Johnny's Birthday Party

April 18, 2008

Playlist

La La La – Direct Latin Influence (1)
Que Quiere La Nina – Kako Y Totico (2)
Borinquen – Sonora Poncena
Volver Volver – Grupo Gale (3)
Azuquita Pa’l Café – El Gran Combo
Isla Del Encanto – Orquesta Broadway
Lo Dudo – Tommy Olivencia (canta: Frankie Ruiz)*
Si Tu Cocinas Como Caminas – Henry Fiol (4)
Mary – Joe Arroyo
Que Pasa Contigo – Willie Rosario (canta: Tony Vega)*

--a song with video put on by Demetrios …boogaloo? Sonora Carruseles maybe?--

Swing La Moderna – Ray Barretto
Cuando Te Vea – Bobby Valentin (live version)
Hong Kong – Michi Sarmiento Y Sus Bravos*
El Titere – Louie Ramirez & Ray De La Paz
Nadie Como Ella – Marc Anthony (5)
Noche De Salsa – Louie Ramirez

performance break

Amor Perfecto – El Gran Combo (6)

birthday dance to Ingratitudes – Bobby Valentin

Brujeria – El Gran Combo (7)
Cualquiera – Oscar D’Leon
Buenas Noches Che Che – Tito Rodriguez
El As De La Rumba – Machito
Ublabadu – Fania All-Stars (canta: Hector Lavoe)
Mojito – Regina Carter* (8)
Sin Negro No Guaguanco – Lebron Brothers
Estoy En Ti – Willie Rosario
Sopa En Botella – Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco
La Familia – Jose Curbelo* (9)
Bilongo – Tito Rodriguez
Tema Del Apollo – Eddie Palmieri (10)
Te Extrano – Extreme
El Cayuco – Tito Puente (short version) (11)
Perdoname – Gilberto Santa Rosa

(1) Johnny played Lovely Day as the first track to get everyone dancing in a circle first.
(2) Sergio and Nat arrived uncharacteristically early or early for Sergio at least on a Friday so that Sergio finally got a chance to dance to this song. I thought it might never happen. For whatever it’s worth, there is zero chance I would have gotten this CD without Sergio’s input.
(3) Serap stopped by to say nice music.
(4) Sergio’s description later – Mexican music.
(5) This was supposed to be the last song before the performance. Lighting issues delayed it by one more song.
(6) I think this was the one with the brief power outage to the sound system.
(7) Another re-start the Salsa party song.
(8) Sergio dances with Miriam to the longest song of the night.
(9) Half a dance with Colleen before them getting ready to depart resulted in another compliment from Sergio. What’s going on?
(10) I had this queued 3-4 songs in advance without anticipating that the party was nearly over. It worked out really well.
(11) This on the other hand was played after seeing how the first Cha Cha went.

Total = 33 songs. 2 Cha Cha. 1 Bachata. 30 Salsa including 5 new.

Nat and Sergio thought the atmosphere reminded them of the old Catholic Church days. Nat obviously enjoyed herself as she stayed until the very end - a little after 12:30. Other people who showed up included Sebastian, Kate, Sharon, Jane, Rajiv, Jay, Bodie so it was a good crowd - about the same (although with largely different cast of attendants) as the other time I visited St. Paul's Church.

I had a unique view of the show by Miriam and Colleen - from their rear at the elevated stage. I guess that's the privilege of acting as the DJ. They did not pick up the CD for the show, and I decided to hold on to them - presumably I could return it next time I'm at SOS (not that it's particularly valuable, I imagine). I still have never asked Miriam for a dance. The opportunity never came up. I probably came closest 1 or 2 years ago, and I have since moved to a phase of not making an effort to ask instructor types. I obviously know her and she definitely recognizes my face, but over 3 years have passed and not asking has seemingly become a comfortable routine. I have danced with Colleen once or twice before at SOS - I think the first one happened the first time I saw her, and I think there was a second but I'm not completely sure.

All in all, I had two dances tonight. It took a while for me to get comfortable with the mixer, etc. Oh well. During the first dance, I noticed that the volume generated by the sound system was a bit too much (not necessarily too loud although probably so but it sounded a bit harsh close to the speakers). I was working with freshly repaired shoes (went this morning to Lion's Yard/Grand Arcade for the first time since Grand Arcade opened and found there were two Timpsons shops there) and was surprised to see that they somehow felt different.

I stopped by at CS to visit Vish around 1. He said it was a fine night although it was winding down by then. I stayed a little while mostly watching other people dance - there was only one couple I recognized. I hadn't really noticed before but it looked to me that they do well with each other.