June 17, 2011 – In celebration of the Dia de San Juan (St. John’s Day), a Puerto Rican holiday which the transplants from the island in California continue to uphold, three of the best soneros (singers who can improvise their lyrics) performed last Sunday as part of a festival at Bonelli Park, in San Dimas – Ray de la Paz, Frankie Vasquez, and Michael Stuart. Backing the singers was the local Salsa band Johnny Polanco y su Conjunto Amistad. Other bands were part of the festivities, including LA Plena, performing a traditional genre of Puerto Rican music called plena.
“It was very nice seeing so many people of different nationalities having a good time and enjoying good salsa,” said Giancarlo Anderson, a percussionist of Panamanian descent. “The event got to its climax when all threesoneros demonstrated why they are the best in the market. Starting with Johnny Pacheco's slow tempo “Quitate Tu,” then followed by the rumba “Ave Maria Morena,” the three played with the clave with a lot of swing and showed their improvisation skills. The band was also swinging.”
“The weather was perfect,” said Wendy Parra, a Puerto Rican transplant herself now living in Orange County. “De La Paz, Frankie Vasquez, and Michael were super nice to their fans. They signed my pictures and were very friendly. The organizers did a great job, kudos to them. I loved the option to pay an extra $10 to be backstage.”
Cal Sakaniwa, the Salsa fan per excellence who took all the pictures attached to this article, said he “danced so much” his body “is still aching” these many days later. Since he’s been dancing every day since one must assume he’s exaggerating, but it shows just how much fun he and so many others in attendance enjoyed.
“We had over 3,000 people,” said Benny Garcia, of Fiestalegre.net, the festival’s organizer. “Everyone loved it,” he added.
For Salsa events in Los Angeles visit http://www.VidaSalsera.com
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