Tuesday Oct. 8 will serve as an important date for Cuban music enthusiasts in the New York metro-area, as The Pedrito Martinez Group will be holding a special concert celebrating the release of their much anticipated studio album. Cuban percussion laureate Pedrito Martínez and his distinguished quartet have established themselves as one of the most eminent NY ensembles regardless of style or category. In recent years the group has enjoyed an abundance of live performance opportunities few US-based groups in their genre encounter. Their impressive itinerary includes numerous concert dates across the continental United States and Europe, coupled with the band’s long-standing tenure at Guantanamera Restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen. This wealth of stage time has enabled the group to evolve and mature into one of the tightest and indeed most exciting ensembles in their idiom, resulting in raving accolades from critics and musicians alike.

The Pedrito Martínez Group consists of bassist Alvaro Benavides, percussionist Jhair Sala, pianist Ariacne Trujillo and of course Mr. Martínez himself. Along with their impressive instrumental prowess, all four musicians share vocal duties in both live and studio contexts, producing a group sound that belies their small size as an ensemble. The quartet’s self-titled studio debut is not only an apogee to the countless hours these great musicians have shared on the bandstand, but also serves to exhibit a different side of the group by featuring an impressive guest roster that includes Steve Gadd, John Scofield and Wynton Marsalis.

The show will be held at City Winery located at 155 Varick Street between Vandam and Spring. The music will begin at 8pm, with doors opening at 6pm. Further information on purchasing CDs and tickets is available from the group’s website.

Of course for those who cannot make this event, there is always the option to check out this excellent band every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday starting 8:30pm at Guantanamera Restaurant located at 939 8^th Avenue between 55^th and 56^th. Reservations can be made via http://www.opentable.com/guantanamera.

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  Stockholmers dancing to "Con fuerza" in front of the Royal Palace

It took me a while but I have finally published the concert report from Calle Real @ The Royal Palace in Stockholm. As you can see from the photo, although it was cold and rainy, people turned out to dance to Sweden's internationally acclaimed timba band. Calle Real is back at work busily writing new material after a hiatus. The concert report includes five videos from the concert - two estrenos to give you an idea of what is coming. I think you're going to like it! Click here to read the concert review.

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UPDATE! The tour organizers have changed the schedule and the first concert will now be the October 11th date at Melones. Click here for the correct set of concert dates.

from the 2010 tour - photo by Tom Ehrlich

Elito Revé y su Charangón finally return to the US this week. They play Melones in Hialeah, Friday the 11th.

Next is San Francisco, Café Cócomo, on Saturday the 12th, then Santa Cruz's Moe's Alley on Tuesday the 15th, back to SF and Café Cocomo the 16th, then on to New Jersey on the 18th.

Stay tuned for more info and make sure you catch this incredible group. There have been a few changes since the 2010 tour, with Lachy "El Bello" Fortuna returning on lead vocals and a new pianist.

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continue reading La Última

Sometimes technology does make marvels. So this Timba.com reader from Hungary starts sending me some MP3s -- sequences of music he is working on for his band -- because he is looking for a timba singer. Questions, emails, Skype messages...but I never got around to listening to the music. Finally it's 2am one morning and I'm coding and I put it on. Cuerpo, mambo, bloques, BOMBA....man...it's all there! Who is this guy? Turns out it's a project called Barrio Latino. And they really are from Hungary.

Formed in 2005 by trumpeter and composer Tamás Bodzsár and a group of young jazz musicians, BARRIO LATINO is the first Timba orchestra in Hungary.  A full album is in the works with Italy-based singer and cubano Leo Wilber. Thanks to the internet, I was glad to collaborate with Tamás, playing bass and mastering this new single.

Free MP3 download here = http://music.barriolatino.hu -- full track credits here

With this first single from the upcoming album -- entitled "Con Clave Y Tambó" -- we give you the initial sample of the new sound of Barrio Latino, a track that counts with the participation of singer and "charanguero mayor" Danny Lozada. We sincerely hope you enjoy it and share it with your friends. 

Also on RADIO TIMBA, you will find a very diverse mix of Cuban music, with nods to our blogger Mayito Rivera, Calle Real, Paulo FG, Robert Armas y Los Conquistadores de la Salsa, Los Ángeles de la Habana, Tirso Duarte, La LIga Habanarea, Pupy y los que Son Son, Beny Moré, Conjunto Casino, Clave y Guaguancó, Andrés Fernández y Grupo Contrabando and the Pacific Mambo Orchestra.

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