The Passion of the Salsa

Sunday is my habitual public jam session in Dupont Circle. The music falls into a netherworld of salsa/merengue, jazz and classis rock improvisation. The Puerto Rican guys I play with are vets of their created scene, a spinoff from the larger jams their extended families play up in New York. There is an element of tall tales and wasted years and loco behavior.

This is somewhat emulated via Hollywood in the film El Canante. Sides are weighing in on the exploitative nature of the film, stressing the pitfalls of Laboe's drug use, Puchi's part in the matter and the obstacles of the business. I haven't seen the film yet, but I'm sure it is entertaining, both in the musical parts, and the wallowing in one's own crapulence part. Apparently Antony hasn't the range to make the character likeable for his maverick nature and social courage. Only thing the director demands is to sing hot then look wasted, which is within the realms of any halfway decent singer.