congaplace.com

Last December I was in Miami and I was looking for live Latin bands and I did not find as many as I expected, actually only two places had Latin bands that weekend.
So a friend told me to go to this post viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4285&hilit=miami+latin
It is a very SAD post. Here in Baltimore, MD where the Latino population is growing there was only one place to listen to Live Latin bands and now that place does not do it anymore.

I have being wondering why it is so hard to keep a place with Live Latin Music? Do you know which Towns, Cities and/or States have the most Live Latin Music activity?
or Do you know Where is a Big Demand for Live Latin Bands and/or Musicians and there is not enough Latin musicians available? Where is the Big demand for Latin Music for Clubs, Events, Private Parties?

Maybe other people here is thinking in moving around to find better luck and pursuit their Music Carriers. If you want to move to Baltimore, MD to play gigs, right now it sucks.


DJBakan

Little Rock Arkansas, Me Myself and I for the last 18 years, I did see Poncho Sanchez 2 years ago at a local college, and Tito Puente with Dandy on bongo, in the mid 90's so thats 2 bands in 18 years..not a salsa friendly state..Blues, Bluegrass, Rock, Country good for guitar pickers..

San Francisco and the Bay Area has a lot.

Nothing beats Souther California, it's full of venues that present Latin Music each day of the week.
Just for starters look check out this local link.
Type Salsa, Latin Jazz, Afro Cuban or whatever type of Latin Music you are interested in.
Cheers.

http://www.lajazz.com/

Yeah....I think we touched this subject already and we heard from a couple of our members from Fl.
Lots of Latin population but no live.

Though it's a really small - out of the way - little known area, Grass Valley has a 3 day World Festival. This year it's going to have The "Afro Cuban Allstars" in the line-up! Gary Greenberg and Bob Scarlett have beginner and advanced classes here twice a week, and they are both really awesome sources. I just had a lesson with Gary today where he totally turned my whole world inside-out with the left hand-leading Matanzan Tres Dos pattern with a complete workout including second drum tumbao.

Cincinnati, OH. Ha ha, I can think of three bands that perform regularly here.

A little out of your way, but Sydney has live Latin music venues Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun nights. Also plenty of weekly open jams. Then there's the DJ only venues also.
And no stop, search & seaizure laws.

KING CONGA wrote:Nothing beats Souther California, it's full of venues that present Latin Music each day of the week.
Just for starters look check out this local link.
Type Salsa, Latin Jazz, Afro Cuban or whatever type of Latin Music you are interested in.
Cheers.

http://www.lajazz.com/

Thanks for you info
Do you know what are the mayor groups of Latinos on Southern California that makes it a Hot Live Latin Music place?

ABAKUA wrote:A little out of your way, but Sydney has live Latin music venues Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun nights. Also plenty of weekly open jams. Then there's the DJ only venues also.
And no stop, search & seaizure laws.

Looks like the NEW Spanish Harlem is in Australia
What about private gigs, Do bands get them often too?

Thanks Abakua


DJBakan

One of the BEST bands in Miami(and not because I was in it before I left Miami), ORIENTE is a great band of great musicians ..here is the most recent gig of theirs on Miami Beach at Van Dykes Cafe...Yoel del Sol on congas took my place when I left and is still with them today..Eddie Balzoa is from Cuba and the guitarist leader of the band... the bass player is Pepi Aparicio one of my best friends for over 35 years. Stewart King on trumpet also a long time friend and former player in my band in Miami has matured on the trumpet and sounds better than ever...the drummer I am not familiar with but is an asset to the band who ever he is...so here is ORIENTE give the video time to download...they do a couple of sets with a break.."JC" Johnny Conga...ps here is a photo of me with Oriente in Miami before I left..

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8225325