Rodrigo y Gabriela Appear in KCET’s Series “In Concert at the Hollywood Bowl”

Posted on August 24, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Rodrigo y Gabriela are ready to bowl you over…

The Mexican acoustic guitar duo, composed of Rodrigo Sánchez and Gabriela Quintero, appear in the premiere of KCET’s six-episode series In Concert at the Hollywood Bowl.

“It’s one of the most beautiful venues,” says Quintero of performing at the Hollywood Bowl. “And it’s one of my favorite spots, which is the Hollywood Hills. And nearby is the Observatory. Also it has good acoustics and the audiences there are just so loving. It’s magical every time.”

In January — after around two decades as professional musicians —Rodrigo y Gabriela won their first Grammy award for their album Mettavolution.

“Oh my goodness, this year was going to be a very busy one. We had a full year [of touring] booked,” says co-founder Quintero. Instead — as concert tours around the world were cancelled due to the coronavirus epidemic — the duo have spent the past few months in the Pacific coast Mexican town of Zihuatanejo.

Even though live shows are on hold, Rodrigo y Gabriela can be seen in action in a never-before-televised performance on In Concert at The Hollywood Bowl, which runs on PBS SoCal and which runs through September 23.

Produced in association with The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, the shows are a selection of some of the best performances at the iconic L.A. venue over the last 10 years, all drawn from the L.A. Phil’s archives. The Bowl itself closed this summer for the first time in its 98-year history.

The first episode — hosted, as all in the series are, by L.A. Phil Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel — is titled “Hecho en Mexico” and also features Los Angeles Azules with Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) and Paolo Bortolameolli, La Santa Cecilia and Natalia Lafourcade.

“Even though we met for the first time at the rehearsal, it felt like he was an old friend,” says Quintero of working with Dudamel. “It felt so familiar. And then working with him, it was incredible to feel his energy and watch him with the Philharmonic. As a human being, he’s a really nice guy and very down to earth.

Upcoming episodes of the weekly series will feature performers like Kristin Chenoweth, Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Carlos Santana and ballet star Misty Copeland.

Carlos Santana Among Artists Taking Part in ‘Artists United for Amazonia’ Global Livestream to Benefit Amazon Emergency Fund

Posted on May 25, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Santana will be strummin’ for a cause…

The 72-year-old Mexican Grammy-winning guitarist and entrepreneur will be taking part in a global livestream event to benefit the Amazon Emergency Fund, an indigenous-led effort providing rapid response grants in the region to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Santana, considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, will be joined by Jane Fonda, Morgan Freeman, Peter Gabriel and numerous other artists for the Thursday, May 28 event.

They’ll join indigenous leaders, scientists and a coalition of NGOs in presentng Artists United for Amazonia: Protecting the Protectors, a livestream event produced by Artists for Amazonia.

The two-hour event will run from 8:00 pm to 10 pm ETE and will be hosted by part-Spanish actress and Game of Thrones co-star Oona Chaplin, who played Talisa Maegyr on the series. The livestream will be available via Facebook and through the event website.

The program will promote the Amazon Emergency Fund, launched last month by a coalition of indigenous organizations, NGOs, and allies to respond to the urgent needs of indigenous peoples of the Amazon threatened by COVID-19.

Funds raised will be used for: immediate prevention and care; food and medical supplies; emergency communications and evacuation; protection and security for indigenous territories; and food sovereignty and community resilience. The Amazon Emergency Fund aims to raise $5 million over the next 60 days for Forest Guardians to protect themselves against the pandemic in all nine Amazonian countries.

The Artists United for Amazonialivestream will feature living-room musical performances, interviews, and calls to action.

Performers include Herbie Hancock, Rocky Dawuni, Butterscotch Clinton, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, Cary Elwes, Alfre Woodard, Wade Davis,Wagner Moura, and Brazilian Grammy winners Ivan Lins and Luciana Souza.

Others participating include Jane Goodall, Tom Bergeron, Ed Begley Jr., Frances Fisher, Matti Caspi, Suyan Caspi, Wendie Malick, Scottie Thompson, Kali Uchis, Rocky Dawuni, Celine Cousteau, Matthew Modine, Q’orianka Kilcher, Chloe Smith from Rising Appalachia, Sonia Guajajara, Angela Kaxuyana, Nina Gualinga, Benki Piyako, Mapu Huni Kuin, Lizardo Cauper, Thomas Lovejoy, Carlos Nobre, Atossa Soltani, Leila Salazar-López, Christina Miller, and Wade Davis.

“This event is part of an extraordinary alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to preserving the most biodiverse region on Earth,” said Sarah duPont, founder of Amazon Aid Foundation and co-director, River of Gold. “Illicit and unregulated gold mining is one of the most dangerous forms of deforestation in the Amazon Basin and releases toxic mercury into the ecosystem. Since the pandemic, gold mining has exploded across the Amazon and into indigenous territories bringing with it violence and COVID-19. Now, the Amazon is at the tipping point and the protectors of the Amazon are under dire threat. What happens in the Amazon affects us all.”

Leila Salazar-López, Executive Director of Amazon Watch, added: “The Amazon and its peoples are in a state of emergency due to climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a crime against nature and a crime against humanity. It is a time for all to unite and act in defense of the forest and in solidarity with the indigenous and traditional peoples across the Amazon who are protecting this great rainforest and our climate for all of humanity and life on Earth.”

Carlos Santana Releasing New Music Early Next Year

Posted on December 15, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Santana is preparing to release new music…

The 71-year-old Mexican American musician, considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, will first release a Mona Lisa EP on January 25, and then a new album produced by Rick Rubin.

“A lot of musicians, for whatever reason, they get stuck in a jukebox from the ’60s or ’70s or ’80s,” Santana, who has been keeping busy with a MasterClass session on the art of the guitar, tells Billboard. “I call it regurgitation nostalgia, and I don’t want to be there. I learned from Miles (Davis) and Wayne (Shorter) and Herbie (Hancock) to keep moving and keep discovering. Yes, honor those (old) songs because people do come to see you, but make them fresh, restructure them with innocence and meaningfulness and significance but move on into the next level, which is 2019 and 2020.”

Mona Lisa is a three-part suite that was inspired by a visit to see the actual Mona Lisa at the Louvrein Paris. The opening “Do You Remember Me,” which was produced by Rubin, is an elegant tone poem that incorporates some of the onstage improvisations Santana has made a part of his live performances of the Supernatural hit “Smooth.” “In Search of Mona Lisa” — produced, along with the closing “Besame Mucho – Lovers From Another Time” by Narada Michael Walden— is more upbeat and “more radio friendly, along with Bo Diddley,” according to Santana. Jazz bass legend Ron Carter guests on “Besame Mucho” as well.

“These pieces were coming along,” Santana says, “and after the second one my wife (Cindy Blackman) said, ‘Hey, this sounds really great. Why don’t we try another one and do a trilogy?’ I saw the Mona Lisa and the creative started from me having enough gratitude and confidence from all the things I learned from my teachers.”

The full album, meanwhile, will be out “between spring and summer,” according to Santana, the product of 10 days in the studio with Rubin during which he and his band recorded 49 songs. “And they’re killin’, man — you won’t believe the energy in the songs,” Santana gushes. “There were only two or three songs that we did twice — everything else was done in one take, and we were doing, like, five to seven songs a day. It feels like a blur. They’re all African music from different musicians I love. I’m not bragging, but I have this spirit with the band that they trust me to say ‘That one’s done, let’s go to the next one…'”

Angelique Kidjo to Perform Celia Cruz Tribute at the Hollywood Bowl

Posted on February 16, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Prepare to be bowled over by Celia Cruz’s music…

Singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo is set to perform a special tribute to the late Cuban singer, who passed away in July 23 at the age of 77, at the Hollywood Bowl.

Celia Cruz

It’s all part of the 2017 Jazz at the Bowl summer series, kicking off July 19, featuring eight Wednesday evening concerts.

Cruz is hailed as the most popular Latin artist of the 20th century, earning 23 gold albums. She was a recipient of the National Medal of Arts. She was renowned internationally as the “Queen of Salsa“, “La Guarachera de Cuba“, as well as The Queen of Latin Music.

Guided by Herbie Hancock, the L.A. Philharmonic’s creative chair for jazz, this year’s series features performances by a diverse lineup of established and emerging artists, including Kidjo’s Cruz tribute on August 9.

The lineup also includes performances by Jill Scott and the Robert Glasper Experiment, Andra Day, Leslie Odom Jr. and more in a salute to Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie, and Steve Winwood with Mavis Staples.

The complete 2017 Jazz at the Bowl schedule, as well as ticket information, is available at www.HollywoodBowl.com.

Blacc to Perform at This Year’s Playboy Jazz Festival

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Aloe Blacc is a playboy…

The 35-year-old Panamanian American singer-songwriter has been selected as one of the headliners for the 37th annual Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Taking place June 13-14, the two-day lineup includes appearances by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ledisi and Terence Blanchard.

Blacc, who has the most Shazamed song of all time, will perform on Saturday, June 13.

Other Latino/a artists/acts include Ozomatli and the Eddie Palmieri Afro-Caribbean Jazz Band.

In addition, the slate includes Jason Moran‘s Fats Waller Dance Party, Snarky Puppy and Blue Note 75th Anniversary Presents: Our Point of View featuring Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge, Kendrick Scott, Lionel Loueke, Marcus Strickland and Ambrose Akinmusire. The legacy of late jazz icon Gerald Wilson will be saluted by the Celebrating Gerald Wilson Orchestra under the direction of Wilson’s son Anthony.

Returning for a third consecutive year as host is comedian/actor George Lopez.

Additional information about the 2015 Playboy Jazz Festival is available at HollywoodBowl.com/PlayboyJazz.

Here’s the complete schedule:

PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL 2015
Saturday, June 13, 3-11 p.m.
Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and the Monk Institute of Jazz Performance Ensemble
Eddie Palmieri Afro-Caribbean Jazz Band with special invited guests Ronnie Cuber, Alfredo De La Fe, Donald Harrison, Joe Locke
Aloe Blacc
Tower of Power
Jason Moran’s Fats Waller Dance Party
Celebrating Gerald Wilson Orchestra under the direction of Anthony Wilson
Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio
Morgan James
A Sacred Steel Love Supreme: The Campbell Brothers Present “A Love Supreme”
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Vocal Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Pat Bass

Sunday, June 14, 3-10:30 p.m.
Ledisi
Terence Blanchard E-Collective
Ozomatli
The Dizzy Gillespie Big Band under the direction of John Lee
Snarky Puppy
King Sunny Ade and his African Beats
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Blue Note 75th Anniversary Presents: Our Point of View featuring Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge, Kendrick Scott, Lionel Loueke, Marcus Strickland and Ambrose Akinmusire
The Jones Family Singers
The LAUSD/Beyond the Bell All-City Jazz Big Band under the direction of Tony White and J.B. Dyas

Corea & Herbie Hancock to Launch Duo Piano Concert Tour

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Chick Corea is reuniting with a fellow jazz great for a once-in-a-lifetime event series…

The 73-year-old part-Spanish jazz and fusion musician, who recently earned two Grammy nominations, and Herbie Hancock will join forces for a world tour of duo piano concerts later this year.

Corea and Hancock, who share much in common, last toured together 37 years ago when Jimmy Carter was in the White House and Sony had just introduced the Sony Walkman.

“Chick and I have always had an open door toward the possibility of touring again,” Hancock said in an email to Billboard.com. “We both felt that enough time has passed since our last major tour in 1978, and considering all of the experiences we have had in music and in life, that this was the perfect time to pass through that doorway again.”

Corea and Hancock both were members of Miles Davis’ bands of the 1960s, even playing together on keyboards on the trumpeter’s groundbreaking jazz-fusion albums, In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew.

“Herbie is a musical phenomenon and a rare human being,” Corea said in a statement. “To me he’s been a dear friend as well as a lifelong inspiration.”

The tour kicks off March 14 in Seattle, with the North American leg of the tour wrapping up in Carmel, Indiana on April 18. After a break, the duo will perform in Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock’s 2015 tour dates:

March 14 — Paramount Theatre, Seattle
March 15 — Chan Shun Concert Hall, Vancouver
March 17 — Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver,
March 19 — Zellerbach Hall/ University of California, Berkeley
March 20 — Copley Symphony Hall San Diego
March 21– Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles
March 22 — Granada Theater, Santa Barbara
April 9 — Carnegie Hall, New York
April 10 — Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington, DC
April 11– Academy of Music, Philadelphia
April 12 — Symphony Hall, Boston
April 14 –Massey Hall, Toronto
April 16 — Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor
April 17 — Symphony Center, Chicago
April 18 — The Palladium, Carmel
July 4 –- Olympia, Paris
July 5 — Palais Des Beaux Arts, Brussels
July 6 – Barbican, London
July 19 — Coll Jazz Festival, Lisbon, PT

Saldaña to Star in Miles Davis Biopic from Don Cheadle

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

There’s no doubt Zoë Saldaña is pretty jazzed about her next project…

The 35-year-old half-Dominican/half-Puerto Rican American actress has joined the cast of Kill the Trumpet Player, Don Cheadle‘s project about legendary jazz pioneer Miles Davis.

Cheadle will play the late musician and work behind the lens in his directorial debut. The long-delayed biopic will follow “the virtuoso, fighter and genius as he bursts out of his silent period and conspires with a Rolling Stone writer to steal his music back.”

Saldaña will portray Frances Davis, the former wife of the trumpet player in the film, which has received financing from BiFrost Pictures.

Meanwhile, Ewan McGregor will play a Rolling Stone reporter in the film.

Cheadle also co-wrote the script with Steven Baigelman to explore the story of a few dangerous days in Davis’ life. The late star’s collaborator Herbie Hancock is confirmed to be involved in the project as well.

Cheadle said at the American Film Market that the movie wouldn’t be a traditional biopic.

“Let’s kill that term, OK? I hope with this film we can kill the biopic. This film won’t try to give a broad overview of Davis’ life and give short shrift to this man’s story,” he said. “For us as creative people, the time of his life that was most interesting was the five years when he wasn’t playing, when he was silent. What was going on in his mind? And how did he come out of it and return to music?”

Production is expected to begin next summer.

No release date has been set in stone.

It’s the latest movie-themed project for Saldaña…

Last year, the Star Trek Into Darkness was cast to portray songstress Nina Simone in a biopic about the legendary singer.

Santana Named One of This Year’s Kennedy Center Honorees

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Santana is being celebrated for his American influence…

The 66-year-old Mexico-born musician has been selected as one of the honorees for the 36th annual Kennedy Center Honors.

Recipients are recognized for their lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts – whether in dance, music, theater, opera, motion pictures or television – and are selected by the Center’s Board of Trustees.

“From his legendary performance at Woodstock to his sweep at the 2000 Grammys and beyond, Carlos Santana’s artistry transcends genres while entertaining millions,” says Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein.

In 2003 Rolling Stone listed Santana at number 20 on the magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. He’s won 10 Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards.

In addition to Santana, actress Shirley MacLaine, pianist/singer/songwriter Billy Joel, opera singer Martina Arroyo and pianist/band leader/composer Herbie Hancock will also be honored.

“The Kennedy Center celebrates five extraordinary individuals who have spent their lives elevating the cultural vibrancy of our nation and the world,” said Rubenstein.

The annual event at Washington’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has been broadcast on CBS every year since its debut 36 years ago.

This year’s broadcast will air on Sunday, December 29, from 9:00 – 11:00 pm ET.

Lopez to Emcee This Year’s Playboy Jazz Festival

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

George Lopez is the next jazz master… of sorts.

The 51-year-old Mexican American comedian/actor has been named the new master of ceremonies for the Playboy Jazz Festival, which will be taking place at the Hollywood Bowl on June 15-16.

This year’s lineup includes India.Arie, Sheila E., Trombone Shorty, Bob James/David Sanborn, George Duke with Jeffrey Osborne, Angelique Kidjo with Hugh Masekela and Taj Mahal.

The two-day fest, celebrating its 35th anniversary, will also present three world premieres. These include Naturally 7 with special guest Herbie Hancock; an 80th birthday salute to Quincy Jones by the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with special guests Patti Austin and Hubert Laws; and jazz pianist Elew who, like India.Arie and Mahal, is making his first appearance at the festival. In addition, the Brubeck Brothers Quartet will perform a special tribute to the late Dave Brubeck.

Lopez takes over the emcee duties from Bill Cosby, who helmed the fest for more than 30 years. Described as the “perfect choice” to host by Playboy Jazz Festival’s president emeritus Richard Rosenzweig, Lopez called it a “most tremendous honor” to get the call from Cosby to be emcee.

He also noted that Cosby was giving him pointers like “don’t let the musicians in your dressing room because they will eat up all your food.”

Lopez later told Billboard.biz that he’s a longtime jazz fan. “To attend the show in this capacity is beyond whatever I could have imagined.” A guitar enthusiast, he noted that he’d also “love to play one song” with an act during the show. “That’s my goal.”

Santana to Pen His Memoir

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He ranks as one of the greatest guitarists of all time… And Santana could soon find his name on the New York Times bestseller list.

The 65-year-old Mexican-born rock guitarist has signed an agreement with Little, Brown and Co. to write a tell-all memoir, according to The Associated Press.

Santana, who has won 10 Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards, learned to play the violin at age five and the guitar at age eight while living Mexico. Following his family’s move to San Francisco, he was also introduced to a variety of new musical influences, including jazz and folk music, and he witnessed the growing hippie movement centered in San Francisco in the 1960s.

“The ’60s were a leap in human consciousness. Mahatma Gandhi, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Che Guevara, Mother Teresa, they led a revolution of conscience,” once said Santana. “The Beatles, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix created revolution and evolution themes. The music was like Dalí, with many colors and revolutionary ways. The youth of today must go there to find themselves.”

Santana, currently locked into a two-year headlining gig at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, is expected to dish on the likes of Eric Clapton and Herbie Hancock as he recounts his mammoth career.

Santana’s book is expected to be released in 2014.

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