Pedrito Calvo Jr. & Su Orquesta

Pedrito Calvo Jr. has literally spent his life among Havana's musical elite. In addition to his academic music training, he has witnessed firsthand the life and work of one of Cuba's most poular and charismatic singers, his father Pedrito Calvo, ex-Van Van lead singer and now director of Pedrito Calvo y La Justicia. In 2009 after a 13-year career during which he shared the stage with musicians such as Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo, Pio Leyva, Los Van Van, Amadito Valdés and Barbarito Torres, PC Jr. formed his own orchestra, based in Italy. In 2 short years the band has released a number of singles as well as the album Mi Fiesta Latina . They have also performed in France, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, Mexico, Venezuela, Poland, Denmark, Austria and in Cuba. For more infomation about the band including photos and videos, check out the new Timba.com section for Pedrito Calvo Jr y Su Orquesta .

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It's been 2 years since my last interview with Calle Real. At the time they were just about to release their second CD Me lo gané . This time we meet Kafry, Dony and Peter aka "El Señor Speedo" as well as Thomas. They talk about recent concerts, new songs and upcoming plans including a 5-stop promotional tour of Japan.

Interview with Calle Real by Michelle White, Stockholm 25-05-2011
English Subtitles

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Another Cubadisco has come and gone and thanks to Timba Photographer Patrick Bonnard , we have a first hand account of the 2011 ceremony. As always he has very generously shared some amazing and exclusive photos that capture the excitement of the moment. We will also be updating other sections of Patrick's gallery over the next few days. For now here is a taste from Cubadisco and Patrick's eyewitness report!

Elito Revé y Su Charagón @ Cubadisco 2011 - photo ©Patrick Bonnard used by permission

I was able to attend both the rehearsal and the Gala night of Cubadisco Awards at Karl Marx  Theater. 

Los Van Van opened the show and were performing live. The show was recorded in  the Karl Marx Theater in Havana (a second award ceremony was taking place simultaneously in Santiago, host of Cubadisco Fair this year) and broadcast on TV the next day. Manolito performed with his Trabuco. Elito Revé closed the show with a beautiful performance of dancers, Yemayá rising in the air (you must  already have seen that on youtube!). Elito won the award for the best album of  popular dance music, and the "Gran Premio", awarded for first time in Cubadisco history to a timba band.

Elito Revé played at La Tropical on Sunday the 22nd of May and the concert was filmed and recorded for a DVD. Then he lauched his national tour in Oriente before leaving for Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela. He'll be touring in Europe end of July and August.
-Patrick Bonnard

I can only agree with the Cubadisco decion to award these two prizes to Orquesta Revé for their latest CD ¿De qué estamos hablando? . They faced some tough competion from Adalberto Álvarez y su son (El son de altura ), Paulo FG (Sin etiqueta ), Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco (Trabuco una vez más ) and Bamboleo (¿Quién manda? ). However, ¿De qué estamos hablando? is a truly outstanding album, demonstrating Orquesta Revé standing firmly at the top of the first line. If you haven't heard it yet, click here for my review.

For those of us not fortunate enough to attend Cubadisco, here is the video that Patrick was referring to where we see the beautiful grand finale of Cubadisco 2011, with Clave y Guaguancó and the Cuban Televison Ballet performing Agua pa' Yemayá with Elito Revé y Su Charangón. Enjoy and stay tuned for more reports on Cubadisco 2011!

Revé perform Agua pa' Yemayá @ Cubadisco with Clave y Guaguancó & the TVC Ballet

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Omara Portuondo and Chucho Valdés are back together with their second album titled "Omara & Chucho". They continue their exploration of the emotive power of simplicity. They present a selection of tunes that bear personal meaning to them, and present these songs unadorned, naked. With the exception of Wynton Marsalis on "Esta Tarde Vi Llover" and Rossio Jimenez Blanco with backing vocals on "Huesito", the album is just Chucho's piano and Omara's voice. They are two people completely exposed, sharing an intimacy with their listeners. The music is primarily a mix of boleros, trova moving into fílin. This is not salsa, but music to be listened to as you sit drinking a glass of wine with your loved one a warm summer evening or a cold winter night in front of the fire.

Click here for the full review and a track listing.

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