photo by Peter Maiden

UPDATE: Manolín & Cofiño are also in Los Angeles tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 9th at the Florentine Gardens.

You may not have heard of Jiovanni Cofiño, but you've heard his music. As the musical director of Elito Revé y su Charangón, he penned such classic arrangements as Dale agua al dominó, 1999 and Se sigue comentando (Uyuyui). He's also a brilliant and thoughtful bassist who's been a huge help to me and other writers on timba such as Orlando Fiol. Cofiño has been in Las Vegas for about 7 years or so where he's put together a very tight and steady working band. From a timba fan's perspective, this means that Manolín has been working with a cohesive, well-rehearsed band led by one of Cuba's best arrangers. One can fantasize about major creative sparks flying, but if nothing else it'll be a chance to hear El Médico finally doing some new timba such as the tracks he introduced last year as SF SalsaRueda. 

The doors open at 7:00, Sunday night at Café Cócomo in SF, with DJ Walt Digz opening and dance lessons provided.

Speaking of SF SalsaRueda, that's coming the following weekend and features the usual staggering selection of bands, instructors, performers and lecturers, including my favorite writer, Ned Sublette.

And speaking of lectures, there's a very exciting free one from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., also Sunday, by Umi Vaughan at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) at 685 Mission St. in SF. Vaughan wrote an excellent book on batá legend Carlos Aldama and has now released his second major treatise on timba: Rebel Dance, Renegade Stance.  The lecture also features music by the ubiquitous DJ Walt Digz and should be a perfect hors d'oevre for el Médico & Cofiño later that night. See you there! [Kevin Moore]

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Tonight I will be enjoying a show as only David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera can put on. David and the boys have been on tour in Europe for a couple of weeks now and some beautiful photos have been coming out of the tour. There are still 14 concerts left so check the Charanga Habanera Tours Page to find a concert near you! Tonight's concert is a joint production by Latin Entertainment & Salsa con Clase and will be held at the big hall at Karolinska Insitutet; perfect timing for an injection of Caribbean heat here in the cold, snowy north. David has invited fans to send any pics they take to the band and they will upload them to their Facebook page . Stay tuned for a report y prepárense para la charanga!

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As a bassist, Yunior Terry has played with just about everyone and is also well-known as a member of the musical family that produced saxophonist Yosvany Terry and the legendary Maravilla de Florida violinist, composer and chékere player Don Pancho Terry, but it turns out that Yunior is also a great composer and lyricist. Tom has the full story on the new album - click here.

Also: Bay Areans - get ready for Manolín - Sunday at Café Cócomo - with a backup band led by Jiovanni Cofiño, the great Revé bassist who wrote the arrangements for 1999, Se sigue comentano, Dale agua al dominó and others. Earlier Sunday afternoon, at 3:00, at MoAD, you can hear a free timba lecture by Umi Vaughan, author of Carlos Aldama's Life in Batá and Rebel Dance, Renegade Stance: Timba Music and Black Identity in Cuba.

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Israel Rojas, photo courtesy of Buena Fe (Página Oficial) & Gabriel Davalos

We continue DIAL WEEK with a special celebration: today Israel Rojas, director and lead vocalist of Buena Fe, celebrates his 40th birthday! It has been a hectic week for Buena Fe and their team, between all the preparations for the three shows at Karl Marx, the press conference on Monday, picking up the visas for Miami, and the long-awaited presentation of the new CD "DIAL" starting tomorrow. Let's hope that Israel is able to take a little break today to just relax and celebrate with family and friends.

As a fan I want to thank you, guajiro guantanamero, just for being yourself; an intelligent, funny, easygoing, straightforward, openhearted and sincere man, who spreads a little light in people's lives. You have a rare gift for communicating ideas and emotions and reaching people's hearts. In a time when sarcasm and irony are in style, through your lyrics and by your example, you make people care about things again. May you and those you love always enjoy good health, happiness and music. Happy Birthday Israel!

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