Part 2 features Joe Lovano and the Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors, Dave Douglas and Carmen Lundy. Part 3 will feature Omara Portuondo and the Buena Vista Social Club.

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Tuesday Oct. 8 will serve as an important date for Cuban music enthusiasts in the New York metro-area, as The Pedrito Martinez Group will be holding a special concert celebrating the release of their much anticipated studio album. Cuban percussion laureate Pedrito Martínez and his distinguished quartet have established themselves as one of the most eminent NY ensembles regardless of style or category. In recent years the group has enjoyed an abundance of live performance opportunities few US-based groups in their genre encounter. Their impressive itinerary includes numerous concert dates across the continental United States and Europe, coupled with the band’s long-standing tenure at Guantanamera Restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen. This wealth of stage time has enabled the group to evolve and mature into one of the tightest and indeed most exciting ensembles in their idiom, resulting in raving accolades from critics and musicians alike.

The Pedrito Martínez Group consists of bassist Alvaro Benavides, percussionist Jhair Sala, pianist Ariacne Trujillo and of course Mr. Martínez himself. Along with their impressive instrumental prowess, all four musicians share vocal duties in both live and studio contexts, producing a group sound that belies their small size as an ensemble. The quartet’s self-titled studio debut is not only an apogee to the countless hours these great musicians have shared on the bandstand, but also serves to exhibit a different side of the group by featuring an impressive guest roster that includes Steve Gadd, John Scofield and Wynton Marsalis.

The show will be held at City Winery located at 155 Varick Street between Vandam and Spring. The music will begin at 8pm, with doors opening at 6pm. Further information on purchasing CDs and tickets is available from the group’s website.

Of course for those who cannot make this event, there is always the option to check out this excellent band every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday starting 8:30pm at Guantanamera Restaurant located at 939 8^th Avenue between 55^th and 56^th. Reservations can be made via http://www.opentable.com/guantanamera.

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  Stockholmers dancing to "Con fuerza" in front of the Royal Palace

It took me a while but I have finally published the concert report from Calle Real @ The Royal Palace in Stockholm. As you can see from the photo, although it was cold and rainy, people turned out to dance to Sweden's internationally acclaimed timba band. Calle Real is back at work busily writing new material after a hiatus. The concert report includes five videos from the concert - two estrenos to give you an idea of what is coming. I think you're going to like it! Click here to read the concert review.

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UPDATE! The tour organizers have changed the schedule and the first concert will now be the October 11th date at Melones. Click here for the correct set of concert dates.

from the 2010 tour - photo by Tom Ehrlich

Elito Revé y su Charangón finally return to the US this week. They play Melones in Hialeah, Friday the 11th.

Next is San Francisco, Café Cócomo, on Saturday the 12th, then Santa Cruz's Moe's Alley on Tuesday the 15th, back to SF and Café Cocomo the 16th, then on to New Jersey on the 18th.

Stay tuned for more info and make sure you catch this incredible group. There have been a few changes since the 2010 tour, with Lachy "El Bello" Fortuna returning on lead vocals and a new pianist.

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