Episode 45: Willie Colón bids farewell in Brooklyn? Carlos Henríquez performs 'A Nuyorican Tale,' and a Lehman Center Partnership featuring Mambo in the City in the Salsa Podcast!

🎶 Welcome back to another thrilling episode of Mambo in the City Salsa Podcast! 🎙️ Get ready to immerse yourself in the electrifying world of salsa and Latin music!

🎺 Today, we're taking a trip down memory lane as we reminisce about the unforgettable moment when Willie Colon stole the show with his heartfelt thank-you speech at the New York Salsa Festival 2023! 🌟 Let's relive the passion, the energy, and the soul of that incredible performance that had everyone on their feet!

But wait, there's more! 🌆 Join us as we delve into the enchanting world of Carlos Henriquez in 'A Nuyorican Tale' at the illustrious Lincoln Jazz Center. 🎷 Prepare to be captivated by the fusion of rhythms and stories that define the heartbeat of New York's Latin music scene.

And of course, we've got your exclusive ticket to the hottest upcoming concerts at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts! 🎫 Don't miss out on the chance to witness some of the biggest names in salsa and Latin music setting the stage on fire with their electrifying performances!

🌟 This episode is proudly sponsored by LehmanCenter.org - your ultimate destination for a sensational SALSA experience! 🎶 

Thank You to our Official Sponsor the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts! 
  Lehmancenter.org

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Mambo in the City Salsa podcast is brought to you by Leman Center for the Performing Arts. Leman Center is the official sponsor for the Mambo in the City Salsa podcast. We're excited to pair with them and let you know of upcoming concerts happening in 2024. For more information, please visit LemanCenterorg. Sábado de febrero. Leman Center presenta Meringue con Amor 2 a las 8 pm En Tarima. Alex Bueno, monchica Prichos Bonnie Y Ritchie Cepeda, carlos David Pablo Martinez y Peter Cruz Boletos. A la venta en la ventanilla de Leman Center, leman Centerorg o llamando a 718-960-8833. Leman Center for the Performing Arts está localizado en el 250 Bedford Park Boulevard, west Bronx, nueva Yol, 10468. Meringue con Amor 2 presented by Leman Center. Sábado 10 de febrero, 8 pm.

Speaker 1: 1:05

This is the Mambo in the City Salsa podcast reminiscing the salsa festival in New York City, willy Colón's entrance and what a great moment it was there. He is making his way to the stage trombone in the hand, black suit, white tie. Willy Colón bro right there at the Barclay Center, brooklyn, new York City. The last of the iconic legends of salsa. But at one point Willy picked up the microphone after the first song and and here's what he said Couldn't believe it.

Speaker 3: 2:02

Algunos de ustedes me acompañaron desde los Astre Aguas de mala muerte en el barrio a los clubes en Broadway y las fiestas en sus pueblos, y ustedes me acompañaron y yo los compañí a ustedes, mientras hay una limpieza, cuando algo aquí a van a su carro al trabajo, yo estaba con ustedes y ustedes me hicieron una estrella a mí y por eso estoy agradecido y orgulloso y me siento muy dichoso.

Speaker 1: 2:47

Gracias me personalmente pensé que eso fue muy bueno y lo que me dices es que me dices que era increíble y en todo el sentido, me lembro de que hay un tour de la festival y Willy fue una de las principales shows y me creo que fue la feira de Cali y para mí me gusta Willy Colón Barrato. Pero si tienes una oportunidad de ver los iconos de salsa, definitivamente lo haces, whether it's Willy Colón, whether it's Andy Montañez, you know La Sonora people on that, on that level, try not to miss those legends. Those are the ones that change the game forever, bro. So let's go back to the Barclay Center 2023, summer of 2023, willy Colón's on stage, got Bobby again the Antimbal. We got Carlos Padrón and Bon Bon talking the percussion section and we got Manuel Marquez and Congas. There was a point that turned around to pants to the crowd just to see, just to gauge, and I turn around, the entire Barclays is on their feet. You know, cell phones out. It's Puerto Rican day, parade weekend. Everybody looks good, everybody's feeling nice. You have an icon up there singing the classic, classic salsa song from one of the greatest eras in music.

Speaker 1: 4:02

And Then I had a mission. There was a, there was a mission there. Mission was and I don't do this often, I don't mess with the artist, I Try to just keep it pro, do what I gotta do. But I had to get a photo, willy-colon. So you have to time this thing, because when they come over to stage they rushed him into the dressing room and he had, he had about 50 people with him, bro. So, my saving grace, there was a photo I took, or the photos I took. So I get to the back and Again they rushed him into a room and I go to a friend of mine up there and I say, bro, check out this photo. So I show him up. Oh shit, that's just dope. Did he see that? I said he didn't see it. He Goes the short term. I said, bro, I can't get in there. You got like you know, we got a militiam from another door. He goes, come on. We go across the hallway and I don't know he says his magic and we get a sin and Standing there's willy-colon or he's. He's sitting there like the godfather, willie F Colón, and I go to shake his hand and I thank him for the performance and I show him the photo. He goes wow, tremendous photo, you know. And I said, you know I'll send it to you and and that was my moment to meet and say thank you to the great Willie Colón. So thank you, andy pozo, for that one bro man. The Andy hooked me up.

Speaker 1: 5:29

I must say I really hope the listeners, you guys, had a great holiday, got a chance to dance with a wellita, a wellito mom and dad, the kids. I hope you guys took a lot of photos and and created some memories of the end of 2023. For yourself is very important. I know I dance with my nephews and Mom and my sisters and everybody. We had a really good time.

Speaker 1: 5:52

So my friend, carlos Enriquez he's a bassist and composer here in New York City, played many years with Tito Puente and Tito Nieves and all the salsa greats. So happens he had a residency at Lincoln Jazz Center of his show, a New Year's Recon Tale. So my nephew, who's 12 years old, doesn't live in the Bronx anymore, is upstate, but he's here for the, for the, you know, for the weekend, for the holiday. What happens? The show is completely sold out, a five-day residency sold out. So I'm reading on Lincoln Jazz Center's website that some sometimes you can get lucky and if you show up there you can get to a cancellation or something like that.

Speaker 1: 6:31

But I'm thinking, if I take this kid into the city, you know, and then we get there and and this to say you know, nobody can't do, then what? So I'm sitting in front of my computer, I'm like, damn, I don't want to call Carlos, bro, I don't want to call Carlos, I don't want to call Carlos my co-cars, and I say bro, I see the show, congratulations, it sold out, you know. But my nephew's here and he's a fan of Piano and he's a fan of the flute and I really think that this show would be amazing for him to see, because it's an example for my nephew, carlos Enriquez, and his brother and myself. We grew up in the same neighborhood. So for Carlos to make it as far as he did, what better example is that for a 12 year old who wants to learn music, to play with the most prestigious bands, to play at the Most prestigious venues, but knowing that it's sold out, you know? And me asking I don't want Carlos to think that I'm trying to get into this thing for free. So as soon as I so does, he picks up and I tell him this I'm a bro, I don't, I want to pay for this. I want to treat my nephew to this, you know. So, carlos, is okay, let me see what I can do. You know, a few days later, thankfully, he brings me back and he goes bro, come, come through tonight. And it was.

Speaker 1: 7:43

It was a really, really cool moment. I got to introduce my nephew to Carlos, introduce my nephew to Jeremy Bosch and Anthony and Monte, and I see, you know, I took him to the back and I showed him how musicians prepare and and and tune up. Everybody was outstanding with him, you know. And I see my nephew just staring at the Stine Steinway piano. He's just like in awe and he hadn't even heard the band yet. So when these guys started playing, he was in a trance, this kid just watching, and then, you know, smiling and then trying to understand what's going on. And and I took in the moment, as I'm looking at him and I'm like, you know, he needed to see this. You know, carlos is an example of success, coming out of the Bronx Like I said, we grew up in the same neighborhood, you know and for the guy to make it, playing in the most prestigious Auditoriums and playing with some incredible musicians, with the Marsalis me up.

Speaker 1: 8:39

Yeah, so during the show Carlos talks about growing up and he did a song that that was always played in his household, which is a che machete by a couple of them. And when he's playing it I turn to my nephew and I pull out my phone and I find a picture of Hector Lavo. This is the gentleman that recorded this song, just so he could put a face to the, to the music. My nephew is looking at me, like what are you doing, bro? Like why are you interrupting what I'm listening to? You know, but I felt that moment, at least I can give him some history. I said right now it doesn't matter, but when you know that, my bejo, you know this, you're gonna remember the moment with you said this is a couple of. Let's take you back to a quick clip From that night. And you're a week in tail Carlos Enrique's and his big band. Carlos Enrique is on base from the Spanish Harlem Orchestra Jeremy Bosch on vocals and Anthony and Monty on congas.

Speaker 2: 10:32

Well, saludos a todos. A key to the motito point the junior guys. To see the point, the junior here, I want you guys to check out the mambo in the city podcast. Go to mambo in the city calm and check it out with my man, adrian fire.

Speaker 1: 11:05

This is the mambo in the city monthly calendar sponsored by Lehman Center for the performing arts. Visit Lehman Center org for more information. Saturday, february 10th Lehman Center for the Performing Arts presents Merengue con Amor 2, featuring Alex Bueno, monchica, prichel, bonnie y Richie Cepeda, carlos David, pablo Martinez and Peter Cruz. Tickets are available at the Lehman Center box office or visiting LehmanCenterorg. Sunday, february 25th, 4 pm. Jazz at Lincoln Center presents Sing and Swing at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, performing live Jimmy Bosch and salsa masters, followed by Sing and Swing. Saturday, march 2nd, lehman Center for the Performing Arts presents Andy Montañez, todo una Vida con Cierto, with special guest Tito Puente Jr performing a tribute to Tito Puente. El Trio Ideal, johnny Olivero and Herencia de la Plena. Tickets are available at LehmanCenterorg or Lehman Center box office.

Speaker 2: 13:06

Tickets are available at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are available at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts.

Speaker 1: 14:10

Wow.

Speaker 2: 14:26

Okay, well, I love the fire I.

Speaker 1: 15:29

Remember way too much fun in this podcast today, bro, the first podcast of 2024. Also, if you guys want to see the video of that Oscar de Leon clip, I Recorded via Mambo in the city's YouTube page. So if you go to Mambo, the city calm, click on video blog and you see all the videos there. If you want to reach out to me, my email is mambo in the city at gmailcom. We have suggestions for the show. If you would like to Me to go over a certain topic, a certain area of music, a certain guest, you know more than happy to do it for you, follow me on tiktok, agent el montaner's. And If you need a photographer, I also do photography on the side, agent montaner's calm. All right, so that has been the mambo in the city salsa podcast. We're looking forward to a beautiful 2024 more concerts bring you guys, more content and Again, it's been a pleasure Recording this first podcast of 2024. We'll see you next time on the mambo in the city salsa podcast.