Posted by Elena del Valle on December 21, 2006
Pacha Massive
Photo: Nacional Records
Nacional Records will release the U.S.-based Pacha Massive duo’s new album “All Good Things” in February 2007. Straight from the boogie-down Bronx, Pacha Massive (from Pachamama meaning “Mother Earth”), is the creative collaboration between Dominican-born Nova (keys, guitar, writer and producer) and Colombian-born Maya (writer and bass). The result is described as a funky fusion of traditional Latin rhythms like Colombian cumbia, Dominican palo, reggae, dancehall, dub and electronica.
The duo met in New York while working on a project with Ivan Benavides (Sidestepper, Bloque, Carlos Vives). A creative collaboration between the two led to the formation of Pacha Massive in 2005. Pacha Massive landed an impressive first gig opening for Colombian rockers Aterciopelados at Madison Square Garden and has since gone on to share the stage with artists like Ozomatli, Sidestepper, and Yerba Buena.
After winning the Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) Battle of the Bands contest (previous winners include Kinky and Los Abandoned who have both gone on to launch successful careers) the duo caught the attention of Nacional Records. Pacha Massive’s track “Don’t Let Go” was featured last year on the Nacional Records soundtrack to “La Mujer de Mi Hermano,” and landed airplay on stations Indie 103.1 (Los Angeles), KCRW (Los Angeles), KEXP (Seattle), and KUT (Austin).
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Nova’s Dominican roots exposed him to a lot of traditional music like palo in addition to music from England and the U.S. played on Dominican radio. As a youth he built instruments out of whatever he could find, using cans for drums, 2 X 4s, and rubber bands.
“When I came to the U.S. I got my first instrument on my 15th birthday, a drum set, and as the years passed I picked up guitar, bass, keys, percussion and finally the instrument that allowed me to solidify my ideas in a flexible and efficient way….a Mac,” said Nova. He describes his musical influences from people “who have influenced me in the way I make music” citing Bruce Lee, Benjamin Franklin and Leonardo DaVinci as “people who had a bigger perspective and were more holistic in their craft.”
Maya was born in Colombia and raised in New York City’s Washington Heights. Her love of music also started at an early age with the violin, and later became a career choice when she went to Cuba after graduating to study double bass. Her musical influences range from classical, salsa, bolero and traditional Colombian folklore to reggae, house and artists like Manu Chao, Hector Lavoe and Sidestepper.
To listen to the single “Don’t Let Go” from the new Pacha Massive album “All Good Things” click on the play button below.
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Posted by Elena del Valle on December 15, 2006
Places to kick back, hear bachata and savor a medianoche
By Monica Perry (NYU Livewire)
Great ropa vieja, stuffed potatoes and live music draw crowds to New York’s best Cuban restaurants
Photo: Monica Perry
Though New York has the country’s fourth-largest Cuban population, authentic Cuban food is, curiously, hard to find. You’ll stumble across plenty of poseurs and disappointments in your search for the great medianoche (Cuban sandwich), black bean soup or natilla, the traditional cinnamon custard.
Luckily, there’s Havana Central (22 East 17th Street), a lively Chelsea hangout. As hip-swaying bachata and sensuous salsa play in the background, you could make a feast of fried sweet plantains, rice and red beans alone. But don’t miss out on the barbecued ribs slathered with mango ginger habañero sauce ($12.95-19.95) or – success!– the classic Cuban sandwich, a grilled mess of ham, roasted pork, pickles and cheese ($6.95), called medianoche because it was originally conceived as a midnight snack. Wash this all down with soothing Guanabana nectar ($2). Though you’ll fill every crevice of your stomach, you’ll find yourself trying to get in a few more bites before rolling out the door.
If you’re in the mood for a romantic atmosphere with jazz undertones, head to Cubana Café in Greenwich Village (110 Thompson St.). Seconds after the salty roast pork ($9) grazed my tongue, I found myself eating the delicate yellow rice and soft brown beans to tone down the flavor, and to give my cholesterol a break. The Jarrito soda ($2) was an excellent accompaniment, bursting with sweet natural mandarin flavor. The restaurant’s most unfortunate feature is lack of space. Take the spot an inch from the door and you’ll not only get the same kiddie-sized table as everyone else, but also be interrupted by every arriving customer. (Admittedly, I liked the food so much that I didn’t care about being near the door).
For a more formal atmosphere, visit Havana Alma de Cuba, also in Greenwich Village (94 Christopher St.), where reservations are recommended. Dive into the papas rellenas (fried potatoes stuffed with ground beef and grated cheese, $5) that melt on your tongue, and tender and sweet ropa vieja (shredded steak and mashed plantains, $16). Throw in a little sangria and a clap-along to a live performance, and you’ll have yourself a night out on the town.
The meal at Café Habana (17 Prince Street) wasn’t bad, for a Latin restaurant in very-un-Latin Soho. It’s tricked out as a kitschy diner, and is another cramped spot, though it attracts couples. The one-page menu is at times mistranslated, so it’s good to know some Spanish if you’d like to figure out what you’re really eating. My steak was succulent, but accompanied by flavorless yellow rice and unimpressive red beans. My companion’s slivers of roast pork were pretty juicy, though they seemed dry and gummy at first. The odd signature dish: grilled corn on the cob, strangely smothered in butter, Parmesan cheese, and cayenne pepper. If that sounds good to you, you’ll probably like this place.
Don’t bother with midtown poseurs like Azucar, a new place near Columbus Circle (939 8th Ave.). Despite the elaborate décor and atmosphere– palm ceiling fans, white tablecloths, Guayabera-clad waiters marching past colorful murals of Cuban natives – the place lacks real savoir faire. The pollo criollo ($16) was acceptable, but the place spends more time keeping up appearances than producing magnificent food. No one stepped forward play the two lonely congas on the corner stage. Indeed, there was no live music at all; very late at night, a DJ finally appeared.
Through such restaurants you can experience a little of Cuba in Nueva York.
Listings
- Havana Central, 22 East 17th St. (Union Square), Tel: 212-414-2298
- Cubana Café, 110 Thompson St. (Greenwich Village), Tel: 212-966-5366
- Havana Alma de Cuba, 94 Christopher St. (Greenwich Village), Tel: 212-242-3800
- Café Habana,17 Prince St. at Elizabeth (Soho), Tel: 212-625-2001
- Azucar, 939 8th Ave. (Midtown), Tel: 212-262-5354
Monica Perry studies journalism and cinema at New York University, and has interned at Jane magazine. She is interested in film and music criticism, and enjoys photography and blogging.
Posted by Elena del Valle on December 8, 2006
Alberto, eldest Montes son, played by Carlos Rodriguez
Photos: (c) 2006 alamoheightsSA Holdings LLC
Houston, Texas– Alamo Heights SA Holdings, LLC launched the first royalty-free, cross-cultural, Tex-Mex cybernovela soap opera with content formatted for the Internet and mobile devices. The show, alamoheightsSA, uses disruptive product placement and brand integration technology that producers predict will displace the traditional 30 second TV ad. Alamo Heights SA Holdings was formed by zyntroPICS INC., El Mundo Entertainment, and private Texas investment groups. Full episodes are available on multiple ad-supported Internet networks and portals, broadcast TV, and alamoheightsSA.com.
AlamoheightsSA is described in promotional materials as a “cross-cultural melodramedy, part soap, part novela, part paid cable drama.” Full of intrigue, romance, jealousy, back stabbing and sex, the series relates the struggles, betrayals, and intrigues that intertwine two Hispanic families and their jointly-run lingerie empire with headquarters in San Antonio, Texas and a factory in Monterrey, Mexico. The show producers promise a story fusing elements from the melodramatic telenovelas of Latin America, plots derived from modern pop culture and current events, creating a “melodramady” that explores unrequited love, Mexican-American border relations, and women’s undergarments.
“Even though Internet TV has become a multibillion dollar business with Google’s purchase of YouTube, it is still all about shaping compelling content and building a viable business model,” said Eric Weymueller, producer, Alamo Heights SA Holdings, LLC. “We are the first to do both. We’ve developed 40 four-act episodes with duration of 7-9 minutes each for a budget of just over $1 million. The program has proven to be very appealing to the 18-30 demographic and to female viewers in particular.”
Mirna played by Nataly Pena
The show is filmed in Spanish and English. Delivery will be via broadband Internet, IPTV, digital cable, podcasting, and mobile TV. The full episodes will be available on terrestrial television station group LAT TV (LatinAmerica Broadcasting, Inc.); and multiple ad-supported Internet “networks,” including Brightcove, Guba, VEOH and Kiptronic/Liberated Syndication for iTunes; with supplemental and marketing content available through the additional viral video sites, including YouTube, Revver, Vimeo, Grouper and two MySpace pages.
“We are very excited about carrying the alamoheightsSA program on our network” said Patricia Torres-Burd, executive vice president of Programming for LAT TV. “We believe that it will be very appealing to our viewers in the targeted demographic because the quality of content and production fits within our mission to raise the level of Spanish language television. Eric Weymueller and Lynn Birdwell have assembled a great cast and team and the result is stunning. Eric’s vision for what the future of media holds in his integration of both over the air and broadband content is aligned to our mission of better serving our audiences with relevant content.”
The first 12 pilot episodes will be released between November 20 and December 20, 2006. The program has a tie-in with the fictitious line of lingerie featured in the series, hauT’amales, and the real manufacturer’s online store, yumdrop.com. The first three episodes can be viewed on show’s website, AlamohightsSA.com.
Community supplemental content for the program includes blogs from the show’s characters and viewers are encouraged to enact their own scenes on alamoheightsSA’s “Your Show” page. One of the lead characters has her own MySpace® page and website, entitled lingeriemodelconfessions.com. The website will also offer an assortment of behind-the-scenes material on topics such as, “character vlogs” and interviews with the cast, crew and creators.
The AlamoheightsSA concept was created by San Antonio native Rick Cuéllar of El Mundo Entertainment and developed by Texas-based production company zyntroPICS, INC. The production team includes Rick Cuéllar, executive producer; Joanna Robinson, showrunner and executive producer; Eric Weymueller, producer; and Lynn Birdwell, co-producer.
Posted by Elena del Valle on December 1, 2006
Eva Yerbabuena
Photo: José Luis Álvarez
Miami, Florida — Eva Yerbabuena, described in promotional materials as one of the biggest names in the flamenco world, will make her Miami debut, along with her company of dancers and musicians at Carnival Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, December 2 with a second performance on Sunday, December 3. The performances of Eva Yerbabuena Ballet Flamenco, presented by Carnival Center in collaboration with Fundación Autor, will take place at 8 p.m. in the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House with cost of admission beginning at $15.
For the first time in Miami, after sellout shows and superlative reviews in London, Paris, Tokyo, and New York, Yerbabuena and her company promise Miami audiences “an expressive, intense combination of palos, the varied subsets of flamenco, including buleria, guajira, alegrias and seguirilla.”
As a child growing up in Granada, Eva Yerbabuena studied with some of the great teachers of the city, traveling to Seville to study dramatic arts when she was in her teens, and later to Havana to study choreography with Johannes García. In 1985, she began dancing professionally with Rafael Aguilar and then joined Paco Moyano in a Hispanic–Cuban production. Over the next few years, she collaborated with other flamenco artists, including Javier Latorre, Manolete, and Merche Esmerelda.
In 1997, she appeared in “Flamenco Women,” a documentary by filmmaker Mike Figgis, who also directed “Leaving Las Vegas.” In the same year, she choreographed her first full–evening work, “La Garra y el Ángel.” A year later, the choreographer Pina Bausch asked her to dance at her company’s 25 anniversary celebrations in Germany, where she appeared with Mikhail Baryshnikov.
The same year, she choreographed her show “Eva,” which had its premiere at the Seville Biennale. She followed with “5 Women 5.” In 2001, she appeared in “Hotel,” an experimental film by Mike Figgis, with John Malkovich, Burt Reynolds and Selma Hayek. Soon after, she appeared in “Pulse,” Stomp’s award–winning IMAX film. Yerbabuena received the prestigious Giraldilla award at the Seville Biennial, was awarded the Flamenco Today prize three years in a row, the Spanish National Dance prize in 2001 and a Time Out Best Performance award for her British debut in 2002.
In conjunction with these performances, Carnival Center’s education and outreach department will offer master classes featuring live musical accompaniment taught by Ballet Flamenco company member Mercedes Ruizon on Sunday, December 3, for beginners and intermediate/advanced dancers. For additional information on Carnival Center’s education programs, visit CarnivalCenter.org
Posted by Elena del Valle on November 17, 2006
‘druthers film poster
Photos: SGM Records
Latinos can find their way into anything. Regardless of how it happens, the presence of the largest minority in the U.S. is felt in all aspects of American life. Singer Diana Mera’s music even found its way into a film about an Austrian woman with a Jewish background.
Mera’s song “Besame” was chosen to be part of the soundtrack for the new film “‘druthers.” The Ecuadorian born and Peruvian raised singer is thrilled to have one of her songs showcased in a film. “When I learned that “Besame” was going to be in this movie, it was a wonderful surprise,” said Mera.
Jenna Bari, Soledad Herrada (Diana’s manager) and Diana Mera at the movie screening
The independent film was co-created and co-produced by Jenna Bari, Pollyanna Jacobs, Claudia Kindl, and Adam Wilhite; all four also act in the film. According to promotional materials, “‘druthers” displays the baggage that people carry in their everyday lives, from the cultural to the emotional. Trinity, played by Claudia Kindl, makes her way to Los Angeles after her last living relative in Austria passes away. The film presents the culture shock she experiences not only in the outside world but also within her own American family.
The film focuses on the cultural differences the character faces throughout the many scenes of the film. “Besame” helps lighten the mood when Trinity finds herself with two men who only speak Spanish. The scene portrays the difficulty of communication and also the connection music can form. The film producers found it very important to have all the scenes tie in smoothly with the music. — Melissa Gonzalez
Posted by Elena del Valle on November 14, 2006
Rafael Urbina, CEO, Batanga.com
Photo: Batanga.com
Miami, Florida – Batanga, one of the largest Hispanic streaming media websites in the U.S., recently launched an online music store. Sponsored by GM, the site boasts more than 21 music categories including the latest reggaeton, hip hop, salsa and bolero sounds.
“We are pleased to provide Hispanic music fans with an online store where they will be able to search and listen to a variety of music genres,” said Rafael Urbina, CEO of Batanga.com. “We are committed to delivering music fans around the world with rich and relevant content. As the Latino community continues to grow and diversify their multimedia needs, we continue to roll-out products specifically tailored to them.”
According to the latest comScore Media Metrix U.S. Panel data, Batanga is now the fastest growing U.S. Hispanic online destination with 4.5 million unique visitors per month during the past year. According to promotional materials, visitors on Batanga spend five times more time than average per monthly user than the nearest competitor.
Once they complete registration via the Batanga website, visitors are able to browse through different categories such as the Top 10 Best Selling Songs, Top 10 Best Selling Albums, Favorites and the latest releases for $.99 per song download. They are also able to enter a drawing to receive their first 20 downloads for free by registering at the site.
Batanga.com claims the largest inventory of streaming media, including video and audio, 26 online Latin radio stations, thousands of on-demand videos, and custom content in the music, sports, autos, women and entertainment categories.
Posted by Elena del Valle on November 10, 2006
Love by Wanda Benvenutti
Photos: Wanda Benvenutti, Angela María Ortíz S. and Claire-Morales
Los Angeles, California — The work of six Latino photographers will be part of a the Cactus Gallery’s upcoming exhibit, “Shut Up & Shoot: A Photography Show of Unexpected Moments.” The show will open November 11, 2006 in Eagle Rock in Northeast Los Angeles. An artist’s reception will be held Saturday, November 18, 2006 from 7-10 p.m.
“Shut Up & Shoot” features eleven photographers from the Los Angeles area and Washington State. Although the photographers come from diverse backgrounds, they share common ground in their passion for shooting everyday life. The photographs were chosen for their intensity meant to make the viewer pause and look.
JC’s Hands by Angela María Ortíz S. and Accordion Player in NY Subway by Claire-Morales
From Andrew Ward’s shot of the glaring eyes of a young boy inhaling glue, to Wanda Benvenutti’s emotionally charged “Love,” and Aurelio José Barrera’s accordion player on a street in Boyle Heights, the gallery staff believe the images will stay engrained in the visitor’s mind because of their depth and humanness.
“We seek to inspire and enliven the community by giving opportunities to experience the eclectic diversity that is the arts. In our creative space, we’ve enjoyed the spontaneity of live drawing; live painting and live music. Cactus is ever evolving and ready for the next idea,” said Sandra Mastroianni, gallery director and owner.
Los Angeles resident photographer, Angela María Ortíz S., who is originally from Panama, was the curator and organized the display in the show. Other photographers are: Ariana de Lena, Domenico Foschi, Kevin Gray, Claire Morales, Aja Kai Rowley, David Saucedo and Lorena Villegas.
Posted by Elena del Valle on November 8, 2006
La Vibra Grammy Latino 2006 cover
Photo: La Vibra
Los Angeles, California – ImpreMedia recently launched La Vibra, a weekend entertainment publication, and LaVibra.com, a companion website targeting young urban Latinos with original content, music and movie coverage, interviews with artists, and gossip, as well as information about local entertainment news, clubs and concerts. La Vibra will be distributed weekly in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Francisco Bay area, Orlando and Tampa.
La Vibra hopes to have a significantly expanded distribution with online access and print distribution of 530,000 in six key Hispanic markets. The publication will reach Latinos through ImpreMedia’s newspapers. Thursdays it will be included with La Opinión in Los Angeles, El Diario La Prensa in New York, La Prensa in Orlando and La Prensa in Tampa. Fridays it will be in La Raza in Chicago and Sundays it will be in El Mensajero in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Monica Lozano, CEO and publisher, La Opinión
“With its original content and dedicated entertainment editorial teams across the country, La Vibra brings exclusive entertainment stories for those who want to be-in-the-know about the hottest and latest entertainment news,” said Monica Lozano, CEO and publisher of La Opinión. “La Vibra delivers to entertainment aficionados a wide array of entertainment choices in their backyard. For anyone looking to be well-informed about local and national entertainment, they need only to turn to La Vibra.”
In Southern California, La Vibra has been published in La Opinión every Thursday since 2000. The company plans to offer content from all ImpreMedia markets, along with interviews and interactive features such as audio, video and photo-galleries on the La Vibra website.
To create awareness and buzz for the new entertainment publication, a teaser promotional campaign will commence in the Latin Grammy issue and 12 winners, two winners in each market and two winners on LaVibra.com, will be selected to receive an iPod nano between October 26 and November 19. The campaign will be promoted online with banners and emails to online users.
ImpreMedia publishes Spanish-language newspapers in six Hispanic markets: La Opinión and La Opinión Contigo in Los Angeles, El Diario La Prensa and El Diario Contigo in New York, La Raza in Chicago, El Mensajero in the San Francisco Bay Area and La Prensa in Orlando and Tampa.
Posted by Elena del Valle on November 6, 2006
John Mayerhofer, founder and CEO, VoiceIndigo
Photo: VoiceIndigo
A podcast interview with John Mayerhofer, founder and CEO, VoiceIndigo is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, he discusses mobile phone audio products and the Hispanic market with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.
John has more than 15 years of experience in the software industry, including twelve years of experience in international general management, executive level sales management, and marketing roles dealing with emerging market software products and geographies. Prior to founding VoiceIndigo, John was vice president of Worldwide Sales at Westbridge Technology, a leading XML web services security infrastructure company, and a member of their founding management team. John’s focus during much of the 1990s was Internet electronic commerce.
Prior to Westbridge, John was vice President of International Operations for Comergent Technology, where he led their efforts to establish field operations in markets outside of North America. John was the founding member of BroadVision’s European executive management team where he started and managed various BroadVision businesses in Europe and the Middle East.
Prior to BroadVision, John managed Gain/Sybase’s interactive new media sales efforts in Europe and developed software as an engineer at Oracle Corporation. John is also co-founder of Clearport Technology Group; a non-profit organization that provides on-demand hosted application technology to socially oriented non-profits. John graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana with a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering.
To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see the “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR John Mayerhofer” hit the play button or download it to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the November 2006 section of the podcast.
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Posted by Elena del Valle on November 3, 2006
America 101 DVD cover
Photo: Fobia Films
Immigration has become one of those subjects people stay away from in order not cause conflict. Those who touch on the subject are ready for debate. They come prepared with statistics and family anecdotes, all politically correct of course. Not everyone has the boldness of comedian Carlos Mencia who will openly make fun of the process and the immigrants themselves. Mencia believes we take ourselves too seriously and we need to laugh more often, even at our own expense.
According to promotional materials, America 101, is on the same track as Mencia, although not as bold and not offensive. Rather than trying to drill the seriousness of the matter with lectures and statistics director Mark A. Russell chose laughter for his film. When speaking after a screening Russell described his strategy, “Most people would rather be tickled than hit over the head with facts.”
The film chronicles brothers Angel (Miguel Castro) and Carlos (Miguel Azurdia) taking a journey in order to reach the American Dream. In an effort to save the family business they leave Mexico. After a few comical events they find their way to Tucson, Arizona. Although they make it into the United States, an ironic twist causes them to make their way back to Mexico.
As the writer and director of the film Russell made it a point to not take away from the considerable danger undocumented immigrants face when crossing the border. America 101 is an effort to show the realness of the immigrant’s story without turning it into a documentary or a political statement.
The film has been shown throughout the country at various film festivals. It was an Audience Award Winner at the Golden Film Festival in Golden, Colorado. it is also available at retail and rental outlets. — Melissa Gonzalez
