VIVA FIFTH AVENUE “200 FIFTH AVENUE: Gerbrush is old school all the way. Originally from Bensonhurst, he wound up on the lower side of Park Slope, fell in love and opened a restaurant. After several years of struggle, 200 Fifth Avenue began to grow with the neighborhood. In the meantime, Mark brought in a good chef and developed a great menu. The prices are reasonable and the vibe is soft. At the same time he developed a good bar business, which expanded in to a great sports bar space that the Grupo Latin Vibe Band was heating things up with Latin Jazz and Salsa and had the dance floor full just two songs into their first set. The joint, which is usually packed on a Saturday night, was wall to wall on this night as it was also Elaine’s (Mark’s wife’s) birthday. Also in attendance was their daughter Nicole and many friends and family. But it was the band that kept things moving and dancing. Fronting the band was beautiful singer Awilda Santiago, who grew up in the neighborhood and also played the maracas and shakers. Behind her was co-bandleader Tito Rivera on congas and vocals, Eddie Rodriguez on bongos, Victor Rendon playing timbales and Willie Cerrano on the guiro. When I squeezed my way in to watch the band, co-band leader Tom Mattioli was in the middle of an excellent vibes solo and when he finished, keyboard player Willie Rodriguez made fine use of rhythm and melody during his solo. Keeping the mass of syncopated rhythms and melody into a cohesive swing, which is an essence of Salsa, was bass player Carlos Velazquez. The band was excellent, soulful and tight. As the beer and music began to nourish my soul, I thought how only a deaf man who sees culture in terms of a one-sided battle of humanity would fail at being moved by this music, which is synonymous with New York City.
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