Here you will find a summary, incomplete like they all are, of what happened in the world of alternative Latin music in the Mission and beyond, a testament that music continues to grow more than ever.
The year began with Jorge Drexler and his band—the evolution of the Drexler who played alone with his guitar, his voice and a loop station. It was an incredible new sound from one of the most influential singer-songwriters of our time. Another concert worthy of a gold star was Santa Cecilia and Tokeson’s at the Blue Macaw. La Santa Cecilia, nominated to the Latin Grammys this year, is coming up like foam and sticking like gum. We will surely see them here in 2012.
Other artists heard playing in the Mission this year were Mijo de la Palma and David Aguilar. With candles on stage, they demonstrated excellent musicianship. Mijo de la Palma transported us to places where the waves break and music gives us refuge from all of the storms of hollow commercial music, and Melvin sang whole heartedly.
David Aguilar is simply one of the most talented singer-songwriters in recent memory. His music comes close to Silvio Rodríguez, Banda Sinaloense, Nick Drake and Mauricio Díaz. The song “El Hueso” sends the audience to impossible places with catchy melodies and lyrics that might suspend time for a few seconds.
And of course, there is LoCura’s new record, “Semilla Caminante.” Other albums in the list of 2011 were “Del Corazón al Son” from Miguelito Martínez with jazz fusion and collaborations with some of the most famous musicians from the Bay, and “Afro Tanío” from La Mixta Criollar, an album impossible to reduce to a simple musical recipe.
September arrived with Susana Baca and her “Afrodiaspora” in the Herbst Theater of San Francisco. The concert, which included an impressive dance act by the Quetzal group was not just an explosion of Afro-Latin rhythms, it was also a successful benefit event for the Instituto Familiar de la Raza.
Weeks after Diego el Cigala performed, one of the most important figures in flamenco. The ease with which Cigala was able to move from Cuban bolero to tango while maintaining the intensity and the integrity of flamenco demonstrated why he is one of the most important performers of our time. Finally, Calle 13, made Fillmore dance with catchy tunes, and like Calamaro would say, “brutal honesty.”
One of the most upsetting events of the year 2011 was the death of the musician and poet Argentino Facundo Cabral. Cabral was not just one of the most important singer-songwriters in Latin America, but he was also a true messenger for peace. His songs, messages and outcry remain with us like seed and detonator.
The year 2012 promises to be an interesting and explosive year for Latin music in the Bay Area. Any predictions?
—Translated by Alejandra Cuéllar