This is a really shocking and tragic development, which we delayed posting in the hope that it was only a rumor, but Manuel "Manolo" Labarrera, conguero of Los Van Van since 1980, has passed. He looked very young and very healthy when Tom took this video of him at Yoshi's SF last year.

Manolo "de la sonrisa amplia" (of the big grin) took over as Van Van's conguero for Joel Drigs, who played on only one album after the departure of founding conguero Raúl "El Yulo" Cárdenas, who, many years later, while a member of NG La Banda, himself died in a tragic car crash. By all accounts, Manolo was every bit as wonderful a person as a conguero and in the latter department he was legendary, playing a central role in the hellacious groove that resulted in Van Van's apodo, "el tren del Caribe" (the train). Manolo is survived by his son Rafael, who sang with Bamboleo and penned such classics at La tremenda and El protagonista. Rafael was residing in Perú when last we heard. R.I.P. Manolo - it will never be quite the same without you.

deja un comentario

continue reading La Última

Click here for Peter Maiden's photos from Saturday, featuring various dance clinics, and Manolín, el Médico de la Salsa, backed by Timbalive.

deja un comentario

continue reading La Última

It was a thrill to hear Manolín, with three solid new songs in a genuine timba style. Timbalive also played two originals, including a killer timba-guaguancó to get us ready for their full show tonight.

This must be one of the biggest Cuban dance gatherings in the world - it's now spilled over into the hotel next door and had well over 500 passionately enthusiastic dancers running at full speed trying to pack in as many of the overlapping events as possible.

Tom Ehrlich and Peter Maiden were snapping photos all night. Tom has a gallery up from Thursday, with more coming. Click "continue reading" for more shots from both.

photo by Peter Maiden

photo by Tom Ehrlich

deja un comentario

continue reading La Última

Check out this lineup! Roberto Borrell, Susana Arenas and 27 other instructors. How does all that fit into just four days? 

And then there's the music. It's been at least five years since the West Coast has heard from Manolín, el Médico de la Salsa, the first band I ever saw in Cuba and the one that caused me to go permanently insane. Manolín plays Saturday night, backed by Timbalive, who blew everyone away last year. Their leader, Leo García, brother of Cokey García (ex-Opus 13), was the guy Van Van picked to sub for Samuel on their last tour. I guess that pretty much establishes his credentials. Timbalive has three great albums , the second of which, From Miami a La Habana,  features none other than Melón Lewis on piano.

On Sunday night, Timbalive plays their own show. Bay Area master sonero Fito Reinoso plays Saturday afternoon. Rumbaché, with their awe-inspiring arsenal of improvisable efectos, plays Friday night. You can hear Carlos Caro , the subject of the soon-to-be-released Beyond Salsa Bongó, on Thursday, which features Bomberas de la Bahía , The Bay Area Rumba All-Stars, and DJ Waltdigz, who also appears on Saturday. Look - I'm a musician so I hate the whole idea of DJs, but Walt is the exception that proves the rule. Every time I hear him, he plays about 20 great new songs that I, cloistered in my little studio writing books, should  know by heart by now. Recorded music may be killing live music, but at least with Walt you can die happy.

There are also no less than 36 dance performances from troupes who have come from as far away as Japan, Mexico City, Venezuela, Canada and the East Coast. See you there! [Kevin Moore]

deja un comentario

continue reading La Última