~ by Dena Burroughs
EL GRAN COMBO DE PUERTO RICO, at the Colombian Festival in Long Beach - July 8th, 2007
It was actually called the "L.A. Latin Music Festival", but let's face it, that was a Colombian Festival if I've ever seen one. And it was great. Full of very nice looking people with an accent that sounds quite close to my Costa Rican one.
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico was the main performance, and I, and my little family, arrived just a while before they went up on stage. The Gran Combo showed up in plain clothing... because the performance matching outfits were left someplace on a plane that did not arrive with them. Neither did the instruments, so El Gran Combo played with borrowed stuff, I heard from Chino Espinoza and Ritmo Caliente. Anyhow, matching outfits or not, we were all excited to see them.
They were great, and the sound got better as one got closer to the stage. Telling, not bragging, from where I was standing during the last 45 minutes, the concert was awesome!
In all honesty though, there was a sound problem that increased the further away one stood from the stage. The sound was not loud enough, and half way through the field it was overcome by one unbelievable rude Van Nuys CD vendor that blasted loud samples of what they wanted to sell. Someday, when I hit the lottery and finally have enough cash to attempt to run a concert, I will be the Salsa Hitler who will NOT allow any vendors to make any sort of noise during the musical performances. Mark my words.
I have to thank Habana Promotions [http://www.habanapromotions.com] for letting me into the "VIP" area, from where I was able to get a couple of the clips, which in turn, I get to share with you.
I heard folks were going to Cancun Ole after the concert, including some musicians, but I was too beat and hungry and barely made it to dinner. I had a blast with what I got to do though. The joy of my heart is to see musicians like these who are so very good. I wish I could memorize every concert I ever go to!
The pictures of Willy Sotelo (who played piano for El Gran Combo) are for my friend Luisito Melaza of Orquesta Melaza [http://www.orquestamelaza.com ] Te manda saludos el, Luis! te buscamos al final pero te fuiste!
And now here's some pictures and some music...
A BIT OF THE COLOMBIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM RIGHT BEFORE THE EL GRAN COMBO PERFORMANCE
L.A. DANCERS AND COLOMBIAN DANCERS DOING THEIR THING TO EL GRAN COMBO'S MUSIC
EL MENU - by EL GRAN COMBO DE PUERTO RICO
BRUJERIA - by EL GRAN COMBO DE PUERTO RICO
