Afro-Cuban All-Stars On East Coast

Philly, NY and Pittsburgh next. Here's the full schedule. Tom and I will cover the Napa gig on July 17th. Among the many luminaries will be Calixto Oviedo on timbales and Gabriel Hernández on piano.

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Sunday, 27 June 2010, 09:34 PM

23:0 horas at Clamores in Madrid - Lunes - 28 de junio

Melón celebrates the long-awaited release of Travesía, a fresh new take on Latin jazz featuring sax luminary Román Filiú and ex-Pupy bassist "El Negrón" Elizarde. Negrón is out of the country, but not to worry, Melón's old partner from the Issac band, genius bassist Alain Pérez, will be playing at Clamores .

Melón is also coming to the US in fall with Buika and will hopefully fit in some solo gigs and clinics. Meanwhile, Volume 9 of Beyond Salsa Piano , the fourth and final volume on Melón, will be done soon. It will include the songs from Exclusivo para Cuba as well as various unreleased masterpieces like La temática and La competencia, as well as some of his work with Manolín and some of the tumbaos from his Latin jazz originals. Stay tuned.

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Tuesday, 22 June 2010, 09:17 PM

Iván "Melón" Lewis Quintet celebra el lanzamiento de su nuevo CD, Travesía, con un concierto en Clamores en Madrid, el 28 de junio, con el invitado especial Alain Pérez.

If you're going, please contact me at kevin@timba.com. I need pictures and a concert report for Volume 9 of Beyond Salsa Piano, which is nearing completion.

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Saturday, 19 June 2010, 08:37 AM

Last night's double sellout at Yoshi's Oakland was the longest, hottest night of the tour, featuring a blistering special request version of El pregonero, great guest solos from John Calloway and Jesús Díaz, and an unbelievable dance appearance by folkloric master José Barroso. It doesn't get better than this.

Tonight they play one night only at The Salsa Room in Arlington Virginia. Don't miss it - Obama and Michelle Bachman are both scheduled to sit in on congas.

Tomorrow, Sunday, Pupy returns for another show in New York at SOBs.

Tuesday they'll be at Boston's Wilbur Theater.