Mar 11, 2011 - The deal for an additional concert did not go through after all. But it was a fantastic, completely sold out, Thursday night at the Conga Room.
Mar 10, 2011 - Sin Salsa No Hay Paraiso (There’s No Paradise Without Salsa) say the lyrics of a recent El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico song. By that standard, there will certainly be paradise in Los Angeles tonight!
El Gran Combo, an institution of Salsa music for now five decades, is now in town. The entire group arrived just three hours ago, everybody looking good, healthy, and excited.
They kindly made time to speak to the media at the lobby of their hotel in little Tokyo. But, of course, the best conversations happen sometimes just at ear shot. Take this as example:
“Did you get something to eat?” says, in Spanish, a musician wearing an El Gran Combo jacket.
“No!” answers another one wearing the same logo, “I can’t find anything but Japanese food around here!”
“And??!!” replies the first, “What did you want? arroz con habichuelas y lechon?!” (rice, beans and pork – a traditional Puerto Rican meal)
The second one did not respond anymore. But you and I know that he probably did want exactly that.
Later, talking for a few minutes with director Rafael Ithier and his three singers, I told them about the rumor that was heard about town for the past six months or so, about the El Gran Combo wanting to disband.
“I heard that today!” said Charlie Aponte laughing.
“As long as we have our health and we keep on loving making music as we do,” added Ithier, “the group is not going anywhere.” Ithier compared their career to that of boxers that want to keep at it for as long as the body is willing.
The group is here after finishing seven concerts in Colombia, if proof is what we need about their passion. After LA, they are going back to their beloved island for a deserved rest.
As far as the Salsa community in LA - keep an eye and ear open! The word on the Salsa grapevine this second is that the venue and the band are working really hard on a second show! Perhaps for tomorrow Friday.
Be it tonight, or perhaps even tomorrow!, we Los Angeles Salseros are lucky to have with us again these “boxeadores de la Salsa!”
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