Sunday diversion: about last night …

live music is so alive (d’oh)
In case you were looking for something to do last night and want to feel jealous about your choice, we went last night to Red Hot + Cuba at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the latest in a series (of 22?) Red Hot + ____ shows at BAM. Let’s just say the joint was rocking, even from the upper balcony! Two and a half hours, 23 (?) musicians including up to 6 horns, 3 drum sets, 2 congas, two other percussions, 2 keys, 4 guitars, and approximately 100 vocalists ;-).

If you have a few minutes and any interest, the individual artist videos linked on the BAM link above will give you an idea of the incredible talent and diversity of styles brought together on one stage for one (long) set. I clicked the videos of the artists I thought were the most dynamic last night (I found Carlos Varela and Cucu Diamantes the most charismatic last night, but Your Mileage May Vary), yet only the clip from Alejandro Abreu came close to capturing the energy on stage last night (no surprise: the music videos just don’t compare, though David Torrens merits an honorable mention for music video).

No passport to get to Cuba = no problemo. I need to expand my Pandora “Cuba” channel beyond Buena Vista Social Club, I see.

© Sandy Mattingly 2012