Another breakthrough for all timba pianists and bassists! The VIDEO portions of Beyond Salsa Piano and Beyond Salsa Bass (both for Volume 6) have been released. Beyond Salsa Piano 6-9 focuses on Iván "Melón" Lewis -a central player in one of the most important bands of the entire timba era, the Issac Delgado Group of 1995-1998. Beyond Salsa Piano is an instructional (eBook + audio + video), play-along history and anthology of the role of the piano in the Cuban rhythm section –from its first appearance to the present. Melón's 48 video clips were filmed with two cameras, one from the side and one overhead. For every tumbao, we provide three separate videos: a widescreen version of each camera angle and a split screen version combining the two.

Click on the image above to check out the video and for more details on the Alain video clips.....

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UPDATE (a quick note from Issac Delgado): "Conocí a Alain Pérez cuando estudiaba guitarra en la Escuela Nacional de Arte en la Habana, Cuba, con sus prodigiosas manos con uñas largas para ejecutar... Me siento parte responsable y complice en su transición de la guitarra al bajo, el ha sido un aglutinador e inspiración para los músicos a su alrededor, su condición de arreglista, compositor y su talento lo han llevado a una condición natural de ser respetado y admirado como un “musico total”. He seguido y compartido su carrera como bajista, para mi es el más “ritmático” de los que he conocido. El bajo como instrumento en la música afro-cubana ha sido siempre “la columna vertebral” de una agrupación. Alain es capaz de sostener esa responsabilidad, sin embargo su capacidad rítmica le permite hacer figuraciones sincopadas en los lugares mas insólitos e inesperados de una obra musical, sin perder el sabor, la cadencia y sentido de la misma que imprime el bajo a nuestra música. Su paso por el flamenco ha madurado su forma y estilo musical, para mi modesta opinión: actualmente es “El Bajista Timbero” de Cuba, como referencia internacional." -- Issac Delgado

Finally ! The first book of the Beyond Salsa Bass series has been released. Volume 6 of Beyond Salsa Bass begins our 4-volume study of the style of Alain Pérez, one of the most talented bassists, composers and arrangers of modern Cuban music. The bass series follows the piano series exactly, covering the same songs, now from the perspective of the bassist.  hardcopy 

Both the notes and the percussive sounds that he uses to create his funky style. Each musical example is provided in 16th note notation, 8th note notion and bass tablature. There are corresponding audio and video products for each volume.

Click here for the full story and details....   

Havana Live Music Listings are up - Click here to see the live music schedule for Havana.

Sierra Maestra upcoming US shows - This classic son band has shows coming up in ...... click here for the full story and details

Eddie Palmieri 75th Birthday celebration show is taking place at ....  click here for the full story and details

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Today is International Women's Day, so here's a shout out to all of the women in the music, past and present, especially Orquesta Anacaona, Cuba's all-female band that is still going strong after 80 years with a new generation of performers:

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photo by Tom Ehrlich (full gallery here)

Charanga Habanera returns to Yoshi's SF on April 9th & 10th. More dates will be added here. It's not listed on the Yoshi's SF calendar as of this post, but has been confirmed. Come back later and click the link to reserve tickets. This is the third CH tour in the last year and a half. Things are looking up!

Meanwhile: The return of legendary timbalero Orestes Vilató to the John Santos Sextet continues at Yoshi's Oakland tonight after generating universal rave reviews Friday. He's Calixto Oviedo's favorite timbalero - that says a lot - but you simply have to see this guy in person. He plays the pailas like a Stradavarius - with indescribable finesse and swing. [Kevin Moore]

                                           photo by Tom Ehrlich (full gallery here)

Books and Videos Coming Wednesday:

Alain Pérez audio, eBook and hard-copy book for Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 6

Melón Lewis video for Beyond Salsa Piano, Vol. 6

Alain Pérez video Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 6

Timba in Chicago and the Midwest - check out Bill's slick new calendar.

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