Today's Opinion by Yosvany Terry is the winner of the Cubadisco 2013 Award, Cuba's equivalent of the GRAMMY awards, in the category Jazz Cubano.  This is one of our own favorite Jazz releases from 2012.    You can read our review of the CD here.

Congratulations, Yosvany!  In the days to come, we will cover the rest of the Cubadisco 2013 winners and share some more CD reviews. 

Today's Opinion por Yosvany Terry  es ganador del premio Cubadisco 2013, equivalente cubano de los premios GRAMMY, en la categoría Jazz Cubano.  Este disco es una de nuestros favoritos del Jazz de 2012.  Se puede leer nuestra reseña del CD (en ingles) aquí

¡Felicitaciones a Yosvany Terry !  En el futuro cercano, vamos a cubrir el resto de los ganadores en Cubadisco 2013 y compartir también mas reseñas de CDs.

Pasaporte by Havana d'Primera is the winner of Cubadisco 2013, Cuba's equivalent of the GRAMMY awards, in the category Popular Dance Music.   You can read our review of the CD here.

Vamos pa' la' Fiesta by Septeto Santiaguero is the Winner of Cubadisco 2013, Cuba's equivalent of the GRAMMY awards,  in the category Traditional Popular Music.  You can read our review of the CD here.  

Congratulations to both of these excellent groups!   In the days to come, we will cover the rest of the Cubadisco 2013 winners and share some more CD reviews. 

Pasaporte por  Havana d'Primera es ganador del premio Cubadisco 2013, equivalente cubano a los premios GRAMMY, en la categoría Música Popular Bailable.   Se puede leer nuestra reseña del CD aquí. 

Vamos pa' la fiesta por el Septeto Santiaguero es ganador del premio Cubadisco 2013, equivalente cubano a los premios GRAMMY, en la categoría Música Popular Tradicional.   Se puede leer nuestra reseña del CD aquí. 

¡Felicitaciones a los dos grupos excelentes!  En el futuro cercano, vamos a cubrir el resto de los ganadores en Cubadisco 2013 y compartir también más reseñas de CDs. 

Direct from Lima Perú, and following their USA debut in San Francisco, Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe will open for Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera BOTH NIGHTS at S.O.Bs in New York City. The SOBs website isn't updated yet but you can...

Click here for tickets -- Oprima aquí pata comprar boletos
Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera y Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe

Take your Havana D'Primera ticket stub and get $5 off at the door for the Mayimbe 11:45pm show !! We'll be seeing you there. All west coast timberos and timberas will be dancing FULL FORCE. Mayimbe has a second show at Cócomo on Sunday as well. 

For advance Mayimbe tickets click here

Coast to Coast TIMBA !!!  --  Havana D' Primera  --  El Pikete --  Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe

Carlos Medrano is a very talented Cuban musician currently living in the Bay Area. He returned to Cuba to produce a very cool album with his old compays, including Alexis Bosch of Havana Ensemble and singer Aldo Isidro Miranda of Azúcar Negra and Adalberto Álvarez fame. Click here for Tom's review.

Keepers of the Flame - Chuck Silverman is relaunching his Keepers of the Flame Cuban Rumba Drumming Traditions project. This could be amazing. Please check it out and consider helping in whatever ways you can.

Pepitín y su Q'mbachá have another single out. "No lo hagas más dificil" was composed by Pepitín and arranged by Lino Lores, who is producing the album for Q'mbachá. The septeto has recorded three songs so far. It is slow going since they are financing the project themselves, but the album will be worth waiting for. Pepitín is one of the most talented young soneros in Cuba. With his distinctive voice, he worked with Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor and Manolito y su Trabuco before deciding he wanted to start his own septeto to promote son cubano with a touch of timba. So be patient and enjoy the clip below!

click here for tickets -- oprima aquí para taquillas

VAYA CALENTANDO LOS MOTORES para Havana D' Primera en Nueva York Junio 5 y 6. This CD Release Party from Ex-NG La Banda singer Gerardo Contino features special guests Xiomara Laugart (vocalist) and percussionist Luisito Quintero. In Cuba, Gerardo also sang with Charanga Forever and Son Yoruba. The gig will take place at the World Music Institute on 509 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. Tix are only $25.

Here's a short list of the musicians joining Gerardo: Axel Tosca Laugart (piano) - John Benítez (bass) - Roberto Quintero (Congas) - Luisito Quintero (Drums & Timbal). Pianists Oriente López and Manuel Varela will also make an appearance. 

Here's a cool video of Gerardo singing "La Chica Red Bull" with his NYC band. Axel Tosca and John Benítez are in the video as well. Video courtesy of our friend Martin Cohen (Congahead). 

For some time now I have been continuing to call Havana the Capital of Timba. But I am beginning to think it's time for me to look at this as the Roman Empire with two Capitals: Havana = Rome and Lima = Constantinople. Another serious timba band has been making waves in Lima: La Timba Criolla. The band writes their own material with a classic 90s timba feel and professional production and presentation. 

LTC is made up of a combination of Cuban and Peruvian musicians, some with a conservatory background and others "timberos naturales". Director and pianist Jairo Betancourt, bassist Amarat Stuart Aguila and drummer Manuel Alejandro Moreno "Hueso" are all alumni of Michel Maza y la Tentación. Lead singer Anthony Muzantes is a well-known Peruvian singer as well as being the composer/arranger of the songs. I am very impressed with his work. He is only 20 years old but you can tell that he knows his timba! Other band members: Williams Nicasio "Macarito" - congas and Percy "Chincilla" - djembe/campana are both from Peru Negro and the percussion is rounded off by well-known Peruvian percussionist Marco Antonio Di Maria. The horn section consists of two trumpets, trombone and sax: Roman Coronado, Pedrito Meza, Fernando Shimabuku and Juancito Rondon. Coristas are Adhemir Charun Rivas and Jerson Jeff. 

La Timba Criolla will be releasing their CD "Llegó el Timbón" next month, so stay tuned for more information about the band. In the meantime I leave you with a taste of LTC en Vivo! A gozar!

La Timba Criolla live @ Persepolis 2013

Contrabando is one of Europe's leading timba bands. Under the direction of Andrés Fernández "El Paísa", Contrabando has released two CDs and has maintained a steady flow of gigs. They will be touring Europe all summer. Click here to find a concert near you. Check out the video below to see what you have to lok forward to.

Contrabando Live @ "Aquí Cuba" 2012

Miami is in for a real TIMBA treat..... El Pikete has been re-activated with all new music from composer / arranger, co-leader and electronic wind instrument (e.w.i.) player Jeans Valdés, AND THEY ARE OPENING FOR HAVANA D' PRIMERA at La Covacha on Friday May 24th !!!

Many fans will immediately recognize some of the new members as they are heavyweights of the genre in their own right. Reinier is an all-star veteran from Paulito F.G. and the Cuban Timba All-Stars, Ivette was the piano player for the Canadian timba band D'talle, Michel is from Havana Power Band, El Kid is ex-Tiempo Libre....not to mention El Pikete itself is Manolín El Médico's band when not backing Manolín. Another real treat is their new female lead Ingrid Leiva (any relation to Pío Leiva?), as Hany is expecting her first child. 

** UPDATE - Ingrid Leyva Fuentes used to be the lead singer for Azucar Negra (Limonta's project) and you can see her in the video I just posted under the band list... Enjoy! El Pikete's lineup is shaping up to be a a new all-star timba group.

CALL 305-594-3717 for tickets or click here = EL PIKETE & HAVANA D' PRIMERA at La Covacha

Here are the new members / aquí los integrantes del (nuevo) PIKETE:

Lead singer Ingrid Leyva Fuentes with Azucar Negra

Entrevista a Calixto Oviedo

Calixto Oviedo began 2013 with a concert in Boulder, Colorado. From this collaboration a new group was born, Calixto Oviedo y su Orquesta, that has already caught the attention of timberos and Cuban music fans around the world. Calixto took some time from his schedule, which is always full, to tell us a little about the project, the objectives of the group, their repertory and plans for recordings and concerts. Click here to read the interview.

HOW TO MAMBO with the new Tutti Music Player
The new interactive, state-of-the-art multimedia standard for music instruction. 
versión en español = oprima aquí
para leer sobre este nuevo tocador y los ritmos afro-cubanos gratis

Last November I attended the Billboard FutureSound Conference in San Francisco and there was one product that totally blew me away... the TUTTI MUSIC PLAYER. A company called Tutti Dynamics has developed an interactive music player for Mac, PC (Windows) and iPad that enables students to practice playing their instruments with master artists. If you are a serious student of Afro-Cuban music this will blow you away! 

In a special partnership with TIMBA.com, Tutti is offering Timba.com readers a complimentary introductory offer to access two free Latin grooves (mambo & afro-cuban) from the Tutti Essential Grooves collection. CLICK HERE to take advantage of this FREE OFFER. 

We wiil keep you updated as more rhythms become available. Just click on the Tutti link on the top right of every page (next to the language flags) to the latest news from Tutti.

(photo by Kent Richmond courtesy Chicago Jazz Philharmonic)

Orbert Davis of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and Frank Chaves of River North Dance Chicago had already performed diligent work managing expectations about what to expect and what not to expect from Havana Blue  during interviews in the press and a roundtable discussion at the Instituto Cervantes leading up to the performance, so this writer went into the Auditorium Theatre understanding that this was to be an original interpretive work rather than a series of covers of Cuban music and dance, and he was prepared to receive the work on its own terms.  Nevertheless, it is difficult for anyone who works with Cuban music to watch and listen to "Cuban-inspired" works without also considering the relationships that have unfolded for more than a century between Cuban performers and their American counterparts as well as Cuban and North American music, so this review will speak to both this performance and the bigger picture as well. 

click HERE for all official tour dates (so far) -- oprima aquí para ver las fechas

Ok IT'S ON and it's OFFICIAL. ALL VISAS APPROVED. No "pasaporte" required to get down with Alexander Abreu and Havana D' Primera. The tour opens with a performance at the Cuban Cultural Fest in Tampa on May 18 and runs through Miami, Folsom, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, New York, Virginia, Atlanta and Kentucky.   We'll be seeing you on the road people !!

Pachito Alonso & Sus Kini Kini begin a short promotional tour of Europe in two weeks. Click here to see the concert dates/cities . They will perform in Italy, France and Spain. The band has a new CD "30 Años con mi Tumbao". I don't know if they will be selling it at the concerts, but bring some extra cash just in case! If they are not coming to your country in April, don't despair! They will be back for a full-length tour from August 8 - September 1. We will publish those concert dates as soon as they are available.

Mujer Caprichosa

(Courtesy of The Recording Academy/ photo by Kevin Winter, WireImage.com 2013)

One of the things that makes the music we write about here so wonderful is the fact that music education has played an important role in shaping the musicians as far back as the days of Cachao, who in addition to his revolutionary musical roles with the early Mambo and the later Descargas was a classically trained bassist who played with the Philharmonic.  Bebo Valdés, whose passing we wrote about recently in this blog, was also trained in the Conservatory.  Formal musical education which included classical training also helped nurture countless members of the new generation of musicians who have brought us Songo, Timba, Jazz etc.   

In the United States, it isn't exactly a secret that music education in the schools has fallen on hard financial times, so we applaud any measures that help recognize and support its importance. The GRAMMY Foundation and The Recording Academy recently unveiled a new Music Educator Award, and the winner will be selected  by a process that includes public participation in the US in nominating the candidates.  

Many of our readers have children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren etc. that may or may not become members of the next generation of Jazz and Latin music performers depending upon the level of support and education that they receive from us and those who are teaching them how to sing and play.  If you are in the United States and  know of a music educator there who has made a difference in their lives, this is your chance to help them get more recognition for their efforts, and there is more than a plaque and a ceremony at stake for them – the winner, to be named in 2014, will also receive a $10,000.00 honorarium, and nine finalists will receive $1,000.00 each.  (The funding for the awards is being supplied by the Ford Motor Company Fund.)

For more about the awards process, the rules, who is eligible, and how to nominate your choice (nominations are open until April 15), visit http://www.grammymusicteacher.com

Singer Ernesto Oviedo is the son of the son pioneer Isaac Oviedo (founder of Sexteto Matancero) and the brother of long-time Revé tresero Papi Oviedo. Tom Ehrlich has been raving about his vocal abilities for several weeks. Oviedo will be singing with members of the John Santos group at the Brazilian Cultural Center on April 28th in Oakland. 

Tom saved some of his most colorful and dramatic shots for this final installment. An amazing tour and SF Jazz's new facility is an amazing venue. Pedrito Martínez will be there in early June.

Andy Gola & Colé Colé are currently in Colombia and begin their visit with a concert this Friday in Bogota at Quiebracanto at 10:00 pm. They will be bringing their mix of salsa, timba and son to the Colombianos who, like the Cubans, know how to party! If we hear about more concert dates we'll publish the information.

The first official video for the CD was released just over two weeks ago, and a video says more than a thousand words. "La culpa" is a brilliant guaguancó-rock fusion and a perfect example of Buena Fe's talent for combining intelligent lyrics with captivating music. The video, below, was written and directed by Ian Padrón and features the participation of Clave y Guaguancó and Havana Queens.

Click here for my review/report on “Dial” .

Click here to download the FREE sample pdf 

Click here to download FREE introductory bass audio samples 

Click here to visit Kevin's Beyond Salsa Bass Vol.1 hard copy book page 

The Audio product includes a fast and slow file for each bass tumbao in the book as well as various example files corresponding to the text. Note that for every piano tumbao in our sister volume, Beyond Salsa Piano, Vol.1, there is a corresponding bass tumbao in the Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 1 book and audio product. In these cases, the piano audio is included in one channel. In other cases, the audio consists of just bass and clave. If this seems confusing, think of it this way: Beyond Salsa Piano Vol. 1 is a subset of Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 1. The bass book has a bass tumbao for every piano tumbao in the piano book, but the bass book also has many more additional tumbaos for tracks not covered in the piano volume. 

For more info on the BEYOND SALSA series ploease visit = http://beyondsalsa.info

To read a more detailed introduction to BEYOND SALSA BASS Vol.1 please click on the continue reading link below (bottom right).......

Ivan hopes to produce a full recording of the group over the course of the next year.  As a taste of things to come, it recorded a demo video in Martin Cohen's studio last year: 

This group should be an exciting addition to the scene, and entrance to the event is free. 

The last time this writer saw this group in the Midwest was literally during the last millennium, and he still remembered the waves of excitement that swept the hall back then, so even though the nearest concert this time was a five-hour drive away, he decided to make the trek to Louisville.  Was it worth the drive? Read on to find out and see our concert photos...

Peru continues to produce timba groups writing original material. Michel Robles & El Sello recently release the official video for "La Bomba Que Tengo". The first coro is a nod to "La Bala de BIlly", The song is very danceable and has been well received by timberos and DJs. Michel has also recorded a pilón/salsa titled "Diva de la noche" with Alexander Abreu.

Twenty-nine year old Michel Robles Ramos was born in Havana. In 2000 he went to Lima where he spent eight years working with Los Conquistadores de la Salsa. During this period he has developed a reputation in the artistic community and has won various awards in vocal competitions on Peruvian television

In January 2011 he decided to form his own band of which he is director, lead singer, composer and arranger. El Sello has 13 members: two Cuban singers, two Peruvian singers and the rest of the muscians are Peruvian. The format is timbal, congas , bongo , two trompets , sax and trombone. Michel tells us that the band plays Cuban music with rhythms influenced by songo, pilón, son and changüi. 'They have developed a following in Lima and perform weekly gigs at various clubs. Michel says that the strengths of the band are having a good rhythm, a good show and charisma, but above all the connection with their audience. You can learn more about Michel Robles & El Sello at their Facebook page . Here I leave you with the video for "La Bomba Que Tengo".

Michel Robles & El Sello "La Bomba Que Tengo"

One of the true giants of Cuban music, composer/bandleader/pianist Ramón Emilio Valdés Amaro, whom we all know as Bebo Valdés, passed away on Friday, March 22 in Sweden at the age of 94.

Bebo was born in Quivicán, Cuba on October 9, 1918, slightly less than a month after another key figure in the music, Israel "Cachao" Lopez.  Bebo began playing piano at about 7 years of age and entered the conservatory in Havana at age 16.  He later began playing piano in the nightclubs of Havana in the 1940s and worked as an arranger in the mid 40s with the great Ernest Lecuona.   From the late 1940s to the late 1950s, he was at the Tropicana, and his band, Sabor de Cuba, was one of the groups that regularly backed legendary performers such as Pio Leyva and Beny More. He was also the arranger and pianist for Rita Montaner during that period. In 1960, he went to Mexico for a time where he worked in television and the studios and ultimately settled into a decades-long residency in Stockholm in 1963.   

Bebo helped further the development of the Mambo and also created an additional rhythm, the Batanga, which competed with the Mambo in Cuba.  He also participated in some of the historic Afro-Cuban Jazz recording sessions commissioned by Norman Granz in the 1950s and was a pioneer in the use of the bata in popular dance music. In the late 1950s, he also made a recording with Nat King Cole. He endured a period of relative obscurity internationally after moving to Europe, but in 1994, the recording Bebo Rides Again (his first album after three decades of mostly playing hotels in Stockholm and mentoring other musicians) helped revive international awareness of him. That awareness spread even further after Bebo's appearance in the 2000 film Calle 54  (a film which absolutely belongs in your collection if you haven't purchased it already) and his 2003 album Lagrimas Negras with Diego El Cigala, which fused Cuban rhythms with flamenco vocals.   He went on to win multiple Latin GRAMMYs and GRAMMYs including  two for El arte del sabor (2002), one for Lagrimas Negras (2003),  two for Bebo de Cuba (2006).  His album with his son Chucho Valdés, Juntos Para Siempre,  won both a GRAMMY and a Latin GRAMMY award (2009) for Best Latin Jazz Album.  In films, he also appeared in  2004's El milagro de Candeal, and more recently, he composed the score for the wonderful film Chico y Rita, which also drew some pieces of its plot from aspects of his life. 

In addition to all of his personal musical accomplishments, he is also the founder of an important musical dynasty including his son Chucho Valdés (whose many milestones include his key role in Irakere) and his grandson Chuchito Valdés.  The 2009 3-CD set Dinastia Valdés showcases music by all three of them. 

His full discography is extensive, and given his work in multiple countries over several decades, we are uncertain as to whether a truly complete one even exists at this writing.    We'll close for now by sharing a You Tube clip from Calle 54 posted by the Instituto de Musica Contemporanea in Lima of Bebo and Cachao performing Lagrimas Negras.  We chose this particular clip for a couple of reasons: one, it's a beautiful clip;  two, there are some parallels between these two men.  They were born a few weeks apart, both were classically trained yet also revolutionized both popular Cuban dance music and Afro-Cuban Jazz, both had major career comebacks after periods of being out of the public eye, and (perhaps most noteworthy), both had long lives (Cachao passed at age 89, Bebo at age 94) while pursuing an endeavor that the popular imagination sometimes believes to be an eater of its own young.  An interesting coincidence is that Cachao also passed on the 22nd of March in 2008. For today's young musicians, there are lessons here about the value of formal musical education and a lifestyle that doesn't cause your departure before you turn 50.  

Goodbye Bebo, and thank you for all that you left us.  We would say "Descanse en paz", but our guess is that you are probably already jamming with some of those other cats who came before. 

Here is the first sound excerpt, from Dale Paso:

And here is the second, an excerpt from Con que tu cuentas: 

Click here for Part 3 of 4.

Book News: Thanks to the efforts of Vasík Greif the new beyondsalsa.info web site has been launched - everything in one place. There's even a Beyond Salsa Blog. Facebook page is next! Also, the beginning bass book is almost done. Stay tuned!

(This installment is for both Salseros and Timberos in the hope that they may remember that there are some common challenges that are faced by all.)

Welcome to the third installment of our series.  We'll have a lot of photos later on along with the first in a series of sound clips that we hope will help illustrate that many common misconceptions about both "Cuban Salsa" and Timba music are exactly that.   In the meantime, I would like to expand a little on some earlier themes from the first two chapters.... read the full article here >>>

After a few days (March 13-17) at the Blue Note in NYC, The Afro-Cuban All Stars tour continues throughout the United States, but we wanted to bring special attention to their performance at the Clifton Center in Louisville, Kentucky on Wednesday March 20 at 7:30pm. Over the course of the past few years, Louisville has become an important locale for Midwesterners to see this music, and this will be the only Midwest stop for this group during this tour.  (Chicagoans, it's a 5-6 hour drive for you and worth the trip if you can manage the time.) The ticket link to their website is here. 

On Saturday, March 23 at 7:00pm, the AC Jazz Project with very special guest Jimmy Branly, which like Maraca can do both dance and Jazz material, will be bringing what we are told is primarily a Timba dance set to Yoshi's in San Francisco. This truly is a group of all stars - the leader/trumpeter Josiel Perez played with Maraca and Klimax; pianist Fermin Sifontes played with Grupo Afrocuba; bassist Carlos Cuba played with Pablo Milanes and Klimax, and drummer Jimmy Branly has played with NG La Banda and Ernán López Nussa. The group also features conguero Joey De Leon, vocalist Alberto Tomayo, trumpeter Ronal Segovia and saxophonist Camilo Puche. We recently heard a couple of tracks from their forthcoming recording which is currently in production, and if the rest of the tracks are as solid as what we heard, this is going to be a welcome addition to the scene in the United States.  We'll share more when the project is ready. For now, the ticket link for Yoshi's is here.

The Jazz option in San Francisco this week  is a series of 4 concerts by John Santos from March 21-24 at SFJAZZ featuring different guests each evening including Pável Urkiza & Ricardo Pons on the 21st, Papo Vazquez and the Mighty Pirates Troubadours on the 22nd, Filosofía Caribeña II on the 23rd and Omar Sosa, Kenny Endo and Abhigit Banerjee on the 24th. For more information, see their website link here. 

The Miami event, Cuban Music in the Transnational Context,  is a panel discussion featuring the musicians Gema Corredera, Yosvany Terry and Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez with additional panelist Eva Silot Bravo.  This is also on Thursday, March 14.  According to the announcement, there will be a music demonstration along with the panel discussion.  This is also free to the public and will be focusing upon  the impact of musicians who have emigrated to cities like New York, Miami and Madrid and how they are affecting the music globally. Timba.com's regular visitors will note that Yosvany Terry (as well as Yunior Terry) has been mentioned on our site more than once as an artist of special interest in the new music being produced today. 

Also, the Creole Choir of Cuba returns to Chicago after their triumphant performance there in 2011 (you can read our review of that performance here.) This time, they will be performing at the Old Town School of Folk Music on Wednesday, March 13 at 8:30pm. This is a full audiovisual experience, and we recommend it highly. 

Here's the next installment of Tom's 3- or 4-part series on Juan d'Marcos & the Afro-Cuban All Stars at SF Jazz.  And here are the remaining tour dates. Next stop: Waterbury Connecticut and then on to NY for a full week at the Blue Note.

Coming: Havana d'Primera at Yoshi's SF - May 31 & June 1.

Yambú / Guaguancó Workshop

Those of you who know that you are dancing "On 1" or "On 2"  but not too much more than that may not realize that originally, everyone that was dancing was moving to things with other names- Son, Guaracha, Guaguancó, Mambo and many others.  Some of the rhythms and dances (such as the Pilón and Pachanga) have all but vanished over the years because neither Salsa nor Timba preserved them intact.......click here to read the full article >>>

Tom Ehrlich has posted the first of several galleries of Juan de Marcos' triumphant sold-out return to the Bay Area. The band is in great form and JdM has really hit on a great idea by writing for three trumpets and bass clarinet. The clarinet sounds way better than a bari sax and the lines are written in a way that crystalizes the trumpet harmonies. If you get a chance to see a later show on the tour, check this out. The singers and the entire rhythm section are also sublime, as are the acoustics at the new SF Jazz facility. This gallery is from the souncheck. Later this week we'll have more photos from the clinic and two of the concerts. Click here for the rest of the tour which is working its way to the East Coast, including a full week at the legendary Blue Note. [Kevin Moore]

We have added a section for Monika Mesa y su Máquina Perfecta , whose 2012 Cubadisco-nominated CD "Al Fin" will be available soon outside of Cuba. In the meantime you can browse through the new section with a brief biography, information about the new CD, photos and most importantly videos so you can get to know her music. Timberos already know Monika from her time with bands such as Anacaona, Azúcar Negra and NG La Banda. She has now started her own group under the musical direction of Joel Dominguez (Issac Delgado, Manolín and Paulo FG) and they have already toured Europe twice. They will be back in Europe this fall so keep an eye out for updates to their Tours page. Below you can enjoy a little behind-the-scenes documentary of the Making of the song "SMS".

You can listen to "SMS" at Timba.com radio.

(Photo by Massimo Montovani)

Let us begin with a few words of praise for the terrestrial CD store, or as we used to call it, the record store   A recent trip to Miami gave us an excuse to run through two of our favorites, the Museo del Disco on SW 70th Street (close to Calle Ocho) and Casino Records  (no website) on Calle Ocho. We also like Lily's on Calle Ocho for some things, but our best finds are usually at the first two.Yes, we know that most of you probably buy on-line these days, but you are missing out on some things when you don't do the physical experience.  For one thing, it's a lot harder to go crate-digging on line. When I'm in a real store, I usually walk out with finds that I was never looking for in the first place. Those finds are often better than the things I was looking for. You may also hear something over the loudspeakers that you never dreamed you might like. This has happened to me more than once.   

(Photo by Alejandro Azcuy)

Also, the physical CD, if done as well as it should be, will come with liner notes telling you more about the band, the musicians and the project.   If you truly care about the details surrounding the band and the recording, track downloads won't get you there from here, and if you hope to rely on the band's website, well, good luck with that. Some are better than others, and most websites aren't forever.

(Cover photo by Jose Ortega)

So, if you have one of these kinds of stores where you live, take the time to go check it out.   It's worth the trouble.  In the meantime, here are three reviews of interesting CDs we acquired recently; the last two came from the stores in Miami: 

For a review of Omar Sosa 's Eggūn,  click here.
For a review of Maykel Blanco 's A Toda Maquina , click here.
For a review of Leslie Cartaya 's No Pares , click here.  

The schedule has now been finalized for the 2013 Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival. It is a five-day event including an international percussion competition, dance classes, percussion classes and dance and music performances by major groups in genres from foklore to timba to jazz. Some highlights of the timba concerts:
March 6 - Klímax & Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor @ Hotel Habana Libre
March 7 - 50th anniversary celebration for Los Papines  @ Teatro Mella 8:00pm - 11:00pm
11:00pm - 2:00am Adalberto Álvarez y su Son  @ Hotel Habana Libre
March 8 - Klímax and guests @ Casa de la Música Miramar 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Los Van Van & Havana D'Primera @Teatro Mella 8:30pm - 10:00pm
March 9 - Pupy y los que son son @ Hotel Habana Libre 11:00pm - 2:00am
March 10 - Klímax, Havana D'Primera, JG y su grupo & Oderquis Revé @ La Tropical

Click here for the full schedule and check out the Fiesta del Tambor website for more information.

Here's  Part II of Tom's Manolín photos. On drums was the electrifying Ángel "Pututi II" Arce from the original band that took Havana by storm in the 90s. Also from that band was trumpeter "El Niche" Romero, now a Bay Area resident, joined by Roberto Morris (ex-Sur Caribe).

It has been nearly a week since the big concert by Buena Fe February 22nd at Miami-Dade County Auditorium, and I have now posted my concert report which I was able to complete thanks to the cooperation of friend and fellow Buena Fe fan Líen Álvarez and Javier Otero of Blue Night Entertainment . Since we had such a build-up to the Karl Marx concerts, I start this report with a bit of a summary of the events n Miami beginning with the arrival of Israel and Yoel on February 18th and including their television appearences prior to the concert. There is also a short interview with Javier Otero as well as a playlist of songs from the concert. Click here to read the concert report.

Here's the first gallery from Manolín's incredible show with Jiovanni Cofiño and Ángel "Pututi II" Arce at Café Cócomo in SF.

Book News: Volume 1 of Beyond Salsa Bass should be out soon.

Timba fans, La Aplanadora de Cuba will be rolling through Europe again in just about ten days! They are touring for three weeks and will be in Italy, France, Spain and Germany. Click here to find a concert near you. In my opinion, El Charangón is the most hardcore timba band today! Check out Susel and tell me if I'm right. Todo lo que sube tiene que caer!

Susel sings "No debo explicarte nada" from the upcoming new release.

Maykel Blanco is also in Europe again continuing his solo promotional tour for the new CD "A toda máquina" in preperation for the summer tour with the entire band. He has the CD wth him on the tour so take some cash and get yourself a copy. I bet he'll even autograph it for you. The dates and locations of where you can meet Maykel are below.

February 25 - Conference - Salerno, Italy
February 26 - Isola Verde - Pontecagnano, Italy
February 27 - Studio Uno - Castera, Italy
February 28 - Nada Más, Termoli, Italy
March 1 - Area Disco - Frosinone, Italy

Mi Salsa Cubana has published the dates of their Cuba dance trips for 2013 and 2014.
2013: 23-24 of March to 6-7 of April, 5-6 October to 19-20  October, 28-29 of December 2013 to 4- 5 of January 2014 (half price 1 week)
2014: 4-5 of January to18-19 of January, 12-13 of April to 26-27 of April

There are classes for all levels: beginners, intermediate and advanced as well as for singles, guys, girls, ladies, men and couples. All participants get a Cuban dance partner. The 14 days intensive dance program offers classes in Salsa, Son, Rueda de Casino, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, and Rumba. It is also possible for participants to extend their stay. For more information on terms and prices see Mi Salsa Cubana's website.

La Orquesta Pomo toca un estilo propio de timba con un sonido especial. Con una gran dosis e influencia del soul/pop/jazz y la gran inspiración de la salsa de Cuba, Colombia y Puerto Rico. El material que interpreta la orquesta es original. El inicio de la orquesta fue en el 2011 con Jonas Pomo y Cecilia Ferrer. Jonas comenzó a componer la música y Celilia luego las letras. Los integrantes de la banda fueron luego elegidos detenida y cautelosamente por Jonas y consiguó los que él quería. La primera aparición en público de la "Orquesta Pomo" fue el 5 de abril en Estocolmo, Suecia.

Descarga "El Juego" de la Orquesta Pomo GRATIS aquí
Click here for the free download

Otro punto de interés es que Jonas fué uno de los cantantes de Calle Real en su reciente gira de Sur América. Un pianista de jazz y otros estilos, él ha trabajado con muchos otros artistas y grupos en Suecia como La Tremenda, Jorge Cordero, Gilito y su Clave y por supuesto Calle Real.

Los miembros del grupo: Jonas Pomo piano & bandleader, Cecilia Ferrer lead vocals, Aksel Friberg bass, Linus Svanberg congas, Magnus Almqvist drums & timbales, Jonas Landolsi güiro, Cristina Pomo backing vocals, Cristian Guerra backing vocals, Alex Saltell backing vocals, Yuliesky Gonzalez Guerra trumpet, Johan Nordefeldt trumpet, Rickard Lindgren trumpet, Peter Fredriksson trombone, Nikolas Viisanen trombone.

Orquesta POMO on Facebook = www.facebook.com/orquestapomo

I finally saw Pablo live last October in Madrid and it was a thrilling experience. If you don't live in Spain, just take a a mini vacation like I did. You can read my full concert report here, including six videos of Pablo and two of opening act Andrés Suárez. If you don't have time for that right now, I leave you with one of the most beautiful songs in the Spanish language: "Si ella me faltara alguna vez".

Pablo Milanés performs "Si ella me faltara alguna vez" in Madrid 15 October 2013

The brand new state-of-the-art SF Jazz hall plays host to Juan d'Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All Stars for the next four nights. The acoustics are supposed to be absolutely sublime and the band definitely is. Juan will also give a lecture/demonstration (same venue) on Saturday afternoon. See you there!

Click here for more info and tickets.

Click here for the rest of the tour (WA, Canada, Arcata, etc.)

In less than two weeks the annual Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival will kick off with an inaugural carnival at La Fuente de la Juventud. This is the biggest percussion event of the year with percussion conferences and classes, dance shows and concerts by the biggest timba bands, jazz groups and rumba/folklore groups.  The event includes the participation of international artists from Venezuela, Puerto Rico,Curaçao, Canada, the USA, Japan and Chile. Performances and conferences will be held at Palacio de la Rumba, Hotel Habana Libre, Teatro Mella, Hotel Occidental Miramar, Hotel Melia Cohiba, Casa de la Música Miramar and Salon Rosado de La Tropical. If you will be in Havana during this period don't miss this amazing event. It is a union of some of the world's greatest percussionists. All the information including the full program can be found at the Fiesta del Tambor website.

Eighty-one years later Anacaona is still releasing hit songs, although the band has a younger look and modern musical style. Congratulations Anacaona!

Today is also the 50th anniversary of the passing of the great Benny Moré who died on February 19, 1963 at the age of 43 due to liver disease brought on by alcoholism. Born in Lajas, Cuba, Benny Moré was a self-taught musician who got his start playing for tips in Havana and by the time of his death was the leader of one of the most popular latin dance bands in the world. It was his voice that got him his first jobs with bands such as Sexteto Cauto and later Conjunto Matamoros with which he traveled to Mexico.... click here to read the full article >>>

PRELUDIO As I type this, I can already hear the screams of some of my most hard-line Timbero friends and colleagues that I have committed the supreme blasphemy by writing an extended article here about a Salsa Congress, so please allow me to begin by addressing those dear friends. For quite some time now, I have been wandering about looking for insights into whether there are ways to effectively tackle the biggest challenge facing Timba music in the United States:  we as a community have basically failed to attract the levels of mass paying (that word "paying" is important) audiences that the music truly deserves, and at the very time when it is politically easier than it has ever been for bands to tour the United States from Cuba, the economic realities of the position of Timba music in the marketplace have slowed what could  be a flood of amazing bands touring the country to a relative trickle touring  primarily the East and West coasts.  Even in those places, the audience numbers have frequently failed to live up to initial expectations. What's more, many of the US-based bands that play Timba have either fallen upon hard times, adapted by playing more fusion and/or Salsa and/or survived by touring extensively out of the United States. There are a prosperous few, but they are exceptions that prove the rule. This problem is truly odd because much of the Salsa audience is already halfway home - many of the songs they listen to were written and originally performed in Cuba, and most of the most important roots of Salsa come from Cuban music..... click here to read the full article >>>

On February 8, 2013 David Calzado y Su Charanga Habanera returned to Stockholm for the first time in four years, under the auspices of Latin Entertainment. During these four years the band has had time to release four CDs and Dantes Cardosa  "El Ricky Ricón" has again left the band, replaced this time by Pedro Nieto. La Charanga is more of a show, película and espetáculo than ever with Aned, Lachy, Junior, Heikel and Pedro on vocals and Randy joining in on vocals during the timbaton numbers. David as always directing the show, interacting with the audience and introducing the songs by singing the coros and getting the fans to sing along. Whatever you may think of the Old Charanga versus the New Charanga, the concerts are always a party and a guaranteed good time. In a room filled with pheromones and sweat people let go, dance, sing and scream and go home with a smile on their face and in their heart. For a full report of the concert with 6 videos including the estrenos "La bomba" and "Esta noche voy a partir el party" click here.

(Machito is in the center on maracas)

Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez  "Machito" Grillo was born on February 16, 19-something - the most commonly used years are 1908 followed by 1912, 1909 and occasionally 1915. Accounts also differ as to whether he was born in Havana or in Tampa of Cuban parents. A few things are certain:

1. For decades from the 1940s to the 1980s, he had one of the most important Afro-Cuban Jazz orchestras in the United States.  It was his brother-in-law and musical director, Mario Bauza, that introduced Dizzy Gillespie to Chano Pozo.  He also used Jazz musicians like Charlie Parker, Brew Moore and Howard McGhee to lay the foundations of a style that became known as Cubop. 
2. The powerful section work in his band inspired other big band leaders such as Stan Kenton to borrow elements of his music in their own work. 
3.  He made numerous recordings, and his 1975 album Oro, Incienso y Mirra with Dizzy Gillespie was nominated for a GRAMMY  and remains one of the acknowledged classics of AfroCuban Jazz recorded in the United States.   .  

In modern times, his son, Mario Grillo, carries on with a current version of the band.  You can learn more at their website, http://www.machitoorchestranyc.com/
The 75th Anniversary of the original orchestra will be coming up next year.   We salute this giant of the music on the one hundred and something-eth anniversary of his birth. 

Reports and videos are coming in from the debut preformance of El Yuma's newest timba band "La Maquinaria Cubana". It is a thrill for me that they did their first gig in Boulder, Colorado, my hometown. I was not able to be there myself but I have heard from other who were there. Carlos from Radio KUVO said:
"Fox Theater Boulder Colorado was worthy of admiration, Calixto and his team were over the top and chequendengue. We had a bit of Cuba in the Rocky Mountains, in addition to the music, the Cuban restaurant, Frijoles Colorado, was selling delicious Cuban sandwiches, media noches and pork sandwiches. In summary a chéverisima night. Thank Modupe-Thank You-Merci! KUVO live radio in Denver."

And my friend Eric Freeman, one of the great proponents of Cuban music and dance in Colorado and the USA, posted a short report at his Facebook group, Salsaville Dance Studios, where among other things he said "...they sounded real tight, energetic, and fun. The songs, all originals, were good."

You can enjoy this new band yourself since a number of amateur videos have been uploaded to YouTube already. I am impressed by the professionalism and level of muscianship in this fledgling band and the way the audience responds to them. Check out the videos below to see what everyone is talking about! The band also filmed an HD DVD so we should soon have high quality video and audio to enjoy. The band is planning a US tour in May and is also looking at Peru and Japan. We will keep you updated as tour dates start coming in.

Pepito Gomez sings "Inedita"

Lily D Oviedo sings "Manana"

It has been a busy concert weekend. On Friday Buena Fe held the first of three concerts for the release of their eighth studio CD "DIAL". I will publish a CD review soon. It is not available via the Internet yet. If you are going to the Miami concert on February 22, be sure to buy a copy because they may sell out the hard copy. Suena Cubana has published a great report on the Friday night concert and Buena Fe has published several pictures. Tonight the release concerts in Havana will conclude with a 6:00pm concert at Karl Marx.

Meanwhile in South America Calle Real is closing their tour this weekend. Last night they performed in Santiago de Chile at Club Amanda and tonight they are at Salsa King in Lima. Word is that they have also done some studio recording during their tour, and we are looking forward to hearing the results.

In my hometown of Boulder, Colorado today is the premier concert of the new timba band "La Maquinaria Cubana" with a concert at Fox Theater! Look at the names in this band! Armando Santoyo, Calixto Oviedo, Pepito Gómez, Lily D Oviedo,  Solange Guenier,  Gustavo Ramirez  Carlos Martin, Andy Crisman,  David Maynez, Johnny Jeymo, Juan Moreno, Dave McLoughlin and Ivan Nava. We are waiting for the video of this important concert!

Finally and closest to home for me, David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera were in Scandinavia this weekend with concerts in Stockholm, Sweden and Trondheim, Norway. There are 12 concerts left on the European tour. Tonight they play at Hotel Bayerisher Hof in Munich, Germany. I attended the Stockholm concert and am currently preparing a full report, but due to popular demand I have already published one of the estrenos that the band performed in Stockholm to YouTube. Stay tuned for the full report and in the meantime enjoy "La bomba"!

Attention Charangueros and Bassists of Europe! Last night just before the start of the Charanga Habanera concert in Stockholm two of the tuning keys in Ernesto's bass broke! We were lucky. Disaster was narrowly averted by fellow bassist and former member of Adalberto Álvarez y su Son, Alfonso Nuñez who was able to help Ernesto in his moment of need. But there are 13 concerts left on the tour! So after the show Ernesto made a heartfelt plea to other bassists to help out. You just can't have timba without a bass! Stay tuned for a full concert report later. Here is the video, sorry about the volume level of the music, but after all, we were at a club.

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]

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!

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.

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!

Buena Fe has the visas for the Miami Concert!

DIAL WEEK and BuenaFeManía continue! In just two days Buena Fe will finally unveil their new CD "DIAL" with three spectacular shows at Karl Marx Theater February 8-10. Tickets went on sale yesterday and fans have been posting comments such as: I got in line at 6:30 am and waited for six hours to get tickets, but it will be worth it! And my favorite comment: Getting tickets to Karl Marx was almost like getting a visa to the USA.

For the lucky fans who have tickets to Karl Marx, the shows will be more than just concerts. In keeping with the theme of "DIAL" , which is a tribute to 90 years of Cuban Radio, Buena Fe has put together a performance that will be a fusion of art forms such as dance, by the group Havana Queens, as well as acting and film. Buena Fe has worked hard hoping to give their fans  an unforgettable experience.

There is more good news. Buena Fe will do a Valentine's Day concert at Habana Café at Hotel Cohíba. Yes, that means February 14th, at 9:00 pm. So don't despair if you are just not able to wait in line for the Karl Marx tickets. You have another opportunity to see the band soon, albeit not the special extravaganza for "DIAL WEEK"

And the good new just keeps coming! Buena Fe also announced at their Facebook page today that they have the visas for the Miami concert on February 22 at Miami-Dade County Auditorium. I know some fans who live in Tampa and other cities have been afraid to buy tickets and plan a trip until the visas were granted. Well they've been granted, so don't delay any longer! Buy your tickets today at Ticketmaster or you may find them sold out!

Fuera de aquí se desplaza un dial que me quiere decir cien ideas por igual
Creo que voy a escoger la que, a l menos feliz, emociona, edifica, enamora
                                                                                               "Dial" por Israel Rojas

Ladies and gentlemen, after much waiting for what is probably the most eagerly anticipated of all of Buena Fe's CDs to date, it has been declared "Dial Week" at Buena Fe's official Facebook page and Timba.com is ready for the party! The activities begin today with a press conference that is taking place at Bar Bilongo at EGREM even as I write. They are announcing the plans for the concerts and the personal exposition of artist Jesús Lara. The official CD release takes place with concerts at Karl Marx Theater on Friday the 8th at 9:00pm, Saturday the 9th at 9:00pm and Sunday the 10th at 6:00pm. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at the ticket office at Karl Marx at 9:00am, but fans are already saying they plan to start camping out in front of the ticket office tonight. It's BuenaFeMania!

Buena Fe will follow the two Havana concerts with a major event at Miami Dade County Auditorium on February 22nd. Organized by Blue Night Entertainment, the Miami concert will be filmed for subsequent release of a concert DVD. Tickets are already on sale via ticketmaster. According to an article in the Venezuelan periodical Primicias24, there are also plans to do a worldwide live stream of the concert! This would be historical and more than that, it would be a dream come true for all of the fans in Europe and South America who can't attend any of the release concerts. If we get any more information about a live stream we will update Primera Plana of course!

"Dial" is the 8th studio CD released by Buena Fe, and without ever having heard it, I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that it will be another hit and another Cubadisco winner. Buena Fe seems to live by the credo that anything worth doing is worth doing superbly. Every detail of the production is given the same attention. The album cover itself is worth a design award! The original intent was to release the CD in 2012 for the 90th anniversary of Cuban Radio.  We are used to an eclectic mix of styles from Buena Fe, but this time the idea was to have different songs representing the changing of stations on the radio or different types of songs you would have heard on Cuban Radio over the years. "Dial" may end up redefining eclectic, but I have so far only heard six songs from the album, so this is pure speculation on my part.

In a recent interview in OnCuba, director and lead singer Israel Rojas said that the CD contains 13 tracks, 12 written by himself and "Volar sin ti", which he wrote together with Galician singer/songwriter Andrés Suárez. Interestingly, I have a list of 17 songs! Four of them are from soundtracks of radio programs that all Cubans will recognize. I am going to assume that it is the other 13 original songs that Israel was talking about in the interview. The CD should be on sale at the concerts, so bring some extra money to get yourself a copy. I still don't know what day the album will be available for MP3 download, but I will post an update when I know. The following is a track list for "Dial" minus the four soundtrack songs:
Acompáñame
Buena hembra, mala sangre
Pasa o parece
Ojeo
Volar sin ti (con Andrés Suárez)
Si yo fuera
Pablo
Se bota a matar
La culpa
De proa a popa
Papel en blanco
Dial
Corazón universidad (Bonus track con DcoraSon)

And to do our part in BuenaFeMania, here is a YouTube playlist with five of the songs from "Dial". Enjoy, and stay tuned for further updates during "DIAL WEEK"!

Pedrito Mártinez Group in Washington DC -- Click here to read the full report from our D.C. correspondent Rosy Estrada. Rosy notes..."Heralded as one of the top percussionists in the Cuban music scene, New York-based Pedrito Martínez will be making his first appearance in the Washington, D.C. area since his 2005 performance as a former percussionist with Yerba Buena at the Kennedy Center. The Pedrito Martínez Group, a quartet of talented musicians and singers, will be performing live at the Artisphere, in Arlington, Virginia, on Saturday, February 9th at 8:00pm."

The very next day farther west we have Manolín "El Médico de la Salsa" at Café Cócomo in San Francisco. Click here for tickets. Excitement is in the air becuase Manolín with be backed by bassist Jiovanni Cofiños band -- an established group in Las Vegas. Jiovanni was the musical arranger and bassist for la Orquesta Revé in early 2000, writing the smash hits 1999, Dale Agua Al Dominó and Se Sigue Comentando!!  

Next we have a lighting round review of this year's Anaheim Winter NAMM (National Association of Music Mechants) Trade Show. I was there Thursday, Friday and Saturday and in my 10+ plus year of attending I've never seen it so busy. Rumors of 94,000+ or almost 100k people attended this year. 

yes we believe in music -- not open to the public -- get your pass and hotel early 

The new outdoor stage at NAMM. Right smack in front of the convention center. Tower of Power ripped it up Thrusday evening where I ran into...

NG La Banda / La Maquinaria / Afro-Cuban All Stars master precussionist Calixto Oviedo

Calixto has a bunch of stuff going on and upon his arrival from Sweden was immediately secuestered by all the pecussion greats for intense sessions of NAMM farandulation. Co-author of the now top Afro-Cuban study method for percussion on the planet Beyond Salsa Percussion, Calixto is sponsored by Tycoon Percussion among others and has an upcoming interview with Modern Drummer magazine, not to mention his La Maquinaria live DVD recording concert in Boulder on Feb 10nth with ex-Pupy star singer Pepito Gómez. 

Looking good Tycoon. A shout out to fellow TIMBA enthusiast George Balmaseda (Artist Relations Manager) and Ivy Yu (General Manager at Tycoon Percussion).

Another company besides Tycoon making great inroads into Latin percussion is German company MEINL. They have a slick new series of ciongas and timbales.

The new Latin percussion series from Meinl. Artists relations manager German Baratto shares a growing interest into Latin percussion and Cuban music. 

The Beyond Salsa series from our mad scientist extraordinaire and walking timbapedia Kevin Moore made waves at the show, catching the attention of Modern Drummer Editorial Director Adam J. Budofsky. 

Stay tuned for coverage of Calixto Oviedo and the Beyond Salsa Percussion books in Modern Drummer Magazine. http://www.moderndrummer.com (the world's top drum magazine).

SF Bay Area pianist Ben Heveroh lays down some montunos of a new Fazoli piano. Wall to wall, dedicated floors of piano and other gear can be found in great abundance at the NAMM Show.

Now back to post-NAMM show gear lust withdrawal....

Watch also  for the forthcoming release of  two new recordings as well - a Jazz one (Todo o nada) and a dance one (Suspendan los comentarios).  A national  tour of Cuba is planned in April 2013.  Also, in August 2013, Maraca will appear with Hubert Laws at the International Flute Convention in New Orleans. 

Coming tomorrow: Yunior's Terry's new CD, Manolín in SF, book news and much more. [Kevin Moore]

On February 2nd Septeto Santiaguero will celebrate their 18th anniversary with a concert at noon at the legendary Salón de los Grandes de la Casa de la Trova in Santiago de Cuba. The band's latest CD, "Vamos pa' la fiesta", was selected as one of the best albums of World Music in 2012 by About.com (owned by The New York Times). And the Septeto's new CD was listed among the best salsa and latin jazz CDs of 2012 by the prestigious sites Descarga.com online music sales, ElWatusi.com, Brazil Salsa, Latin Beat Magazine, the Colombian radio station Javeriana Estereo, American stations KPFA 94.1 (Berkeley) and WMNF 88.5 FM (Tampa) and the French newspaper Le Monde, through the blog Mundo Latino. The album includes collaboration with internationally reknowned artists Rubén Blades (and his alter ego Medoro Madera), José Alberto “El Canario”, Cheo Feliciano and Edwin Colón Zayas, Jimmy Bosch and Luisito Quintero. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the heart of Cuban music and the soul of timba, guaranteed to get you dancing!  If you haven't heard "Vamos pa' la fiesta" yet, click here to check it out at Spotify. 

Septeto Santiguero will take their rico son to Mexico with concerts the 14th in Salón Los Ángeles in Mexico City, the 15th in Cuernavaca and the 16th in Veracruz. Don' t miss your chance to party with Septeto Santiaguero! Check out the first video from the album, "Esa familia a mí no me conviene"!

The video above is a sample song that Calixto sent me, although Armando says the band has not yet recorded any demos. Instead they will make a professional quality DVD of the Boulder concert.  After hearing the demo and  interviewing Armando I am very excited about this new group! To read more about the origins of the band, their mission statement, the band members and how they began their collaboration with Calixto and Pepito, click here.

Booking for La Maquinaria Cubana
lamaquinariacubana@aol.com
Contact: Mandy Sant
1-303-475-7894

In December 2012, The CMQ Big Band  did some beautifully-orchestrated tributes to Beny Moré featuring Alain Pérez on vocals.   Love the sax section in this band too.  Here's a taste:

                                                                                                                                                                                Last but not least:  After an absence from most of the United States of more than a decade, Ernán López-Nussa is planning a tour here later in 2013.  This will be a reunion tour with two former bandmates, drummer Jimmy Branly and bassist Sawa Perez. In 2011, these three played together for a couple of sessions in Wisconsin and Iowa, and the chemistry and music were great. Ernán won four Cubadiso awards for Veinte Pianos in 2012. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.   

The 2013 Tours season is already in full swing in Peru with Charanga Forever and Charanga Habanera performing together in Peru last weekend, and Calle Real, Havana D'Primera, Maykel Blanco & Salsa Mayor and Klímax performing together Friday, February 1 in Lima.

Here in Europe Maykel Blanco is just finishing up his solo promotional tour for the "A toda máquina" CD, while La Charanga Habanera will start their European winter tour next Thursday with a concert at Cuba te quiero in Rome. David and the boys will hold 16 concerts across Europe and then head to Japan in March. Their Tours Page has the list of all concerts we know of thus far. If you know of any we are missing, please send me an e-mail.

Gente D'Zona on tour in Europe February

Also on tour in Europe during the month of February is Cubas hottest reggaeton act, Gente D'Zona. They have 12 concerts in 4 countries, including Spain, France, Italy and Germany. Click here to see the full list of concert dates and find one near you. Again, if we have missed any concerts, please send me an e-mail.

Later this spring we have Elito Revé y su Charangón and Havana D'Primera visiting so stay tuned for tour updates.

This concert was originally intended to take place back in November in my old hometown of Boulder, Colorado and I was going to be able to attend. But as it is sometimes hard to coordinate musicians' schedules, the concert was postponed until February 10, 2013 at the Fox Theater in Boulder at 8:00pm. It's bad news for me, since I am back in Stockholm and can't make it. But for Colorado timba fans, and I know there are some timberos there in Boulder/Denver, the delay has made it possible for La Maquinaria to bring in more exciting guest artists. In addition to master percussionist Calixto Oviedo, the February 10th concert will feature none other than Pepito Gomez and Lily D Oviedo on vocals! Pepito has been working in Puerto Rico with Jose Lugo y Guasabara while Lily has been performing regularly in Stockholm as well as around Europe and on salsa cruises. The director of La Maquinaria is Armando Santoyo and on piano Gustavo Ramirez currently residing in Los Angeles. It will be a night of timba, Latin jazz and genuine Cuban music. These kind of concerts don't come along so often in Colorado so don't miss it!

Booking for Calixto Oviedo & La Maquinaria
lamaquinariacubana@aol.com
Contact: Mandy Sant
1-303-475-7894

Solo Frank, Maykel & Moreno @ ClubCalo

It was great to see Maykel again. It's been two years since his last visit to Sweden so we did a little catching up at dinner, which was provided by Cantineros, a relatively new restaurant/salsa club in the center of Stockholm. After dinner here was a lot of action on the dance floor at Cantineros, but the event was held by ClubCalo at a venue called ARENA, so we took off for the club. Poor Maykel suffered quite a lot from the -17 Celcius temperature. This is what Maykel had to deal with last night.

View from the car window

The plan for the night was a salsa party with 3 dance floors: salsa, bachata and timba, Maykel's presentation of the CD "A toda máquina" and a concert by Solo Frank to promote his new CD "A mi manera". Before Maykel went on stage I did a short interview with him. It's all in Spanish. I haven't had time for subtitles. If you don't speak Spanish, here are some interesting details. The song "El songo de todos" was originally intended to be recorded with Los Van Van, but due to differences in their tour schedules, Maykel was forced to record it without them. Thus he came up with the idea of bringing in the most popular young singers in timba. The video is up at YouTube so check it out if you are one of the few who hasn't seen it yet!

Maykel also mentioned the upcoming mega-concert in Lima on February 1st with Calle Real, Havana D'Primera, Klímax and Salsa Mayor at the Centro de Convenciones de Barranco, as well as the summer tour of Europe which will take place in June and will be with the full band of course. You can keep up with Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor via thier Facebook page and their official website maykelblanco.com.

For those who speak Spanish here is the whole 4 minutes y pico at YouTube filmed in the kitchen with workers going back and forth and bachata blasting in the background.

Erick reports... "Los suecos de Calle Real se presentan sobre el escenario del club Chocolate, con un show que a nadie dejará sentado, los acompañará la banda local Juana Fé, dando paso a una fiesta del Son!!"

Horario: 21:30 - Edad: +18
Preventa 1 (Solo 100 entradas)
Preventa General $ 9.000 (CLP)
Preventa Vip $ 20.000 (CLP) Con cover 
COMPLETAMENTE AGOTADA LA PREVENTA!

Preventa 2 (Hasta el 6 de febrero)
General $20.000 = V.I.P $ 30.000 Con Cover
En Puerta = General $25.000 = V.I.P $35.000

Duración del evento hasta las 04:00 - venta de entradas a traves de ticketeck  - Evento exclusivo mayores de 18.

Get ready Peru! Lima is the second capital of timba, and the Peruvian timberos are starting 2013 with some amazing events! First up we have the tour of La Charanga Forever. The band will arrive on Wednesday the 16th and will give a press conference at Club Alianza on the 17th. Between the 18th and 27th the band will perform 11 concerts! Check their tours page to find the complete list of concerts, including the mega salsa event on January 26th at Alianza!

2013 - The 5th Annual Salsa Rueda Festival in S.F.

click here for tickets
Timbaversity Guest Stars - Isaias Rojas, Ned Sublette, and Roberto Borrell
Lectures, Q & A sessions, and Multi-Media Demos on Cuban Music and Dance
15 min breaks between dance workshops.
5 LIVE CUBAN BANDS!!
17 hours of Beginners Bootcamp!! -- Beginners Mixer/Social Room
DJ Room with Timba, Salsa, Cubaton, Bachata, Reggaton, Kizomba and more
Instructors/Performers Track -- After Party room w/ all star Salsa Timba DJ's till 5 a.m.

DANCE INSTRUCTORS-2013
Isaias Rojas* (Havana, Cuba)  -- Yeni Molinet (Havana - Italy)  -- Roberto Borrell (Havana-Bay Area) -- Kati Hernandez (Havana-Los Angeles) -- Yismari Ramos Tellez (Havana - Bay Area) -- René Dennis Thompson (Havana - Minneapolis) -- Temistocles Betancourt (Havana - Bay Area) -- Duane Wrenn (Detroit) -- Julian Meija (Atlanta)  -- Ramon Ramos Alayo (Santiago de Cuba - Bay Area) -- Luis "El Indio" Martinez (Havana - Mexico City)  -- Sandra Moro Sleeper (Austin) -- Royland Lobato ( Guantanamo - Bay Area) -- Susana Arenas Pedroso (Havana - Bay Area) -- El Salsaron Cubano (Havana) -- Mike & Simona (Corvallis) -- Chris Rogicki & Evelyn Ramirez (New York City) -- Rick Washington (Bay Area) -- Yussef Breffe (Havana-Bay Area) -- Greisy Prieto & Javier Rosillo (Venezuela) -- Leslie Vazquez & Reinier Fernandez (Havana-Mexico City) -- Amanda & Adrian (D.C.) -- Victoria-Hadar Harel (New York City) -- Tania de La Pena (Los Angeles) -- Wilfredo Guilbiac Rodriguez (Havana - San Diego) -- Nick and Serena (The Bay Area)

2013 Dance Performances
Salsa Vale Todo (SF/Bay Area) -- Rumbanana (Corvallis, OR) -- Las Que Son Son (The Bay Area, CA) -- SALSAtlanta (Atlanta, GA) -- Rueda Vale Todo (SF/Bay Area) -- Fuakata (New York, NY) -- Yeni Molinet (Havana - Italy) -- D.C. Casineros (Washington D.C.) -- CMV con Ritmo (Mexico City, Mexico) -- Ladies of Salsatlanta (Atlanta, GA) -- CMV Kids (Mexico City, Mexico) -- Grupo Experimental Nago (Bay Area) -- Dale Tumbao (Eugene, OR) -- Timba Casino (Mexico City, Mexico) -- Danzarte Maracaibo (Venezuela) -- Fuego Latino (Watsonville, CA) -- Street to Stage (Minneapolis, MN) -- Salsa con Rumba (Mexico - Washington) -- Arenas Dance Company (Bay Area) -- Nick and Serena (SF/Bay Area) -- Las Puras (The Bay Area, CA) -- Rueda Rockets (Moffet Field, CA) -- Bruno and Ann (Minneapolis, MN) -- Dance in Time (D.C.) -- My Salsa Performance Group (Atlanta, GA) -- Cubata (San Diego, CA) -- Soulclectic Roots Dance Company (L.A., CA) -- Sarah Herrera & Adetola Williams (Bay Area)

click here for tickets

TIMBA.com les desea un feliz y próspero año 2013, y mientras nos prparamos para el nuevo año, hemos quierido aprovechar la oportunidad para recordar algunos momentos importantes de este año: 

Music Industry Awards/ Premios de la industria musical:  

In Cuba's  CUBADISCO  2012,  Acabaito de Nacer (David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera) won the award for Best Album of Current Popular Dance Music.   It is worth mentioning that a band based in the United States, Timbalive, was also nominated in that category.  We believe that this is the first time that a band in the US has received that distinction. 

En Cuba, CUBADISCO 2012, Acabaito de Nacer (David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera) ganó el premio al Mejor Álbum de Musica Popular Bailable Actual.   Vale la pena mencionar que un grupo en los Estados Unidos, Timbalive, también fue nominado en esa categoria.  Creemos que esta es la primera vez que un grupo un ls EE.UU. ha recibido esta distinción.  

Also, Mis 22 Años (NG La Banda)  received a Special Prize along  with 30 Años de Son 14 (Son 14.)

Asimismo, Mis 22 Años (NG La Banda) recibió un Premio Especial junto con 30 Años de Son 14 (Son 14) 

In the United States, La Maquinaria (Juan Formell y Los Van Van)  received a nomination for Best Contemporary Tropical Album in the XIII Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards.   Although this was not necessarily the best Timba recording to come out during this period, we were glad to see that a Timba recording from anyone did finally receive recognition from the Academy.   The Academy also created a new category, Best Tropical Fusion, that will be worth watching in the future.  

En los Estados Unidos, La Maquinaria (Juan Formell y Los Van Van) recibió una nominación al Mejor Álbum Tropical Contemporáneo en La XIII Entrega Anual del Latin GRAMMY.  Aunque esto no era necesariamente la mejor grabación Timba para ser lanzado durante este periodo, nos alegramos de ver que una grabación Timba de cualquier grupo hizó finalmente recibir el reconocimiento de la Academia.  La Academia también ha creado una nueva categoría, Mejor Álbum de Fusión Tropical, que ser digno de ver en el futuro. 

Milestones/Hitos:   

Juan Formell celebrated his 70th birthday this year.  Congratulations Juan, and thanks for all the joy that you have brought us during several decades of wonderful music.    Also, the late Celia Cruz was selected by popular vote in the United States to be recognized with a special portrait in the Smithsonian Institution.   For fans in North America, the most important news of the year may be that 2012 saw a significant increase in tours by bands from Cuba.  Hopefully this trend will continue. 

Juan Formell celebró su cumpleaños número 70 este año.  Felicidades Juan, y gracias por toda la alegría que nos ha llevado durante varias décadas de música maravillosa.  Además, la fallecida Celia Cruz fue seleccionado por votación popular en los Estados Unidos para ser reconocido con un retrato especial en la Smithsonian Institution. Para los fans en  América del Norte, la noticia más importante del año puede ser que el 2012 se registró un aumento significativo en giras con grupos de Cuba.  Esperemos que esta tendencia va a continuar. 

Most Exciting Band of 2012/Grupo más excitante de 2012: 

TIMBA.com doesn't have an official "Best Band" award, but if we did, it would be difficult to deny Alexander Abreu and Havana d'Primera the honors for 2012.  They sent audiences into a frenzy wherever we saw them play.  

TIMBA.com no tiene un premio de "Mejor Grupo", pero si lo hiciériamos, sería dificil negar Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera los honores en 2012.  Enviaron a un público en un frenesi donde  los vimos tocar.  

GRAMMY NOMINATION
Nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album (Mejor Álbum Tropical)  in the upcoming 55th Grammy Awards, CUBANO SOY by Raúl Lara y sus Soneros, is a wonderful tradional Son and Rumba project from a Cuban expat living in Sweden, which practically has its own colony of Cuban musicians now. Raúl studied extensively with José Luis Quintana (Changuito) when he was younger.  He has played with several groups, but Cubano Soy is his debut release as a solo artist.  Raúl's website, which includes some sound clips, is here.  

In Memoriam:

Luis Abreu, Sara González, Paquito Hechavarria, Gregorio "El Goyo" Hernandez

A new Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera photo gallery is up (all photos by Tom Ehrlich). Havana D' Primera played to two sold out shows at Yoshi's San Francisco on November 24, 2012.  Although there was some problems with the sound, HDP played two inspired sets and they lived up to their reputation. Click on any pic to view the gallery...

Pupy Cantor and the Edwin Sanchez Orchestra at the Old Town School of Folk Music    

     In the late 1990s, and for a brief period in more recent years, Chicagoans had the luxury of seeing some bands from Cuba and Puerto Rico at prices ranging from free to a minimal admission charge at various city festivals and events.   While it was wonderful to experience these performances while they were happening, as a long-term proposition, they may have conditioned audiences to expect to see this music at little or no visible cost (these performances were never truly "free" since payment came from a city budget that was experiencing escalating problems over the years).   More recently, the city has dramatically reduced its financial support for several musical events, cancelling some and dramatically reducing the scope of others.  Among other things, the Viva Chicago festival is no more, and the annual Puerto Rican festival in Humboldt Park has been shortened to adapt to budget cutbacks. The best information available to us indicates that this funding is unlikely to come flowing back in the foreseeable future, and increasing private (both for-profit and not-for-profit) sources will be needed to pick up the slack if Chicagoans hope to see this type of music live.

Henry Cole and the Afrobeat Collective at the Mayne Stage .

     Fortunately, two private venues have already stepped in to do what they can - the Mayne Stage and the Old Town School of Folk Music have been very aggressive in booking touring bands (including bands from Cuba) and have done a commendable job with the resources available to them.  The Old Town School in particular has used its outdoor festival as well as its indoor venues to help give the music a home.   More recently, a new privately-organized festival, Festival Cubano , has also emerged as a noteworthy annual event  (it is doubtful that this particular event will be in a position to book talent from outside the US, at least in the near future, but it has shown positive growth during its first three years in its ability to book a wide range of acts from within the United States).  
    One challenge confronting festivals and large concerts generally is....click here to read the full post...

Photo courtesy of BUENA FE (PÀGINA OFICIAL)

Last night Buena Fe ended their national tour with a special concert on the steps of the University of Havana. The concert was attended by...well as you can see...by a lot of people. The national tour was in conjunction with the 90th anniversary of the University Student Federation (FEU) and consisted of concerts in 19 cities across Cuba. Last night's concert was the grand finale, and Buena Fe invited a number of special guests including a horn section, Descemer Bueno , Frank Delgado and Boni & Kelly. For more photos from last night's performance, check out Buena Fe's Facebook page , which is very active and contains all the latest information about the band including video, photos and concert dates.

During the tour they have been performing songs from their latest CD, "Dial", which will be released in 2013. Israel Rojas says that this CD represents the beginning of a new phase in Buena Fe's music. Their arrangements have always been eclectic, but "Dial" may be even more so with different styles of music as if you are turning the dial on a radio and switching channels. The song "Pablo" from the movie of the same name, "Ojeo" a song about the role that digital camera technology can play in our intimate lives and "Volar sin ti" a ballad written together with Galician singer/songwriter Andrés Suárez are some of the highlights of the new CD. I haven't heard all of the new songs yet, but if the little lyric teasers they have been uploading to their Facebook page are any indication, this CD will be another award-winning home run for the band. Buena Fe will perform 2 concerts at Karl Marx Theater in Havana for the release of the CD on February 8 and 9. If you will be in Havana at the time, this is a must-see event!

As I have previously posted the videos "Ser de sol" with Descemer Bueno and "Pablo", I will now leave you with video from the first live performance of "Volar sin ti", which took place with Andrés Suárez in Madrid in August.

It's large -- 40 musicians más o menos (it's complicated), it has two CDs, it includes many of the heavy hitters in Havana with some special invited guests, and it's coming at you!  Wait, don't run: read our review here first...

The opinions that follow are my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of TIMBA.com or of my colleagues.             

El Tosco was right!

     A very striking lesson from the Red Hot + Cuba  performance at BAM is that many of the people in the audience were not your usual suspects for a Cuban music concert, and although they clearly enjoyed the entire show,  there is no denying the fact that it was the Timba selections which really made them get out of their seats and move.  Various people in and out of the music industry have been declaring this music "over", "exhausted", "dead" etc. for years, and these shows clearly demonstrated that not only were the obituaries and eulogies premature, but also that the music can reach and engage new listeners if marketed effectively, presented well and performed with conviction. However, to fill a venue of this size,  presenters must reach well beyond the core community of existing Timba fans and bring in more of the general public (as happened here).  The BAM concert  is Exhibit A that if new listeners hear the music, many of them will become converts. 
     For that show (Red Hot + Cuba) , there was a crack battalion of production, technical and publicity people working behind the scenes as well as an institution, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, that already possessed a loyal cadre of audience regulars of its own. Without all of those ingredients, trying to present this type of "All-Stars" performance can be virtually a suicide mission, financially speaking.  I truly hope that we see shows of that caliber in other cities, but it takes a lot of infrastructure to make this type of extravaganza a success.  

What is wrong with this picture? 

     One final word to the fans:  this is a difficult matter to discuss, but it needs to be said, and the venues and bands won't tell you because they don't want to alienate you and risk causing you to stop buying tickets.  This is about that bootleg video so many of you are taking nowadays.  The venues don't like that you do this, but many of them aren't telling you to put those I-phones and whatnot away because they need your money.  So,  I am going to tell you something:  I don't like it when you do that either, for two reasons: 
     1.  Many Cuban bands lack the means to operate their own reliably-updated websites and Facebook pages, and this makes whatever does show up on the web even more significant for their public image. If you sell bootleg video, you are ripping them off, and yes, in the evolving Cuban economy, you are probably ripping them off as individual people now, so don't even try that excuse. If you post it free on Youtube or anywhere else seen by a lot of people, the audio quality of what you did is often so poor that if you think you are doing this out of love, I would almost prefer that you hated them.  Bad audio makes them sound bad and does not help their chances with those who are learning about them for the first time. Your little souvenir might even accidentally convince somebody that they really aren't worth checking out.  I know this probably isn't going to make you stop taking personal video, but if you must continue, please use your heads about what you do with it afterwards, OK?  (Venues might even want to think about whether there is a practical business model that would allow  them to charge for a VIP "video highlights" package in lieu of tolerating those twenty phones in the air, but that may be easier said than done.)

Next up on America's Dumbest Concertgoers?

       2.  A few of you have even graduated to wide-screen I-pads that are practically the size of TV cameras. If that describes you, has it ever occurred to you that in addition to blocking the sightlines of somebody that might be taking pro-quality shots and video on behalf of the band, you are also blocking the view of other people in the audience who are standing behind you?  Leave those I-pads in your bags, folks. Besides, isn't this dance music?  So why not dance instead already?  Please keep coming, but please also be kind to the bands, the venues and your fellow concertgoers.  

     Final thoughts:  Overall, this series of New York/New Jersey concerts goes in the "win" column for everyone involved, at least from a musical perspective.  For Havana d'Primera in particular,   this was part of a larger national tour that has reinforced that band's reputation as one of the most important groups performing the music today. For those of you who have to travel to New York to do this sort of thing, it is definitely worth the trip.  Always prepare a Plan B (this is true of anything that takes you there, not just Timba concerts), but there is never nothing to do there. Never. If you go to New York for any reason and leave disappointed, that's on you. In a way, I'm glad I don't live there - I would be broke from going to see too many bands and shows.  (Now, if we could only find a suitable regular New York reporter.....)

The opinions that follow are my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of TIMBA.com or of my colleagues.  

     The metropolitan New York area is being blessed with a lot of Cuban music - including Timba - these days, so the future looks bright from that angle. Gotham really does have her groove back! I saw some wonderful shows while visiting, and had I not been attending the Havana d'Primera shows and the BAM extravaganza, there were other options of some sort every night while I was there. This is great news for concertgoers but may prove to be a mixed blessing for presenters and venue operators. Case in point:  There were four opportunities during the week to see Havana d'Primera and two additional chances to see Alexander Abreu individually in the BAM show.  I attended all of the HdP performances, and although I noticed a few of the same individuals at more than one show, the audiences for each night were largely distinct.  If all of the people who saw the HdP shows had been gathered together at one place, there probably would have been a couple of sold out shows (or at least one sold out show with a healthy crowd at the second one). As it is, the crowds were respectable for each show, but people understandably appear to have chosen the date and place that made the most sense to their circumstances. (Only the most hard-core enthusiast would take in four nights of any act.)  On the other hand, it needs to be understood that reducing the number of shows would have almost certainly increased the price of the tickets, perhaps to a level that might have deterred some people from going due to the price. The Friday night BAM show that I saw was very well attended but was also not sold out. Even better, the audience enthusiasm was intense at all of these shows. I write this without knowledge of how any of these shows performed financially (it may take some time for that picture to become clear anyway), but I see two takeaways for future event planners:  (A) there is a genuine demand for the music, and when new listeners hear it, they will love it,  but (B) there will almost certainly be stiff competition to meet that demand in metro New York as the future unfolds, and it may take a stroke of luck for anyone to get a "monopoly" for any specific night; therefore, expectations regarding ticket sales will need to take that factor into account, and a high level of advance publicity will be critical to success in many cases.   

     Which brings us to the issue of ticket sales.  I understand the reasons why past experiences have driven so many fans nationwide to postpone ticket purchases to the last possible moment (usually at the door), but in many cities including New York (and my hometown, Chicago, for that matter), this has turned into a game of "chicken" (in the original version, two cars race toward each other at high speed, and the first driver to turn away before a collision is the "chicken") between fans and concert presenters, and this is a game that the fans will ultimately lose if it continues.  The overhead expenses of presenting a touring band from Cuba are enormous, the profit margins are slim on those occasions when one is made at all, and presenters that are cautious about not losing a lot of money use advance ticket sales to project whether they should proceed and how.  I am seeing an increasing number of last minute cancellations across the country over time due to the absence of advanced ticket sales, and this problem will get worse rather than better if something doesn't change. SO:
Fans:  You need to understand that when you say "I'll buy at the door" you are in effect telling the venue that you really aren't sure that you are interested.  That might not be what you are trying to say, but it is what they will definitely hear.  If you really do want to see a touring group from Cuba, the decision that you will need to make is whether you can trust that you'll get a refund if something does go wrong.  If the answer to that question is "yes",  and if the event is with an established venue rather than the local bingo hall (it usually will be), I would start buying in advance if I were you, or some venues will stop trying to host these acts. 
Concert Presenters, Promoters, Agents and Venues:  You need to understand that right now, there frequently aren't any real incentives for fans to purchase advance tickets, and you can see what's happening with your own eyes.  If I were you, I would start structuring some kind of better incentives for advance purchases into the ticket price even if that means raising the amount for at-the-door sales, and I would stress those more boldly when publicizing the dates.  Understand as well that this problem is also a powerful argument in favor of working with a supportive , established venue rather than renting a hall and relying solely on the credibility of your name as a promoter.  Yes, this may add to your expense line, but it will also add to ticket sales. If you're lucky, that will compensate for the expense.  
Everyone:  Seriously, folks, work this thing out, or we will all see fewer concerts with bands from Cuba in the future even though it will become easier on paper for them to come to the United States and there are plenty of fans to go around. Wouldn't that be ironic?

     Normally, when everything is going perfectly, promoters and agents aren't a visible part of the final story, and by way of introducing this subject, I need to share a couple of  harsh realities about the music industry. The most important one is that if eligibility for sainthood were a requirement to be in the entertainment business, perhaps half of the concerts and recordings that have taken place over the years would never have occurred, and a high percentage of the disc jockeys now in the clubs wouldn't be working either.  A certain amount of hype is part of how things frequently get done in most segments of the industry. The best operators keep that to a necessary minimum, and most never cross the line into blatant dishonesty, but this brings me to my second point.  There are some first-class agencies which I will not name here that have the skill sets and the experience to manage our music well, but after looking at things from the perspectives of risk, time and expense vs. potential reward, they have frequently chosen to focus on more profitable (and less difficult) lines of business.  This limits the pool of potential agencies for this music, and that calls for a certain level of public tolerance of those who can and will handle the music if they are essentially honest by music industry standards, reasonably competent and willing to learn from any mistakes that they do make (that very last item probably disqualifies some would-be promoters who otherwise meet the first two criteria.  Most people in this business make mistakes now and then, the key is whether you can learn from them and improve.)  

     This brings us to the organizer/promoter for the Havana d'Primera , Mayito Rivera and Tirso Duarte concerts (but not the BAM performances), Jay Peña , who had also presented the Mega Timba Concert at the Copacabana earlier this year. Given the very mixed public reaction to that earlier event and the circumstances surrounding it, I was among those who were initially skeptical about whether he should be attempting another Timba concert series of that scale so soon afterwards.   He chose to persevere, and I chose to give him the benefit of the doubt as he moved forward with plans for the second round of concerts. To his credit, he submitted himself to a level of scrutiny from some elements of the Timba community that most agents and promoters would have refused, and while he may have made a few decisions along the way that I would not have made personally, in the end, he presented some excellent concerts that might have been even better with fewer complications if not for circumstances beyond anyone's control (Superstorm Sandy being one of them).  I do believe that working with a respected venue like S.O.B.s made a positive difference in this case, and having them or someone like them on board is (in my opinion) important to the success of future concerts. While I hope that Mr. Peña realizes that he still has some room for improvement in the public relations and traditional (such as press and radio) publicity departments, and I am quite sure there are some other lessons from his experiences that would not be appropriate to share here, I also think that he has clearly demonstrated that he is sensitive to the Timba community and can deliver concerts worth attending. (I for one am very happy with the concerts that he presented this time, and the audiences were very enthusiastic as well.) There are other agents and promoters in this business who have been far worse (and who have even sometimes crossed the line into blatant dishonesty) without experiencing this level of scrutiny from the public.  If anything good comes from Mr. Peña's experience with running the gauntlet, perhaps it will be a signal to the less-reputable types in the business that the Timba community is watching more closely now.  But I also counsel our community to be careful not to drive capable operators from the field by acting with excessive zeal in the name of being vigilant. The pool of available agencies and venues that can and will present these groups effectively is rather small, and we need to remember that as we go forward.

(...to be continued...)

In the Best Latin Jazz Album category, one of the nominees is Manuel Valera's NEW CUBAN EXPRESS,  which this writer would like to see go all the way (you can read our review here and visit Manuel's website here.) Manuel is a Cuban ex-pat living in New York and is part of what we consider a movement of musicians there that are currently redefining the boundaries of Latin Jazz.

In the Best Tropical Latin Album category, CUBANO SOY, by Raúl Lara y sus Soneros, is a wonderful tradional Son and Rumba project from a Cuban expat living in Sweden, which practically has its own colony of Cuban musicians now. Raúl studied extensively with José Luis Quintana (Changuito) when he was younger.  He has played with several groups, but Cubano Soy is his debut release as a solo artist.  Raúl's website, which includes some sound clips, is here.  

Also in the Best Tropical Latin Album category, Puerto Rican Marlow Rosado's RETRO deserves mention as another independent project that stands out this year. You can read our review here, and his website is here. Marlow is more of a familiar name than the first two artists that we mentioned, but all of his GRAMMY recognition before now has come from his work in support of several other artists. This is the second recording by his own group La Riqueña and is a swinging tribute to the classic "Salsa Dura" of the 1970s. 

Incidentally, TIMBA.com's own Michael Lazarus mastered both Cubano Soy and Retro. Congratulations Mike, having two projects in the same category is a good problem to have.

Congratulations also to Arturo Sandoval, whose Dear Diz won two Latin GRAMMY awards and was nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album here. Two singles from that album, A Night In Tunisia (Actually An Entire Weekend!)  and Salt Peanuts!, were also nominated in the Best Instrumental Arrangement category. This album was a phenomenal tribute to Dizzy Gillespie, and you can read our review here. 

You can see the complete list of nominees for all categories at GRAMMY.com. One key reason that we saw Timba recordings recognized in the Latin GRAMMYs, but not here, is that voting Latin Recording Academy (LARAS) members are much likelier to be familiar with Timba music, which has a much broader following outside the US (especially in Europe and Latin America).   It is important to note that LARAS is structured to allow membership from artists, engineers and producers based internationally, while NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) is not. Consequently it has a tighter focus on United States - based members and projects. Some recordings which are eligible for consideration in the Latin GRAMMYs don't meet the criteria for consideration in the regular "American" GRAMMYs.  Bottom line:  Never assume that being an independent artist makes this process a waste of time.  If the music is good enough and enough people listen to it, there is always hope. Congratulations and good luck to the nominees! [ Bill Tilford ]

     Some of Manhattan's clubs may like to tuck the bands into bed as soon as possible after midnight, but over in Queens, some of them don't start jumping until the clock strikes twelve.  After the Friday night Red Hot + Cuba extravaganza at BAM in Brooklyn, I went to La Boom up in Queens.  This is a pan-Latin nightclub (if you are wondering about the name, they bring a huge sparkler "fuse" out with some of their more expensive drink orders), and when I arrived some time before midnight, I was worried at first because the DJ was cranking out a heavy mix of Bachata and Salsa Romantica. What's more, people were dancing to it and really, really digging it. Periodically, the man at the microphone mentioned that Havana d'Primera, Mayito Rivera and Tirso Duarte were coming later, and by this point I wasn't quite sure whether this was being announced as tidings of comfort and joy or more in the spirit of an air-raid warning. Would this turn into a scene like the Blues Brothers at Bob's Country Bunker from that first movie once the bands hit the stage? Fortunately, this turned out to be a bit of residual paranoia on my part left over from my last trip to the Big Apple.  As showtime drew near, there was a gradual transition to Salsa Dura and yes, finally Timba (whew!) at the DJ booth. Earlier in the night,  they were just accommodating the regulars, who are loaded up with bachateros, prior to the main event.  Once the bands came on, this was a Timba crowd with a Timba vibe. (Sidebar: In the unlikely event that the industry ever comes up with a "Best Use of Spandex" award, I might place La Boom's waitresses in nomination. Watching some of these ladies walk almost made me want to order a drink - which I never do when working - and more than compensated for listening to an hour of the "other crowd's" music.)

     Mayito has had some ups and downs since leaving Los Van Van (including a messy train of events earlier in the year with the New York Mega Timba Concert that ended with his not appearing there), but the crowd received him warmly at La Boom as he performed the opening set with a band composed largely of some of New York's finest including Jhair Sala from the Pedrito Martinez Group.  Fortunately for listeners, Miami and New York both have a solid corps of resident musicians who can play this music properly, and Mayito appears to be establishing a serious presence in both places by making the preparations required to have capable backing bands available there.  One additional thing that he did during this visit was drop into Martin Cohen's Congahead studios in Montvale NJ for a photo and video shoot.  (The photos are already up on the Congahead website, and we understand that video is coming later.)

     Tirso has also been a few places - physically and musically - himself in recent years but released an excellent CD in the spring of 2012 titled Tirso Duarte y la mecanica loca, which you can read more about here.  Fortunately for all of us, he is unmistakably back in the Timba saddle now and in top voice.  

     The La Boom concert featured segments by Mayito, Havana d'Primera and Tirso Duarte and went from approximately 1 am-4:30 am (just like old times!).  While returning to the hotel (on the train this time - I stepped out of the club in the middle of a shift change with the taxis, and NOBODY would go into Manhattan), I witnessed a scene that captures the life of a musician so well that I must share share it:  a pretty young puertoriqueña was completely tearing to shreds a fellow who was (or at least had been) her boyfriend for "ditching" her - leaving her with one of his friends - earlier in the evening.  His story?  He was a musician and was trying to close the deal on a gig with a man that wanted to hire him and his group.  But she was not buying this despite his increasingly-desparate pleas,  and I think the young man would have given just about anything to escape her wrath at that point.  Ah, the sacrifices we make in this business for the sake of the music...

     The New Jersey concert, which featured Havana d'Primera and Tirso,  was moved to the Mauna Loa in North Bergen from the original Park Theater in Union City as part of the post-Sandy adjustments.  There was no actual sign outside that said Mauna Loa (the locals told me that this was a result of recent storm damage), and it remains uncertain as to whether this had any impact on attendance (this website did its best on the day of the concert to help advise concertgoers how to find the place).  The crowd that was there was very enthusiastic, and DJ Morales set the tone with some excellent Timba and Afrocuban that you frequently don't hear at these things (by showtime, although this didn't have the largest crowd, it probably had the strongest Afrocuban vibe of any of the shows we saw this trip).  This was a shorter live set (close to 90 minutes)  that went from a little after midnight until about 1:30 am.  The New Jersey side of the river could use more Timba going into the future, but the ideal dates/times/locations may take a little time to sort out yet. 

To read a review and view a photo gallery of the shows  in Queens and in North Bergen, NJ, click here.  

Coming Next:  Part IV:  What Does This All Mean For The Future?

Charanga Habanera Takes One For The Team …

      Superstorm Sandy and the damage that it left forced a rescheduling of the Havana d’Primera performances in New York, and for one venue, S. O. B.s, this meant moving the show to a date when they would be on the same bill with the legendary ensemble Charanga Habanera . Unfortunately, a problem that I previously discussed in a July 2012 article about the New York Mega Timba Concert reared its head once again – most of the anticipated audience decided that it wanted to wait until the last possible minute to make a decision about whether to buy tickets.   As we mentioned in that earlier article, this problem is not at all unique to New York, but here its effect was even  deadlier than that of the storms – Timba.com has learned that as the date of the shows approached, a double bill didn’t look economically viable to anyone, and what surely must have been a very difficult decision for the promoter and the venue (especially considering that the whole process of the East Coast tour was being given a level of scrutiny normally reserved for failing banks and corporate bailouts  by elements  of the Timba community) was made.  Bear in mind that this is a venue (S.O.B.s) that had already lost a week’s worth of revenue due to storm damage. From this writer's perspective, both the numbers and the massive wave of popularity that Havana d’Primera was enjoying from its other recent performances would have clearly pointed to keeping Havana d ‘Primera on the program as the right choice.  While this undoubtedly disappointed many Charanga Habanera  fans, the fact that they didn’t “represent” earlier with significant advanced ticket sales helped make this outcome virtually inevitable.  As I mentioned in my July article, the question of whether or not this level of skepticism among ticket buyers is understandable is now beside the point. It’s there, and if this situation continues into the future, some cities will just not see some bands regardless of the identity of the venue, the promoter or even the band. More about this problem and what it means for all of us in the final chapter of our story. 

Alexander Abreu ‘s Ultimate Challenge

      Personally, I had always considered the addition of anyone to a program featuring Alexander Abreu and Havana d’Primera to be a fringe benefit at best – no disrespect to the other artists, whom I also love and enjoy, but HdP was the reason that I took a flight from Chicago to New Jersey -- and I’m willing to wager that most of those who knew what they were in for musically felt the same way.  Consequently, the deletion of Charanga Habanera (and a subsequent miscue about whether or not Tirso Duarte would really be part of the evening’s program)  didn’t dampen my own enthusiasm at all for the show that was to come. After everything that had already happened during the process of getting Havana d’Primera to come to New York, this should have been Alexander’s moment to enjoy the triumph of being there.  But Fate had one last cruel trick up her sleeve:  tragedy struck in the form of the death of Alexander’s father just hours before the show was scheduled to start.   The saying "The Show Must Go On” is true throughout the world, and although the sad news was already beginning to slowly flow through social media and other sources, some care was taken to assure that this did not cast a public shadow over the shows themselves.  The shows did go on, and Alexander performed with a depth of emotion that I have seldom witnessed from anyone on a stage. Alexander, my deepest condolences for your loss, but I also want you to know that in addition to whatever other names you acquire in the course of your career, I will also think of you as El Gigante from this point forward.  You just proved to all of us the hardest possible way that you really do deserve that title. 

To read more about the actual concerts at S O.B.s  (which were powerful) and view the photo galleries, click here. 

El Tosco’s Revenge:  Red Hot + Cuba  at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music)

     Since I already had four nights of Havana d’Primera on my calendar, I originally had not planned to take in any additional shows even though I was aware that Red Hot + Cuba and a few other events were also taking place around the metro area that week.  It just didn’t look practical to attend any extra performances.  But El Tosco found me at S.O.B.s and convinced me that I could and should go to Red Hot + Cuba . ("El Tosco" and "BAM" just SOUND right together, don't they?)   I’m calling this El Tosco ’s revenge because his other trip to New York for a large show earlier in the year had not been nearly as much fun for him for several reasons.   Although Red Hot + Cuba was an extravaganza with multiple artists, El Tosco was the dominating force.   As you’ll see in the photos, he is sporting a tricolored Mohawk these days, a nice touch considering that the original Mohawk tribe lived in what is now upstate New York. The most remarkable thing about this show is that it violated a lot of conventional wisdom about the best way to present modern Cuban music AND it did so successfully.  (By the way, congratulations to this founding father of Timba for 44 years in the business.)

El Tosco makes us an offer we can't refuse...

     I mentioned that Red Hot + Cuba successfully violated conventional wisdom regarding the best way to present modern Cuban music to the general public in the United States. For one thing, the show featured performers from several different ensembles and representing several different genres from traditional ballads to Nueva Trova to Rock to Timba on the same stage performing together.   In the past, we have written unfavorable things ourselves about "All-Star" performances from time to time because they frequently sound like they were thrown together at the last minute, and the results are often a watered-down version of what the music normally sounds like.  Red Hot + Cuba was different.  These musicians functioned as an integrated unit, and no compromises were made with the music or the production values, which were quite high. Also, Timba and Trova tend to attract different audiences in the United States, and conventional wisdom states that you normally don't present them together.  Yet, in this show, it worked. (Note to private promoters:  Don't try this at home.  This writer firmly believes that the involvement of a venerable, established venue, in this case the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the top-shelf skills of the show's production and publicity teams and the concept of performing as an integrated unit were all critical to the show's success.  Not to mention, a portion of the proceeds were to be donated to HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness in Cuba.  Trying to do this type of thing without the full range of crack professionals involved in this show would only make a mess.)    

     Sidebar:  This concert was this writer's first visit in person to the Brooklyn Academy of Music, now celebrating its 150th year.  It  has a very impressive arts complex including the wonderful Howard Gilman Opera House, where this show took place.  We strongly encourage you to learn more about it by clicking here.

     To read our review of the Red Hot + Cuba extravaganza and see some wonderful photos supplied by BAM, click here.  

Coming Next in Part III:   Mayito and Tirso Address The People

     I’m going to bend a journalistic rule and write parts of this in the first person because it will be easier to read that way.  Permit me to begin by saluting the people of New York and New Jersey for keeping your spirits high after the recent damage from superstorm Sandy and its aftermath. I was inspired - moved, even - by how well and how quickly you got your spring back in your step. 

     I also need to perform a brief reality check with some of my trash-talking friends in the Bay Area about the metro New York music scene. New York is a big place with a lot of music, and New Yorkers have choices.  In addition to the five performances that I enjoyed in New York and New Jersey, there were a few others, including Yoruba Andabo at Carnegie Hall and Pedrito Martinez at Guantanamera, which I could have taken in as well if I could have figured out how to be at two places at once.    (As I’m typing this, Los Papines are scheduled to perform in New York tonight.) Don’t get me wrong, the Bay Area is a wonderfully loving and supportive host and audience for touring bands, and it has some extremely talented musicians of its own as well, so keep doing what you’re doing.  But remember:  when you go to that Pedrito Martinez concert that you love to rave about, Pedrito plays regularly in his home city, which is New York.  There is also an entire platoon of New York musicians (such as Manuel Valera, Yosvany Terry and Rafael Monteagudo to name just a few examples) who could be melting your ears by playing Timba but have chosen instead to spend most of their time blowing the minds of those of us who also listen to Jazz.  It may possibly have a short supply of writers who are both able and willing to cover that scene, but the scene is very much there.  

     So why call this The Odyssey of Alexander Abreu?   Well, in the original Greek epic poem, Odysseus spent ten years attempting to return home after the Trojan War.  He was delayed and obstructed by sirens, a Cyclops, witches, storms, captivity and monsters among other things.   Alexander’s voyage to New York was closer to ten months than ten years, but he faced his own versions of sirens (in the form of multiple promoters involved in a scramble over terms), a Cyclops (in the form of a venue which was ultimately cancelled after it appeared that the operating terms and conditions would have almost guaranteed a failure), captivity (his wonderful cd Pasaporte was pulled from distribution in the middle of his US tour for a couple of track substitutions at the very time when US sales would have peaked if the cd had remained available) and even Scylla and Charybdis in the form of superstorm Sandy and its aftermath. The storms knocked one of the venues (S.O.B.s) out of action for eight days and took another venue (The Park Theater in New Jersey) out of the game for the duration.  For a time, it seemed as if the gods themselves were determined that Alexander Abreu and Havana d’Primera would not be permitted to perform in New York. 

But - he finally made it and played and sang his heart out when he arrived (in more ways than one, as you will read as the story unfolds).  One good thing about the need to reschedule after the storms was that a lot of other Cuban music hit town at the same time, and the end results for the fans were wonderful. 

In Part II, I’ll begin sharing what it was like when the music started.  That's a phenomenal story in itself.   
Coming Next:  Part II:  Havana d’Primera at S.O.B.s  and El Tosco’s Revenge

Mayito has his own US band under the direction of Osiris Martínez founding member of both Manolito y su Trabuco and Pupy y Los Que Son Son, now living in the US. Jhair Sala of the Pedrito Martínez Group was on congas. Mayito sang De igual a igual, Voy a publicar tu foto and Si no te quieres tú.

And of course the three singers traded guías.

Don't forget Rosy's Charanga Report. Next big show is Charanga Habanera in Orlando.

Links: BAM - Havana d'Primera at Maunaloa.

After the BAM show he made it Queens with plenty of time to spare. The Queens show went from 1:00 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. Mayito opened with a band that included at least some NY musicians; then HdP played its normal set; then Tirso played with HdP. There was a lot of interaction with all combinations of musicians and singers on stage. Bill would not part with any more details so we'll have to wait for his reports. If you were at either show, please email us.

TIPS FOR TONIGHT: When you get to Maunaloa (click here for google map), keep in mind that the building says The Nile Restaurant, not Maunaloa, which is in fact the upstairs room of the NIle Restaurant (see photo below). The doors open at 8:00 and the show will probably start at about 12:00 or 1:00 again. That's all I could get. I still don't know if Mayito will be at Maunaloa but Tirso definitely will be and anyone lucky enough to be in the NY area should not fail to miss this historic opportunity. [Kevin Moore]

CHARANGA HABANERA UPDATE: You can't keep a good band down. After being used and abused in New York, Charanga Habanera played to a sold-out house in Washington DC and has 8 more shows in December, starting on the 8th in Orlando, then 5 more FL shows, one in Vegas and one in Puerto Rico. Click here for Rosy's DC report.

Unlike many ill-advised all-star combinations that wind up being musically inferior to a straight show by a rehearsed band, Tirso and Mayito are ideally suited for this kind of situation. Think of Tirso's legendary appearance with Issac on Dec. 31, 1999 at Casa de la Música, or Mayito's equally brilliant cameo on the legendary live version of Solar de la California in April of 2000 at Marina Hemingway (that's Bombón on drums). Add to this the fact that at the beginning of his career Tirso's voice was compared to Mayito's leading to the famous line on Pupy's version of La bomba soy yo.

yo canto con mi garganta
[I sing with my throat - it sounds much more poetic in Spanish!]
tengo limpia mi conciencia 
[I have a clean conscience]
y si hay cualquier semejanza
[and if there's some resemblance]
eso es pura coincidencia
[it's pure coincidence] [audio example]

The combination of these two on the same stage has the potentional to rival the legendary "Controversia" performance of Cándido Fabré and Paulito FG.

I hear the backup band is pretty good too. [Kevin Moore]

Havana d' Primera - Photo by Bill Tilford - Sent live directly from SOBs

No Tirso Duarte, no Charanga Habanera...guests include pianist Alex Tosca and an ex-Muñequitos singer. A pumped-up crowd going absolutely crazy over a brilliant show by Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera. The band is in incredible shape. 

Havana D'Primera will be there (SOB's) tomorrow night. They are on fire and not to be missed. In regards to anything else your guess is as good as ours.

Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera - Photo by Tom Ehrlich

THE MORAL OF THE STORY: If you're within striking distance of Manhattan, Queens or Bergen, go see Havana D' Primera - it doesn't get better than this and no amount of mixing and matching will make it any better. If whoever shows up and some special magic happens, all the better, but go to see Havana D' Primera because it's simply the tightest, most professional, most creative, and God knows, the most SOULFUL Cuban band you're going to see for a long long time.

Important notice for Charanga Habanera fans: refunds are being processed so call SOBs at 212.243.4940 with your request.

Videography by Patrick Hickey of Idyll Photography & http://TIMBA.com
http://www.timba.com/users/patrick-hickey-timba-photography
Patrick Hickey proudly uses the Mitra 3D Mic Pro = http://www.3dmicpro.com

Video courtesy of Zookbeat Productions, Lucumiyque and
Easy Entertainment Group (E.E.G.) 551-482-8766

Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera @ Don Quixote's International Music Hall
Felton, California - Tuesday, November 20 2012

Special guest San Francisco's own "El Sonero de la Bahía" Fito Reinoso. 
Stay tuned for more Cuban music at Don Quixote's International Music Hall. 

HAVANA D' PRIMERA is .....
Alexander Abreu - Director, Singer, Trumpet
Jannier Rodríguez - Coro singer
Enrique Luis Pérez - Coro singer
Tony Rodríguez - Piano
Harold Díaz Escobar - Keyboard
Avis Tobías - Bass
Orlando Vázquez - Trumpet
Uyuni Martínez Romero - Trumpet
Carlos Luis Álvarez Guerra - Trombone
Amaury Pérez Rodríguez - Trombone
Rogelio Nápoles - Guitar
Keisel Jiménez  - Percussion 1
Güillermo del Toro Varela - Percussion 2
Mauricio Gutiérrez Upmann - Percussion 3

Next shows are SOBs Wed/Thurs.

Havana d'Primera completely sold out both Yoshi's shows. It was an incredible night - everything went perfectly - they're apparently already booked to return in March.

Tonight they'll be at The Place in Miami (another link here), then on to New York for four shows: Wed. & Thurs at SOB's, Friday at La Boom in Queens. and Saturday in North Bergen, New Jersey.

Back in September, we wrote a sneak preview of this exciting new Jazz recording, but the actual release to the public was delayed until now.  (You can read our review here.)  Rafael Monteagudo and his bassist, Carlos del Pino, are part of the exciting and creative wave of Jazz artists originally from Cuba who now live and work in New York.  The pianist, Chiemi Nakai, is originally from Japan and made a name for herself in the music there prior to coming to the US. 
This CD, which we highly recommend for Jazz listeners (this goes triple for bassists), is now available on CD Baby. The page includes some audio preview clips. 

This is the first of Tom Ehrlich's Felton galleries, covering the soundcheck and part of the show.

Saturday's 10:00 show at Yoshi's SF is now (again) sold out, but this time it looks completely sold out, so jump on 8:00 while you still can. The band has been chilling its heels in SF for several days so they're well rested and loaded for bear (pardon all my dated slang) - just sayin' - get ready for this one!

And don't forget Beyond Black Friday: here's Tom's photo of Alexander and Orlando Vázquez checking out Beyond Salsa for Beginners before the Felton show:

Alexander is pointing out how the drumsticks are aligning with each other in Patrick Bonnard's killer shot of HdP in Europe. [Kevin Moore]

paperback book - eBook - audio - FREE AUDIO -  paperback book - eBook - audio    

What do you give a timbero who has everything? Beyond Salsa for Beginners: An Introduction to Latin Music for Dancers and Listeners is for the diehard music fan who doesn't necessarily want to learn an instrument. It's a full history of Cuban music from the very beginning, including changüí, rumba, comparsa, son, danzón, son montuno, charanga, mambo, Arsenio, Arcaño, Aragón, the descargas, Cachao, Beny, Celia, Tito, Machito, Rubén Blades, mozambique, pilón, songo, Irakere, Afro-Cuban folkloric music, and my most thorough timba history to date. There's an extensive glossary and a special guide to Cuban Spanish for English speakers complete with tips on pronunciation, accent marks, and slang. I have to admit that I went through a period where I thought the world began and ended with timba, but as I started trying to understand where timba came from I found an endless well of priceless music from every decade of the era of recorded music. The book tells you how to find it, understand it, warm up to it, and see how and why it's so critical to timba. It's almost impossible to find a timba song that doesn't have multiple references to these earlier genres in the lyrics, melodies and arrangements. There's also an analysis of the growth of salsa and the way Cuban and Nuyorican music have influenced each other over the years. The book also has a full set of very basic clapping and singing exercises to learn the most basic rhythms that even non-musicians should know: clave, dancing "on 2" and "on 3" the most basic rhythm of each bell and drum and so on. There's also a history of how each bell and percussion instrument evolved over the decades and a huge section explaining how to listen to trickier Afro-Cuban folkloric rhythms.

The second book, Beyond Salsa Percussion, Vol. 1 is for beginning drummers and timbaleros. The idea is that before you take your first lesson you should learn how to sing and clap all the basic rhythms - first one at a time, and then in combinations of 2 and 3. This way, you can spend your lessons working on technique, posture and tone production without being distracted by coordination.

IMPORTANT NOTES: These two books share several sections. BS Percusion V.1 has a lot more rhythms, but doesn't have any of the history and discography stuff that in BS for Beginners. Each one is ideal for its target audience, but if you buy both, you'll be annoyed to have purchased some duplicate material. So if you want them both, send me an email so you can get a big discount to account for the duplicate material.

AUDIO: This is also a bit confusing so please read carefully. There are 107 free tracks that you can download here. These tracks are covered by both books, so you'll need the free tracks no matter which book you buy. By the time you get through the free tracks, you'll know how well the method works for you and you can download the rest for the usual fee at LPM.

SPECIAL OFFER: If you buy both eBooks, the audio for both is free, so buy the books on LPM, then email me to receive the free audio. So in summary, for people who want both books: if you want both paperback books, email me for a discount, and if you want both eBooks, buy them on LPM and then email me for the audio. (kevin - at - timba.com). [Kevin Moore]

Update: 10:00 tickets now back on sale. Original Post: Click on the photo for Peter Maiden's photo gallery from the Havana d'Primera Santa Cruz show. Note that Yoshi's SF has stopped selling advance tickets for the 10:00 show. I'm not sure if they're holding any back for night-of-show. There are still a small number of 8:00 show advance tickets. 

Wow - HdP packed Don Quixote's International Music Hall in Felton. It turns out to be a great venue - reasonably priced, great sound, great dance floor, great food. Patrick Hickey was on hand with his amazing video rig so you'll have some clips to look forward to, and Peter Maiden (above) and Tom Ehrlich were both clicking away with reckless abandon. The band was on fire - new tunes - two longs sets. Bay Area sonero extraordinaire Fito Reinoso sat in and brought the house down. Hopefully we'll be getting more Cuban shows at Quixote's in the near future.

Next tour stop: Saturday night at Yoshi's San Francisco - only one night this time - my advice is to buy advance tickets - I wouldn't be surprised to see people turned away at the door. The rest of the tour is here.

Format: Beyond Salsa For Beginners is an introductory volume for the comprehensive Beyond Salsa series of music methods books. Each volume is made up of an eBook with accompanying audio (and video if available) tracks. The books and audio tracks are sold separately.

Hard copy: The hard copy version can be purchased here.

eBook: The eBook is made available through our View to Print system. 248 pages.

Audio: All the audio has been organized into 184 audio tracks. 

Free Audio: The FREE audio portion of this volume can be downloaded here.

The Beyond Salsa For Beginners method alternates between two different types of chapters:Listening Tours and Clapping, Singing and Dancing Exercises.

The Listening Tours cover the full history of Cuban music: Afro-Cuban folkloric music, rumba, changüí, comparsa, son, danzón, son montuno, songo, timba, salsa et al. For each genre we have a "highlighted track" - analyzed with time stamps to point out the main features. After a short history of the genre and its place in the overall scheme of things, we have a Further Listening list. The idea is to make a playlist of the highlighted tracks and listen repeatedly to develop an emotional connection with the music before studying the chapter.

Interspersed among the Listening Tours are four Rhythmic Exercises chapters on clapping, counting and singing the basic rhythms on which all of this music is based: clave, the basic dance steps, cinquillo, tresillo, and all the other essential rhythms of Latin music.

Click here for a FREE pdf sample of the Beyond Salsa For Beginners eBook.

Click here to see the table of contents for Beyond Salsa For Beginners.
Email the author = kevin [at] timba [dot] com

Although there were no victories for Timba this year, there was some progress in gaining recognition for our music.  Bill Tilford explains why here.

Aunque no hubo victorias para la Timba este año, hubo algún progreso en el reconocimiento de nuestra música,  Bill Tilford te lo explica aquí.

     Havana d'Primera's Fall U. S. Tour opened at LA's Conga Room on November 15th and drew a crowd estimated at 500 for a knockout concert with a different bongosero and the premiere of the new song Mi  Bailarina . A live video clip of the song can be found in the November 9 post on the  Havana Buzz Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HavanaBuzz?filter=1

    We haven't heard any feedback yet regarding the Oregon and Washington concerts, but next up on the calendar is Tuesday night, Nov. 20, at Don Quixote's International Music Hall in Felton (Santa Cruz County) at 6275 Hwy 9, Felton, CA:  http://www.donquixotesmusic.info/
Doors open at 7:30pm and the cost is $20.00 in advance ($23.00 at the door) for the whole night!

     Later, on Saturday, November 24, Yoshi's will host two shows in San Francisco:
http://www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco/jazzclub/artist/show/2620

     The East Coast gets a taste the following week with Miami on the 25th, NYC on the 28th and 29th, and North Bergen, NJ on December 1.

    We would be including a review of HdP's fantastic new album, Pasaporte , but we have received word that it has been removed from on-line distribution in order to substitute two tracks before redistributing.   This means that those of you already in possession of the original will have a collectors' item eventually.  We'll do a full review when the new version is available including a comparison of the original version and the revised one.

     Have you attended any of these concerts?  Tell us what you thought!  There are two ways to do this:  You can leave a comment on this blog (see the lower left hand corner of this post) or go to our Forums page and start a thread. 

On the eve of their national tour, Buena Fe has released the video "Pablo" from the film of the same name. It was shot on location in Camagüey. The tour begins tomorrow in Santa Clara and for the month of November the band will be heading to Eastern Cuba for 10 concerts, including free concerts in Holguín, Guantanamo and Santiago de Cuba, where the people are still recovering from the severe damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. The band will also perfrom at the Festival Aragua in Maracay, Venezuela on December 2nd and will then return to complete the national tour which will end on December 20th on the steps of the University of Havana as part of the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the University Student Federation (FEU). 

During the tour, Buena Fe will be presenting songs from their new CD, "Dial". For more information about the video, the new CD and the tour, check out the interview with Israel Rojas at Suena Cubano. Follow them at Buena Fe (Página Oficial) on Facebook.

Now, la pregunta de los 64 mil chavitos....who will open for who (quien le abrirá a quien) ???? Please leave us a message in out guestbook area (déjanos un mensaje en el area de Saludos). Havana D'Primera will be a tough act to follow so we'll see.... UFFFF. 

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
S.O.B.s  --  200 Varick Street  New York, NY 10014  --  (212) 243-4940

For "Créeme" he teamed up with Havana's hip-hop community. They composed and recorded songs inspired by Michel's work, including a fantastic hip-hop remake of one of my favorite Buena Fe songs "Soy" with Raudel from Escuadrón Patriota and Israel Rojas of Buena Fe. Other artists included Silvito El Libre,  Maykel Xtremo, Soandry Hermanos de Causa, Carlitos Mucha Rima, Bárbaro el Urbano Vargas and Al2. To top it all off was the biggest name in Cuban music: Juan Formell & Los Van Van. The entire event was documented by another of the young guns of the Havana artistic community: filmmaker Ian Padrón.  Padrón has been on the leading edge of socially conscious filmmaking with works such as the award winning movie "Havanastation", the groundbreaking video of "Ser de sol" by Buena Fe & Descemer Bueno and with audiovisual of this historic concert. They are currently subtitling and editing the DVD, which I hope will be ready in time to make it into my stocking as a Christmas gift! So check out the teaser here and keep an eye out for the DVD release!

La Bailarina - new song in the works

After tweleve (12) years Cuba's "Ambassadors of the Rumba" LOS PAPINES return to the U.S. to showcase their classic folkloric performances. Los Papines, a five-member ensemble, celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2003. 

"I went last Sunday and Los Papines, comprised of Luis, Ricardo, Jesus, Luisito and Juliet Abreu managed to get everybody’s shoulders and hips moving. The chorus of one of their songs said it all: Even the palm trees move with the wind and the earth shakes. Los Papines are some of the country’s best diplomats. With only five musicians they have inspired people to dance in 62 countries, transmitting the energy of a big band and showing the strength of Cuban music. Many years after the group formed, they continue to be a reference point of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean percussion." -- Irina Echarry, Havana Times

30 de Noviembre ( Viernes ) , 2012, " The Place ”
833 Southwest 29th Ave: Miami , Florida 33139
Informacion & reservacion: 786-400-5191

3 de Diciembre ( Lunes ), 2012 Night Club “ S.O.B’S ”, New York
200 Varick St. 10014  --  Phone : 212-243-4940 / www.sobs.com

4 de Diciembre ( Martes ) Restaurant Night Club “ Guantanamera ”
939 8va Ave.& 56 St. Manhattan  --  Phone:: 212-262-5354.*

08 de Diciembre ( Sábado ) Taller de percusión - www.oyuoro-afrocuban.com
405 West 55 St. on 9th Ave: New York , 10019  --  Phone:917-370-5081

15 de Diciembre ( Sábado ) " Cuba Ocho " Miami, Florida - 11pm
Phone:305.285.5880, 1465 SW 8th 33135, website www.cubaocho.com

For those of you not familiar with El Yoruba's solo work, here are a couple of soundcloud links to get you warmed up: La Diablita and Ya estoy en la calle . As you will hear, El Yoruba mixes reggaeton with a tasty dose of salsa, making for songs that appeal to a wide variety of dancers. Nos vemos en la pista!

We begin the list with Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera and all their new shows...

For the full show list click here
UPADTE 2 Havana D' Primera will perform a (both nights - Nov 28 & 29) double-header (same night) at S.O.B.s with David Calzado y la Charagna Habanera! 
UPDATE !! Due to the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast the Havana D' Primera shows will be rescheduled to Wednesday, November 28th and Thursday, November 29th. More news as it becomes available. 
November 15, 2012 - Los Angeles, CA - Conga Room (now the first show of the tour)
November 16, 2012 - Portland, Oregon - The Conga Club
November 17, 2012 - Seattle, Washington - Club Sur
November 20, 2012 - Santa Cruz, CA - Don Quixote's International Music Hall
November 24, 2012 - San Francisco, CA - Yoshi's 8:00pm & 10:00pm
November 25, 2012 - Miami, FL. - The Place (new website for The Place here)For all Havana D' Primera US Tour 20122 tickets call toll free +1.888.584.3070

Next we have shows for David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera...
For the full show list click here
November 21, 2012 - Miami, FL. - La Covacha
November 28, 2012 - NYC - SOBs with Havana D'Primera (double-header)
November 29, 2012 - NYC - SOBs with Havana D'Primera (double-header)
November 30, 2012 - Washington, D.C. - Diamond Lounge
December 8, 2012 - Orlando, FL. - Centro Borinqueño
December 12, 2012 - Ft Lauderdale, FL. - Café Iguana
December 15, 2012 - Naples, FL. - Dimension Club
December 16, 2012 - Tampa, FL.- Whiskey Club
December 19, 2012 - Las Vegas, NV. - Hard Rock Café
December 22, 2012 - Miami, FL. - Aché

And also Gente De Zona....

For the full show list click here
November 3, 2012 - Miami, FL. - La Covacha
November 4, 2012 - Miami, FL. - Latin Grammy Street Party
November 7, 2012 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL. - Café Iguana
November 11, 2012 - Tampa, FL. - Whiskey North
November 17, 2012 - New Jersey - Shaunzen Park
December 7, 2012 - Miami, FL. - Mansion

And finally the upcoming Cuban music festival in Miami featuring Issac Delgado, Manolín el Médico, Tiempo Libre, Timbalive and now Mayito Rivera !!

Click here to purchase tickets online
Wednesday, November 21 at the James L. Knight Center in Miami
For tickets call 305.209.0055

Hector Silveira and his Orchestra gave Chicago a much-needed Timba/Rumba/Son performance last Saturday.  For the concert review and photo gallery, click here. 

I've decided to start sharing some of my favorite videos here at Timba.com, not just at Facebook. So let me start with El Tren, La Maquinaria, whatever you want to call them, Juan Formell & Los Van Van are back with an estreno 2012 and I am in love again! This song makes me crazy to hit the dance floor immediately!  It's another song with Mandy Cantero, the newest Van Van, on lead and despite the name it is not a conga. It is timba, baby, timba. Enjoy, and stay tuned for more of my favorite videos!

Tonight is the long awaited and slightly delayed anniversary party for Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor at Casa de la Música Galiano. The band's eight year anniversary passed in October, but the official party was pushed back until November. As they say, No hay mal que por bien no venga and in this case Maykel is combining the the anniversary party with promotion for the new CD "A toda máquina". If you have signed up for newsletters from their web page, you already know that the CD consist of 13 tracks, including "El songo de todos" with the participation of many of the most popular young singers in Cuba today: El Noro, Christian and Rey Alonso, Emilio Frias "El Niño ", Ailyn, as well as Salsa Mayor singers Yasser, Yordis and Alexis David. Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor continue to be one of the most popular young bands in Cuba and one of the bright spots on the timba horizon. The CD should be released by Planet Records in December making it the holiday gift of 2012 for all the timberos on your list!

Track List: 
Son estos
El artista soy yo
Tremenda pinta
Anda por la calle
Tú no eres mi amigo
El songo de todos
Bembé
Un kilo
Pa' que se te quite
Hazte la que no me ves
La figura

BUY TICKETS ONLINE HERE
Domingo 25 de Noviembre 4pm de la tarde 
1ra Funcion. Para Reservaciones (786) 400-5191 o (888) 584-3070
Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera en Concierto Bailable
Sunday, November 25, 2012 at 4:00 PM

"The Place" - 833 South West 29Th Ave. - Miami, , Florida
Phone: (888) 584-3070

Domingo, 25 de Noviembre 2012 marca el debut y despedida de Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera en Miami. Este será el úlitmo concierto en los Estados Unidos y su debut en Miami. 

Para boletos llame al +1.888.584.3070
Pronto actualizamos este escrito con el enlace para compra de boletos en linea
THE PLACE - 833 SW 29nth Avenue, Miami FL 33139
Reservación 305-642-6994

The Miami debut and farewell US show of Alexander Abreu y Havana D' Primera will take place at THE PLACE in Miami = 833 SW 29nth Avenue, Miami FL 33139 = on Sunday, November 25, 2012.

This post will be updated wth the ticket link a.s.a.p., in the meantime tickets can be purchased by calling toll-free +1.888.584.3070

          Pablo Milanés in Madrid after the show with his opening act Andrés Suárez

In addition to the tour, Pablo is about to release a new CD that is going under the working title "Renacimiento". On this album he has continued incorporating Cuban traditional dance music, this time using rumba and changüí in his arrangements. His popularity with the younger generation of troveros has led to recent collaborations with artists such as Maná, Buena Fe and Andrés Suárez.

Pablo Milanés' musical career spans more than 50 years. From the very start he was a part of some of the most interesting and important developments in Cuban trova music, from his collaboration with Grupo de Experimentación Sonora de ICAIC (GESI) to his decisive roll as one of the founders of the Nueva Trova movement in Cuba and Latin America. While he has faced controversy at times for always speaking his mind, his fans deeply love him as you can see in the video below from the Madrid concert, which he closed with: "El breve espacio en que no está" . Stay tuned for the full concert report.

So listen to the track by clicking here and then see if you can identify the song in the COMMENTS section.

Here are some preview pages on the new book .

And for Bay Areans, tickets for HdP are on sale now !   [Kevin Moore]

Many fans have been asking me where Pepitín went after leaving El Trabuco. He has formed his own septeto playing traditional Cuban son. Pepitín is best know to Timba.com readers as a lead singer with Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor and later with Manolito y Su Tabuco with whom he recorded the CDs "Anda y pégate" and "Trabuco 1 vez más", respectively. But he has also had his own following since gthe 2008 release of his solo CD "Estudiando" which was well-recieved both by fans of Cuban music as well as fans of salsa dura.

Pepitín is a stellar example of the young generation of soneros in Cuba, who represent continuity in the Cuban vocal and popular music tradition. The strength of son cubano is that it has a worldwide appeal that does not age or fade. Pepitín y su Q'mbachá have uploaded a demo to Youtube for your enjoyment.

Pepitín y su Q'mbachá - El hombre increíble

Percussionists and fans of Cuban music and dance, you are hereby notified in good time that the 2013 Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival will take place from March 5-10. You now have time to schedule your vacation and make your travel plans. No more excuses! this is a stellar even with a breathtaking combinations of performances, expositions, conferences, masters classes, dance, music as the prestigious International Percussion Competition. Competitors choose from various percussion genres and are rated on a clear set of criteria, which you will find elaborated in the official announcement of the festival. Prizes are given to the winners and there is even a youth category for budding musicians.

The official website hasn't been updated with the 2013 schedule and rules, but keep checking as that information should come soon. For information about hotels, transportation, credentials, etc., contact Cecilia Principe. Remember, 2013 is your year so don't miss this opportunity!

For Cosa Seria, an exciting band based in  Louisville, KY, click here

For Charangueo, Chicago's new Charanga ensemble, click here

For Tiempo Libre's appearance with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, click here

Read the full report from Curuyé (Kay Torres) here....

FINALLY in LOS ANGELES!  The CONGA ROOM has officially announced ALEXANDER ABREU & HAVANA d' PRIMERA for a THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15 performance! THE BUZZ IS ON! Tix are only $20 now, but I've been advised those prices may go up closer to show date! For tix: www.congaroom.com. (Knowing that they'll be up in the Bay later in the month, I'll bet some Southern Californians won't be able to resist traveling north on that long Thanksgiving weekend for another hit of this awesome band!) 

Also in town this month and next is 'CHANGUITO' JOSÉ LUIS QUINTANA, Cuba's legendary percussionist, and one of LOS VAN VAN's founding musicians. On SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24 he'll be featured with the AFRO CUBAN JAZZ PROJECT which includes former MARACA trumpet player JOSIEL PÉREZ, along with FERMÍN SIFONTES on keyboards, SAWA PÉREZ on bass, BRIAN DE LA FÉ on congas at VITELLO's JAZZ & SUPPER CLUB in the Studio City area of L.A. 

Plus ORQUESTA ARAGÓN, RHAPSODY CUBANA ALEXANDER ABREU & HAVANA d' PRIMERA DAFNIS PRIETO's PROVERB TRIO, JUAN de MARCOS &  the AFRO CUBAN ALL STARS 

Read the full report from Curuyé (Kay Torres) here....

Is it coincidence or is there some greater plan at work? I will be arriving in Colorado on November 24th and it just so happens that on November 25th the Boulder Theater in my hometown of Boulder, Colorado will be hosting a concert by the timba band La Maquinaria featuring Calixto Oviedo ! Now who would have expected that Calixto and I who both live in Stockholm would also run into each other in Boulder of all places? It must be fate. It is a thrill to know I will finally be able to enjoy timba right there at home! See you at Boulder Theater on November 25th!

Osvaldo Chacón sings his timba classic "Te gusto o te caigo bien"

Track list: You can purchase "Bueno" now at iTunes. 

Track	Artist
Tus Luces Sobre Mí	Descemer Bueno
Quisiera Volver	Descemer Bueno & Baby Lores
Siete Días	Descemer Bueno & Kelvis Ochoa
Ser de Sol	Descemer Bueno & Israel Rojas
Cuando Me Enamoro	Descemer Bueno & Haila
Lloro por Ti	Descemer Bueno & Alain Daniel
Ciego Amor	Descemer Bueno & Gema Corredera
Tú y Yo	Descemer Bueno
Arenas de Soledad	Descemer Bueno & X Alfonso
Por Tu Amor	Descemer Bueno & Omar Hernández

For your viewing and listening pleasure, here is the groundbreaking video "Ser de sol"  that Descemer filmed with Buena Fe this summer.

Descemer Bueno & Buena Fe "Ser de sol"

On October 10, 2004, Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor had their very first performance at Casa de la Música Galiano. Their debut album, "Recoge y vete", released in 2006 made the band an overnight success on the international timba scene. In the summer of 2007 the Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor did their first European tour and it was a resounding success with audiences going wild. By the time the band released its second studio album, "Anda y pégate", in 2008, even the hard-to-please Havana audience was convinced that this band was here to stay. They commemorate their eight years with another concert at Casa de la Música Galiano soon. It was scheduled for October 13th, but for reasons beyond their control this concert has been cancelled. Check their Facebook page to see when the new date will be for the anniversaryy celebration.

To date Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor have released three studio CD, one live CD and a live DVD. They are on the verge of releasing their fourth studio CD this fall, having just returned  to Havana from an intense three-week stay in Lima. Here is a little video look at then and now.

First European Tour 2007 - Tour Montage

European Summer Tour 2012 - "Bembé" featuring Yordis

One of our favorite US-based bands, Tiempo Libre, returns to the Midwest on October 20th, 2012 at 8pm in Elgin, Illinois for a performance with the Elgin Symphony plus a separate TImba dance set by themselves.  It looks like this may be as close as they get to Chicago this fall, so catch them while you can!  Click here for their webpage for the event!

SiNGO, músico profesional japonés (piano)

Para el año 2005 es invitado por el gobierno de la Republica de Cuba para participar en los afamados premios Cubadisco, donde realiza una importante participación en un recital...

Oprima aquí para ver el reporte completo y el video con el grupo de Singo,  Mario "Mayito" Rivera y Juan Formell, que presenta a Singo con un particular coro: "en el piano, el japonés"....

SiNGO en la grabación de su album junto a Feliciano Arango (Ex NG La Banda)

Esperamos pronto podamos disfrutar por completo del trabajo de este excelentísimo músico japonés. Les estaremos manteniendo al tanto por cualquier novedad que ocurra con Singo. Sugerencias y/o comentarios siempre a feridj@timba.com.

For the Thursday, November 8th show, doors open at 7:30pm and the show is at 9pm.  For the Friday, November 9nth show, doors open at 11pm and the show is at 12 midnight.  Do not get confused....there is a Happy Hour show listed on the SOBs website for that same Friday the 9nth, but that is from 5 to 8pm. The HDP show is at MIDNIGHT.

The Saturday, November 10nth show immediately follows the SOBs dates with the addition of TIRSO DUARTE. 

Sabado, Nov. 10, 2012 / 8PM -- Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 8:00 PM
Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera
Invitado especial Tirso Duarte
(ex-vocalista de Charanga Habanera y Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso)

Teatro Park de Union City, NJ -- 888-584-3070 -- www.Tuboleta.net
Park Theatre 
560 32th Street, Union City, NJ 07087
Phone: (888) 584-3070 -- Website: www.Tuboleta.net

For Bill Tilford's review and photos of Arturo Sandoval's concert at Viper Alley,    click here. 

For special guest photographer Joshua Bennett's wonderful photos of the Septeto Nacional de Cuba concert at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago,   click here. 

Tom has a new gallery from the first night of the Monterey Jazz Fest featuring Eddie P., Grégoire Maret, Jack DeJohnette and others.

Rebeca Mauleón's Lecture Series got off to an amazing start with Danilo Lozano, Orestes Vilató, Jesús Díaz and Abe Gamroyan. Incredibly interesting stuff. It continues every Wed. in October.

Martin Cohen is really on a roll, releasing super-high quality videos of New York's growing community of world class Cuban musicians. Iván Llanes, who came with Maraca on drums, turns out to be a great singer as well.

Stockholm Salsa Summer 2012 officially came to an end with a concert by Orquesta Pomo on September 22nd at the last salsa night at Stockholm's amusment park Gröna Lund. Despite the chilly, rainy weather the dancers showed up and the dancefloor was packed. The 13-man band continues to impress with Celia Ferrer and Cristian Guerra on lead vocals and Cristina Pomo and Alexander Saltell on coros. They are tight, well rehearsed and have tailored the show to dancers. Bandleader and pianist Jonas Pomo has written most of the songs, although they do include a couple of covers that are real crowd pleasers.

Orquesta Pomo has put together a 4 minute montage from the concert, and we share it with you for your viewing and listening pleasure. And just when you think it's over, don't close your browser yet because there is a little recording of just the horns from the soundcheck and it is smokin'! You don't want to miss it! For pictures from the concert as well as the latest info on what is happening with the band check out the Orquesta Pomo Facebook page.

Reminder: Arturo Sandoval's US Tour begins Friday, October 5 at 8PM at the Viper Alley in Lincolnshire, Illinois.  This comes on the heels of his 5 recent Latin GRAMMY nominations, four of which are for Dear Diz (Every Day I Think Of You) and one for Tango Como Yo Te Siento.   The following video includes some comments about Dear Diz by Arturo as well as some audio samples from the recording.
Click Here For More Details about the Viper Alley Performance October 5
Click Here For The Complete Tour Schedule

Wednesday, Oct. 3, 7:00 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco

Rebeca Mauleón has a genius for - among other things - translating Cuban music concepts into simple, entertaining English, so the Bay Area is fired up about her new lecture series on Cuban Music. The first lecture, on mambo, features guest artists Orestes Vilató, Jesús Díaz and others. Later courses will feature Jimmy Branly, El Negro Hernández and a whole cast of other big names. Hopefully the whole 5-lecture series will be filmed and released as a DVD. There will be a new lecture with different guests every Wednesday in October. See you there! [Kevin Moore]

Now, on to the latest galleries, both on the Pedrito Martínez Group. Peter Maiden photographed them at Yoshi's, and Tom Ehrlich at the Monterey Jazz . Tom's earlier Yoshi's gallery is here. [Kevin Moore]

Pedrito Martínez Group at Monterey Jazz Fest  - photo by Tom Ehrlich (click for gallery)

Pedrito Martínez Group at Yoshi's Oakland - photo by Peter Maiden (click for gallery)

In Memoriam: Paquito Hechavarría

This is a page of Paquito's life that I would like to share with all his friends and family. We date back to the early 50s, when Paco would show up at the Parisien in the Nacional Hotel in Habana and sit in with  my band after concluding his work with La Orquesta Riverside. 

This young talent at the time would blow me away. His immense talent and feel was amazing. He had the schooling of Pedro "Peruchín" Justiz, of course, sometimes referring to himself as the "White Peruchín". Paco was just that.

This is such an amazing band! Here's Tom's galllery from Yoshi's - more photos coming from Monterey Jazz Festival soon.

Arturo Sandoval, who first came to our notice as a key figure in Cuba's legendary Irakere and as the leader of his own combo in Cuba, has since had an even more remarkable career in the United States (and worldwide) with 6 Grammy Awards (17 nominations), 6 Billboard awards, 1 Emmy and numerous recordings,  television appearances and film work to his credit (along with a long and successful teaching career).    He is about to start a multi-city US  tour schedule  with some of his best work yet (in this writer's opinion).  His most recent recordings, Dear Diz (Every Day I Think Of You)  and Tango Como Yo Te Siento currently have 5 Latin Grammy nominations between them (4 for Dear Diz and 1 for Tango).  We haven't picked up Tango yet, but we've been listening to Dear Diz for hours. 

The first tour date we have is at the Viper Alley in Lincolnshire, Illinois, on Friday, October 5 at 8pm.   The club is a little north of the city of Chicago,  about 45 minutes from Chicago's loop and a little more than an hour from downtown Milwaukee.   This venue just opened in 2011, and we saw Arturo do a great show there last year.  We look forward to this week's appearance as well.

Dear Diz was a special recording for Arturo because Dizzy Gillespie was a key figure in his life and career.  We spoke with Arturo by telephone on Tuesday while he was in Miami working on a new film soundtrack and about to leave for a few days in Lebanon.  Unfortunately, the quality of the telephone connection was too poor for us to share audio here, but we will mention that he is very excited about Viper Alley performance and the rest of the upcoming tour, and he will be bringing his regular touring band including Zane Musa, the phenomenal saxophonist who also shined through in Dear Diz.   He also mentioned during our conversation that the Viper Alley performance will include some selections from Dear Diz but probably not from Tango because that second project used some key personnel that won't be on this tour.

In lieu of our sharing the poor audio from our own conversation, we are going to direct you to an interview Arturo did with Guy Raz for NPR's All Things Considered in May 2012.  He talks about his introduction to Dizzy Gillespie and what followed from that first meeting.

Don't believe the naysayers. There is no raining on THIS parade. The visas are in place and We Want TIMBA! Now that we are waiting for official confirmation that Los Van Van is cancelled at the Lehman Center we are anxiously expecting Havana D' Primera and Tirso. To ease our concerns here's a new video salute by Tirso inviting us to the special concert with Alexander Abreu y Havana D' Primera. 

Para boletos oprima aquí = http://goo.gl/qxfNp = Click here for tickets

Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera en Concierto, Invitado Tirso Duarte 
Tirso Duarte , ex-vocalista de Charanga Habanera y Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso

Saturday / Sabado, Nov. 10, 2012 / 8PM
Park Theatre - 560 32th Street - Union City, NJ 07087

If you live in New York and you want to purchase a hard copy ticket, please email Victoria-Hadar at  h_h_v [at] yahoo [dot] com

Victoria-Hadar is unique to the New York and New Jersey latin dance scene. She has specialized in Latin dancing for over 18 years and has learned to dance with top teachers in Europe and Cuba – including with the Cuban national dance company Ban Rra Rra. She currently teaches cuban dance classes in both NY and NJ.

Tirso Duarte el que se escucha en todas partes.
Vaya Tirso y Alexander los esperamos con mucha ansiedad !!

Formed in 1927 by Ignacio Periero, Sepeto Nacional has been bringing Cuban son to international audiences for more than 85 years. In 2010 they released the CD "Sin rumba no hay son" to rave reviews. This is the genuine article so don't miss them! They are currently touring Mexico and will be playing in California, Minnesota, Arizona, Illinois and Virgina in October. Click here for the current list of dates and venues we have for the band.

Other nominees listed included..
- Best Traditional Tropical = Eliades Ochoa " Un Bolero Para Ti "
- Best Traditional Tropical = Miguel García " Guarachando "
- Best Salsa Album = Mambo Legends Orchestra " Watch Out - Ten Cuidado "
- Best Latin Jazz = Jerry González y El Comando de la Clave (self-titled)
* is Alaín Pérez on the record?
- Song Of The Year = Amaury Guitiérrez & Gian Marco " Invisible "
- Best Instrumental Album = Paquito D' Rivera & Berta Rojas " Rasgando Seda "
- Best Latin Jazz = Chuchito Valdés "Live In Chicago "
- Best Classical Contemporary Composition = Yalil Guerra & Elizabeth Rebozo " Seducción "

** Update - also nominated for Best Contemporary Tropical Album is Elaín (of the Cuban Timba All-Stars) with his album " Volando Alto - Made On The Road "

Good luck to all the nominees !!!!!! Buena suerte.

This won't be released for a few more weeks yet, but Rafael Monteagudo, leader of The Music Connection, was kind enough to give us a sneak preview of the debut CD Innovation, which will soon join the ranks of the best new Latin Jazz releases to come out of New York (or anywhere else) this year.  To read our review in English, click here.

Esto no se será lanzado hasta que unas semanas más han pasado, pero Rafael Monteagudo, lider de The Music Connection, tuvo la amabilidad de darnos un preestreno de su debut CD Innovation, que pronto se unirá a las filas de los mejores estrenos de Latin Jazz desde Nueva York (o cualquier otro lugar) este año.   Para leer nuestra reseña en español haga clic aquí.

Photo by Tom Ehrlich

Photo by Peter Maiden

This is really the most exciting timba development ever to come out of the U.S. It's timba - all timba - but it's a timba conjunto - it's got all the fire and great songs and great piano tumbaos and gear changes of timba but only about half as loud - so you can hear all the nuances. The only metal percussion is the bongosero's hand bell. Pedrito plays congas and cajón (playing kick drum parts) and all four members singing brilliantly. They're at Yoshi's Oakland tonight and the Monterey Jazz Fest on Friday. if you're on a budget (who isn't) it's a mere $15 for the whole night at Yoshis. This is the one, people. Don't miss it. VIDEO HERE. [Kevin Moore]

Maykel Blanco has recently started a Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor Band page at Facebook where fans can keep up with all the latest information on what Maykel y los Mayores are up to. Go in and dale like so you can get all the important updates! Maykel has also uploaded a sneak preview of the video for the hit "Bembe", sung by Yordis, to YouTube.

Currently Maykel, Yordis and Yasser are in Lima, Peru where they will spend the rest of the month performing concerts around the city. There was some problem with the tickets for the rest of the band so they will be performing the first few concerts wth Timcuba as the backing band. According to Maykel's latest post the rest of the band will be there for concerts starting this week.

Arturo Sandoval and Poncho Sanchez have both released tributes to Dizzy Gillespie during the past year.  Both are excellent recordings.  Arturo's recording is a spectacular Jazz album, and Poncho's recording is an excellent dance album.  To read our reviews of both in English, click here.

Note that Arturo will be performing at the Viper Alley in Lincolnshire, Illinois on Friday, October 5!

Arturo Sandoval y Poncho Sanchez han lanzado homenajes a Dizzy Gillespie durante el último año.  Ambos son grabaciones excelentes.  El proyecto de Arturo es un álbum de Jazz espectacular, y la grabación de Poncho es un disco bailable excelente.  Para leer las reseñas de ambos en español,  haga clic aquí.

¡Tenga en cuenta que Arturo se estará presentando en Viper Alley en Lincolnshire, Illinois el viernes, 5 de Octubre!

Tom's latest gallery features Leyder Chapman's Dos 4, with Colin Douglas on drums and the John Santos Sextet with Orestes Vilató, Kenny Washington and John Calloway.

The incredible timba conjunto, The Pedrito Martínez Group, will be at Yoshi's Oakland on Thursday, Sept. 20th and at the Monterey Jazz Festival Sept. 21st.

Book News: If you're into Afro-Cuban folkloric music, Luca Brandoli's 11 books and 7 CDs are truly amazing. Each book/CD volume teaches you about 50 songs, first with a bell so you know exactly where "1" is and then with an exquisitely recorded batá ensemble. The singing is sublime and the educational method is a godsend. The perfect combination.

As for me, I'm still slaving away at my book for non-musicians. It keeps getting longer so I can't even predict when I'll be done.

On 18 August 2012 I finally attended a concert by a band I have been following for 10 years. Buena Fe had their Italian debut at the Latinoamericando festival, Europe's most important festival for the popular music of Latin America. Buena Fe is arguably Cuba's premier pop-rock group and their following extends throughout Latin and North America and Europe. They have a devoted fan base, including myself, which continues to grow around the world despite Cuba's lack of industrial and economic machinery to promote their artists outside their borders.

I have written a concert report with a little behind-the-scenes info including photos and video. I know that like me, many timba fans are also fans of Buena Fe. And without knowing it, some of you have heard songs written by Buena Fe's director, composer and lead singer, Israel Rojas, who has written for Boni & Kelly and who composed the hit "Mi mujer y mi ex" for Pedrito Calvo.

For those of you who are hearing the name Buena Fe for the first time, I have also made an entire Buena Fe section with history, discography, a list of bandmembers, photos, videos and my concert report Part 1 and Part 2. Take a little time to get to know these guys. You'll be glad you did. There are also links to their very well-maintained internet sites so you can follow them closely yourself.

Buena Fe's music is a mix of trova-style intelligent, beautiful lyrics set to contemporary pop-rock arrangements and liberally infused with traditional Cuban and Caribbean genres in the best spirit of Cuban musical experimentation. They have remained at the top of the music and video charts for 11 years since releasing their first CD "Déjame entrar" in 2001. Their albums consistenly win at Cubadisco and their videos are always in the top lists. In 2008 they performed at Plaza de la Revoución for a crowd of 300 000 fans. This concert was captured on DVD/CD by filmmaker Ian Padrón and also won a Cubadisco award. It seems that whatever these two guajiros from Guantanamo touch turns to gold. So without further ado I turn you over to the concert report and the rest of the Buena Fe section.

You can keep up with everything the band is doing by checking these sites regularly.
buenafemusica.com 
BUENA FE (PAGINA OFICIAL) @ Facebook 
Israel Rojas @ Twitter 
BuenaFeMusica @ YouTube

Laura Sosa , Director of DClivemusic.com and singer in the Washington DC area, interviewed pianist and bandleader Chuchito Valdes during his recent trip to Washington.   Thank you Laura for sharing this interview with us (in Spanish):

Laura Sosa , Director de DClivemusic.com y cantante en el área de Washington DC, se entrevistó con Chuchito Valdés , pianista y director de orquesta, durante su reciente viaje a Washingon.   Gracias Laura por compartir esta entrevista con nosotros (en español).   

El Comando de la Clave is a project featuring four musicians now working in Madrid:  Jerry González, Alaín Pérez, Kiki Ferrer and Javier Massó.   We saw them live recently at the Mayne Stage in Chicago.   Click here to see our pictures and review .   

El Comando de la Clave es un proyecto con cuatro músicos que trabajan hoy en día en Madrid: Jerry González, Alain Pérez, Kiki Ferrer y Javier Massó,  Los vimos recientemente en el Mayne Stage en Chicago.  Haga clic aquí para ver nuestras fotos y reseña .

Years ago, when this writer was in Los Angeles, California for a while, he had the pleasure of seeing "Long John" Oliva's AC Timba Jazz Project at a club called the Baked Potato.  That band had amazing musicians and great potential, but Long John died prematurely before it could be fully realized.  Recently, a new incarnation of that project, the Afro Cuban Jazz Project , has appeared on the scene  in LA.. This new group also has a very impressive roster: Fermin Sifontes, Luis Eric Gonzalez, Sawa Perez, Jimmy Branly, Joel Nuñez, Joey De Leon, Alberto Tomayo and guest artist Josiel Perez .  We will be watching the progress of this new group with great interest.  Click here to see their Reverbnation page, which includes audio and video clips.

Hace años, cuando el escritor se encontraba en Los Angeles, California, por un rato, tuvo el pacer de ver el " Long John Oliva's AC Timba Jazz Project" en un club llamado The Baked Potato.   Ese grupo tenía músicos increíbles y un gran potencial, pero "Long John" murió prematuramente antes de que pudiera relizarse plenamente.    Recientemente, una nueva encarnación de ese proyecto, el Afro Cuban Jazz Project , Ha aparecido en la escena de LA. Este nuevo grupo también cunta con una lista muy impresionante:  Fermin Sifontes, Luis Eric González,  Jorge "Sawa" Pérez, Jimmy Branly, Joel Nuñez, Joey De León, Alberto Tamayo y artista invitado Josiel Pérez.   Estaremos viendo el progreso de este grupo con gran interés. Haga clic aquí para ver su página de Reverbnation, que incluye clips de audio y video.

The Mambo has returned for real.  A  new and exciting big band, the Pacific Mambo Orchestra , is establishing a presence in California, and it is just a matter of time before it receives much wider recognition as well.   Click here to read our review of their soon-to-be released debut CD in English. 

El Mambo ha vuelto de verdad.  Una gran orquesta nueva y emocionante, el Pacific Mambo Orchestra, está estableciendo una presencia en California, y es sólo una cuestión de tiempo antes de que reciba la atención más amplia también.   Haga clic aquí para leer nuestra reseña de su anticipado CD, que será lanzado en Octubre, en ingles. 

Finally, we are listening - and listening - to a soon to be released recording by Rafael Monteagudo and The Music Connection called Innovation .  Whatever they are drinking in New York, we want a bottle of it, because this new Jazz recording is yet another truly excellent release from there.  We'll review it here very soon. 

Por último, estamos escuchando - y escuchando - a una grabación que pronto será lanzado por Rafael Monteagudo y The Music Connection llamado Innovation . Lo que sea que ellos están bebiendo en Nueva York, queremos una botella de la misma, porque esta grabación nueva Jazz es otro lanzamiento realmente excelente desde allí.  Vamos a reseñarlo aquí muy pronto.   

Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor will be performing in Lima, Peru from September 12 through September 30. We have updated their tours page with all the dates and times of the Peru tour September 2012. They have a busy schedule so check it out and find a date that works for you!

Yordis singing "Bembe"

Sukary Valverde, Félix Samuel, Erick Barbería of Team Bahía

Book News: Don Skoog's Bata Drumming: The Oru Seco isn't new, but I was just re-reading it and it's Incredibly good. The first half is genuinely poetic history of AfroCuban folkloric music and the second half is a meticulous transcription of the Oru Seco.

The long awaited second Havana d'Primera CD is on Amazon and iTunes all over the world. What are you waiting for?

The penultimate installment of Tom's SJ Jazz series has a long list of bands including The Jazz Crusaders, Mazacote, Avance and Kat Parra. More coming soon.

BOOK NEWS: Jon Griffin, author of Tres Cubano, has published a volume of his Cuban Masters Series on the great pianist Emilio Morales, of Opus 13, Paulito FG and NG La Banda.

Imagen del demo promocional que nos hiciese llegar la orquesta

La idea de conformar este proyecto surgió a principios del presente año 2012, en ese entonces bajo otra dirección general y también bajo otro nombre artístico (Timba con Clase), es aquí cuando la banda decide encargar la dirección al también cantante Evelio Zamora y conjuntamente asumen el nombre DEMANANA. 

Delantera Demanana: Evelio, Nairin y Damian (compositor)

Acaban de terminar de lanzar al mercado un disco promocional con 4 temas bailables de principio a fin, con una temática cotidiana de experiencias vividas tanto en la isla como en el exilio, compuestos por otra de las voces principales de la banda, Damián Janes, virtuoso joven músico cubano al cual le pertenece la mayoría de los temas musicales de la agrupación. El tridente vocal de la banda es completado por una voz femenina proveniente de una de las más legendarias voces a lo largo del historial de música popular en Cuba, estamos hablando de Nairin Calvo, hija del excelentísimo Pedrito Calvo.

Evelio Zamora, director general y cantante de la agrupación Demanana

Los temas ya pueden ser descargados a través de Amazon, iTunes, Spotify y demás tiendas de música online. Auguramos con buen presagio de una excelente carrera musical a estos jóvenes músicos cubanos, quienes vienen emprendiendo un camino duro, arduo y complicado pero lo están haciendo de la mejor manera, sobre todo haciendo música con el corazón, música DEMANANA. Para mayor información pueden visitar http://www.demananaband.com o comunicarse con su director general Evelio Zamora a través del email demananamusic@gmail.com, el facebook oficial de la banda es http://www.facebook.com/demananamusic.

Acaban de terminar la realización de su primer video clip que exponemos a continuación:

On August 16, 2012 I flew to Gothenburg on the west coast of Sweden to see Manolito y su Trabuco at the city's annual festival Kulturkalaset. This is the band that first got me to listen to timba, so the Trabuco has a special place in my heart. I had not seen the band since December 2007, so nearly five years had passed. The last concert I had seen was El Noro's second concert with El Trabuco after the departure of El Indio. Since then El Noro left for Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Pepitín entered, and then Pepitín left to be replaced by Iván Rodríguez. Also Miguelito "Pan con salsa" had left and been replaced by Andy Acosta. So it was with some excitement that I set up my new camera on my unipod ready to see what the latest version of the Trabuco had to offer. Click here to read the full concert report including five video clips!

Click here for a small gallery of photos from the concert.

It is with a heavy heart that we must report that Latin music has suffered another great loss with the passing of bassist Charles Flores. While he may be best known to timberos as the bassist for Issac in the early days, recording on the CDs "Con Ganas",  "El Chévere de la Salsa y el Caballero de Son" and "El año que viene" among others, he is best known to the world for his work as a jazz bassist, performing with artists such as Bobby Carcasses, Paquito D'Rivera, and Arturo Sandoval among many, many others. Charles joined the Michel Camilo Trio in 2002 with whom he won a Grammy in 2004.

Charles has lost his battle with cancer, leaving behind a world of saddened and stunned friends and musicians. The news is all over Facebook where his peers have commented that he was as great a human being as a musician. Timba.com offer our condolences to his loved ones, and what better way to honor him than with a little sample of his work. Rest In Peace Charles.

Only six months after their first European tour, Barbaro Fines y Mayimbe will be back by popular demand for their second European tour , October 18-November 26! The band has been working on new songs, such as "Salsa y timba...que no hay más na'", a song about the music program Salsa y Timba. This tour will take them to Spain, Italy, France, Belgiim, Germany, Serbia and Martinique! So get ready for Barbaro Fines y Mayimbe: De La Habana a Perú y al mundo!

The following are recordings released in this award cycle that we feel deserve serious consideration in the Latin Grammy process and were either made by Cubans based in Cuba or led by important Cuban-American artists:

I.  Cuban artists based in Cuba

ALUCINACIONES - Rolando Luna
EL PAÍS DE LAS MARAVILLAS - Harold Lopez-Nussa Trio
REENCUENTROS, LIVE AT THE GRAND THEATER OF HAVANA - Maraca & His Latin Jazz All Stars
SAX Y PIMIENTA - Habana Sax

All four of these are wonderful, and so far we have reviewed two of them here:

Click here for our review of El País de las Maravillas

Click here for our review of Reencuentros

II. Cuban-American artists as leaders

DEAR DIZ (EVERY DAY I THINK OF YOU) - Arturo Sandoval
LIVE IN CHICAGO - Chuchito Valdes
THE OTHER SIDE OF ME - Chuchito Valdes
NESAMAH - Hilario Bell
NEW CUBAN EXPRESS- Manuel Valera

Again, all wonderful recordings, so far we have reviewed New Cuban Express:

Click here for our review of New Cuban Express

There is so much great music here that we aren't going to attempt to anoint an individual favorite, but we will state that if technical virtuosity, personal composition by the artist AND breaking new ground were all considered equally important, New Cuban Express deserves an especially close look.   El Pais de las Maravillas and Reencuentros also stand out on both the performance and songwriting fronts.  All of the recordings mentioned above are beautiful.  

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We're mentioning this separately because the buzz is that it may be under consideration in multiple categories, but Angel d'Cuba, who performed with several groups including Mezcla in Cuba and now leads a group in Chicago under his own name, released his debut album Heritage during this cycle, and this recording deserves consideration as well. In the interests of full disclosure, we need to mention that Bill Tilford liked this eclectic world music project (which does include some Cuban tracks among its other offerings)  well enough to write liner notes for it.    
Read more about the recording here. 

Best Salsa / Mejor Salsa
TIENE QUE SER MANOLÍN - Manolín "Él Médico dela Salsa"
TODO ES POSIBLE - Will Campa y su Orquesta
MALA - Haila María Monpié
RETRO - Marlow Rosado y la Riqueña (feat. Marlón Fernández)

Best Contemporary Tropical / Mejor Álbum Contemporaneo Tropical
LA MAQUINARIA - Juan Formell y los Van Van
ACABAÍTO DE NACER - David Calzado y Su Charanga Habanera 
MIS 22 AÑOS - José Luis Cortés y NG la Banda
SIEMPRE PUPY - Pupy y los que Son Son

Best Tradicional / Mejor Álbum Tradicional Tropical
UN BOLERO PARA TÍ - Eliades Ochoa
CUBANO SOY - Raúl Lara
DAYSI CELIA Y SU NOTA - Daysi Celia

Best Tropical Fusión / Mejor älbum de Fusión Trpical
TIMBA PA' TO EL MUNDO - Timbalive

**Full disclosure...
I personally mastered a few entries in consideration = http://latinmusicmastering.com
CUBANO SOY - Raúl Lara  
- Best Traditional (Mejor Álbum Tradicional) / Best Engineered (Mejor Ingeniería)
A TODO RITMO - Sergio Bonafonte
- Best Tropical Fusion  (Mejor Fusión Tropical) / Best Engineered (Mejor Ingeniería) 
THE PROJECT (DELUXE) - M.D. Machito Diferente
- Best Urban (Mejor Disco Urbano) / Best New Artist / Best Engineered (Mejor Ingeniería) 
RETRO - Marlow Rosado y la Riqueña
- Album of the Year / Best New Artist / Best Salsa / Best Engineered / Best Short Form Video

Click here for the full gallery. Next up Seattle on the 24th. Click here for details.

Wil Campa y su Gran Unión

Pacific Mambo Orchestra

Photo by Peter Maiden - galleries from Peter and Tom Ehrlich are forthcoming. 

1er Festival Del Son, La Rumba & Timba -- Friday, November 09, 2012 at 8:00 PM
Lehman Center -- 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West
Bronx, NY 10468 -- Phone: (888) 584-3070
click here for tickets

Click here for the full gallery. Wil Campa plays again on Friday at the SJ Jazz Festival.

Guararey de Pastora - 1974

La maquinaria - 2011

The Pacific Mambo Orchestra is a (19) nineteen-piece Latin Salsa Big Band formed by trumpeter Steffen Kuehn and pianist Christian Tumalan (both experienced bandleaders in their own right), to bring back and build upon the great Latin big band sounds of the 1940s through 1960s. P.M.O. plays the music of Latin giants such as Machito, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz and many others, along with their own contemporary and original arrangements. The group’s instrumentation consists of 4 Trumpets, 4 Trombones, 5 Saxophones, Piano, Bass, Timbales, Congas, Bongos plus guest vocalists.

The Pacific Mambo Orchestra will be performing at the San José Jazz Festival, Friday, August 10 at 6:30pm, at the Kaiser Permanente Salsa Stage (click here for more details). For those that attend, there will be a special announcement from this Bay Area supergroup regarding their upcoming, self-titled debut album (click on the album cover to view it in a larger size).

The album is in progress and we've got the scoop on the track list and featured guests:
1) PMO Intro - 2) El Cantante - 3) Overjoyed - 4) La Ambición - 5) Cuando estoy Contigo - 6) Mr. 5.0 - 7) Bolero Cócomo - 8) Muévete Con Prisa - 9) Querer Como ayer - 10) Bolero Cócomo (Instrumental). Featured guests include Karl Perazzo, Willy Torres, Carlos Cascante, Kenny Washington, Ray Obiedo and Tommy Igoe. Latin Jazz collector's take note and stay tuned!

The next concert highlight takes place Wednesday, August 15, 8pm, at Yoshi's San Francisco, with Miami's hard-hittin salsa dura band Marlow Rosado y La Riqueña. In support of their new album, RETRO, the band and record are a new homaje to the classic salsa sounds of the 1970's. RETRO has been touted as a "major DJ alert" with it's "army of salsa greats and killer dance-club ready tracks that throw fireballs left and right" by the editors of Descarga.com. Click here for Bill Tilford's full CD Review of RETRO.

Marlow comments: "I think our industry suffers from very few releases from orchestras (bands as opposed to individual artists). I hope this album works up an appetite for the "roots style sounds" that that we are used to hearing. This production is full of energy, with modern sound production and new arrangements, but each songs is a theme that reflects the core of "salsa dura" (heavy sauce). This record is part Eddie Palmieri y la Perfecta, Papo Lucca and La Sonora Ponceña, Raphy Levitt and La Selecta, Willie Rosario and His Orchestra, Los Hermanos Lebron....and all the other great orchestras right through the years that delivered strong and original music. This new album carry the title "Retro" because it's a throw-back and homage to a decade that all salseros and salseras remembers with real nostalgia, and for the new enthusiasts of the genre, it's a great opportunity to explore the works of the masters that have been crowned as the pillars of our Latin sound. See you at Yoshi's (click here for tickets). 

Timbalive, one of the best US-based Timba groups,  has just released a new single, Estoy Como Que Loco, which is available on I-Tunes. We listened to it earlier this week, and it's worth having.   As with many Timbalive numbers, it opens with some fusion passages  early on and then settles into a solid Timba groove for the rest of the song.  You can find it at
 http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/estoy-como-que-loco-single/id546686441

Mi nena - Cristian Guerra on lead vocals

Vuelve - Cecilia Ferrer on lead vocals

Wil Campa y su Gran Unión really tore it up at Yoshi's last weekend. Here's Tom Ehrlich's full gallery.  It was a combination of years of rehearsing together, excellent vocal and brass intonation and phrasing, really professional arrangements and ANDRÉS MIRANDA - a truly amazing conguero with a groove that you could drive a truck through. The band will be in and around the Bay Area until their performance at the SJ Jazz a week from Friday. Then it's on to the Conga Room in LA on the 11th, Seattle the 24th and NY's SOB's the 31st. If you're in the market to take a lesson from one of these monsters, drop me an email and I'll try to hook you up. The San José festival also features the Bay Area's own Team Bahía on Sunday. Book News: Any week now my book for non-musicians and complete beginners will be done, knock on wood. [Kevin Moore]

                                             The Man - Andrés "Negrón" Miranda

     
 and......

  
Now, as we said, this is a two-day festival chock full of a wide spectrum of talent from the traditional to the current. For complete information about the festival, visit the website at http://thecubanfestival.com/

Update 2: Dany Lozada at  Shango in Patterson NJ TONIGHT (862 600 1958): 

Original Post: Here they are at Stern Grove earlier this summer. Click here for tickets.

Click here for Peter's gallery and extensive concert report and history of one of the Bay Area's most famous musical families. 

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: Wil Campa y su Gran Unión at Yoshi's SF. See you there!

Su servicio social lo realiza a su regreso a La Habana en otra de las orquestas afamadas de Cuba por su trayectoria y legado musical, "La Ritmo Oriental", orquesta por la que han desfilado inumerables músicos de talla como Enrique Lazaga, David Calzado, Tony Calá, entre otros; una vez concluido su servicio social se presta a formar parte de un nuevo y joven proyecto musical, "Los Chicos de la Salsa", donde ya empieza a incursionar como vocalista, además de bajista y compositor, esta orquesta estuvo apadrinada por Pachito Alonso, director de los Kini Kini.

Alex destacó en orquesta como: Klimax, Azucar Negra y Pupy y Los Que Son Son.

Posteriormente integra otro, hasta ese entonces, proyecto musical denominado "Azúcar Negra", orquesta dirigida por Leonel Limonta, siendo fundador de esta. Es en esta cuando en el año 1998 logra realizar una gira.....oprima aquí para leer el reporte completo >>>>

En el año 2008 realiza la grabación de primer trabajo discográfico denominado "La Formula 1", el cuál incluye 10 tracks de diferentes cortes musicales, en los cuales destacan "ahora soy yo", "no quiere mas na'", "muriendo de ganas", entre otros; a continuación ponemos a consideración 2 de los temas mencionados. Comentarios y/o sugerencias siempre por feridj@timba.com.

Tiempo LIbre played with the San Francisco Symphony Sunday in historic and picturesque Dolores Park. Surprisingly, their kilted killer bassist Tony "Tebelio" Fonte was replaced by Wilbur "Wilvi" Rodríguez (ex-Carlos Manuel, Ntaya). We're trying to find out if the change is permanent or temporary. Click here for the rest of Tom's photos. 

Wil Campa y su Gran Unión at Yoshi's SF Friday and Saturday. This is as tight a timba band as you'll ever hear, with almost no personnel changes for over 5 years, all members living and rehearsing in Havana and the mind-bogglingly great conguero Andrés "Negrón" Miranda, of Issac and Irakere fame. More on these shows soon.

Coming very soon: Peter Maiden's gallery/concert report on the recent Escovedo family reunion concert.

Book News: I'm getting close to finished Beyond Salsa Percussion, Volume 1: Latin Rhythms for Listeners, Dancers and Beginning Drummers. It's already over 200 pages with a long historical listening tour, so this should be a good one for people who don't play an instrument but want to get deeper into scene. [Kevin Moore]

Good news for Cuban music fans: Los Premios Lucas or Lucas Awards in inglés, has just launched a homepage! If you are not familiar with the Lucas Awards, they are Cuba's annual award show for music video. Founded in 1995 and held under various names during the early years before finally being named Lucas, the program presents the best in Cuban music video ranked on a weekly basis. Each year around November there is an award ceremony for the best videos of the year. Over time Lucas has grown from an awards show to a festival of Cuban music video. It is a true gala event including live concerts. The Lucasnómetro allows fans to comment on their favorite videos, making the awards a genuine reflection of the preferences of the Cuban people.

For those of us outside of Cuba, the only way to follow Cuban music video has been via Cubavision and YouTube, but with the launch of the new Lucas website, we can all easily keep up-to-date with the latest videos. Number 1 right now is Bailando by Yuly y Habana C, Buena Fe & Descemer Bueno are Best Debut with Ser de sol debuting at Number 8 and Havana D'Primera has had the Biggest Jump with Al final de la vida at Number 4. There is also a section where you can watch the winners from the 2011 Lucas awards. Go check it out!

Premios Lucas even has a facebook page that you can "Like" to keep track of important updates.

flayer promocional del evento al VILLA CARIBE en Italia

Español:
Acaba de empezar una vez más el periplo de Alexander Abreu y sus muchachos de Havana d' Primera por toda Europa, ya se han realizado algunas presentaciones con muchísima aceptación y acogida en Francia y se vienen realizando otras ahora en España, país en el que compartirá escenario con estrellas de la música latina de la talla de Larry Harlow "el judío maravilloso", director de la legendaria Fania All Stars, así también con Rubén Blades "el poeta de la salsa" y el fabuloso pianista Eddie Palmieri, esto dentro del marco de las realizaciones de un importante festival de jazz y música latina en el país peninsular.

Ahora es el turno de Italia y la gira empezará en las instalaciones de VILLA CARIBE ubicado en Via Ortale, 30, 04020 SPIGNO SATURNIA (LT), este magno evento viene siendo organizado por nuestro amigo y compañero Giuseppe Lago, director del portal de difusión de música cubana www.cubasoyyo.com, así también corresponsal para la ciudad de Roma para el portal emblema de la música cubana en la red www.timba.com.

La producción "Pasaporte" viene siendo vendida sólo en los shows

No dudamos que el evento será todo un éxito y desde acá enviamos nuestros más sinceros deseos para la correcta realización de dicha festividad. Alexander Abreu está usando está gira no sólo para hacer un recorrido por lo mejor de su carrera artística sino también para poner en consideración los temas del álbum "Pasaporte", trabajo que aún no ha sido lanzado por ninguna disquera y que tampoco viene siendo vendido en ninguna web de descarga online pero si puede ser adquirido de manera directa en los shows de esta maravillosa agrupación cubana, que ha logrado darle el refresco y realce que la música cubana merece, con esto tienen un motivo más para no perderse este magno evento a todas las personas que estén a los alrededores y que les sea posible asistir les recomendamos lo hagan.

Be a part of the first annual Las Vegas Salsa Rueda Festival: The Party of the Year! Do not miss this unique event coming August 3-5, 2012 in Las Vegas, NV by the producers of the Salsa Rueda Festival in San Francisco.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE by Miami's EL PIKETE on Saturday August 4th

* All-star instruction with the best of Cuba, Europe, and the US!!   20 workshops to choose from in Cuban Salsa, Casino, Rueda de Casino, Son, Mambo, Folklore and more with some of the best instructors from the States, Europe and Cuba.   
* Performances by the Salsa Rueda Festival Vegas Instructors 
* Performances by U.S. and local dance companies
* Casino Jack & Jill Competitions Re-invented
* Social Rueda de Casino Competitions
* Guerilla Rueda on the Vegas Strip
 * No Last Call for Alcohol!
 * The best dance tunes from DJ Walt Digz and MV

Happy to announce that our Italian correspondent CUBASOYYO, in collaboration with Corazón Timbero, present Alexander Abreu y Havana D' Primera in concert , Tuesday July 24 2012 at the Villa Caribe Resort - Via Ortale, snc, Spigno Saturnia (LT).

On the California homefront, Los Angeles favorite, Andy García & Cineson singer and ex-Arte Mixto lead singer IRIS SANDRA with be debuting her new original project -- an intimate sextet -- in support of her latest album Dos Palabras at...

MAMBO's CAFÉ
1701 Victory Blvd. Glendale, CA 91201
Phone: 818 545-8613 Fax: 818 545-1149

F.Y.I. FIRST SHOW SOLD OUT! 
Happy to report a second show has been added for that same night. 

Cuban music in the United States isn't limited to the cities on the coasts; In between a club (Coconut Beach) that has hired Charanga Habanera twice in two years along with actively pursuing other Timba bands and a locally-based band, Grupo Aché, which plays some Songo and TImba (including some Los Van Van covers) as well as the Salsa one might normally expect, Louisville Kentucky is emerging as an important  location for spreading awareness of Timba music in the central United States.   Read more about this and see concert photos of Grupo Aché  here. 

An important African source of Afrocuban music is what is now the country of Benin, and one of Benin's most important bands, Le Tout-Puissant Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, is currently on tour in North America.   We recently caught them in concert and asked the band some questions. Read the review and interview and see concert photos of the band here. 

Quién puede dudar de la importancia adquirida por los Festivales Latino Americando Expo a lo largo de estas ya 22 ediciones ininterrumpidas, catapultándolo como el festival de música latina más importante de toda Europa. Por este festival han desfilado grandes artistas de diversas nacionalidades y estilos musicales. Como es de suponerse la música cubana no puede estar exenta a estas manifestaciones, por el contrario acapara gran atención en cada una de las ediciones de este maravilloso evento que conglomera las más importantes representaciones artistas y culturales de América Latina. Para este año la la representación cubana seguirá contando con un rol protagónico y estarán presentes los siguientes artistas: Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor (Sáb. 30/6), Elito Reve y su Charangón (Mar. 03/7), David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera (Sab. 14/7), Alfredo de la Fé (Mar. 24/7) y por último los reggaetoneros de Gente d' Zona (Mie. 25/7).

Nuestro corresponsal en Milano, ciudad en la que se suscita el evento, Jairo Vilcatoma, nos está manteniendo al tanto de todos los detalles.... >>> oprima aquí para continuar leyendo el reporte completo >>>>>

Estaremos manteniendolos al tanto de las presentaciones que realice la restante delagación de artistas y músicos cubanos, mantenganse atentos por favor, cualquier comentario y/o sugerencia lo pueden hacer siempre por  feridj@timba.com.

A continuación presentamos el estreno absoluto de la nueva canción de Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor titulada "Bembe":

“What we have here is a failure to communicate…….”  

As I look at everything that has been happening in the Timba music  concert scene in the United States over the past two years, I am reminded of Aesop’s  fable about the little shepherd boy who cried “wolf”.  For those of you who are not familiar with that story, the short version is that a little shepherd boy falsely warned the villagers about a wolf attack on the sheep in order to bring them running out to the pasture.  After he did this twice, and the villagers came running both times only to learn that there really was no wolf, the villagers vowed to ignore him.  The third time that he cried out, there actually was a wolf, but the villagers ignored him because of the previous false alarms, and the flock of sheep was lost.   In a way, we are faced with a similar problem regarding potential audiences for large Timba concerts in the United States now. There is an atmosphere of understandable skepticism among many of the fans, and those of us who work professionally with the music whether as musicians, agents, promoters, managers, venue owners, writers, media figures etc., will need to put our heads together and try to figure out ways that we might be able to address that skepticism.    This problem was already present before the New York concert, which did at least end with a concert. There was also some collateral damage from this event - a lot of discussion in the industry about possible longer tours by individual bands associated with the concert failed to become actual tours.  

I have seen and heard comments in other places questioning whether some of the bands originally advertised for the May/June 2012 New York concert were ever really signed in the first place.  After examining all of the evidence available to me, it appears that even if all of the original bands had truly been signed and confirmed the number of tickets actually being sold   would still not have been enough to permit a concert of the size originally announced, and it still would probably have been economically necessary for the organizers to “downsize” the concert   ( although I don’t know the actual number of tickets sold, the change from the Armory to the Copacabana would not have been practical if thousands of people had already been buying tickets).   Under these circumstances, it is difficult for me to criticize the fact that a smaller concert was the finished product. However, the handling of the public communications aspects of that process was absolutely horrible.   

Since I am also a brass musician myself, I can tell you that since the same brass section was performing throughout the concert, it was probably a good thing that they didn’t play for six full hours – unless the song list was carefully paced to give them plenty of rest, hour six would not have been pleasant for the musicians or the audience.  But here again, there was a serious communications failure between the organizers and the ticket holders.....click here to continue reading.........  

Let's start with Pupy since Los Que Son Son play tomorrow, July 14, at Fiesta in Rome! After getting off to a rough start Pupy is in full swing and rewarding fans for their patience with a new mambo titled Quién me está llamando . I'm not a mambo fan, but somehow Pupy always knows how to please me. Great song! Disfrútenlo!

Pupy y Los Que Son Son estrenando "Quién me está llmando" @ New Morning
video by Pascualito for FiestaCubana.net

And if we are talking about great moments in Timba 2012, check out the video that Jack El Calvo has uploaded: Tirso singing with Orquesta Revé! Need I say more? He has uploaded 3 videos of Revé with Tirso as well as his own video from the Pupy @ New Morning concert, so go to his YouTube channel to watch them all. Here is one example. Candela! Cuida'o que te quema!

Elito Revé y Su Charangon with improvisation by Tirso Duarte & Emilio @ Rignac
video by Jack El Calvo

Elito Revé y su Charangón will be in the Netherlands tomorrow and then heading to Finland for 3 days, 19, 20, 21, at the Pori Jazz Festival before returning to Cuba for a well-earned rest.

Israel Rojas & Yoel Martínez of Buena Fe with Descemer Bueno
Photo courtesy of BUENA FE (PAGINA OFICIAL)

There are three categories of people when it comes to Buena Fe. There are those who are already fans, such as myself and a great number of timberos, hence I am stubbornly writing about them here at timba.com. Then there are those who recognize the name of the band and even recognize some of their songs but haven't put two and two together yet. For these people it is a revelation when they finally discover "Oh! That song is by Buena Fe!". And the third category is people who are just about to become Buena Fe fans, and some of you reading this post are in this category.

Buena Fe is arguably the most popular of the new generation of troveros. The band was founded as a duo in 1999, and has since grown to include six members and has recorded seven studio albums and released two live DVD/CD sets. Buena Fe also has the flexibility of being able to perform either as a duo or in the larger
     
Photo by Gabriel Davalos -fotógrafo-

format. Their music can be described as trova-fusion. The lyrics are poetry about contemporary Cuban life covering everything from social critique to some of the most gorgeous love songs I've ever heard. They are set to whatever type of music will best transmit the message, so the music varies from pop to rock to son-reggaeton to changüí-pop, to ballads and whatever else they decide to mix together. There is no question that this formula has been successful, taking the founders, Israel Rojas and Yoel Martínez, from Guantanamo to Havana, and from there to Latin America, Europe and the US, and building them a passionate fan base around the world.

Descemer Bueno is an amazingly versatile artist who has had a jazz band with Elmer Ferrer and Roberto Carcassés, was a member of Yerba Buena and co-writer of many of their hits, has worked as a composer, producer and arranger for artists such as Haydée Milanés, Yusa and Enrique Iglesias, as well as composing some of the songs for the soundtrack of "Havana Blues". Descemer released his solo album "Siete Rayo" in 2005 and the CD "Amor y Música" which he recorded with Kelvis Ochoa in 2008. For more of Descemer's music, check out his YouTube channel. He is currently working on another album, which is simply titled "Bueno" and is planned for release in 2012. Descemer is recording with a number of Cuban artists on the new CD, including Buena Fe, and that is what leads us back to the purpose of this post.

This is the first time that Israel and Descemer have worked together. The song they wrote is titled "Ser de sol" and is a beautiful bachata in the style of Juan Luis Guerra. This collaboration has given rise to the idea of doing an entire album together like they did with the CD "Extremistas Nobles" where Buena Fe and Frank Delgado collaborated. This is an excellent idea and I hope it comes to fruition!

Last Monday, 2 July 2012, Buena Fe uploaded the video clip for "Ser de sol" to their Facebook page and to YouTube. I think it is safe to say that it wasn't exactly what fans might have expected. The story was written by director Ian Padrón and isn't exactly the typical love triangle one might expect. I won't spoil the surprise by giving any more away, but there are other interesting elements to this video as well. For example, it seems to be a look at a sort of Yummie lifestyle (Young Urban Martianos), complete with a party on a boat and the consumption of sushi. Another somewhat shocking aspect was the drinking of Cristal beer from Bucanero glasses! Was this double product placement or an attempt to be fair and equal to both brands? ;)

I've said enough. Check out the video below, and I highly recommend that you go to Facebook and visit BUENA FE (PAGINA OFICIAL).  They are the only Cuban band I know of that has nearly daily updates on their page, including a lot of photos and videos. You will  also find live video of the first perfomance of "Ser de sol" as well as  "Making of Ser de sol" video. Click "Like" so you can keep up-to-date on all their activities. I don't think these guys ever take a day off. They are currently touring Granma, despite the cholera problem, and will then move on to Las Tunas. In August they will be back in Europe and I will finally get to see them live at Latinoamericando in Milan! Expect a concert report! Click here for a list of tour dates but keep in mind that your best bet for current info is BUENA FE (PAGINA OFICIAL). You can also visit their YouTube page.

Pupy y los que son son - No te dejé por mala - El Noro on lead vocals

We have published a list of confirmed dates for Manolito y Su Trabuco who will be tourng in August. I am thrilled to see that they will be playing in Sweden and Gothenburg's annual Kulturkalaset in Kungstorget on August 16th. That is where I will be! They have more dates pending confirmation so check their Tours page again at the end of July. Manolito is currently working on the new CD "Sin Freno" but it won't be out in time for the tour.

Lázaro "Mayami" Díaz sings the title track from the coming CD "Sin Freno"
lyrics by Alexander Abreu

This year Kulturkalast is a gold mine for fans of Cuban music. X Alfonso will play there on August 17th. If you are en inveterate Timba Geek and don't know X Alfonso's work, he is known for intelligent, profound lyrics combined with a hiphop/soul/funk music, and his videos are always full of beautiful imagery. I'll just let his music and his moving lyrics speak for themselves. We have posted the confirmed dates for his tour which for now are focused on Northern Europe. But there is also more to come in X tour plans so stay tuned!

X Alfonso "De Corazón"

Good news timba fans! Sweden's youngest timba band is currently back in the studio working on their first album, and tomorrow CubanNight @ Kägelbanan at Södra Teatern in Stockholm will host the second show by Orquesta Pomo .

I caught their debut performance at Mosebacke on April 15, 2012 and was very impressed. Director, pianist and arranger Jonas Pomo has made a point of handpicking the musicians and then sticking to his guns, no matter the cost. The results speak for themselves. I filmed the April concert, but due to technical difficulties and aging equipment, I have not been able to download the video from the mini-DV cassette where it sits patiently waiting. DJs in Europe and South America have been less patient, and I have had repeated requests for audio or video from that show. Sorry guys...still nothing to share with you.

But in the meantime let me say that the band is very well-rehearsed and boasts a smokin' horn section. Carlos Pérez is currently in Cuba, but Peter Fredriksson and Niklas Viisanen are on trombone and the trumpet section consists of Yuliesky Gonzales, Oslen Ceballo, Johan Nordefeldt and Rickard Lindgren. At the April concert we were treated to solos by all of the horn players that left the audience cheering.

In addition to being beautiful and having a rich voice, lead singer Cecilia Ferrer is charismatic and professional. One thing I noticed was that there wasn't a lot of "muela". The performance was geared towards dancers with smooth transitions between songs. But I think the best way for you to get an idea of what the debut concert was like is to watch some video; this was recorded on an iPhone I believe. Enjoy!

"El Juego" - Orquesta Pomo @ Mosebacke 15 April 2012

You can keep up with the latest news about Orquesta Pomo at Facebook .
The line-up for tomorrow's concert is:
Jonas Pomo, piano
Cecilia Ferrer, lead vocals
Aksel Friberg, bass
Linus Svanberg, congas
Magnus Almqvist, drums & timbales
Jonas Landolsi, güiro
Cristian Guerra, vocals
Alex Saltell, vocals
Cristina Pomo, vocals
Yuliesky Gonzalez, trumpet
Oslen Ceballo, trumpet
Johan Nordefeldt, trumpet
Rickard Lindgren, trumpet
Peter Fredriksson, trombone
Nikolas Viisanen, trombone

Verse 3 - A Concert Against All Odds - by Bill Tilford

Story and photos by Bill Tilford, all rights reserved
(para leer en español oprima aquí)

When Saturday arrived, I knew that I wasn’t going to try to do the VIP “Meet & Greet” with the fans. For one thing, as a writer, I have learned over the years that it really is better for my own blood pressure to let the regular fans have their own time at those things. For another, I had no idea where and when it would be. (I later learned that it was in the Rooftop 760 section of the club complex.) 

I did want to see the sound check, and after some effort and assistance, I was able to get into the club around 5 PM.  (There was still no noticeable poster outside the entrance to the club. Did someone decide that the event was top secret?)  I saw a few microphones and an engineer who was eagerly awaiting musicians and instruments. No musicians, no disc jockey, no sound, no sound check, just an engineer and equipment eagerly awaiting something to happen. As 6 pm approached, things didn’t look much different. Since the show was supposed to start at 6, this was not a good thing. More time passed. No real crowd was coming in either. One of the club’s staff, a brave young fellow named Denis, finally decided that there really should be music one way or another. By his own account, he was not a disc jockey and knew nothing about Cuban music but did know how to operate almost all of the equipment in the club including the DJ equipment. Heroically, he began assembling a downloaded playlist in the booth so that the audience would at least have something to dance to until the bands came in.  By this time, there was no escaping the fact that this concert was going to start – sometime - without a sound check by the engineer standing near me.  Bad sound can ruin even the best bands and sometimes has when bands from Cuba have performed in the United States, so I began mentally preparing myself for an impending disaster.    

...Testing, zero, zero, zero...

As the crowd began trickling in, music began playing from the DJ booth.....click HERE to read Bill Tilford's full report on the New York Timba Mega Concert

De La Habana a New York Concert Review - by Rosy Estrada

June 16, 2012 - Despite a very late start, mass confusion about the VIP tickets, and technical sound difficulties, the only thing that saved De La Habana a New York from becoming a Mega disaster was the pleasure the audience drew from watching the pure raw energy pour out of the musicians.  Bamboleo, Pupy Pedroso, and Manolito delivered an engaging performance in a rare appearance of all three groups at the famed Copacabana in New York City.

As the Washington, D.C. Timba.com correspondent and organizer of Distrito Cubano, DC's only Cuban social group, it seemed quite logical for me to organize and encourage a group of Cuban music followers/friends from our nation's capitol to travel to NY to soak in some live Cuban music.  What I didn't know was how much the lack of communication from the concert's organizers would affect my overall enjoyment of the concert.  Having attended both very successful Cuban concerts from visiting artists and others not so well promoted in the DC area, I still haven't been able to properly discern the root causes of what seems to be developing into a pattern and practice of over-promising and underdelivering when it comes to U.S. timba concert peformances.

In our case, we ended up purchasing the VIP Meet and Greet tickets....click HERE to read Rosina Estada's full report on the New York Timba Mega Concert

Yoel is known to timba fans as one of the top percussioninst in Timba. He was part of some of the most important groups of timba during their greatest moments: Paulo F.G. y Su Élite & Issac Delgado. Kevin explains Yoel's style in the following words; "In addition to being a virtuoso and a groove machine, the defining quality of his style is his musicality. He never plays a "rhythm pattern" for its own sake. Everything he plays seems directly linked to whatever is going on musically in the arrangement at that moment." For more about Yoel check out his musician page here at Timba.com.

Over the past 10 years Yoel has been playing with important bands in Spain, and has been busy giving Masters Classes all over Europe. But now he has filmed a DVD called "El Arte de la independencia 360º". He says that he and trombonist Julio Montalvo (Paulo F.G., Pachito Alonso, David Bisbal). Julio produced the DVD with him. 

Yoel says that the idea was to do something different from other products in the market. His DVD goes through more than 10 different types of sets. And the 360º is because the course was shot from many angles and with many instruments such as drums, batá, congas, bongos, timbales, cajon, djembe, etc. Here is a 15 minute video that Yoel has uplaoded to YouTube. For more info contact Yoel at facebook http://www.facebook.com/yoel.paezgonzalez

Story by Bill Tilford - All Rights Reserved

In the first verse, I mentioned that there was a lot of skepticism about the concert among potential ticket buyers from the very beginning, but the promised lineup was exciting enough that many people were prepared to attend from all over the country anyway. Unfortunately, many others  wanted to wait until they were absolutely certain that the concert was legitimate, and quite a few people asked me whether this concert was real, so I made it a point to learn as much as I could about the details, and I did my best to reassure them that to the best of knowledge, the concert was the real deal, and I was planning to attend personally.   

In the weeks before the the original May concert date, it became apparent that not all of the originally-promised bands were actually going to make the concert. A very important and serious mistake during this period was the failure of the organizers to redesign and effectively redistribute  all of  their materials when it become obvious that some of the groups and musicians would not be participating in the concert for various reasons. As the May 26 date approached, the organizers made the decision to postpone the concert until June 16 and change the venue from the gigantic Armory Arena  to the smaller Copacabana. This would have been the ideal moment for them to have effectively distributed  a fully-adjusted talent lineup as well. Many ticket holders, including my two colleagues, assumed the worst after the date change and chose not to reschedule for the June date. From the reports that I have received, the organizers did at least appear to have been forthright and effective with processing the refunds that were requested. They also offered a  free “VIP upgrade” to existing regular ticket holders (more about this later). Personally, I was determined to continue in spite of the astronomical fees for  changing  my flight and the equally horrible hotel room rates for a room close to the Copacabana.   

As the June 16th date approached, the organizers did publish some video from some of the performers confirming the new concert (unfortunately, one of the videos was by Mayito Rivera,  who did not actually appear at the concert due to another commitment on the new date), the New York FM radio station La Mega ran some ads, and Timba.com  (along with a few other websites) did its best to help get the word out about the concert. A couple of nights before the concert, many of the musicians were live on television in Miami.  This was favorably received, and it also had the benefit of proving that at least some of the musicians were actually in the country.  

I arrived in Manhattan the evening before the concert. I had booked a room in the Econolodge across the street from the Copacabana.  I did this in spite of the $200-plus per night rate (In some parts of the country, I think you can probably rent a floor for that)  and various  review website warnings that I would be paying for a space only slightly wider than the bed because (a) I wanted to stay as close as possible to the action, (b) the cheaper alternative, the New York Inn, had a lot of reviews that said “don’t go there”,  and (c) when I tried to go there anyway, they were supposedly all booked up. To my surprise, I had apparently booked the Econolodge version of the  Presidential Suite (or at least what they might offer deposed ex-Presidents from poor countries on the lam).   It was an actual room – the only room, in fact - on the top floor. This left me with some questions about how the reservation website magically steered me to this room while I was making reservations, but I also decided that it would just be too weird to go back downstairs and ask for one of those little shoeboxes that I had originally been threatened with by the hotel review websites.    

As I headed out for the evening, I walked by the Copacabana and noticed that there was no poster for tomorrow night’s concert outside of the club. I was later told that the event was not carried on the Copacabana website either. This probably did not help reassure the locals that everything was OK.   

Photo by Richard Williams (courtesy of Manuel Valera)

Manhattan is much better at Jazz than it is at Cuban music, so I went uptown and caught an absolutely wonderful set by Lenny White ’s quintet at a club called Smoke.  My real motive for doing this was that Manuel Valera and Tom Guarna were playing in this group, but the entire group including Lenny White, Wallace Roney, Victory Bailey, Manuel Valera and Tom Guarna  was excellent.  I had recently reviewed Manuel’s New Cuban Express and was curious to hear him in a more straight-ahead setting.  They did a wonderful tribute to Miles Davis’ Bitches’ Brew period, and Tom stretched out a lot more on guitar than he did on Manuel’s recording.   He will be worth watching in other projects that he gets involved with as well.   I also walked away from that performance with a new appreciation of just how much Miles’ music has influenced many members of the current generation of Cuban and other Latin Jazz musicians. 

...Pedrito, but not this time...

Later, I went over to Guantanamera, the 8th Avenue lair  of the Pedrito Martinez Group. Guantanamera is a very nice Cuban restaurant with very good food, but this is what it is; it is theoretically possible to dance in there, but there is no dance floor to speak of. Pedrito’s group wasn’t there that night,  and when I asked who was playing, I was told “We don’t know exactly who is playing, but it will be Cuban music.” Could this be some of Saturday’s musicians sneaking in to play for the night?  My hopes rose as I decided to stay and find out. As it turned out, the answer to that question was “no”, but there was a nice descarga by some local musicians that I will choose to call Grupo Incognito because they really didn’t want to be named either. (I saw this phenomenon in LA a few times years ago, so I am respecting their wishes.)   

As I went to bed that morning, I realized that things seemed awfully quiet for what was supposed to be the Timba concert of the decade.

CHORUS:   Even little things that look out of place can raise big suspicions. This is an important lesson for the future. 

Coming Next:  3rd Verse -  A Concert Against All Odds

Click here for Peter's album review-photo gallery of VL Trio's new CD, Tradicionando.

VL Trio is the nucleus of the larger group, Vissión Latina, which has two CDs of its own. Follow the link for audio samples.

Photo by Bill Tilford, all rights reserved

For better and for worse, this concert comes on the heels of a few earlier failed attempts by other promoters in other cities.   But unlike those earlier fiascoes, this time a concert really did take place.  It wasn't exactly the concert that was originally advertised, but it was a concert, it had more stars in the room than we have seen together in the United States before, and it was  a lot better musically  than I expected it to be after everything else that went wrong before the concert even started.   I was able to watch a lot of this story unfold, and towards the end, I actually wandered into some of it in ways that I never planned to do. This is a story that needs to be told, and hopefully we can all learn some things from the experience.    Hopefully one of those lessons will NOT be "Don't hire Timba bands",  but we will all need to learn the other lessons to prevent that from happening.

1st Verse -  Was this really a good idea to begin with?

It was only a year before this that the even more-sprawling Fuego Cuban Music Festival evaporated in South Florida.   In Echo Park (Los Angeles), a planned May 2011 Cuban music festival was cancelled due to funding issues.  (The LA Cubafest that did happen later in July 2011 featured Cuban-American bands, and attendance failed to meet expectations.)
In the meantime, some other tours by single bands from the island like Los Van Van encountered various problems that shortened or in some cases cancelled all or parts of their tours.   The result of all of these earlier problems was a new and understandable level of skepticism on the part of ticket buyers and venue owners.   For many of these people, the New York concert sounded too good to be true even before any of the real problems actually started.   Based on what I was hearing from Timba fans during the months before the New York concert, I'm really not sure whether ticket sales would have met expectations even if the promotion had been much better than it was.   
Nevertheless, the announcement was made - New York would have a Mega Timba Concert at the Armory in May 2012 with an historic collection of bands from Cuba. How could my colleagues and I NOT be excited about this?  Three of us made preparations to go and cover the event.   I was a little concerned at the time that the ticket-purchase website said "From Havanna to New York Non-Stop Timba Concert", and the artists included Puppy & Los Que Son Son.   and I mentioned to some colleagues at the time that it would be nice if they would spell the English version of Havana correctly, even better would be to get Pupy's name right.    This didn't inspire a lot of confidence in the people administering the concert.   Still, we were hopeful.   
When you add the usual and customary visa issues and consider the fact that individual bands all have their own agendas, it was probably too ambitious to try to bring this many full bands together in one place at the same time.   I think it would have been better if the promoters had planned and promoted a unified All Stars concert from Day One.   This was what was finally delivered, it was an excellent musical product, and most of the bad will generated by the project could have been avoided if it had been advertised this way.  Even more important, it is this reporter's opinion that the next few Timba concerts in the US should probably keep it simple:  one band - maybe two - from Cuba, if more music is needed, pair it with some suitable US talent.  It will be a while before there is enough confidence to try to repeat a concert like this one.   

Chorus:   In my opinion, the organizers tried to accomplish too much with too many bands. It is difficult enough to do a successful event with multiple bands using purely US talent. Once you go international, it becomes even harder.  This isn't just a Cuba thing - even European musicians have visa problems, and there are reasons why multiple groups from there don't do US tours together.  A much simpler concert could still have been a great success if advertised properly.  

Coming Next :  2nd Verse - The Road To The Concert 

The new CD should be out in the fall. The band still has to finish recording the horns on some of the songs before it can be mixed and mastered. I the meantime, enjoy the clip and I hope to see you at one of the concerts!

And a little Behind-the-scenes video from the recording studio...

César Pupy Pedroso and Pedrito Calvo take the stage

Hanging out backstage with Manolito Simonet and friends

Pupy and Pedrito playing some classic Van Van tunes

Bamboleo's new front line-up (singers)  - Aliyn on the far right

El pasado mes de Marzo la orquesta que dirige el cubano BARBARO FINES emprendió vuelo hacía el viejo continente con la finalidad de realizar su primera gira internacional, esta comprendió un total de 16 shows divididos en 3 países: Francia, Italia y Suiza. El primer show de la banda cubano - peruana fue realizado con un éxito rotundo el 02 de Marzo en la localidad de TOULOUSE ubicada al sur de Francia, al local ingresaron poco más de mil personas, colmando la capacidad permitida.

Oprima aquí para leer el reporte completo y ver más fotos.....

Mayimbe mostrando orgullosos los premios obtenidos durante la gira

If you haven't seen this yet -- check it out! Alain talks about his musical evolution and plays some solo bass. At the end of the segment he engages the house band for a surprising jam session -- one where he plays almiost ALL the instruments ... timbales, congas, piano and sings. Talk about SUPERCUBANO. Check out Beyond Salsa Bass for more info on Alain.

New Manolín release "Tiene Que Ser Manolín" - We've been featuring the title track for many months now on Radio Timba (currently #17), but now it's official....16 tracks under the Xplosion Entertainment. Click here to check it out on iTunes.

1 Mi Desastre
2 Así De Fácil
3 No Quiero Saber De Amores
4 Me Encanta Esa Niña
5 Me Gustas Un Montón
6 Tengo Un Amigo (feat. El Mola)
7 Yo Soy Tu DJ
8 Se La Voy a Regalar
9 Yo Me Enteré En Facebook
10 De Tarea Pa’ La Casa
11 Cubaneando (feat. El Haka)
12 Mi Guaguancó Manolín
13 Tiene Que Ser Manolín
14 Mi Desastre 
15 Así De Fácil 
16 No Quiero Saber De Amores

Latin Jazz category reinstated in the the Grammy Awards - Last year the Recording Academy consolidated categories, from 109 to 78, with Latin Jazz among the ones affected (though it remained in the Latin Grammys). Four latin jazz artists - Bobby Sanabria, Mark Levine, Ben Lapidus and Eugene Marlow - responded to the change by filing a class action lawsuit, which was later dismissed by the courts. Protests and online aggravation also ensued. It is this writer's opinion that inroads partly began when Mark Levine simply wrote a letter to the Academy stating his displeasure and actually returned his Grammy awards, proving that it's value is squarely in the eye of the beholding artists. Categories in Classical, R&B and Urban Contemporary music were also reinstated. Bottom line is that it's a victory to enjoy for all.

Orquesta La Bohemia takes a stab at timba - Switzerland's romantic salsa mainstayers release a timba track under the musical direction of Celia Cruz's conguero Luisito Aballe. On vocals is Josbel Rodríguez under the general direction of Cristian González. We welcome the change Cristian! Check out "Mujer del otro" on Radio Timba now.

Changuito Master Classes & Concerts in Spain - La Fundación Robert A. Paneque presentará en España un histórico taller, clase magistral y concierto de congas, timbales y batería con el legendario percusionista cubano José Luis Quintana Fuertes (Changuito), considerado hoy día el percusionista cubano más grande y más  influyente del mundo y el músico cubano más imitado de todos los tiempos, conocido mundialmente por ser el creador del songo, el ritmo que ha llevado a la cumbre a Los Van Van. Ha sido ganador de tres Premios Grammy en cuatro nominaciones. Se le conoce mundialmente como El Rey del Timbal.

Para más información oprima aquí o a la foto arriba para descragar la ficha técnica y toda fecha de la gira de Changuito en España. 

Lo que hoy por hoy conocemos como COMBINACIÓN DE LA HABANA, solía ser la base de músicos que acompañaron a MICHEL MAZA en la última etapa de este en Cuba, antes de que decidiese continuar su carrera musical en el Perú. La orquesta llevaba por nombre en ese entonces MICHEL MAZA Y SU TENTACION. Al ya no contar con su figura estelar estos jóvenes músicos decidieron emprender un nuevo camino y con una nueva historia, para tal finalidad nombraron por decisión colectiva a GERSON VALDÉS como director general y musical de este nuevo proyecto, el cual al día de hoy lleva ya 6 años de existencia y carrera.

Haz click aquí para leer más, ver más fotos y video entrevistas con Gerson Valdés...

Leonardo "Leito" interpretando "El Pillo" en el Scencia de La Molina

Last week's consolation prize for the postponed timba mega-concert was a scorching hot Alain Pérez performance at Zinc Bar with pianist Manuel Valera (see Bill Tilford's post below on Manuel's  new album), Robby Ameen on drums, and Fort Apache legend Jerry González on trumpet and percussion. Click here for Tom's full gallery.

Tom has video coming soon and Martin Cohen has already posted three great clips.

And if you missed it, I've recently published the second book-eBook-audio-video set for Alain - Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 7, and the corresponding Melón piano video. [Kevin Moore]

listen to the La Mega 97.9 Timba Mega Concert radio spot

Also in the news in New York....
Benefit concert for reknown bassist Rubén Rodríguez -- "bassist Rubén Rodríguez is in need of a touch from above. He's to undergo surgery to remove fluid from a partially collapsed lung. His situation is challenging to say the least. Let's keep this brother in our thoughts and prayers. There will be some fundraisers happening in the NYC area.  We LOVE you RUBEN!!" -- posted by fellow musician Ray Vega on Facebook

This benefit concert will take place Wednesday, June 6th at TIAN at the Riverbank. Enter Riverbank State Park @ 145th Street, New York City

Call (212) 234 1023 for tix.

Changüí Festival Begins in Guantanamo Province (Cuba) -- Featured at the event is Cuban bassist and composer Juan Formell, who took his first steps in music, in the orchestra of the late musician Elio Reve, precursor of the traditional rhythm that swept Cuba and the world. In addition to the expected concerts, the festival will celebrate the world's longest changüí with 40 Cuban groups that will make that music sound continuously for 24 hours, starting next June 2. Dancers will enjoy concerts of Juan Formell and Los Van Van, who will share the stage for the first time in that locality with the hosts of the event, the orchestra of Elito Revé.  source

7 Days in Havana film debuts at the Cannes Film Festival -- There's a new movie out bankrolled by Havana Club (the rum-makers) that features 7 distinct episodes. The first one, called "El Yuma", was directed by Benicio del Toro (a story about a dim tuorist that hooks up with a transvestite). While the movie was mostly panned (a not-so-glaring review), it has Alexander Abreu appearing as a chauffeur / musician in the second episode entitled "Jam Session". The participation of our favorite trumpeter and band leader cought our collective eye.  source

Excellent jazz history retrospective of another 7 days in Havana -- check out this great Havana report from jazz history buff Alex Ariff on behalf of WBGO 88.3 FM in New jersey. Great commentary and pictures with sound clips. Featured a look inside EGREM studios and an inside peek on a recording session with piano legen Frank Emilio Flynn.  check it out here

May 19th was a fantastic explosion of great timba in Toronto, thanks to cubaintoronto.com, Casineros Unidos and Lula Lounge’s Lulaworld Festival, who presented Pupy y los que son son at The Phoenix Concert Theatre. The evening began with rising star DJ Bernal, who spun the latest and greatest timba, and the show kicked off with a dance performance by Afrolatino Dance Company. This was followed by a very special performance for Yemaya, by Melissa Noventa, in honour of the late icon and friend to many in Cuban music, Billy Bryans, who we lost recently to cancer. Billy had been a co-producer of many Cuban concerts in Toronto, and was perhaps Canada's key proponent of Cuban music. He is greatly missed by all!

Cesar “Pupy” Pedroso y los que son son blessed the Toronto crowd with an electrifying concert, adding a special twist: invited guests Mayito Rivera and Tania Pantoja. You can imagine how those vocal duels went, right? Electrifying de verdad! Mayito singing with Pupy sounded, well, just like Van Van. Pupy’s band was in top form and has such a youthful energy (Bombon is truly an animal.) The crowd was loving every minute and they played for almost 3 hours- right up until around 2:30am, when the soundman pulled the plug. Noise curfew! Oh, Canada…

No matter! The fun continues June 15th with Gente de Zona and their 12-piece band feat. El Micha and Yulien Oviedo, at the Opera House in Toronto. Presented by the Cubaneando festival, once again Toronto will prove itself as one of the greatest hotbeds of Cuban music in North America, as timberos, casineros and la farandula que tu conoces come out to break it down, Torontón style.

Volume 7 of Beyond Salsa Bass is out in both hard-copy and eBook, with accompanying audio and video.  Volume 7 is the second installment of a 4-volume study of the style of Alain Pérez, one of the most talented bassists, composers and arrangers of modern Cuban music. The bass series follows the piano series exactly, covering the same songs, now from the perspective of the bassist. Both the notes and the percussive sounds that he uses to create his funky style. This volume features a 19 page bass transcription of "Por qué paró" (as made famous by Issac Delgado). There are corresponding audio and video products for each volume.

Volume 7 covers two of Delgado's greatest live timba arrangements: "Por qué paró" and "Luz viajera". The piano and bass parts are drawn from extended live performances at the legendary Palacio de la Salsa nightclub in the Hotel Riviera on the Malecón. This is the seventh book in a instructional series set to become the new standard for contemporary Latin bass styles. 154 pages (154 páginas) with 25 audio tracks (25 pistas).

Alain is playing tonight Thursday - 3 shows ($15 for the whole night) at Zinc Bar in NY.

BREAKING NEWS: Rebeca Mauleón finds time to play a gig! She's usually too busy writing books and symphonies, making records, having kids - you know, minor stuff like that - but she'll be tearing it up Sunday at Yoshi's SF with three world-class percussionists - Jimmy Branly (ex-Issac, ex-NG, now plays with everyone in LA), Carlos Caro (ex-Paulito), and Jesús Díaz (leader of QBA). Click Continue Reading below for the poster.

Another important release this year is the long-awaited second CD by Havana D'Primera entitled "Pasaporte". I don't know the release date, but Lionel from FiestaCubana.net has posted the following track list. It includes a number of songs that have been out for a while as singles as well as some new tracks.

1.  Pa' mi gente
2.  Plato de segunda mesa
3.  La figura
4.  Carita de pasaporte
5.  Se te olvidó quien soy
6.  Al final de la vida
7.  La celosa
8.  Donde estemos tú y yo
9.  Amor a la roca
10.  El que sabe está caya'o
11. Verdades que hablan

Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor are also in the studio, and Maykel reports that they are recording the metales now, so they should be moving on to mixing and mastering quite soon! The CD doesn't have a name yet and Maykel says he's fielding suggestions if anyone has ideas. It would be nice if they could have it ready in time for their summer tour (June 22-July 8), but that is probably just wishful thinking! Tracks include: Yordi - Sabrosa, La calle está caliente, Tres hermanos & El artistasoy yo; Yasser - La figura & something he says is for the girls who don't like to stay at home; Alexis - El Kilo, Tremenda pinta, Tú no eres mi amigo & Hazte.

Here is a little peek into the recording studio including interviews with Maykel, where he tells us that the band is developing some new percussion patterns in the song "Tú no eres mi amigo". This sounds very exciting! So check out the video and preparense que vienen Los Mayores otra vez!

Regarding the event " De La Habana a Nueva York " / "From Havana to New York Non Stop Music ", due to time limitations in obataining exit permits for the Cuban Artists, the Mega Timba Concert has been postponed to JUNE 16, 2012 ... Same Artists Line-up, Same Time, Same Place.

New Date : Saturday, June 16th, 2012
Place: Copacabana Club
Address: 268 West 47Th St. New York, NY.
Time: 6:00 Pm to 12 Midnight. All Ages

All purchased tickets have been Upgraded to VIP Meet & Greet, no matter the purchased price.

We apologize for the inconvenience, for more information, please call 888-584-3070 or visit the official website here. Thanks again for your support.

Our Perú correspondent Feri DJ reports on a news conference for a special concert -- featuring Alexander Abreu of Havana D'Primera -- now passed on Friday, May 18. taking place in a stylish convention center, Alexander was backed by a Lima-based group of Cuban and Peruvian musicians called "Havana Light". Alexander will be on a  solo  tour of Perú from May 16 to May 27. Two other Lima timba bands, N'Samble and Rumbavana, also performed. The event also marked the first performace in Perú for one of our favorites: La Combinación de la Habana (de Gerson Valdés). Pro soccer players who are also salsa and timba fanatics were on hand to help promote the show.....read more 

Also check out Radio Timba with some new freash tracks courtesy of Feri DJ as well...

1- CONGA TOUR by Los Van Van
2- FARANDULA TROPICAL by La Combinación de la Habana de Gerson Valdés
3- EL PAQUETE by Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe 

New York street to be named after Arsenio -  The “Father of Salsa Music” Arsenio Rodríguez may soon have a street named in his honor. A contingent of Bronx supporters are pushing to rename the intersection of Intervale Ave. and Dawson St. in Longwood after Rodriguez. source

Link to Pedrito Martínez Group's feature in the New Yorker is here ... "Martinez and his band have won over dozens of people the writer has taken to see him, despite common confessions to not liking jazz or not understanding Latin music. If anyone can move Afro-Cuban music into greater visibility, it’s Martinez. "  Way to go Pedrito!!

Cubadisco 2012 was officially dedicated to the guitar, but in some ways it was also the year of the retrospective.  Many of this year's nominees were recordings that looked back on the careers of the musicians.  It is also worth noting that based on the number of awards (14) that it was associated with, Colibri has emerged as a new powerhouse for Cuban recordings.  Bis Music was associated with at least 9 awards, and EGREM was associated with at least 7.  Several other labels were represented as well.  We mention this because some people still mistakenly believe that the Cuban recording industry is a monolith.  Here are some of the award results that will be of particular interest to Timba.com readers:  

CUBADISCO 2012 GRAND PRIZE:   Veinte Pianos, Música de Ernán López Nussa, various artists (Colibri).  Ernán has sometimes been underappreciated througout his career but had a very good year this time with 4 awards.  Veinte Pianos also won the awards for CD/DVD and Didactic Recording, and Ernán was recognized as Producer of the Year.  He is one of Bill Tilford's favorite Cuban Jazz artists. This is also Ernán's second Grand Prize - the first was in 2002 for his recording From Havana To Rio.

SPECIAL GRAND PRIZE:   Chucho's Steps, Chucho Valdés and the Afrocuban Messengers (Colibri). This is an excellent Jazz recording.  

SPECIAL AWARD: Mis 22 Años, NG La Banda (EGREM), 30 Años de Son 14,  Son 14 (EGREM),Sueños del pequeño Quin, Joaquín Betancourt (Colibri)

JAZZ:  Travesia, Iván Melón Lewis Quintet (Casa Limón).  (This actually won 2 awards. Timba.com's Kevin Moore has written a lot about Melón, who has also made major contributioins to the genre of Timba. 

TESTIMONIAL  and FOLKLORIC MUSIC : Las Estrellas del folclor, Los Hermanos Arango (Bis Music). Los Hermanos Arango made a great impression on listeners during their tour of the United States a few months ago. 

TROVA FUSION:   Pi 3.14, Buena Fe (EGREM).  Buena Fe is a favorite of our own Timbera Mayor. 

ARCHIVAL MUSIC:   Origenes, Eduardo Ramos y Grupo Experimentación Sonora del ICAIC (Colibri)

LATIN MUSIC:  Mala, Haila (Bis Music).  Haila's solo project is a dance album that incorporates several different genres of popular music.  

*****CURRENT POPULAR DANCE MUSIC*****   Acabaito de nacer,  David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera (EGREM).  This recording does not break new ground musically, but it is a solid dance album, and one of the selections, the fusion number La Suerte,  also had a very popular video. In the near future, we will review both this recording and the other nominees for this category in more detail.  

Over the past 30 years Pachito Alonso y sus Kini Kini has been one of the great schools for young Cuban musicians. Here are a few name that should be familiar to you: Robertón and Lele, Tirso Duarte, Orlando & Lázaro Mengual, Lázaro Valdés, Vania Borges, Rigoberto López, Carlos Álvarez, Amaury Pérez and Cristobal Verdecía,j juts to name a few not to mention Pachito's sons Christian and Rey.

For those of us not able to attend the concert tonight, let me leave you with the title track to their last album, "Pasarela", from 2011.

Patrick Hickey is a retired career technologist in the Silicon Valley, with a liberal arts background and a long-standing passion for photography. After over 30 years in high technology, he has taken a "time out" in order to enjoy life and not spend all day with Power Point presentations, budget wars and personnel tetras.

His introduction to shooting the Bay Area timba and performance dance scenes was a result of his daughter's casino performing group (Rueda con Ritmo), and the subsequent introduction to the various bands. He has very fond photographic memories of the late afternoon lighting at the famed Jelly's on the wharf in San Francisco, as the sun knifed through the windows and created an almost perfect place to enjoy timba.

Click here to read more about Patrick (bio and equipment list).

¡Atención Músicos!  LARAS  (La Academia Latina de la Grabación) añade la Categoria  ”Mejor Album de Fusión Tropical”

En un comunicado de prensa 10 de Mayo 2012, LARAS anunció algunos cambios en las categorías de los premios Latin GRAMMY 2012.  De interés especial para los músicos que tocan la música progresiva es las nueva categoría “Mejor Álbum de Fusión Tropical”.  Veremos qué tipo de grupos y grabaciones serán reconocidas en esta nueva categoría, pero esto parece ser un cambio similar a lo que sugerimos en estas páginas en 2011 como una manera de ayudar a distinguir la formas más nuevas de la música en comparación de los estilos más antiguos la música tropical bailable.  

Animamos a los músicos que tocan la Timba , funk cubana y otras formas experimental o " mixta" música tropical de aprender tanto como sea posible acerca de esta nueva categoría , ya que esto puede ser un lugar más apropiado para presentar su grabación que la categoría “Mejor Album Tropical Contemporáneo” .

                           Dos  ejemplos recientes de fusion tropical -  Palo! y  Interactivo

Timba.com saluda a LARAS para la expandir las categorías y expresa la esperanza de que ayudaría a proporcionar una oportunidad de mayor reconocimiento a los grupos que tocan la Timba, Fusión, Funk cubana etc. en los Estados Unidos, Cuba y más allá.

El Museo Nacional Smithsonian de Historia Americana está haciendo una votación especial del público para determinar cuál de cinco figuras históricas deberiá ser objeto de un nuevo retrato histórico especial.   Uno de los nominados es Celia Cruz.  Los otros nominados son Audie Murphy, Alice Paul, Samuel Morse y Frederick Douglass. 

Photo from the Smithsonian's website.

Celia left an enormous body of work both in Cuba and later in the United States, and her style influenced generations of female Salsa vocalists.    

Voting is open until May 26 , and you can vote on your choice for this portrait on the National Museum of American History's web page by using this link: Frame an Iconic American

Celia dejó un enorme cuerpo de obras, tanto en Cuba y más tarde en los Estados Unidos, y su estilo influyó en generaciones de cantantes femeninas de la Salsa.  La votación está abierta hasta el 26 de Mayo, y usted puede votar en su elección para este retrato en la página de web del Museo Nacional de Historia Americana mediante el uso de este enlace: Frame an Iconic American

"Sé que muchos se preguntan que me ha pasado, que si me he vuelto loco, que si estoy acabado, que si todavía estoy cantando y con quien ..... (I know many are wondering what happened to me, if I went crazy, if I'm finished, if I'm still singing and with who...)"

Well the answers are all laid out in this new release "Tirso Duarte y la Mecánica Loca" (Agorila).

Recorded in France and released by the French label Agorila, the album is a collaboration between Tirso and an award winning percussionist and band-leader Julien Garin. 

Click here to continue reading and review the full track list and musician listings....

Also from France and making the rounds on YouTube is a project from trumpeter / band-leader Alexander Batte called "Cuban Monsters". Based in Paris, their first single "La Rumba La Pongo Yo" features some excellent bass playing and mambos on this blend of traditional son / salsa that leads into a heavy timba coro-pregón. Enjoy! 

It took a while but I finally got both halves of Alain playing bass with Havana d'Primera at their historic US debut. Check out at about 4:12 (and many other places!) after the video switches to the narrower iPhone clip. To me, the way Alain's is laying down the bomba is truly what timba is all about. The audio is not the greatest, but use your imagination - it was truly insane!

César Pupy Pedroso y los que Son Son 
Manolito y su Trabuco  
Lazarito Valdés y Bamboleo,  
Alexander Abreu & Habana D' Primera, 
José Luís Cortés y NG la Banda,  
With Special Guests:
 Mario Mayito Rivera & Pedro Calvo (ex-Los Van Van)
Tania Pantoja & Vania Borges (Ex-Bamboleo) 

AHORA LA COSA SE PUSO BUENA
To purchase TICKETS click here or call 1-888-584-3070 
** 10% discount promo code = Timba.com **

NEW VENUE From Havana's Copa Room to the Copacabana club in NYC, a truly historic night. The newly renovated 8 million dollar facility with huge dance floor is located at:

Copacabana 268 West 47th St., Corner of 8th Ave, NY, NY 10036

Click here for Peter's full gallery of this extraordinary series of performances.

Coming to New York, May 26th - the mega concert with Pupy, Bamboleo et al.

Coming to Yoshi's SF, June 1 & 2 - Bamboleo!

Peter Maiden was on hand to photograph Friday night's show and will post a full gallery in the coming days. There are still two more workshops and two more concerts this weekend. Of special interest is the presence of guarapachanguero extraordinaire Manley "Piri" López of Los Chinitos fame. Click "continue reading" for two other amazing preview shots.

The 6th National Changüí Festival in memory of Elio Revé Matos will take place in Guantanamo from May 30th - June 3rd. This year will include the participation of Orquesta Revé and Los Van Van. On the second night of the event Van Van will perform in Plaza Pedro Augustín Pérez, health permitting, Pastorita Yuani Sayús, the inspiration for the famous changüí "El guararey de Pastora", will dance changüí on stage with Van Van to the song she inspired.

If you will be unable to make a trip to Guantanamo for the festival, you can still see Orquesta Revé and Los Van Van together in concert on May 19th in Havana as they give Habaneros a small taste of the changüí festival.

This year will also see the 1st International Workshop on Changüí "el changüinaso" for national and international musicians who wish to update their knowledge of the instruments, dance and genre-related topics surrounding the most indigenous musical style from Guantanamo, Changüí. This pre-festival workshop takes place from May 27 - 30. To sign up for the workshop you must confirm your participation by May 15th. Contact the Centro Provincial de la Música “Luís Martínez Griñán” .
Director: Alexis Téllez Guerrero
Address: Los Maceo No 906 e/ Emilio Giro y Crombet
Telephones: (53) 021 - 32 2870 – 32 7590 – 32 9202
e-mail: cpm@gtmo.cult.cu
http://www.gtmo.cult.cu/instituciones/cpm

Let me leave you with a little taste from a changüí @ Casa de Pipi in Yateras December 2007 where Pipi shares stories about when he met Elio Revé Matos and what the old changüí used to be like.

Cuba's pop / timba supergroup la Charanga Habanera (led by David Calzado) perform Gozando En Miami and La Suerte at Yoshi's Jazz Club in San Francisco. The original release of Gozando on the album No Mires La Caratula is a collaboration with rapper El Chacal. La suerte appear son Acabaito De Nacer. Courtesy of Yoshi's & Blue Night Entertainment. Videography by Tom Erhlich of TIMBA.com.

Click here for Peter's amazing shots of Saturday night's show.

ATTENTION NEW YORK: Timbalive, currently the most exciting US-based timba band, will be at SOB's THIS FRIDAY. I've been so enthralled with HdP that I haven't been pushing this show, but I heard them at the SF SalsaRueda Fest and they're definitely the real deal - all recent original songs and arrangements, and as tight, distinctive and unique as a Cuban-based band - no easy feat to accomplish in the "timba graveyard" (Miami), where there are at least 100 world-class Cuban musicians and almost no gigs.

BAMBOLEO IN JUNE: Bamboleo, with a great new leader singer, Ailyn Dallera, is already booked for June 1 & 2 at Yoshi's SF, May 26 at the NY Mega Concert, and will probably also be in LA and other cities. 

TIMBALIVE IN NEW YORK: This show is coming up Friday at SOB's.

photo by Peter Maiden

UPDATE: Saturday shows were great, and packed to the rafters. Final 3 hour show tonight at 7:00 is selling briskly. LINK FOR TICKETS

Review of Friday's Performance. 

Knowing I had two more nights at Yoshi's SF ahead of me, I just relaxed and let my first-ever Havana d'Primera concert wash over me. And I kept finding myself asking ... what is it about this band?

Maybe the better question is what Havana d'Primera isn't. It's not an "espectáculo" - it's not "de película" - it doesn't have a lot of choreography, gimmicks or bravura. It's a bunch of great musicians playing great songs and this one guy standing up there just singing his heart out.  Who else sings and plays with this kind of pure, unaffected, real emotion? Alexander Abreu radiates an overpowering sense of integrity ... of honesty ...  of poetry ... in his voice, in his facial expressions, in the way he moves, and God knows, in the way plays that trumpet. He played one gut-wrenching, soaring high note over a ballad accompanment that made want to scream - like that guy in the audience at Lincoln Center in 1964 when Miles Davis built the same kind of climax on that legendary version of Stella by Starlight. Actually he played quite a few notes like that. And just as important, he didn't play any notes that he didn't mean - that didn't start deep in his gut and end up deep in yours.

That's one thing about Havana d'Primera - their use of solos. Instead of the standard once-a-night descarga where everyone gets a solo over a traditional vamp and plays the obligatory hot licks and quotes from Stormy Weather, the solos in this band are key parts of the emotional arcs of the songs in which they appear.

... and then Alain Pérez sat in! He started out singing - improvising beautifully about the events of the night, instigating several coros that HdP's coristas nailed instantly in harmony.

Then he switched to bass and lit a raging fire under a band that had already been throbbing hot for several hours. It was torrid bomba the likes of which I haven't heard since ... well, since Alain with Issac's band in 1997. I managed to film the vocal and the first minute of so of the bass part before my camera screwed up on me. Maybe someone else got the rest. I'll post mine to youtube soon.

Another thrill for the Bay Area was the presence of local hero Carlos Caro, who's playing all six shows as HdP's regular bongosero didn't make the tour. Well, he's "local" to us because he's been here for 20 years, but in Cuba, Carlos, along with current HdP guitarist Rogelio Nápoles played in Opus 13, and was then a founding member of Paulito FG y su Élite, where Alexander later got his start. In many ways, HdP is the next step in that lineage of great bands. Almost everyone in the band played with one or more of Paulito, Issac, Manolín, Revé, Manolito and Klímax.  

Havana d'Primera's mission statement was to restore the power, dignity, musicianship and creativity of the late 90s - and they're doing that - but in the dark, riveting intensity of Alexander Abreu they've also added some very new - and very real - and deeply moving. [Kevin Moore]

HdP arrives tomorrow and all systems go for the 5 San Francisco shows - their first shows ever in the United States. TICKETS HERE

All-night tickets for Friday and Saturday are sold out, but some tickets for individual shows remain.

Sunday show will be 3 hours of music for $45, starting at 7:00 p.m.

Alain Pérez will be with Paco de Lucia in Oakland on Friday and will tentatively be at Yoshi's during the second set.

Incredibly, no other cities seem to have booked HdP - what's up with that?

See you in SF!

I "met" Billy probably about 10 years ago. He is one of my Internet timba friends to whom I feel very close, although we have never met in person, and in recent years we have dropped out of touch. If you've been a follower of the world timba scene for the past several years, you are probably familiar with his blog, MisterBryans. For six years his blog was the absolute leading source of information on what was happening within Cuban music and dance in the rapidly-growing Canadian scene. He began traveling to Cuba back in the early 90s and has worked with musicians such as Telmary and Alberto Alberto.

But Billy's illustrious musical career began long before timba. He began working as a professional musician 40 years ago. He may be best known in Canada as the drummer of the Parachute Club. He has also worked as a promoter, DJ and publicist, not only in Cuban music but also with African and Brazilian music.

Five years ago Billy fought and won a bought with lung cancer. Sadly he is ill again. Now Canada's musical community is rallying behind the man who has given so much to them, and to the world, with a Rumbón for Billy Bryans this Thursday April 19 at Lula Lounge. Billy has worked closely with Lula Lounge over the years, DJing there quite often for Timba events. All funds from the event will go to help cover Billy's expenses. The rumbón will include a dance lesson, dance performances and a concert by Alex Cuba. For more information and to book a table see Lula's website.

And, Billy, on behalf of all of your friends around the world who can't be there on Thursday, I send you our love and our good vibes. Take care of yourself!

Billy on drums with Parachute Club - Rise up!

This film is currently making the rounds of festivals in several cities including Chicago and New York.  Is it worth seeing?  Read our review here...

The festival offers classes with live music for both students and teachers in a wide variety of Afro-Cuban dances such as: Yoruba dances, Rumba Guaguancó, Columbia, Yambú, Contemporary Afro, Congo: Makuta, Palo & Yuca, Timba, Afro-Rumba, Franco-Haitian, Abakuá, Arará, Rumba Casino, Folkloric songs, Rueda de Casino, Son and Cubatón.

There will also be dance performances and live music including the amazing line up of La Charanga Habanera Friday the 22nd and Tirso Duarte & La Mecánica Loca Sunday the 24th!

Check out the Guaguancó Festival 2012 promotional video below.

Charanga packed Yoshi's on Monday and is back tonight for more madness. Click here for Tom's gallery. Many more photos coming soon. After SF, the band returns to Miami for several last shows.

And Havana d'Primera tickets, including the great new "all night pass" (both shows for a big discount), are already on sale (and going fast) at Yoshi's box office.

Alexander Abreu & Habana D' Primera

After thrilling packed houses in New Jersey, Louisville, Las Vegas and LA, la CH rolls in to the Bay Area tonight and tomorrow (Mon. & Tues) at Yoshi's SF. Click here for tickets and video. See you there!

Live Issac: Click CONTINUE READING for three mind-bogglingly great versions of Issac's classic Por qué paró, which will be studied in the most minute detail in Volume 7 of Beyond Salsa Bass. [Kevin Moore]

There are some very exciting and innovative  new Jazz recording projects about to hit the streets including a phenomenal project by Manuel Valera's New Cuban Express, and we'll be saying more about those  in the near future.  But right here, right now, Yosvany Terry is releasing one of them, Today's Opinion,  with special live sets on Tuesday April 10 and Wednesday, April 11 at the Jazz Standard   in NYC. The CD absolutely knocked our socks off - you can read the review here.  

How will you celebrate International Timba Month? In the US you should catch one of the remaining concerts by La Charanga Habanera . In Europe you can find Los Van Van and here in Scandinavia we have the Viking Line Cuba cruises with Elito Revé y Su Charangón, La Charanga Forever and Yumurí y Sus Hermanos. I plan to celebrate with a few timba cruises assuming I can get free from work which has been unusually busy for me this spring.

So let's all look back with a bit of nostalgia on the band that started it all: NG La Banda with one of my favorite songs, "La Bruja" from back in 1992.

The film has 7 directors who each took one day of the week. The segments in order of appearance are: El Yuma by Benicio Del Toro, Jam Session by Pablo Trapero, La tentación de Cecilia by Julio Médem, Diary of a Beginner by Elia Suleiman, Ritual byGaspar Noé, Dulce amargo by Juan Carlos Tabío and La fuente by Laurent Cantet.

I don't know when it will be at theaters but the trailer looks great, although the girl-on-girl dancing action is a bit unrealistic for Cuba. Anyway, check out the trailer. If you look closely you cna see some of the other musicians from Havana D'Primera as well. Look for the movie at a theater near you!

Louisville, Kentucky has always been a cultural hub for that region of the United States, and it now provides us with another link in the Timba concert chain.   David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera have helped break the ice for what we hope will be a series of events in the future.  
Click here to read all about it and see photos from the Charanga Habanera concert. 

Registration: 212.493.4263 Conferences@Billboard.com
Sponsorship: 646.315.2961 Cebele.Marquez@Billboard.com
JW Marriott Marquis Reservations: Limited Discounts Available 888.717.8850 
(Use Group Code Billboard Latin Music)

PRESENTING SPONSOR = STATE FARM
CONFERENCE SPONSORS = PEPSI, 5GUM, NU LIFE ENTERTAINMENT, TELEMUNDO, MUN2, SPRINT, SENZARI, SESAC, AKELA FAMILY

Latest News about the 2012 Billboard Latin Music Conference & Awards:
- Daddy Yankee Confirmed for Being Social Panel 
- Regional Mexican leaders Gerardo Ortiz and 3Ball MTY share on their path to success - The Diva We Want to Know: Q&A With Jenni Rivera
- JUST ANNOUNCED!: Superstar Q&A with PITBULL

Cuban music WILL BE represented in a special promotional compilation CD that is only available inside all the conference bags given to each attandee. Sure to be the hippest Latin music sampler of the conference, this one-of-a-kind disc is made possible by Latin Music Mastering, a division of Latin Pulse Music. Click on the album cover below for more details and full track list.....

all colors CMYK - print ready - not optimized for computers screens (RGB)

Next is The Conga Room in LA on April 5th, offering a special discount.

And then two nights at Yoshi's SF, Monday & Tuesday, April 9 and 10.

Coming on May 18th - Manolín at Steven's Steakhouse in LA.

Master Percussionist Calixto Oviedo will be back in Boston June 18-20 for the Berklee Percussion Festival. Calixto will be teaching Masters Classes as well as performing in a concert. This is an invaluable opportunity to learn directly from one of Cuba's most important modern percussionists! You can apply now on-line to attend the workshops.

If you're not able to attend the Berklee classes, check out the Beyond Salsa Percussion series. In this series Calixto teaches drums and timbales, both basic patterns and timba gears. You can choose from books, videos and audio files.

Sierra Maestra gave two knockout performances at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago on March 24 2012, and the crowd came to dance.     Click here to read  about it and view photos of the concerts. 

So far, the only dates scheduled for the Charanga Habanera tour are Monday and Tuesday, April 9th and 10th at Yoshi's SF, and Friday, March 30th in Louisville, KY, but shows in other cities are being arranged we'll update the tours page when LA, NY and Miami shows are confirmed.

Due to popular demand, Yoshi's is selling a special "all-night" ticket, enabling you to go to both shows for a reduced price. See you there!

Click Continue Reading for more photos.

Click here for more Alain Pérez news.

Those of you within traveling distance of Louisville, KY can see Charanga Habanera on Friday, March 30 at the Coconut Beach Nightclub, now in a new location at 2787 South Floyd St., Louisville KY.   Advance tickets (cheaper than at the door) may be purchased at 
https://www.ticketriver.com/event/3218-charanga-habanera-2012-kentucky-tour

          If musical merit was the only ingredient necessary for mass popularity  in the United States, Timba would have quickly  taken the country by storm the same way that the Mambo did years earlier.  However, that  is not enough, as many Jazz musicians have also learned the hard way over the years.   An infrastructure to support the music is  also required for any genre to reach large numbers of listeners, and that was not in place for Timba when its sounds first reached the United States. In order to fully understand the reasons for this, we first need to briefly revisit the three decades prior to Timba’s emergence as a distinct style.           

          In the 1960s, there was no significant ongoing cultural exchange between the United States and  Cuba.  This does not mean that there was no exchange of ideas of any sort -  musicians both here and there were listening to each other by various means, and radio enthusiasts such as this writer were keeping up with what was happening in Cuban music via shortwave stations such as Radio Habana Cuba, Radio Rebelde etc.  However, most of the general American public remained....click "continue reading" below for the full article

Click on the image above to check out the video and for more details on the Alain video clips.....

Finally ! The first book of the Beyond Salsa Bass series has been released. Volume 6 of Beyond Salsa Bass begins our 4-volume study of the style of Alain Pérez, one of the most talented bassists, composers and arrangers of modern Cuban music. The bass series follows the piano series exactly, covering the same songs, now from the perspective of the bassist.  hardcopy 

Both the notes and the percussive sounds that he uses to create his funky style. Each musical example is provided in 16th note notation, 8th note notion and bass tablature. There are corresponding audio and video products for each volume.

Click here for the full story and details....   

Havana Live Music Listings are up - Click here to see the live music schedule for Havana.

Sierra Maestra upcoming US shows - This classic son band has shows coming up in ...... click here for the full story and details

Eddie Palmieri 75th Birthday celebration show is taking place at ....  click here for the full story and details

Charanga Habanera returns to Yoshi's SF on April 9th & 10th. More dates will be added here. It's not listed on the Yoshi's SF calendar as of this post, but has been confirmed. Come back later and click the link to reserve tickets. This is the third CH tour in the last year and a half. Things are looking up!

Meanwhile: The return of legendary timbalero Orestes Vilató to the John Santos Sextet continues at Yoshi's Oakland tonight after generating universal rave reviews Friday. He's Calixto Oviedo's favorite timbalero - that says a lot - but you simply have to see this guy in person. He plays the pailas like a Stradavarius - with indescribable finesse and swing. [Kevin Moore]

                                           photo by Tom Ehrlich (full gallery here)

Books and Videos Coming Wednesday:

Alain Pérez audio, eBook and hard-copy book for Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 6

Melón Lewis video for Beyond Salsa Piano, Vol. 6

Alain Pérez video Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 6

Timba in Chicago and the Midwest - check out Bill's slick new calendar.

Covering the final dance competition and the Timbalive concert - click here for the full gallery.

Book News: First Alain Pérez Bass book coming very soon.

The SF SalsaRueda Festival was really a great event - having 500+ great and enthusiastic dancers in the crowd really seemed to fire up the musicians. Here's Tom's gallery from Saturday - Part 2, covering Sunday, is still to come.

Rumor Central: As per DJ Melao, Arnaldo Jiménez (ex-Paulito, leader of la Cosmopólita) will be Los Van Van's new bassist.

A new homaje to the classic salsa sounds of the 1970's has been released by Miami-based pianist, Grammy winner and band director Marlow Rosado y la Riqueña. The current track on RADIO TIMBA features Cuban singer Marlon Fernández siging the hit "Señor Sereno".  This new album, called RETRO, is an all-star release that counts with the participation of singers Bobby Cruz, Ismael Miranda, Tony Vega, Luigi Texidor, Marlon Fernández, Kevin Ceballo, Sonora Ponceña pianist "Papo" Luca, Salvador Cuevas (bass with Ruben Blades), Tito Puente Jr., and Quique Dominich (cuatro).

The new single "Fuego A La Jicotea" featuring Tito Puente Jr. is available on iTunes here.

Pavel leaves LVV: Bassist Pavel Molina announced he has left Los Van Van, possibly over some controversy generated from facebook comments he posted in regards to the recent death of beloved LVV conguero Manolo Labarrera. (photo courtesy of SalsaMadrid). Pavel and Manolo were very close.

New Maykel Blanco photos: Timba.com photographer Peter Maiden has a new feature in an International Salsa Digital Magazine. Check out this veryslick gallery here.

Los Van Van with Mandy Cantero singing Este amor que se muere

After backing up Manolín on Saturday, Timbalive closed out the massive and extraordinary SF Salsa Rueda Festival with two burning sets, highlighted by these percussion solos from Los García: Leo, the leader of the band, Coky, his older brother, who played with the original NG La Banda, back when they were called Nueva Generación, as well as Emiliano Salvador, Opus 13, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Mamborama, their cousin Miguelito, who just arrived, having been a founding member of Havana d'Primera, and guest artist Carlos Caro, the subject of the soon to be released Beyond Salsa Bongó, a former member of Opus 13 and Paulito FG. Enjoy!

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.

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

Los Hermanos Arango are at the Berklee Performance Center at 8:15 pm Eastern Time on Tuesday, February 21.  Can't get there?  No worries, the performance will be carried by a live video stream! Here is this link for the live stream::
http://goo.gl/Yyp9V

Next up:  Habana Sax, which is scheduled to perform in Miami at the Art of Freedom/La Cueva Azul, 1388 SW 8th St., Miami FL on Friday, 24 February and Saturday, 25 February.  Call the venue for performance times at (305)-857-9848.

Finally, Interactivo is scheduled for a concert in Miami Beach on Sunday, 1 April at 7PM  at the North Beach Band Shell (Collins and 73rd St., Miami Beach.).  For more details, click continue reading to see the official flyer or see the Fundarte announcement a http://goo.gl/xtZjJ

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

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]

Tirso Duarte "El Charanguero Mayor" and timbero de excelencia arrived in Miami on Monday and is preparing for his New York / New Jersey concerts, which begin on Friday February 17 with a concert at Chango in Astoria . He will perform at La casa de la timba in New Jersey on the 18th and the S.O.B.s date has now been confirmed for March 30 . Tirso has recently performed a number of concerts in Colombia where he had an overwhelming reception by his ecstatic fans, so much so that they sang every song from start to finish. Now his US fans can enjoy the energy of his live concerts during this, his first ever solo tour of the US! Keep checking Tirso's Tours page because we will update it as other concerts are confirmed during February/March.

To whet your appetite, here is a sample of what you can expect, filmed on August 5, 2011 at Teatro Jorge Isaacs in Cali, Colombia by Eventos Timpop. Con Tirso no hay casualidad!

Tirso Duarte - Dejala que corra - live in Colombia

Grammy 2012 winner for Best Latin Tropical Album "The Last Mambo" is Isreal "Cachao" Lopez's live and very enjoyable collection of danzones and descargas -- a sublime celebration of classic Cuban music.

Edwin Bonilla Conga (also a Grammy nominee for his own record in the same Tropical category)
Candido Camero Guest Appearance
Willy Chirino Guest Appearance
Anthony Columbie Vocals (Background)
Orestes Vilató Timbales 
Alfredo de la Fé Guest Appearance
Isaac Delgado Guest Appearance
Kiwzo Fumero Trumpet
Generoso Jiménez Composer
Alvaro León Bongos
Lisette Morales Guest Appearance (singer of the Miami's Celia Cruz All-Stars)
Lucrecia Guest Appearance
Rafael "Tata" Palau Saxophone
Gerardo Peña Flute
Ignacio Piñeiro Composer

Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor with Yordi - " Se acabo el amor"

But you don't have to wait until the summer to enjoy your timba en vivo! We have Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe on their first European Tour in March! We are still waiting for the final list of confirmed dates so check back with us.  Los Van Van are also touring Europe in March, starting with a couple of concerts in England before they move on to the Continent. Also in March - April, the Viking Line Cuba Cruises between Stockholm and Helsinki will take place featuring Elito Revé y su Charangón, Yumurí and Charanga Forever. There will also be a number of traditional groups as well as dance shows. So check out Viking Line and book yourself a cruise!

Nueva Trova Icon Sara González has died - Singer-songwriter Sara Gonzalez, one of the original voices of the New Cuban Song Movement, has died in Havana, official media reported. She was 60. Gonzalez produced music for film, television and radio as well as her solo albums, and she also participated in several album collections. She studied guitar and viola and began her professional career in the early 1970s as a member of the musical group Los Dimos and in an occasional duo with singer-songwriter Pedro Luis Ferrer. During the course of her career, Gonzalez shared the stage with artists such as Joan Manuel Serrat, Mercedes Sosa and Pete Seeger, among others. source

New Cuban music documentary "Cuba: Island of Music" - , Filmmaker Gary Keys' tribute to Afro-Cuban jazz, the film is a behind-the-scenes look at music's role in the daily life of Cubans. Filmmaker Gary Keys (Memories of Duke and Dizzy's Dream Band) brings the audience into the heart and soul of Havana, through a vibrant mosaic of street musicians, big bands, dancers, religious rituals, and classic cars. Keys shows us Afro-Cuban music in New York City, with the music and commentary of jazz legends Billy Taylor, Candido Camero, and Chico OFarrill. See the full 1:17 minute film here.

New timbatón video: Vampira Malvada Charanga Habanera feat Yulién Oviedo - courtesy of our Italian reporter extraordinaire Cuba Soy Yo. 

Meanwhile, Arango's current group, Los Hermanos Arango, will be "in residence" at Berklee School of Music for 10 days in late February and there are encouraging signs that they may play elsewhere (Chicago perhaps). Their visas are good until July, so if you have any suggested venues, please write in. [Kevin Moore]

Recently Harper's Magazine writer Daniel Alarcón wrote a feature about Perú's Lurigancho prison. "All Politics Are Local". Excerpt here = http://harpers.org/archive/2012/01/hbc-90008428

Michel Maza arrested in Lima - The famous ex-Charanga Habanera singer Michel Maza was arrested in Lima, Perú for an alleged hold-up of a taxi driver. Money, a cellphone and a radio were taken with a concealed weapon, a serious charge in Perú that can carry a sentence of up to 25 years. Other charges allege drug use. There is talk that he will be deported to Cuba. source

Live in Havana - The Havana weekly listing is up. Would be great to hear about the new Sello LA, Monica y su Máquina, and Tania Pantojas line-ups. 

Papo Angarica y Son Yoruba - New track Juégala is currently #1 on RADIO TIMBA. The version of "El Jonrón" we have features Tania Pantoja (ex-Bamboleo) but the a new live Azucar Negra version can be heard here = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ_E1a6hTcI

New single from Miami: Xavier Mili's "Ya Sé Lo Que Tu Quieres" - Grandson of Los Záfiros creator Nestor Mili, Xavier Mili has made Miami his home working with local bands, most notably El Pikete, and on regional television Channel 41. Check out his new single here.

New Habana D' Primera Video Premier (Al fin de la vida) heats up London - One of London's original salsa dance events - El Rumbón Cubano - is featuring HDP's new video of "Al fin de la vida" on February 9nth. Dance teacher Kerry Ribchester directed the video. In related news, the video screening aslo includes Bamboleo’s "La Que Manda (Mujeres)" and Los Van Van’s "Me Mantengo", which was nominated for Music Video of the Year in Cuba's Lukas Awards. 

Upcoming Cuba y Puerto Rico projects...
1- Tres legend Francisco "Pancho" Amat to record album with Andy Montañez - Cuban musician Francisco Amat, recognized as one of the most talented treseros in the world, plans to record in 2012 a CD with the Puerto Rican singer Andy Montañez. "It is a project we did together some time ago to reflect the musical relationship between the two countries. I expect to complete it before the end of the year", Amat told Prensa Latina. Amat also announced as part of his plans for 2012 the realization of a CD with the Cabildo del Son, a group he founded in the 1990s. source
2- Danny Rivera new documentary "La música es mi aliento" - Puerto Rican singer Danny Rivera and young Cuban instrumentalists make up the cast of documentary "La musica es mi aliento" (Music is my breath), dedicated to the Cuban singer Adriano Rodríguez and directed by local composer Edesio Alejandro. With this film, Rivera, who is also a guitarist and producer, will pay tribute to Adriano Rodriguez. Composer Edesio Alejandro is directing. source 
3- 20-time Latin Grammy winners Calle 13 filming a documentary in Cuba - Puerto Rican reggaetón duo Calle 13 is currently filming a documentary in Cuba, official media said Monday, citing band member René Pérez, a.k.a. "Residente." Pérez said that he traveled to Cuba on a motorboat and that it was "a great experience, a little dangerous but nice at the same time." The duo's new documentary is being directed by Puerto Rican filmmaker Lidy Paoli López. Residente and Visitante attended a concert offered by Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez last Thursday at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Havana.

(Photo by Tom Ehrlich)

     The genre called Timba, like Jazz, has been declared dead by some music critics more than once over the past several years.  Like Jazz, it is very much alive,  but our favorite tropical genre does face some of the same challenges for a variety of reasons.  These articles will examine those reasons in depth and discuss some possible ways that the community of musicians and supporters of the music might help address some of these.   We will be covering several topics over time, including the music press, radio, audience tastes, financial risks and other related issues.  
     The first thing that we need to do is point out that while  Timba was born in Cuba, and Cuba remains its epicenter, the genre has also  become a truly international  movement  for three reasons:  
• Over the last couple of decades, it has developed an international fan base.   In addition to Cuba, Timba music is now (thanks to both recordings and extensive live tours) popular throughout several Latin American countries, much of Europe, parts of Asia and Africa, and it has a fan base in North America as well. 
• Some Cuban musicians that play Timba reside all or part of the time in other countries, and they have introduced the music to both new musicians and new listeners.  
• Musical groups that play Timba have been formed in several countries.   In some cases, these groups play very high-quality music  music of high caliber at a very sophisticated level.  Just a few of the  examples are Mayimbe in Peru; Calle Real, La Tremenda, Gilito y su Clave, La Jugada and  Soneros All Stars in  Sweden; Monica y su M.P. in France; Pan Con Timba and Doble Jugada  in the Netherlands;  Contrabando in Belgium; Grupo Danson in Denmark; Jose Torres y Salsa Tropical in Poland,  and El Zorro in Switzerland.   Within the United States, Tiempo Libre, Timbalive and the Pedrito Martinez group play Timba.  Some bands such as Rumbankete now play both Timba and Salsa.    
     What does all of this mean? For openers, after almost two decades, we can safely say that Timba is an established genre rather than a passing fad, and it has a truly global listening audience, as well as a truly global musical community that plays and enjoys the material.   These are important points to remember as we examine the status of Timba within the United States. 

Next:  Timba’s Initial Reception in the United States

It's like the holidays all over again for bassists! Kevin is hard at work finishing the first book in the Beyond Salsa Bass series, and Feliciano Arango will be giving a clinic at the Berklee College of Music about the role of the bass in Cuban jazz/salsa/timba and his work with the group Los Hermanos Arango on February 22nd at 1:00pm. The night before the clinic, Los Hermanos Arango will perform (February 21st) at the Berklee Performance Center at 8:15pm.

Now as all timba fans know, there is no one better to talk about the role of the bass in contemporary Cuban music. But since there may be some readers who have recently discovered timba and who are not yet on a first name basis with all the major players, here is an excerpt from the announcement by the Bass Department, which is sponsoring the event as part of the Visiting Artists Series.

Feliciano Arango was born in the Guanabacoa section of Havana, Cuba where Yoruba, Abakua and other African traditions are preserved in their most authentic form in the Americas. He was mentored by seminal Cuban bassist Orlando 'Cachaito' Lopez and attended Escuela Nacional de Arte where he studied with the top musicians from around the island. Soon after graduating from ENA, Arango joined the group of legendary pianist/composer Emiliano Salvador who was a leading figure in Cuban jazz through the 1990s. After extensive touring and recording with Salvador, Arango went on to be the founding bassist for N.G. la Banda, whom he performed with for the next fifteen years. With N.G. la Banda, Arango developed a new style of Cuban dance music called 'timba'. He was responsible for leading Cuban bassists in a new approach to playing salsa that greatly enhanced the melodic, percussive sound of the bass. Since leaving N.G. la Banda, Arango has been the top call bassist for jazz, salsa, timba and other forms of Cuban music.

Feliciano Arango now leads Los Hermanos Arangos along with his two brothers Eugenio and Ignacio and sister Cristina. The Arangos are the only Cuban band to use completely unaltered Afrocuban ritual voice/hand drumming as the basis for a modern repertoire that integrates electric bass, keyboards, brass/winds (no drumset).

Music form the Cuba All Stars Festival in Perú - check some live tracks from the festival: Mandy Cantero with Los Van Van on Que Sorpresa and Alex Abreu y Habana D Primera with Cuando El Río Suena. Both on Radio Timba right now. 

Samuel Formell collaborates with Mexican guitar heroes Rodrigo y Gabriela - Ready to be released in the US this upcoming Tuesday, January 24th, Area 52 contains nine (9) of the duo's favorite songs from their own catalogue re-arranged and re-configured for a 13-piece Cuban orchestra comprised of some of Havana's finest young players, collectively known as C.U.B.A. This two-disc set includes a 30-minute 'making-of' documentary on DVD.  source

Area 52 was mixed by Rafa Sardina, one of the leading studio musicians in the Latin music world, and arranged by London-based pianist, composer and arranger Alex Wilson. Recording took place in the Miramar district of Havana, Cuba, at Abdala Studios, founded by the Cuban folk hero Silvio Rodriguez, as well as at Rodrigo & Gabriel's studio in Ixtapa, Mexico. Other players on the record include: bassist Carles Benavent (Paco De Lucia, Chick Corea, Miles Davis), drummer John Tempesta (The Cult, Testament, White Zombie), sitarist Anoushka Shankar and drummer Samuel Formell (Los Van Van). 

Radio Timba has an excerpt (with spoilers) of Samuel's killer solo (listen to track #1) of the album's first cut, entitled "Santo Domingo". Check out Rodrigo y Gabriela's iste at = http://rodgab.com/

CubaAntwerpen (title song for the festival), new video from Grupo Contrabando - Hey shameless plug, but it's always It's a great feeling to see and hear a song you mastered. I worked with leader and trombonist Andrés Fernández on this and the video blew me away. Check it out:

Felipe Lamoglia & Urban Beats in Miami - Cuban Timba All Star (Tomasito Cruz version) and ex-NG La Banda saxofonist Felipe Magnolia will be playing his special brand of Afro-Cuban jazz in Miami Beach tomorrow. Fellow CTAS drummer Reinier Guerra is also on the bill. 

Legendary, classical-style, afro-cuban "salsa suite" to be performed with 40 musicians - Pianist Larry Harlow's magnum opus "La Raza Latina" will be performed Friday night at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami as part of the Jazz and Roots series, with the composer conducting the local Mario Ortiz All-stars Band and a stellar lineup of musicians that includes the 90-year-old Cuban percussionist Candido Camero and Grammy-award winner and violinist Federico Britos. This will be only the second production of the show, first performed Aug. 14, 2011 at New York's Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival, with Blades, now a Hollywood actor and former cultural minister of Panama, in the lead role. In Miami, Blades' part will be sung by vocalists Emo Luciano and Luisito Rosario. source

It's time again for the Fiest del Tambor. Here is the introduction to the call to the 11th edition:

The Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival (Fiesta del Tambor) was born and developed giving posthumous recognition to Guillermo Barreto, one of the greatest percussionists of all time throughout the Americas.  Due to his importance, the event has had 10 editions with the participation of guests of international fame, the support of several of the most important percussion companies around the world and Cuba, and participation by the most important Cuban musicians as well as the principle dance companies, which join in the festival demonstrating the unbreakable relationship between the drum and dance.
 
The festival is a natural showcase for all percussionists, and we also celebrate the International Percussion Competition. The competition is totally open to all ages and nationalities and permits us to further and to stimulate Cuban Percussion in some of the principle instruments which identify us and that we inherit with special acknowledgement from musicians such as Chano Pozo, Tata Güines, Ricardo “Papín“ Abreu, Miguel Angá, among many other  musicians that have passed away.
 
This year it will be celebrated from March 6 to 11, 2012. The festival is organized by the Center for the Promotion of Traditional Music “Ignacio Piñeiro”.

We maintain all of the activities that have been a cultural success for Cuba in the previous editions among which are: masters classes, dance music concerts and jazz concerts, performances by the principle folkloric groups of Cuba, visits to the national Schools of the Arts and intercultural visits by alumni and professors of universities and schools of various countries, conferences and classes in Cuban percussion organized in advance, among other surprises that we continue to add.
 
We expect more than 30 000 people to attend the planned activities at different venues including some of Havana’s principle theaters (Karl Marx, Amadeo Roldán, Mella). Other venues that will host the festival are: “El Palacio de la Rumba”, El “Salón Rosado de La Tropical”, de la EGREM’s “Casas de la Música”, La Casa de la Cultura de Plaza, Hotel Occidental Miramar, Hotel Habana Libre, among other locations.

Click here for more information, including instructions to apply to participate in the drum competition (in Spanish).

The Canadian organization KoSA is organizing their annual trip to the Fiesta del Tambor, which includes hotel, meals, conferences, classes and local transportation. For more information about partcipating via KoSA click here .

On March 1st Los Van Van begin their Winter 2012 Tour of Europe featuring songs from their latest CD, La Maquinaría and providing Europeans with our first live experience of Mandy Cantero with Van Van. Yes, there are already a number of Mandy with Van Van videos, but there is really nothing that can match the live-in-person experience. Van Van's month-long tour includes England, Belgium, France, the Nordic countries, and an extensive tour of Germany as well as dates in Switzerland and Luxembourg. Click here to find a concert near you.

If you happen to be in Germany you can also take advantage of the Cubanízate Festival de Salsa Cubana offer of a discount on Van Van tickets when you purchase your festival ticket. This is the second year for the Cubanízate Festival,  a Cuban dance congreso that is held in Nuremberg, and DJ Tomba has promised timba, timba and timba! Tomba tells us: "The deal is that if you order both tickets you save 10 Euros. Related to the concert ticket you pay 20 instead of 30 Euro. And you can choose One of the cities Van Van plays in Germany." Check out the Cubanízate Festival website for more information about how to take advantage of the festival/Van Van offer and for a complete list of classes and instructors.

Immediately download the FREE, 46 page sample PDF

             order the hard copy book              order the eBook & audio (sold separately)

Once you taste TIMBA you can ask for the salsa on the side. Beyond Salsa for Ensemble Volume 1 is now THE STANDARD for instruction of modern tropical dance music styles. This new series is designed to teach modern Cuban rhythm section techniques to college and high school bands, and working professional bands. Each volume contains extensive exercises that systemically teach each of timba's many rhythmic and formal innovations and each contains a full chart of an important timba hit, ready to play at concerts and gigs.

The most frequent question I've heard people ask about Cuban music is: "What's the difference between timba and salsa? "

There are many answers to this question, most of them having to do with lyrics, dancing, melody and chord progressions, but if we limit ourselves strictly to the percussion instruments and the rhythms played by the bass and piano, there are still many key differences and that's what these books are about.   read the full details >>>

BEYOND SALSA for ENSEMBLE Volume 1
COMPLETE AUDIO TRACK LIST (465 tracks - 753 MB)

Cubanos in New Jersey - Prudential Hall, New Jersey Performing Arts Center Chucho Valdés, Cuban pianist and composer, and the Afro-Cuban Messengers, plus the jazz pianist Hiromi and her Trio Project, featuring Anthony Jackson and Simon Phillips. Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. $29 to $80. Prudential Hall, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center Street. (888) 466-5722. njpac.org

Also Cuban-born saxophonist and clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera, winner of two 2011 Latin Grammys, performs at the Mayo Performing Arts Center on Friday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $37-$67. D’Rivera’s most recent release, Panamericana, won two 2011 Grammys, for “Best Latin Jazz Album” and “Best Classical Contemporary Compostion.” The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St., Morristown. For ticket information, call 973-539-8008 or visit mayoarts.org

Cuban Music Experience @ University of Colorado Denver - 7th Annual Cuban Music Experience featuring Latin-jazz greats Brian Lynch, John Benitez, Michael Spiro, and Jesús Díaz as well as the amazing 10 piece dance band Timbalive from Miami. February 15-17, 2012. Auraria Campus. source

Rumba master Gregorio Hernández passes away - Dancer, singer and master percussionist Gregorio Hernández Ríos ‘El Goyo’, one of the best known performers of Afro-Cuban rumba, died in Havana on Sunday, January 8th, 2012. He was 75 years old. The Cuban Ministry of Culture and the Union of Artists and Writers of Cuba (UNEAC) expressed their grief by citing Gregorio Hernandez’s achievements and his contribution to Cuban culture. Gregorio Hernández Ríos was born in Havana on November 17th, 1936. He was the founder of the Conjunto Folclórico Nacional, which researched and recovered Afro-Cuban music of Yoruba and Bantu origin. source

Yoani Sánchez on Huffington Post - Famous Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez is now contributing to the Huffington Post (her current article reflects on Cuban music). Her book Havana Real: One Woman Fights to Tell the Truth about Cuba Today is now available on Amazon. 

Timba in Pittsburgh? - The rumor mill has it that a sensational timba group is forming in Pittsburg, PA and they are looking for a keyboard player. Anyone have a phone number to call? Hint: look on Craigslist.

Tiempo Libre with Cincinnati Pops Orchestra - "La fiesta más grande" is scheduled for January 20-21. Check out the enthusiastic video here = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJy0HO_W0i0

New program allows legal visitation to Cuba - Our government now allows visitation to Cuba under a program called People to People Exchange. With permission from the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Office of Foreign Asset Control, it is possible for Americans to visit there legally. U.S. tourism is sanctioned under this program for either humanitarian or educational purposes. So, many organizations are abiding by the strictures and planning trips along the lines of religious mission trips, contemporary art and music trips, architectural trips and history. source

The New Year is off to an auspicious start! La Letra del Año has confirmed that the world will not end in 2012, and even more importantly, Tirso Duarte will be making his first NYC appearance on March 2nd at S.O.B.s! Ladies and gentlemen, timberas y timberos, this is truly a magnificent event so don't miss it, or you will never forgive yourself! We will get back to you ASAP with more US tour dates.

Tirso is an infinitely talented pianist, composer and arranger, and for the younger generation he is the new voice of timba. During his brilliant career he has written and arranged many of the hits of the post-break-up Charanga Habanera before moving on to NG La Banda and Pupy y Los Que Son Son, finally making his mark on Cuban music as a solo artist. As you can tell I am a huge fan myself. Here is a small taste from the Sons of Cuba DVD which many of you have already seen, but it merits watching over and over again...Manos pa'rriba la gente de la noche y la luna llena .

Tirso Duarte sings "La Luna"

Eddie Palmieri tore it up at Yoshi's SF last month - here's Tom Ehrlich's extensive new gallery. Happy New Year to all!

Book News: I've been deep underwater working on Beyond Salsa for Ensemble, which will be about 350 pages long, with almost 500 audio files, 36 wild timba efectos (aka bloques) transcribed for the full rhythm section and a full note-for-note chart of a Pupy y los que Son Son song, ready for the gig. As soon as I get this done I'll be moving on to Beyond Salsa Bass, featuring one of the greatest figures of the entire timba era - Alain Pérez. [Kevin Moore]

** Click here to read the full article and view the full photo gallery **

Tom reports: "It's not always easy to find the hip Afro-Caribbean music events in New York City, but if you do its usually something special.  I was lucky to hear Andy González interviewed on the radio explaining that he and some friends were going to do a concert of Arseñio Rodríguez music at The Stone, a small non-profit club run by musician John Zorn in the Lower East Side of NYC the day after I was scheduled to arrive in NYC to visit family.  I knew I could not miss this one. "

 Tony Rosas and Andy

There is nothing quite like Timba live,  and Timbalive is quite an experience too.   When they performed in  Chicago, their first appearance in the area,  they played  like they had something to prove, and they were able to do just that.  There are reasons why this group is able  to perform with the likes of Mayito Rivera and Manolin, and we heard those reasons here.    
Click here to continue reading our concert review and view the photos from the performance. 

The Creole Choir of Cuba or Grupo Vocal Desandann as they are called in Cuba, formed in 1994.  Their ancesters are from Haiti and the group is from Camagüey, Cuba.  The Creole Choir sing and dance to traditional Haitian music, using only drums, percussion instruments and beautiful lush vocal harmonies.  Their first US tour began in September, 2011.  I caught them in San Francisco on November 3, 2011 - click here for the full gallery. [Tom Ehrlich]

El Zorro y Su Clan @ Moods

(CLICK HERE TO READ ALL ABOUT IT AND CHECK OUT OUR PHOTOS )

Young Cuban pianist makes jazz waves -- If you live in New York be sure to check out young Fabián Almazán. He's playing in heavywieght trumpeter and Spike Lee movie composer Terence Blanchard’s band, but hés also got his own jazz trio. Smoking. 9 and 10:30 p.m., Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia Street, Greenwich Village, (212) 989-9319, corneliastreetcafe.com; $15 cover, with a $10 minimum. With bassist Linda Oh and the drummer Henry Cole.

Gloria Estefan & Ricky Martin on Glee? -- rumor has it Ricky will play a Spanish teacher and Gloria will take on the role of a mom. "Glee" is the most popular music-focused television show in the U.S. source

Italy-based "Timba EN Talla" releases new CD "Pa'l Mundo" --  anyone know who these musicians are? Well-versed in jazz, these guys certainly have the chops. Bomba's galore. Here's a new video below....

Cachao's "The Last Mambo" nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album --  no question this master deserves another Grammy nod. It's a celebration of post-revolution Cuban music and tradition....descargas, danzones, cha cha cha,  El Cuarto De Tula featuring Issac Delgado, etc. However it begs the question: When will people get motivated to support more modern projects? Also related: hey salseros...the 1970's was 40 years ago.  

Cuban Festival in New Zealand -- yeah that's right. There'll be rumba and Cuban cha-cha as the world's top salsa dancers take to the floor in New Zealand during the next three days. Salsa on the Awa is hosting the third annual New Zealand Cuban Festival, which opens tonight. Salsa workshops today are open to the public (7pm-10.30pm) followed by a salsa dance party, and tomorrow workshops start from 9.30am and run to 5pm, with others on Sunday (9.30am-1pm).source

Hoy nos llegan unas fotos de la orquesta femenina de Cuba -- Anacaona -- de su participación en los Premios Lucas 2011, este año presentado en el Teatro Karl Marx en la Habana. Gracias Ánika y Georgia.

Los Premios Lucas son premios otorgados en Cuba para los mejores video clip musicales. El premio surge por un programa de televisión que se comenzó a transmitir en Cuba alrededor del año 1995 el programa tuvo otros nombres como El patio de mi casa es... y Cáscara de mandarina pero finalmente pasó a llamarse simplemente Lucas y con él los Premios Lucas entregados a los mejores videos realizados en Cuba. En el año 2002 los premios amplían sus fronteras y pasan a ser Festival del videoclip cubano donde el evento ventral no son solo los premios en si, sino que viene acompañado de una serie de conciertos y presentaciones de las principales agrupaciones. A lo largo de los años, ha habido un incremento paulatino de la cantidad y calidad de los video clips presentados, lo cual ha sido un estímulo al desarrollo de los mismos. source

Los otros video nominados este año son: Si me besa tu boca (LEONI TORRES) - El cachito (KOLA LOKA) - Gente (RAUL PAZ) - Chupi-chupi (OSMANI GARCIA E INVITADOS) - A la my love (KOLA LOKA) - Llora si te duele (ANACAONA) - Pleistetion (BUENA FE) - Charanguero (CHARANGA HABANERA) - Mi televisor (MONEDA DURA ) y La suerte (CHARANGA HABANERA).

view the complete photo gallery here
fotos cortesía de Peter Cheyne y  Patricio Sobrado

In the first weeks of August 2011, Calle Real was invited to play in Japan on a tour named Vivela Salsa tour 2011 = http://www.vivela.jp/2011/info_en.html

Since I moved to Santiago, Chile in 2010, I had played with the band in Israel in April 2011, and now I looked forward to meet the boys again for a 10 days tour in Japan.

I had a vague idea of what Japan was! But mostly from movies and design, a modern high-tech society on top of a disciplined aged culture with a passion for rituals. It pretty much summed my impression of Japan before the tour.

Visiting Japan with Calle Real, it did not change my generalized view of Japan in its essence, but it made me view it from the inside and added soul and flesh to the picture already in place. But to be honest, Japan vastly exceeded my expectations!

I had the wrong impression that the disciplined part of the culture would not let the Japanese people enjoy themselves unless very rigid conditions were fulfilled. And I was astonished by the vivid and joyful spirit of the salseros and timberos from Japan when partying, listening or actively receiving our music into their hearts, or when showing us appreciation as the dedicated fans they were.

I got enchanted by the details of the rituals in normal Japanese life. When waiting for the elevator as an example.

Everybody entering an elevator respectfully agrees with their eyes communication and body language who is going to enter first, the children, followed by the women and the man last of course, and if you are already are in the elevator, the entering people do nicely great you. This is different from many other cultures where entering the elevator is almost a race. read more...

I did a short interview with Jonas where he answered questions about his background, the singles and the sello of the band, which is currently just going under his name. Click here to read the interview.

Click here to listen to the single “No Tiene Caso”

Bandmembers: 
Jonas Pomo, piano & coros
Cecilia Ferrer, lead vocals
Pablo Cepeda, coros
Whitney Hernandez, coros
Linus Svanberg, congas
Magnus Almqvist, drums & timbales
Viktor Nyberg, bass
Simon Monserrat, güiro
Johan Nordfeldt, trumpet
Rickard Lindgren, trumpet
Peter Fredriksson, trombone
Lisa Bodelius, trombone
photo right: Cecilia Ferrer

Official roster released !! 

"Cuba All Stars" se presentará en el Estadio de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos en el marco del  Cubaníssimo 2011, el sábado 17 de diciembre. 

Las entradas ya están a la venta en Teleticket de Supermercados Wong y Metro. Y ademas del descuento de pre venta se suma un descuento adicional del 20% si es que las entradas son compradas  con tarjeta de crédito Metro. 

Serán más de 40 músicos que se alternaran en escena e interpretarán los mejores temas que ellos ha popularizado, convirtiéndose realmente en una orquesta de lujo. A continuación esta es la nomina oficial  de los integrantes de "Cuba All Star" integrada por músicos cubanos de reconocida trayectoria.

Dirección Musical - Juan Formell / Adalberto Álvarez

Pianistas - Maykel Blanco - Lázaro Valdez (Bamboleo) - Roberto Cucurucho (Van Van) - Dorgeris Álvarez ( Orq Adalberto Álvarez) - Toni Rodríguez (Habana de Primera)

Tecladistas - Boris Luna  (Van Van) - Jusef Díaz ( Klimax) - Gretchem Reve  (Orq Reve) 

Bajistas - Yandy Martinez (Habana D' Primera) - Pavel Molina (Van Van)

Batería / Timbales - Samuel Formel (Van Van) - Giraldo Piloto (Klimax) - Rodnie Barreto (Habana D'Primera)

Guiro - Julio Noroña (Van Van )

Flautistas  - Jorge Leliebre (Van Van) - Jose Luis Cortes "El Tosco" (NG la Banda)

Congas - Guillermo del Toro ( Habana de Primera )

Bongó - Keisel Jimenez (Habana de Primera)

Trombonistas - Hugo Morejón (Van Van) - Amaury Pérez ( Habana de Primera) - Dheyane Rivera (Orq. Adalberto Álvarez )

Trompetistas - Orlando Vásquez (Habana de Primera) - Hyuni Martínez  (Habana de Primera) - Adán Gómez (Orq. Adalberto Álvarez)

Cantantes / Coros
Los Van Van  - Yenisel Valdez - Abdel Rasalp (Lele) - Roberto Guayacán Hernández (Roberton) - Mandy Cantero (el animal)
Orq. Adalberto Álvarez - Michael González - Walter Jusvir (Mantecado)
NG la Banda - Tony Calá
Maykel Blanco - Yordis Larrazabal (Maykel Blanco y su salsa Mayor ) - Yaser Ramos
Habana D' Primera  - Alexander Abreu
Grupo Klimax - Leonardo Garrido - Reiner Rojas - Noel Diaz
Bamboleo - Yuneisi Sastre - Ailyn Dallera - Ronnis López
Solistas - Emilio Frías "El Niño del Charangon" - Tania Pantoja (Ex bamboleo) - Leo Vera 

Also new this week from Los Van Van is "La Maquinaria". 

La Maquinaria - Los Van Van
1. La maquinaria
2. Recíbeme
3. Qué tiene ese guajiro
4. Mis santos son ustedes
5. La bobería
6. Eso que anda
7. Control
8. Un año después
9. Yo no le temo a la vida
10. Final

The new album by José Luis Cortés & NG. La Banda -- “Mis 22 años” --  a tribute to the 22 of existence for the project, one that was at the very forefront of the genre since the 90's, was recorded between February and June of last year at Egrem Studios in Havana. It's a 2 disco set. 

Listen to the song CALABAZA with Tirso Duarte on vocals now on Radio Timba

The album counts with more than 30 all-star guests -- Chucho Valdés, Juan Formell, Pedrito Calvo, Tirso Duarte, Tania Pantoja, Vania Borges, Elito Revé Lázarito Valdés,  Manolito Simonet, Lázaro Dagoberto González Jr., Rafaelito Lay, Mayito Rivera,  David Calzado, Adalberto Álvarez, Giraldo Piloto, Changuito, César Pupy Pedroso, Alain Daniel, Angelito Bonne, Ricardo Amaray, Cristian & Rey, Coco Freeman and Yeny Valdés.

Kings of Salsa dance & theater show - This collaboration between dancer Roclan Gonzalez Chavez of Cuban ballet fame and London producer Jon Lee is heating up the theater scene for those who enjoy live dance performances. The purely music and dance show (no dialogue) features all original music (anyone know who the composer is?) a company of nine dancers and the eight-member band Cuba Ashire plus two vocalists. source

Cuban born, Emmy & Grammy winning composer charged - Cuban born, Julliard School of Music graduate and Emmy & Grammy winning composer -- Fernando Rivas -- pleaded not guilty and was free on $300,000 bond for production, distribution and possession of child pornography in South Carolina. Mr. Rivas composed music for shows like Sesame Street, in which his songs featured singers Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan and Cyndi Lauper. source

Tiempo Libre has a new website - Now it's easier to find tour dates and news on TL. source

Japan-based Cuban percussionist debuts first solo album - Escuela Nacional de Arte graduate Juan Carlos López debuts his first-ever solo album -- called Dale Coco --  in a night of salsa grooves at club Crocodile in Harajuku, Japan. The album features a track with leading Japanese salsa outfit and Universal Music recording artists Salsa Swingoza. source

Latin Grammy wrap-up - Exiled Cuban singer-songwriter Amaury Gutiérrez won a Latin Grammy this past November 10 and dedicated his award to The Ladies in White movement. Other Cubans henored with Latin Grammy wins were Paquito D’Rivera and Lena Burke, as well as a posthumous award to Israel "Cachao" López.  source

We observed that there is a case to be made for either creating a separate category for Timba (where does it really belong right now?  Salsa? Contemporary Tropical? Traditional Tropical? Urban?)  or combining it with some of its cousins for a new category.  Here are three bands - two from Cuba and one from the US - that don't quite fit the usual labels people try to apply to the music. 

First up is Sergio Valdes y Elevense, from Cuba, who were featured in some of the soundtrack of the recent film Juan de Los Muertos:

Next is Interactivo,  one of the best and musically diverse bands in Cuba that many Americans aren't familiar with:

Finally, from Miami,  Florida, here's a fairly new video from Palo! : 

So what is the point, you ask?   What do these have in common with each other or with Timba for that matter?  Two things:  1. This is all as "Latin" as it gets, but where does it all fit in the category structure of the Latin GRAMMY awards?  2. Like Timba, this  other music is underexposed in North American media markets. I'm not really sure that these bands belong in the same pot with Timba, but they are examples of an entire spectrum of the music that is intelligent, exciting, and relatively ignored compared to  more traditional and/or commercial recordings.  

The lack of media exposure is the more important issue of the two, and in the near future, we will begin an in-depth series on how Timba and other progressive Cuban music is received in the US,  how it is all treated by our media (especially radio), and how these things are all connected.    Stay tuned.  

LINKS: Physical Book - eBook - Audio Files

¡Timba en Serbia! Ya tu sabes. Can't get tired of saying timba is an international phenomenon. This three day Cuban music & dance festival open with a performance tomorrow from Manolito y su Trabuco on November 11, 2011. World-class dancers and instructors are featured throughout.

Finally! Cool videos from Maykel Blanco's US tour are surfacing on youtube. Maykel's band was TIGHT and very well rehearsed. Here's a take on Esto está from New York's packed S.O.B's show. 

Word on the street (pun intended) is that Washington D.C. has a new timba band called TIMBA STREET. They will be playing in New York at the Kennedy Center on November 21rst. A dance floor will be installed. Dance instruction will be provided at 5 p.m. by Casineros. Part of Swing, Swing, Swing. Haven't heard anything yet of quality from Timba Street, mostly partial live segments in need of a tune up. 

And this from La Timbera Mayor Michelle White - If you need a serious recalibration, turn up the volume (the audio level is pretty low) on this excellent documentary on the roots of Timba and the famous Team Cuba. For a complete report on the Team Cuba concerts, musicians, etc. see http://www.timba.com/artists/show/teamcuba