Dinner music during the “break-in” period of Casa Domenech at LCS. Grand opening Sunday.
Patrick O’Heffernan Ajijic (JAL) Casa Domenech, Ajijic’s iconic hub for music, food and community for 5 years has moved from its original location on Calle Zaragoza in West Ajijic to the Lake Chapala Society. Ray Domenech, founder and owner, has been operating Angelina’s Café at LCS and negotiated a complete move to and renaming of the old café location on August 30, opening a new chapter in the Casa D story and in the Ajijic music scene.
“We were doing OK at the old location, but lost customers because we were all indoors and we were small – the tables were close together,” Ray Domenech told Laguna while the band took a break playing at the new location. “People were calling and apologizing for not coming because they were worried about Covid – there are new rules now, and we had to respect that, and now we have a larger space that is outdoors,” he said.
Domenech told Laguna that the move was his idea, although LCS had originally invited him to take over the Café for breakfast and lunch. Holding the 5th anniversary celebration for Casa D – as it is affectionately known in Ajijic – at LCS showed him that there was potential for more space and for larger events.
The move took some negotiation because Casa D’s is now open at LCS when everything else on campus is closed. But the Board was in favor of it and the membership liked the idea, so he went ahead.
“LCS did an online poll of their members asking if they wanted us to be open evenings and serve dinner, and the result was 75% to 80% in favor. Everyone at LCS was very nice and helpful,” he said.
When asked about possible complaints from the neighbors over music noise at night, he said that there might be some but he has the necessary license for music and that he will start early and shut music down early – possibly as early as 7pm – to avoid disturbing the neighbors.
Most important, Domenech intends to recreate the magic the original location was known for, with great bands, drop-in musicians jamming, guest artists, and relationships and friendships kindling over food and jazz.
“ It is a different challenge – recreating the kind of magic we had in the smaller original venue, but it is my intention to make it happen here, he said, “the musicians will be here – just like tonight when a great trumpet player showed up and joined the band.”
Casa Domenech LCS is in its break-in period now, open daily for dinner and featuring music every night. The Grand Opening will be this Saturday, September 4, from 4:30 to 8 pm. The Aloha Rock band will be playing but Ray Domenech confided to Laguna that he expects many of Casa D’s musical friends to drop by and jam. Reservations can be made at facebook.com/domenechmusic/ and are recommended.
Poster de la obra.
Redacción.- Este mes de septiembre, Santa Cruz de la Soledad y Ajijic serán las sedes de diferentes eventos culturales para disfrutar en familia. Las actividades forman parte del ciclo “Un Cargamento de Cultura”, organizado por la Secretaría de Cultura Jalisco por medio de Cultura Cardinal y el Centro Cultural González Gallo.
Las actividades comenzaron el 5 de septiembre con el evento “Soprano y Piano Recital de Autor”, con Ricardo Rodríguez y Yazmín Mendoza; pero hay más en puerta.
Este sábado 11 de septiembre a las 19:00 horas en el foro del malecón de Ajijic se presentará “El Gurú”, puesta en escena de un solo actor al estilo clown. En este espectáculo se fusionan la música, el baile, la comedia, el malabar y la moda.
Para el miércoles 15 de septiembre se presentará el “Ballet Folclórico Ixtlacateotl,” la cita es a las 19:00 horas en la plaza principal de Ajijic. El día 19 habrá un “Concierto de Tala Friks” en el Centro Cultural González Gallo a las 12:30 horas.
En la plaza principal de San Cruz de la Soledad se presentará “La Cucaracha Títeres”, el domingo 26 de septiembre a las 19:00 horas. Y en la colonia La Canacinta, Ajijic, estará “Sergio y los Michines”, el jueves 30 a las 19:00 horas.
La entrada es libre en todos los eventos y se contará con todas las medidas de seguridad sanitaria. No olvides tu cubrebocas porque será obligatorio.
“Un Cargamento Cultural” tiene el objetivo de descentralizar la cultura del AMG (Área Metropolitana de Guadalajara) y habrá más eventos en lo que resta del año.
La entrada es libre.
Redacción.- A Chapala llegará una obra de teatro en formato radioteatro contemporáneo que promete ser toda una experiencia auditiva, se trata de “El Vocho” que se presentará el martes siete de septiembre en el Centro Cultural González Gallo (CCGG) con acceso sin costo al público.
“El Vocho” permite acercarnos a través de la escucha a la historia de Marcela y Renata, quienes migran en busca de Teresa en un país lleno de incertidumbre, políticas antiinmigrantes, feminicidios y guerras no declaradas. Un panorama cercano a la realidad que guarda una ligera línea entre el apocalipsis y la tercera guerra mundial.
El autor y director es Emmanuel Medina, mientras que la producción ejecutiva está a cargo de Armando Amezcua, contando con las voces de Lucia Cortes como Marcela, Mónica Tafolla como Renata y Lilah Martín del Campo como Ma. Teresa, con voces adicionales de Vriceida Guillén, Alejandro Rizo, Anahí Luna, Diego Ortiz y Kenji Kishi y el diiseño sonoro y musicalización de Kenji Kishi.
Fecha: 7 de septiembre
Hora: 18:00 horas
Lugar: Centro Cultural González Gallo (Chapala)
Dirigido a: Adolescentes y adultos
Duración: 36 minutos
Entrada libre
Lake Chapala Community Orchestra.
Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic, JAL. The Lake Chapala Community Orchestra Chamber Ensemble will return to the stage in full force Thursday August 26 and Friday August 27 in a “Summer Serenade” concert with special guests the Arche String Quartet from Guadalajara and Ely Molletones of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra.
The 12-member Chamber Ensemble will play works by Mozart, Faure, Telemann, Tchaikovsky and many more. The two concerts will be held at the Unitarian/Bare Stage in Riberas, starting at 4pm. Orchestra Conductor Michael Reason will lead the Chamber Ensemble and play the piano.
Doors will be open at 3.15pm along with the bar which will offer wine, beer and soft drinks. Admission is free, but seat reservations are required.. Covid precautions will be in effect and masks must be worn while in the building. Reservations are available by email at lccotickets@gmail.com with the date and number of seats desired.
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.
Fueron cuatro las participantes.
Redacción.- Una noche de diversión, apertura, protesta y búsqueda de conciencia, así fue como se desarrolló el “Certamen gay” en Jocotepec, realizado el 24 de julio. Los asistentes al certamen pudieron observar una pasarela con traje típico que representaba las raíces de las concursantes así como vestido de gala, siendo acompañadas de las porras de amigo y familiares.
El concurso realizado en el salón providencia, ubicado sobre la calle Vicente Guerrero, recibió a las primeras personas a las ocho y media de la noche, poco a poco el lugar se fue llenando para dar inicio con la música con la que los presentes pudieron bailar.
Vianey, quien ya fue reina de un certamen gay y quien ha organizado otros concursos, realizó la actividad de diversidad en Jocotepec, aunque en esta ocasión con personas que apenas comienzan a adentrarse en el mundo del transformismo, teniendo desde un inicio la intención de que ahora participaran “chicas” amateur.
Además de las pasarelas y la muestra de traje típico y vestido de gala, las participantes dieron un pequeño discurso, como de minuto y medio, en el que abordaron problemáticas de las personas con preferencias sexuales distintas, algunas tocaron el tema de rechazo y el miedo de la sociedad, la apertura de espacios para la comunidad y la discriminació y hasta ataques que se siguen dando.
Mientras las participantes convivieron con sus amistades y familiares y observaban el actuar de ballet folklorico Jalisco diverso, integrado por personas de la diversidad sexual y procedente de Guadalajara, el conteo se realizaba detrás de la cortina.
La ganadora fue Cristina Evangelista de Jocotepec, que competirá en un certamen a nivel estatal; en segundo lugar, Alisson Hernández de La Loma; en tercero Vania Gavilán de Potrerillos y en cuarto Helen Orozco de El Sauz.
Luego de conocer los resultados, la gente se paró a bailar y se puso a disfrutar de los llamados himnos de la comunidad gay, como canciones Talia, Gloria Trevi, Alaska y Dinarama entre otros.
Con información de Ricardo Cortés.
Cruz performed two shows on a Sunday afternoon , July 25.
Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic JAL. Freddie Mercury impersonator Roy Gómez Cruz put on a bang-up show for a full house at the Lake Chapala Society that took the audience on an energetic, visual, and emotional journey through the songs and life events that made Freddie Mercury.
Cruz performed two shows on a Sunday afternoon , July 25, on the LCS lawn that included high energy music, dancers, videos, and the singer strolling through the audience and serenading tables. The crowd loved it and from all appearances, so did Cruz.
The concert was part of the Lake Chapala Society’s Concert on the Lawn series and been previewed by a surprise appearance by Cruz in June so there was a lot anticipation and Cruz delivered the two shows in spades – he gave the audience everything they wanted – familiar songs, great music, jokes, recreations of Mercury’s classic videos including a vacuuming housewife, and flirting. As he sang.
Cruz plays Mercury in a running show in Puerto Vallarta even though Freddie Mercury and the band Queen are not as popular in Mexico as in other parts of the world, mainly because of a disastrous tour in 1981 marred by visa snafus, stampeding crowds, terrible organization, and eventually the audience throwing shoes at the band when Mercury threw water at them – a routine part of his act. No water was thrown at the LCS audience.
The Concert on the Lawn is an ongoing series at LCS which brings outstanding artists to Lakeside to generate income for the Society and entertain people in Lakeside. The next concert is the Crooners Tribute starring Marc Lopez on August 22. Tickets available online or at LCS.
Blue Jay Slim sings a loving duet with his wife at El Barco.
Blue Jay – or just “Jay” as he is known in the music community, played a final concert with his all-star blue Machine Band of Javier Villaseñor on guitar, Chelo Gonzales on drums, Sergio Casas on bass, Christian Jimenez on piano plus guest horn players coaxed out of the audience.
Blue Jay announced at the opening of his first set that this would be his last concert because he was headed back NOB, but he told Laguna the move was not permanent and that he and wife will return, maybe after the end of the year – no date specified. But since many people who know him remember that he went back to the states in 2013 only to return to Ajijic , bigger and better, there was no doubt they would see him again.
Blue Jay has played for years in Lakeside with the Blues Machine and an earlier band, The Tone Blasters, after an illustrious (and still going) career of recording and live performing in the US. He has opened for major bands like Shemkia Copeland, Marcia Ball, The Nighthawkes and many others. He has played major venues and festivals in the US, and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame from Deleware in November 2013. His Ajijic band was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame last year.
The goodbye concert featured 2 sets with originals like “Don’t Look Up’, and “The Call Me the Boogie Man” and “Seven Woman Man” plus classic blues favorites like “Back Magic Woman” and “Hoochie Coochie Man”.
El Barco’s upstairs outdoor venue began filling up an hour before showtime and it was standing room by the time the band got on stage. But their fans made room for dancing, especially during the loving duet “Some Kind of Wonderful” with his wife.
Fans told Laguna they can’t wait until he returns, but in the meantime they will be enjoying The Blues Machine and Javier Villaseñor flaming guitar licks. Fans who need their Blue Jay fix can sgream his albums Call Me the Boogie Man and Blue Slim and the ToneBlasters on Spotify
Poster.
Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic. Lakeside’s music season is off to a great start with the International Music Festival this weekend, produced by the Ajijic-based music organization Ray Velvet Productions, directed by Ray Domenech of Casa Domenech. The festival launches Friday evening with R&B and funk, moves onto Saturday with soft rock by Ajijic’s own SAGREY, and wraps up Sunday with hot Latin music from Mexico, Cuba and Venezuela.
The festival will be held at Number 9, a large outdoor venue owned by a local musician, located at Aquiles Serdan #9, 20 steps down from Vinos America on the Carretera. Festival goers will enjoy a Mexican all-you-can-eat buffet dinner with fresh handmade tortillas, a cash bar, and socially-distanced tables.
Friday’s lineup is ON FIRE , a R&B and jazz funk band with Willy Zavala on keys, Armando Curiel on drums and “Malabres” on bass and featuring Ajijic’s star saxman, Chuco Soto. Saturday evening will bring the vocals of Barbara Sagrey, fronting the SAGREY ban , with Diego Casas on drums, Kevin Real on bass, Azael Medeles on Keyboard, Ray Domenech on guitar and Kenji Matsui from Japan on lead guitar.
The Festival wraps up Sunday, April 25, with MANO PA’RRIBA, playing red hot Latin Music with the beloved Freddy Adrian from Venezuela on standup bass, Mexico’s Giovanni Figueroa on drums and Ronald Rivero from CUBA on the keyboard and fronted by Jackie Jacks with her beautiful vocals.
Tickets are $700 for VIP and $580 for general admission for each day (discount for multiple days). You can buy your tickets online at: Paypal.me/rayvelvetpro or in Casa Domenech, Zaragoza 109 Ajijic ,or At Angelina’s inside the Lake Chapala Society. Doors open at 6:30pm each day.
From left to right: Emmanuel Medeles, Artistic Director, Michael Reason, Conductor, Lake Chapala Community Orchestra, Fabiola Ramos, Administrador Areli Medeles, Tutor.
Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic. The legacy music school founded over 20 years was on the brink of closing until its fans and supporters stepped up with enthusiastic support of an online fundraising campaign based in Canada.
“We had fallen from 55 students to 25, a major loss of tuition revenue, and we were not able to produce on any concerts, a major source of revenue”, Michael Reason , Founder and Conductor of the Lake Chapala Community Orchestra and a supporter of CREM told Laguna. He explained GoFundMe is not supported in Mexico so he set up a Canadian campaign that allowed people to easily donate on line from Mexico.
“As a musician and the founder of the Lake Chapala Community Orchestra it was obvious to me that if the pandemic was to go on a long time a lot of educational institutions – especially in music – would suffer because of the economic conditions and the public health situation, “ he said, adding that “CREAM relies on tuition fees but its philosophy is that it doesn’t not matter what your economic situation is they will offer scholarships.”
Reason got involved when a member of his orchestra told him about CREM’s financial problem and since, he has “ always been committed to music education – its important to a person’s character as well as music knowledge,” he stepped in to help out the beloved institution.
CEM was founded 1n 1990 by the late beloved Ajijic singer and music composer Victor Manuel Medeles, beginning with a children’s choir and then introduced instrumental training over time until its present curriculum. It became a registered non-profit under the name CREMusica A.C. in 2013.
Most students – all Mexicans – are children or teens, but there is no age limit. Until the pandemic, CREM had 55 students and several instructors and tutors who taught music theory, trained students on various instruments and operated an orchestra and choir, chamber music groups, and various ensembles. Once a year there is a public exam where students play pieces they have prepared over the year. Many of the first generation of its graduates are part of the Jalisco Philharmonic or are professional musicians.
Reason and the staff and students and families of CREAM are excited at the success to date of the GoFundMe campaign and hope it reaches its goal in a few weeks. The school has limped along with a few online classes and some backyard or home practice sessions but neither of these provide the funds or the education CREM and its students need.
Ramos feels that meeting their GofundMe goal will tied them over but Ramos and Reason are realistic about the mid- and long term success of the school and its funding.
“We will need to continue to raise funds, perhaps with small house concerts this summer for scholarships to bring our students back,” CREM Administrator Fabiola Ramos told Laguna, adding that ;they may try to produce some all school concerts this summer.
Monthly tuition is $535 pesos – very low for most schools, but still a significant amount for the average Mexican family in Lakeside, so scholarships are important to guarantee that that school is open to everyone regardless of financial situation, one of the school’s goals.
People who want to donate or volunteer should go to the school’s Facebook page at facebook.com/CentroRegionalDeEstudiosMusicales or directly to the GoFundMe campaign at https://bit.ly/2PF8z7v
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