Latinlover NEWS
 Photo by Anthony Rodriguez Concert Details Brought to you by Casablanca Events & Boricua Nights | CONCERT WRAP for MAELO RUIZ. For many Australian salsa fans, Maelo Ruiz isnât a name that is met with instant recognition. The Puerto Rican singer went some way to rectifying that last night when he performed to a packed out Royal Melbourne Hotel. Supported by band members from local acts Combo La Revelacion and some of the best brass section musicians from Los Cabrones, the 17-piece band went through a number of songs spanning Maeloâs 30-year career. Top favorites were 'Te va a dolor', 'Este Amor', and 'Que me mata' Audience members could close their eyes and be transported by Maeloâs smooth and pure voice singing along to his relaxed salsa tempos. Open those eyes and it was clear that Maelo was struggling under the heat of the lights and the energy required to sing his songs. Nevertheless, the pull of a bona fide salsa legend brought out some familiar faces to the Latin dance scene. The crowd sang along while recording it on their phones or cameras while some couples found room at the side of the stage to dance. Maelo churned through around 10 of his hits with just enough time between songs to wipe the sweat from his brow before he made his way off stage. The DJ took over, keeping the crowd moving with plenty of reggaeton and merengue before Maelo came back to the stage. Returning to sing some of the songs that have made the 45-year-old famous, Maelo had the mainly Latino crowd pushing ever closer to the stage to show their appreciation. While last night probably wasnât Maelo at his best, it did leave a lot of people wondering where to buy his albums from for music that is a joy to listen and to dance to. By Alexander Cork March 2012 |
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 Photo by Anthony Rodriguez Concert Details Brought to you by Straight Up Entertainment | BRINGING EDDIE PALMIERI TO AUSTRALIA Eddie Palmieri as part of his 50th anniversary of touring for the first time in Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne to capacity crowds. Eddie is even more a remarkable talent with a humble compassion on stage with audiences, he had us falling in love with his music and him all over again. Read about the effort of one fan who chased Eddie for over 3 years to have him agree to come here. Blair Stafford Read Interview By Alexander Cork March 2012 |
 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Sydney Festival Program Manager Danni Colgan describes him as the âHoly Grailâ, and for good reason. Interview By Alexander Cork |
MANU CHAO - Sydney Festival Program Manager Danni Colgan describes him as the âHoly Grailâ, and for good reason. He puts on fiercely energetic shows and whips up crowds into a party like atmosphere. He has travelled to many parts of the world where his music leaves a lasting impression but for the very first time, Manu Chao is coming to Australia. âHeâs been quite the Holy Grail in Australia, trying to get him out. Itâs my first year at the Sydney Festival so it felt like a great opportunity to try really hard and get him out here.â Danni said. It took a lot of patience and persistence by Danni and the team from the Sydney Festival to convince Manu Chao to come to Australia but she knows he is worth the effort. âHeâs brought together countries from around the world, Spanish, French, Portuguese, South America. Heâs crossed boundaries from around the world so itâs great, that opportunity to bring him to Australia for Australians to experience.â Chao has been making music since the late 1980s, starting out as the leader of rock outfit Mano Negra and then moving on to a solo career. His songs are written in English, Portuguese, French, Spanish and Italian and he finds inspiration for his music in street culture and local bar scenes. Danni is hoping the Sydney Festival goers will see Manu Chao La Ventura and other visiting artists as not just âWorld Musicâ, but for the talented musicians that they are. âWhat I hope to see is that theyâre [visiting artists] not just confined to that world music definition, which is so often the case for these fantastic Latin American or non-western artists who come out to visit Australia â they kind of fall under this world music bill. Itâs great to be able bring out these artists under the banner of great music and great musicians and not having to pigeon hole them into a certain style of music.â Chaoâs first solo album, Clandestino, released in 1998, sold in excess of four million copies worldwide to become the second biggest-selling world music album in history after Ry Cooderâs Buena Vista Social Club. His next album, 2001âs Proxima Estacion: Esperanza ('Next Stop: Hope' â a reference to an announcement on a Madrid train station) consolidated his place as one of the world's most successful recording artists. Danni believes Manu will extend the appeal of the Sydney Festival to bring in an audience âwho loves to do dance to Latin beatsâ as well as young musicians to see a master at work. Manu Chao La Ventura is performing exclusively at the Sydney Festival at The Domain on January 7th and to an almost sold out Endmore on January 9th. By Alexander Cork Jan 2012 |
 | PAPRIKA (Cutucada/Que Saudade/Sabrosa Som Sistema/Mighty Highness Records) Paprika's a passionate music lover and one of Australia's leading exponents of the 'futurelatinjazzfunk & afrobrazilian beat'. Currently in Brisbane, he comes from a musical family (His mother a classical multi-instrumentalist, cousin classical Violinist with OV, and Grandfather being Roger Bell - well known Dixieland Jazz musi |