Finding it difficult to obtain instruments for his own use -partly because of restrictions then in place on imports of instruments (and everything else) from Cuba following the Cuban missile crisis of 1962- and unable to buy congas, bongos and similar instruments of the quality he saw other performers using, Martin Cohen began making his own. As his instruments became more popular, Martin founded his company Latin Percussion (LP), making it a world-reknown brand. Martin has been a music photographer since the 1950's and his Congahead.com webiste is the source of excellent music videos. TIMBA.com will be posting some of his favorite selections here. Thank you Martin. Click here to visit the new TIMBA.com Congahead Video page.

Los Muñequitos de Matanzas
Folkloric Cuban Music Videos - courtesy of Congahead

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Charanga Habanera will be back in the States for the third time since "the thaw". Kay has the full details on Thursday's show at the Conga Room (including discount tickets). The next night they fly to SF and Roccapulco for a show hosted by dancing phenoms Nick & Serena of SF Rueda Festival fame. We're waiting for more dates for Europe this summer.

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continue reading La Última

(Orando Valle) Maraca's USA Tour officially begins June, 14, 2011 at the Napa Valley Opera House (8pm) in Napa, California.

Click here for his full 2011 USA Tour Schedule courtesy of TIMBA's Michelle White.

Straight from Cuba, Maraca's ensemble has been called “the most influential Afro-Cuban band of the emerging century” (Chicago Tribune) and “one of the hottest names in jazz” (LA Times). Maraca will have the Opera House moving to the authentic rhythms of salsa, mambo and cha cha cha, as well as creative Afro-Cuban jazz.

The band has been extended to 13 musicians, all coming from Cuba, with great addition as Jose-Miguel melendez (ex-Irakere), on vocals and solo percussion, and Alfred Thompson (ex-Irakere, Omara Portuondo and Ibrahim Ferrer) on tenor saxophone. The band will be playing a mix of their afro cuban jazz repertoire, danceable songs from their hits and songs from their new danceable CD which is being recorded in Havana now.

Participating Musicians & Staff:
Orlando “Maraca” Valle bandleader, flute, composer, arranger 
Josiel Pérez  trumpet 
Eduardo Martínez  trumpet 
Ariel Pérez  trombone 
Alfred Thompson  tenor saxophone 
Andrés Pérez  baritone saxophone 
Lester Ciarreta  vocal 
Alexei “El Nene” Sánchez  vocal 
José Miguel Meléndez  vocal, percussion 
Iván Llanes  drums, timbales 
Yosmel Montejo  bass 
Rafael Valiente  congas, background vocals 
Andy Rubal  piano 
Céline Chauveau  manager 

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continue reading Sin Clave No Hay Na

Oprima en la caratula para oír muestras de todos los temas
Click on the album cover to listen to oreviews for all tracks
Ahora disponible - Now available

Exploding onto the Cuban music scene in Lima, Perú, Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe deliver hard core timba that has reached international acclaim. An ex-Charanga Forever, Salsa Mayor, Banda Meteoro and Alaín Daniel pianist, Bárbarito delivers his original vision and sound with his first release..."De La Habana A Perú", also the title track of the record. La descarga incluye el librito complete del disco.

Here's a video salute to all their fans and a short "making of" this new record:

El grupo nace oficialmente como orquesta un 29 de Mayo del año 2010, previo a este lanzamiento oficial fueron aproximadamente 4 meses de constante ensayo hasta que Barbarito logro plasmar en la banda el sonido que él quería para la misma. Rápidamente el ensamble y el sonido del Mayimbe cautivaron al público, colocando así los temas de la orquesta en el hit parade nacional y calando fuertemente en la preferencia de los timberos peruanos. Cabe señalar que el común denominador de las orquestas del medio era hacer covers de las más importantes orquestas de música popular cubana del momento, otorgándole esto un merito especial al éxito de la orquesta Mayimbe.

DE LA HABANA A PERÚ - videoclip (cojones, este disco está en candela):

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