When Doris Pacheco arrived in the Comox Valley three years ago, she missed her family in Nicaragua most. But close behind that, she missed the festive culture of Latin America.
"So much has changed since I first came,” she says. “I still miss my family, but now we are getting live Latin music here more and more. I never thought I would be dancing salsa, cumbia, merengue, and cha-cha-cha here. Zandhunga is an excellent band. They play the music I have loved since I was a child.”
One of those Zandhunga full-on Latin music experience is coming this Friday, April 13 at La Cabaña de Marcos Mexican Restaurant, a fully licensed locale that is resurfacing as one of Vancouver Island's top spots to hear live Latin music.
A month or so ago, the family-owned local business began presenting live acoustic Latin dinner music Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 6-8 p.m. An excellent response from the community, as well the onset of warmer weather, prompted Cabaña owner David Miranda to host a Latin Dance Party last month, featuring Zandhunga. That show was sold out by early in the evening.
‘Z’, as Zandhunga has become affectionately known, is a multi-national orchestra currently based in the Comox Valley, led by Mexican-born multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Oscar Robles Diaz.
The band also features Kelly Thomas on piano, Britt de la Isla on bass, Jake Masri on trumpet, Fred Sherbourne and Consuelo Dempsey Ortiz on percussion, with Rosa Nuñez Delgado and Milena Restan doing backing vocals.
“I grew up in the Comox Valley and I’ve travelled all over Latin America,” says Ewee Hall. “These guys are the real deal. The sound is just like I heard in the zocalos (town squares) all over the region. I love it.”
He’s clearly not the only one. The dance floor was full of happy bodies the entire evening at that last ‘Z’ show; the applause was hearty and faces were beaming.
“I love that it’s a venue where parents can bring their children, showing them what good fun is all about,” says de la Isla. “At our last show there, I watched parents dancing with each other and with children. Creating such happy experiences is very important to us because in Latin America whole families celebrate together.”
‘Z’ has added new tunes to their ever-expanding repertoire, including a couple of well-known covers of songs made famous by the queen of salsa, Celia Cruz, said Robles.
With chef Serafin Antuñez in the kitchen, La Cabaña de Marcos is certainly not a restaurant lacking in flavour. His dishes are elaborate and authentic, far from the commercial and Americanized offerings of franchise Mexican food outlets.
As demonstrated by the last ‘Z’ event, only a reservation guarantees a seat at a Zandhunga night at La Cabaña. The restaurant highly recommends guests secure a seat by coming for dinner.
That said, if you plan to salsa, cumbia or cha-cha-cha the night away anyway and are not too worried about holding down a table, the restaurant welcomes guests even after they are filled to the point of standing (or dancing) room only.
Cover is $10 (cash only) at the door, while the restaurant accepts debit and most credit cards. There is no advance ticketing. Music starts at 9 p.m.
For more information about Zandhunga, visit www.zandhunga.com and for information about La Cabaña de Marcos Mexican Restaurant, visit www.lacabanademarcos.com. Reservations can be made by calling La Cabaña at 250-703-2639.