Melón is on an extensive tour of the US with Spanish diva and super-star, Concha Buika. The link has the full schedule.

On Monday night, Nov. 8th, at 8:00 p.m., Melón will do a clinic/master class and mini concert on the $170,000 Faziola grand piano at the legendary Piedmont Piano Company in Oakland. Tickets are only $20.

For more information: www.piedmontpiano.com . Ticket purchase by credit card at 510-547-8188.

Meanwhile, reader Patrick Gomis found a typo in Volume 6 of Beyond Salsa Piano (the first on Melón), so I've corrected it and added Alain's bass tumbao as a bonus. You can download the PDF by right-clicking on this LINK. While I was investigating the situation I realized yet again that Issac's 12-1997 El Palacio de la Salsa version of La vida sin esperanza is truly one of the greatest live performances of all time by any group. Click here to listen and see if you agree . (The section in the PDF starts about 9:45 into the performance.)

Meanwhile,  I've been working since July on the first two volumes of Beyond Salsa Percussion, featuring the unbeliievably talented Calixto Oviedo.

We're still waiting for Melón to submit the long-awaited video files for Beyond Salsa Piano, but with this new series we started  with the video, so we'll be release hard-copy books, eBooks, audio files and video all at once, and the video will come with pre-programmed files for users of the amazing Transcribe program, which allows you to watch slow-motion, looped video with audio at normal pitch. The first Calixto volume covers his roots: danzón, chachachá, mozambique, pilón etc. but the second takes a new and exciting approach of dividing his NG La Banda drumming style into 6 modes or "gears" and devoting an extensive chapter to each, filled with some truly amazing drumming by the master. All of this will be publish in November , so stay tuned.

leave a comment

continue reading La Última

Team Bahía -  anexciting new Bay Area timba band - played an incredible show on the 11th, with guest appearances from four members of Issac Delgado's band. Click here for Tom's photos.

leave a comment

continue reading La Última

Click here for Tom's Gallery of photos from last night's Issac/Freddy Cole show at Yoshi's Oakland. The tour continues tonight and tomorrow and don't forget Bay Area timba all-stars Team Bahía after tonight's show, two blocks away at Club Antón. Issac's músicos have promised to stop by and sit in.

leave a comment

continue reading La Última

Issac, Freddy Cole (brother of Nat King Cole) and an all-star band featuring the great Reinier Guerra on drums, will be holding court at Yoshi's Oakland Friday, Saturday and Sunday promoting their new album L-O-V-E. 

And after the Saturday show, you can get your timba dancing fix right around the corner at Club Antón, Team Bahía is the brainchild of DJ Walt Digz and features an all-star band of the Bay Area's top timberos playing an exciting collection of classic timba charts. 

leave a comment

continue reading La Última