Sad news. One of the key figures in the legendary creative chemistry of Los Van Van has passed. 

Click here for more LVV photos by Tom Ehrlich.

Hugo Moreón was a trombonist, keyboardist and arranger who first came onto the radar in the early 70s in Acheré, a group of future all-stars that included Calixto Oviedo, Omar Hernández and NG trumpeter El Greco.

Hugo did stints with Pachito Alonso and Adalberto Álvarez before joining Van Van in the early 80s. In addition to playing trombone and keyboard solos on many classic tracks, he composed the mambo parts for nearly every major Van Van hit. He'll be sorely missed.

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Sue Taylor passed this weekend. She was a huge friend to Cuban music, putting up entire bands at her home, working tirelessly on promotion, and -- on a personal note -- proofreading the Beyond Salsa series and providing her house for the filming of the Calixto project. She'll be greatly missed.

with Paulito FG & Calixto Oviedo

with Juliana Álvarez Thumas, Emiliano Echeverría & members of La Colmenita.

with Iván Melón Lewis

with Ismael Berriel, Orestes Vilató,  Rafael Navarra Pujada, & Walfredo de los Reyes

with Patricia Morgovsky & Bill Martínez

all photos by Tom Ehrlich

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A great new album from Alain Pérez has just dropped - fabulous hardcore timba - El cuento de la buena Pipa:

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Roberto Fonseca will play in the Bay Area on March 5th at Kuumbwa in Santa Cruz and at Freight and Salvage in Berkeley on March 7th. Here's the rest of the extensive tour.

And here's Tom Ehrlich's gallery from Roberto's last tour.

Bassist Yandy Martínez (ex-Havana d'Primera) will also play the current tour.

Raúl Herrera

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