Camino Y Movimientos

CELEBRATE 5 YEARS OF SUMMER SESSIONS

Fiesta en la Calle

A series of monthly live events from May – August 2012

Featuring the best Latin, Spanish & global fusion live acts plus DJs

Camino, The Regent Quarter, Kings Cross, N1 9AF

7pm – 1am FREE ALL NIGHT!

www.camino.uk.com

Following the huge success of last years Spanish-style street parties, at award-winning bar / restaurant Camino, Fiesta en la Calle returns to celebrate it’s 5th year of explosive summer celebrations, bringing you the most exciting live Latin, Spanish and global fusion acts.

Fiesta en la Calle which literally means ‘party in the streets’, is brought to you in conjunction with Movimientos DJs; Cal Jader & Arias. Each event starting outside Camino’s unique outdoor courtyard showcasing fiery live performances from some of the scenes finest, then as the night draws in, moving inside the venues vibrant interior to party the night away.

The series kicks off on Saturday 26^th with some pure rumba fire with Rumbaba Deluxe and Drum Machine Project, an explosive one man loops and beats machine. DJ OGT will also be here live and direct from Catalonia, Spain making sure the night go out with a bang. Elsewhere, Jardares Por Fuera headline on the 30^th June, playing an unconventional blend of Rumba-Flamenco enriched with Reggae, Swing and Hip-Hop, supported with a special Flamenco set from Jackson Scott. On 14^th July we continue our series with a Cumbia Special. Lots of uplifting afro-Colombian music is the tall order of the night and provided by last year’s unforgettable headliners Cumbé, one of the hottest bands of London’s Latin American music scene. Support comes from Jamman whose Cumbia loops and electronic beats will keep you dancing to the early hours. Our series finale on Bank Holiday Sunday 26^th August ends with a Carnival Special, Colombian Vallenato band Los Independientes del Vallanato make sure we end in style providing authentic raw dance rhythms featuring harpist Diego Laverde.

Tying everything together each month will be collaborators Movimientos DJs. Cal Jader & Arias spearhead the Latin and Tropical underground sound in London with residencies all over town and regular spots around the UK. Their sets mix Cumbia, Salsa, Rumba Flamenco and Latin beats with Hip Hop, Reggae, Urban and the freshest Tropical bass and global sounds.

Latino Music in London | Fiesta en La Calle

More info:

http://www.camino.uk.com/kingscross

https://www.facebook.com/Caminobar

https://twitter.com/caminokingcross

5 YEARS OF SUMMER SESSIONS

FIESTA EN LA CALLE

FULL LISTINGS

Saturday 26^th May Launch Party Bonanza

Saturday 30^th June

Saturday 14^th July Cumbia Special

Bank Holiday Sunday 26^th August Carnival Afterparty Special

This event is proudly sponsored by Estrella.

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Che Guevara

Santa Clara, Cuba.

There is a lot to see on this island, it’s roughly the same length as Britain. And it takes time to get around this perplexing country because it’s a difficult place to travel easily in; however, don’t let that put you off. If you go to Cuba, a town called Santa Clara will be one of the highlights.

This is a university town, some 300 miles south of Havana. It houses one of finest design museums in the country. The train, which was blown up while carrying dozens of Batista’s troops, is a tourist stop. And the town square turns into an impromptu dance arena at 5pm where everyone joins in to a live band. But nothing compares to the memorial and mausoleum for Che Guevara and the comrades who died alongside him.

Che by Otto Schade

Cuba brought back Che’s body from Bolivia and here he lies with an effigy fit for a king. Just as foreboding as he surely was, the bronze statue looms in the distance and dominates the skyline as you drive into town. It’s only as you get closer, do you realize how big this monument actually is. On an area made of the indigenous green granite: Verde Serrano, the plinth sits in front of a large piazza, presumably for parades and speeches. This statuesque bronze has Che staring out into the distance, standing in a dignified battle stance. His eyes piercing like a hawk. Underneath him, embossed on the plinth, is the letter Che wrote to Fidel Castro the night before he left for Bolivia. I did not catch on immediately that the voice being broadcast out of nowhere is that of Che speaking his infamous rhetoric. The soft dulcet tones of this man are more yielding than I had imagined. It took my breath away.

This place is solemn. It has a hushed silent ambiance where you adhere to sadness. But you feel honoured and humbled to be there and to be in this country.

There is peace here. It is one of the most thoughtful and calm yet immensely moving places of remembrance I have been to yet. Santa Clara is not to be missed.

Ernesto “Che” Guevara | Speech at UN 1964 (English subtitles!) | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Written by

the female witness

Ballet Revolucion Review

A Ray of Cuban sun shine on a gloomy London day.

Cuba for a while now has been known for producing some of the worlds best performers. Having recently seen Chucho Valdes and Roberto Fonseca I was waiting with excitement to see the Ballet Revolucion.

Ballet Revolucion

Choreographed by Aron Cash who is the face of Johnny Walker’s worldwide advertising campaign, Human–Keep Walking, who worked impressing for ten years as Cher’s leading dancer, and recently as part of legendary Mikhail Baryshnikov world tour.  And Cuban born Roclan Gonzalez Chavez, best known for his involvement with Los Van Van and choreographing internationally renown and critically acclaimed show Kings of Salsa, this combination of different styles and music has already got London talking.

Having attended a photo call earlier on in the day and seeing a bit of their magic I had been tapping my feet all afternoon ready to see the show.

Performing as part of “Sadler’s Wells is dance” season, the Ballet with Attitude took to the stage.

Starting slowly with a beautifully performed gentle piece, they swiftly moved to more upbeat versions of Beyonce and Enrique Iglesias’s classics.

I looked around at the audience, and everyone had smile’s on their faces.  The gentlemen next to me whispered, “ Feels like we are all going to be dancing in the isles”.

What followed was an amazingly synchronised, well rehearsed and powerful performance. Dressed in simple but yet very unusual and interesting black leotard costumes designed by Jorge Gonzalez, who worked with designers like Vivienne Westwood and Laura Biagotti, plus best known for his role as catwalk trainer and choreographer on Germany’s Next Top Model, the dancers performed something that could only be described as pure magic. Perfectly arranged, it was amazing to watch their show, Ballet Revolucion had so far definitely exceeded my expectations.

Katie Piper | Ballet Revolucion | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

*Video Interview recorded and presented by Karolina Przeklas

The second part of the show took the audience for a journey through music like Gotan Project, Ce lo Green, Prince and the one piece that I enjoyed the most “Roxanne” – performed by three couples, I just could not keep my eyes off the stage, scared that if I blink I’ll miss something even more remarkable, it was a pure joy to watch.

The atmosphere through out the show was electric. All of the sensual 17 Cuban dancers from Escuela Nacional de Arte were flirtatious, very talented, fun and downright sexy.

The program for the night said: ”Cuba – mother of all dances? Maybe. Mother of the greatest dancers? Definiatly”. I for one cannot agree more.

But don’t just take my word for it; if you love watching dance, this fusion of ballet and contemporary styles make’s Ballet Revolucion a definite must.

Here are couple more opinions from the Audience:

Sue Pollard | Ballet Revolucion Review | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Video’s, Photo and Review written by Karolina Przeklas

Ballet Revolucion

Buy tickets to see Ballet Revolucion with ticketmaster.

www.ticketmaster.co.uk

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London Latino Film Festival 2012

Films from Latinoamerica at Bolivar Hall

18th – 21st April Festival Programme and Film programme with synopsis

All films with English subtitles

London Latino Film Festival 2012

Wednesday 18th April 5.00 pm

KORPU – NATER (Video Dance)

Synopsis

The Korpu Nater shows humans, their activities and freedom on the environment, as opposed to a dynamic set of sinuous nature, questioning the man and the effect of belonging to the natural environment, the state of impropriety of the human species before it. Human beings, as the latest product of the evolution of life, breaking and being greeted by several places where the human condition is revealed as a configuration that is in constant flux, never fixed, never static, never finished.

Director: Country Running time

Carlos Dittborn Callejas Chile

6 min

—-

The following screenings are to commemorate the forty anniversary, next year, of the military coup d’Etat in Chile.

ASEO GENERAL (Short documentary)

Synopsis

In 1973 in Chile, at the height of the internal tension during Salvador Allende’s three years in office, Carmen, a university employee, maintainsher faith in the Socialist Government despite the constant questioning by her colleague Juan and her partner Víctor, who, confronted with the imminent coup, opts for a more radical response than she does. Carmen maintains her hope with the support of Carvajal, an exemplary proletarian in charge of cleaning up the university.

Aseo General (Cleaning Up) | London Latino Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Director: Paulina Costa

Country: Chile

Running time: 23min

Tickets £2.00

Evening programme

6.00pm.

DAWSON: ISLA 10

Synopsis

After the coup d’Etat in Chile in September 1973, a group of former Allende ́s ministers and authorities are held prisoner and taken to Dawson Island, a concentration camp located in the Magellan Strait. Sergio Bitar, a former minister wrote the book Isla 10 after he was liberated with the help of the UN and Red Cross among others. Director Miguel Littin (two nominations at the Oscars for Best Foreign Motion Picture) based his story on this bestseller, following the path of these men who lived months of seclusion, sadness, and uncertainty at the most southern concentration camp in the world. Here their bonds grew, as did their memories and testimonies of history.

Dawson: Isla 10| London Latino Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Director: Miguel Littin

Country: Chile

Running time: 117 min

Tickets £5.00

9.00pm.

POST- MORTEM

Synopsis

Mario works in a morgue typing autopsy reports. In the midst of the 1973 Chilean coup d’Etat, he fantasizes about his neighbour, a cabaret dancer,

Nancy, who mysteriously disappears on September the 11th. After a violent army raid on her family’s home, he hears about the arrest of her brother and father, a prominent Communist and Salvador Allende supporter. Troubled and spurred on by the thought of losing his would-be lover, Mario begins his frantic search for Nancy. Allende’s government has been overthrown and people are dying in the streets. The Chilean Army seizes the morgue and numerous corpses pile up, but Mario can’t get his mind off of Nancy. He carries out his job, thinking that he might find her among the dead, and one night…”

Post Mortem | London Latino Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Director: Pablo Larraín

Country: Chile

Running time: 90min

Tickets £5.00

Thursday 19th April

4.00 pm.

SONS OF CUBA

Synopsis

Under Fidel Castro’s leadership, Cuba built and maintained one of the most successful international boxing programs in the world. By identifying and nurturing pugilistic talent in kids as young as 8 or 9, the country became a perennial favorite to win medals at the next Olympic Games in London. Sons of Cuba follows some of these kinds on their amazing journey towards the national under 12 tournament, traces how Castro’s health issues affect them, and explains how some of the kids dream of defecting while others remain fiercely loyal to their homeland.

Sons of Cuba | London Latino Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Director: Andrew Lang

Country: UK

Running time: 88mins

Tickets £2.00

Evening programme

The following screenings are to commemorate the 30 anniversary of the Malvinas War.

6.00 pm.

ILUMINADOS POR EL FUEGO (Blessed by Fire)

Synopsis

The film narrates the memories of Esteban, a man of 40 years who in 1982, when he was only 18 years old, was recruited like soldier to fight in the Malvinas Islands. From the attempt of suicide of an ex- companion, Esteban submerges in the memories of that war that shared with other two young recruits, Vargas, the suicidal one, and Juan, killed in action. In the film not also appear the pain of the war and suffering by the cold and the hunger but histories of friendship and solidarity.

Iluminados por el Fuego | London Latino Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Director: Tristan Bauer

Country: Argentina

Running time: 105mins

9.00 pm.

LOCOS DE LA BANDERA (Feature documentary)

Synopsis

Documents the history of the families of the 649 fallen Argentineans in the Malvinas War who at the end of the military conflict, were alone with their pain and unable to approach the graves of their loved ones, either because their bodies were in the Darwin cemetery, in the Malvinas Islands, or they disappeared without being identified.

Locos de la Bandera | Londons Latino Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Director: Julio Cardoso

Country: Argentina

Running time: 95 mins

Friday 20th April

2.00 pm

BANANAS

Synopsis

A campaigning documentary from Swedish film-maker Fredrik Gertten. A new wave of class-action lawsuits is being taken out against the Dole Food Company, which for decades used controversial chemicals on their banana plantations in Nicaragua causing sterility among male workers. A documentary that allows the viewer to ponder the possibility that this is a lawyers’ gold rush, but the employers’ complacency and defensiveness tell their own story. It seems that US corporations may be reaping a whirlwind of litigation from developing-world communities in Latin America for years to come, and like the cigarette companies, they will fight it every step of the way.

Bananas | London Latino Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Director: Fredrik Gertten

Country: Sweden/ Denmark/Nicaragua

Running time: 80min

Tickets £2.00

4.00 pm. INNOCENT VOICES

Synopsis

Eleven-year-old Chava lives a hand-to-mouth existence with his destitute family in a shanty town caught in the middle of the Salvadorian civil war and he is old enough to be turned into a child soldier by the army. Powerful, touching, charming and tragic ‘Innocent Voices’ is based on the experiences of co-screenwriter Oscar Torres and provides an emotional reminder of the terrible fates that the rich can force on the poor.

Innocent Voices | London Latino Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Director: Luis Mandoki

Country: El Salvador

Running time: 106 min

Tickets £5.00

Evening programme

The following screening is to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the ‘fail’ coup d’Etat against President Chavez in Venezuela in 2002.

6.00 pm.

LLAGUNO BRIDGE

Synopsis

a documentary offering an alternative point of view on some of the violent events that took place in Venezuela during the coup in 2002. Some local private television are accused of deliberately picking some facts in an attempt to support the ongoing coup ; different videos taken from different angles show how some people were wrongly accused of shooting at unarmed masses of demonstrators. Regardless of political preferences and actual events, it is an interesting documentary on how easily facts can be misrepresented.

Director: Angel Palacios

Country: Venezuela

Running time: 105min

Tickets £5.00

9.00 pm.

QUIEN DIJO MIEDO

Synopsis

On June 28th 2009 there was a brutal coup d’état in Honduras: the army abducted president Zelaya. René, actor and syndicalist, joined the National Resistance Front against the Coup d’ Etat. An unprecedented Honduras arises: a people who resist despite media bias, violence and death, take the streets to stand up for their rights. This is their story.

Quien dijo Miedo | London Latino Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Director: Katia Lara

Country: Honduras/Argentina

Running time: 90 min

Tickets £5.00

Saturday 21st April

4.00pm

ESCAPE TO SILENCE

(Life of Alfredo Espinoza)

Synopsis

During the ’70s, came to Paris a quirky Chilean jazz saxophonist. His name is Alfredo Espinoza. He immediately stands out among local musicians for his technique, his swing and the great way he played his solo parts. His talent takes him to play in major European circuits of traditional jazz, and even to visit Africa. He makes friends, admirers and lives a happy time of music and bohemian. Without a clear motive, Alfredo returns to Chile to live with his mother. Promptly joins the Chilean jazz scene, but a long mental illness leaves him lost in a hill of Valparaiso, for more than ten years away from music and the beautiful melodies that enchanted people from many different countries. Two friends who live in Europe, tried to find him and help him through this time, dark and silent. Now, ten years later, they travel to Paris to meet with the musical myth, around the figure of Alfredo Espinoza.

Escape to Silence | London Latino Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Director: Diego Pequeño

Country: Chile

Running time: 90mins

Tickets: £2.00

Evening programme

The following screening is to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the ‘fail’ coup d’Etat against President Chavez in Venezuela in 2002.

6.00pm

CUANDO LA BRUJULA MARCO EL SUR

Synopsis

The history of Latin America tells us that Venezuela and the rest of the continent have fought against the different types of domination. First the European invasion afterwards the USA Empire. Within that context the documentary shows through the analysis of diverse elements the rise and consolidation of the popular movements in Venezuela from the so called ‘Conquista’ to the “Bolivarian Revolution” that have as an objective a free and sovereign country.

Cuando la Brujula Marco el Sur | London Latino Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Director: Maria Laura Vázquez

Country: Venezuela

Running time: 89mins

Tickets: £5.00

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Argentine Film Festival 2012 | Competition

The good people of the Argentine Film Festival have given us two tickets to be give away, to see the Argentine Film, Caprichosos de San Telmo, with a Q&A with director Alison Murray. Caprichosos de San Telmo is one of the films being showed during London’s first Argentine Film Festival. All the Films will be shown at he Ritzy Picturehouse in Brixton.

To enter the competition, send an email to alex@latinomusic.co.uk with the subject line San Telmo Comp. We will contact the winner directly via email and the cinema tickets will be picked up at the Rizty cinema on the day by the winner. Please leave us the name of the people collecting the tickets.

The film is being shown Friday 20th April, 6.20pm, 2012 at Ritzy Picturehouse and we will announce and email the winner on thursday morning. Please only enter if you are able to attend the film.

*Please note that by entering this competiton you will be signing up to our Latino Music UK weekly newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time and we promise not to share your details with anyone.

Argentine Film Festival | London

Caprichosos de San Telmo

A portrait of the working class musicians and dancers of Buenos Aires’s San Telmo neighborhood, who have channeled the city’s many cultural influences into the street performance called Murga.

Caprichosos de San Telmo | Argentine Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Following the screening of Caprichosos de San Telmo, Join DJ Sergio Schuchinsky for a night of Latin beats Upstairs at the Ritzy, where  he will take us  all on a musical tour of Argentina’s coolest sounds, cumbia, candombe, murga, Latin house andelectro folk.

Keep your Cinema tickets with you.

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Argentine Film Festival

1ST ARGENTINE FILM FESTIVAL IN LONDON

London will host it’s first-ever Argentine Film Festival at the Ritzy Picturehouse, Brixton on Thursday 19th April with new Ricardo Darín film Chinese Take-Away; as well as show casing another seven features with the added bonus of a few short films thrown into the mix, before ending on Sunday 22nd April. This film festival will highlight the extraordinary talent that is coming out of Argentina’s film industry.

Argentine Film Festival | London

Ricardo Darin charms as the malcontent whose life is abruptly transformed when he’s forced to take in a Chinese lodger.

Chinese Take-Away (Un Cuento Chino) | Argentine Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Acclaimed road movie offers a beautifully performed, engrossing love story, in the finest tradition of New Argentine Cinema.

Las Acacias | Argentine Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Carnival rhythms and bitter-sweet real life mark an affecting portrait of one of Buenos Aires’s most colourful neighbourhoods.
(Film is Followed by DJ Sergio Schuchinsky upstairs at the Ritzy playing electronic cumbia and tango).

Los Caprichosos de San Telmo | Argentine Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Enigmatic gay drama weaves a mysterious web of lust, guilt and repression.

Absent (Ausente) | Argentine Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Executively produced by Pedro Almodóvar, Julia Solomonoff’s feature is an exploration of burgeoning sexuality amidst the stunning backdrop of the Argentine countryside.

The Last Summer of La Boyita (El Último Verano de la Boyita) | Argeintine Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

A triple prize winner at Locarno, Milagros Mumenthaler’s story of three sisters coping with the death of their grandmother offers an original take on the coming of age tale.

Back to Stay (Abrir Puertas y Ventanas) | Argentine Film Festival | Vimeo

Click here to view the embedded video.

A look at the intimate moments of a man’s life as he decides to commit a calculated act of aggression.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sunday 22nd April, 5pm
Argentine Short Films from the Silent Era
Four short films:
Newsreel Film Revisa Valle
My Sorrel Horse (Mi Alazán Tostao)
Back To The Bulin (La Vuelta al Bulín)
Creole Mosaic (Mosaico Criollo)
Followed by live music upstairs at The Ritzy including demonstrations of different styles of tango

A romantic comedy with a nod to Woody Allen’s Manhattan where boy fails to meet girl across the crowded cityscape of twenty-first century Buenos Aires. Followed by electro tango and a glass of wine for all ticket holders upstairs at The Ritzy

Medianeras | Argentine Film Festival | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

Thursday 19th – Sunday 22nd April
Argentine Film Festival
Ritzy Picturehouse
Brixton Oval,
Coldharbour Lane,
London SW2 1JG
Tel: 0871 902 5739

for more info regarding the Argentine Film Festival in London 2012, Please check out their website by clicking the link below.

http://argentinefilmfestival.com/

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Hip Hop Revolución

Our friends from Alborada.net are needing help with their ‘Hip Hop Revolución’ documentary.

‘Hip Hop Revolución’ is the story of a dynamic collective of  Venezuelan musical revolutionaries.

The film’s directors Jody McIntyre & Pablo Navarrete recently travelled to Venezuela, along side UK-Iraqi rapper Lowkey to spend time with ‘Hip Hop Revolución’. They witnessed their inspiring grassroots work, visited one of their 31 hip hop schools, and attended their 8th anniversary concert, which Lowkey headlined.

At its heart, this film will be about the power of community, music, and the spirit of rebellion. The film will also be a testament to what can be achieved when idealism is allied with hard work and mutual solidarity.

How can you help?

They are hoping to raise £7,000 which will go towards covering the costs of making the film and marketing it at various film festivals around the world. They have embarked on a crowd-funding drive and have made an appeal video telling you more about the film – you can see it here:

Hip Hop Revolucion Documentary (Crowd-Funding Appeal) | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

We all know times are hard, so even if you can’t support the film financially, remember you can still help them out by:

1. Sharing this campaign with your friends and contacts

2. Liking the film’s page on Facebook and following the film on Twitter

More info: info[at] alborada.net

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hiphoprevfilm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hhr.thefilm

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE FILM’S PRODUCTION

::: BACKGROUND ARTICLE:
Venezuela: Hip-hop Revolutionaries
(Jody McIntyre & Pablo Navarrete/Red Pepper)

: LOWKEY VIDEO FILMED IN VENEZUELA DURING THE SHOOTING OF THE FILM:

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Martin Alvarado + Mikko Helenius Review

Thursday 01/03/2012

Live at the Forge

When I got an email inviting me to review Martin Alvarado and Mikko Helenius Tango performance, I thought absolutely. I adore listening and watching Tango in all its forms.

To my eternal shame I had not heard of Martin Alvarado or Mikko Helenius before. However a quick search on YouTube got my appetite whetted enough to be genuinely excited.  The performance was at the Forge in Camden. This is an intimate and very acoustic venue and the sound there is magnificent.

The evening kicked off with ‘Volver’, a classic sung by legendary Tango singer Carlos Gardel, better known to the UK public for ‘Por Una Cabeza’. Track which appeared in movies like ‘Scent of a Woman’, ‘True Lies’ and ‘Schindler’s List’ to name only a few.

For me one song that stood out the most, to be fair I could waffle about every song but I guess that would be dull, was the Argentine classic ‘Alfonsina y el Mar’. It’s about a Swiss born Argentine poet, Alfonsina Storni. The legend has it, that after bouts of depression, she wrote one last poem and walked into the sea in Mar del Plata.

This timeless classic has been sung by many legends over the years. Great artists such as Mercedes Sosa, Tania Libertad, Nana Mouskouri, Mocedades, Andrés Calamaro, Katia Cardenal and many more so Martin had to live up to some serious versions.  He did so with aplomb. Although in my eyes, still, no one is going to better Mercedes Sosa’s version. Martin described this as a “jam”. Originally it was supposed to be played with Mikko on the Bandoneon. However once on stage they decided that Mikko would perform it on the Piano.

That is how the whole night went. It felt like there was no real set list; they seemed to play what they felt like. This made for a very unique performance.  Tailored to the particular audience, a piece of art if you like. I had been promised a world-class show and that is exactly what I witnessed.

I planned to leave early, to hit the legendary Cuban band ‘Los Van Van’ playing in Brixton, but after the first set I thought, Los Van Van can wait. I have seen them a few times before so I was even prepared to miss them. I was witnessing something truly special.

So now it was time for a beer, or three, and with that I settled in for the second part of this majestic performance.  And what a performance it was.

Martin Alvarado live at the forge

If you have not been to watch a Tango singer, musical or recital before, then you can’t go wrong with Martin. He sings not exclusively Tangos; he throws in Zamba’s, the national dance of Argentina, as well his own compositions. His voice is truly inspirational. He sings with great ease and passion. His stage presence is full of sheer confidence and his joy to be on the stage is visible to all. He was very witty but never aloof so in my opinion his show is a must for anyone, not only tango novice’s but also for those aficionados alike.

As for Mikko Helenius, a Finnish bandoneon and pianist, a master of two instruments, he didn’t disappoint either. To prove his great talent he played both at the same time on what if I recall correctly was an Astor Piazolla piece ‘Oblivion’.  And just like Martin he gives you more, by throwing in his own compositions, funky musical arrangements, Tango’s from Finland.

I could only sit back in awe and admire the mouth watering musical communication between those two soon to be legends of their craft. These guys played to such a high standard that they not only had fun with the audience but also with each other. Just to give you example they managed to throw in a few bars of ‘Let it Be by’ the Beatles, as well as Violeta Parra’s ‘Gracias a la Vida’ in the middle of another monumental Argentine classic, ‘Chiquilin de Bachin’. They took this noble art form as serious as the most consummate professional.  Still making themselves, and its music, completely accessible to one and all, which is no mean feat.

All that was missing were the Empanadas, a table, some Maté, una botella de vino tinto, Churrasco gaucho and you would feel as if you were at a ‘café concerto’ in Buenos Aires.

If you ever get the chance go and see them together, or as individuals, I promise you will not regret it. It is not often that you get this kind of quality Tango in the UK.

Gracias Martin y Mikko for a truly inspirational night. A huge thank you for bringing to a small part of London a chunk of Buenos Aires.

Set List

1) Volver (C.Gardel – A. Le Pera)
2) El corazon al sur (E. Blazquez)
3) La misma pena (A. Piazzolla – H. Exposito)
4) Las sombras del desamor (Siks oon ma suruinen) (T. Karki – K. Mustonen / Spanish version by Martin Alvarado)
5) Alfonsina y el mar (A. Ramirez – F. Luna)
6) Milonga triste (S. Piana – H. Manzi)
7) Oblivion (A. Piazzolla) Mikko Helenius instrumental
El dia que me quieras (C. Gardel – A. Le Pera)

2nd set

9) Taysikuu (T. Karki) Instrumental by Mikko Helenius
10) Cuanto mas doleras (Martin Alvarado)
11) Chiquilin de Bachin (A. Piazzolla – H. Ferrer)
12) Quedate por siempre (Liljankukka)
(T. Karki – K. Mustonen / Spanish version by Martin Alvarado)
13) Milonga del trovador (A. Piazzolla – H. Ferrer)

encore
14) Fuimos (J. Dames – H. Manzi)

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Roberto Fonseca Competition

Our friends at Serious have given us a signed copy of Roberto Fonseca’s brand new album to give away! To be in with a chance of winning, answer the question below:

What is the name of Roberto Fonseca’s brand new album?

To enter this competition please send your answers to the email address below with the Subject Line Roberto Fonseca Competition

katie.baldwin@serious.org.uk

Roberto Fonseca

To be in with a chance of other competitions on our website please join the Latino Music UK Emailer and we will keep you updated.

Roberto Fonseca will be playing live at the Barbican.

A big thank you to all of the serious crew for organising one of Cuba’s greatest talents to perform live in London. For more info on Roberto Fonseca’s gig check out our Events page or go direct to the page by following this link.

http://latinomusic.co.uk/2012/02/26/roberto-fonseca-cuban-pianist-live-barbican/

the Competition closes on the 17th of March 2012. Please do not send any emails after this date.

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RIP Afrika

9th October 1975 – 8th February 2012

Danny Ramirez aka Kid Afrika passed away today 08/02/2012. Originaly from Havana, Cuba. He arrived in London in 2003. I had the pleasure of watching Kid Afrika perform Machaka live at the Cuba Solidarity Tent in Finsbury Park a good few years back.

Danny Ramirez aka Kid Afrika

CubaCheChe’s Rumbon Cubano on Thursday (09/02/2012) night will be dedicated to Danny Ramirez’s honour and repatriation fund. All monies made on the door will go towards this. For more info click on the link provided.

https://www.facebook.com/events/288017947925152/

Kid Afrika | Machaka | YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

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