In preparation for the European Summer Tour 2012, Maykel Blanco has released a teaser from the upcoming CD. A 2:54 clip has been uploaded to YouTube and it includes the list of concert dates. The song is a guaguancó called "Bembe" with Yordis on lead vocals. Candela! If you didn't keep up with the dates in the video, we have posted them on the Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor Tours page .

The new CD should be out in the fall. The band still has to finish recording the horns on some of the songs before it can be mixed and mastered. I the meantime, enjoy the clip and I hope to see you at one of the concerts!

And a little Behind-the-scenes video from the recording studio...

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Here are some preliminary images of the New York Mega Timba Concert. It wasn't the event that the promoters originally advertised, but it was still an excellent concert chock full of Cuba's best Timba stars. Check out the full gallery here. Articles and photos by Bill Tilford -- All Rights Reserved / Derechos Reservados. Stay tuned for Bill's full report on his blog "Sin Clave No Hay Ná". 

César Pupy Pedroso and Pedrito Calvo take the stage

Hanging out backstage with Manolito Simonet and friends

Pupy and Pedrito playing some classic Van Van tunes

Bamboleo's new front line-up (singers)  - Aliyn on the far right

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Only about six weeks since they left, Elito Revé y Su Charangón are back in Europe for a 40 day tour kicking off the summer tour season here in Europe. Check their tours page for the concert nearest you! There is some nice video making the rounds at Facebook of Andy Fornet on timbales and Renesto the new Revé tresero. But I can't embed that here. And  a series of ridiculous technical problems have conspired to prevent me from downloading the video and interviews I filmed during the Viking Line cruises. Hopefully that will be resolved shortly and I will be able to give you something a little more recent. But for now I'll leave you with a classic video of my own from the 3rd National Changüí Festival in Guantanamo, Cuba, 22 December 2007.

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If you haven't seen this yet -- check it out! Alain talks about his musical evolution and plays some solo bass. At the end of the segment he engages the house band for a surprising jam session -- one where he plays almiost ALL the instruments ... timbales, congas, piano and sings. Talk about SUPERCUBANO. Check out Beyond Salsa Bass for more info on Alain.

New Manolín release "Tiene Que Ser Manolín" - We've been featuring the title track for many months now on Radio Timba (currently #17), but now it's official....16 tracks under the Xplosion Entertainment. Click here to check it out on iTunes.

1 Mi Desastre
2 Así De Fácil
3 No Quiero Saber De Amores
4 Me Encanta Esa Niña
5 Me Gustas Un Montón
6 Tengo Un Amigo (feat. El Mola)
7 Yo Soy Tu DJ
8 Se La Voy a Regalar
9 Yo Me Enteré En Facebook
10 De Tarea Pa’ La Casa
11 Cubaneando (feat. El Haka)
12 Mi Guaguancó Manolín
13 Tiene Que Ser Manolín
14 Mi Desastre 
15 Así De Fácil 
16 No Quiero Saber De Amores

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