Live music in Las Palmas, May 2018

The summer is upon us, and suddenly, suddenly we are spoiled for choice. Here’s mine:

• 20 May: La Hormiga Contra La Abeja @ Fabrica La Isleta, Calle Princesa Guayarmina, 54
  It’s been a while — almost three years! — since the last time I’ve been to a jam session at Fabrica La Isleta. (Come to think of it, that was my first and last time.) The price went up from €2 to €3, which is still cheap, although I find it a bit cheeky to charge (a potential performer) for a jam session. Not that I was up to jamming recently. Timur and I went to see La Hormiga Contra La Abeja (“The Ant vs. The Bee”), the project of bassist and composer Tana Santana. And it was great. My favourite compositions were La Hormiga Contra La Abeja and El baile del vivo. The band played for about three quarters of an hour, then the guests started to join for a jam. We stayed for two standards, ’Round Midnight and Lullaby of Birdland, before heading home (Timur still had classes on Monday). Judging by number of guests with musical instruments, the jam went for at least one hour more.

  La Hormiga Contra La Abeja Tanausú “Tana” Santana Garrido: double bass, voice, composer Xerach Peñate Santana: drums Chago Miranda: electric guitar José Ángel Vera: sax

  

• 26 May: Perinké Big Band @ Teatro CICCA, Alameda de Colon, 1
  Timur and I went to see Perinké Big Band with guests, presenting their new album, Canary Islands Standards for Big Band. The themes were composed and/or arranged for big band by Rayko León. As Rayko explained himself, the goal was to fuse Canarian folklore with 20th century styles, not only those of “classical” big band but also of Latin jazz, dixieland and funk. I cannot honestly say it was a seamless fusion. For example, I was not exactly convinced with songs such as Maspalomas y tú and Mi tierra guanche (those who grew listening to Широка страна моя родная would understand). The numbers I enjoyed the most were Afro-Cuban flavoured La Aldea (with great support of La Parranda de Teror) and Polka majorera. I loved the vintage sound of the orchestra. The musician I was impressed the most was the violinist Raúl Bermúdez.

  Perinké Big Band Ximo Martínez: music director Rayko León: piano Eduardo Naranjo: alto sax Héctor Guerra: alto sax Echedey Angulo: tenor sax Eliseo Bordón: tenor sax Candy González: baritone sax Marcos Pulido: trumpet Juan Antonio Guerrero: trumpet Silvia Jiménez: trumpet Antonio Ojeda “Tonono”: trumpet Luis Hernández: trumpet Orlando González: trombone Javier Herrera: trombone Franklin Cárdenes: trombone Antonio Peña “Ñito”: trombone Samantha de León: double bass, electric bass Samuel Medina: drums Amelia Gutiérrez: percussion Guests Juan Manuel Alemán: clarinet Raúl Bermúdez Cárdenas: violin Moneiba Hidalgo: vocal Lorena Román: vocal Mari Carmen Segura: vocal La Parranda de Teror

• 27 May: The Josés & Cristina James @ Clipper La Puntilla, Calle Caleta
  I don’t know if this is the time and place to bring it up; I’ll do it anyway. I’ve heard quite a few Spanish bands playing what they call “standards”, “soul standards” or “R&B standards” (whatever “R&B” stands for). And here’s what really pains me: astonishing level of musicianship meeting poorly, carelessly selected repertoire. There are thousands of great songs, why oh why they keep playing the same tunes ad nauseam? Is Summertime obligatory? Can we give Stevie Wonder some rest? What Michael Jackson is even doing here? Ah well. The rant is over. The band playing this Isleta Sunset was solid and inventive, the singer has soul and definitely can sing the blues.

  The Josés & Cristina James José Alberto Medina: piano José Carlos Cejudo: electric bass José Víctor González: drums Cristina James: vocal

• 29 May: Efecto Pasillo @ Plaza de Santa Ana
  I heard of Efecto Pasillo before, not so much their actual music though, and had absolutely no idea that they are hailing from our beautiful island. And, would you believe it, I learned that they were to perform on the eve of the Día de Canarias, hours before the show started, thanks to Tamara. And what a show! What wonderful and positive music — just what I needed. The band administered their medicine of “buenrollismo con la precisión casi farmacológica” from 22:40 till about ten past midnight, followed by a firework display.

  Efecto Pasillo Nau Barreto: guitars Javier Moreno: drums Arturo Sosa: bass Iván Torres: vocals, guitar

Hasta luego, Las Palmas. I’ll be back before Christmas.