Don Porfirio's

Peña Don Porfirio Calle Manuel Segura 115 Barranco, Lima, Peru

On Friday night I went to Peña Don Porfirio. Originally, peñas were held in the household and were a time for for family and friends to be together and enjoy traditional Afro-Peruvian or Criollo music. Don Porfirio's is one of the best, most authentic peñas in Lima, that is open to the public. It is a great place to go and really enjoy true Afro-Peruvian music.

Zapateo dancing is one of the styles of dancing associated with criollo music. With both Peruvian and African influences this style of tap dancing is really incredible to watch. In Peru there are yearly zapateo festivals and contests. Freddy "Huevito" Lobaton is a world zapateo champion.

Huevito's Zapateo at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas during Gabriel Alegria Tour

I got this video from Gabriel Alegria yesterday. This video chronicles the Gabriel Alegria Sextet on days 4,5,and 6 of their tour. A behind the scenes look at life on the road including clips from master classes and personal anecdotes about teacher,poet, musician, and pioneer for Peruvian women's rights and the rights of the black and indigenous people of Peru, Victoria Santa Cruz. There is great footage of Huevito playing the cajita. The song that you hear some of at the end of the video is El Sur. All of Gabriel's CD can be downloaded at Saponegro Records.

Going through the city of Lima you will see ads all over the place, on walls, in the streets, on signs, and even on mountains. Not only do these mountains accentuate the vastness of this sprawling, seemingly endless city, but they also serve as terrific man made billboards. In this case as an advertisement for a political candidate in the November elections.







This video is a February 11, 2007 performance of the Gabriel Alegria Sextet in Rockville, Maryland. Starting at 1:25 there is an incredible cajon solo by Freddy "Huevito" Lobaton that lasts almost one minute. In the solo Huevito uses many techniques and at 2:30 you can see how he slides his foot up and down the cajon to change its pitch. From the solo the sextet breaks into a jazz song with a very typical Afro-Peruvian Festejo beat. At 3:58 Laurnadrea Leguia has an amazing sax solo. The last song of the show 5:50 is really the essence of Afro-Peruvian jazz. I will be posting more videos from the tour as they come in.

Finally Some Music!

I have found a solution for those who, like me, are unfortunate enough to be alone on Valentines Day, a day, or more like a day and the week leading up to that day, where you are constantly forced to ask the question "What about me?" Rather than binging on those heart shaped candies that have "be mine" inscribed on them and taste suspiciously like the piece of chalk you were dared to eat in the second grade, come to Peru and celebrate friendship day. Celebrated alongside Valentines Day, Friendship Day gives everyone a chance to celebrate, to be part of the fun. So, Happy Valentines and Friendship Day to everyone.

Now to the music. I couldn't be happier in Peru right now. I've celebrated friendship day, I'm hearing incredible music, and I am missing a brutal winter at home in the US. It's summer in Peru right now and I thought I'd give everyone a chance to warm up a little bit. Listen to these two songs and you're in Lima relaxing, sipping on an Inca Kola or pisco sour on a warm summer day.
Summertime and El Norte by Gabriel Alegria from the CD Nuevo Mundo

Russel Ferrante's Nuevo Mundo Solo

Here is pianist Russell Ferrante's solo on Hijas del Sol, a song on Gabriel Alegria's CD Nuevo Mundo. Bobby Shew is the man sitting in the background. This video was made during a recording session at Stagg St. Studios in LA. To download all of Hijas Del Sol go to Saponegro.

Interview not Aired until tomorrow

I just wanted to notify everyone that Gabriel Alegria's Univision interview will not be aired until tomorrow Friday at 6:30 pm est I changed the date on my previous posts but I wanted to make sure nobody misses this interview. Sorry for the confusion I didn't realize that univision airs their interviews a day after they are recorded.

New Saponegro Artist

First of all I want to remind everyone that Friday at 6:30pm est Gabriel Alegria will be on Univision. It will be something you won't want to miss.

I met Ernesto Hermoza, Saponegros Newest artist, today, and I got a chance to hear his CD. It's really cool! Ernesto is an incredible Spanish style guitarist who plays jazz songs, and incorporates Afro-Peruvian percussive beats from the cajon, cajita, and quijada. It is incredible to hear the blend of these three distinct musical styles come together and form something totally unique. Ernesto signed yesterday and he should start recording soon, so keep your eyes open for any update.

I have posted a video on youtube.com of yellowjacket's pianist Russell Ferrante's solo on Gabriel Alegria's Nuevo Mundo CD. The video was made during a recording session LA's famous Stagg St. Studios. Both Gabriel and Bobby Shew are in the background of the video and the solo is amazing. Click here to go to youtube to see the video.

Saponegro does Univision!

Gabriel Alegria will perform with his sextet live on Univision, Friday February 9, in New York City at 6:30pm est. Univision is the world's largest spanish speaking television network. Experience the magic of Afro-peruvian jazz first hand and get a free preview of Gabriel's upcoming tour and newely released cd. You won't want to miss it! Your first chance to actually see afro-peruvian music! ( Don't worry I am in the process of collecting media files to post on the blog.) A taste of Peru with pecussionist and world zapateo (afro-peruvian tap dancing) champion Freddy "huevito" Lobaton, Joscha Oetz (bass), Laurandrea Leguia (sax), Hugo Alcazar (arguably Peru's finest percussionist), and Gabriel. A taste you will never forget.

Creatividad Peruana

Inca Kola is the world's only national drink that sells more than coca-cola. It is perfect alongside a Peruvian ceviche or chifa, Peru's delicious take on Chinese food. Embracing ancient cultural heritage in a glass bottle, this golden, bubble gum flavored beverage is, much like Peru's music, an emblem of creativity. Creativity bouncing off the afro-peruvian percussion of the cajon, a hollow wooden box, and the quijada, the jawbone of an ass. Afro-Peruvian music and Inca Kola, What a good Idea!