** Breaking News Update - Singer José Antonio Rodríguez González (Pepitin)
leaves Manolito y su Trabuco **

A new homaje to the classic salsa sounds of the 1970's has been released by Miami-based pianist, Grammy winner and band director Marlow Rosado y la Riqueña. The current track on RADIO TIMBA features Cuban singer Marlon Fernández siging the hit "Señor Sereno".  This new album, called RETRO, is an all-star release that counts with the participation of singers Bobby Cruz, Ismael Miranda, Tony Vega, Luigi Texidor, Marlon Fernández, Kevin Ceballo, Sonora Ponceña pianist "Papo" Luca, Salvador Cuevas (bass with Ruben Blades), Tito Puente Jr., and Quique Dominich (cuatro).

The new single "Fuego A La Jicotea" featuring Tito Puente Jr. is available on iTunes here.

Pavel leaves LVV: Bassist Pavel Molina announced he has left Los Van Van, possibly over some controversy generated from facebook comments he posted in regards to the recent death of beloved LVV conguero Manolo Labarrera. (photo courtesy of SalsaMadrid). Pavel and Manolo were very close.

New Maykel Blanco photos: Timba.com photographer Peter Maiden has a new feature in an International Salsa Digital Magazine. Check out this veryslick gallery here.

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Here's a new video from the 2012 Salsa Rueda Festival featuring Carlos Caro on bongó with Timbalive. More videos and pictures to come. Caro and Kevin Moore are currently working on the first installement of Beyond Salsa Bongó. Check for updates here.

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Grammy 2012 winner for Best Latin Tropical Album "The Last Mambo" is Isreal "Cachao" Lopez's live and very enjoyable collection of danzones and descargas -- a sublime celebration of classic Cuban music.

Highlights include "Descarga Candido" (feat. Candido Camero), "Jimmy En El Trombón" (feat. Jimmy Bosch), Dos Gardenias (feat. Lucrecia) and "El Cuarto De Tula" (feat. Issac Delgado).

Here's a selected list of the personnel on this great record...

Edwin Bonilla Conga (also a Grammy nominee for his own record in the same Tropical category)
Candido Camero Guest Appearance
Willy Chirino Guest Appearance
Anthony Columbie Vocals (Background)
Orestes Vilató Timbales 
Alfredo de la Fé Guest Appearance
Isaac Delgado Guest Appearance
Kiwzo Fumero Trumpet
Generoso Jiménez Composer
Alvaro León Bongos
Lisette Morales Guest Appearance (singer of the Miami's Celia Cruz All-Stars)
Lucrecia Guest Appearance
Rafael "Tata" Palau Saxophone
Gerardo Peña Flute
Ignacio Piñeiro Composer

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The latest Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera video features dance guru Maykel Fonts and the London-based Key2Cuba dancers. This video is dedicated to, and in memory of the writer, Simon Gavron and directed by Kerry Ribchester. The video tells the story of two Cuban boys who grow up in the same barrio fighting and enacting an 'Eye for and eye, tooth for a tooth ' mentality with each other until Alexander Abreu shares with them his philosophy of rising above injustice with elegance.

Nueva Trova Icon Sara González has died - Singer-songwriter Sara Gonzalez, one of the original voices of the New Cuban Song Movement, has died in Havana, official media reported. She was 60. Gonzalez produced music for film, television and radio as well as her solo albums, and she also participated in several album collections. She studied guitar and viola and began her professional career in the early 1970s as a member of the musical group Los Dimos and in an occasional duo with singer-songwriter Pedro Luis Ferrer. During the course of her career, Gonzalez shared the stage with artists such as Joan Manuel Serrat, Mercedes Sosa and Pete Seeger, among others. source

New Cuban music documentary "Cuba: Island of Music" - , Filmmaker Gary Keys' tribute to Afro-Cuban jazz, the film is a behind-the-scenes look at music's role in the daily life of Cubans. Filmmaker Gary Keys (Memories of Duke and Dizzy's Dream Band) brings the audience into the heart and soul of Havana, through a vibrant mosaic of street musicians, big bands, dancers, religious rituals, and classic cars. Keys shows us Afro-Cuban music in New York City, with the music and commentary of jazz legends Billy Taylor, Candido Camero, and Chico OFarrill. See the full 1:17 minute film here.

New timbatón video: Vampira Malvada Charanga Habanera feat Yulién Oviedo - courtesy of our Italian reporter extraordinaire Cuba Soy Yo. 

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