First up:  Septeto Santiaguero, winner of the Cubadisco 2013 award for Traditional Tropical Music, has posted this video of Que le den candela on their official Youtube channel:

     

Next,  Buika, whose new release La noche más larga was just reviewed here, has the following US Tour dates with Iván Melón Lewis on piano and  Ramon Porrina on percussion:

Wed, June 12, 2013:   Howard Theatre, DC 
Thurs, June 13, 2013:   The Town Hall, NYC
(part of the Blue Note Jazz Festival)
Sat, June 15, 2013:  Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL (for a WYCC/PBS TV recording to be broadcast as part of the Musicology series). 

Finally, some items of interest to the Midwestern United States:

The Chuchito Valdés Trio is at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago from Thursday May 30-Sunday, June 2, 2013.   Chuchito is the son of Chucho, grandson of Bebo, and a killer pianist in his own right. Guaranteed not to leave you bored. 

Havana d'Primera is coming to Club Azucar in Louisville, KY on June 9.  At this writing, it appears that there may also be an opening set by the Kentucky Salsa All Stars, an emerging local favorite that includes some young Cuban Americans. 

Pablo Menéndez and the Mezcla Jazz All Stars are coming to the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago on Saturday, June 29, 2013.   One of their former vocalists, Angel d'Cuba, who now lives in Chicago and fronts his own group there, is scheduled to join the group for the performance. 

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Actually, this freshly posted, nicely filmed YouTube is from Paris, but this is the lineup that's currently in the US Touring. Next posted show is at Los Globos in LA Thursday, although Sobredosis (the coach company) has posted something about Fulton and a second LA gig - let us know if you hear any details). [Kevin Moore]

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These two worked together in the wonderful El Último Trago, and now Buika and Chucho Valdés are about to separately release new CDs that are worth having:

La noche más larga, by Buika, is a delightful album that pairs her with Iván Melón Lewis and a supporting cast that includes several other notable Cuban musicians.  You can read our review in English here.

The year is young, but Border-Free, by Chucho Valdés & the Afro-Cuban Messengers, is already a contender for best new Latin Jazz release of 2013.  You can read our review in English here. 

Ellos trabajaron juntos en el maravilloso El Último Trago, y ahora, Buika and Chucho Valdés están a punto de lanzar por separado nuevos CDs que valen la pena tener: 

La noche más larga, por Buika, es un álbum delicioso en que ella trabaja con Iván Melón Lewis y un reparto que incluye a varios otros notables músicos cubanos.  Se puede leer nuestra reseña en español aquí. 

El año es joven, pero Border-Free, por Chucho Valdés & The Afro-Cuban Messengers, ya es un competidor para el mejor nuevo lanzamiento de Jazz latino de 2013.  Se puede leer nuestra reseña en español aquí.

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The dust is beginning to settle over Havana after the wave of changes sweeping over La Charanga Habanera in its twenty-fifth year: first the departure of Randy Malcom to Gente D'Zona, then the return of "Lachy Fortuna", Lázaro Maya, to La Revé and most recently and, perhaps most surprisingly, the departure of veteran charanguero Aned Mota to work on projects together with his wife, Diva Haila Mompie. But as Paulo FG might say las aguas tomaron su nivel with the return of Yulién Oviedo to the group, at least for the time being. Indeed Yulién himself sang no hay mal que por bien no venga, and the first video I've seen of the new line up shows us a move back to serious timba, the band having recently won at Cubadisco for their second foray into Latin pop called "Charanga Light 2". According to a recent interview with David Calzado on "23 y M", the new CD will be out soon and will get back to some serious timba. 

With that I leave you to ponder the world of musical chairs that is Havana's music scene, and with a sample of what is to come and a look at new singers El Dandy and El Guay; now re-named El Chapy Guay it seems. Say what you will about the hair styles but trust me, after the dance routine, you will enjoy what you hear! 

La Charanga Habanera - Partienda la tarima (estreno)

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