The 18-piece jazz band performed a sold-out Jazz for Families concert designed for both Mexican and Expat communities with low ticket prices, bi-lingual translations, a later start time, and songs popular with Mexicans and Expats
Christine and Tony Valle Hernandez on stage with Los Amigos Big Band.
Patrick O’Heffernan Ajijic ,JAL. Lakeside’s only big band jazz orchestra went to the Centro Cultural Presidencia Antigua in Chapala to broaden its mostly Expat audience with a fundraising concert for Mexican families to help its Mexican band members battered by Covid restrictions.
Concert organizer and Big Band saxophonist Christine Philipson said, “ This is the third concert for the Band, with that many again cancelled due to Covid, so we are very pleased to finally be able to support our Mexican band members”.
The Jazz for Families was an exciting success with all seats in the socially distanced auditorium sold out and an overflow crowd in the courtyard on folding chairs. Many of those in the auditorium and the courtyard were Mexican families with children. All announcements from the stage were in English and Spanish and a special drawing for music lesson prizes for the children in the audience – all Mexican – brought smiles, “ah’s” and applause as children – some shy and some grinning – climbed onstage to accept their prizes.
For adults, Expat and Mexican, two bottles of local Sandy y Daniel tequila were awarded to lucky ticket holders.
Los Amigos Big Band ‘s current stage is 4toSintido in Riberas, a four-star restaurant that easily holds a 100+ audience with plenty of room to dance. The Jazz for Families concert in Chapala was performed in the largely Mexican community of Chapala, with a very low ticket price and children under 16 free to make it accessible to families.
Only the Mexican members of Los Amigos were paid for the performance – Expat performers like Philipson volunteered. The concert was co-sponsored by Semanario Laguna.
The set list, guided by conductor and music director Paul Silverman, consisted of American jazz standards mixed with Mexican favorites like “Azulito” by the famous El Maestro Ray Santos, “Perfida” by Albert Dominguez, and “El Mundo Raro” by the ranchero singer/songwriter José Alfredo Jiménez. Band Leader Silverman introduced local Mexican musicians in the band like Dani Real, Carlos López Desales and his Uncle ‘Chepe’ José Manuel López Hernández, Angel Chavarria, Esteban Olvera, and Tony Valle Hernandez who also translated.
Los Amigos Big Band will be playing one of their popular «Tea Dance» concerts Tuesday Sept 7th – 12 – 2pm at 4toSento in Riberas.
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