My Latin roots and love for music makes me follow a bunch of musicians that usually don’t play here in the UK. London Latin music scene is not so quiet don’t get me wrong, it is good to have regular performances of Buenavista Social Club and other Cuban bands, also some occasional and not so typical shows of artists such as Juan Luis Guerra, Gilberto Santa Rosa and most recently one of my favourites Ruben Blades.
Show Promotion
Ruben is a Panamanian songwriter, salsa singer, lawyer, actor, and even politician. Started his show life working in the Fania Records mailroom while writing songs, until he got the chance to prove his vocal skills in Fania, it didn't pass too long until he paired with Willie Colon forming one of the most successful musical partnerships in Salsa, even considered by some experts as the Lennon and McCartney’s of the Latin music.
All Star Salsa Duo Blades & Colon (Copyright rubenblades.com)
My joy was huge when the 28 of July at around 8ish one of my favourite musicians was on stage in the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Playing with him the exceptional trombonist Jimmy Bosch, I was a bit disappointed that he didn’t bring his all star band Son del Solar but the Roberto Delgado band played superb.
The Panamanian in Action (Copyright rubenblades.com)
The repertoire had Ruben’s classics including Decisiones, El Padre Antonio y su Monaguillo Andres, Ligia Elena, Maria Lionza dedicated to all the Venezuelans in the audience, Muevete, Buscando Guayaba, Amor y Control, Ojos de Perro Azul, and of course Pedro Navaja.
Ruben on stage at the Shepherd's Bush
A superb show, great night of salsa, I can tell you I danced all night and was amazed with the talent and show presented. I had the wonderful company of my friend Carla who is more Panamanian than the canal or the expression “Agua y Guaro”. The missing moment of the night was definitely Patria, the song is almost a second national anthem for Panama, and close to any Latin-American far from home. Sorry I didn’t translate it, as it’s one of the most beautiful lyrics of any song.
“Hace algún tiempo me preguntaba un chiquillo
Por el significado de la palabra Patria
Me sorprendió con su pregunta
Y con el alma en la garganta le dije así
Flor de barrio, hermanito, Patria, son tantas cosas bellas.
Como aquel viejo árbol que nos habla aquel poema,
Como el cariño que guardas después de muerta abuela
Patria, son tantas cosas bellas
Son las paredes de un barrio, y su esperanza morena,
Es lo que lleva en el alma todo aquel cuando se aleja
Son los mártires que gritan: Bandera, Bandera, Bandera, Bandera
No memorices lecciones de dictaduras ni encierros,
La Patria no la definen los que suprimen a un pueblo
La Patria es un sentimiento en la mirada de un viejo,
Son la eterna primavera, risa de hermanita nueva,
Te contesto hermanito: Patria son tantas cosas bellas”
The one thing about Latin culture that comes to my mind is the Seinfeld episode “The Puerto Rican Day”
Kramer: Yeah... uhh... well, the streets are all blocked. I think every Puerto Rican in the world is out here.
Puerto Rican Man: Well, it is our day.
Kramer: Whoo. Wrong car. Sorry.
O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
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