Hot! Hot! Hot! The Hot Jazz program will be sizzling with salsa as Frankie Vasquez (Puerto Rico/US) meets the Israeli Salsa ensemble Walakata in Café Havana. Performances will take place from May 27 – June 1, 2013 in Jerusalem, Herzliya, Tel Aviv and Haifa; sponsored by the US Embassy.
Growing up on music in Puerto Rico and New York, Frankie Vasquez started his first band, Los Generales, at the age of 16, playing congas. Singing came naturally to Vasquez, who loved listening to records, and could sing entire albums by heart. Vasquez moved to New York in 1977 at the invitation of his cousin David Sanchez, singing and making his first recording with his cousin’s band Fuego ’77. Vasquez has collaborated with the top international Latin musicians, including Hector Lavoa, New Swing Sextet, Orquesta Calidad, Mambo Legends, Orquesta Grupo Caribe, and Spanish Harlem Orchestra. Frankie Vasquez won a Grammy Award in 2002 for his collaboration with the Spanish Harlem Orchestra on the album Un Gran Dia En El Barrio.
Walakata was founded in 2006, appearing in clubs and jazz festivals, putting Israel on the world Salsa map. The ensemble has accompanied many international artists performing in Israel, including Tito Fuente Jr, Herman Olivera, Frankie Morales and many more.
Performances:
Gerard Behar Center, 11 Bezalel Street, Jerusalem, Monday, May 27th at 21:00. Tickets are 115NIS/100 NIS seniors, students and soldiers. To order tickets call 02-6237000, *6226.
Zappa Herzliya, Tuesday, May 28. Doors open at 20:15, performance at 22:00. Tickets are 139 NIS, to order call 1-700-500039.
Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Thursday, May 30th at 21:00; Friday, May 31st at 21:30. Tickets are 139 – 199NIS, to order call 03-5733001, 1-700-500039.
Beit Aba Hushi, Saturday June 1st at 21:00. Tickets are 130 NIS/120 NIS seniors, to order call 04-8227850.
