Live Latin Jazz in New York City

This was posted by Willie Martinez on Facebook on June 17, 2011. It is reprinted here by permission.

I'm writing today to encourage all lovers of live music to particularly support live Latin Jazz in New York City. Over the years there have been some iconic venues that have featured live Latin Jazz weekly.  Their numbers have dwindled down to almost nothing today.  I remember the days of Salsa Meets Jazz at the Village Gate and the Latin Jazz jams at Mondo Perso and it makes me sad to think about how all of these venues and musical presentations have just disappeared over the years.
 
As I write, the last of the Sunday performances of the great Chico O'Farrill Orchestra led by his son, pianist Arturo O'Farrill at Birdalnd are coming to an end after some fifteen years.  Some months back Chris Washburne and his awesome group SYOTOS also ended their weekly residency at Smoke after ten years. Back at the turn of the century :) I was blessed to be a part of the Tuesday night hangs at the now defunct Kavehaz led by my good friend, trumpeter Ray Vega that lasted weekly for about two years.  I've also only just recently learned that one of the most promising newcomers to the latin jazz scene, the FB Lounge in East Harlem has closed its doors.  
 
Any bandleader will tell you: it's not easy to have a weekly gig for an extended period of time.  There are always the challenges of confirming musicians weekly and coming up with new repertoire to keep the creative juices flowing and dealing with management at the end of the night when it seems that there were more people in the band than in the audience!  That said, it's our labor of love and we choose to do it because of our love for and dedication to the music.
 
Right now, to the best of my knowledge, the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe will soon become the only venue in New York City that features live Latin Jazz on a weekly basis.  Every first Thursday of the month the Nuyorican presents master percussionist Chembo Corniel and his group Chaworó.  The second Thursday of the month brings the wonderful group of young lions, the Curtis Brothers to the stage at the Nuyorican.  On the third Thursday of the month the great pianist Hector Martignon and Foreign Affair picks up the reins.  Hector has also been alternating Foreign Affair with his new project: the BANDAGRANDE Big Band.  The last Thursday of each month brings me with my La Familia Sextet.  The Nuyorican also presents Bobby Sanabria and his New School Afro-Cuban Jazz Band on the last Sunday of every month.
 
Bobby, Hector and Chembo are all Grammy nominated bandleaders.  We've all paid our dues over the decades and are presenting world-class Latin jazz at bargain basement prices at an iconic venue that certainly deserves the support of lovers of live latin jazz as well as the broader community at large.  
 
Please come out and support live Latin jazz in New York City as often as you can before it's no more.  That indeed will be a very sad day, so do all that you can to assure that this day never comes!  Que Viva La Musica and may God bless the music, the musicians and all of you, always!
 
Peace & love always,
Willie Martinez