News & Updates — boogaloo

The great Cuban conguero and bandleader Mongo Santamaría brought some spice to the American popular music scene. He had been bandleader for the prestigious Tropicana house band in Havana in the '40s before coming to NYC in 1950. He was the composer of "Afro Blue" and had a huge hit with Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man". In addition to his own groovy ensembles, he played with Cal Tjader, Tito Puente, Perez Prado, Fania All Stars, Willie Bobo, Dizzy Gillespie and others. It's always a pleasure to hear his Afro-Cuban arrangements of popular soul tunes, as well as his Orisha-guided rumbas. He...

Tonight! The Discoteca Latina party returns to Sevenstrong in Northampton MA, with Peace & Rhythm's DJ Bongohead and guest Rob Suave out of Boston, spinning classic salsa dura, mambo, charanga, boogaloo, bachata, merengue, mambo, cumbia and other Latin styles for the dancefloor, all direct from old school vinyl! It's at Sevenstrong (7 Strong Ave), Northampton. It rolls from 10pm to 2am and admission is free! http://www.sevenstrongavenue.com/#!

Hipster jazz vibraphonist Dave Pike has always been part of the rare groove & funky music landscape thanks to his classic tunes like the Indian-inspired "Mathar" and his great covers of "I Got The Feelin" and "Spooky" with The Dave Pike Set. Born on this date in 1938 in Detroit, he played drums before moving to amplified vibraphone and marimba. He came up playing bop and made his first recording with Paul Bley's group in '58. He cut a bunch of records as a leader that touched upon Latin jazz, bossa nova and Caribbean musics. He played in Herbie Mann's...

We're excited to be returning to one of our favorite spots -- The Alvah Stone! This fantastic restaurant, located in an old mill overlooking a falling river, is a perfect rural spot for a lively party! The restaurant is celebrating three years and the week-long festivities will be capped off by a tropical-funk dance party featuring DJs Andujar and Bongohead of Peace & Rhythm Records. The Alvah Stone offers incredible food, a great bar with plenty of local drafts and hand-crafted cocktails and a wonderful staff. The DJs will be spinning groovy international flavors, all from vinyl -- from cumbia...

NYC-based band Fulaso, featuring Erica Ramos, will be playing the next installment of the crucial ¡Vaya! 63 series at The David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. The show is produced in association with NYU's Music & Social Change Lab. Barcelona native DJ Turmix (of the famous Boogaloo! NYC parties) will open with a vinyl DJ set. This all happens Friday, March 24, 7pm. The event is free admission, on a strictly first-come first-serve basis. And yes, they all "sell" out. 61 W 62nd St New York, NY 10023 With hefty brass and raucous rhythms rooted in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and...