
Things That Matter to...Luiz Morais
Composer, arranger and 7-string guitarist Luiz Morais was born in Fortaleza, Brazil. Based in London since 201, the 32 year-old Brazilian is a unique voice in contemporary Jazz guitar and a virtuoso performer. Graduated in…
Without Stillness There Is No Dance.
Gilles Brinas believes profoundly in the universality of dance and the Arts and feels that Stillness and Silence are vital ingredients of drama. So,he developed ‘Che Malambo’, which is indeed a dramatic show, based on the ‘…
Phil Manzanera: Songs That Made Me
After being the lead guitarist with Roxy Music, one of the most iconic British Prog-Rock bands of the 1970s and 80s, led by Brian Ferry and including Brian Eno, Phil Manzanera went on to produce albums for Pink Floyd, David…
"Don’t Even Try": Breaking Shakespeare’s Glass Ceiling
"I loved Shakespeare, but almost every fellow actor, manager and director told me: ‘don’t even try.’” Mexican-born Jimena Larraguivel didn’t want to be in telenovelas. She wanted to be on stage. But with her strong accent…
Learn Something New in Buenos Aires
From soccer skills in the footsteps of Messi and Maradona, riding out with the polo ponies and tangoing with the old school pros, for visitors to Buenos Aires can delve beyond the usual tourist trails and upskill on a series of…
Things That Matter to...La Mala Rodriguez
La Mala Rodriguez is one of the most successful Hispanic artists today. When Rosalia was still in her nappies, Mala was recording with some of the world's most commercial Latino artists as the only Spanish rapper to gain…
We Love Charlie Palmieri (1927-1988)
Pianist, organist, composer, arranger, bandleader and educator, Charlie Palmieri, Eddie’s older brother was one of the fundamental players in the development of Latin music in NY. His virtuosity and love for his art drove Charlie…
Surrogate Latino #3 Kishon Khan - bandleader
For years, Kishon Khan’s Lokkhi Terra has been blending the musical traditions that surround the band members; from Sufi Samba to Baul Blues to Bengali Folk-Son to Bangla Roots Reggae to London Descargas. Their 6th album ‘…
Gluten Free Alfajores
Alfajores are an Argentinian institution and an “accidentally Gluten-Free” offering from the land of absurdly attractive polo players. Made from cornflour these little morsels are two biscuits (aka cookies) sandwiched together,…
Top Ten Artists of Canción Social
Some of the most beautiful melodies and inspiring music ever to come out of Latin America were part of the Canción Social movement of the 1970s and 1980s. As democratic and revolutionary movements were being ruthlessly crushed,…
Birdsong in Quechua
Considered one of the most important indigenous singers to emerge out of South America over the last 50 years, through her 25 albums Luzmila Carpio has inspired millions while singing in both her native Aymara-Quechua language…
Pain & Glory Dir. Pedro Almodóvar
Along with Law of Desire and Bad Education, Pain and Glory represents the third and final instalment of an unplanned trilogy which has taken thirty-two years to complete. The three films all focus on male film directors as…
Tierra Peru
A thoughtful menu and a obvious passion for bringing the best of Peru to London that will delight both Peruvophiles and Islington Residents
Top 10 Central American Pop and Rock and Bands
Have you ever heard of the phrase by famous Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío, "Si la patria es pequeña, uno grande la sueña." This describes the beauty and the talent of the Central America region. A region that may be small…
Roberto Roena Tunes That Rock the Dance Floor
What can we say about Roberto Roena and his Apollo Sound? Well, he went from dancer to Bongocero to bandleader and mastered all three tasks, becoming one of the most recognised salsa musicians ever. Apart from being the leading…
The Most Dangerous Man on Earth
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is a double danger to the world, says Jan Rocha. The president's policies on Coronavirus and the Amazon endanger the whole world
100 Wardour Street
Former Floridita saves the dinner dining experience for Latin Wednesdays
Latin Londoners #42: REYKO, Electronic Music Duo
The London based electronic music outfit REYKO is made up of Soleil and Igor, both from Spain. The duo first began capturing attention with several viral songs surpassing overall 40 million streams, and breaking through to…
Luciana Berry's Picanha Assada
Are you ready for barbecue days? We are! (despite the freezing this spring). This video recipe is from Brazilian Chef Luciana Berry is a delicious tweak to cook up Brazilian’s favourite beef cut. Luciana Berry is a Le Cordon…
Lucuma smoothie
Lúcuma is an amazing Superfood from Peru, it’s full of potassium with bright yellow coloured flesh and tastes a bit like maple syrup! So much so that it’s often used as a natural sweetener… Lúcuma has a very low Glycemic index,…
Inside Rome’s Operation Condor Trial: An Interview with Dr Francesca Lessa
On 8 July 2021 in Rome, Italy’s Supreme Court charged 14 former officials and military personnel with the murder of Italian citizens in South America during Operation Condor. Oxford academic, Dr Francesca Lessa, and MPhil student…
Top 10 New Alternative Albums
Recent years have surprised us with many new and old faces releasing albums in the Latino alternative genre. Modern alternative Latino artists have been on the rise, and every year we have new stars that surprise the charts as we…
Colombian Cumbia Tracks
New York's DJ Bongohead, pioneering graphic designer, artist, DJ, writer and percussionist, has compiled collections for labels like World Music Network, Nascente, Fania, and Vapisoul. He has designed album covers and…
Brazil's prison massacres - a bloody start to the year
A flurry of brutal deaths in Brazil's overcrowded prisons has shocked the country.
LATIN LONDONER # 13 Eddy Vents - Kizomba teacher
Eddy Vents has been surrounded by Lusophone music from the early childhood. His undoubted passion for kizomba and exceptional teaching skills has made him a winner of the award for Kizomba Teacher of the Year in 2014. This is his…
German Cornejo's Fantasy Island Tracks
If you were stranded on a desert island, which tracks would you absolutely need to get you through those times of despair? Our castaway, German Cornejo, choreographer and lead dancer of the smash hit dance show Tango Fire, is…
Un Crimen Comun (2020) Dir. Francisco Márquez
This atmospheric film by weaves together the spectre of The Disappeared of the past in Argentina with the all-too-frequent police murders of contemporary news stories.
ON YOUR FEET
The story of how a child fled from Cuba to Miami to become a global superstar needs spicing up, but the rhythm is gonna get you, says Elizabeth Mistry
The Latino Behind the Legend: Phil Manzanera
Before being presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to British Music by PInk Floyd's David Gilmour at this year's the LUKAS Gala, few people knew much about this London born Latino. We invite…
Gaucho, Smithfield
The chandeliers give the cowhides a definite impression of city opulence than Gaucho's den, but the authentic tastes of the Pampa (and more) are unmistakable and comforting.
Things That Matter to...Amaro Freitas
From the slums of Recife in Brazil's North-East to international jazz icon, Amaro Freitas has earned the music world's attention for "an approach to the keyboard so unique that it's startling" (Downbeat…
LATIN FLAVA – The bloom and burst of London’s Latin and Hispanic cuisine
From Peruvian and Mexican haute cuisine to Colombian and Venezuelan street food, via the meaty Argentine parillas and Brazilian rodizios, London is the latest city to be hit by the global craze in Latin cuisine. Spanish TV Star…
5 Reasons to Love....Jose Feliciano
With a career spanning over fifty years, Jose Feliciano is one of the biggest names in music. His hits such as Feliz Navidad, still one of the most played Christmas songs ever, and Light My Fire made the Puerto Rican a global…
Ay, Carmela! Shines Again.
The excellent English and Spanish productions of José Sanchis Sinisterra’s comedy ‘Ay, Carmela!’ have just completed their runs. Latino Life’s Corina Poore comments on the productions and meets up with the director Paula Paz at…