Qué pasa? - conciertos, festivales - TT: What's up? - TA: concerts, festivals - Artículo Breve

Latin Beat Magazine, May, 2001 by Rudy Mangual

Leading the path of summer events this year in our city is the annual Carnaval 2001 sponsored in part by the Cuban American Cultural Institute of Los Angeles. The event will take place on Sunday, May 6, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. at the Northrop Grumman grounds on 120th Street in the city of Hawthorne. Headlining the event will be Celia Cruz, the Queen of Salsa, accompanied by the orchestra of Yari Moré. Also performing will be the groups Timbao and Charanga Cubana. Admission is only $5, with children under 12 free. Come enjoy a day of music, dance, family games, Cuban and international cuisine, and many other surprises during Carnaval 2001.

On Saturday, May 12, at the Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, California, a benefit dinner concert will be held featuring the sounds of Johnny Polanco y su Conjunto Amistad, together with DJ Frank. All proceeds from this event will go to benefit Casa Cárdenas in Baldwin Park. Casa Cárdenas offers counseling services for children, adolescents, adults and seniors who are dealing with family conflicts, mental health issues and other health concerns. This year, they will also expand their services to include an adult day care program. Buffet dinner will be available from 7:30 to 9 p.m., with dance lessons commencing at 8 p.m. Admission for dinner and dance is $30 (for the dance only, $20 in advance and $25 at the door). For reservations to attend this humanitarian event call Casa Cárdenas at (626) 960-2870.

The Playboy Jazz Festival organization will once again sponsor a six-week series of free community concerts throughout the county of Los Angeles highlighting the diversity of jazz music. This series is offered in conjunction with the upcoming 23rd annual Playboy Jazz Festival (to be held June 16 and 17 at the Hollywood Bowl). From the hot Latin rhythms of Alex Acuña and Justo Almario's Tolú, to the cool R&B sounds of Ronnie Laws, to the fresh jazz of guitarist Eric Essix and the big band sounds of Maiden Voyage, the free events will be held throughout the month of May and early June in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Santa Monica, and Baldwin Hills. Also joining the lineup of artists is Cuba's Pachito Alonso y sus Kini Kini, local favorites Poncho Sánchez and his Latin jazz band, Latin soul artist Leslie Paula, and the high-energy sounds of Rudy Regalado and Chévere, among others. By popular demand, Playboy will also return this year to The Conga Room for another sizzling Latin jazz dance party on Sunday, May 20, featuring the group Radio Bemba.

The annual, most anticipated music dance event in our city is The 3rd Annual West Coast Salsa Congress. To be held from May 25 to 27 at the Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, California, the three-day event is expected to bring together over 3,000 salseros per day literally from all corners of the planet, to partake in salsa dance clinics, exhibitions, workshops and dance concerts. Headlining the event will be legendary Cuban master of the bass, Israel López "Cachao;" Roberto Roena y El Apollo Sound (direct from Puerto Rico); from New York City, Los Hermanos Moreno; from San Francisco, Julio Bravo y su Orquesta, and from Los Angeles, Johnny Polanco y Conjunto Amistad, Orquesta Costazul, and Orquesta Son Mayor.

Direct from New York City and Puerto Rico, salsa superstar Tito Nieves and his orchestra will be performing at the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City on June 1.

For lovers of Brazilian music, Bebel Gilberto (daughter of J Gilberto, creator of the bossa nova) will be performing in town on Sunday, July 1, at the Hollywood Bowl.