The Mambo Legends Orchestra Tito Puente's Legacy

I wish I was born back in the days when men and women would dress up and dance the night away in big ballrooms with live orchestras. Last Saturday as I listend and danced to the Mambo Legends Orchestra, I was transported back to those days. In the large, 4000 square-foot ballroom at Artisphere in Arlington, Virginia, I was caught up in a swirl of the soulful Latin sounds of 20-piece band complete sensational singers, swinging horns, congas, timbales and an upright bass. In a joint effort with the Smithsonian Institution’s Anacostia Community Museum, the arts center celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by hosting a Latin music and dance party featuring the Mambo Legends Orchestra. The event was hold in honor of Latin Jazz King, Tito Puente. The Legacy Lives The Mambo Legends Orchestra brings together former musicians who performed with great Latin Jazz percussionist, composer and band leader, Tito Puente. Led by John “Dandy” Rodiguez, Mitch Frohman, musical director José Madera, the orchestra continues the rich Latin sounds that filled New York City’s music and dance hall, the Palladium, in the 1950’s and 1960’s. After Puente’s death in 2000, the band continued to play for a year. But after Puente’s wife disessembled the band the orchestra performed under a new name, the Latin Giants. With a new name, the band recorded albums under the Gigante record label. But, after splitting with record label, they formed a new band called The Mambo Legends Orchestra. Although the names of band changed, the band’s sound and authenticity remained the same. We are the only band to have about 90% of the living Tito Puente musicians from the last bands that he had over the last 20-30-40 years,” says Frohman, Puente’s saxophone player and flutist. “[We’re] not people who played with the children of Tito Puente, Tito Rodruigez, and Machito…but actually played with [them]. That’s what the Mambo Legends Orchestra is.” As the Mambo Legends Orchestra continues the Latin jazz legacy they are also reaching back to younger generations. The Mambo Legends Orchestra will be featured in the upcoming documentary For the Love of the Mambo, scheduled for release this fall. The documentary chronicles the story of the legendary musicians as they work with student musicians in the Crane School of Music Latin Ensemble (also known as Norte Tropical) of the State University of New York. At a time when musicians are easily replaced with technology and singers can be manufactured by Autotune, the Mambo Legends Orchestra is a refreshing nod to the days of big bands and soulful singers. It also great to know that younger musicians are embracing the genre and will continue the tradition for future generations.

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RIP Steve

I was sad to hear of great innovator Steve Jobs’ passing. His innovations have touched everyone’s life. He helped change communications and took it into a new world. Who had even heard of a Podcast before the last decade? He helped create a new digital culture that will continue to expand and broaden. The life’s work of a genius always live long past the life of that genius.

Fela! The Musical

A funky bass line, a horn section that would make James Brown holler and booty-gyrating that is so electrifying, it’s hard to sit in your seat. I would have expected this if I were going to a club but not to a musical.

For my birthday, I treated myself to the musical Fela! that is showing at the Shakespeare Theater in Washington, DC. As I sat down to the practically sold out performance, I knew that I would be entertained. I did not know how much I would be intrigued to learn more about social activism in Nigeria.

Fela!, produced by Jay-Z, Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith and directed by choreographer Bill T. Jones, is a musical journey about the life and work of Nigerian Singer Fela Kuti known simply as Fela. Set in Nigeria at a concert at Fela’s nightclub called the Shrine the musical highlights the life and times of the singer from his struggles as a young man to his travels to London and New York and his return to Nigeria.

Along the course of his travels, Fela is introduced to the Afro- Cuban salsa rhythms and R&B and soul music with its brassy horns and electric bass. While in New York, Fela is also introduced to the black power and consciousness movement of the 70’s.

Upon his return to Nigeria, Fela brings the music of the African Diaspora full circle by combining it with traditional music and dances of Nigeria. Taking up the mantle of social activism from his mother, Nigerian Civil rights activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who eventually dies as a result of injuries sustained when she was violently thrown out of a window when Nigerian soldiers savagely attacked Fela’s compound in Lagos, Fela begins his journey to become a music and human rights icon.

What intrigued me most as I watched the spectacular multi-media production that is interspersed with actual footage of Nigeria, is that prior to hearing about the production, I had never heard Fela- at least not knowingly; nor had I heard of the human rights struggles in Nigeria.

The value of Fela! goes beyond the artistic quality of the production but it provides an opportunity for audiences to be exposed to the struggles of the human rights movements of the people of Nigeria- while being entertained.

A week after seeing the production, I had a conversation with a Nigerian Cab driver. He told me he had seen Fela live at the Kilimanjaro, a club that used to be in Adams Morgan. He planned to see Fela! With his wife. I told him that as a result of the musical I started watching a documentary on Fela, on which the musical is heavily based . He encouraged me to get some of Fela’s music. I have not purchased any yet but my IPod will soon be getting a new playlist.

Fela! is in its final week of performances and ends this Sunday.

A September to Remember

September is a great month. It takes us into the last stretch of summer. It's cools us off from the hot, humid days of August but yet is still warm enough for us to to enjoy the weather and still wear some of the fun clothes from summer.

September also holds great memories for my family. My parents' anniversary is on 9/12. My birthday is 9/15. My father's birthday is 9/19.September also holds great memories for my family. My parents' anniversary is on 9/12. My birthday is 9/15. My father's birthday is 9/19.

This year, as I approached my 40th birthday (woo-whoo), I spent time celebrating and evaluating my 40 years and looking toward the future.

When dreaming of what a 40th birthday celebration would be like, what came to mind was flashing strobe lights, the latest dance club pumping with salsa music ( I am a salsa-head. I'll go into more detail in a future post), wall-to-wall friends and family and plenty of food. However, this year's celebration was less mega-party-like and more like a cluster of mini-celebrations. I took time to explore the city and do things I always wanted to do. Some were with family or friends and some were solo.

Here's my mini-celebration list:

Sept. 4 - Latin Night at Lucky Strikes. This is a weekly Sunday tradition for me, so I won't list it for each week.

Sept. 5 - Open Mic Night at Busboys and Poets in Shirlington, VA

Sept. 14 - Had just about the best pedicure I've ever had. Went to a Docs-in-Progress screening. I want to create documentaries. This organization works with aspiring and actual filmmakers and those who just love documentaries.

Sept. 10 - Silver Spring Jazz Festival

Sept. 11 - Spend the day reflecting on the events of 9/11. See my post for more.

Sept. 15 - My Birthday! Enjoyed a 2 and 1/2 hour spa treatment at Aveda Instititute. Spent the evening with my parents at the Airmen of Note , the jazz band of the US Air Force, concert. My brother joined us later for cake and ice cream.

Sept. 16 - Tried a gel manicure for the first time . It was fabulous and the polish is still holding up!

Sept. 17 - Went to the Shakespeare Theater to Fela! the Tony Awarding-winning musical about Nigerian singer Fela Kuti. I didn't know much about this artist/activist. But after seeing the musical, I learned about Fela and Social activism in Nigeria. I also checked out a documentary on Fela on Netflix. The musical seemed to be based off the documentary.

Sept. 17 - Had lunch at CO/CO. Sala, a chocolate bar and restaurant in downtown DC.

Sept. 18 - Crystal City Wine and Food Tasting Festival

Sept. 25 - New comedy club Riot Act Comedy Club in DC featuring comedian Paul Mooney. This was a first. I've never been to a comedy club. Although I work around the corner from the Improv, a comedy club in DC. Time to try the Improv.

Sept. 27 - Took " Digital Photography 101," class at the Carriage House in DC. I brought my first digital SLR camera this summer and want to learn how to use it.

Sept. 28 - Book signing and discussion " Jesus, Justice and Race: An Honest, Hopeful, Conversation with with Two Authors," at Busboys and Poets on U Street in DC.

September 30 - Black Power Mix Tape screening at the E Street Landmark Theater sponsored by the Washington Film Institute.

Granted, some of these events are just your everyday events that go on in any urban city in the US. Except for the 2 and 1/2 hour spa treatment and comedy club, I do most of these events regularly even when it is not my birthday month.

But this year, what made these events mini-celebrations was my outlook. I entered a new decade in life and purposed to enjoy the big and small celebrating life, friends and family. I am also determined to do things that I have never done before. Like, take a trapeze or aerial ribbon class. Maybe bike-riding. Something I haven't done outside of a gym in over25 years.


So, here's to a September to remember and enjoying the rest of the year.

Cheers!