Que pasa: Los Angeles

Latin Beat Magazine, Sept, 1998 by Rudy Mangual

La Masia Restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood celebrated their 27th Birthday on July 27 with a private and very exclusive evening hosted by owner Josie Prado, Jon Mercedes, and Octavio Nuiry. The landmark restaurant features some of the best Spanish cuisine in Los Angeles and top notch local entertainment. Congratulations on a superb evening full of wonderful food and wonderful friends.

After enduring one of the hottest summers in recent years, the West Coast played host to visits from super artists Carlos Vives out of Colombia, Johnny Almendra & Los Jóvenes del Barrio from New York City (on their first performance in Los Angeles), Larry Harlow & The Latin Legends Band, and Argentina's pride, rockers Los Piojos.

Cuban flautist/bandleader Maraca will be performing with special guest musicians at the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City on Thursday, September 3, 1998. Also performing that evening will be Johnny Polanco y su Conjunto Amistad. This will be the only performance by Maraca in Los Angeles.

Our own local star, Poncho Sánchez & his Latin Jazz Band will be headliners at the Salsa Fridays at the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City on September 11, 1998. They will also be performing at the Conga Room on September 17, in West Los Angeles, in the Miracle Mile area.

The SalsaSon Tour of Jimmy Bosch, together with the legendary Cuban group Son 14, will be gracing the stage of the Conga Room on Thursday, September 10, 1998. Trombonist/bandleader Jimmy Bosch is touring the U.S. featuring the music of his debut solo CD Soneando Trombón. The veteran bone player and master of his instrument is one of the most in-demand Latin musicians around. Son 14 has been one of Cuba's musical jewels for some time now, housing numerous hit compositions from their almost two decades of existence. This will be their first visit to the City of Angels.

The local Latin music ensemble Tolú, led by saxophonist Justo Almario and percussionist Alex Acuña, just released the CD Rumbero's Poetry, featuring some of L.A.'s top local players like Luis Conte, Harry Kim, Tiki Pasillas, John Peña, Joe Rotondi, Michito Sánchez, Arturo Velasco, and a once-local musician (now residing in Puerto Rico), Luis Enrique. Also enjoying a new CD release is percussionist Johnny Blas, with Mambo 2000. With a local posse that includes Mark Gutierrez, Paul Pérez, José DeLeón, Dan Weinstein, Art Velasco, Francisco Torres, Steve Baxter, and Isaac Smith, Blas and friends cook up a healthy serving of Latin jazz music. Cuba L.A. is another homemade CD treat which was released this summer. The project was led by Professor Danilo Lozano, flutist and musical director of the ensemble, which featured Luis Conte, Ilmar Gavilán, Harry Kim, Raymundo Olivera, Carlos del Puerto Jr., Alberto Salas, Michito Sánchez, and Orestes Vilató. Puerto Rican bassist/bandleader Eliseo Borrero, who has been based out of Los Angeles for the past years, also released his debut solo CD titled Amanecer Caribeño. The CD features, among others, guitarist Jorge Strunz, timbalero Orestes Vilató, and percussionist Tiki Pasillas.

El Floridita Restaurant in Hollywood continues to be the place to be on Monday nights, but only if you made reservations weeks in advance. The place gets packed every Monday night and its popularity continues to grow. On Wednesdays, you have a better chance of getting in (so far) and enjoying the succulent cuisine from owner Armando's kitchen, and excellent live music from some of the top local bands in town, like Johnny Polanco y su Conjunto Amistad and Charanga Cubana. Live music is also featured on Fridays and Saturday nights to the same extent, as well as appetizing Cuban and Central American cuisine seven days a week.

El Coco Salsa Club returned home on Thursday, July 30th 1998, and every Thursday thereafter at its new location within Universal Studio's CityWalk at BB King's nightclub. El Coco will continue its previous tradition of presenting live performances from the hottest local and international Latin stars, free salsa dance lessons, and the top DJs spinning the best dance tracks of the times. On opening night, Rudy Regalado & Chevere commemorated the evening with their brand of fiery salsa, to the approval of a full house.

El Ballet Folklorico de México de Amalia Hernández will be celebrating its 46th Anniversary with three performances at the Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, September 18, 19 and 20, 1998. This tour includes the United States Premiere of Dance of Quetzales. The 65-member dance and musical troupe performs a celebration of life in movement, music and color brought to the stage through a myriad of Mayan and Aztec ritual danzas, dramatic events from Mexico's past, and colorful snapshots of its diverse culture and folklore.

Continue supporting your local events and artists. Peace