Comercial racista de Sello Rojo

Maria Jose Montijo

Ignacio Peña "Longing for Flight" (iPad Demo)

Carmelo loves jazz - Who is Don Pedro?

http://carmeloruiz.blogspot.com/2011/11/p-margin-bottom-0.html

WHO IS DON PEDRO?

Carmelo Ruiz-Marrero

To Louise Maher-Johnson

(A Spanish language version of this article was published in Claridad on February 12 2004. An English language version was published on this blog on November 22 2011)

Back in the 1980's I used to walk often through Esteban González street in the neighborhood of Santa Rita in the urban heart of Río Piedras, very near the University of Puerto Rico campus. Inevitably, that meant passing by theTaller de Jazz Don Pedro (Don Pedro Jazz Workshop)...

Back in those years, the Taller emitted phenomenal sounds into the street, a hi-hat doing swing, a saxophonist inventing a new tonal vocabulary, and other equally fascinating fragments of music. Before the decade ended a hurricane flooded the basement and the locale was closed, but the Taller as an institution has lived on. Now, what is the Taller and just who is Don Pedro? The answers to those questions would have to wait until the 21^st century.

Jazz is the music of the uncomprehended. Lovers of this musical genre live in a world of endless fascination, moving from one exciting sonic discovery to the next, often finding themselves in a gray, jaded world which does not share their enthusiasm. These unrepentant audiophiles collect records and interesting facts about this music and its performers with the same passion that sports fans collect and memorize statistics of their favorite teams and players.

******

While jazz arrived in Puerto Rico from the United States, it is no less true that Puerto Ricans have made significant contributions to the genre. Doña Ana mentions various Boricuas that left their imprint in the history of jazz, like percussionists Manuel Tió and Ray Barreto, the late great pianist Hilton Ruiz, bassist Eddie Gómez, flutist Dave Valentín, the immortal Tito Puente, Noro Morales- whose niece Alicia Torres was my neighbor and music teacher and who has been to me like a second mother since the 1970's- and Ram Ramírez, an organ player from the city of Mayagüez who in 1941 co-wrote “Lover Man” for Billie Holiday, a song that has since been performed also by Barbara Streisand, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Whitney Houston, Norah Jones, Linda Ronstadt, Stan Getz, and many more.

But, she tells me, one of the most important and yet underrated Puerto Ricans in jazz was trombonist Juan Tizol, from the town of Vega Baja, who wrote some of Duke Ellington's most memorable tunes, like “Caravan", “Perdido”, “Pyramid” and “Moonlight Siesta”.

To read the full article: 

http://carmeloruiz.blogspot.com/2011/11/p-margin-bottom-0.html

El Taller de Jazz Don Pedro

http://carmeloruiz.blogspot.com/2014/09/que-viva-el-jazz.html

¿Qué es el Taller de Jazz Don Pedro?

(Una versión de este artículo salió publicada en Claridad el 12 de febrero de 2004)

Carmelo Ruiz Marrero

En la década de los 80 solía caminar a menudo por la calle Esteban González en Santa Rita, lo cual inevitablemente me llevaba a pasar por el Taller de Jazz Don Pedro. Ubicado en el sótano de un edificio cerca del Burger King de los poetas y del antiguo local de La Tertulia, el Taller despedía a la calle sonidos fenomenales, un hi-hat en tiempo de swing, un saxofón inventando un nuevo vocabulario cromático, y más cosas por el estilo. Los estragos de un huracán forzaron el cierre de ese espacio, pero el Taller como institución todavía vive. ¿Qué es el Taller? ¿Y quién es Don Pedro? Sigan leyendo para que vean.

El jazz es la música de los incomprendidos. Los amantes de este género musical viven en un mundo de fascinación sin fin, viajando de un emocionante  descubrimiento sónico a otro, a pesar de vivir en un mundo gris y cuadrado que no comparte su entusiasmo con el jazz. Estos audiófilos empedernidos coleccionan datos interesantes sobre esta música y sus intérpretes con la misma pasión que los fanáticos del deporte se memorizan estadísticas de equipos y jugadores.

PARA LEER EL RESTO:
http://carmeloruiz.blogspot.com/2014/09/que-viva-el-jazz.html

Even When We Chill Out, We Rock Out: Spanish Punk, Puerto Rican Hip-Hop And More

http://www.npr.org/blogs/altlatino/2014/06/07/319511549/even-
when-we-chill-out-we-rock-out-spanish-punk-puerto-rican-hip-hop-and-more

June 07, 201411:24 AM ET

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We think Puerto Rico's Alvaro Diaz is the next big rapper to watch out for.

courtesy of the artist.TEXT BY JASMINE GARSD:This week on Alt.Latino, we're just chilling out. And by chilling out, I mean bouncing to Álvaro Díaz, a Puerto Rican rapper we think is the next big thing; dancing to Desechables, a vintage post-Franco Spanish punk outfit; and listening to some deep, thought-provoking tunes from Marisa Ronstadt, cousin of Linda.We never do things halfway — and even when we chill out, we rock out. Join us, and as always, let us know what songs are starting your party and helping you unwind. 

No Sleep 'Til Puerto Rico: Guest DJ With AJ Davila

http://www.npr.org/blogs/altlatino/2014/05/24/313961984/no-
sleep-til-puerto-rico-guest-dj-with-aj-davila



Text by Jasmine Garsd

I wish every episode of Alt.Latino somehow featured AJ Davila, even if it's just reading credits, or maybe calling and saying hi in the middle of the show. The Puerto Rican rocker is one of the most enjoyable musicians we've ever had record a Guest DJ set for us. I can't think of another guest who's made me laugh so hard I had to turn away from the mic — but it didn't hurt that he's the one guest to bring beer along with an excellent selection of new Puerto Rican music.

Also joining us this week is the talented Ahmed Albizu, who plays bass with Davila and has his own terrific band, called Re-Animadores.

Puerto Rican hipsters

3 de abril 2014

Este skit es una versión-parodia bien exagerá de lo que yo y mis amigos de la facultad de humanidades de la UPR hacíamos y decíamos en los años 80.

SOLTERA 101, Natalia Lugo

31 de marzo 2014

Es raro ver comediantes con talento en la televisión de Puerto Rico. Natalia definitivamente lo tiene. La descubrí la semana pasada de casualidad viendo un televisor en una tienda. ¡Ahora vengo a enterarme de su existencia!