Here's a special Blueline performance from our friends in Chicago Bomba Con Buya...Candela!!
BlueLine 2014- CANDELA from Teo Lopez on Vimeo.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Thursday, September 18, 2014
In loving memory of Bombero Gregorio Allende aka Macho
Dear friends at around 8AM Wednesday September 17, 2014 we lost our brother in Bomba Gregorio Allende (aka Macho), band leader for the Bomba group Nostalgia Amarilla. I never met Macho in person but we regularly exchanged messages and talked about our vision and potential projects with each other. I quickly realized that Macho was the type of person that made his visions a reality. He worked hard to complete his film project the film known as "Currency and Exchange" and worked to have it showed at New York City's BomPlenazo music festival and at the Latin Alternative Music Conference also in New York City. Earlier this year Macho completed production on his film and released "Currency and Exchange" in Tampa, Florida. Unfortunately soon after realizing this portion of his dream our friend developed a brain tumor. Though Macho had health insurance as is too often the case he and his family were left with medical bills totaling into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Gregorio's wife Janet has setup a fundraising campaign to address the medical bills left behind by Macho's treatment. If you would like to make a donation go to http://www.gofundme.com/8c77hc
Below is an interview Gregorio gave to the University of South Florida News back in April regarding the release of his film and what the culture of Bomba music meant to him.
Below is the trailer to the film "Currency & Exchange"
My condolences to Janet and to all of Gregorio's family and friends. Macho you will be missed my friend.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Oakland Bomba: Bomba Dance Classes w/ Julia Caridad Cepeda Martínez + Denise Solis of Las Bomberas de la Bahia - Sunday Sept 28, 2014
BOMBA DANCE CLASSES //
A FOLKLORIC TRADITION OF PUERTO RICO
Taught by Julia Caridad Cepeda Martínez with musical accompaniment by Denise Solis of Las Bomberas de la Bahia
Ongoing Class Starting Sunday, September 28
Sundays 11:30am - 1pm
*Classes start promptly at 11:30am*
$13 Drop In
$44 \ 4 classes (To be used within three months of purchase.)
$100 \ 10 classes (To be used within three months of purchase.)
Location: Studio Grand at 3234 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610
CLASS DESCRIPTION
Puerto Rican Bomba as we know it today was born on the sugar cane plantations of the Island. It’s the popular response formed in music and dance to the aristocracy. Through the rhythms, happiness, faith, suffering, and daily events were communicated through the Tradition.The Tradition was born on the coasts of Puerto Rico and, on the coasts, is where it’s said to sound best. The barriles (Bomba drums) or las bombas is where the name for Bomba came from. “In Bomba, there are three or more buleadores (rhythm drums/drummers) and only one primo or subidor (lead drummer),” as told by Rafael Cepeda Atiles.
ABOUT JULIA CARIDAD CEPEDA MARTÍNEZ
Julia Caridad Cepeda Martínez was born on November 13, 1976. She is the daughter of Bomba Master Jesús Cepeda Brenes and Sonia Martínez. She is also the granddaughter of Puerto Rico’s patriarch of Bomba and Plena, best known as El Roble Mayor (The Elder Oak), Don Rafael Cepeda y Caridad Brenes. Julia was born into the cradle of the Cepeda Family, a family of artisans, musicians, dancers, and composers. The Cepeda Family has devoted themselves to the preservation of Puerto Rican folklore for many years. Julia is part of the sixth generation of Bomba practitioners in her family. Her father, Jesús Cepeda, best known as el Tambor Mayor (Elder Drum), is the director of the Rafael Cepeda Folkloric Cultural Foundation.
Julia Caridad made her debut performance in 1981 at the Center for Fine Arts in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in collaboration with the Ballet of San Juan in a piece directed by the distinguished Ana Garcia. In 1982, Julia was featured in the documentary El Patriarca (The Patriarch), which told the history and significance of Puerto Rican folkloric culture. In 1983, she traveled with her family to Washington DC where they were presented with the National Heritage Fellowship Award by the National Endowment for the Arts granted by the Smithsonian Institute. At that time, all of members of the Cepeda family were given a certificate of recognition by the, then, President Ronald Reagan. In 1985, Julia was part of a cultural exchange that included Cuba’s Irakere, Rey Barreto, and the Cepeda Family on the island of Guadalupe. Since then, Julia Caridad has continued to nurture her position as a part of the Bomba tradition along with her family having taught dance classes, participating in collaborations and presenting publically with international artists including Paul Simon, Ricky Martin, Robby Dracco, Wilkins, Manny Manuel, among others. In 1996, she was brought to New York to teach Bomba classes, demonstrating the various rhythms of Bomba. She also helped found the Proyecto Dos Alas (Two Wings Project). In 2000, along with her family, she toured 25 U.S states presenting Bomba and Plena throughout. Since then, Julia Caridad has been the principal instructor for the Rafael Cepeda Folkloric Cultural Foundation. In 2012 and 2013, Julia was part of a Puerto Rican television show titled Salsa, Bomba, y Plena. In 2013, she was invited to participate in the Paso Negro Foundation performance, directed by Oxil Febles, and performed alongside a group of female performers who are dedicated to the folkloric traditions of Puerto Rico.
Julia is a dedicated advocate of Puerto Rican culture and of the legacy of her Family. For that reason, she continues to share the traditions with new generations. She is also a poet and composer of Bomba music. She shares with you this quote by her grandfather, Rafael Cepeda, ʺMientras exista la Familia Cepeda, habrá Bomba y Plena para buen rato (While the Cepeda Family exists, there will be Bomba and Plena for much time to come.)” - Rafael Cepeda Atiles
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
San Franciso Bomba: SF Latino Film Festival 2014 Kick Off Party with Buyepongo + Las Bomberas De La Bahia + Dj Kool Kyle - Friday Sept. 19, 2014
The 6th Cine+Mas San Francisco Latino Film Festival opens on September 19 and runs through September 27 at venues in San Francisco and around the bay. The festival opens with CRY NOW, a love story set in Los Angeles centered on the rocky relationship between a street artist and a tattoo artist.
After the film join us at Brick & Mortar for our Opening Night after-party. Mingle with visiting filmmakers and other film enthusiast for a night of music and dancing. Los Angeles based Buyenpongo headlines an eclectic mix of sounds and rhytms with local favorites Las Bomberas de la Bahia and DJ Kyle keeping the music going all night.
Links:
www.sflatinofilmfestival.c
Buyepongo is a vibrant polyrhythmic, genre-fusing group with deep musical roots in South and Central America. They began their musical journey in Norwalk, CA in 2005. Eventually, the group would make a name for themselves in South Central for hosting and performing at their famed “South Central Beach” loft parties in the early 2000’s. These shows were a direct result of the limited opportunities for a band like theirs to consistently play around Los Angeles and they decided to create a scene for their brand of genre bending. Buyepongo not only draws heavily from the Latino musical culture, but from hip-hop as well.
Their name translates to “to cause a ruckus,” a nod to the Wu Tang Clan track, “Bring da Ruckus” from the seminal album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), one of their sonic inspirations. Taking their cues from traditional “roots” music of Colombia, Haiti, Belize, Honduras and the Dominican Republic, Buyepongo seamlessly blends merengue, punta and cumbia. The group’s pulse is built around the drum and guacharaca (pronounced: wah cha rah ca) giving them an upbeat tropical flare.
Links:
www.youtube.com/
www.youtube.com/
www.buyepongo.com
www.facebook.com/buyepongo
instagram @buyepongo
Las Bomberas de La Bahia: One of only a handful of all-women’s Bomba groups to ever exist internationally, Las Bomberas take Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba music to the next level. Born in SF’s Mission district with a passion and commitment to social justice, Las Bomberas strive to use the cultural arts to lift the voices of marginalized communities while holding a deep love of Afro-Puerto Rican traditions. The group was founded in November 2007 and is composed of San Francisco Bay Area artists, educators, and activists, under the direction of Sarazeta Ragazzi and Denise Solis. Come celebrate love, life, and liberation with the intoxicating rhythms of Puerto Rico and Las Bomberas de la Bahia!
Links:
www.youtube.com/
www.facebook.com/
Dj El Kool Kyle has been an integral part of the east bay music scene since 1993. He is comfortable in the studio as a producer, on stage as an emcee or rockin a crowd with one of his dj sets. His ability to combine Hiphop, Dancehall & Afro Latin music as a producer & deejay is just one of the things that makes him a local favorite.
In 2013, Celebrating 20 years of making music in the Bay Area, he co-founded Baylando Records, a new independant record label with a focus on modern urban indigenous dance music.
Links:
www.facebook.com/
Event: SF Latino Film Festival 2014 Kick Off Party with Buyepongo + Las Bomberas De La Bahia + Dj Kool Kyle
Bomba artists: Las Bomberas De La Bahia
Date and Time: Friday September 19, 2014 at 8PM
Venue and Location: Brick and Mortar Music Hall at 1710 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Admission: $12 in advance, $15 at door
Bronx Bomba and Plena: 8th Biennial BomPlenazo 2014 October 10-12 2014
For more information on the various venues, events and tickets go to http://www.hostos.cuny.edu/culturearts/events/FY13-14/October/bomplenazo/bomplenazo.shtml
New Jersey Bomba: Primer Anual Festival Cultural Latino - Saturday September 20, 2014
Artists: Cimarrones (New Jersey)
Date and Time: Saturday September 20, 2014, performance time unknown
Venue and Location: Lake Terrace, 1690 Oak Street, Lakewood, NJ 08701
Admission: Not listed
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Bomba and Plena Podcast: Afropop Worldwide "Bomba, Plena y Mas" (September 24, 1992)
(A few days ago I posted a podcast from NPR's Latino USA on Bomba in New York City. Here is a podcast from Public Radio International's Afropop Worldwide originally aired on September 24, 1992 covering Bomba and Plena in Puerto Rico. Its interesting to hear the host describe Bomba y Plena in 1992 he uses different words in breaking down panderos and barrilles. Maybe even more interesting is his discussions about Bomberos and Pleneros from a passing generation whose's prospective proceeded the film "Raices".) *Note - The first 10 minutes of the podcast is Salsa music then the show goes into its coverage of Bomba and Plena.*
Monday, September 8, 2014
Bomba and Plena Podcast: "Latino USA Bomba Returns: An Afro-Puerto Rican Music Genre Thrives In New York"
Puerto Rico is famous for its top salsa musicians. But if you really want to get the party started on the island, you have to play somebomba.
Bomba is one of the island’s oldest music forms, combining African, indigenous Taíno and Spanish musical elements. The music is performed on booming hand drums and sung in call-and-response style.
By the 1950s, bomba had fallen out of fashion and had been relegated to folkloric dance troupes. But over the last 20 years, bomba has come back in a big way. Today, it’s thriving right here in New York City, connecting Boricuas in the diaspora to their roots.
Photo by Roxanne Scott
For original article go to http://latinousa.org/2014/09/05/bomba/
Rhode Island Bomba and Plena: Los Pleneros de la 21 (Providence, Rhode Island) - Friday September 19, 2014
Event: Los Pleneros de la 21 (in Providence, Rhode Island)
Artists: Los Pleneros de a 21
Date and Time: Friday September 19, 2014 at 6:30PM
Venue and Location: Smith Center for the Arts, Providence College at 1 Cunningham Square, Providence, RI 02908
Admission: Not listed
For more information go to https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1534110083473809&ref=70
Jacksonville Bomba and Plena: Pasa Dia Anual Playero - September 13, 2014
Renacer Borincano Jacksonville les invita a este pasa dia! Toma nota y no te lo pierdas... RB Jacksonville siempre va a Orlando, a Kissimmee y donde quiera que quieren su participación ahora la invitación es para ustedes para que vengan a compartir y disfrutar de un día de amistad y música sabrosa! Los esperamos!
Renacer Borincano Jacksonville invites you to this happy day. RB Jacksonville is always going to Orlando, Kissimmee and wherever their participation is wanted. Now there is an invitation for you to come and share and enjoy in a day of friendship and tasty music. (paraphrase from Google Translation)
This year we have our # 1 chef Leticia Rivera will prepare a tasty meal that will be on sale. We will also use the occasion to raise funds to benefit of our friend and brother in Bomba Gregory who needs a lot of your prayers for a speedy recovery. Those who prefer to donate directly to the account of Gregory can do so via the internet at this link http://www.gofundme.com/8c77hc you can read about Gregory's condition from the updates his wife Janet is keeping us updated on your condition. Let's show Gregory and his family all of our love this coming Saturday September 13th in Jacksonville as it is dedicated to his name. The money received will be personally taken to his home in Tampa. Renacer Borincano Jacksonville is counting on you! (another paraphrase from Google Translation)
Event: Pasa Dia Anual Playero
Artists: Renacer Borincano Jacksonville
Date and Time: Saturday September 13, 2014 at 10AM
Location: Jacksonville Beach below the pier
Admission: Free
For more information go to Facebook.com/ Renacer Borincano Jacksonville
Friday, September 5, 2014
Chicago Bomba: Barrio Arts Fest - Saturday and Sunday September 6 and 7
The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (NMPRAC) is proud to present Barrio Arts Fest 2014 (BAF14), the weekend of Saturday, September 6th and Sunday September 7th, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. BAF 14 is a weekend long celebration of the arts, crafts, music, arts education and performances that encompasses the vibrancy of the creative community of Humboldt Park and vicinities.
Barrio Arts Fest has been celebrated for the past 12 years and among others, has showcased: Arts and Crafts from artists of Puerto Rico, art workshops of book making and Chiringas (kites), a creative writing workshop by Boca Floja sponsored by Batey Urbano and a Bomba dancing workshop by AfriCaribe.
Of course, the background to BAF14 is the completion of the 2nd floor construction of the NMPRAC, which has taken several months and will be premiered on Thursday, Sept 4, 2014 at our fundraiser
Bombazo by AfriCaribe for more information visit www.iprac.org or write brendat@iprac.org
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Colorado Bomba: "INFLUENCIAS" The Legacy of Bomba - September 13, 2014
Barrio e' and Americas Latino Eco Festival (ALEF) are joining forces to co-produce a musical production showcasing the history line of Puerto Rican Bomba: “ALEF Barrio E’ Fest 2014” at The Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder Colorado on Saturday September 13, 2014 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 4:30 p.m.) The event is free and open to the general public and registration is required. The musical production will showcase the history of the various musical genres that influenced Puerto Rican Bomba music and dance, and illustrate the critical role of Bomba in the development of modern popular music and dances.
For more information about this event, visit: http://www.barrioe.org/
If you would like your business featured in Barrio e's Play Bill for its upcoming September 13 production and be seen by a full house at the The Dairy Center for the Arts, send us a message at barrioe@barrioe.org
Want to see the show? Get your FREE tickets while they last here:http://goo.gl/BQ744L
To donate towards this production click here: http://goo.gl/MqNPty
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Bronx Bomba and Plena: Festival de Bomba y Plena de Bronx - Friday September 5 - 7, 2014
Friday September 5, 2014 at 8pm Herencia de mi Tambo and Grupo Aya
Saturday September 6, 2014 at 8pm Grupo Maestro and 5 en Plena
Sunday September 7, 2014 at Bombazo Dance Co., 33 Broadway y Pleneras, and Sembra Maestra
Location: El Maestro at 1300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10459
Admission: Not listed
For more info call El Maestro at (646) 299-6507
Monday, September 1, 2014
South Florida Bomba: Traveling Exhibit Reynaldo "GuAracibe" Rodriguez" Expression de Barrio - Sept. 5-Oct 24, 2014
Exhibicion comienza en Septiembre 1ro pero la aperyura sera en Septiembre 11,2014 con la agrupacion de BUYA desde Chicago, Get ready para ense~arle a Miami Dade Collage, lo que es BOMBA!!!!!
(Rough translation - Exhibition begins on September 1st but the opening will be in September 11, 2014 with a performance of the group Bomba Con BUYA from Chicago, at Miami Dade College.)
Reception Night September 11, 2014 from 5-7pm at 500 College Terrace, Homestead, FL 33030. Bomba Con Buya performs at 6pm.
Exhibit to be displayed from September 5-October 24, 2014 Miami Dade College, Homestead campus, 500 College Terrace, Homestead, FL 33030.
A Vision of Reynaldo GuAracibo Rodriguez
An amazing traveling exhibition by Puerto Rican artist Reynaldo Rodriguez. This exhibition explores the West African, the Caribbean and the Puerto Rican history of the Bomba tradition in Chicago and others part of the United States, also each mural have this colorful exhibition features the art of the Artist Reynaldo "GuAracibo" Rodriguez accompanied by the sounds and rhythm of Afro-Caribbean drums.
The exhibition will bring work from Reynaldo Rodriguez, in which he uses portraits from "Bomberos" in his community to represent various aspects of our Bomba music (drumming, singing, Cua, Maraca, etc). An important element of the exhibit will be the connection with Bomberos from Puerto Rico and the United States. (These last two paragraphs are paraphrases of an announcement from Behance.net back in 2013.)
Queens and Brooklyn Bomba: Raquel Z. Rivera and Ojos de Sofia play in NYC Friday Sept. 26 and Saturday Oct. 4
As many of you know, Raquel Z. Rivera and Ojos de Sofia play only once or twice in NYC each year... And this it!
Friday, September 26 | 9:00 pm
Terraza 7
40-19 Gleane St, Elmhurst, Queens, NY
$7
Saturday, October 4 | 8:00 pm
Barbès,
376 9th St., Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY
Suggested donation $10
We'll be playing original musica jibara, bachata, salves and bomba, as well as classic boleros, from our new song series titled Las Decimas del Amargue and Other Songs of Love. Come through if you missed these songs' NYC debut last December. Or come through if you want to hear them again.
And, yes, my fabulous sister Anabellie will once again be leaving everyone breathless with her renditions of classic boleros. If you haven't heard her, you must: https://soundcloud.com/
The team: Bryan Vargas (musical director, arranger, guitar, cuatro),Anabellie Rivera (vocals), Camilo Molina (percussion), Jblak Negro Cimarron (percussion) and, yours truly, Raquel Z. Rivera (vocals). We will be sorely missing guitarist Yasser Tejeda, but he has a fabulous tour to attend to.
These NYC gigs are part of our fall tour which will also take us to Southern California, Boston, Western Massachusetts and Maine. I'll soon be posting our full schedule on our website:
www.ojosdesofia.com
Tour de Las Décimas del Amargue
September 22 | Time TBD
Artist talk and décimas writing workshop
Pomona College
333 N College Way, Claremont, CA
Free
September 23 | 7:00 pm
SCRIPPS College
1030 Columbia Ave, Claremont, CA 91711
Free
September 25 | 7:00 pm
Rutgers University
Gathering Lounge, Livingston Student Center, 84 Joyce Kilmer Ave., Piscataway, NJ 08854
Free
Friday, September 26 | 9:00 pm
Terraza 7
40-19 Gleane St, Elmhurst, Queens, NY
$7
Monday, September 29 | 1:30 pm
Artist talk and musical demonstration
Northeastern University
342 Huntington Ave, Blackman Auditorium, Boston, MA 02115
Free
Monday, September 29 | 8:00 pm
Makeshift Boston
549 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118
Suggested donation $10
Tuesday, September 30 | 12 noon
Artist talk and musical demonstration
Tufts University
419 Boston Ave, Medford, MA 02155
419 Boston Ave, Medford, MA 02155
Free
Wednesday, October 1st | Times TBD
Bowdoin College
3725 College St, Brunswick, ME 04011
3725 College St, Brunswick, ME 04011
Free
Saturday, October 4 | 8:00 pm
Barbès,
376 9th St., Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY
Suggested donation $10
For the most up-to-date venue, time, and other details of these concerts and presentations, please contact 646.266.7182 or ojosdesofia@gmail.com.
For further general information please contact Tom Frouge @ Avokado Artists (505.771.3166 /tom@avokado.net) or Raquel Z. Rivera (646.266.7182 / raquelzrivera@gmail.com).
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