English Translation by Lani Milstein

If you like your timberos full of attitude, irreverance, and joy, this interview is for you. Michel Maza and Tirso Duarte took time after one of their first shows together in January to answer questions on a range of topics: from memories of their favorite shows to their plans for 2006 to what they think their place in Cuban music history will be. There's even some impromptu singing and dancing with a pair of lovely habaneras who happened to be walking down the street.

To watch the answers in video format in the original Spanish, click the questions below.

1. Have you already recorded a CD together? When is it going to come out?

Tirso: We have each done our own CDs. Michel did his with Envidia Record like myself. So now we’re going to do various recordings, both of us singing. Since we were in Charanga- well, since we were kids we’ve known each other, we’re brothers since childhood and this is a dream we’ve had for a while, or what we’ve wanted to do for a while. We sang in Charanga for a while; after, we directed for a while and now we’re together with each other’s solo projects. With lots of feeling doing Cuban timba, which is the music of the moment, that they do in Cuba and we want it to spread to the rest of the world.

2. When did you first play together and where?

Michel: Well, in La Tropical. La Tropical is a place where all the Cuban dance public, the place like we say here in Cuba The Thermometer, the people. We debuted there in La Tropical and now [Linda: What date?] It was a Friday no? Yeah, a Friday, the 9th of December and now we have, well, this gig here where we are, in Casa de la Música in Miramar, every Monday and we’re starting the work [Linda: You’ll be here every Monday?] Every Monday, every Monday [Linda: Until…] God willing…

3. How did you decide to play together?

Michel: This has been coming for a long time; this is a love of many years ago. And well, the moment presented itself to us and we decided and we started to work, this was about 15, like 20 days ago. It’s fresh; it’s really fresh; we’re like 20 days into this story, which will be a good one, because we’re very persistent in doing what we want and in rounding up the dancers to do something new.

4. What are your plans for 2006?

Michel: Lots of work [Linda: Will you continue playing separately or you’ll do it together?]

Tirso: No, we’re going to do it together, and we are thinking to continue doing the music of Michel Maza and the music of Tirso Duarte that is our music, Cuban timba, Cuban music, the music that they like outside of Cuba to which in many parts of the world they are dancing also, that in Italy I found out and England also I saw. If you don’t know, I’m also in the Afro-Cuban All Stars project with Juan de Marcos and I’ve taken note that there are many songs that we’ll do together here that the people dance to a lot and that always, or like we’ve grabbed the attention of the public and of the Cuban public completely, which follows us. So we’re thinking to continue working and continue getting to the heart of all the people that like Cuban music.

5. Are you going to collaborate with other salsa groups?

Michel: Yes, we share the stage with many groups, with many quality artists here, not only Van Van, only Charanga. What we want to transmit is one feeling, like protect Cuban music; wherever you see Tirso Duarte’s/ Michel Maza’s music, there will be happiness, Cuban music and there will be parties.