David Sánchez live at the Jazz Showcase - Photos by Elias Carmona
Elias Carmona captured David Sánchez's show at the Jazz Showcase last Friday, October 23, 2009.

Multiple-Grammy Award winner David Sánchez is being hailed as one of “the most profound" tenor saxophonist working today. In a review, world-renown jazz critic Howard Reich saluted the bandleader saying, “Technically, tonally and creatively, he seems to have it all. His sound is never less than plush, his pitch is unerring, his rapid-fire playing is ravishing in its combination of speed, accuracy and utter evenness of tone.” Such is the acclaim and respect that Sánchez has engendered from critics, music lovers and fellow artists throughout the world as he continues to push the frontiers of mainstream jazz to incorporate a compelling and rich array of Latin and Afro-Caribbean influences, while remaining true to the tenets of the jazz genre.

Miguel Zenón Live at The Jazz Showcase - Photos by Elías Carmona
From October 8 through October 11th Miguel Zenón had nine successful shows at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase, demonstrating once again their interest in exposing the Chicago audience to some of the most progressive jazz musicians in the world today. In the course of one month, The Jazz Showcase brought Claudia Acuña, Miguel Zenón and David Sánchez. Visit these pages to watch videos and browse through picture galleries of all three shows.

Viva Chicago Review by Elías Carmona
The Agúzate Team was there to document one of the best Viva Chicago programs in recent years with photographer Elías Carmona and videographer and co-director of Agúzate, Omar Torres-Kortright. From the performances at street level (Nuestro Tambó, OgundaMasa and Swing Brasileiro), to the headliners at Petrillo Music Shell (Angel Luis Torruellas, Manny Oquendo Tribute with the members of Libre, and Aterciopelados) this year's festival provided high quality artists and a balanced representation of Chicago's Latin community.

Novalima Live at Millennium Park and Afterparty - Photos by Elias Carmona - July 23, 2009
If you missed the concert on July 23rd and the Official After-Party, click on the link below to see the images of one of the best music events of the year with Peruvian pioneers Novalima.

Bajofondo Live at House of Blues, Chicago
Bajofondo made the first stop of their US tour in Chicago's House of Blues. If you missed the April 1st concert, here's a glimpse of what happened that night. All pictures in this slide show were taken by Agúzate Productions photographer Elías Carmona.

Be sure to visit Agúzate regularly for more news on Bajofondo, including video interviews and clips from the Chicago concert! It is rumored that they will be in Chicago again in September 09. More news to come...

Flamenco Nights at Tumbao
Alma Latina is a new music series celebrating Spanish, Latin American, and Afro-Caribbean music. Join us every 1st and 2nd Thursday of the month at Tumbao (3213 W. Armitage). Enjoy a dance class and a live performance by "El Payo", one of Chicago's premier Flamenco groups.

This music series has been canceled. Stay tuned for more news on Live Music at Tumbao. Check our Calendar of Events for the most updated information.

Bomba Nights
Tumbao's Alma Latina Series with Chicago's newest Bomba group: "Jorge Emmanuelli y sus bomberos". This music series has been canceled. Stay tuned for more news on Live Music at Tumbao. Check our Calendar of Events for the most updated information.

Photography by Elías Carmona
Elias Carmona is one of the most active photographers in Chicago's Latin community. Since his arrival from Puerto Rico in 2007, he gained the respect of his students and peers at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center and started a photography class and workshop. His work has been exhibited at The Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, The Africaribe Cultural Center, El Barrio Fest, and countless national festivals. Elías became well-known in Puerto Rico for his famous picture of "Los Hijos de Borinquen", a tribute to the classic site made famous by the young independentista movement of the 1970's and 80's in San Juan. Carmona has been documenting concerts, festivals, and cultural events for close to 20 years. In a little more than a year in our city, he has been recognized by many as an essential player in the preservation of Puerto Rico's and Paseo Boricua's cultural and artistic memory.

Elías has been a constant collaborator with Agúzate and his credits include the last two Annual Tributes to Improvisational Singers (2007 and 2008) among other projects.

Annual Tribute to the Improvisational Singer
Click on the title above to enjoy a retrospective of the best moments from the Annual Tribute to the Improvisational Singer 2004-2007. The event celebrated its 5th Anniversary last November 2008. Photos courtesy of Elías Carmona and Raymond Barrera. Visit our Agúzate TV section to watch videos of the last three annual events.

Barrio Boogalu
Click on this section to view pictures of Barrio Boogalu, the only night dedicated to Latin Soul and Classic Salsa in Chicago. The series lasted through the cold months of November through April and finally concluded in June, 2007. We hope to be back with the great people of Sonotheque for one last shot at this one. Enjoy the pics!

Sonotheque proudly presents BARROI BOOGALU, a showcase of funky soulful Latin sounds. Latin Soul germinated and circulated from roots that connected elements of New Orleans, Latin jazz and Cuban son montuno rhythms including the popular sounds of the cha-cha, merengue and descarga with Afro-American inner-city Doo Wap, soul and funk. This burst exploded on the scene in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s emerging from the barrio of working class musicians and listeners. Latin soul with its funky rhythms, engaging choral chants captured the endless party atmosphere of raucous black-based R&B.

Sonotheque DJs’ Supreme Court (Courtland Green) and Joe Bryl aka The Super Barrio Brothers go head to head against The Agúzate DJ Crew (Abner Bardeguez and Omar Torres- Kortright), each unearthing their collection of rare Latin Soul records and dusties against the other. In addition to the music, they will also be showcasing films and album artwork from artists ranging from Ray Barretto, Fania All-Stars, Joe Cuba, Eddie Palmieri, Willie Colon, Mongo Santamaria, Machito, Joe Bataan and many more. Each DJ specializes in Classic Salsa, Latin Jazz, Latin Soul, and Latin Funk, so Barrio Boogalu should be one big Nuyorrican Latin Soul throw-down!

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