Desi Arnaz, Cheech Marin and Jennifer Lopez are cultural icons who have secured themselves as such by combing music and film. They represent those who worked hard to transcend cultural boundaries to ultimately become prominent icons in entertainment for all Latin Americans.
“Sonido Latino,” a concert series in conjunction with the San Diego Latino Film Festival, will document important accomplishments by the Latino community in both film and music. The concert series begins March 11 and extends through the weekend, resuming March 18 through March 21. Over the course of these six nights, 22 different Latino bands are scheduled to perform.
“The first annual showcase of Latino music … offers the San Diego/Tijuana border community an opportunity to experience the diverse world of Latino entertainment in one exciting event,” Program Director Ethan van Thillo said.
All throughout, featured artists will celebrate traditional modern forms of Latin-based music, including artists whose celebrity may not extend so far into American mainstream culture, but whose impacts on Latino culture are irrefutable.
Best known for his work with Stan Kenton, Jack “Mr. Bongo” Costanzo headlines the first set of events on March 11 at the Doubletree Hotel in Mission Valley. Costanzo has made his mark in Latino entertainment, introducing bongos into the world of jazz in the 1950s as well as sharing the silver screen with the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly.
On top of that, Mr. Bongo earns his title by proving to be among the most authentic and celebrated icons of Cuban beat. Costanzo and his 11-piece ensemble will kick off the week’s festivities, at 9 p.m. on March 11, with supporting acts MariLu, the Super Sonic Samba School and DJ Sesqui. The event is $20 at the door, which includes a screening of the first film in the film festival, drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
The week’s events will be full of local talent as well. Local hip-hop act Malverde performs on March 12, combining Mexican roots and modern urban life. Malverde performs alongside Agua Dulce, a band that soulfully fuses reggae, jazz and bossa-nova. Their new album, Blah, is a harmonious composition of Latin rhythms.
For the remainder of the week, the events all generally start at 9 p.m. (times vary) and go on until last call. The locations vary from Mission Valley’s Doubletree Hotel to Ventanas Restaurant and the Westgate Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter. For tickets, complete concert listings or more information visit the festival’s Website at http://www.sdlatinofilm.com.
