ENGLISH:  During the next several weeks, I'll be sharing several things about Cubadisco, the Symposium associated with it, reviews of important new CD releases from Cuba and many other items. We'll begin with reviews of two of the most important CDs that were Cubadisco winners. 
ESPAÑOL:  Durante las próximas semanas, voy a compartir varias cosas acerca de Cubadisco, el Simposio asociado a esto, reseñas de los nuevos lanzamientos más importantes de Cuba y muchos otros artículos.  Comenzaremos con reseñas de dos de los más importantes CDs que ganaron premios Cubadisco:

ENGLISH: You can read a review of Sacrilegio by Ernán López-Nussa here.  This justifiably won 5 Cubadisco awards including the Grand Prize and should be on the wish list of any serious Jazz fan.  
ESPAÑOL: Se puede leer una reseña de Sacrilegio por Ernán López-Nussa aquí.  Este fonograma ganó justificadamente 5 premios Cubadisco, incluyendo el Gran Premio y debería estar en la lista de deseos de cualquier serio fan del Jazz.


ENGLISH: You can read a review of Me Dicen Cuba, one of EGREM's most important new recordings and a winner of a Special Prize at Cubadisco here.   You can also see a review and photo gallery of a live show associated with the recording here. 
ESPAÑOL: Se puede leer una reseña de Me dicen Cuba,  una de las más importantes nuevas grabaciones de la EGREM y ganador de un Premio Especial Cubadisco aquí.   También se puede ver una reseña y galería del espectáculo asociado con la grabación aquí. 


ENGLISH: Also, Manuel Valera is releasing a wonderful new piano solo album, Self  Portrait.  You can read a review here.  His website contains a schedule of several upcoming ensemble and solo performances.
ESPAÑOL: También, Manuel Valera está lanzado un maravilloso nuevo album de piano como solista, Self Portrait.  Se puede leer una reseña aquí. Su sitio web contiene un calendario de varias presentaciones como solista y con grupos. 

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continue reading Sin Clave No Hay Na

"Para Juan Formell con respeto aquí tienes mi Alma de sonero"  - Mayito Rivera

Sin duda alguna, la triste desaparición física de Juan Formell ha sido un duro impacto que recibe el círculo de la música popular en Cuba y en resto del mundo. Su ausencia no solamente nos provoca un gran dolor sentimental para aquellos que tanto lo queríamos y admirábamos, sino que además, su desaparición física, a mi juicio, pudiera traer consigo cambios y posibles consecuencias negativas en cuanto a la estructura y futuro desarrollo del discurso musical y creativo del género bailable en Cuba. La ausencia física de un gran músico como lo ha sido Juan Formell será lamentable, triste, pero será un factor determinante que marcará diferencias sustanciales, dada la autoridad misma que su figura ejercía como cabeza pensante y audaz dirección, su inigualable talento creativo, la guía, el genio y la inteligencia, su experiencia, el arte y el oficio que poseía y en fin, toda su maestría - no sólo al servicio de sus Van Van - sino que también su influencia traspasa los límites e incide en todas las orquestas de Cuba, tanto para los músicos instrumentistas como para los compositores. 

Dale clic aquí para leer el articulo entero.

Without any doubt, the sad passing of Juan Formell has been a hard blow to the circle of popular music in Cuba and the rest of the world. His absence not only causes great pain to those of us who both loved and admired him, but also in my opinion his passing away could bring changes and possible negative consequences for the structure and future development of the musical and creative discourse of the dance genre in Cuba. The passing of a great musician, as was Juan Formell, will be lamentable, sad, but it will also be a determining factor that will mark substantial differences, given the very authority that his presence commanded as the thinking mind and bold leadership, the unmatched creative talent, the guide, the genius and intelligence, his experience, the art and craft that he possessed, and finally, all his expertise - not only at the service of his Van Van - rather also his influence transcended boundaries and influenced all the orchestras of Cuba, both instrumentalists and composers.

Click here to read the full article in English.

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continue reading El Poeta De La Rumba

On Wednesday, May 28th Los Van Van begin their first European tour of the post-Juan Formell era. In recent years Juan did not accompany the band on their European tours, leaving things in the hands of his son Samuel Formell. Despite the recent loss, Van Van is following their tour schedule and performed recently in Mexico, where the concert was roundly praised. We have published the list of concert dates in their tours page, so find a concert near you.

Other bands on tour in Europe this summer include Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor, Havana D'Primera, Elito Revé y su Charangón, Oderquis Revé y su Changüí, Bamboleo, Mayito Rivera and Issac Delgado. In the US Cubadisco winner Adalberto Álvarez is nearing the end of his tour while Pupy y Los Que Son Son now have four dates listed and Paulo F.G. will be performing later this summer. We will keep updating the tours as more concerts are confirmed. If you know of any concert dates we're missing, send me an e-mail

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continue reading Timbera Mayor

Cuba's heralded vocalist and chékere player Eladio "Don Pancho" Terry, will join his sons Yosvany and Yunior Terry in a one-time NYC performance at Minton's in Harlem on Tuesday, May 27, 2014. The night's kaleidoscopic program is said to run the gamut "from AfroCuban Folklore, to Charanga, to Contemporary Latin Jazz". 

The lineup of the evening will consist of the patriarchal Eladio on vocals and percussion, Yosvany Terry on saxophone and Yunior Terry on bass along with pianist Osmany Paredes, percussionist Yusnier Sánchez and flutist Javier Porta. 

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