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Latin Beat Magazine, Oct, 2000 by Rudy Mangual

Celebrating their 48th Anniversary Tour, El Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández returns to the U.S. with a schedule of 18 dates in September-October 2000, showcasing their new Los Matachines choreography. The 75-member dance troupe is a celebration of life in movement with music and colors. Their danzas represent pre-Hispanic rituals and dramatic events of the history of Mexico. Los Matachines' choreography represents a battle between Spanish Christianity and pre-Hispanic paganism. In conjunction with the ballet's presentations in the Los Angeles Universal Amphitheatre September 22-24, a festival called Lo Mejor de México took place at the Universal City Walk, (free to the public) featuring the music, arts, dances, and foods of Mexico. The tour continues throughout the month of October in the cities of El Paso, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Dallas, and Forth Worth, Texas, moving next to the state of Florida for presentations in Clearwater, Melbourne, Miami and Jacksonville, culminating with dates in Washington, DC, New Jersey, and New York.

The Los Angeles County Arts Commission announced the schedule for this year's sixth annual Los Angeles County Arts Open House. Arts organizations throughout Los Angeles will be presenting over 100 performances, exhibitions and other cultural events free to the public on Saturday, October 7 as part of the celebration of National Arts and Humanities Month. This "Open House" event offers a huge cache of performances and visual arts resources from listening to African drumming to enjoying some great live Latin jazz music. Patrons can also learn to make a mask, spin yarn, or learn to dance flamenco. Complete schedules are available at public libraries throughout the county on the Arts Commission website --http://www.lacountyarts.org-- and through the Open House 24-hour Hotline, 213-972-3099. Visit Los Angeles' major museums this month. Numerous activities are being geared toward families and some even feature hands-on participation.

Direct from New York City, salsa vocalist Herman Olivera (vocalist for Eddie Palmieri and Conjunto Libre) will be in town performing with Johnny Polanco y su Conjunto Amistad on Friday, October 6, at the Sportsman's Lodge in Studio City. Also from the Big Apple, Tito Nieves will be gracing our city on Friday, October 20, at the Sportsman's Lodge. Cuba's legendary Orquesta Aragón will be performing at the same venue on Thursday, November 2, together with LA's hot salsa band Orquesta Son Mayor.

Latin Beat Magazine will be holding their 10th Anniversary West Coast Celebration on Thursday, October 19 at the popular Conga Room nightclub in Los Angeles. Music will be provided by Johnny Polanco y su Conjunto Amistad. Doors open at 9:30 pm. Reservations are recommended. Come and meet the staff of Latin Beat Magazine and join in the anniversary celebration and in their release party for two Latin jazz compilations that were just released by The Right Stuff (a division of EMI Capital). The CDs, Latin Beat Magazine: Real Latin Jazz -- Percussion, Piano & Strings, and Real Latin Jazz -- Brass, Horns & Winds feature some of the best Latin jazz selections and artists of our time. Percussionists Poncho Sánchez and Bobby Matos both have tracks included in these compilations.

The long anticipated debut release from Orquesta La Palabra is finally out and available from Morrowland Records. This LA based band is one of the busiest in town and caters to both Hispanics and non-Hispanic dance audiences. Johnny Polanco y su Conjunto Amistad are back in the studio working on their second production, scheduled for a February 2001 release. Another pair of local bands enjoying new CDs are Cuba LA, led by flutist Danilo Lozano, and The Octavio Figueroa Latin Jazz Band led by pianist Octavio Figueroa and featuring the music of the orchestras La Sorpresa and La Combinación together.

Continue supporting your local artists, musicians, and venues. Don't let the music stop (que no se pare la rumba).