Where’s the Salsa? At Caribe, but Hurry; Quantity Is Limited

Now that Latin music has pretty much become part of the American mainstream, you would imagine that the Valley would be filled with little salsa clubs, the kind of smoky dives where the brass section barely fits on the stage, right?

Wrong.

Although the annual salsa festival at the Hollywood Bowl routinely sells out, and salsa superstars such as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz and newcomer Marc Anthony are more recognized than ever by the American public, the absence of a place in the Valley to enjoy a night of steamy Afro-Caribbean beats is noticeable.

And whereas lovers of Latin jazz, the most cerebral, technically challenging area of Afro-Cuban music, are lushly taken care of by regular concerts at Studio City’s La Ve Lee and North Hollywood’s Baked Potato, the more earthly grooves of salsa scare away most club owners in the Valley.

Until recently, the best-known salsa concert promoter in town, Neoyorican Albert Torres, hosted luxurious nights of live music and relentless dancing at the glitzy Empire Ballroom of Studio City’s Sportsmen’s Lodge. But what used to be a regular hangout for the salsa crowd has now become a once-in-a-while affair.

“There’s a stigma among club owners,” says Torres, also a stunning dancer and choreographer. “They think dancers don’t drink, and therefore don’t spend any money at the bar. That’s why lots of places in the Valley don’t commit to having us on a weekly basis.”

Club owners who rely on the crowd’s alcohol consumption to get their money back have a point. For anyone who has at least tried to master the difficult, syncopated steps of traditional salsa dancing, it is easy to understand why somebody who enjoys the dance and wants to maintain balance and control avoids the bar like the plague.

“That’s why we’ve focused on the west side of town,” explains Torres. “I’m always open to talking to club owners in the Valley, but the bands I represent need a place that will take the bad nights as well as the good nights.”

Some would say that there isn’t really a need for live bands. After all, most dance clubs function by providing a good atmosphere in which to party, and a great DJ who will spin the right records.

But salsa is an altogether different animal. When you are on the dance floor dancing a rumba tune, an orchestra is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. The feeling of moving to the explosive burst of live brass and the percolating beat of a rhythm section (timbale, congas, bongos and cowbell) creates a feeling of ecstasy that words cannot describe. And when a good orchestra is at work, the trembling of a live bass guides you like no canned music ever will.

But things could change for the better. Well . . . sort of. Temporary relief for the salsa addicts in the Valley is on its way, and its musical messenger is a superstar who has shared the stage with Tito Puente, Ruben Blades and many others.

Venezuelan timbale player and bandleader Rudy Regalado will be appearing this Sunday at the Caribe salsa club in Van Nuys. This inspired, extroverted performer with his trademark winning smile has an excellent track record in the worlds of both salsa and Latin jazz, having released two albums, one in Japan and another in the domestic market.

Like many other bands of its kind, Regalado’s Chevere is familiar with many classics from the golden era of Afro-Cuban music, such as “Son de la Loma,” “La Negra Tomasa” and “Melao de Cana.” But whereas most groups attempt to duplicate the best-known recordings of such tunes, Regalado likes to reinterpret the songs, fitting them to his refined musical sensibility.

Other timbaleros attack their instruments as if their lives depended on the speed of their solos. Regalado’s relationship with the timbales brings to mind the dialogue of a loving couple who have known each other a long time but act as if they just met.

Unlike most local salsa musicians who have yet to quit their day jobs, Regalado makes a living only through his craft.

“I teach timbale lessons and do sessions for soundtrack recordings. But nothing compares to the exhilarating feeling of making the fans dance,” he says, explaining why Chevere is still going strong after 15 years in the business. “When I go up there on stage and play for my people, I’m not on Earth anymore.”

He pauses to laugh, and then adds, “I’m on heaven.”

* Rudy Regalado will appear Sunday at the Caribe, 14540 Vanowen St., Van Nuys. Information: (818) 908 8826, (818) 781-6544.