"La Clave Cubana" by Monsi y Su Salsa is the first single from "El Tambor", an upcoming album with an expected release during the spring of 2020. The project is under the direction of percussionist Simon Monserrat, who is also the composer and arranger. Released on October 19th, within 24 hours "La Clave Cubana" was on the Spotify Salsa Cubana Top 100 list. It is available at the digital sites below.

Apple Music
Spotify
Amazon

Monsi took time to tell us a little bit about his inspiration for the song as well as what is coming next.

I grew up with Cuban music, coming from a family where both my dad and uncle are musicians. My uncle started a legendary Venezuelan salsa group Federico y Su Combo, according to musicologists it was the first group to have salsa as the name of a record, "Llego la Salsa". But in my opinion, and that's why the lyric say so, salsa = musica cubana, although it has also included influences of other countries' traditions. 

The inspiration for the song is simply my love of Cuban music, which I have grown up with have been playing as a musician for more than 30 years now. I also had the good fortune to play with one of the best, Bebo Valdes, for several years, so he is my musical mentor. I have also worked with bassist Vincent Chappotin, 
          
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and many other great Cuban musicians such as Calixto Oviedo, who plays drums and timbales on the track.

It's a very international collaboration, "La Clave Cubana" was recorded here in Sweden, in Finland, piano and bass in New York, drums and timbales in LA. 

The album will be called "El Tambor" - a recurring theme on the album which features a lot of percussion. The single "El Tambor" will be released om Novmeber 18 featuring Edgar 'El Dolor' Quijada, one of Venezuela's best 'salsa dura' singers and lead singer right now in Bailatino.

Follow Monsi y Su Salsa at Facebook to keep up on all the latest information about the album and other singles that are on the way! 

Lead vocals:Jesús 'El Niño' Alejandro
Coros: Moncho, Raciel Garces
Bass: Luis Carrion
Piano: Gonzalo Grau
Drums, Timbales: Calixto Oviedo
Trombones: Andres Mena Guerra
Congas,Bongo, Percussion, Director: Simon Monserrat
Lyrics/music/arrangment: S. Monserrat

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ENGLISH:   Kiki Valera launched his new CD Vivencias en clave cubana (you can read Tom Ehrlich's review here)  with several events on radio and in concerts last weekend.  You can see a photo gallery of the concerts and studio session an KNKX here.  
Kiki has been doing radio interviews for several stations, and Bill Tilford interviewed him in his home for his program From the Isle of Music. That interview will air the week of November 10-16. 
ESPAÑOL:   Kiki Valera lanzó su nuevo CD Vivencias en clave cubana (puede leer una reseña en inglés por Tom Ehrlich aquí)  en la radio y en conciertos el fin de semana pasada.  Puede ver una galería de fotos de los conciertos y la sesión en KNKX aquí. 
Kiki esta grabando muchas entrevistas radiales para diversas estaciones, y Bill Tilford entrevistó a él en su hogar para su proprio programa From the Isle of Music.  Esta entrevista saldra al aire la semana del 10 al 16 de Noviembre.

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Here's Tom's final report from this years Monterey Jazz Festival. 

Antonio Sánchez

Teodross Avery and Doug Carn

Ambrose Akinmusire

Jazzmeia Horn

Eric Alexander

Peter Burnstein

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This gallery is from Sunday, September 29 and features Kenny Stahl with Murrary Low, Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Abe Rábade from Spain, Electric Squeezebox Orchestra, Barrio Manouche, and a panel on Dexter Gordon featuring Angela Davis and others.

Murray Low piano and Kenny Stahl

Omar Ledezma with Pacific Mambo Orchestra

Maxine Gordon and Angela Davis

Mario Salomón and Luis Jiménez of Barrio Manouche

Pacific Mambo

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