Whoa, Nelly! I'm still reeling from the biggest, boldest surprise of the Latin Grammy Awards: Juan Gabriel's exuberant, over-the-top, darn near scary performance that went on for over half an hour and saved the show from being totally ho-hum.

Laura Pausini opened the show with the help of performers from Cirque du Soleil. Pepe Aguilar sang (on key for a change) with dancers dressed in 'Dia de Los Muertos' costumes. Luis Fonsi did a credible job with his big hit "Me Voy de Vencido." Wisin y Yandel serenaded the audience with pole dancers whose acrobatics gave Cirque a run for their money. Calle 13 performed "La Perla" with Ruben Blades. Oscar D'Leon and Gilberto Santa Rosa did a nice salsa duet while Alicia Keyes joined Alejandro Sanz in "Looking for Paradise," which will appear on his upcoming album Paraiso Express.  All of it was pleasant, but none of it seemed particularily inspired.

The awards show was hosted by by actor/comedian Eugenio Derbez and actress/singer Lucero. There was a unexpected bit of business as the awards were held by extravagantly costumed figures that were fun to watch but that represented -- well, beats me. There were no big surprises and top honors went to Calle 13 with five wins.

And all the while, this year's Latin Recording Academy's 'Person of the Year' sat in the audience wearing a big smile, blue eye shadow and an outfit that looked like he was channeling Liberace. Gabriel had a rough start on his entry to Las Vegas; he was ordered to appear in court on Nov. 2, 2009 for a breach of contract suit resulting in his failure to appear at a concert in 2005, although he was acquitted of the charges.

So when Gabriel took the stage 2 hours and 45 minutes into the program, I was hoping he'd make it short.  And then I sat glued to the TV for the next 30+ minutes as Gabriel sang his heart out. He wasn't in great voice, he was grotesque at times, he spilled two drinks all over himself and the stage, he stood so near the edge I thought he might fall off as he did in 2005.

But there is no doubt that the man has written some great songs and as he sang some of them to an audience that sang back, the show finally came alive. Juan Gabriel had the stage and he was going to make the most of that global spotlight.

Weird as it was, it was great to see someone who put some life and passion into his music.

* Photo courtesy Getty Images

The current set of new releases include some interesting ones including an unexpected collaboration between Los Lobos' David Hidalgo, Taj Mahal and Los Cenzontles. Gilberto Santa Rosa is back with a compilation Christmas album (is it almost that time?) while Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Joseph Fonseca and Rata Blanca drop new albums for your consideration.

I used the word 'consideration' purposefully. Even though the Latin Grammy Awards air tomorrow, all new albums after June 30,  2009 will be up for consideration for a Latin Grammy in 2010, the first one to grace a new decade.

* Album cover courtesy Pricegrabber

There's so much good music coming out of Colombia. Listening to Fonseca or Carlos Vives, sometimes even Shakira, you catch a whiff of the jungle or the mountains in the sound of the Andean flute called the gaita or in the use of drums that sound just a little bit different. It always leaves me wishing I could hear more.

With La Bodega, you get a lot more. Toto La Momposina is a woman on a mission and that mission is to bring the music of the Colombian coast to a larger audience. That coast is where Andean Indian and Afro-Caribbean rhythms meet and celebrate together.

It makes me glad I'm part of that larger audience.

* Album cover courtes Artes

November is the biggest month for Latin music fans as this week brings us the Latin Grammy Awards this Thursday (Univision, 8 pm). If you happen to be in Las Vegas, there's still the possibility of getting tickets so that you can see the show live.

For other types of live entertainment, I've selected 15 concerts that look like they would make for a wonderful evening's entertainment this month. What better way to spend an evening than listening to your favorites serenade you live?

Bebel Gilberto hit the stage early; she was nine years old when she stepped onto the stage at Carnegie Hall to perform with her mother Miucha and Stan Getz.

In support of her newest studio album Momento, Gilberto will step back onto the stage to wow audiences with her rhythmic, seductive Brazilian tunes, many of which she's written herself.

You can search for tickets at Ticketmaster; here's her current tour schedule.

• Nov. 18: Miami Beach, FL - Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater
• Nov.  20: Atlanta, GA - The Loft At Center Stage
• Nov. 23: Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
• Nov. 25: New York, NY - Hiro Ballroom @Maritime Hotel
• Nov. 27: Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
• Nov. 28: Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theatre
• Dec. 2 - Chicago, IL - Park West
• Dec. 3 - Minneapolis, MN - Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
• Dec. 5: Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
• Dec. 8: Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern
• Dec. 9: Los Angeles, CA - Music Box @Fonda
• Dec. 10: San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 Club
• Dec. 12: Portland, OR - Holocene
• Dec. 13: Seattle, WA - Showbox At The Market

* Photo courtesy Getty Images

Fall 2009 offers good news to Ozomatli fans; the Los Angeles-based collective is scheduled to hit the stage in 12 different U.S. cities in their Off The Grid Concert Tour. There are a number of promotions attached to their concert schedule; you can find details on Ozomatli's website.

In September, Ozomatli performed at President Obama's Congressional Hispanic Caucus Gala so you'll be in good company if you can snag tickets to see this dynamic group in person. Unfortunately, they haven't had a new album out since 2007's Don't Mess With The Dragon. Dare we hope for some new music soon?

You can go to Ticketmaster to check for concert seat availability.

Off The Grid Tour Schedule

• 11/4: Petaluma, CA - Mystic Theatre
• 11/5: Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
• 11/6, 7: Seattle, WA - Showbox
• 11/9: Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory
• 11/11: Missoula, MT - Wilma Theatre
• 11/12: Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
• 11/13: Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room
• 11/14: Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
• 11/15: Aspen, CO - Belly Up Aspen
• 11/17: Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom
• 11/18: Dallas, TX - House of Blues
• 11/19: El Paso, TX - Club Peoria
• 11/21: Flagstaff, AZ - The Orpheum Theatre
• 12/18,19: Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia
• 12/31: San Francisco, CA - "Sea of Dreams" NYE Event - Concourse Exhibition Center

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and that's most especially true when you're writing in English about songs performed in Spanish. Even better than pictures are videos.

The only problem with videos is that they tell a story and sometimes that story is not exactly what you had pictured as you listened and sang along to your favorite tunes.

So here's a lighthearted look at some of this year's song nominees and the often unusual videos that paint a different picture.

It's tough to think of a more powerful duo than Majorcan singer Buika and Cuba's iconic pianist Chucho Valdes. But when you add the rancheras and boleros made famous by Chavela Vargas, you get a poignant, modernized version of old standards made new again.

El Ultimo Trago is an homage to Vargas on the occasion of her 90th birthday. Hard living and drinking caused the legendary singer to take a 15 year break from performing so it seems fitting that the album's name means 'The Last Drink.'

For all the Chavela Vargas fans, here's a video of "El Ultimo Trago" sung by Vargas. Then you can go to the review and listen to Buika's interpretation of the same song and prove to yourself that classic songs never die, they just get restyled.

Watch "En El Ultimo Trago" sung by Chavela Vargas

* Album cover courtesy Warner Music Latina

We're quickly approaching Halloween and there seem to be no theme albums celebrating the season in the Latin music world. This is a little surprising from countries like Mexico, home of the best vampire movies on the planet and a place where  El Dia de los Muertos is celebrated for three entire days.

On the bright side, there are new releases from popular Latin artists that include Ednita Nazario, Yuridia, David Bisbal, Noel Schajris, Buika, Pedro Fernandez, Grupo Mania and more. You can think of these new albums as special treats for your personal  Halloween grab bag.

* Album cover courtesy Sony

For someone who spends as much time listening to Latin music as I do, the Putumayo albums are a secret vice, the perfect music for zoning out on a Sunday afternoon when I don't really want to think about the music I'm listening to.

There are a lot of these albums out there, many of them dealing with the colorful music of Latin America. With the latest offering, Putumayo Presents Espana, Putumayo moves eastward to Spain, a country that includes some of the most compelling music the world has to offer.

And while there are one or two gems on the album, there's no surprise that the result is another pleasant album that's perfect for -- well, perfect for zoning out on a Sunday afternoon.

* Album cover courtesy Putumayo