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Best of London Salsa: 31 Mar 08

 ALEX WILSON ON FIRE AT RONNIE SCOTTS

Somewhere between London and Havana, volcanic activity has triggered the emergence of a new tropical island – Salsa Soul.
         Alex Wilson and his 12 piece Salsa Power Orchestra set off the eruption at five gigs at Ronnie Scotts, the UK’s premier jazz club this weekend (Thursday 27-29 March) with a new fusion of authentic Cuban rhythms with a soul and gospel vibe.
         Playing to a sell out crowd, Alex Wilson came full circle returning to his soul roots, with an earthy, romantic, uplifting set that’s going to inspire and challenge dancers.
       This is a return visit to London’s premier jazz club for Alex Wilson after a sell out residency last year. It’s no surprise as this UK band is turning out some of the most authentic and tastiest salsa grooves you’ll hear anywhere in the world.
       Salsa Soul is the latest destination for Alex Wilson on his circumnavigation of world rhythms and beats. Wilson’s latest, 5th album Inglaterra, was his first to feature the fire water of Salsa Dura neat, with tracks like Show Me and Ain’t Nobody appearing on 10 compilations and burning up dance floors in salsa clubs across the UK.
         Now, the voyage continues to a new destination, Salsa Soul. The UK's top Latin/jazz pianist and band leaders of one of Britain's most popular salsa crews unveiled a new line up - two soul divas, Aquilla Fearon and Naomi Phillips plus Elpidio Caicedo. Salsa Soul Sessions Part II will be released in September 08. Ronnie Scotts: www.ronniescotts.co.uk or call 020 7439 0747.

WE HAVE A WINNER FOR OUR RONNIE SCOTTS COMPETITION!

We have two tickets - worth over £50.00 - to Alex Wilson’s opening night (Thursday 27th March) at the classy Ronnie Scotts to giveaway! To enter, just answer 1 question: What is the name of Alex Wilson’s 5th album? Email your answer to: editor@londonsalsascene.co.uk with the words: Ronnie Scotts Competition in the subject line. Please include your name, address and preferably your landline. Winner to be selected by random draw, 1 entry per person. Competition closes: 18th March 2008.
Terms and Conditions apply: 1 entry per person; no staff of London Salsa Scene or partner organisations may enter; not exchangeable for other concert dates; entries must be received by midday 18th March 08; no cash alternative; winner will be drawn by random selection on 18th March; winner to be notified by phone, preferably landline; presentation of prize by LSS editor at winner’s club is possible, otherwise by the local club organiser; this is a London Salsa Scene Competition, part of the Official Fan Club for Latin Music, open to all LSS subscribers and LSS salsa club partner promoters.

Congratulations! Dah Dah! Claire Monks of Pontypridd -
you have won 2 tickets to see Alex Wilson at Ronnie Scotts! !
HAVE YOUR SAY - CLICK HERE

Best of London Salsa: Alex Wilson Live

 Alex Wilson’s Many Faces

What’s the next best thing to having Alex Wilson playing live in your front room? Alex Wilson playing live at the Pizza on the Park at 11 Knightsbridge, SW1 so someone else does the cooking and washing up afterwards.

   Pizza on the Park has got a new zip since joining the Pizza Express stable last year. The place is hip, cool, intimate - and despite the swanky location - doesn’t come with a premium price tag.
   But it’s the music that’s the main attraction and on Saturday 6 May 06 the Alex Wilson quartet was the dish of the day. There’s live jazz every other night so the place pulls in a cool crowd of jazz lovers who listen like they’re in church.
   Unsurprisingly, the menu’s mainly pizza, plus salads, steak and pasta and there’s a respectable wine selection. It’s all done well and the service is spot on. If the up-market location puts you off, think again; at £15.00 a head for tickets and anything from £40.00 for dinner x 2 with wine, this is a winner.

   Performing minus his R&B Latino Project, Alex Wilson is another surprise. You get behind the persona of flamboyant dance band leader and closer to the British jazz pianist’s musical heartland. This was an intimate, reflective Alex Wilson, serving up an exotic blend of Latin fusion cuisine plus jazz standards with a Latin twist.
   Drawing from his latest album, Aventuras, you get to hear Alex’s personal journey, a kind of musical orienteering around Latin American folkloric tradition with improvised jazz as a guide.
   To book: call 020 7235 5273 or visit www.pizzaonthepark.co.uk Alex Wilson & his Latino Project are at Salsa Live! at Hayling Island from Fri 26 May (see News for more) See www.alexwilson.net for more.

photograph by: Mike Payne, words, Lee Knights, Ed

London Salsa: Ecky thump beats lah-di-dah south

Flipping Heck! Bouncy Northerners Back Live Music as South Wimps Out

The salsa social dance scene has been with us for years but so far no regular live salsa music promoter has emerged from its ranks. A northern salsa promoter may be about to change all that, writes Richard M.
     Recently, Simon Taylor’s www.flipandbounce.co.uk hosted yet another live music gig in Derby featuring the Alex Wilson band (left) and the temptation was too much.
     I booked a room at the Heritage Hotel as and set out on the rail journey from St Pancras to Derby (varies from 90mins - 1hr.50min). 

 Above: Alex Wilson doing what comes naturally, photographed by London Salsa Scene’s Miguel del Foto.                 
                   The first surprise of the evening was the wonderful venue. The Assembly Rooms are a fabulous modern theatre/dance hall complex right in the heart of town.  The evening started off with a full programme of classes (is this still necessary?) followed by a short session of recorded music.
               Alex Wilson started all but dead on time and played non-stop for 90 minutes. The last time I saw the Alex Wilson band, they seemed held back, possibly because of the large number of non regular salsa dancers at the gig.  This time was different. The band took no prisoners, playing hard and heavy and nobody hung about when it came to getting on the floor. The turnout was huge: I would guess close to 1,000 people.
             The success of this event raises a number of issues; the first being that salsa dancers don't like live bands. I believe this is a myth put about by certain festival organisers who’ve discovered they can sell just as many places without a live band. Another is that bar takings are always low. Far from it! After two drinks I gave up trying to get served. People were drinking all kinds of drinks yet I never saw anybody drunk. The fact is that dancers get thirsty and clubs etc that get people dancing keep the bar manager happy. Also Friday has always been a popular night next to Saturday for dancing; yet most events with live bands tend to be held on a Sunday. This may well be a good night in Latin and continental countries but is not in the UK, with poor or no transport late at night. 
             Finally Flipandbounce put a lot of money and energy into promoting this event; most things salsa that go belly up, do so because nobody knows about it, the wonderful word of mouth alone does not work, at least in salsa.
             Full marks must go to Flipandbounce for organising a first class event.  They must have put in a lot of hard work to make this a success and dare I say it proves that all the best organisers and promoters do not come from London and the South. Richard M, London Salsa in Derby, Tuesday 1st May 2007.

Best of London Salsa: Brief Encounter with Alex

Excuse Me, Are You Alex Wilson?

You could have knocked me down with a clave. I almost literally bumped into Alex Wilson at London Bridge station tonight, taking a rare night off.  Anyway, we managed an interviewette between stations - once I’d got over the shock of seeing him from the waist down without a piano getting in the way, writes Ed. London Salsa Post Saturday 16 June.

           Alex is back at the PizzaExpress Jazz Club in Soho with a series of four gigs from Wednesday 4th to Sunday 8th July - see EVENTS under 4th July for full details.        
           If you fancy hearing Alex play for free, nip off to Ray's Jazz at Foyles, 1st Floor, Foyles Bookshop, 113-119 Charing Cross Road, Westminster, London,  WC2H  on Saturday 7th July at 2pm. Alex will be playing a duet with a Paraguayan harpist (as you do). Telephone:  020 7 440 3207, minutes from Tottenham Court Road tube. Enquiries: rays@foyles.co.uk or 020 7440 3205.
        Now, for the really important stuff. If you want to really impress with your salsa mates, get your very own Alex Wilson ringtone. It’s Show Me - one of the hit tracks from his latest salsa album Inglaterra and is available from www.alexwilson.net for 25p by texting MOBILE 648 to 60066.  Cool. Ed

Alex Wilson: Spotted on the train by eagle eyed Ed. Pic by Miguel del Foto

Best of London Salsa: Red Hot Newsflash Friday 3 August

 Alex Wilson in Concert at Ronnie Scott’s

Alex Wilson and his 12-piece Salsa Power Orchestra will deliver hard and heavy salsa, soul vocals, powerful Latin percussion and featured instrumentalists at three prestigious concerts at Ronnie Scott’s
in London’s Soho from Monday 20 to Wednesday 22 August.
           If Ronnie Scott’s is the UK’s temple of jazz, Alex Wilson’s Salsa Orchestra must now be the first priests of Salsa/Latin jazz. The UK’s leading Latin/Salsa pianist and front man of one of the UK’s most popular salsa crews, Alex Wilson will play some of his best known tracks, including “Ain’t Nobody” and “Use Me” from his latest album Inglaterra “Show Me” and “R&B Latino” from the eponymous album, with vocals from Aquilla Fearon, Alfonso de Jesus & Elpidio Caicedo.    
         This is an opportunity for dancers to get closer to the soul of salsa music. Alex’s driving salsa dura, laced with deeply felt soul vocals, drenched in Latin flavas, beats and rhythms, plus featured instrumentalists were made for Ronnie Scott’s intimate, crepuscular hallows. While Ronnie’s is not a dance venue, this is the setting to hear great salsa music, played live by some of the best salsa musicians around.
         To book tickets and for more: visit: www.alexwilson.net   Ronnie Scott’s: 020 7439 0747 or visit www.ronniescotts.co.uk Ticket Price: £26.

ALEX WILSON’S CLASSY CONCERT IN SUFFOLK

ALEX’s WILSON’s 12-PIECE SALSA POWER ORCHESTRA WILL PERFORM LIVE AT PROBABLY one of the classiest gigs ever staged on the UK salsa scene - at the Aldeburgh Proms, Snape Malting Concert Halls, Suffolk on Thursday 9th August.
         So, if you fancy a stylish and bargain weekend away with a Latin twist, this has got to be it. The Aldeburgh Proms is a dead posh gig, the Concert Halls and the setting are beautiful. So’s the price - at £6 a head for the prom area (seated area tickets £12-£18) - this has got to be the best value gig around.
       COMPETITION: BOOK QUICKLY AND YOU COULD WIN A BACK STAGE PASS FOR TWO!!!!
SEE OUR EVENTS SECTION FOR BOOKING AND FULL DETAILS UNDER 9th AUGUST

ALEX WILSON’S DANCERS’ DELIGHT IN SWINDON

Over 1,000 people are expected to dance ‘til they drop when Alex Wilson's 12-piece Salsa Orchestra plays live at the Swindon Bowl, Swindon On Saturday 11th August.
           This is an outdoor event with a dance floor and, we're told, every spare inch of turf will be covered with dancers rocking the place. SEE OUR EVENTS SECTION FOR BOOKING AND FULL DETAILS UNDER 11th AUGUST.  Photo: Miguel del Foto, copyright London Salsa Scene, London Salsa in Soho, Suffolk, Swindon 3.8.07

©London Salsa Scene is an online, independent magazine guide covering salsa and the Latin lifestyle in London and beyond. The views published  are not necessarily those of the Editor. All rights reserved. London Salsa Scene retains Copyright over all the articles and photographs published on this website - it is an infringement of that right to use this material elsewhere without our written permission. Disclaimer: London Salsa Scene publishes information on behalf of promoters, organisers, dancers and others in good faith but is not responsible if these events are cancelled, altered or if performers and instructors billed not not appear; this is exclusive liability and responsibility of the event organiser.

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