El Hombre Elastico - - (el flaco del sabor) profile picture

El Hombre Elastico - - (el flaco del sabor)

I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me

DJ (since late 80s) and PERCUSSIONIST (since 70s)
- ¡La Mejor Música Caliente con el Flaco del Sabor!
Above slideshow: Viva La Música - "That Viva Vibe!" - Atticus Bar
(just to give you a little visual sample of the vibe of our nights!)
ABOUT ME:
DJ (since late 80s) and PERCUSSIONIST/KIT-DRUMMER (since 70s)
"El Hombre Elastico (AKA “El Flaco del Sabor”) is a well-known DJ and musician
on the Latin American music scene in and around Birmingham (UK).
He has been described as “the DJ's DJ", always pulling something
interesting out of the musical bag to tempt jaded salsa palates, and plays from
a strong position of musical and cultural knowledge combined with passion.
Elastico's direct involvement with latin american music and dance started
over twenty years ago when he was living in South America. It was there
that he gained the nickname of "El Hombre Elastico" (the Elastic Man)
due to his style of dancing. DJing since the late 80s, Elastico has
a long pedigree and is remembered by many from the golden years
at clubs like Jasmine's, Heroes and XLs, the groundbreaking Latinos and
(in collaboration with the Godfather of Tropical Music in the Midlands,
Zuppa Inglese) for the legendary Monday night sessions at Ronnie Scott’s.
Elastico and Zuppa can currently be heard at the ‘Viva La Musica’ sessions
at Atticus in Bearwood (check venue for details). Alongside all this
he has also been a musician (percussionist and drummer) for over 30 years
(including timbalero with salseros Orquesta Huracan).
"Although I have always been into dance as well,
I feel my real love and strength is in playing and DJing music -
after all, the music is the basis of all salsa, it is where the soul of salsa lies.
At the end of the day the dancers interpret the music they hear -
they shouldn't be just dancing set routines!
I try to pick music that makes people want to express themselves,
rather than just be a series of beats to show off their latest 'shine'.
I feel strongly about the quality of the music I play whether it's as a DJ
or a percussionist - I suppose it's a musician's passion.
All this stuff dance teachers teach about 'On the 1' and 'On the 2'
is ultimately just a distraction -
it means nothing unless you feel the music inside."
Elastico's music when DJing is notable for embracing the whole spectrum of salsa
as well as a huge amount of other latin tropical music traditions.
He likes to take the audience on a musical journey round the 'latin music world':
(nowadays this is becoming a truly global renaissance of 'latinicity')
one moment in Barranquilla, the next in Havana, then on to New York,
Senegal, Recife, Ponce, Bahia, Caracas, Santiago, Miami, Cali, Curação,
Santo Domingo, Rio, London, Congo, Sao Paulo, Tokyo, Barcelona, Bogotá
or even Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Sconny Botland.
"To me, DJing is like cooking a 'guiso' (a rich stew):
I throw in good quality ingredients with distinct flavours
mix it with passion, stir it with care and just keep it bubbling.
All the dancers have to do then is to stir it up and drink it down!
As long as people want to keep sampling my DJ sessions,
I'll keep on serving it up to my own recipe:
strong flavours but always, always tasty!”
¡A GOZAAAAAR!

Drums/Percussion - A Brief Overview
Various local jazz, rock, blues bands in 70s/80s;
Founder member of Birmingham School of Samba
and Birmingham Afrobloc and Xangô Percussive Arts,
former member of Caliche (South American - mostly Andean),
founder member of The Sabri Ensemble (Indo-Jazz fusion),
percussionist with reggae band Dready & The Mighty Steppers,
timbalero with salseros Orquesta Huracan,
as well as stints with other bands and various collaborations;
currently drummer/percussionist with the Tom Martin Band
(from Celtic Soul to Acoustic Rock'n'Roll),
and ska band The Heels
(on tour with The [English] Beat and Neville Staples [The Specials]).

Below are some photos from the Feb 08 Viva - a great night!
Thanks to Carla who chose to celebrate her birthday with us
in true Brazilian style and abandon! Ate a proxima!
ABOUT "¡VIVA LA MUSICA!":
'VIVA LA MUSICA" is a night where we play
DANCE MUSIC FROM THE WHOLE LATIN SPECTRUM
Including both new and classic Salsa
(de lo más duríssima),
Samba Pagode, Reggaeton, Forro,
Vallenato, Cumbia, Charanga, Mambo,
Champeta, MPB, Tango Nuevo, Bachata,
Boogaloo, Timba, Zouk, Festejo, Axe, Gaita, Rumba . . .
(y bue, hay de to')
. . . to name but a few!
The idea really is just to enjoy fabulous music, but within that we showcase
the best dance music that latin america has to offer from all times and all places.
If we think YOU'll like it and we know WE like it, then we'll play it!
If you're fed up with one dimensional grooves
on the Latin scene, then check out Birmingham's
original latin DJs for something different.
Nobody does it this broad !!!
Ride with us to Atticus !!
Viva La Musica - Saving The World Before Bedtime!
From Buenos Aires to Bogota, New York to New Orleans,
Rio to Recife and all the way from Havana to Havanaparty.
Quality music for the head and feetFeaturing DJ's El Hombre Elastico & Zuppa Inglese.Entry is FREE! Ambience is SWEET!Music is EXQUISITE!

Below is a slideshow of some of my e-flyers
from Viva La Musica at Atticus during 2007
Videos
Please check out the videos on this page and in my video area;
Some are no longer available (so apologies if you click on any
and they are not there) I've put old stuff from this
page into the Blog area (top right), so it's worth having
a rummage in there in case you can't find stuff that
used to be on this front page!
Oh, and for some reason the little video widget thing in the
top right-hand corner of this page is only showing about 7 of
the 150 or so videos in my myspace video area.
Go to "Videos" (just underneath the profile pic), click on it and then
click on "My Favorites" - this should take you to my personal library.
Here are a few more videos to show you some of
the music that is out there and that I like . . .
Let's start with the utterly unique timba groove of Cuba.
El Chispa y Los Cómplices - "Te Enamoraste Sola"
The video is worth watching if only for the cars alone!
El Chispa y Los Cómplices - "Te Enamoraste Sola"
..
Then to young Colombian star, Cabas, and his Pop-Folklore fusion.
This track is called "La Cadena de Oro" - The Golden Chain
CABAS - "LA CADENA DE ORO"
..
This segues nicely into a veritable Colombian Superstar -
Shakira - here singing in Spanish alongside Alejandro Saenz.
A very raunchy RnB/Cumbia! (The Torture)
Shakira & Alejandro Saenz - "La Tortura"
..
Moving on now to developments in Europe. This time it's to Catalunya
in Northeastern Spain where once again old and new, young and old
are coming together to update established traditions and create new sounds.
A veritable 'A-list' of Catalan singers team up with young bloods to
weave rumba catalana in with salsa grooves. Sublime.
The only problem is, this video cuts off right in the middle (Aaaargh!)
Still, what's there is definitely worth checking!
Patriarcas de la Rumba
..
Time to hit some old school salsa with the Bad Boy of Salsa himself:
Willie Colón. This clip is, like the one above, cut off in its prime.
However, it shows Willie and his band around 1970 (ish) and a track
called "Jazzy" from his first album ("El Malo") recorded when he was only 17!
Great energy from the band and check out the kids watching the piano solo.
Now you see, THAT'S how kids ought to be exposed to music -
live, vibrant, powerful, exciting and some serious quality musicianship!
Willie Colón - "Jazzy"
..
OK, I can't help it - I've just GOT to have some more 'el Malo'.
This time it's from the 80s (guessing by the haircuts) and
yet another of my ALL-TIME FAVOURITE salsa anthems:
"Idilio" - This track is virtually perfect, just listen to it:
the lyrics (oh, the lyrics!), the pace, the punchy brass hooks,
that great rasping sound he gets from his trombones (whether valve or slide),
his deceptively light voice against the "soñando" hookline,
the sonorous backing vocals harmonising and contrasting perfectly
(Hey, isn't that Isidro Infante playing keyboards and on BVs?)
and then THAT slide trombone solo . . .
As I said virtually perfect! (well, I would have
preferred his solo to have gone on four times as long!).
The fly in the ointment?
Whoever told the Floor Manager that what the show really needed
was an audience waving cheerleaders' poms-poms . . .
It beggar's belief! (What is it with non-musicians???)
Willie Colon - "Idilio"
..
OK. Some more classic New York Salsa from another of the GIANTS
(although admitttedly rather diminutive physically!) - Eddie Palmieri and his band.
The track was filmed live in what looks like a university lecture theatre
and by someone who was obviously having a few issues with who to focus on.
However, as always, listen to the music. Pure Palmieri.
Some people lead from the front, others from the back;
Eddie leads from the side - great presence! The track is "Adoración"
And the highlight for me? It's got to be Herman Olivera on vocals. Wow.
For my money this guy is the best salsa vocalist in New York -
it's just something in the timbre of his voice. Compelling.
Eddie Palmieri (canta: Herman Olivera) - "Adoración"
..
Some of you might remember the great Charanga Habanera
(surely one of the hardest working Cuban bands in the 90s).
They dropped out of sight for a while.
This is what they're up to now. Still a great dance band!
La Charanga Habanera - "El Chico Caramelo"
..
Finally, some dance.
Now, when this video says "On 1" it means it quite literally!
I defy you not to be impressed!
Oh, and the track is just diamond!
Mambo Dancing On 1
..
In the Blog section I've put my playlists from
the last few months at ¡Viva La Musica!
(they're mostly complete and mostly in track order
but all done from memory, so possibly some omissions).
Because I usually deejay with Zuppa Inglese at VLM
we tend to play a few tracks at a time
and cut in on each other,
but I'm afraid none of his playlists are listed!

My Interests

¡OYE! Pa' Uds que no hablan inglés (o que no entienden el inglés británico),
si quieren, se pueda comunicar en castellano tambien.
¿OK? Pues, ¡hablame!

STOP PRESSSTOP PRESSSTOP PRESSSTOP PRESSSATURDAY 17th MAY 08
8pm till 12 midnight

Remember: Put it in your diaries NOW!
Book the babysitter, tell your friends
and get yer arses down to
¡Viva La Música!
at Atticus Bar, 113/114, Three Shire Oaks Road,
Bearwood, Birmingham, B67 5BT, UK
(8pm onward - Free Entry).
(Atticus is situated almost opposite the Bear Pub
at the junction of Bearwood High Street & Three Shires Oak Road).

I'd like to meet:


Well, most of the people I'd like to meet are already dead
and I'm not in a hurry to meet them yet.
How about some nice, interesting people?
What's wrong with 'nice'??

There are enough 'NOT nice' people in the world already
and I'd be quite happy NOT to meet any more of them.
Yeah, nice is groovy, nice is fab, nice is . . . er . . . nice?
Say it strong, say it loud: I'm nice and I'm proud!

PS: (if you like my page, if you find my choices of music interesting,
if I've made you chuckle even just a little bit -
then, yes, I'd like to meet YOU!)


____________________________________________________________ _____

By the way, the video immediately below this box is worth checking out.
It's by Los Recyclers (check them via my 'friends' list) a Cuban/Japan
lo-fi sampling/remix outfit (as far as I can tell) working their magic
on a tune called "La Chibichana" - There is also some involvement
from 'El Hombre Orquesta de Cuba Natural de Bayamo'
- but I have no more details on them.
Point is, it's a very catchy tune! Enjoy!

____________________________________________________________ _____

* * * * ** * * ** * ** **

Music:


MUSIC:

Aaah! Don't get me started . . . !
So much music, so little time.

Well, originally brought up on Jazz (served hot with
plenty of New Orleans relish!), Blues (served cool
with a side order of red beans and rice - that's 'Rhythm & Blues';
before R'n'B came to mean just another word for Soul)
and Gospel (that's OLD SCHOOL gospel, you know:
"and then on Sundays mamma would take us all to church
and that's how I learnt to sing, y'all...").
It almost goes without saying that the Beatles featured also.

Of course, Rolf Harris, Pinky & Perky and Tubby the Tuba
all contributed to my musical education as well
(who could forget such classics as "Jake the Peg",
"The Runaway Train" and "Tubby the Tuba's Mel-o-DEE!".

This was all followed by Rock (PROPER 70s rock:
both heavy and prog - none of that 80s spandex bollocks),
Reggae (the obligatory Bob and then Steel Pulse,
Aswad, Dennis Brown, Janet Kay, etc), African (by this time
I was in my late teens - big up King Sunny Ade;
365 was definitely my number!),
Gypsy (both jazz - Django, Waso, etc -
and Central/East European gypsy music).

All of this was expanded and refined under the tutelage
of the great Alexis Korner's radio show
(anybody else remember that? Sundays 7-8pm)

and then...

...and then, I abdicated myself from the UK during the mid-80s
and received my epiphanic revelation on the road to Damascus
(actually the highways, byways and railways of South America) -
Latin American music in all it's multi-faceted glory;
cumbia, pasillo, son, vals, salsa,
huayno, chacarera, samba, zamba, bolero, taquirari,
porro, forro, merengue, merecumbé, chamamé, caporal,
tango, milonga, landó, baiao, rumba . . . to name but a few.
It turned my musical world upside down.
I've never been the same since.

Truth is, I either love (or really like) almost all
Latin American musics (although I draw the line at
the sub-genre: Brazilian Death Metal Angst Thrash Nihilism!)
and I hope you get a feel for my deep
emotional attachment from this profile and,
indeed, my DJing/performing.

As regards the British "latin scene" (AKA "the salsa scene")
one of my abiding gripes is the narrowmindedness
of the people promoting/putting on the nights.

Sadly, since the later 90s, the 'latin scene' in the UK
got quickly taken over by 'dance teachers' -
often people with no knowledge (or love) of the music
but with an eye for a chance to make some money etc.

A night out became nothing more than
an extended series of dance classes with
people herded together to learn dance moves
they would never actually use on a dance floor,
an enforced hierarchy of 'Beginners', 'Improvers' (yuk!)
and the Premier Division (sorry I mean 'The Advanced')
and an emphasis on 'styling' and 'technique'.
It's beginning to parody the film "Strictly Ballroom" . . .
(let alone the bit in "Life Of Brian" where he tells his
devoted followers not to copy him as they are
all individuals. OK, all together now:
"Yes, Dance Teacher, We Are All Individuals"

Let's face it, the music comes first - it MUST do;
otherwise, we might as well dispense with
the music and just 'dance-by-numbers' -
(THINK of the phrase: "1,2,3...pause, 5,6,7" and say it
in your dance teacher's voice. You see!).
Most of these dance teachers can't even
recognise what clave a tune is in.

These people have a deep inbuilt fear
of new musical trends, as well as a fear of 'old' music
and anything that does not fit into their boxes of
'hot-and-spicy-but must-be-classy' and
'Can-we-make-money-teaching/inventing-dance-moves-to-this?
In practice this has resulted in the virtual
monopoly of salsa music in the clubs
(with some merengue) and a nod
now and then to bachata and reggaetón.

I've been DJing since the late 80s and was,
- along with my dear friend and colleague Zuppa Inglese -
the first 'latin music' DJ in Birmingham
(who now remembers the all-nighters at Los Andes restaurant?).
This predates the "salsa scene" in Brum
(and most of the country outside of London and Manchester)

Back then we would drop crazy big band cumbias, chippy porros,
groovy gaita, steamy boogaloos, aching bachatas, rootsy currulao,
giddy latin jazz, sonorous rumbas, slow guajiras and
son montunos, bouncy bossas, dreamy mpb, manic frevo, as well as
bomba, plena, forro, salsa dura, salsa romantica, zouk, kaseko, kompas...
in fact anything we could get our hands on and sounded good -
and people liked it, even if they didn't know
the "proper" way to dance to it;
both Zuppa and me still DJ like that to this day.
We believe that given a choice most people
actually like a variety of tone, pace, dynamics,
instrumentation, rhythm, cultural references, etc
and there's no crime in dancing
how you want to or even (shock! horror!)
actually enjoying the music
without dancing to it
(Quick! Call the Salsa Police!
Get this man a 12 week Emergency Dance Course)
KER-CHING!!!.

However, in the mid-late 90s
it all began to change. I remember
dropping some Panamanian ragga and reggae
at one Birmingham club only to have
the promoter rush up to me and kill the music (yes, live!)
in case I attracted the wrong sort of clientele into his club!

Consequently all this has stifled the
musical development of the audience
and therefore the whole scene.
Guys, it's no good saying "It's what the customer wants" -
since the vast majority of your 'pupils'
only hear what YOU play them.
Call me old-fashioned, call me arrogant, but I believe
there's a responsibility to inform and even to educate as well
(no-one's saying that it can't also be a lot of fun).
Latin music is vast and wonderfully diverse -
let's just discover it, share it and revel in it all.
[HEAR ENDETH THE LESSON
ACCORDING TO EL HOMBRE ELASTICO]

Sorry, I didn't mean to write so much above!
- I just needed to get it off my chest


Please have a listen to my music player above.
I try and change the music in the player above every so often;
so just in case there's something you like,
but when you come back it's not on the player,
then consult the list below (most recent at top of list):

(17)"Miedo y Terror" - Truco y Zaperoko
(16)"Toro Mata" - Eva Ayllón
(15) "Cheque Ochun"- Chequendeke
(14) "Paloma" - Sidestepper
(13) "Raices del Festejo / Le Dije A Papa" - Eva Ayllón
(12) "Sugar Daddy" - Yerba Buena
(11) "Nadie Se Tira" - Ozomatli
(10) "Los Frenos No Funcionan" - La Belle Image
(9) "Chain Gang Push" - Berto Ramón
(8) "Yo Me Voy Pa' La Cumbia" - Sargento García
(7) "Gabriel The Butcher" - Nation Beat
(6) "Oh Kuri" - Alex Wilson
(5) "Samba de Mesa" - Renato Martins
(4) "Any Colour You Like" - Easy Star All-Stars
(3) "Cadena de Oro" - Cabas
(2) "Brooklyn Live in London" - Youngblood Brass Band
(1) "Nuclear Summer" - Youngblood Brass Band





Hey, Hey, Hey! Check this next video out -
From New York, that eclectic collective,
Yerba Buena and:
Guajira (I Love You Too Much)
..

Here are some more videos that I think are worth taking a look at.
Because I'm now forced to only access myspace.tv videos, I'm
afraid the selection isn't as wide as on YouTube. In particular
getting hold of Criollo stuff and some of the more esoteric
genres of Latin American music. Anyway, please enjoy what is
here - it's a a bit biased toward salsa (because it's more prevalent),
however, there's some great music below!


Firstly, a group and a tune that was on my profile player for ages and
attracting some very positive feedback. From Japan, it's a group
masterminded by percussionist Goto Yoshifumi (apparently the only man
in Japan who can singlehandedly play a 3-batá set up) and fronted
by three very talented (and let's admit it, very beautiful) women.
The group is called Chequendeke (which means "Heart" in the Abakua
language used still in afro-cuban religious circles) and their speciality is
taking some of the more commercially obscure rhythms of Cuba
(often in 6/8 time) and 'updating' them into
uplifting contemporary jazz-tinged tunes.
As their site puts it:
"Chequendeke music concept is to put aside the evolution of son-salsa,
going back to the origin afro-Cuban, and modernize straight forward."
The best way is to just listen . . .
Whoever edited the video overdid it a bit on the canned
audience applause (ahem!) but the vibe just sweeps you away!
Highly recommended.

Chequendeke - "Cheque Ochun" live in Tokyo
..

Linking in with the Abakua theme, here's some classic New York salsa that
manages to be both dura and gorda at the same time.
From sometime in the 70s this is Ray Barretto on congas
(aka Mr Hard Hands) and his band, featuring singers Rubén Blades
(very young here) on lead vocals and Tito Gómez
on a storming tune called Canto Abakuá.

Ray Barretto - "Canta Abacua"
(cantan: Rubén Blades & Tito Gómez)
..

Getting back to Cuba, this next one is from flautist Maraca -
an exuberant track called "Descarga Total"
- guarachando como saben solo lo' cubano'!
Yeah, yeah, we know it's a video-shoot that's been set up
specifically for the tune - but you can't help feeling that
they REALLY ARE enjoying themselves!
Absolutely infectious!

Maraca Descarga Total video clip
..

Now for another side of contemporary Cuban music
- the sensual Paulito FG y Su Élite.
Young as he looks, this guy's been turning out hits
(both for himself and others) for a long time.
His songs are deceptively understated at the beginning -
smooth, romantic, passive - but there's always a subtle, but significant
swing as as he moves into the montuno section
that just hits you right there.
Hard to put your finger on, but it leaves you uplifted
and feeling decidedly groovy and, well, dammit, sexy!.
Full of what Cubans refer to as "swin"!
Great to listen to, great to dance to.

Paulito FG - "Me Gusta Tanto"
..

Seeing as how I'm in the mood, how about this from Aventura?
Pure romanticism (and beautifully done).
Bachata with 'Spanish guitar'.

Aventura - "Un Beso"
..

OK, let's whizz over to Brazil and check out body percussion group
Barbatuques. You might have unwittingly heard their
music a few years ago as the background for the television ads for
one of the big football championships (was it the last World Cup?)
Anyway, a very unique sound indeed
(check out the bass notes on the Barba!).
This was recorded in 04 at the Teatro Sao Pedro in Sao Paulo.

Barbatuques - Baiana
..

Let's metaphorically cross the Amazon basin, till we reach the Andes,
go over the Armees (sorry, I can't resist really crap puns!), and onto
the Pacific coast of Perú. Anyone familiar with me will know I'm a
huge fan of criollo music. There's hardly any on myspace.tv -
but here's one of my favourite artists - I love this woman! -
Eva Ayllón and a vals in rockolera style called Mal Paso.
Fill your glasses with Pisco and get ready to start crying into your cups . . .

Eva Ayllón - "Mal Paso"
..

I can't find out who these guys are,
but it's taken from the Peruvian television show Mediodía Criollo.
A lovely vals called "China Hereje".
If anybody has any more details could you let me know.
I'd appreciate it.

Vals China Hereje
..

Let's turn North now, past the Sechura Desert, into Ecuador and turn left
at the Guayas Delta until we get to Guayaquil - hometown of one of
Ecuador's vocal treasures: Julio Jaramillo.
This clip is taken (as far as I can tell) from a film about JJ made
after his death. It's an actor playing his part (possibly his own son?)
but the voice, (aah, the voice!) is Julio's - pure as a nightingale.
And listen to the very distinctive sound of the Ecuadorean harp -
like mountain springs bubbling straight from the Andes.
The tune is actually a Peruvian vals - one of my favourites - called
"Cuando Llora Mi Guitarra".

Julio Jaramillo - "Cuando Llora Mi Guitarra"
..

The last one in this set of videos is another slice of classic salsa.
This time it's Bobby Valentín and his orchestra
featuring Cano Estremera on lead vocals in a track called "El Caimán".
Oh, and check one more thing - the dancing girls hamming it up
for the cameras. Priceless!

Bobby Valentín - "El Caimán"
..

To see more videos, click on the word 'Video',
just below the profile photo (near top left of page)
Then go to 'Favourites'.
I've got a huge selection going on there including:

Classic old school salsa
Hector Lavoe, Ray Barretto, Willie Colón,
Rubén Blades, Justo Betancourt, Cheo Feliciano,
Angel Canales, Bobby Valentín, Ismael Rivera,
Pío Leyva, Frankie Ruíz, Joe Quijano
Eddie Palmieri, Johnny Pacheco, et al,
Herman Olivera, Grupo Niche, Wayne Gorbea

more contemporary latin
Yerba Buena, Nuyorican Soul, Cabas,
Gotan Project, Ska Cubano, DLG, Ricardo Lemvo,
Shakira, Aventura, Timbalada, Barbatuques,
El Hombre Orquesta de Cuba (via Los Recyclers), et al
Chequendeke, Pernett y sus Caribbean Ravers,
N'Klabe, Jowell y Randy, Bamboleo,
Rey de Rocha/Maikol el Traketo,

As well as:
Paulito FG, Bamboleo, Jimmy Bosch, Eva Ayllón, Marc Anthony,
Frankie Martinez/Nancy Ortiz (dance), Angá, Tito Puente,
Hidalgo/Changuito, Diomedes Diaz, Frankie Vásquez,
Pastor López, La Charanga Habanera, Pupy y Los Que Son,
La India, Oscar D'León, Maraca, El Medico, Victor Hugo,
Snowboy & the Latin Section, Joe Bataan, Joe Arroyo, Joe Veras
Gocho, Wisin y Yandel, Yoskar Sarante, La 33,
El Gringo de la Bachata, Lisandro Meza,
El Chispa y Los Complices, Oscar Aviles & Arturo 'El Zambo' Cavero
Andy Montanez y NG La Banda, Patriarcas de la Rumba, et al

and just some great other stuff
Steve Marriott with Humble Pie & the Blackberries,
Karavan/Boban Markovic, Curtis Mayfield, early Genesis,
Free, Carl Palmer, John Bonham, Clapton/Page/Beck,
Easy Star All-Stars, Joe Cocker, Solomon Burke, Mariza
Lasse Gjertsen, Rainbow (70s kids programme - remix),
Tony Roster (then a 12 year old drum prodigy),
'Resonant Chamber' (by Animus), Rufino y Don Domingo
Rebirth Brass Band, Youngblood Brass Band,
Sergio Mendes with the Black-Eyed Peas, et al.

And there's more to come -
just keep checking back in the video section.

I don't know if this has happened to you as well but Myspace don't seem
to be allowing us to embed YouTube videos in our profiles any longer.
I'm afraid the amount of good latin videos on "myspace.tv" is pretty sparse.
I'm trying to find good stuff to put on this profile to replace my old ones,
however, in the meantime I strongly recommend the playlists on
my YouTube account ('hombreelastico')
especially the "Musica Criolla" section
(over 100 great examples of South American music,
mostly criollo and afro-peruano):
vals, pasillo, chacarera, tondero,
festejo, taquirari, bolero, lando, zamba, etc
as well as over 100 other videos of mostly latin music

In the meantime, here's another video -
check out the clip below:
from Portugal the heavenly Mariza,
the fadista with the voice of an angel -
music so beautiful it makes me weep . . .
Mariza - "Gente da Minha Terra"
..


From Mariza's ethereal beauty to something altogether more earthy...
The Panamanians led the way in bringing reggae into the latin sphere,
the Puerto Ricans moulded it into Reggaetón
(based on the Dem Bow rhythm)
and now this is how the Cubans approach it!
This is El Medico and a homage to that
most ubiquitous of phallic substitutes: the lollipop!

El Medico - "El Chupa Chupa"
..

Keeping the Jamaican-Cuban connection it's the turn of French-Cuban
singer, composer, radio deejay etc, etc, Bruno García, affectionately
known as Sargento García (or Sergent if you're francophone).
His music constantly bridges the two islands (and often goes from Spanish
to French, to English and beyond in the same verse). This is one of his
more reggae-based offerings, the Franco-Hispanic "Revolución".

Sargento García - "Revolución"
..
(Oh, also, try checking out his online Radio Station - Radio Timbo).

Another young, multi-talented guy is Colombia's Humberto Pernett. Along with his band The Caribbean Ravers he makes an incredible fusion of musics
resulting in what he describes as 'pan-caribbean electronic folklore'!
Whatever it is, it's magic stuff! This video is a short video-documentary
where Pernett explains some of the thinking behind his approach.
It's in Spanish, but even if you don't understand it, watch it anyway.

Pernett
..

Staying in Colombia, one of Pernett's named influences and surely
one of the Kings of Cumbia, this is Lisandro Meza and a
tune euphemistically entitled "El Hijo de Tuta"!
This guy was one of the very first cumbiamberos I ever heard
almost 25 years ago - I love his sound. And he's STILL going.

Lisandro Meza - "El Hijo de Tuta
..

One more from Colombia - in fact probably their most famous son
and certainly their best legal export - the Great Joe Arroyo;
the man who won the "Congo de Oro" medal so many times,
they had to invent a completely new award, the "Super-Congo" just for him
so that some of the other artistes had a chance of winning!
This track is taken when he was at his height and still had
that mighty, beautiful, clarion-clear voice!
One of his best tracks (out of too many to mention)
and still capable of packing a dancefloor -
Joe's homage to his hometown: En Barranquilla Me Quedo!

Joe Arroyo - "En Barranquilla Me Quedo"
..

And now one of my all-time favourite tunes! Performed by Panamanian
composer, bandleader, singer, actor, video-blogger and political activist:
Rubén Blades and the monster tune "Todos Vuelven"
Rubén learnt it as a guaguancó from the Cuban
singer/tumba player Virgilio Marti
(during the filming of "Crossover Dreams" -
if anybody has a copy of the film, please let me know).
But Virgilio learnt it (I think) in Perú where it is very well known
in its original form as a vals composed by César Miro. ??
There are two versions of it below (it's THAT good in my opinion!)
The first is Ruben and band (which one? Anybody know?)
playing at SOBS (NY) - I'm guessing it's the late 70s/early 80s?

Todos Vuelven.
..

The second version is around 2001
(I think?) Notice how different Rubén looks;
although conguero Eddy Montalvo NEVER seems to change!

Todos Vuelven
..

By the way, as I mentioned above, Rubén has his own video-blog in which he just sits and talks to the camera about, well, anything! He'll often tell anecdotes from his past 40 years on the scene (fascinating!) and then switch to something completely contemporary (eg one of his causes and interests - we were hearing a lot about the Panamanian Tourist Industry last year).

He also reads all the messages sent to him and will often answers great swags of them on air if the questions are interesting. He'll often listen to the music of people that are linked to his site and give his opinions.

This is what we like about Rubén - he isn't hidden behind some big publishing company or ridiculous 'entourage' (what's that all about?). He's there accessible, real, sharing his thoughts, listening to ours - what a great antidote to the modern musical world!

OK, if I haven't convinced you enough then just go to his myspace site (you can follow the link via my Top Friends list) and subscribe to his broadcasts, or just google him or even watch the shows on YouTube (not sure if they're on myspace.tv yet). Worth checking out all the back shows as well - think he's up to about show 10 or 11 at the mo (Jan 08).

Check it out, check it out - this guy is an international treasure!
Only one thing, though - he speaks in quite fast Spanish,
(although it's usually subtitled in English eventually).


And finally, from right in here in Britain, R'n'B meets Salsa when
Mary Pearce meets Alex Wilson and his Salsa Orchestra
with one of their club hits: "Show Me"

Alex Wilson Salsa Show
..

Movies:

FILMS ("Movies"!?! P'tah!):
Right at the top of the list is:
Ron Fricke's "Baraka" (need I say more?)
Ok, here is a selection of tasters:
"Yellow Submarine" (blew my mind as a child!)
"The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover"
(and other Greenaways as well)
"Lawrence of Arabia"
"Life of Brian"
"East is East"
early Almodóvar
anything by Carlos Saura
the "St Trinians" series (esp the first 3)
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail"
"Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe"
"Desperado"
"Seven Samurai"
(again, I saw it as a youth - mindblowing)
"Pirates of the Caribbean" and the "Harry Potter" series
(for unashamed escapism)
Jackson's "Lord of The Rings" (for epic majesty)
"Love Actually" and Gurinder Chadha's "Bride and Prejudice"
(because I'm a romantic at heart)

Television:

TELEVISION, RADIO & COMEDY:
QI (at last, telly that's silly AND intelligent!),
Gardeners' World (Monty Don is 'The Don'),
most Period Costume Dramas
Jam and Jerusalem,
Never Mind The Full Stops (with Julian "Kilwilly!" Fellowes),
Balderdash & Piffle,
Pogles Wood,
Camberwick Green
Cracker (unmissable in its day),
Vice / Messiah / Rebus (anything with Ken Stott in actually),
(and the NEW Messiah with Marc Warren is looking good!)
Malcolm In The Middle,
Scrubs,
Spooks,
Hustle,
Hotel Babylon,
Judge John Deed,
Life On Mars,
Ashes To Ashes
Higgledy House,
Charlie and Lola,
Pocoyo,
Mock The Week,
Whose Line Is It Anyway,
Just A Minute,
Gardeners' Question Time
and any of the following comic genii:
Catherine Tate,
Matt Lucas and Mark Walliams,
Peter Kay,
Eddie Izzard,
and props to 3 Non-Blondes
(especially 'my girl' - Little Miss Jocelyn),
Tittybangbang,
The League of Gentlemen ("Alle es klar?" Nooooooooh!),
ManStrokeWoman,
Royle Family
and fond memories of:
Steve Coogan,
Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson et al (The Fast Show),
Harry Enfield
and Mrs Merton.
Also, what about a big hand for the Old Guard:
Frankie Howerd,
Kenny Williams
Norman Wisdom,
Stanley Baxter,
Dick Emery,
Terry Thomas ("I say, you cad!")
Joyce Grenfell
and Leslie Phillips ("Well, Hel-lo!").
Bless 'em, one and all.

Books:

BOOKS:
Generally I devour books but, as ever, I'm hard pushed to single some out. So here are a few pointers until I can give it some serious thought:
"100 Years of Solitude" &
"Love in the Time of Cholera"
(Gabriel García Marquez)

"The Jewel Garden"
(Monty & Sarah Don - got me through a difficult time)
"Under Milk Wood" (Dylan Thomas)
Dr Seuss (especially "The Cat In The Hat")
"The Gruffalo" (J Donaldson and A Scheffer)
OK, you've got me, time to 'fess up:

Harry Potter,
Lord of the Rings (and all Tolkien)
His Dark Materials (Pullman)
and everything by Terry Pratchett!

Heroes:

HEROES:
Women that run around in corsets I can understand, (I like!)
but: men that run around in tights . . . ? ? Naah!

My Blog

Part of my 2007 Profile (Videos and explanations)

[Below are some of the videos that were on my 2007 Profile - I'm archiving them and my introductions/explanations to them coz I still love them! It's just time for a change that's all. When I tried ...
Posted by El Hombre Elastico - - (el flaco del sabor) on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 01:28:00 PST

Dec 07 - Atticus - VLM Playlist

Elastico's Playlist - Viva La Música - AtticusSat 15th Dec 07Never Learned To Dance - Harvey Averne BandFaluma - Yakki FamirieMama Güela - Poncho SanchezUnknown Cumbia - -Rua Maluca - Eduardo Arau...
Posted by El Hombre Elastico - - (el flaco del sabor) on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 07:35:00 PST

Old profile stuff from 2007

Stuff from 2007 EHE profile - for archives:General Interests:General Interests:Hourglass-shaped, steatopygous women (I subscribe to the gospel according to Sir Mixalot) dressed in retro/vintage linger...
Posted by El Hombre Elastico - - (el flaco del sabor) on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 07:30:00 PST

Elasticos Playlist - Viva La Música - Atticus (Sat 20th Oct 07)

-- THIS IS NOT A COMPLETE LIST! --- The night was much shorter than normal - (due to the Rugby World Cup)but I'm having to go by memory alsoand I've forgotten a few007 - Fanfare CiocarliaFideo - Yeska...
Posted by El Hombre Elastico - - (el flaco del sabor) on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 03:20:00 PST

e-flyers for October 07

OK, amigazosHere are my latest tranche of e-flyers publicising Viva La Música (for 20th Oct 07). My most productive period yet....
Posted by El Hombre Elastico - - (el flaco del sabor) on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 02:55:00 PST

Slideshows - "Viva (Aug 07)" & "My Photos (general)"

Here's a slideshow taken from the "My Photos" album Here's a slideshow from Viva La Musica at Atticus (16th Aug 07): ...
Posted by El Hombre Elastico - - (el flaco del sabor) on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 05:20:00 PST

Elasticos E-Flyer Campaign for 16th Jun 07

June's Campaign started of with a tongue-in-cheek ref to ace dancer and film star Fred Astaire:I then took the theme of "Transport" and "Getting to Atticus" for the next two:The 'Doctor Who' flyer's S...
Posted by El Hombre Elastico - - (el flaco del sabor) on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 02:25:00 PST

Viva Playlist - 18th Aug 07

Elastico's Playlist - Viva La Música - AtticusSat 18th Aug 07Tu Casa Mi Casa - Yerba BuenaVai Vendo - Marcelo D2O Fole Roncou - Luiz GonzagaBiata - Willie ColonAcid - Ray BarrettoOye Como Va - 3 Cana...
Posted by El Hombre Elastico - - (el flaco del sabor) on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:34:00 PST

Viva Playlist - 16 June 07

Elastico's Playlist - Viva La Música - AtticusSat 16th June 07Mayombe ?? - Coisa No 6 - Moacir SantosSalzburg Schuffel - Klazz BrothersSessão das 10 - Emilio SantiagoAmor Perfeito - Elza SoaresDon...
Posted by El Hombre Elastico - - (el flaco del sabor) on Sat, 30 Jun 2007 03:14:00 PST

"The Attic" (older stuff - moved from the front page)

*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*& This video is no longer available (I think) - but worth chasing:From Nu Skool to Old School - Get a load of this! From a late 70s Puerto Ri...
Posted by El Hombre Elastico - - (el flaco del sabor) on Thu, 21 Jun 2007 02:11:00 PST