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

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

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

photo by Peter Maiden

photo by Tom Ehrlich

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

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

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

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

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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

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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.

Highlights include "Descarga Candido" (feat. Candido Camero), "Jimmy En El Trombón" (feat. Jimmy Bosch), Dos Gardenias (feat. Lucrecia) and "El Cuarto De Tula" (feat. Issac Delgado).

Here's a selected list of the personnel on this great record...

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

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