Today is the worldwide digital release of the debut album by Aisar y El Expresso de Cuba "Música Cubana, Llegó el Expresso".! If you're in Havana you can celebrate with the orchestra at their concert tonight at Gran Teatro de La Habana from 9am - 2am. Only 5 CUC so don't miss it! February 28th will be the release for the press and on March 5th, the hardcopy will become available - probably only in Cuba to begin with.
You can purchase the digital CD now at:
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

The album contains eleven tracks including updated versions of the four songs that they released as demos previously. Although Aisar has a long list of hits that he wrote during his 10 years as Musical Director of Elito Revéy su Charangón, he chose to use a new material for El Expresso de Cuba to define the band as a completely new project. He sees their repertoire as a compendium of all expressions of Cuban popular dance music with lyrics that reflect the way of life of Cubans.

Track list:
Llego el expresso
La manteca
Cuando beso tu boca
El son del dinero
Tu me propones
Ahora es cuando es
Amor oculto
El patio
No me canso
La tía
El solar

Aisar y El Expresso de Cuba just celebrated their first anniversary on January 21 and the band still has all the original members, despite the high level of turnover in general in Cuban orchestras. He attribuites his to a strong sense of family among the bandmembers. You can catch them live in Havana 6 times a month. They have the following standing gigs: Wednesdays at El Diablo Tun Tun 5-9pm, matinee at Café Cantante the first and third Friday of each month from 4-8pm, the second and fourth Friday of each month from 9pm-2am in the Salon Tablao of the Gran Teatro de La Habana, and the second Saturday of each month from 10pm-2am in Los Jardines del 1830 with the Rueda de Casino project.

Bandmembers:
Bass & director
Aisar Hernández Segundo
Vocals
Eric Eduardo Broche Vidal
Akaena Rodríguez Armentero
Wilmer Muñoz Pérez
Jorge Luis Peres Llamares
Trombones
Omar Claramont Alfonso,
Joel Enrique Sagó Bell
Hendry Drake González
Piano
Rafael Ernesto Nocedo González
Keyboard
Yuniel Camilo Ibáñez
Drums/timbal
Osmany Moya Prat
Congas
Yosvani Bárbaro Nelson Caliste
Bongo & cowbell
Rafael Lesmes Armentero
Güiro
Miguel Pena Martínez

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The second annual Festival de la Salsa in Havana, Cuba starts today. It is a week-long event with dance workshops, music workshops, shows and of course great parties with Havana's hottest new bands and favorite veteran bands as well as Cuban and international timba DJs. It also includes unique events such as a trip to Las Terrazas outside Havana with singer Norisley "El Noro" Valladares. The events take place at Hotel Comodoro and Parque Metropolitano. How's this for a concert line-up?

If you're like me and were not able to make it this year, mark your calendar now so you can go next year. It will be back again in February 2018!

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ENGLISH:  Congratulations to Chucho Valdés and the rest of the team involved in Tribute to irakere (Live in Marciac), which was awarded the GRAMMY®  for Latin Jazz this month.   It is a stellar recording, and you can read our review in English here. 
ESPAÑOL:  Felicidades a Chucho Valdés y a todo el equipo involucrado en Tribute to Irakere (Live in Marciac) , que fue galardonado con el GRAMMY® en Jazz Latino este mes.   Es una grabación estelar, y nuestra reseña en español está disponible aquí


CUBADISCO 2017 IS ANNOUNCED / CUBADISCO 2017 SE ANUNCIA 

ENGLISH:   The 2017 Cubadisco Awards will take place May 2017 (approx May 13-21 with some events outside this time period).  This year's theme will be Nueva Trova.  We will have many more details in the weeks to come.  You can read a translation of the convocation here. 
ESPAÑOL:  Los Premios Cubadisco 2017 tendrán lugar el mayo de 2017 (approx 13-21 de mayo con eventos adicionales fuera de esas fechas).  Vamos a compartir mucho más información en las semanas que vienen.   La convocatoria está disponible aquí. 



ENGLISH:  Happy 85th Anniversary to Orquesta Anacaona, Cuba's premier all-female dance band! Their musical style has evolved with the times, but they are still going strong with a new generation of performers.   May they have 85 more!
ESPAÑOL:  Feliz 85º Aniversario a la Orquesta Anacaona , la banda de baile femenina más importante en Cuba. Su estilo musical ha evolucionado con los tiempos, pero siguen siendo fuertes con una nueva generación de artistas. Que tengan 85 más!
Para leer más sobre la orquesta, tenemos una sección dedicada a ella aquí

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On Friday, February 10, 2017 Calle Real kicked off the 2017 tour season with a sold-out concert at Fasching in Stockholm. Tonight they play the new DR Koncerhuset in Copenhagen. From the intimacy of Fasching in Stockholm to a 1000-person venue with a big stage. Wish I could catch the concert tonight. Calle Real has more planned for the spring as well as some dates left to confirm. Click here for the confirmed dates and check back because there is more to come and we'll publish dates as soon as they are confirmed.

Click here to read the concert report including three videos!

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