Dennis Gonzalez in Mexico City and Cuernavaca

Dennis Gonzalez · November-9th-2008, 11:13 AM

November 13-16: Ollin Jazz Festival Tlalpan 2008

Thurs., Nov. 13: Cuernavaca (details to come)

Fri., Nov. 14: Craneo de Jade with Dennis Gonzalez; Parque Ecológico Loreto Peña Pobre, Insurgentes Sur front of Villa Olimpica, Mexico City, DF, 8 pm

Sat., Nov. 15: Craneo de Jade with Dennis Gonzalez; Multiforo Ollin Kan, Av. San Fernando esq. Juárez, Centro de Tlalpan, Mexico City, 8 pm

Sun., Nov. 16: Craneo de Jade with Dennis Gonzalez; Parque Ecológico Loreto Peña Pobre, Insurgentes Sur front of Villa Olimpica, Mexico City, DF, 7 pm

Craneo de Jade - Remi Alvarez, Aaron Cruz, Hernan Hecht:

Jazzooo · November-9th-2008, 02:44 PM

Hey, Dennis--I dig Hernan Hecht! Please tell him I said hi.

And a big Bienvenidos to you!

Dennis Gonzalez · November-9th-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzooo

Hey, Dennis--I dig Hernan Hecht! Please tell him I said hi.

And a big Bienvenidos to you!

Hernan's badass, man...looking forward to gigging with him. Y gracias mil por la bienvenida, mi amigo! Should be lots of fun...

Jazzooo · November-9th-2008, 05:52 PM

If I wasn't in the middle of getting ready for our own jazz festival, I'd be there in a hot second, Dennis. Did you happen to check out our lineup?

Dennis Gonzalez · November-9th-2008, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzooo

If I wasn't in the middle of getting ready for our own jazz festival, I'd be there in a hot second, Dennis. Did you happen to check out our lineup?

Oh yes...I checked it out the day you first posted the lineup for the 14th year! I'm especially interested in Castro-Neves and Grusin...hot shit, man! I'd love to see ya!

And by the way, part of the reason that our Yucatecan friend can't make it is that he's now living in the Bay Area...

Sorry you can't come up. By the way, my first Mexican jazz gig was way back in 1985 in San Miguel de Allende, at Mama Mia, with a not too well know bass player who called himself "Hopalong" (Jose Luis Chagoyan)!

Here's the DG poster:

Ron Thorne · November-9th-2008, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis Gonzalez

I'm especially interested in Castro-Neves and Grusin...

Patti and I had the good fortune to hear Oscar Castro-Neves at this year's Playboy Jazz Festival, then shake his hand backstage at the end of the event. What a remarkably talented, soft-spoken, humble man.

Dennis Gonzalez · November-10th-2008, 06:57 PM

I've never heard him live, but I like a lot of his music!

David Gitin · November-10th-2008, 09:55 PM

Dennis Gonzalez:
And by the way, part of the reason that our Yucatecan friend can't make it is that he's now living in the Bay Area...

Have a great time, Dennis. And yes, Gerardo now lives in Monterey. We went up to Oakland (along with Surfer) to catch Keith Rowe at Mills College on Saturday.

Jazzooo · November-10th-2008, 10:57 PM

Gerardo--you traitor!

What prompted that move?

"Sorry you can't come up. By the way, my first Mexican jazz gig was way back in 1985 in San Miguel de Allende, at Mama Mia, with a not too well know bass player who called himself "Hopalong" (Jose Luis Chagoyan)!"

Lol--I play with Hop now and then--in fact, here's a video of a quartet I put together with him for one concert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1erR...eature=related

Nice guy, good friend too.

Dennis, we'll have to work it out to get together one of these days.

brain · November-12th-2008, 07:38 PM

hola Dennis!

Have fun in Mexico City!! What a great looking festival, man. Say hello everybody for me please ... Remi, Aaron and the Los Dorados folks. And of course a big hug to my brother Hernan. He was in Houston last night playing with Ximena at the Latin Grammys. He is always on the move.

abrazos,
brian

Ron Thorne · November-12th-2008, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzooo

Gerardo--you traitor!

What prompted that move?

While Gerardo is likely busy with studies, I'll provide the short answer — graduate school in northern California.

Gerardo A · November-12th-2008, 10:47 PM

Hey everyone! (And sorry to derail your thread Dennis!) Yeah, I moved to Monterey, CA in September and am currently taking a master's in English/Spanish translation and interpretation. Like David said, he, Surfer and I have had the pleasure of attending concerts together. Look forward to meet all the other posters from the area!

And break a leg, both Dennis and Brian! I wish I could catch you guys' gigs in Mexico City, they're going to be killer! Say hi to everyone in DF for me.

Surfer · November-15th-2008, 12:08 AM

fixed

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

While Gerardo is likely busy with "studies"

Dennis Gonzalez · November-24th-2008, 08:53 PM

I've been back from Mexico City for a week...and just now am I getting a second to even comment on it. The group that played, and Jazzooo may be interested to know, did not include Hernan Hecht, who was in Texas at the Latino Grammy show drumming for Ximena, the newest Hispanic singing sensation. He di, however, show up the last night I played at Parque Ecologico to play with Tim Berne's quartet...and of course, he kicked ass, as I had predicted.

The trio I played with was led by Remi Alvarez, as I had announced, but the rhythm section was actually two fantastic young players, Arturo Báez, bass, and Gustavo Nandayapa, drums. The music was stupendous, and well-rehearsed, and the audiences, many new to this music, drank it up!

Ron Thorne · November-24th-2008, 09:05 PM

Glad to hear that things went so well, Dennis. I never had any doubts, though.

Gerardo A · November-25th-2008, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis Gonzalez

The trio I played with was led by Remi Alvarez, as I had announced, but the rhythm section was actually two fantastic young players, Arturo Báez, bass, and Gustavo Nandayapa, drums. The music was stupendous, and well-rehearsed, and the audiences, many new to this music, drank it up!

Nice to hear that everything went well, Dennis!

So you didn't play with Craneo de Jade?

The trio with Arturo Báez (a.k.a. El Bebé) and Gustavo is Remi's new trio, I remember it sounds very Ornette-influenced. I haven't heard them live yet, but el Bebé is freakin' fantastic!

Dennis Gonzalez · November-25th-2008, 09:26 PM

No, I played with the new trio...not only Baez is fantastic, the drummer Nandayapa is stupendous as well...

Dennis Gonzalez · November-25th-2008, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

Glad to hear that things went so well, Dennis. I never had any doubts, though.

Thanks, Ron...it was beautiful, and the music was pretty tough. Wonderful complex compositions with plenty of room to solo.

Baez and Nandayapa:

Ron Thorne · November-25th-2008, 10:10 PM

That's a wonderful shot, man!

brain · November-28th-2008, 12:04 AM

hey, I'm glad to hear you had so much fun there! That trio really is great! Did you enjoy your time in Mexico City?

I got to jam with them this past summer there. Such wonderful people and musicians. I'm looking forward to seeing them next week in Mexico City myself. Next Thursday I'm doing a solo recital and that trio is performing the same day at UNAM. Afterwards, I'm hoping I can get down to Chiapas with Gustavo and have some ant tacos.

Dennis Gonzalez · December-13th-2008, 04:33 PM

Hey Brian...hope your stay in Mexico was as good as mine! I've never had ant tacos, and so I have no idea what I've missed.

Someone posted a 9 minute video on YouTube of one of our inside gigs at Multiforo during Ollin Tlalpan Jazz, and as you can see, the audience was very enthusiastic!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQwBh...eature=related