Keeping the Music ALIVE! Celebrating 10 Years of Salsa “AfterWork” & the 5th Year Anniversary of Salsa Monday’s at Taj Lounge

Keeping the Music ALIVE! Celebrating 10 Years of Salsa “AfterWork” & the 5th Year Anniversary of Salsa Monday’s at Taj Lounge

By Natalie J. Maniscalco & Photo by Chasi Annexy

“What's important is to keep the Salsa music alive in New York City,” says Henry Knowles, a world class Latin DJ, manager of Grammy Nominated New Swing Sextet and creator of the Salsa “AfterWork” concept.

Marking 10 years of the inception of after work salsa parties, Henry Knowles in collaboration with Izzy Rodriguez at the time, originally started their Latin parties at Hush, a small venue on West 19th Street. After becoming an instant success, the trend took off and even Frankie Martinez was brought in as the weekly instructor for free salsa lessons. A year into the making, the venue was sold, but the party was moved to El Flamingo on West 21st Street where it lasted for four years, becoming one of the hottest Salsa AfterWork parties in New York City. “People cried when it closed,” says Henry. Not only was it a place for dancers to let loose after a day’s work, but El Flamingo offered talented bands and artists including Johnny Pacheco, Papo Lucca, Andy Montañez, Lebron Brothers, Johnny Colon, Spanish Harlem Orchestra with Ruben Blades, New Swing Sextet, Domingo Quiñones, and many more a home for LIVE music performances.

In July of 2005, the building was sold and a new venue was in need to carry on the tradition of LIVE music and Salsa AfterWork parties. “After El Flamingo closed, I had a difficult time finding the perfect place to move the party to. Finally I walked into Taj one night and instantly fell in love with the venue,” he says. “On Monday, April 25, 2006, we had the grand re-opening of Salsa AfterWork Mondays at Taj Lounge and after some time, Talia and Mike partnered up with me to help with promotions. Since then, the party has once again become the hottest AfterWork salsa party in NYC, including one of TimeOut NY's top NYC parties.”

Now, in its 5th year, a collaboration of artists, dancers, performances, and LIVE music will celebrate yet another amazing moment in New York City Salsa. In addition, SALSEEK, who recently featured world renowned dancer Talia Castro-Pozo with photos shot in Time Square by photographer Chasi Annexy, will help ring in the celebration with Henry Knowles, Talia Castro-Pozo and Mike Pena, along with two-time Grammy Award winning artist Willy Torres & Willy’s NYC Salsa Project. This electrifying party will also include special guests Ray De La Paz, Herman Olivera, Jimmy Bosch, Frankie Morales, Cheo Medina, New Swing Sextet, and spectacular dance performances by Frankie Martinez & Abakua Dance Company and a new routine by Talia and Lee. DJ's Henry Knowles, Louie Love, DJ Woody, David Sala & DJ Eric will be spinning the best of Salsa & Latin dance music all night.

Event details:

Monday, April 11th
Taj Lounge on 48 West 21st Street
Doors Open @ 5PM
Dance Performances @ 10:30pm

FREE beginner salsa Lesson with Talia @ 6:30pm

*Admission $8 before 7pm/$12 after (except special events)
*$8 Mojitos & $6 Coronas
*Reduced Dining Menu on Monday Nights
Restaurant Open until 10:30pm. For dinner reservation call Taj 212-620-3033
*21 & Over - ID Required

For More Info Call/Text:
914.316.3222 Henry / 917.620.3109 Talia or 646.418.6291 Mike

Produced by:
Henry Knowles in association with Talia Castro-Pozo & Mike Peña
For more info visit: www.tajmondays.com
To view Talia’s article and photos click: http://www.salseek.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=218:from-peru-to-the-big-apple-talia-castro-pozo-takes-on-the-world

Alexis y Fido CD Party - En La Escena

Alexia y Fido have their CD release party at Katra, Leticia Reyes interviews them for En La Escena.

Pan con Queso Pt 3 - En La Escena

Last segment of the interview with Micheal Diaz aka Juan Bago and Oscar Martinez, with Director Gilbert Flores, on their video Pan con Queso, a parody of the Black and Yellow song by Kaliff.
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Último segmento de la entrevista con Michael Díaz alias Bago Juan y Oscar Martínez, con el director Gilberto Flores, en su contenido de vídeo Queso Pan, una parodia de la canción Negro y amarillo por Kaliff.

Pan con Queso Pt2 - En La Escena

We are back with more of Pan con Queso and this time Leticia Reyes and JI Starr get to know more about Pan con Queso and Cafecitos ... Don't miss the ins and outs with us, En La Escena.

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Estamos de vuelta con más de con Queso Pan y esta vez Leticia Reyes y JI Starr conocen más acerca de Pan Con Queso y Cafecitos ... No te pierdas los detalles con nosotros, En La Escena.

My conversation with American Idol contestant Karen Rodriquez

If you have been following this seasons American Idol, you would have definitely heard of this young Latina, hailing from the Big Apple NYC, living in Washington Heights known for its large vibrant Dominican community, Karen Rodriguez.

As you know at the beginning of the season, you have contestants that think that they can sing, (well in the bathroom), were told that they could sing (friends lied to them), and then you have the jewel among the rocks that actually can sing, that is Karen Rodriguez.

From her first appearance on American Idol, she mesmerized them with her poise, control and of course beautiful powerful voice, (and the confidence of a true New Yorker).

Tonight I caught up with Ms Rodriguez by phone on her birthday, making her 22 years old; I asked her ‘When did you first decide to audition for this seasons American Idol?’ She said that she was actually on the computer and she saw the advertisement to audition through MySpace, and thought to herself why not, so she recorded herself and sent it in.

Now her cultural background is kind of unique, I mentioned before that she lived in Washington Heights, her father being Dominican, but her mother was from Peru. So you have that Caribbean island influence and the South American connection all in one “Sancocho”.

I asked her how it was growing up in NYC aka Washington Heights as a Latina. Karen replied living in the Heights I was greatly influenced by my neighborhood, hearing Bachata and Merengue in the streets and then of course all the Dominican food, I love that about my culture.

Not knowing too much about her mother’s side of the family she said she visited Peru and was amazed at the beauty and richness of the culture there, it helped her immensely in knowing how her mother grew up.

Back to American Idol: Karen did something unique during her tenure on the show; she sang her songs both in English and Spanish, with the greatest of ease. I asked her did she feel that the audience and America connected with what she did.

Emphatically she said yes, “I wanted to share who I was as a Latina, wanting to be the first Latin crossover American Idol winner on the show”, she said that she received so many tweets from all around the country thanking her for representing all the Latinas by what she did and how she did it.

Since food is such a large part of the Latin culture I asked her what was her favorite dish, the list read like a restaurant menu, starting with Arroz con Habichelas, (Rice and beans) Platanos Maduras, (Sweet plantains) Steak with onions and of course Mofongo, (which can consist of green bananas, garlic, seafood or pork) depending on where you went, I had to smile because all that is on my list too. I said well that really makes you Dominican, she laughed and agreed.

Now she is back in NYC, I asked Karen what was in her future?, she said now that she is back in NY she wants to pursue opportunities in TV and film, either in commercial ads or acting, most of all she wants to continue to sing and hopefully sign a record deal, always representing to the best of her ability as a Latina.

I was very impressed by her poise and confidence, I am sure we will be hearing and seeing more of this talented young lady, we all wish Karen at En la escena all the best, and look forward to having her on the show, for a more in-depth interview.

Pan con queso Pt 1 - En L Escena

Leticia Reyes of En la escena and JI Starr of La Mega, get an exclusive interview with the starrs of the now viral video, "Pan con Queso" a parody of the hit Black and Yellow by Kaliff, only on En la escena Michael Diaz aka Juan Bago and Oscar Martinez aka O. Copyright © 2011 ELE Productions, LLC. Visit: www.enlaescena.com

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