YVCC Salsa Band's 'Clavecide!' CD highlights Latin music fest

by Kim Nowacki
ON Magazine

Email_black_18  E-mail           Print_black_18  Print           
Advertisement

At the beginning of the school year in September, Yakima Valley Community College jazz instructor David Blink promised his Latin jazz students the opportunity to record a CD if they came up with an entire set of original tunes.

They did, and this week "Clavecide!," the YVCC Salsa Band's first CD, was released as part of the second annual YVCC Latin Music Celebration.

Throughout the week, the Salsa Band, along with guest musicians Memo Acevedo, Allan Molnar and Jim Seeley -- all pros from New York -- have presented performance clinics for students from across the Valley, a teacher in-service and master classes.

The celebration wraps up Saturday at The Seasons, 101 N. Naches Ave. From 6:30-7:30 p.m., Trent Ball, YVCC's viticulture and oenology instructor, will host a wine tasting featuring wines from Zillah's Wineglass Cellars and vintners in YVCC's Vineyard & Winery Technology program. Cost is $10 and includes a commemorative YVCC Latin Music Celebration wine glass.

Also during that time, Rhonda Laughery will teach salsa dancing.

Then at 7:30 p.m., the YVCC Salsa Band, the visiting New York musicians and special guest saxophonist Lenny Price will let you put those salsa steps to use. (The salsa lesson is free with a concert ticket.)

Tickets for the concert cost $15 through The Seasons box office, 453-1888, www.seasonsmusicfestival.com.

For more information about "Clavecide!" and the YVCC Latin Music Celebration, call Blink at 574-4835.

-- Kim Nowacki