El Día Internacional de la Timba!

Today we celebrate a quarter century of TIMBA! On this date in 1988, NG La Banda was officially formed and thus we consider it to be the official birthday of Timba. El Tosco & NG celebrated with a concert last night in Havana. We want to take this opportunity to thank José Luis Cortés for his contribution to the evolution of Cuban music! Gracias Maestro! Y que sigas 25 años más! Here is a potpourri of the album "En la calle" from the very early days of timba...para recordar!

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miércoles, 03 abril 2013, 07:11 am

Andy Gola & Colé Colé

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.

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lunes, 01 abril 2013, 11:50 pm

Buena Fe - DIAL "Dial", Buena Fe’s eighth studio CD, was released one month ago on iTunes, Amazon MP3, Spotify and other digital download sites. To my knowledge the hardcopy is only available at the EGREM stores in Cuba and at Buena Fe concerts. If you have the opportunity to score a hardcopy, take it. I did and the cover art by Jesús Lara is worth the purchase price!

I have spent a couple of weeks agonizing over the CD review, not because I didn't know what I wanted to say, but because I didn't know how to say it to really get my point across. As I was working on the review, I took the opportunity to ask Israel and Yoel a few questions. Click here to read the short interview with Buena Fe.

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” .

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domingo, 24 marzo 2013, 02:43 am

Michel Robles & El Sello

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"