Part of Lulaworld 2013….

Admission: $15 cover and $49 dinner and show package includes cover for Ahmed Mitchell band + dance lesson by Afrolatino + Yani Borrel CD release party at 10pm.  To reserve a table for dinner please use open table or call 416 588 0307.

First up, the excellent Ahmed Mitchell at 8 PM.

As part of his Breath of Life Project, Cuban-Canadian drummer Amhed Mitchel launches his debut CD Path to Heaven. Hosted by Mary Ito from CBC’s Fresh Air.

Mitchel’s octet, comprised of some the city’s most stellar jazz and Latin players including Elmer Ferrer, Stan Fomin, Roberto Riveron, Jorge Luis Papiosco, Luis Denis, Pablosky Rosales and Dave Restivo, will be joined by two very special guests – Robi Botos and Cuban trumpet virtuoso, Alexander Brown.

Written in honour and gratitude to his recently deceased father, Amhed composed the pieces over the course of the last year as a way of exploring light.” The beautiful and evocative melodies, complex Cuban rhythms and inspired arrangements highlight the unique voices of each of the ensemble’s players.

A highly-respected player internationally, Mitchel has performed with Chucho Valdez, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Dave Holland, Dianne Reeves and Lionel Loueke.

Hosted by CBC Radio’s Here and Now host Mary Ito.

Followed by Dance Lesson by Afro Latino Dance Company, biggest Cuban style school in Toronto.  Reminder: Sat May 18, Afro Latino sponsors an open night club dance party with DJs, 1 floor dedicated to Cuban dance music.

Then at 10:30 PM Yani Borrell CD release:

One of Toronto’s best-loved salsa singers, Yani launches his first CD. His debut (self-titled) solo release is destined to become a classic for salsa dancers, both locally and internationally.

Recorded in Colombia and produced and arranged by Toronto’s Roberto Linares Brown, the album has unique harmonic qualities that show off Yani’s distinctive vocals. Fans of artists such as Victor Manuelle, Gilberto Santa Rosa or Marc Anthony will love this accessible and irresistable new recording.

Yani developed his unique vocal style and dynamic stage presence with well-known Cuban show bands including the internationally-acclaimed orchestra, Valentin Y Los Del Caribe. In Toronto, he leads his own project The Clave Kings and performs regularly with the popular Café Cubano, Cojunto Lacalu and the Roberto Linares Brown Orchestra.

The distance between Kingston, Jamaica and Havana, Cuba is a short 812 kilometres made even shorter through the music of native Jamaican Everton “Pablo” Paul. Members of La Academia will join us direct from Cuba.

Recorded at the Nelson Studio in Havana Cuba, Remembrance is an amazing recast of Bob Marley’s music featuring Everton ‘Pablo’ Paul and a choice group of Havana-based musicians – La Academia – led by Ruy Lopez Nussa and arranged by musical director Roberto Garcia Lopez. The album is an inventive fusion of indigenous contemporary rhythm patterns from Cuba and Jamaica, based on the universal songbook of Bob Marley.

Featured in the “Jamaica To Toronto” project, Everton “Pablo” Paul is known to Toronto audiences as a founding member of The Cougars.

The evening will open with a set by Jay Douglas and The All Stars.

UPDATE: note that this week’s opening night May 16, 2013, appears to be a freebie… couples can RSVP for admission, see address on the poster.

LUCY RICARDO SOUND SYSTEM is a 10-piece Latinova ensemble comprised of an all-star lineup of Toronto’s top Latin musicians including vocalists Eliana Cuevas and Kwansa Shelley of Bran Van 3000. Beginning on May 16, they will perform a weekly Thursday residency at the Courthouse, 57 Adelaide Ave. E. Lucy Ricardo weaves a playful hodge-podge of musical styles including samba, bossa nova, bolero, rumba and mambo to favorite covers by Astrud Gilbert, Stan Getz, Jobim, Celia Cruz and Sergio Mendes. Fans new and old will finally have access to these once hard-to-find classics in downtown Toronto.

Courthouse, 57 Adelaide Ave. E. – Doors 8:00pm; concert 9:30pm – Tickets $10 (available at the door)

Members of Iya Iré come from diverse performance backgrounds and each brings a different strength to the local Toronto rumba troupe.

Cuando en Toronto se toca rumbon… tiembla la tierra!

… Sun May 19 at 5 pm… at the Painted Lady… 218 Ossington Avenue in Toronto.

(stock photo)

Every jazz community seems to have at least one Bobby Carcassés: a cat who is good enough to star in a bigger scene, but stays behind to mentor young musicians and organize within the city. The lesser-known heroes, the musicians’ musicians. Except the community represented by Bobby Carcasses [car-cuh-SES — accents don't work on NPR.org] happens to be Havana, Cuba — where jazz was once stifled by a fiercely anti-U.S. government.

Every jazz community seems to have at least one Bobby Carcasses: a cat who is good enough to star in a bigger scene, but stays behind to mentor young musicians and organize within the city. The lesser-known heroes, the musicians’ musicians. Except the community represented by Bobby Carcasses [car-cuh-SES — accents don't work on NPR.org] happens to be Havana, Cuba — where jazz was once stifled by a fiercely anti-U.S. government.

That’s from an NPR article…

It’s difficult to imagine the dedication to jazz that kept it alive in Cuba while it was considered pretty much treasonous.  Here’s one of the men who did that, and has ensured that jazz is as strong an influence in modern Cuba as it is today.

On stage in Toronto, at Lula Lounge, as part of the Lula World festival… we can enjoy the easy showmanship and talent of this great musician.  Sharing the stage, in respect and musical friendship, will be legends of jazz Hilario Duran, and Jane Bunnett.

… Who now finally in Cuba, gets his recognition as a leading light of Cuban music and a great artist:

From Radio Angulo / editorweb@radioangulo.icrt.cu / Saturday, 16 February 2013 12:58

The singer, songwriter and instrumentalist Bobby Carcasses recieved today the 2012 Cuban National Music Award.

A jury chaired by Digna Guerra, director of the National Choir of Cuba, and integrated by the musicologist Maria Teresa Linares, and teachers Luis Carbonell, Adalberto Alvarez and Pancho Amat (they all deserved this award in previous years), selected Carcasses by all of his work.

Bobby Carcasses, a leading exponent of the Cuban jazz, has become known for the variety of roles he can play over the stage, with his trusty trumpet and vocal work, for what many qualify him as a ” showman”.

His work has not been limited only to music, but has expanded into areas such as teaching, painting and poetry.

Carcasses, who was born in Jamaica, is founder of one of the most important events of latin jazz in the world: the Jazz Plaza Festival, which he founded along with other important Cuban musical figures.

His most famous titles are: “El amor llegara con el tiempo,” “Como pompas de jabon,” “Son de Cuba a Puerto Rico,” and “Guanguanco Blues.”

His discography has nearly ten albums in collaboration with Emiliano Salvador, Enrique Jorrin, Mario Bauza, Chucho Valdes and his son Roberto Julio (well-known from being the leader of modern fusion group Interactivo).

Cuban music went haywire after Fidel Castro’s revolution. The lecture will explore what really happened, how “salsa” came to be, what that clave thingy is, and why Cuban salsa sounds so different than “other” types of salsa!

Lulaworld widens the scope…  they prove the Cuban musical story is amazing every week with musical examples.

Now Lulaworld presents the 2nd free afternoon lecture. Through music and video examples, you’ll see and hear the rich and rica history of son, danzon, cha-cha-cha, mambo, and learn about how they helped form modern-day salsa.

Lani Milstein…  an academic, a rumbera, a manager, a PR professional… rolled into one… has extensive history around Cuban music in various other cities before arriving in Toronto a few years back.  Lani is going to share some of her knowledge… and secrets… on the topic.

Even if you think you know a lot about what happened in Cuba to lead to what’s happening now in Cuba… Lani’s is going tell you things you didn’t know.

She holds a BFA in theatre/classical voice and an MA in ethnomusicology, and has worked extensively as an arts administrator, researcher, performer and producer throughout Cuba, Canada, and the United States. Currently she’s managing our fabulous local Cuban rumba troupe Iya Ire, among other jobs.

AFTER THE LECTURE:

As happened last week… the lecture will be followed by a neighbourhood “street dance”, in the club.  The Toronto Casino and Timba group runs “Rueda de la Calle” … free Cuban dancing on the street.

Stick around after Lani’s expose… enjoy some actual Cuban music and dance… playing some of the latest timba music, dancing “casino” and “rueda de casino”… i.e., Cuban-style salsa music and dancing.

If you know your “Dile que no” from your “Enchufla” you can join the rueda for a while!  Or just listen, or dance however you feel, to the same salsa music that is popular right now in Havana.   From about 2:30PM til about 5pm.

Lulaworld widens the scope…  they prove the Cuban musical story is amazing every week with musical examples.

Now Lulaworld presents a free afternoon lecture. Through music and video examples, you’ll see and hear the rich and rica history of son, danzon, cha-cha-cha, mambo, and learn about how they helped form modern-day salsa.

Lani Milstein…  an academic, a rumbera, a manager, a PR professional… rolled into one… has extensive history around Cuban music in various other cities before arriving in Toronto a few years back.  Lani is going to share some of her knowledge… and secrets… on the topic.

She holds a BFA in theatre/classical voice and an MA in ethnomusicology, and has worked extensively as an arts administrator, researcher, performer and producer throughout Cuba, Canada, and the United States. Currently she’s managing our fabulous local Cuban rumba troupe Iya Ire, among other jobs.

AFTER THE LECTURE:

This is more a coincidence than a plan, but it should be a blast… the Toronto Casino and Timba group runs “Rueda de la Calle” … free Cuban dancing on the street.

The group had planned another activity but they don’t want to miss the lecture… so why not combine?

Stick around after Lani’s expose… enjoy some actual Cuban music and dance… playing some of the latest timba music, dancing “casino” and “rueda de casino”… i.e., Cuban-style salsa music and dancing.

If you know your “Dile que no” from your “Enchufla” you can join the rueda for a while!  Or just listen, or dance however you feel, to the same salsa music that is popular right now in Havana.   From about 2:30PM til about 5pm.

Lulaworld 2013 is officially on…. fasten your seatbelts and expose yourself to great musical themes this month.  Starts Fri May 10 with:

10 PM CHANGUI HAVANA: One of Toronto’s newer ensembles, this twelve-piece all-Cuban group moves effortlessly from salsa and merengue to cumbia, bachata and gritty steet-style timba.

8 PM – Jay Danley… formerly the tres guitar player with Son Ache… and veteran of numerous recordings by Cuban artists… has a group called Ethio Jazz Project Fantahun Shewankochew.

Opening night of the 2013 Lulaworld festival! Jay Danley’s compositions combine Ethiojazz (Ethiopian scales with jazz) with influences from Latin, modern jazz, ambient and progressive music.

Presented by Lula Music and Arts Centre and Batuki Music Society. Hosted by Batuki Artistic Director Nadine McNulty.

Inspired by Ethiopian-born percussionist Mulatu Astatke of the popular Les Ethiopiques recording series, Danley creatively explores the deep beauty of Ethiopian music.

A master in the unique tunings of Ethiopian music, Fantahun Shewankochew is an acoustic krar player, multi instrumentalist, composer, arranger and vocalist who has performed throughout the world. His extensive discography includes an album of Ethiopian love songs featuring the popular young singer Gigi.

The concert will feature compositions by both Danley and Shewankochew as well as a few surprises.

• Fantahun Shewankochew – vocals and krar
• Jay Danley – guitar
• Chris Gale and Elena Kapeleris – saxes
• Sam Petite – bass
• Jeff Halischuck – drums
• Richard Whiteman – keyboards

In between musical events, join a beginner’s dance lesson with veteran dance teacher Vladimir Aranda.

You are invited to AfroLatino’s mega salsa and timba party!

Saturday, May 18, 2013

9:00pm until 2:00am

$10 cover includes !!!  :

There’s a tendency to think as fashions change, that even in back in its time the old stuff was more tame and tepid than any newer stuff.  That’s just part of the fashion think… it’s not reality.

Jorge Maza is here to prove that his Charanga Francesa style (+ Pablosky on tres guitar) of Cuban dance band music can beat most modern music bands at lifting  the roof, AND at setting fire to a dance floor.

Jorge Maza and Tipica Toronto at Lula Lounge, Sat May 4 2013.

“In the style known as Charanga Francesa (with the addition of Cuban tres guitar), Tipica Toronto is led by veteran flautist, Jorge Maza, who performed for many years with Cubanisimo.”