no. But there is at least this one.

On The Drums is a curious collection of Paice-related bits and bobs. Released by Edel in 2008, it looks like a European repackaging of 2002 American DVD Not for the Pros. In contrast to what Amazon says, this DVD is region-free (not region 2). The picture quality could have been better; the sound is OK for the most part, but I wouldn’t mind having subtitles.

Ian Paice’s Drummers Guide

The “main feature” is a fifty-minute documentary where Paice travels the world visiting the musical instrument factories: Pearl in Japan, Paiste in Switzerland (hey, I just learned another Finnish word!), Pro-Mark and Remo in America. He demonstrates just a little bit of his technique but clearly not enough to be considered an instructional. The film is interspersed by snippets of Deep Purple archive footage. I find them rather distracting; luckily, you can choose a viewing option without these clips.

Abbey Road Session

...contains two cool instrumentals, Paicesetter and Dustbins. Paice is accompanied by Colin Hodgkinson on bass and Miller Anderson on guitar. I did not realise Paice is left-handed until I watched this! Now if the entire DVD was material of this quality, I wouldn’t hesitate to give it five stars.

Roadie’s Eye View

This section has several songs or fragments filmed during Deep Purple’s 2001 US tour, with a twist: the camera, for a change, is focused on Paice. Ted the Mechanic, Lazy, Knocking At Your Back Door and Highway Star are shown in their entirety, but the highlight is the middle section of Fools, which is not even a drum solo and still is mind-blowing. But why on earth didn’t they show the full Fools?

Drum Clinic

That could have been really interesting... (short drum solo please...) if any part of it lasted more than ten seconds, that is. What we have here is just some short promo for Australian TV. Total waste of time.

Ian Paice Interview

Another bit filmed for Aussie TV. Rather more entertaining than the “drum clinic”. Paice, apart from being simply the greatest rock drummer alive, appears to be very nice (and humble) bloke.

Retro Mix

A montage of old and new(ish) Deep Purple clips set to Paicesetter. Please ignore it and watch the Abbey Road Session again.

Joneeba!

by A. Djoniba Mouflet

I already mentioned this book on my other blog. It is a curious mix of African dance history, actual work-out techniques (frankly I’d prefer a DVD), shameless self-promotion (with some bits repeated more than once) and ethical principles (e.g. those of student/teacher relationship, to which I subscribe wholeheartedly).

In Africa, you are taught that no matter how much you pay your teacher, you can never repay him or her for the lifelong knowledge and secrets passed to you. Your first teacher — the one who taught you the basics — becomes your mother-master or father-master. It is imperative to give credit openly, remain loyal, protect and give gratitude and support to all of your teachers, and especially to your first teacher, regardless of whom you may study with later. Even after you’re no longer studying with your first master teacher, you should pay him or her a visit and take a class there once in a while.

Joneeba is taught by its creator, Djoniba Mouflet (and probably nobody else) at the Djoniba Dance Centre in New York. In theory, one can become a certified Joneeba™ instructor; now do a Google search and try to find any. It simply could be that no one can sit through the three-day exam, let alone afford a live African drummer band in their fitness class.

Djembe

by Timur Kulikov

Paper, felt-tip pens.

This drawing of djembe was intended for a school competition for the best drawing. In the end, Timur did not submit it because he thought more work was needed. He brought it home and finished it on Friday.

Addenbrooke’s fireworks again

Just like last year, Arco Iris played two very loud sets at Addenbrooke’s, pre- and post-firework display. The programme included our new-ish maracatu piece which, as far as I know, we never played in public before. Also, this was Arco Iris’s first gig featuring yours truly on repinique. I did not really intend it, but, since far too many people signed up to play caixa this time, I did volunteer. To my horror, I turned out to be the only (non-leader) rep player tonight. So when the leaders were doing their leading stuff, I was playing, um, whatever I could recall from my few rep practice sessions. Ah well, nobody was complaining.

More photos of fireworks @ Shutterstock.

Another Lifetime

by Cindy Blackman

This CD arrived this morning from the US, and I’m listening to it for the third time already. It has some amazing musicians on it, including Mike Stern and Joe Lovano. I liked all the songs except 40 Years of Innovation (which is just one minute long, so it didn’t annoy me much). Perhaps the best is Love Song, a duet of Lovano on tenor sax and Blackman on drums.

Another Lifetime is Blackman’s tribute to Tony Williams (the Lifetime of the title refers to his legendary jazz-rock band). For me, it is much more than a tribute album. I’ve discovered a fantastic drummer and bandleader.

Stagg SM5B Drumsticks

by Stagg Music

I bought this pair of drumsticks with a goal of customising them for our next gig: Liverpool Carnival parade! Here’s a result.

Stagg Maple Series 5B Drumsticks, acrylic paint. More photos of drumsticks @ Shutterstock.

April

by Deep Purple

You would think that Deep Purple could have done better than naming their 1969 album Deep Purple, but there you go. I always knew this album as April. Tonight I was listening to it again on my way to the samba practice. In the opening track, Chasing Shadows, Ian Paice manages to sound like a full band of African drummers. And then, bluesy Why Didn’t Rosemary? and The Painter, psychedelic The Bird Has Flown, orchestral April. A quintessential prog-rock record which never gets boring.

Addenbrooke’s fireworks

Yes, it’s this time of year again. Tonight, Arco Iris played before and after the (very impressive!) fireworks display at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. This is my second gig when I was playing caixa. Compared with surdo, you have to work much harder, which is a good news now the summer’s over: it was rather chilly tonight.

More photos of fireworks @ Shutterstock.