This is a really shocking and tragic development, which we delayed posting in the hope that it was only a rumor, but Manuel "Manolo" Labarrera, conguero of Los Van Van since 1980, has passed. He looked very young and very healthy when Tom took this video of him at Yoshi's SF last year.

Manolo "de la sonrisa amplia" (of the big grin) took over as Van Van's conguero for Joel Drigs, who played on only one album after the departure of founding conguero Raúl "El Yulo" Cárdenas, who, many years later, while a member of NG La Banda, himself died in a tragic car crash. By all accounts, Manolo was every bit as wonderful a person as a conguero and in the latter department he was legendary, playing a central role in the hellacious groove that resulted in Van Van's apodo, "el tren del Caribe" (the train). Manolo is survived by his son Rafael, who sang with Bamboleo and penned such classics at La tremenda and El protagonista. Rafael was residing in Perú when last we heard. R.I.P. Manolo - it will never be quite the same without you.

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Click here for Peter Maiden's photos from Saturday, featuring various dance clinics, and Manolín, el Médico de la Salsa, backed by Timbalive.

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Three phenomenal groups from Cuba are performing in the US in short order:

Los Hermanos Arango are at the Berklee Performance Center at 8:15 pm Eastern Time on Tuesday, February 21.  Can't get there?  No worries, the performance will be carried by a live video stream! Here is this link for the live stream::
http://goo.gl/Yyp9V

Next up:  Habana Sax, which is scheduled to perform in Miami at the Art of Freedom/La Cueva Azul, 1388 SW 8th St., Miami FL on Friday, 24 February and Saturday, 25 February.  Call the venue for performance times at (305)-857-9848.

Finally, Interactivo is scheduled for a concert in Miami Beach on Sunday, 1 April at 7PM  at the North Beach Band Shell (Collins and 73rd St., Miami Beach.).  For more details, click continue reading to see the official flyer or see the Fundarte announcement a http://goo.gl/xtZjJ

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Here's a new video from the 2012 Salsa Rueda Festival featuring Carlos Caro on bongó with Timbalive. More videos and pictures to come. Caro and Kevin Moore are currently working on the first installement of Beyond Salsa Bongó. Check for updates here.

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