San Diego Afro Cuban Collective Is Bringing On The Cuban Music Live

Greetings Everyone,

Alex Guillen's Meet Up Group, San Diego Afro Cuban Collective are hosting some really colle live Cuban music events where we can all practice our "son" "cha cha cha" and "danzon." Here are the details; there are three so far but more are coming:

1. Thursday, Feb 21st Septeto Jam Session (for musicians and anyone who wants to hang out and listen...maybe dance a little) at 

Solar Turbines 2200 Pacific Highway Road
Fireside Conference Room, located inside the Learning Center, San Diego, CA
From Alex Guillen's Meet Up Page: Let's meet up just for fun and do only traditional septeto format songs. This means only the following instruments...
Bass
Acoustic Guitar
Tres
Bongo/Cowbell
Guiro
Maracas
Trumpet
Claves
Not more not less....Vocals and coro are expected to double on one of these instruments. We might cancel if we do not fill all the positions. If you want to come check it out, sit in the back and enjoy, that's cool too. If more than one instrument present we might have to rotate, to have just seven playing and find that true sound of the old septetos of Cuba.
Pieces will be traditional son and they are found on the Latin Real Book and/or the Latin Real Easy Book:
Echale salsita
Suavecito (Latin Real Easy, septeto nacional version not the Real Book one)
Lagrimas Negras
Chan chan (this is Dm-F-Gm-A7 throughout)

you must youtube these pieces and become familiar with them prior to the meetup. If I have time I will scan and post the sheets for the music, if not you can buy the book on Amazon.

A $2 voluntary donation per person attending will be sent to Alex Guillen for the upkeep of this website.

2. Saturday, Feb 23rd Live Cuban Music at McDini's - 105 East 8th ST., National City, CA

So after you get your fill of Casino on Cardbaord in Oceanside Harbor,  or maybe you cannot make Casino on Cardboard and want to support this event, you are weclome to show up: Live Cuban Music at McDini (From the Meet-Up group) Buena Vista SoCal Club will be playing from 5 to 8 PM at McDini's. Come and support this band that is formed with some members of this collective. This is also a good chance to check out some of the tunes we do, and to enjoy the camaraderie of people that like this genre. Please note this is not a jam session and there is a $5 charge at the door which will get you a beer.

3. Thursday, March 21st - Danzon Session 7pm-9pm at at 

Solar Turbines 2200 Pacific Highway Road

From Alex Guillen's Meet Up Page (description):
The danzon is one of the most beautiful musics from Cuba and at the same time, one of the least commercial. You don't hear that on the radio. It is mostly alive in Veracruz, where it is played with brass sections. Originally played by charangas, this traditionally involved a flute or clarinet, and violins. So let's shoot for the real deal and have the following instrumentation:
Piano
Bass
Flute
Violin (one or more)
Timbales
Guiro (Jorge)
Claves
Congas optional, not really required but don't hurt either.
And we will play the beautiful Danzon Almendra, Real Book version.
Please indicate what instrument you will play. Because of the technicality of this genre, we won't rotate but it will be first come, but if you see a spot you would like to play filled, you will be on waitlist in case that person cancels. Don't be afraid to try, we are not here to make a record. And the more the merrier, so if you want to come and just check it out, it's cool too. That said do try to sound your best, and get familiar with the piece on youtube. If you want to socialize arrive 15 min earlier. We will start promptly at 7, have a 10 min break in between and finish by 9. At the end, we will record the session and email the mp3 to the players so they can check out their work. We might have to cancel or reschedule if any of the instruments missing, so also let know if you would be available but some other date...Thanks and see you. There will be a $2 voluntary donation per player for Alex to keep up this website.