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Musicos: Yordamis Megret Planes
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PRIMERA PLANA - FRONT PAGE
Back to Van Van
Back on the topic of Los Van Van's 45th anniverary, we have the updated Discography section and the latest Beyond Salsa video - on the 2nd Pupy Pedroso book and concluding with an epic 18-minute mashup of the avalanche of hooks unleashed by Pupy in his final two decades with the band:
It's New, It's Baaad, and That's Good:
Es nuevo, es malo, y eso es bueno:
Eliel Lazo & The Cuban Funk Machine
Also/También: Haila in/en Louisville
ENGLISH: Eliel Lazo & The Cuban Funk Machine are here. Be funky. Be VERY funky.
ESPAÑOL: Eliel Lazo & The Cuban Funk Machine están aquí. Sea funky. Sea MUY funky.
Read a review of the new CD here / Lee una reseña del nuevo CD aquí.
ENGLISH: US Tour coming (including Chicago 2/6) in February.
ESPAÑOL: Eliel vendrá a los Estados Unidos para una gira (incluyendo Chicago 2/6/15) en februaro.
ENGLISH: Haila is coming to Louisville, KY on December 26. The venue has hosted Charanga Habanera in the past. More information in the near future.
ESPAÑOL: Haila vendrá al Louisville, KY el 26 de diciembre. El venue ha presentado Charanga Habenera en el pasado. Más información en el futuro cercano.
continue reading Sin Clave No Hay Na
Amazing Weekend in Havana
Los Van Van & Buena Fe Give Free Concerts
Photo courtesy of Ivan Soca Pascual
Havana has a wonderful tradition of free concerts at the end of the year. They are off to an early start this weekend with two free mega-concerts. The first took place last night on the Stairway of the University of Havana. To put it mildly, the concert was well-attended. Los Van Van closed their national tour with a free concert and also the official release of the new CD "La Fantasía". If you're in Havana pick up a hard copy. It isn't up at digital retailers yet, but hopefully next week. Samuel has said that it's Van Van's best CD. It's too early for me to say, but it is definitely the best since "Chapeando", maybe even the best since "Llegó...Van Van". Without question it is going to be a favorite of dancers, so keep an eye out for it.
Una Luz Por La Esperanza - Buena Fe Tonight!
The other big free concert this weekend takes place tonight at Carlos III and Boyeros. Buena Fe are holding a concert in honor of the doctors fighting ebola in Africa. The show starts early at 7:00pm so families with young children can participate. Buena Fe is also working on a new album which should be out soon.
continue reading Timbera Mayor
45 Years of Los Van Van
Another major milestone for El Tren - but sadly the first without their founder.
The big news, of course, is the release of La fantasía. By my count, this is the 26th album of new material. We have: the 15 original EGREM albums, released as La colección; the 5 masterpieces of the 90s, Malecón (has several new originals), Chapeando, Arrasando, La maquinaria and now La fantasía.
At timba.com we have a lovingly prepared recounting of the first first decade and its historical context, a more general surveyon the 80s that includes mini-reviews of all Van Van's releases, and a complete discography.
The Van Van story is also told in parts in the Beyond Salsa series. BS Piano, Vol. 3 covers the first decade, Vol. 10 runs from 1979-1983, Vol. 11 from 1984-1987, Vol. 12 from 1988 to Pupy's departure in 2001. I've yet to write a book on the post-2001 period, but it's coming.
