Fort Apache Band – ED MORALES

America and Race, Latinos and Race, Latinos in Media, Puerto Rico's Colonial Status, Urban/Global Politics

Eddie Figueroa’s Spirit Republic Alternative to the Young Lords

Note: I’m re-posting this piece from a couple of years ago about Eddie Figueroa, founder of New Rican Village, an arts space that thrived on Avenue A in the East Village in the 1970s. Because of all the recent attention being given to the Young Lords era as a result of three excellent art exhibits […]

America and Race, Latin Music, Latinos and Race

Rubén Blades & the Latin-jazz Mix: Never Gets Old

“I’ve known many jazz standards since I was 14,” said Rubén Blades to the well-heeled crowd at the Jazz at Lincoln Center venue Rose Hall. Spontaneously he launched into a histrionic imitation of Sinatra singing “Summer Wind,” then a nasal send-up of Sammy Davis, Jr. “I used to just stand on the streets in Panama […]

Urban/Global Politics

Fort Apache: Blue Notes Let the Clave Ring

There were plenty of blue notes played at the now annual Fort Apache Band reunion last night, but Jerry Gonzalez wasn’t worried. Anchored by his brother Andy, who hovered over the bass as if he were guarding the entrance to heaven, Jerry calmly switched from a set of congas to flugel horn, penetrating the Monk-Rican […]