News & Updates — charanga

Jose "Chombo" Silva was a veteran Cuban musician who hit the NYC scene in the '60s, playing charangas and descargas. Versatile as both a saxophonist and violinist, he played with Johnny Pacheco's charanga, Ray Barretto, the Alegre All Stars, Kako, Mongo Santamaría, Peruchín, Charlie Palmieri, Chocolate Armenteros, Típica Ideal, Africando, Nestor Torres' La Sensual and the Panamanian group Los Exagerados, with whom he contributed the blasting descarga "Panama Esta Bueno Y... Ma". He learned violin at an early age, playing in church groups. In the late '30s he was playing with pianist Peruchín. In '48 he started the Swing Boys...

Tonight! The Discoteca Latina party returns to Sevenstrong in Northampton MA, with Peace & Rhythm's DJ Bongohead and guest Rob Suave out of Boston, spinning classic salsa dura, mambo, charanga, boogaloo, bachata, merengue, mambo, cumbia and other Latin styles for the dancefloor, all direct from old school vinyl! It's at Sevenstrong (7 Strong Ave), Northampton. It rolls from 10pm to 2am and admission is free! http://www.sevenstrongavenue.com/#!

The Burkinabé singer Amadou Balaké had a long and varied career, recording Mandé music, soul, afro-cuban, salsa, highlife, afrobeat/funk and various West African regional styles. He was among the artists who explicitly bridged Afro-Cuban sounds with contemporary African music in the '60s & '70s into the 2000s. He was a taxi driver in Mali before joining Harmonie Voltaiqüe and scoring big with the tune he changed his name to ("Balaké"). He joined Super Volta before launching his solo career in the mid-'70s. He also sang in Les 5 Consuls. He went to NYC in the late '70s to cut a...