Que Pasa in Los Angeles

Latin Beat Magazine, April, 2006 by Rudy Mangual

The Spring 2006 at the Getty Series continues throughout the month of May with numerous art lectures, films and video, demonstrations, family activities, gallery talks, and musical performances. Scheduled for May 12 and 13, 2006 is Latino Theater Company Presents Liz Estrada. Award-winning Jose Luis Valenzuela, artistic director of the Latino Theater Company, will direct this staged reading. Evelina Fernandez, noted L.A. playwright, puts her modern spin on this Aristophanic classic set in today's Los Angeles, dealing with our current involvement in the Middle East. Reservations are available beginning April 25. Call The Getty Center at 310-440-7300 or visit www.getty.edu for more information on this and other events.

The countdown to The 8th Annual West Coast Salsa Congress is on its way, scheduled for opening on May 25 through the 28th. This colossus event promises to bring together over 25,000 dancers of all levels and to represent over 42 countries and 235 U.S. cities. The four-day event will also feature around 50 workshops and over 150 dance performances. Social dancing to DJs from all over the world will be available while dance performances are in progress. All shows will be scheduled at earlier times this year to allow more time for dancing and for the enjoyment of the music of the headliner bands and international DJs.

Headlining bands this year include The Tiro Puente Orchestra (with special guests Frankie Morales), Tito Puente Jr. and Ronny Puente; T-pica '73, with the original band members and singers under the musical direction of Sonny Bravo; Puerto Rican Masters, featuring the vocals of Luis Carrion; The New Swing Sextet; Johnny Polanco & Conjunto Amistad; Orquesta Tabaco y Ron; Chino Espinoza y Los Duenos del Son; and Jimmy Bosch.

Qualifying competitions for the 2nd Annual World Salsa Championship in Las Vegas will take place during the 8th West Coast Salsa Congress. The event will be held at Salsa Land, erected especially for this congress on the grounds of the Hollywood Park Casino on 3883 W. Century Blvd. Inglewood, CA. 90303. Be a part of this historical annual salsa mega event. To register and for more information, call (310) 445-9705 or visit www.atpevents.com.

The Playboy Jazz Festival organization announced the artist lineup for the highly anticipated 28th annual Playboy Jazz Festival, to be held June 17th and 18th, 2006. This one-of-a-kind event marks the 28th consecutive year that Playboy Jazz Festival will present a full weekend of jazz at the famous Hollywood Bowl, along with a series of free pre-festival community concerts throughout the greater Los Angeles area. The Saturday, June 17th concert will feature the Stanley Clarke/George Duke Project, Branford Marsalis Quartet, Jamie Cullum, Benny Golson Quartet, The Golden Striker Trio, Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Baaba Maal, Hiromi, Cos of Good Music, The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Jazz Ensemble, and Spanish Harlem Orchestra. Sunday, June 18th headliners include McCoy Tyner Trio, Elvis Costello and The Imposters, Groovin' for Grover (featuring Gerald Albright, Jeff Lorber, and Kirk Whalum), Ozomatli, Chuck Mangione, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Eldar Djangirov, Christian Scott, Lesa Terry and the Women's Jazz Orchestra of Los Angeles, and Eddie Palmieri's Afro-Caribbean Jazz All-Stars (with special guests Regina Carter and David Sanchez). Great lineup and as an additional bonus, Bill Cosby is back as Master of Ceremonies.

Local bands and artists enjoying new releases around town include Robert Incelli, The Estrada Brothers, Justo Almario, and Tribe of Joseph. Others in the studios putting the final touches to their productions include vocalist Candi Sosa, Johnny Polanco & Conjunto Amistad, and Robertito Melendez's Latin Jazz, among others. Please continue supporting your local artists and their venues. Peace.