(photo by Kent Richmond courtesy Chicago Jazz Philharmonic)

Orbert Davis of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and Frank Chaves of River North Dance Chicago had already performed diligent work managing expectations about what to expect and what not to expect from Havana Blue  during interviews in the press and a roundtable discussion at the Instituto Cervantes leading up to the performance, so this writer went into the Auditorium Theatre understanding that this was to be an original interpretive work rather than a series of covers of Cuban music and dance, and he was prepared to receive the work on its own terms.  Nevertheless, it is difficult for anyone who works with Cuban music to watch and listen to "Cuban-inspired" works without also considering the relationships that have unfolded for more than a century between Cuban performers and their American counterparts as well as Cuban and North American music, so this review will speak to both this performance and the bigger picture as well. 

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click HERE for all official tour dates (so far) -- oprima aquí para ver las fechas

Ok IT'S ON and it's OFFICIAL. ALL VISAS APPROVED. No "pasaporte" required to get down with Alexander Abreu and Havana D' Primera. The tour opens with a performance at the Cuban Cultural Fest in Tampa on May 18 and runs through Miami, Folsom, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, New York, Virginia, Atlanta and Kentucky.   We'll be seeing you on the road people !!

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Pachito Alonso & Sus Kini Kini begin a short promotional tour of Europe in two weeks. Click here to see the concert dates/cities . They will perform in Italy, France and Spain. The band has a new CD "30 Años con mi Tumbao". I don't know if they will be selling it at the concerts, but bring some extra cash just in case! If they are not coming to your country in April, don't despair! They will be back for a full-length tour from August 8 - September 1. We will publish those concert dates as soon as they are available.

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Attention changüiceros del mundo! Changüí de Guantánamo is recording a CD of all new compositions with the help of Gabriel Garcia of Changüí del Guaso Productions. The first single has been released at iTunes and Amazon, and a video is up at YouTube. Changüí de Guantánamo is the oldest professional changüí group in the world! They are currently in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on a year-long contract at La Bodeguita del Medio. So if you are in Mexico, stop by and see them! You don't even have to pull a Beyonce to do it! And keep your eyes open for news of a possible US Tour!

Mujer Caprichosa

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