Jazz Cafe - 2nd Social Excursion

Today, on the 27th of February, we went on our second social excursion to the Jazz Café. Since our first excursion was so awesome (roller skating) I figured that this one would be just as good; and I was right! We went to the Jazz Café in Escazu to listen to Sonambulo, a "psicotropical" band that has a mixture of afro-latino, traditional American music, and modern music. They started at 10:30 and we left at 12:30. I had absolutely no clue what to expect except that they were supposed to be a really good band. In my dance class, our professor had been telling us that we should try to go out and see a live band sometime and enjoy the rich music culture, and what better way to do that than with an entire group of friends?

The Jazz Café was a rich-looking place with a second floor balcony and expensive food and drinks. We decided to sit on the second floor, right in the middle with a perfect view of the stage and dance floor. The food there was really good; I tried both the cheese sticks and quesadilla. I am a personal fan of the Costa Rican cheese (Tico Cheese), although it is not for everyone. As a cheese lover, this is a rich, fresh cheese that is delicious to eat plain or mixed with anything.

Finally, after a long anticipated wait, the band members took the stage. The first thing I noticed? They were loud. This, as I have learned, is a part of the music atmosphere. I don't go to many concerts, and I am not a connoisseur of music, but it seems to me that anywhere I go that there is music (live or DJ's), it will be loud. The second thing I noticed? They were really good. The music was lively with a good beat to dance to (with the dances I have learned from my dance classes) and all of the songs were in Spanish.

Sonambulo on Stage

 

The crowd was really getting into the music and dancing to it, more like a "stand in place" dance rather than the Latin dances that I learned, mostly because there was not enough room because this band drew such a huge crowd! Up in the balcony, we had plenty of room to move around, so a few of us began dancing Salsa to their songs. I couldn't tell which of their songs were Salsa, Bachata, or Merengue, but I danced to a few of them using whichever dance seemed appropriate. The crowd below us was singing along to the music, and if my Spanish were any better, I would have gladly joined them.

Sonambulo on Stage. Notice the man in the wheel chair on the bottom right of the stage?

 

In the middle of this show, they did something a little different. A man in a wheel chair was helped up onto the stage, out of the wheel chair into a chair near the front, was given an accordion, microphone for his accordion and for his voice, and he also held a trumpet. Then, when he was all set up, the music stopped and one of the band members began explaining to the crowd that this man had been playing in the street for over 12 years and they had been friends for at least 12 (they met while he was playing on the street). He still plays his accordion and trumpet downtown, but today, he got to play onstage with the band. [Excitedly, I understood most of what this band member was saying!] So, for a few songs, we were enchanted by this man's singing, accordion, and trumpet (he switched from one to another within the same song). I was impressed.

Here he is playing. So talented!

Finally, it was time to head home. I will admit, 12:30 was a bit late for me. With our 8am classes, I was ready for bed when we got home, but I wouldn't have missed this day for the world. What a cultural experience to listen to a Costa Rican band in one of their nice Jazz Café's!