en-us Timba.com https://www.timba.com Cuban Music News. Pedrito Martínez Group Saturday in SF! We're currently experiencing some technical difficulties preventing us from posting new photos, so the review and photos from PMG's incredible show at Monterey Jazz has been delayed, but for SF fans, be sure not to miss the free Pedrito Martínez concert at 2:00, this Saturday at Yerba Buena Gardens. CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS

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Wed, 09 Oct 2024 23:35:49 +0000
Pedrito Martínez Group Pedrito at the 2012 Monterey Jazz Festival

At long last, the Pedrito Martínez Group returns to the Bay Area as part of the 2024 Monterey Jazz Festival. Pedrito plays at 3:30 on Sunday. 

The festival goes from Friday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Sept. 29. Here's the full schedule, which also includes Herlin Riley & the New Orleans Groove Masters, Christian Pepín, Miguel Zenón, Luis Perdomo, Joshua Redman, Mavis Staples, Joel Ross, and many others.

https://montereyjazzfestival.org/schedule/

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Wed, 04 Sep 2024 01:53:41 +0000
Afro-Cuban All Stars at SFJAZZ UPDATE: Added photos from Tom's upcoming gallery from the Thursday night show.

Tom Ehrlich was on hand for Thursday night's show - photos & review forthcoming. Click here to buy tickets for the rest of the weekend. Sunday's show is a matinée. See you there!

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Fri, 12 Jul 2024 05:40:45 +0000
CD Review:: Vacilón Santiaguero by Kiki Valera

ENGLISH:  Kiki Valera has released his second album in the US, Vacilón Santiaguero.  You can read our review here: "Vacilón Santiaguero" Album Review.
ESPAÑOL: Kiki ha lanzado su segundo álbum en Estados Unidos, Vacilón Santiaguero.  Puedes leer nuestra reseña aquí: Reseña de "Vacilón Santiaguero". 

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Thu, 06 Jun 2024 19:18:20 +0000
RIP Eugenio Arango

Eugenio Arango, the master pecussionist and founding member of Los Hermanos Arango has passed away well before his time. He's left behind a legacy of tremendous music. Tom Ehrlich posted some excellent interview and performance video here = https://www.facebook.com/671512751/videos/771087131674254/)

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Tue, 04 Jun 2024 20:27:52 +0000
Axel Tosca & Xiomara Laugart in the Bay Area Axel Tosca

Tom Ehrlich was blown away by Thursday night's performance of the Axel Tosca Trio, featuring legendary Cuban vocalist Xiomara Laugart -- still at the peak of her powers -- with Yunior Terry on bass and Diego Ramírez on drums. Bandleader Axel Tosco, Xiomara's son, was the original pianist of the Pedrito Martínez Group.

There will be two shows per night, Friday through Sunday at the Black Cat Jazz Supper Club in San Francisco.

Xiomara Laugart

Recording with Pupy Pedroso (on his 1995 solo LP), Pablo Milanés, Yerba Buena, El Tosco of NG La Banda. and many others, Laugart established herself as one of the top vocalists of her generation before relocating to New York City, where she's had a long career, including playing the lead role in the off-Broadway production of Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz.

Yunior Terry

Well known to timba.com readers, Yunior Terry is from the lengendary Cuban family that includes, Yosvany Terry, Don Eladio Terry, and Lydia Cabrera among others. He's played and recorded with just about everyone on the current Latin jazz scene.

Diego Ramírez

Diego Joaquín Ramírez is a rising star drummer, born in Ireland, of Guatamalan heritage and currently living in Brooklyn.

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Fri, 24 May 2024 16:37:34 +0000
CUBADISCO 2024 WINNERS

ENGLISH:  The winners of Cubadisco 2024 have been announced.  You can read more and see the complete booklet of winners here. 

ESPAÑOL:  Se anunciaron los ganadores de Cubadisco 2024.  Puedes leer mas y ver el folleto de ganadores aquí. 

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Tue, 21 May 2024 02:38:48 +0000
CUBADISCO 2024 NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED
ENGLISH At a gala in Havana, Cuba on Friday, April 26, the nominees for Cubadisco 2024, Cuba's most important discographic awards, were announced. You can see the booklet of nominees plus some of Bill Tilford's comments about this year's entries here
A special reason for happiness here at TIMBA.com is that our owner, Michael Lazarus, is a co-producer and handled the mix and mastering in Zona Franka's Se llama sabroso, a nominee in the Antología y Versiones category.  Additionally, our Bill Tilford wrote the liner notes for the album. 

ESPAÑOL:  La Gala de nominaciones para Cubadisco 2024, los premios discográficos mas importantes in Cuba, tuvo lugar en La Habana.  Puedes ver el folleto de nominados junto con unos breves comentarios de Bill Tilford, aquí. 
Una razon especial para la felicidad aquí @ TIMBA.com es que nuestro dueño, Michael Lazarus, es un Co-productor y hizó la mezcla y masterización de Se llama sabroso de Zona Franka, un nominado en la categoría Antología y Versiones.  Adicionalmente, nuestro Bill Tilford escribía las notas musicológicas en el álbum.

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Mon, 29 Apr 2024 02:37:57 +0000
Jazz Plaza Update/Actualización #4
ENGLISH:
  Bill Tilford chatted with Rodrígo Garcia about his megaconcert at Jazz Plaza 2024, Los Días de Gloria: Homenaje a la Nueva Trova. 
The English-language version of that conversation is here.
ESPAÑOL:  Bill Tilford charló con Rodrígo García sobre su megaconcierto en Jazz Plaza 2024, Los Días de Gloria: Homenaje a la Nueva Trova.
La versión en español está aquí:

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Wed, 13 Mar 2024 12:37:37 +0000
Tom's Report on Irakere's 50th Anniversary Tour Click on the photo for Tom Ehrlich's report and gallery.

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Sun, 10 Mar 2024 22:23:46 +0000
Jazz Plaza 2024: Update / Actualización #3
ENGLISH: This update includes conversations with Alejandro Falcón along with an advance from his forthcoming new DVD along with audience perspectives from Kostas Polyzonis of Greece and Karen Dubinsky of Canada.   You can read and watch more here
ESPAÑOL: Esta actualización ofrece conversaciónes con Alejandro Falcón además de un avance de su DVD venidero y perspectivas de asistentes Kostas Polyzonis de Grecia y Karen Dubinsky de Canadá.  Puedes leer y ver más aquí. 

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Thu, 15 Feb 2024 02:42:05 +0000
JAZZ PLAZA 2024: UPDATE / ACTUALIZACIÓN #2
ENGLISH:  Today's update offers videochats and  videoclips with Pablo Menéndez of Mezcla, whose group did a tribute to the great bassist Cachaito, and Zule Guerra, who did a tribute to the queen of Brasil's vocalists, Elis Regina.  You can see that here
ESPAÑOL: La actualización de hoy les ofrece videochats y videoclips con Pablo Menéndez de Mezcla, cuyo grupo presentó un homenaje al gran bajista Cachaito, y Zule Guerra, que presentó un homenaje a la reina de las cantantes de Brasil, Elis Regina.  Puedes ver todo aquí. 

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Thu, 01 Feb 2024 01:33:35 +0000
Jazz Plaza 2024: First Update / Jazz Plaza 2024: Primera Actualización Joaquín Betancourt y Enrique Padron

ENGLISH:   While the end of the COVID pandemic is a blessing overall, it also signified the end of the entensive Internet coverage of Jazz Plaza to the rest of the world (some daily highlights were shown on Cuban television).  This means that you won't be able to watch the entire festival on line.  However, thanks to some friends and colleagues on the ground, we will be able to present some short interviews and video clips with musicians, attendees and other figures over the next several days.  We begin with producer/videographer/photographer Enrique Padron, who works with Joaquín Betancourt and attended the inaugural gala.  You can hear his comments (in English) and see some short videoclips here
ESPAÑOL: Si bien el fin de la pandemia de COVID es una bendición en general, también significó el fin de la cobertura intensiva en Internet del Jazz Plaza para el resto del mundo (algunos momentos destacados diarios se transmitieron en la televisión cubana). Significa que no podrás ver toda el festival online. Sin embargo, gracias a algunos amigos y colegas sobre el terreno, podremos presentar algunas entrevistas breves y videoclips con músico, asistentes y otras figuras durante los próximos días. Comenzamos con el productor/videógrafo/fotógrafo Enrique Padron, quien trabaja con Joaquín Betancourt y asistió a la gala inaugural. Puedes escuchar sus comentarios (en inglés) y ver algunos videoclips breves aquí

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Wed, 31 Jan 2024 02:03:46 +0000
Jazz Plaza 2024 ENGLISH:  Jazz Plaza 2024 begins January 21 in Havana and Santiago de Cuba.  You can find schedules, video etc. here: 
ESPAÑOL: Jazz Plaza 2024 comienza el 21 de enero en La Habana y Santiago de Cuba.  Puedes ver programaciones, video etc. aquí: 

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Fri, 19 Jan 2024 03:18:59 +0000
2 New Episodes of The Clave Chronicles Two great new episodes of the leading Cuban music podcast:

Tom Ehrlich's photo of John Calloway from last month's Monterey Jazz Fest

John Calloway on the Bay Area Scene

Lani Milstein on Conga Santiaguera

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Fri, 01 Dec 2023 08:20:47 +0000
CD Reviews Are Back!

ENGLISH:   After a considerable hiatus, we will be publishing CD reviews again in the future.  Most of these will be recent releases made in Cuba or with musicians living in Cuba, but we are going to begin with what is believed to be the last full studio album by El Gran Fellove, recorded in 1999 in Mexico city and not released until October 7 of this year (the 100th anniversary of his birth).  You can read our review of Joey Altruda Presents: El Gran Fellove in English here. 
ESPAÑOL: Después de una pausa considerable, volvemos a publicar reseñas de CD en el futuro.  La mayoria de ellas serán lanzamientos recientes hechos en Cuba o con músicos que viven en Cuba, pero vamos a comenzar con lo que se cree es el último álbum completo en estudio de El Gran Fellove, grabado en 1999 en la ciudad de México y lo lanzado hasta el 7 de octubre de esta año (centenario de su natalicio).  Puedes leer nuestra reseña de Joey Altruda Presenta: El Gran Fellove en español aquí. 

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Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:34:17 +0000
Ned Sublette on The Clave Chronicles!

An especially exciting new episode, and hopefully the first of several with the great Ned Sublette, whose combination of knowledge about Cuban, Afro-North American, and African music puts him in a class of his own. This episode focuses on folkloric music. Here's Rebecca's description:

Rebecca speaks with musician/producer/historian Ned Sublette, author of the most comprehensive history of Cuban music in English, Cuba and Its Music: From the First Drums to the Mambo. Sublette is leading trips to Cuba through his organization, Postmambo, and in January will embark on La Ruta de los Fundamentos, a tour focusing on Afro-Cuban sacred sites in western Cuba (email postmambo@gmail.com for more info). We talk about the dense and entangled networks of Afro-Cuban religious practice and play a few fieldwork recordings from rural western Cuba.

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Thu, 09 Nov 2023 05:42:21 +0000
Cubadisco 2024 Announced

 

ENGLISH:   Cubadisco 2024, which will take place May 11-19 2024, has announced its call for entries.  You can read the full details in English here (note that the registration period for entries is has already begun and closes December 31). 
ESPAÑOL:  Dan a conocer la convocatoria de Cubadisco 2024, que tendrá lugar del 11 al 19 de mayo 2024.  Puedes leer todos los detalles en español aquí (nota bien:  el periodo de inscripción ya ha comenzado  y vence el 31 de diciembre)

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Thu, 02 Nov 2023 23:16:25 +0000
Two New Episodes of The Clave Chronicles

In Congalese Rumba: Cuban Music Goes Back Home, Rebecca Bodenheimer interviews French historian Charlotte Grabli on the fascinating journey of African rhythms from the Congo to Cuba and back again.

Drumming and Singing for the Orishas is a great overiew of batá rhythms in both religious and popular music--from the Oru seco to Adalberto to the Bay Area's own Jesús Díaz y su QBA.

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Sat, 28 Oct 2023 04:55:36 +0000
Monterey Jazz Festival, Part 4 Here's Tom Ehrlich's third of four galleries from this year's Monterey Jazz Festival.

Sandy Cressman

Dancers Samara Atkins, Juliana Cressman and Molly Levy

Ami Molinelli

Claudia Villela

 

Celso Alberti

Clay Ross

Falu Shah

Yasushi Nakamura

Clarence Penn

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Wed, 18 Oct 2023 00:28:00 +0000
Monterey Jazz Festival, Part 3 Here's Tom Ehrlich's third of four galleries from this year's Monterey Jazz Festival.

Sullivan Fortnier

Kendrick Scott

Jeremy Pelt (trumpet) and Lew Tabackin (sax)

Charles Lloyd (flute) and Gerald Clayton (piano)

Angela Davis and Terri Lyne Carrington

Billy Childs

Sean Jones

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Tue, 17 Oct 2023 00:14:22 +0000
Amazing Cuban Podcasts We've all been waiting for this episode of The Clave Chronicles.

The genre of Changüí is one of the great "missing links" of rhythm: like guaguancó, chachalokefún, guarapachangueo, the Oru Seco, James Brown c. 1970, J. Dilla c. 2000, Count Basie c. 1940, Arsenio from 1940 to 1952. And this week's Clave Chronicles guest, Ben Lapidus, is definitely the missing link in terms of studying this mysterious and fabulously funky genre. He's the world's leading English language source of information on the subject -- from his seminal book ...

... to his work on last year's 4-CD boxset, The Sound of Guantánamo.

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Fri, 13 Oct 2023 04:20:45 +0000
Monterey Jazz Festival, Part 2 Click here for Tom Ehrlich's second gallery from the 2023 Monterey Jazz Festival.

Ray Obiedo guitar (with Colin Douglas & Michael Spiro)

Elena Pinderhughes flute and Lionel Loueke guitar

Delvon Lamarr

John Santos

Lakecia Benjamin sax and Ivan Taylor bass

Zaccai Curtis

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Mon, 09 Oct 2023 22:41:41 +0000
Tirso's Musical Legacy I was honored to help out with a special episode of The Clave Chronicles devoted to Tirso's contributions to La Charanga Habanera, Pachito Alonso, Los Que Son Son and timba in general. Among other things we focused on the art of musical quotation. The great timba arrangers use ideas from the entire history recorded music in the same way that hip-hop producers incorporate actual audio samples. In our exploration of El bla bla bla from Charanga Habanera, and Iala from Tirso's solo career, we found "samples" from samba and bossa nova, to Pablo Milanés' nueva trova, to Makuta folkloric music, santería songs, Walt Disney movie themes, and even Frederic Chopín. Tirso is no longer with us but his music lives on, even as Chopin's music lives on through Tirso's work. [Kevin Moore]

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Sat, 07 Oct 2023 00:19:38 +0000
Celebrating the Genius of Tirso Duarte I've been re-reading timba.com's many Tirso-inspired articles by Majela Serrano, Pepe Martínez, Michelle White and myself, fixing typos and links and finding myself amazed at the quantity and quality. 

Tirso with Charanga Habanera 1

Tirso with Charanga Habanera 2

Tirso with Pupy y Los Que Son Son

Tirso & Yulién Oviedo - Conversations in Timba

Recuerde que excelentes traducciones al español de Ilán Greenfield y otros están disponibles haciendo clic en el ícono de la bandera. 

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Tue, 03 Oct 2023 22:10:24 +0000
Tirso Duarte Tirso Duarte was my introduction to timba. I was in a group of students who had assembled in Cancún for a 2-week study trip to Cuba. Most of us were unfamiliar with the term timba and had little idea what to expect from our trip. The night before our flight to Havana, we were taken to Cancún's Disco Azúcar club to see Charanga Habanera. When we arrived, they were playing Guantanmera for a small crowd of tourists, but when they saw our tour guides lead us in, they took a short break and returned to play their normal timba show. I sat alone at a small cocktail table, directly below the left side of the raised stage. After a familiar brass fanfare based on Earth, Wind & Fire's In the Stone, I heard something entirely unfamiliar - a piano tumbao that was very different from anything I'd transcribed from the Nuyorican salsa repertoire that comprised the repertoire of the salsa band I'd been playing in. Completely different. I looked up, jaw agape. The pianist was looking down at his hands as they flew across the keys. But it wasn't his hands that struck me. It was those eyes. In my mind I can see those wild, piercing, penetrating eyes as clearly as I saw them that night, burning down into the keys with glee, with madness, with genius. Every tumbao was a hook and every time through was different. The rhythms twisted and turned in on themselves, each hand different, small fragments of disparate musical ideas flashing in and out in a dizzying, kaleidoscopic whirl of ideas - from classical music, from jazz, from every imaginable kind of pop, and from some other source, some deeply Cuban source that I would spend the years since trying to fully understand and that I and many others would faithfully attempt to document on this site, which was first launched when its initial webmaster, Bruce Ishikawa, first heard the recordings I'd made. It all started with Tirso Duarte, and for his life to end so tragically, so senselessly, and at such an early age is simply unbearable.

After that night at Azúcar I spent the next few years recording Tirso and others on a MIDI laptop, in Cuba, Florida and California. I met with Tirso seven times. He would tell me the title and tempo, and listen through headphones to a simple MIDI percussion track while he played. and played, and played, something later adding bass on second track.

Click to Listen: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13

Tirso Oriol Duarte Lescay was born in the barrio of Habana del Este on April 12, 1978. He was 11 years old when the Berlin Wall fell, and turned 18 during one of the most explosive and innovative periods in the history of Cuban music – a period in which he himself would play a central role.

Early Life

Tirso’s parents were academics. His mother Miriam was a history teacher and his father, Tirso Ésteban Duarte, had a PhD in astronomy and physics. Tirso’s father was also a rumbero who took him to peñas (rumba performances) every Saturday, along with two musical uncles from Miriam’s side of the family.

On Sundays, there were always parties at his grandmother’s house, where the turntable never stopped spinning – immersing the young Tirso in the classic recordings of Los Muñequitos, Beny Moré, Los Van Van, Revé, Los Papines, Pacho Alonso and many others

Education

In Cuba’s highly advanced, meritocratic educational system, a child who can pass a series of rigorous aptitude tests can receive a free conservatory education with the best musicians in the country. Even famous musicians like Changuito and Pupy Pedroso of Los Van Van can be found among the professorial ranks of these elite schools. The instruments are old; the supplies are scarce; the power frequently goes out; and the toilets frequently don’t flush – but the music education provided is unrivaled.

Tirso’s father took his tremendously talented 8-year-old son to the Manuel Saumell Conservatory, where he aced every test. Tirso insisted on studying piano though he’d never actually touched one

Tirso was passionately devoted to the piano from the moment his teacher, Isabel Gómez Labraña, first placed his small hands on the keys. His uncle, Oriol Duarte, had an old piano on which Tirso practiced incessantly. The curriculum at Manuel Saumell consisted strictly of classical music – Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, et al.

Later, when composing his ground-breaking tumbaos, Tirso would make great use of ideas absorbed from classical music, but the most pivotal moment of his early musical life came when his teacher introduced him to Chucho Valdés. Seeing Chucho’s massive hands dominating the piano at such close range was a revelation. He began to write instrumental compositions and to seek out the music of other jazz pianists. He was particularly drawn to Chick Corea, Oscar Peterson, Kenny Kirkland, and above all, Michel Petrucciani.

While still in his pre-teen years, Tirso began playing in a juvenile pop music group with his classmate (and future Charanga Habanera bandmate) Yulién Oviedo.

Tirso began to turn from jazz to popular music when he heard the piano-playing of Pupy Pedroso with Los Van Van, still his favorite group. Among his other favorites were Juan Carlos González (Charanga Habanera), Rodolfo “Peruchín” Argudín (NG La Banda), Emilio Morales (Paulito FG) and Tony Pérez (Issac Delgado and Klímax). A few years later, Melón Lewis and Lazarito Valdés arrived on the scene and also captured his imagination. On the more traditional side, he listened to what he refers to as the tumbaos soneaos of Manolito Simonet and Pachito Alonso.

Sadly, Tirso’s mother passed away when he was only 12 and his father also died very young, in 2011.

The next stop in Tirso’s musical education was the middle school-level Amadeo Roldán Conservatory. In his first year he was chosen as the musical director of the student band Los Chicos de la Salsa. Tasked with writing arrangements – both covers and originals – he studied all of the subjects we’re currently studying in these books: the structure of arrangements, the role of each instrument, the differences in the styles of each major band, and so on.

Among Tirso’s student arrangements was an original song, Déjala que corra. You can hear the influence of Tirso’s beloved Los Van Van, but the child composer took his melodies and harmonies in a completely different direction, producing a mature and original song that’s become a popular anthem in Tirso’s adopted home of Colombia – fully 20 years after its composition. It’s so well known to his fans that when Tirso sings it, he often simply turns the microphone around and lets the audience do his job for him. Tirso’s studio version of Déjala que corra is on his first solo album, Si la vida te dice baila.

 Los Chicos de la Salsa began as a school ensemble, but, packed as it was with future all stars, it was only a matter of time before they were playing in public professionally.

At this point another key figure entered Tirso’s life: Pachito Alonso. Also a pianist, Pachito was the son of the legendary singer Pacho Alonso, who rose to fame in the 1950s and successfully adapted to the changes brought about by the Cuban Revolution, developing, along with his creative partner Enrique Bonne, a string of important rhythms and genres such as pilón and simalé.

To give you an idea of just how interconnected the Havana music scene is, consider that it was Pacho Alonso who gave drummer Calixto Oviedo his first big break. Calixto, the subject of two books in the Beyond Salsa series, is the father of the aforementioned Yulién Oviedo, one of Tirso’s closest friends and collaborators. Meanwhile, Enrique Bonne’s son, Ángel, went on to sing with and write for Tirso’s favorite group, Los Van Van. Pachito’s percussionists Orlandito and Lazarito Mengual came from the family of Los Papines, one of the famous rumba groups that Tirso listened to so often in his childhood.

Getting back to our story, Calixto Oviedo was still playing drums with the group when Pacho Alonso passed away in 1982, leaving the direction of the group to his son. Pachito was, and still is, a relatively conservative pianist, but he’s kept the group together for 30 years, during which time a very long list of musicians have passed through his tutelage on their way to becoming major stars. With his Art Blakey-like ability to spot and nurture young talent, Pachito Alonso has helped launch the careers of (to name just a few) Issac Delgado, Los Van Van singers “Robertón” Hernández and “Lele” Rasalps, Lazarito Valdés and Vania Borges of Bamboleo, Amaury Pérez (now with Havana d’Primera), and four of the players who became key parts of the great Charanga Habanera group studied in Beyond Salsa: percussionists Orlandito and Lazarito Mengual, trumpeter Yunio Romero and of course Tirso himself.

Pachito’s own son, Cristián, is a singer like his grandfather. In an effort to get Cristián’s career started, Pachito recruited Los Chicos de la Salsa, offering to help them get their footing in the competitive Havana music industry with Cristián as their new lead singer and front man. This led to higher profile gigs, such as opening for Charanga Habanera. Little did anyone realize that Los Chicos would in large part become Charanga Habanera in a few short years.

While working with Los Chicos, Tirso made the rounds of the clubs, sitting in as a pianist or singer whenever possible, especially with Pachito Alonso y sus Kini Kini.

Tirso’s first big break came when Pachito’s tecladista left the band in 1997. He landed the job based on his keyboard, composing and arranging skills and a strong recommendation from conguero Orlando Mengual. Tirso wrote La pelea murumba and Hasta las cuantas for the album Una salsa en Paris and for another album, Te traigo te traigo, he contributed the widely covered El chequendengue, a classic pop song that clearly established his bona fides as a composer of the first rank. You can hear Tirso (and many others) sing Chequendengue live on YouTube.

David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera

Pachito’s traditional style was not appropriate for the radically different piano and arranging ideas that Tirso was already developing in private during his stint with Los Kini Kini, but they were just what the doctor ordered for his next employer, David Calzado, the leader of Charanga Habanera. Calzado was still hurting creatively from the loss – a year earlier – of the visionary arranger Juan Carlos González, whose compositions, arrangements and piano tumbaos had played such a central role in the four monstrously great albums the group recorded between 1994 and 1997.

González and the talented singer-songwriter Danny Lozada had left Charanga Habanera in the summer of 1997 after the group had been given a six-month suspension for a controversial concert described in more detail in the next chapter. Upon their return, the group suffered another setback when their star singer, Michel Maza, began the obligatory year of military service required of every young Cuban. He was still able to play in Havana but he could no longer tour, so Charang Habanera’s 1998 summer tour of Europe had to be undertaken with a substitute, Noel Díaz. The tour didn’t go very well and tempers flared on all sides. After one of the most famous of Cuba’s many fabled musical mutinies, Calzado returned to Havana as the only remaining member of his band, the others having left to form Charanga Forever, playing the same repertoire. By this time, Calzado was no longer playing an instrument in the band so his absence had no immediate effect, although the discipline and creative vision that he provided would later be sorely missed.

Left alone in Havana, Michel had sought out his old friend Tirso and the two had begun plans to form a new group, but Calzado offered to convert their fledgling project into the new Charanga Habanera and the rest is history.

As the main pianist, and now with a bandleader who was actively looking for radical new musical ideas, Tirso’s muse was set free and he took full advantage. The songs, arrangements and piano tumbaos he contributed during his three years with Charanga Habanera rank among the most important of the entire era and – in my opinion – are destined to take their place in the pantheon of classic Cuban music recorded since 1900. This is the material that we’ll be studying in this volume and at least one more before getting to Tirso’s compositions as a bandleader.

After years of study, I’ve come to believe that most of the best Cuban music results from a chemistry between extroverted, charismatic singer-songwriters and thoughtful rhythm section players working behind the scenes to add the musical details that make the difference between a catchy, throw-away hit and a true masterpiece. Perhaps more than any other figure, Tirso embodies both of these personality types. This book documents his profound musical innovations, but his talent as a singer and entertainer cannot be ignored. He’s not just a musician who can sing lead if necessary; he really is on the short list of the best singers to grace the world of post-revolutionary Cuban music. Although Tirso was the pianist of Charanga Habanera, the tecladista, Helder Rojas, was also a masterful pianist who was able to easily play even Tirso’s most complex piano parts, freeing Tirso to sing and dance in the front line on about 30% of the band’s songs. Among others, he sang lead on Pa’ lo que me importa a mí, Señora, El cantinero, the new band’s version of Usa condón, and, after the departure of Michel Maza, on Charanguero mayor and Confianza as well.

While I reserve the right to change my mind, I’m currently in the camp of observers who feel that Charanga Habanera has yet to return to the level of musical sophistication it reached at the time Tirso departed in January of 2001 for a short stint singing with NG La Banda. He didn’t record with NG La Banda at that point, although he returned as a guest to sing the excellent La calabaza on the 2012 album Mi 22 años.

 As much as Tirso enjoyed working with NG La Banda, Pupy Pedroso’s departure from Los Van Van in mid-2001 resulted in an offer that he simply could not refuse: a place in the front line of Los Que Son Son. He had already sung several songs on Timba: The New Generation, the last of Pupy’s side projects recorded while still a member of Los Van Van. Tirso’s voice, similar in range and timbre to Mayito Rivera’s, was the perfect complement for the gritty rumbero Mandy Cantero and the soaring tenor of Pepito Gómez. Pupy’s Qué cosas tiene la vida was one of the greatest debut albums in Cuban music history. Tirso sang Te molesta que sea feliz, El gato amaga y no araña and – in a gutsy move – the second version of La bomba soy yo, a Pupy anthem already made famous by Mayito Rivera on Los Van Van’s 1999 Grammy-winner, Llegó Van Van. Some early critics had claimed that Tirso’s style was too derivative of the older singer, and Tirso addressed the controversy head-on not only by tackling one of Mayito’s most famous songs, but by including the guía:

Yo canto con mi garganta – I sing with my own voice (literally with my throat)
Tengo limpia mi conciencia – My conscience is clean
Y si hay cualquier semejanza – And if there’s some similarity
Eso es pura coincidencia – That’s pure coincidence

It’s one thing to make the claim, but Tirso backs it up with a melody and delivery of intense originality and power.

Bandleader

Tirso left Pupy’s band in 2004 to try his hand as a bandleader. It’s one thing to be a musical genius or a great performer, and quite another to put together a team of crack musicians and keep them all happy while dealing with business and logistical headaches. It’s the one area in which not one of the many illustrious departing Charangueros has been able to match the perfectionist, disciplinarian and savvy businessman David Calzado. Leo Vera, Michel Maza, Sombrilla Jiménez, Juan Carlos González, Danny Lozada, Dantes “Riki Ricón” Cardosa, Pedro Pablo, Ebblis “El Boni” Valdivia … the list of brilliant ex-Charangueros goes on and on. Tirso has done better than most, releasing three albums as a leader, singing as a guest artist on many more, and – currently as of this writing – enjoying quite a bit of popularity in Colombia and Perú. 


Legacy


As you can hear from the video Pa' Cali from Michelle's post, Tirso's singing and songwriting remained undiminished in the last decade of his life. Like so many of his colleagues, he never achieved even a fraction of the fame and recognition his genius merited, but his recordings live on for future generations to discover, and for others to have the type of life-changing epiphanies I was so lucky to experience in my short time with this phenomenal artist. [Kevin Moore] [Biography excerpted by Beyond Salsa Piano, Volume 14]

 

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Mon, 02 Oct 2023 19:30:04 +0000
REST IN PEACE TIRSO DUARTE Tirso Duarte with Afro-Cuban All StarsTirso with Afro-Cuban All Stars
Photo by Cristian Muñoz

ENGLISH: Cuban music fans around the world are in shock and mourning at news of the death of Tirso Duarte in Pasto, Colombia on September 29th. The information currently available is that he was savagely attacked following a concert in Tumaco. He was rushed to the hospital but the injuries were too severe.

Tirso was one of the leaders of the second generation of timberos. He was born in 1978 and grew up during the early days of the timba pioneers. He was a talented pianist, composer, arranger, singer and producer, and was also loved for his personality.

Kevin, who knew him best here at Timba.com, will post a full obituary on Monday. Our deepest condolences go out to his friends and loved ones. 

Fly high, Ángel Negro. You will live on through your music.

ESPAÑOL: Los fanáticos de la música cubana  están conmocionados y de luto ante la noticia de la muerte de Tirso Duarte en Pasto, Colombia, el 29 de septiembre. La información disponible actualmente es que fue salvajemente atacado luego de un concierto en Tumaco. Lo llevaron de urgencia al hospital pero las heridas eran demasiado graves.

Tirso fue uno de los líderes de la segunda generación de Timberos. Nació en 1978 y creció durante los primeros días de los pioneros de la timba. Era un talentoso pianista, compositor, arreglista, cantante y productor, y también era querido por su personalidad.

Kevin, quien mejor lo conoció aquí en Timba.com, publicará un obituario completo el lunes. Nuestro más sentido pésame para sus amigos y seres queridos.

Vuela alto, Ángel Negro. Vivirás a través de tu música.

Tirso's tribute to his adopted city

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Sat, 30 Sep 2023 09:36:08 +0000
Monterey Jazz Festival, Part 1 Tom is putting the finishing touches on the first of three galleries from this year's Monterery Jazz Festival.

John Nava

Christian McBride (bass), Naseem Alatrash (cello), Terence Blanchard (trumpet), Ben Wendel (sax)

Lionel Loueke and Gretchen Parlota

Tony Lindsey

John Clayton bass and Gerald Clayton

Scary Goldings featuring John Scofield, Ted Poor & Tal Wilkenfeld

Benny Green

Herbie Hancock, Lionel Loueke, Terence Blanchard

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Thu, 28 Sep 2023 20:36:26 +0000
Amazing Cuban Podcasts The latest installment of The Clave Chronicles features Frances Aparicio to discuss Celia Cruz, La Lupe, La India and the complex and rapidly evolving interactions of feminism, Latin music and Latin culture.

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Thu, 21 Sep 2023 02:46:10 +0000
Amazing Cuban Podcasts The Clave Chronicles is out with a fascinating new episode on casino & rueda with dance scholar and Bay Area expat, Sarah Town. There are lots of fascinating connections to danzón, timba and even western swing.

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Sun, 10 Sep 2023 20:51:11 +0000
Amazing Cuban Music Podcasts cuban music, musica cubana John Santos (photo by Tom Ehrlich)

Rhythms of Resistance is a 4-part lecture series with the brilliant musician, bandleader, and educator John Santos, hosted by the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD). There's a sliding scale (minimum $1) to purchase a passcode to watch each episode. Episode 2, on Cuba, is tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 6th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, with two more episodes coming a week apart on Sept. 13th and 20th. 

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Wed, 06 Sep 2023 03:53:58 +0000
Final SJ Jazz Gallery: Telmary Click here for the full gallery including two videos.

Telmary Díaz

Yissy García

Telmary Diáz, Thalia Geladino and Maga Shuka

Telmary Díaz and San Miguel Pérez
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Mon, 04 Sep 2023 06:54:43 +0000
Clave Chronicles Timba Interview, Pt. 2 Here's the second half of my discussion with Rebecca Bodenheimer on The Clave Chronicles, moving on to Paulito, Pupy, Bamboleo and Revé. [Kevin Moore]

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Thu, 31 Aug 2023 19:26:45 +0000
San José Jazz Festival: Sunday, Pt. 1 Here's Tom Ehrlich's gallery from the final day of the 2023 SJ Jazz Fest.  The final post coming later this week will feature Telmary exclusively.

Marcus Shelby

Tiffany Austin

Veronica Swift

Patrice Rushen

Gregory Porter

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Thu, 31 Aug 2023 05:05:52 +0000
San José Jazz Festival: Saturday, Pt. 2 Tom Ehrlich has added the fourth of six San José Jazz Festival galleries, featuring Cuba's answer to James Brown, Cimafunk.

Cimafunk

Cimafunk and Hilaria Cacao

Miguel Piquero, Arthur Álvarez keyboard and Hilaria Cacao

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Sat, 26 Aug 2023 02:39:09 +0000
Amazing Cuban Music Podcasts If you're craving more after digesting Let It Roll and The Clave Chronicles, the discussion continues:

Ned Sublette interviewed by Christopher Lydon.

René López & Ben Lapidus. René López probably knows more about Arsenio Rodríguez than anyone alive, and Ben Lapidus, known to timba.com readers as the leading changüí expert also has a fascinating book on Nuyorican salsa. They join forces in this two-parter:

And some in-depth discussion of several of the bands Rebecca Bodenheimer and I discussed on The Clave Chronicles.

Charanga Habanera

Los Van Van

NG La Banda

 

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Fri, 25 Aug 2023 06:37:11 +0000
San José Jazz-Saturday, Pt. 1 Tom Ehrlich's gallery includes young blues sensation Vanessa Collier, Vibrasón, electric bass master Marcus Miller, and Óskar Ly's salsa group.

Laura Chávez guitar and Vanessa Collier sax

Odalys Caro piano, Carlos Caro congas and Steve Herrera bass

Marcus Miller

Sarah Vincenty vocals and Óskar Ly piano

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Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:18:33 +0000
Crossover Episode! I did an interview yesterday about timba, NG La Banda and Charanga Habanera and it's already up!

Here are the timba.com sections we discussed:

NG La Banda

Charanga Habanera

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Wed, 23 Aug 2023 19:07:51 +0000
Amazing Cuban Music Podcasts

Rebecca Bodenheimer's The Clave Chronicles launched in April and is up to 15 episodes. The host is a bilingual PhD ethnomusicologist with a smooth, pleasant voice and a knack for picking the best possible audio examples and building compelling narratives around them. The episodes fall into two categories: interviews with great authors, and mini-music history lectures.

Interview Episodes

A Deep Dive Into Danzón, with Robin Moore Robin D. Moore (no relation) wrote the go-to book on Cuban music history between the Revolution and the Fall of the Berlin Wall, Music & Revolution -- but that turns out be only one aspect of his expertise. In this fascinating episode he covers danzón, from its late 19th Century origins in Matanzas to its integration into Latin jazz at the hands of artists like Gonzalo Rubalcaba. This episode covers some of the same material (in a different way) as this this Sublette episode of Let It Roll. Another really interesting part of this episode is the group of connections Moore makes between danzón and North American ragtime and New Orleans jazz. When I listen to Jelly Roll Morton, I hear a lot of danzón elements and vice versa.

Arsenio Rodriguez and His Musical Legacy, with David F. García García is the author of the go-to book on Arsenio, which was essential to timba.com's Arsenio section and several volumes of the Beyond Salsa series.

The Birth of Salsa & The Evolution of Salsa These two episodes comprise a two-part interview with Eddie Palmieri trombonist, author of Sounding Salsa, and Columbia University professor Chris Washburne. These are packed with information that was new to me and Washburne is a really great interviewee. Among other things, this episode takes on the old "is salsa just a marketing term" argument, showing persuasively how salsa began that way and then grew into something very unique and compelling.

Rap cubanoRap cubano Part 2 The guest in this two-parter is Pablo Herrera -- almost certainly the only person in history to be a Cuban hip-hop producer and a holder of a PhD in anthropology. Fortunately his English is excellent, as he gets into some lofty topics. This interview deals primarily with hip-hop that occurred during the timba era, e.g., Orishas and Herrera's own productions. The next episode in our list deals with ...

Cuban reggaetón and reparto, with Mike Levine This one dropped as I was writing this article, and it's pure gold. Like many timba fans, I was disappointed that reggaetón had abandoned so many of the harmonic and rhythmic innovations of timba, but in the intervening years, I did a deep dive into hip-hop and now that I'm hearing current Cuban music with new ears, and with the extremely entertaining Mike Levine as a guide, it's all starting to fit together. This episode is required listening for timba fans looking get a foot in the door and start to hear the post-timba genius of Cuban music in the work of Gente de Zona, Elvis Manuel and (especially, for me) Chocolate MC.

The Poetry and Politics of Nueva trova An interview with Eva Silot Bravo.

Jazz Meets Afro-Cuban Music, with Raul Fernández Dr. Fernández was a big help with timba.com's Timpapedia section and the Irakere section of Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 3, (my attempt at pre-timba history disguised as an instructional bass book). He's also responsible for setting legions of Irakere junkies on a quest for the Holy Grail of batúmbatá, the legendary recording of Bacalao con pan that future members of Irakere recorded in Santiago and that found its way to Havana radio, where the public response emboldened them to strike out on their own and form Irakere. We're still searching! But I digress. Fernández is even more interesting in this podcast, where his encyclopedic knowledge of Latin jazz and his wry sense of humor shine through.

Music History Episodes

In some ways, I like these even better than the interviews. If you take them in the right order it's like a college music appreciation course with a great professor. The audio examples are to die for, and Rebecca Bodenheimer has a real knack for organizing her material and presenting it with a calm, soothing voice and exquisite Spanish pronunciation.

Rumba A great intro to "rhumba" (son, as exported outside of Cuba), yambú, guaguancó and columbia. Particularly interesting, as with all of these, is the analysis of the lyrics.

The Cuban Origins of the Bolero 

The Roots of the Buena Vista Social Club This one begins with great introductions to changüí and son and then tackles the contrasts between the way Buena Vista-manía was received globally and on the island itself.

The 1950s Dance Crazes: Mambo & Cha-cha-chá

Los Van Van: Cuba's Salsa Train and Los Van Van in the Special Period & Beyond This two-parter covers Los Van Van from its pre-history with Formell & Pupy's work with Revé through Formell's death. Lots of excellent unpacking of lyrics and a great mix of hits and well-chosen deep cuts. [Kevin Moore]

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Sat, 19 Aug 2023 04:50:29 +0000
San José Jazz-Friday, Part Part II moves to the hip-hop side of the festival. Click here for the full gallery.

Big Daddy Kane

Murs

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Thu, 17 Aug 2023 20:33:17 +0000
San José Jazz-Friday, Part 1 Tom Ehrlich photographed all 3 days of this historic festival.. Click here for the first of five galleries. Tomorrow's gallery will feature hip-hop legend Big Daddy Kane's SJ Jazz debut.

W.I.T.C.H.

The Bad Plus

The Soul Rebels

Billy Childs Trio

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Thu, 17 Aug 2023 05:22:37 +0000
Amazing Cuban Music Podcasts The Let It Roll podcast is billed as an "insanely ambitious music history podcast". That turns to be an understatement. It began innocently enough as a 10-episode series on Rolling Stone journalist Ed Ward's book The History of Rock and Roll, but has since expanded to hundreds of episodes that systematically build towards an interlocking timeline encompassing every musical genre--from gospel and Delta blues to country, Tin Pan Alley, heavy metal, Jamaican music, hip-hop, EDM, and now, thankfully, Latin music, with multiple episodes featuring the dean of English language Latin music writers, Ned Sublette.

The second volume of Sublette's 2004 masterpiece, Cuba and Its Music, is the most hotly awaited book this side of The Winds of Winter, and it's even less likely to come out any time soon. The Katrina disaster led to two (equally valuable) books on the music of New Orleans, and the author is now consumed with a more hands-on endeavor, Post Mambo, through which he offers Zoom interviews, film nights, a regular newsletter, and guided, immersive-music study trips to Cuba, New Orleans, and elsewhere. Post Mambo has no website -- just send an email to postmambo@gmail.com and join the mailing list.

The good news is that Sublette turns out to be every bit as great a podcaster and extemporaneous speaker as he is a writer, and each of his Let It Roll episodes is packed with insights that either would have been in Volume 2 or could have been in Volume 1 of his Cuban music series. 

Below is a list of the Let It Roll episodes most likely to thrill timba.com readers:

The first three (new ones are being added every couple weeks) deal with Cuba and Its Music, the bible of Cuban music.

I've read this book at least 6 times and each time I return after studying other topics I learn something new. The beauty of these podcasts is that there a surprising amount of new material and new takes on the key concepts.

Latin Roll 1: The Musics of Europe and Africa Collided in Cuba 

Latin Roll 2: Clave and the Contradanza in the Colonial Caribbean 

Latin Roll 3: The Most Popular American Musician of the 19th Century Connected Cuba and New Orleans 

The Cultural Blend That Made New Orleans Music Unique - This episode discusses The World That Made New Orleans: From Spanish Silver to Congo Square, the first of two volumes on New Orleans music, which, as you'll see, is essential to understanding Cuban music and North American music in general.

New Orleans Music From Fats Domino thru the Meters to No Limit and Cash Money - This one covers The Year Before the Flood, taking the story into the 20th Century and including  autobiographical details on the author's personal experiences with New Orleans and its music.

The Kingsmen's 'Louie Louie' and The Rolling Stones' 'Satisfaction’ were built on Cuban Mambo & Cha-cha-cha - This episode was just what the doctor ordered for my current project on the connections between Cuban and Afro-North American pop. Along similar lines, here's a tremendous radio show segment that I came across that will reward multiple listenings.

Mambo hit New York hard in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s - This one is an interview with Tony Fletcher, the author of All Hopped Up and Nowhere to Go, a book about the New York City music scene with a lot of interesting info on Mario Bauzá, Machito, et al.

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Wed, 16 Aug 2023 20:15:28 +0000
Amazing Cuban Music Podcasts I've spent the last five years working on a book about the connections between Cuban music and English language pop. In the process, I've stumbled on two really extraordinary music history podcasts: Let It Roll and The Clave Chronicles. Over the next week I'll be reviewing each of these in detail, with three galleries of Tom Ehrlich's San José Jazz photos interspersed. If you have suggestions for others, please leave them in the comments section. Stay tuned! [Kevin Moore]

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Tue, 15 Aug 2023 19:52:32 +0000
Summer Jazz with Calixto Oviedo Calixto Oviedo

Attention in the Carolinas! Calixto Oviedo will be performing with his jazz group in August. See below for concert dates and links to book your ticket. If you are in North Carolina, keep an eye out for information about the upcoming Tosco Music Festival. 

South Carolina and North Carolina August concert dates:
August 2, 2023 - Charleston, South Carolina - Forte Jazz Lounge
August 4, 2023 - Cedar Mountain, North Carolina - Cedar Mountain Canteen 2pm-4pm
August 5, 2023 - Belmont, North Carolina - "Jazz at the Garden" Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens doors open at 5:30pm Buy tickets

If you are in Miami you can catch Calixto Saturdays with his Jazz Quartet at The Globe, one Friday per month at The Ball & Chain,  and some Fridays you will find him at The Corner Club. Remember to contact the clubs for information about dates and times as well as reservations.

To keep up with Calixto, follow him at Facebook
And subscribe to his YouTube channel.

Calixto Oviedo at Ball & ChainCalixto at Ball & Chian - used by permission


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Sun, 30 Jul 2023 16:03:32 +0000
CUBADISCO 2023 - A BRIEF RETROSPECTIVE
ENGLISH:
 
 We are pleased to bring you a brief restrospective on Cubadisco 2023.  The retrospective itself is brief but includes links to an impressive collection of documents and videos from the event.  You  can find the English language version here.
ESPAÑOL: Nos complace traerles una breve retrospectiva de CUbadisco 2023.  La retrospectiva en sí es breve pero incluye enlaces a una impresionante colección de documentos y videos del evento.  Pueden encontrar la versión en español aquí. 

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Tue, 23 May 2023 22:03:16 +0000
Fiesta del Tambor 2023 Fiesta del Tambor 2023

ENGLISH: The XX Edition of the Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival "GuIllermo Barreto in Memorium" is dedicated to Lázaro Ros and will include rumbas in the municipalities of Regla and Habana del Este. The festival begins this morning with master classes in rumba, folklore and casino by Jennyselt Galata and Oddebi Garcia and a master class in drums by Oscar Valdés. Today will also see the dance competion for adults and children in Casino and the qualifier for the drum competition. Tonight Compañía JJ will perform at the Patio La Guantanamera in Centro Habana.

For the full program click here. You can follow the Fiesta del Tambor at the official Facebook page.

ESPAÑOL: La XX Edición del Festival de Ritmos y Danza de La Habana “Guillermo Barreto in Memorium” está dedicada a Lázaro Ros e incluirá rumbas en los municipios de Regla y Habana del Este. El festival comienza esta mañana con clases magistrales de rumba, folklore y casino a cargo de Jennyselt Galata y Oddebi García y una clase magistral de batería de Oscar Valdés. Hoy también se realizará el concurso de baile para adultos y niños en el Casino y la clasificatoria para el concurso de tambores. Esta noche la Compañía JJ actuará en el Patio La Guantanamera de Centro Habana.

Para el programa completo haga clic aquí. Puedes seguir la Fiesta del Tambor en la página oficial de Facebook.

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Tue, 28 Feb 2023 15:49:30 +0000
Festival de La Salsa en Cuba 2023 FEstival De La Salsa en Cuba 2023 Program

ENGLISH: The 2023 edition of the Festival de la Salsa en Cuba kicks-off tonight at 9:00pm  with the inaugural gala at Salón Rojo Capri and a concert by Mayito Rivera and Maikel Dinza. This year the Festival will take place at Club 500. As with previous years there are dance workshops and an excusion, and festival-goers have free entrance to afterparties Thursday - Sunday at Casa de La Música Miramar.

ESPAÑOL: La edición 2023 del Festival de la Salsa en Cuba arranca esta noche a las 21:00 horas con la gala inaugural en el Salón Rojo Capri y un concierto de Mayito Rivera y Maikel Dinza. Este año el Festival se llevará a cabo en el Club 500. Al igual que en años anteriores, hay talleres de danza y una excursión, y los asistentes al festival tienen entrada gratuita a las after parties de jueves a domingo en Casa de La Música Miramar.

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Wed, 22 Feb 2023 18:34:18 +0000
Jazz Plaza 2023 Program

ENGLISH:  The program for Jazz Plaza 2023 has been published - downloadable here 
Three excellent resources for following the activities are the Facebook pages Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza Instituto Cubano de la Música and the YouTube Channel CREART
ESPAÑOL: 
Se publicaba la programación de Jazz Plaza 2023 - descargable aquí
Tres recursos excelentes para seguir las actividades son las páginas Facebook Fesitval Internacional Jazz Plaza Instituto Cubano de la Música y el canal CREART en YouTube. 

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Fri, 20 Jan 2023 00:07:28 +0000
CUBADISCO 2023 PROCESS BEGINS ENGLISH: Cubadisco 2023 will take place May 7-13 in Havana, Cuba.  The entry process is already taking place through the end of January, you can read Bill Tilford's English translation of the official call for entries here. 
ESPAÑOL: Cubadisco 2023 tendrá lugar del 7 al 13 de mayo 2023 en La Habana, Cuba.  La entrega continúa hasta el fin de enero, aquí está la una copia de la convocatoria oficial: 

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Fri, 13 Jan 2023 01:54:36 +0000
Jazz Plaza 2023 Is Coming!

ENGLISH: Jazz Plaza 2023 will take place in La Habana and Santiago between the 22nd and 29th of January 2023.  This year's theme is Pa' que fluJazz and the events will, in addition to the numerous concerts and jam sessions, included the XVIII International Colloquium "Leonardo Acosta en Memoriam".  Some noteworthy historical dates this year are the 90th Anniversary of the birth of Leonardo Acosta, the 85th anniversary of the death of Chano Pozo, the 45th anniversary of the foundation of CIDMUC, and 60th anniversary of the Orquesta Original de Manzanillo and the 65th birthday of pianist/composer Ernán López-Nussa.  
Much of this will be televised in Cuba, and when events are livestreamed and/or archived on the internet, TIMBA.com will help keep you informed of relevant links for enjoying the event. 

ESPAÑOL: Jazz Plaza 2023 tendrá lugar en La Habana y Santiago entre el 22 y el 29 de enero de 2023. El tema de este año es Pa' que fluJazz y los eventos incluirán, además de los numerosos conciertos y jam sessions, el XVIII Coloquio Internacional "Leonardo Acosta en Memoriam".  Algunas fechas históricas destacables de este año son el 90 aniversario del natalicio de Leonardo Acosta, el 85 aniversario de la muerte de Chano Pozo, el 45 aniversario de la fundación del CIDMUC, y el 60 aniversario de la Orquesta Original de Manzanillo y el 65 aniversario del pianista/compositor Ernán López-Nussa.
Gran parte de Jazz Plaza será televisado en Cuba, y cuando los eventos se presentan via "live-streaming" y/o se archiven en Internet, TIMBA.com les ayudará a mantenerse informado sobre enlaces relevantes para disfrutar del evento.

 

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Fri, 13 Jan 2023 00:36:09 +0000
Monterey Jazz Festival Here's Tom's full gallery for the final day of the 2022 Monterey Jazz Festival. Coming next will be a post about the new John Santos documentary.

Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter

Mireya Ramos

Elena Lacayo

Shea Fiol

Anna Garcia

Gerald Clayton, Immanuel Wilkins and Joel Ross

Keyon Harrold

Kim Nalley, Michael Zisman and Houston Pearson

Houston Pearson

Brandee Younger, Ravi Coltrane and Lonnie Plaxico

Gregory Porter

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Fri, 14 Oct 2022 08:24:58 +0000
Monterey Jazz Festival Here's Tom Ehrlich's 3rd Monterey Jazz gallery.

Denise Carlos

Terri Odabi

Dave Stryker

Warren Wolf vibes

Emmet Cohen

Billy Harper

Cecil McBee

Eddie Henderson

Allison Miller

Matthew Whitaker

Iván Llanes

Joel Ross and Immanuel Wilkins

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Mon, 10 Oct 2022 23:21:50 +0000
Monterey Jazz Festival Here's the second installment of Tom Ehrlich's 4-part coverage of the 2022 Monterey Jazz Festival.

Samara Joy

Nicholas Payton

Sasah Masakowski and Cliff Hines

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Wed, 05 Oct 2022 20:16:18 +0000
Monterey Jazz Festival Tom was so floored by Chucho's large scale suite (performed by a combination of Hilario Durán's Yorubaland and John Beasley's Monk'estra) that he devoted a whole gallery to it. 

Left to right: Carlos Averhoff, Jr. sax, Chucho Valdés, Hilario Durán and John Beasley

The dynamic duo of Dafnis Prieto and Roberto Vizcaíno, Jr.

 

Erick Barbería and Yeny Valdés pre-concert

 

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Tue, 04 Oct 2022 20:47:35 +0000
SJ JAZZ - Final Day The last day of the festival started with strong performance by Telmary and her group at the main stage. Other groups included Javon Jackson, Charles McPherson, Gary Bartz and Donald Harrison with a tribute to Charlie Parker, Mario y su Timbeko, another powerful timba group, Stanley Clarke. Keyon Harrold. Ledisi and Jazz Organ Fellowship Tribute to Dr. Lonnie Smith.

Full Galleries:       Sunday  -   Saturday  -  Friday

Telmary

Yeni Valdes and Telmary

Erick Barbería

David Williams

Right to left David Williams, Charles McPherson, Donald Harrison and Gary Bartz

Mario Salomon (timbales) and Carlitos Medrano (congas)

Yadier Noa

Jason Moen keyboards and Yadier Noa bass

Stanley Clarke and Jeremiah Collier

Pete Fallico and Akiko Tsunuga with a protrait of Dr. Lonnie Smith

                                                                                    Ledisi
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Fri, 09 Sep 2022 05:55:32 +0000
San José Jazz Festival Including an interview with festival lead photographer Robert Burnbach, jazz supergroup Bobby Watson, Curtis Lundy, Cyrus Chestnut and Victor Jones who played twice at different venues, Omar Sosa Quarteto Americano, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Raul Midón and Sabor Mi Cuba. Click here for the full gallery.

Greg Bridges interviewing Robert Burnbach

Bobby Watson sax and Curtis Lundy bass

Ernesto Mazar Kindelán

Omar Sosa

Carlitos Medrano

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Thu, 25 Aug 2022 06:01:33 +0000
San José Jazz Festival The first night of the festival featured the Brian Andres Quartet, the Jazz Mafia, Isaiah Sharkey and Joel Ross. Here's the full gallery. Stay tuned for Saturday and Sunday.

Brian Andres Quartet

The Jazz Mafia

Joel Ross

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Sun, 21 Aug 2022 04:31:20 +0000
RIP Pupy Pedroso photo by Tom Ehrlich, San Francisco, 2010 - more photos

César "Pupy" Pedroso passed today at the age of 75.

Judged by any imaginable criteria, Pupy Pedroso is among the most important figures in the history of Cuban music. Born into a family of musicians at the very center of the Havana scene at a time when the groups of Arsenio Rodríguez and Antonio Arcaño were creating the very foundations of Latin music as we know it, he was educated during the golden age of the 1950s, and later became a member of Revé and Los Van Van as those two groups reinvented Cuban music in the late 1960s. 

Pupy lived his extraordinary life on the very cutting edge of the chronology of Cuban music. At his birth, in September of 1946, Havana’s music scene was exploding, dominated by two groups, Arsenio Rodríguez y su Conjunto and Arcaño y sus Maravillas. These two musical juggernauts played back-to-back every Sunday at Los Jardines de la Tropical and frequently toured together as a double bill. Arsenio’s band used his revolutionary conjunto format with tres, bongó and trumpets, while Arcaño’s was a charanga típica, with timbales, violins and flute. The two groups fed off each others’ creativity to produce many of the innovations we take for granted today – not only in salsa and timba, but in English-language popular music as well. Many of the greatest pianists of the era passed through these bands, among them Rubén González, Lilí Martínez, Lino Frías, and one of Pupy’s teachers, the great Jesús López. Arcaño’s group, which included Pupy’s uncle Julio on güiro, often rehearsed at Pupy’s house and Pupy’s father César “El Nene” Pedroso played piano with many alumni of Arsenio’s band in Chappottín y sus Estrellas and René Álvarez’s conjunto. It’s hard to imagine a more perfect situation for the formative years of an aspiring young pianist.

Pupy’s grandfather, the first Julio Pedroso, was the leader and flautist of a charanga called Orquesta Cuba, formed in 1932. Among the famous musicians who played with this group were violinist Félix Reina, composer of the classic danzón Angóa, singer Paulina Álvarez, and singer Cheo Marquetti, who would later become the leader of his own important conjunto in the 1950s. Because they lived in Cienfuegos, Paulina and Félix stayed at Pupy’s house when the orquesta played in Havana. Pupy remembers the mornings after performances, when his mother would prepare “sopa de la mala noche” (a Cuban hangover cure) for her famous houseguests.

Pupy’s uncle, also named Julio Pedroso, better known as “Piro, el escapárate”, was considered to be one of Havana’s top güiro players. He started out with Orquesta Ideal, a well-known group founded in 1938, which, under the direction of Joseíto Valdés, became one of the first charangas to incorporate call and response vocals in the danzón genre. Julio later joined the top charanga of the 1940s, the incredibly innovative Arcaño y sus Maravillas and stayed with them until they disbanded, after which he joined Orquesta Novedades, where he joined  Pupy’s cousin Gerardo Pedroso.

Gerardo Pedroso became famous as the singer of one of Orquesta Sensación’s biggest hits, Arráncame la vida,  a bolero composed by Agustín Lara. In 1956, along with various other members of Sensación, he broke away to form Orquesta Novedades, where he sang and acted as musical director. The band also sometimes accompanied Miguelito Cuní, who sang such classics as No hay yaya sin Guayacán with Arsenio Rodríguez. Cuní and Orquesta Novedades can be heard on the readily available Cuban Gold 3  on the QBADisc label.

Interestingly, the conguero in the above photo of Orquesta Novedades is Raúl “El Yulo” Cárdenas, who would be a founding member of Los Van Van and originator of various important songo conga patterns. El Yulo ended his career with NG La Banda before dying tragically in a 1999 car crash.

The most famous of all Pupy’s musician relatives was his father and namesake, César “El Nené” Pedroso, who played piano with nearly everyone at one time or another – Abelardo Barroso y Orquesta Sensación, Chappottín y sus Estrellas, Beny Moré, René Álvarez and Cheo Marquetti, to name a few.

As late as 1983, Pedrito Calvo would still cry out “el hijo de Nené!!” during Pupy’s piano solos with Los Van Van. 

 Pupy was surrounded by rehearsals, jam sessions and pianos from birth, and the direction of his life was almost certainly set in motion and propelled by the electrifying experience of growing up in the inner circle of one of history’s most exciting and innovative musical periods. There was always a party or a jam session at his house and he clearly remembers such figures as Paulina Alvarez, Tonia la Negra, Rafael Ortiz, Cheo Marquetti, Abelardo Barroso, and Antonio Arcaño himself as frequent musical guests in his childhood home. Among the many first-tier pianists he heard without leaving his living room were Rubén González – then famous for his recordings with Arsenio, now famous for his work with the Buena Vista Social Club – and Raúl Valdés.

With constant access to the family piano, Pupy was already picking out songs by ear at the age of five. Not yet having learned the names of the notes, he used rum and coffee stains on the keys to keep his place and recalled his initial frustration when he tried to play his repertoire on other pianos not similarly adorned with such helpful splotches. 

Pupy’s formal education began at the age of 10, studying with two sisters, “Las Hurtado”, who gave piano lessons in his neighborhood. At age 12, he enrolled in the famous Amadeo Roldán conservatory, where he studied theory, piano and solfeggio with Aída Tesiro, Osvaldo Ferrer, Luis Pastoré, Georgina Ramos, and, most importantly, the afore-mentioned Jesús López. Later, at a vocational school for professional musicians, he studied harmony with Rafael Lay, Sr., the leader of Orquesta Aragón.

In addition to the many descargas (jam sessions) and formal rehearsals of Arcaño y sus Maravillas and Conjunto Bolero that were regular occurrences at home, Pupy’s father took him on regular musical field trips. He always brought the young Pupy along when Orquesta Sensación played and recorded at Radio Salsa and Radio Suaritos, where Pupy also got regular opportunities to hear Arcaño, Chappottín, Melodías del 40, Orquesta Aragón, Vicentico Valdés and even Arsenio Rodríguez before he left Cuba.

Life as a Professional

Considering his genetics, his almost unbelievably ideal musical environment, his formal and informal access to the best teachers, and his good-natured natural love for all things musical, it’s not at all surprising that Pupy was soon in demand as a professional pianist, playing with such groups as Orquesta Maravillas de Santa Fe and Orquesta Fascinación, while his father took him to sit in with top bands at clubs like El Zorro y el Cuervo, Scheherezada and Club Karachi.

What is surprising is the staying power of Pupy’s compositional muse. Even when we take into account his many early advanatages and a certain creative genius for composition, Pupy has demonstrated an astounding ability to continue to grow and adapt. At his death at age 75, he was still writing Top 10 hits for a cutting edge dance band, just as he'd done literally every year of his life since 1979. Most of the truly great figures in popular music – whether Arsenio, Arcaño, Ritmo Oriental, the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, or Bob Dylan – produced their greatest music during one or two decades and then gave way to future generations. In terms of keeping the creative fires raging, unabated and uninterrupted, for such an incredible (and ongoing) length of time, the only other popular music titan who comes to mind is Juan Formell, who, like Pupy, found the inspiration for his lyrics ("social chronicles" as they called them) in the daily lives of Cubans. Pupy's final album, Re-percusión, was nominated in last year's Cubadisco awards.

In about 1964, Pupy joined Orquesta Revé, a hugely important group that continues to be one of the very best groups in Cuba, staying at the top of the charts, like Pupy and Los Van Van, during nearly every decade since its its inception – no easy trick in the fickle, trend-dominated, youth-oriented world of popular music.

When Pupy joined Orquesta Revé, it was still in its charanga típica phase but the group, Pupy’s life, and Cuban music took a profound and pivotal turn in 1968 when Revé hired a new musical director, bassist and composer Juan Formell, who had been surreptitiously listening to North American radio broadcasts and contraband capitalist vinyl and found himself fascinated by everything from the Beatles to Motown. Formell adopted the genre name changüí 68 for his early Revé compositions such as El martes. 

In 1969, Formell set out on his own, with a nucleus of Revé musicians that included Pupy, to form the most successful Cuban group of all time, Los Van Van, rebranding the group’s musical style as songo. Other than Pupy, the most important founding musician was the innovative conguero Raúl “El Yulo” Cárdenas, but shortly after the first album was recorded, the original drummer, Blas Egües, was replaced by another critically important figure, José Luis “Changuito” Quintana, who, along with Formell, would become one of Pupy’s most important collaborators.

Changuito played with Van Van until the early 1990s and was reunited with Pupy in 2001 to help design the unique rhythmic style of Pupy’s new group, Los Que Son Son, with an astounding front line of now legendary singers: Tirso Duarte, Pepito Gómez and Mandy Cantero, who now sings with Los Van Van. Nearly 20 singers have passed through the band, including El Noro, and the recent lineup of Dayán Carrera, Pedro Luis Barrizonte and Lázaro Leandro Borrego.

Los Que Son Son celebrated its 20th anniversary last year and remains one of Cuba’s top bands. Here’s an accounting of their 10 studio albums, and Pupy's discography as a member of Van Van and the solo albums he recorded while still a member.

Pupy will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.

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Sun, 17 Jul 2022 19:46:49 +0000
10th NATIONAL CHANGÜÍ FESTIVAL ELIO REVÉ MATOS X Changüí Festival

ENGLISH: Today marks the start of the 10th National Changüí Festival Elio Revé Matos in Guantanamo. Yesterday there was a press conference and a showing of the short film "Una Fiesta de Changüí".  The 10th edition is dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the birth of Arturo Latamblé, the 70th anniversary of the group Estrellas Campesinas, the 15th anniversary of La Casa Del Changüí and the 85th anniversary of the radio station CMKS, as well as to the presidents of La Cumbancha peñas.

As with previous years, the festival will comprise seminars, changüí music competitions, dance competions and many concerts, including "El Changüí más largo del mundo". Events will take place in Guantanamo City but also in other municipalties in the area. To keep up with the activites, follow the Facebook pages of Changüiseros por el mundo and Destino Guantanamo.

I leave you with the documentary "Este es nuestro changüí", written by Yaremis Estonel and José Cuenca and directed by David Hernández, who won the award for direction in the Long Form Music Video category at the 18th Independent Music Awards in 2020.

ESPAÑOL: Hoy se da inicio al X Festival Nacional de Changüí Elio Revé Matos en Guantánamo. Ayer hubo rueda de prensa y proyección del cortometraje "Una Fiesta de Changüí". La décima edición está dedicada a los 110 años del natalicio de Arturo Latamblé, los 70 años del grupo Estrellas Campesinas, los 15 años de La Casa Del Changüí y los 85 años de la emisora ​​CMKS, así como a los presidentes de las peñas La Cumbancha.

Como en años anteriores, el festival comprenderá coloquios, concursos de música changüí, concursos de baile y muchos conciertos, incluido "El Changüí más largo del mundo". Los eventos se realizarán en la ciudad de Guantánamo pero también en otros municipios de la zona. Para mantenerse al día con las actividades, siga las páginas de Facebook de Changüiseros por el mundo y Destino Guantanamo.

Los dejo con el documental "Este es nuestro changüí", escrito por Yaremis Estonel y José Cuenca y dirigido por David Hernández, quien ganó el premio a la dirección en la categoría Video Musical Versión Larga en los XVIII Premios de la Música Independiente en 2020.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/252672682759581/

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Thu, 30 Jun 2022 16:18:42 +0000
Issac, Alain, Pedrito & Co. Click here for Tom Ehrlich's photos from the first US show of Issac Delgado's new all-star band, Con Tumbao,  featuring Alain Pérez, Pedrito Martinéz, Robbie Ameen, Tony Succar and Issacito Delgado, plus a horn section of ex-Irakere trumpeter Juan Munguía, Conrad Herwig, Mike Rodríguez and Bobby Franceschini. The setlist was drawn from the repertoires of both Issac and Pedrito.

After a riveting show at SFJAZZ the band heads east:

Thursday, June 23 - Sony Hall - New York City

Saturday, June 25 - Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY

July 30 - Tempo Latino - Vic Fezensac, France

November 18 - New Jersey Performing Arts Center Newark, NJ

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Mon, 20 Jun 2022 04:23:32 +0000
Pupy & Los Que Son Son Summer US Tour
A lot of good dates here, this should be a great opportunity for Chicagoans to hear Pupy outdoors, and it is wonderful  to see a band from Cuba coming back to Coconut Beach in Louisville since it has been a while.   If you have never seen El Noro live, this will also be a treat.  Mark your calendars! 

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Fri, 27 May 2022 02:52:29 +0000
CUBADISCO 2022 WINNERS ANNOUNCED


The winners of Cubadisco 2022 have been announced, you can read more  HERE
Publicaban los ganadores de Cubadisco 2022, pueden leer mas AQUÍ

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Mon, 23 May 2022 02:08:15 +0000
VAN VAN & HAVANA D'PRIMERA Los Van van by Tom EhrlichLos Van Van by Tom Ehrlich

Havana D'Primera by Tom EhrlichHavana D'Primera & Rubén Bulnes by Tom Ehrlich

ENGLISH: For the past month both Los Van Van and Havana D'Primera have been touring the US. They performed together in San Diego on May 1st and are now winding down their US tours with two joint concerts in Florida: tomorrow at the Charles Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines and Saturday at Hard Rock Café in Orlando. If you are in the area don't miss this chance to see these two Timba monsters together! You can get tickets at Ticketmaster. You can also catch Havana D'Primera in New Orleans on May 22nd at Rock N' Bowl. Check out Tom Ehrlich's photo galleries of Los Van Van and Havana D'Primera at Berkeley.

Hopefully Bill will check in soon with a round-up of all the Cubadisco 2022 results, but in case you missed it, the big winner this year was Havana D'Primera, who took home the Grand Prize as well as winning in the Dance Music and Sound Design categories.

ESPAÑOL: Durante el último mes, Los Van Van y Havana D'Primera han estado de gira por Los  Estados Unidos. Actuaron juntos en San Diego el 1 de mayo y ahora están finalizando sus giras por Los Estados Unidos con dos conciertos conjuntos en Florida: mañana en el Charles Dodge City Center en Pembroke Pines y el sábado en el Hard Rock Café en Orlando. Si estás en la zona, ¡no te pierdas esta oportunidad de ver a estos dos monstruos de la Timba juntos! Puedes conseguir entradas en Ticketmaster. También puede ver Havana D'Primera en Nueva Orleans el 22 de mayo en el Rock N' Bowl. Echa en vistazo a las galerías de fotos de Tom Ehrlich de los conciertos Los Van Van y Havana D'Primera en Berkeley.

Esperemos que Bill se registre pronto con un resumen de todos los resultados de Cubadisco 2022, pero en caso de que te lo hayas perdido, el gran ganador de este año fue Havana D'Primera, quien se llevó a casa el Gran Premio además de ganar las categorías Música Bailable y Diseño de Sonido.

Seá Que Se Acabó - Cubadisco Gran Premio

 

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Thu, 19 May 2022 14:02:59 +0000
Los Van Van in Berkeley As promised, here's Tom's gallery from Van Van's set at the UC Theater in Berkeley.

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Tue, 17 May 2022 05:21:44 +0000
Havana d'Primera in the Bay Area

Here's Tom's gallery from the HdP portion of the big show this weekend at UC Theater in Berkeley. Check back soon for another gallery on Los Van Van who played on the same historic double bill.

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Mon, 16 May 2022 06:22:49 +0000
Pupy y Los Que Son Son Pupy y Los Que Son Son Europe 2022

ENGLISH: Los Que Son Son are in Europe for a tour that includes 11 countries and Lloret del Mar, Cuba in Tunisia and the Croatian Summer Salsa Festival. The first concert is tonight in Tenerife. To keep up with the tour and find concerts near you, follow Pupy Pedroso y Los Que Son Son at Facebook.

ESPAÑOL: Los Que Son Son están en Europa para una gira que incluye 11 países y los festivales de Lloret del Mar, Cuba en Tunisia y Croatian Summer Salsa Festival. El primer concierto es esta noche en Tenerife. Para mantenerse al día con la gira y encontrar conciertos cerca de usted, siga a Pupy Pedroso y Los Que Son Son en Facebook.

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Fri, 13 May 2022 13:47:17 +0000
RIP Sergio Noroña cuban music, musica cubana

We've lost another titan of the timba era. Sergio Noroña's timba career was short but extremely important. Looking back with the perspective of 25 years, certain albums from the 90s stand out as timeless masterpieces and Paulito FG's Con la conciencia tranquila is at or near the top of that list.

Sergio's predecessor in that legendary band--Emilio Morales--and his successors--Yaniel "El Majá" Matos and Rolando Luna--were also great innovators and, as with any great musical collaboration, it's not always possible to determine who contributed which idea. For example, in concert, Morales was the first to play Y San Toma qué and the basic idea for the title track. Among the breathtaking piano tumbaos that I know from my MIDI research were definitely penned by Noroña were Y ahora qué, No te crees, and at least some aspects of Paulito's anthem, De La Habana. He also anecdotally contributed piano tumbao ideas during the pre-Con la conciencia period when he was the band's tecladista and added his distinctive voice to the coro section. But beyond the authorship of tumbaos, Noroña played with a rhythmic ferocity distinct among the great timba pianists. To get a sense of the excitement he generated from the piano chair, track down Paulito's live show at the Plaza de la Revolución from late 1996 or early 1997. After his short tenure with Paulito, Noroña was a member of the great Envidia house band that recorded on many important CDs, e.g., Michel Maza's Fieeesta and Que hablen los habladores. 

It's difficult to piece together the full family tree but the extended Noroña family includes many great timba musicians, including Julio Noroña, Los Van Van's founding and current güiro player, Julio's son, Julito Noroña, who fills the same role with Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Paulito alumnus Yosvel Bernal, now tecladista with Havana d'Primera, the great Revé bassist Pipo Noroña, and longtime Van Van trombonista Edmundo Pina, to name just a few. Whenever you see Noroña, Bernal, or Pina in the credits of an album, it's probably one of Sergito's relatives. He'll be greatly missed. 

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Tue, 10 May 2022 18:30:40 +0000
El Niño Y La Verdad Europe 2022 El Niño y La Verdad Europe 2022

ENGLISH: Tonight El Niño y La Verdad kick off the European leg of their "El Hijo del Viento" tour in Madrid. They will give 16 concerts in seven countries, ending in Paris on June 11th. If you haven't bought the new album yet, you can find it at the usual digital streaming sites and retailers. "El Hijo del Viento" is nominated for Cubadisco 2022 in the Popular Dance Music category. You can also check out their 8th Anniversay concert, given with no audience during COVID restrictions, which features some of the songs from "El Hijo del Viento". If you have time, I also highly recommend the documentary "De Vuelta al Barrio" directed by Alejandro Valera.  Alaroye, no. ¡Alaroye y bien!

ESPAÑOL: El Niño y La Verdad abren esta noche en Madrid la etapa europea de su gira "El Hijo del Viento". Ofrecerán 16 conciertos en siete países, finalizando en París el 11 de junio. Si aún no ha comprado el nuevo álbum, puede encontrarlo en los sitios y minoristas habituales de transmisión digital. "El Hijo del Viento" está nominado a Cubadisco 2022 en la categoría Música Popular Bailable. También puedes ver su concierto del 8° Aniversario, sin público durante las restricciones por el COVID, que presenta algunas de las canciones de "El Hijo del Viento". Si tienes tiempo, también te recomiendo mucho el documental "De Vuelta al Barrio" dirigido por Alejandro Valera.  Alaroye, no. ¡Alaroye y bien!

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Thu, 05 May 2022 12:12:11 +0000
CUBADISCO 2022 NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

For the complete list, click here. 
Para la lista completa, haz clic aquí

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Sat, 23 Apr 2022 01:14:35 +0000
We Mourn José Luis Cortés "El Tosco" José Luis Cortés "El Tosco"José Luis Cortés "El Tosco" - Stockholm 2002

Para español dale clic aquí.

It seems that the bad news just keeps coming. Monday the 18th of April, 2022, the terrible news arrived that José Luis Cortés "El Tosco", flautist extraordinaire and leader of NG La Banda, had passed away from a hemmorhagic stroke. Exactly four month earlier, December 18th, José Crego "El Greco" died and on January 26, 2022 Elpidio Chappotin. Both formed part of NG La Banda's Metales de Terror. The 2020s have truly been anni horribiles for Cuban music.

El Tosco was a graduate of the Escuela Nacional de Arte as a flautist. After graduation, he worked with Los Van Van, including composing and arranging before moving on to Irakére, where he spent the better part of the 1980s. In 1988 he founded NG La Banda, which is credited with being the first true timba band, and the rest is history. A quick search at YouTube will give a you a variety of video evidence of El Tosco's dominance of everything from classical music, to jazz to música popular bailable. I recommend a deep dive into the available videos.

I am not Kevin or Bill, so I can't give you a musician's breakdown of El Tosco's importance to the development of Timba and his influence on all the bands that came after. For more on that, you can check out Kevin's articles on NG La Banda and stay tuned for Bill's radio tribute.

My experience with El Tosco is as a music fan and a dancer. My first time seeing NG La Banda was in Stockholm in 2002. After serving up an amazing night of dance music, including hits such as Santa Palabra, La Bruja, and Picadilla de Soya, El Tosco took the band and the entire audience out into the Swedish summer night at 1:00am dancing and playing conga. We got many a nasty look from the apartment windows as we danced down the street to the sound of trumpets, but it was an unforgettable experience and very un-Swedish.

Swedes dancing conga in the streets 2002

I saw them again at Casa de La Música Miramar in 2004, where I went to present El Tosco with the Timba.com award for best horn section. He was not exactly fond of Timba.com at the time, because Kevin had said he must be crazy to use sampled bass after Feliciano Arango left. So Timba.com was on his website non grata list, but despite his rough reputation, he was polite to me.

José Luis Cortés "El Tosco"

The sudden loss of so large a figure from the world of Timba and Cuban music weighs heavily on so many of us. But today we have the opportunity to say goodbye to El Tosco with the online concert that will be shown at 4:30pm Havana time on the Facebook page of Instituto Cubano de la Música, the YouTube channel of the Ministerio de Cultura de Cuba  and on Radio Progresso. Click the image above to go to the facebook page with more information. May El Tosco now take his place beside the other greats of Cuban music in that great jam session in the sky. ¡Ataca Chicho!

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Wed, 20 Apr 2022 19:03:48 +0000
Jane Bunnett & Maqueque Photo Gallery @ The Jazz Kitchen

ENGLISH: Jane Bunnett & Maqueque gave an excellent performance at The Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 5.  You can view a photo gallery and commentary here. 
ESPAÑOL:  Jane Bunnett & Maqueque dió un excelente concierto en The Jazz Kitchen en Indianapolis, Indiana el 5 de marzo.  Puede ver una galería de fotos y comentarios aquí. 

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Tue, 08 Mar 2022 00:59:53 +0000
Pedrito Martínez & Alfredo Rodríguez! Finally ... live music returns to the world! They play tonight in Miami.

Click here for full details of the Stanford show and here for all of Pedrito's upcoming shows. Here are some of Tom Ehrlich's photos from other performances:

                                                   Kuumbwa Jazz Center - 2019

St. Louis - 2017 (debut performance of the duo)

St. Louis - 2017

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Sat, 05 Mar 2022 19:54:31 +0000
Jane Bunnett & Maqueque US Tour
I
n a hopeful sign that perhaps the fog of COVID is beginning to lift from the Cuban music tour scene, Jane Bunnett and Maqueque have commenced their US tour.  This group of virtuosos is always enjoyable.   The tour website, where you can find links for tickets, is here. 

CONCERT DATES

February 25 - Chris’ Jazz Cafe, Philadelphia

February 26 - Chris’ Jazz Cafe, Philadelphia

February 27 - Unity Church, Charlottesville

March 3 - Epiphany Centre, Chicago

March 4 - Epiphany Centre - Chicago

March 5 - The Jazz Kitchen, Indianapolis

March 10 - Jimmy’s, Portsmouth

March 11 - Scullers, Boston

March 12 - The Side Door, Old Lyme

March 15 - Birdland, New York City

March 16 - Birdland, New York City

March 17 - Birdland, New York City

March 18 - Birdland, New York City

March 19 - Birdland, New York City

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Tue, 01 Mar 2022 03:20:07 +0000
HAVANA RHYTHM AND DANCE FESTIVAL Fiesta del Tambor - 2022

ENGLISH: After a two-year hiatus caused by the corona virus pandemic, the XIX Edition of the Havana Rhythm and Drum Festival "Guillermo Barreto in Memoriam" will kick off in one week with events at Hotel Nacional, Salón Rosado de La Tropical, Arco de Belén and the Anfiteatro del Puerto de La Habana. This year, Masters Classes in percussion and dance will be offered, and the international drum competition will be held in Salón 1930 at Hotel Nacional de Cuba. Participants will perform a two minute drum solo based only on rumba clave. The jury will be made up of Enrique Pla, Jose Luis Quintana "Changuito", and  Oliver Valdés.

As always, there will also be concerts at venues throughout the city. Bands include Brenda Navarette, Michel Herrera, Geidy Chapman, Alain Pérez, Haila, Havana D'Primera, Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Timbalaye, Elito Revé y Su Charangón, Obini Batá, Giraldo Piloto y Klímax, Los Van Van, Santiago All Stars, Oliver Valdés Rey, Yoruba Andabo, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Santiago All Stars, Ronald y Explosión Rumbera, Compañía JJ, and Rumbatá de Camagüey. Tickets are on sale at the official Fiesta Del Tambor website. You can choose from a complete VIP pass, to tickets for individual classes and concerts.

Click here for more information and the complete event program.

ESPANOL: Luego de un paréntesis de dos años provocado por la pandemia del corona virus, la XIX Edición de La Fiesta del Tambor “Guillermo Barreto in Memoriam” arrancará en una semana con eventos en el Hotel Nacional, Salón Rosado de La Tropical, Arco de Belén y el Anfiteatro del Puerto de La Habana. Este año se ofrecerán Clases Magistrales de percisión y baile y se realizará el concurso internacional de drums en el Salón 1930 del Hotel Nacional de Cuba. Los participantes interpretarán un solo de batería de dos minutos basado únicamente en la clave de rumba. El jurado estará compuesto por Enrique Pla, Jose Luis Quintana "Changuito" y Oliver Valdés.

Como siempre, también habrá conciertos en lugares por toda la ciudad. Las bandas incluyen a Brenda Navarette, Michel Herrera, Geidy Chapman, Alain Pérez, Haila, Havana D'Primera, Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Timbalaye, Elito Revé y Su Charangón, Obini Batá, Giraldo Piloto y Klímax, Los Van Van, Santiago All Stars, Oliver Valdés Rey, Yoruba Andabo, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Santiago All Stars, Ronald y Explosión Rumbera, Compañía JJ, y Rumbatá de Camagüey. Las entradas están a la venta en el sitio web oficial de Fiesta Del Tambor. Puedes elegir desde un pase VIP completo, hasta entradas para clases y conciertos por unidad.

Dale clic aquí para obtener más información y el programa completo del evento

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Mon, 21 Feb 2022 20:39:57 +0000
EVOLUTION 6.5 Elito Revé y Su Charangón Evolution 6.5

ENGLISH: Last night Elito Revé y Su Charangón held a concert to celebrate the release of the album "Evolution 6.5". Recorded in the middle of the pandemic, "Evolution 6.5" contains ten tracks plus a bonus track of "Guantanamera" and features guests Alexander Abreu, Alaín Pérez, Vadím Cárdenas, Yahaira Placencia, Brenda Navarrete, and La Colmenita. The album is available at the usual streaming sites and digital retailers. If you are in Havana, don't miss the Gran Matiné Sunday, February 20th, at Salón Rosado de la Tropical with guests such as Alexander Abreu and Divan. Doors open at 6:00pm and the concert is at 9:00pm. In the meantime, you can enjoy the release concert in the video below. To keep up with Elito Revé y Su Charangón follow them at Facebook and YouTube!

ESPAÑOL: Anoche Elito Revé y Su Charangón realizaron un concierto para celebrar el lanzamiento del disco "Evolución 6.5". Grabado en plena pandemia, "Evolución 6.5" contiene diez temas más un bonus track de "Guantanamera" y cuenta con los invitados Alexander Abreu, Alaín Pérez, Vadím Cárdenas, Yahaira Placencia, Brenda Navarrete y La Colmenita. El álbum está disponible en los sitios de transmisión habituales y minoristas digitales. Si estás en La Habana, no te pierdas la Gran Matiné del domingo 20 de febrero en el Salón Rosado de la Tropical con invitados como Alexander Abreu y Divan. Las puertas abren a las 6:00pm y el concierto es a las 9:00pm. Mientras tanto, puedes disfrutar del concierto de lanzamiento en el video a continuación. ¡Para estar al tanto de Elito Revé y Su Charangón, síguelos en Facebook y YouTube!

Track list  Guests
Agárrame si puedes
Aquí te traigo un merengue son   Alaín Pérez
Pensaste mal  Yahaira Placencia
El cosquilleo  Alexander Abreu
El dómino
María Belén  Vadím Cárdenas  "El Matancero"
De qué estamos hablando
La gatica
Papá Elegguá  Brenda Navarrete
Más viejo qyue ayer, más joven que mañana  
Guantanamera (bonus track)   La Colmenita

 

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Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:31:18 +0000
MUCHO Mucho - Giraldo Piloto & KlímaxMUCHO artwork by Michel Mirabal

ENGLISH: It's been over five years since the last album by Giraldo Piloto & Klímax, but they are back with the apptly-named project "MUCHO". The album will be released in stages and will eventually consist of 13 tracks. On December 17th the first four songs dropped as an EP. The new tracks feature guest artists Alexander Abreu and Brenda Navarrete, as well as Klímax bandmembers Yensa Mercedes Vidaurreta, Mily Cantero, Noel Díaz, and Joselier López. In the video below Piloto explains that subsequent songs will be released as singles, while the final five songs will also drop as an EP and will all have females leads.

Click here for links to MUCHO at the various digital sites.

The next single to drop will be "Si No Probaste Antes" featuring Yordys Larrazabal.
The best way to keep up-to-date with the releases as well as the band's concert schedule is to follow them on social media and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

ESPAÑOL: Han pasado más de cinco años desde el último disco de Giraldo Piloto & Klímax, pero están de regreso con el acertadamente llamado proyecto "MUCHO". El álbum se lanzará por etapas y finalmente constará de 13 pistas. El 17 de diciembre, las primeras cuatro canciones se lanzaron como EP. Los nuevos temas cuentan con los artistas invitados Alexander Abreu y Brenda Navarrete, así como con los miembros de la banda Klímax Yensa Mercedes Vidaurreta, Mily Cantero, Noel Díaz y Joselier López. En el video a continuación, Piloto explica que las canciones posteriores se lanzarán como sencillos, mientras que las cinco canciones finales también se lanzarán como un EP y todas tendrán protagonistas femeninas.

Dale clic aquí para enlaces a MUCHO en los diversos sitios digitales.

El próximo sencillo a lanzar será "Si No Probaste Antes" con Yordys Larrazábal. La mejor forma de estar al día de los lanzamientos y de la agenda de conciertos de la banda es seguirlos en las redes sociales y suscribirse a su canal de YouTube. 

Giraldo Piloto &  Klímax YouTube Channel
Giraldo Piloto &  Klímax Facebook

EP track list:

Contra el Tráfico feat Alexander Abreu
Me Sacas por el Techo  
Si Tu Decisión Es Irte  
La Policia Soy Yo feat Brenda Navarrete 

 

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Sat, 29 Jan 2022 16:19:52 +0000
Remembering Los Metales del Terror NG La Banda launched the timba genre with a ferocious, virtuosic horn section affectionately known as Los Metales del Terror. The saxophonists were Germán Velazco (still going strong) and Carlos Averhoff, Sr. (who passed in 2016). The trumpeters were José "El Greco" Crego and Elpidio Chappottín, both of whom have passed in recent weeks. After Irakere and NG La Banda, El Greco led his own jazz band, Top Secret, and Chappottín (the grandson of the legendary Arsenio Rodríguez trumpeter and bandleader Félix Chappottín and a cousin of the younger Félix Chappottín now leading Conjunto Chappottín) became an in-demand session player and touring musician, most recently coming to the States with Issac Delgado. El Greco's son Marcos Crego is a leading pianist who played with Klímax and Juan de Marcos' Afro-Cuban All Stars and now lives in Arizona.

       Elpidio Chappottín with Issac at SF Jazz (click here for photos from Kuumbwa Jazz)

José "El Greco" Crego

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Marcos Crego (son of El Greco) with Afro-Cuban All Stars in SF

(photos by Tom Ehrlich)

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Fri, 28 Jan 2022 21:19:33 +0000
COMO DISFRUTAR JAZZ PLAZA EN LINEA

ESPAÑOL:
  A  partir de 11am hora de Cuba el martes, StreamingCuba, un equipo basado en Santiago que ha llevado otros eventos importantes, va a compartir el evento teorico y mas tarde, conciertos y momentos especiales.  (Es probable que este escritor participará virtualmente por la tarde el martes.) Gracias a Cuba por compartir este evento con todo el mundo y a StreamingCuba por sus esfuerzos excelentes.    
La página Facebook de StreamingCuba es https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=streamingcuba
(No es necesario utilizar una contraseña pero recomendado por si la tengan.)
ENGLISH:  Beginning at 11am Havana time Tuesday, StreamingCuba, a team based in Santiage that has presented other important events, will be carrying the theoretical event and later concerts and special moments (it is probable that this writer will participate virtually during the afternoon on Tuesday.)  Thanks to Cuba for sharing this event with the whole world and to StreamingCuba for ther excellent efforts. 
The Facebook page of StreamingCuba is https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=streamingcuba
(It is not necessary to use a password but recommended if you have one.) 

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Tue, 18 Jan 2022 01:30:47 +0000
Jazz Plaza 2022 Programación



Varios músicos @ la conferencia de prensa (cortesía Pablo Menéndez)

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Fri, 14 Jan 2022 02:03:33 +0000
Jazz Plaza 2022 se acerca JAZZ PLAZA 2022 SE ACERCA /JAZZ PLAZA 2022 APPROACHES


ESPAÑOL:  Debido al resurgimiento de la pandemia alrededor del mundo, parece que esta edición de Jazz Plaza va a tener lugar en forma hibrida con conciertos en las salas mas grandes (y no en pequeños lugares) suplementado por emisiónes en la televisión en Cuba y via StreamingCuba para todo el mundo en Internet.  Es posible ver toda la conferencia de prensa (vale la pena) en la página de StreamingCuba  sin necesidad de tener una cuenta en Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/streamingcuba/videos/328642582504005
StreamingCuba nos informa que van a llevar los conciertos así también. 
El Coloquio Internacional va a contar con muchos temas interesantes, especialmente el aniversario 55 de la OCMM (Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna). 

ENGLISH:  Due to the resurgence of the pandemic around the world, it appears that this edition of Jazz Plaza will take place in hybrid form, with concerts in the very largest halls (and not in smaller venues) supplemented by broadcasts on TV in Cuba and via StreamingCuba for the whole world via Internet.  It is possible (and worth the time) to watch the entire press conference in the page of StreamingCuba without having a Facebook account: 
https://www.facebook.com/streamingcuba/videos/328642582504005
StreamingCuba informs us that they are going to carry the concerts the same way. 
The International Colloquium this year will feature a number of interesting topics including the 55th anniversary of the OCMM (Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna). 

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CONCOVATORIA CUBADISCO 2022 PUBLICADO 
(Fuente:  Página Facebook del Instituto Cubano de la Música) 

ESPAÑOL: La Convocatoria, que cuenta con las bases de Cubadisco 2022, se publicaba hace unos días.  Rezamos que sea un evento físico.  Republicamos el anuncio aquí
ENGLISH:  The Convocatoria, which sets out the bases for Cubadisco 2022, was published a few days ago.  We pray that it can be a physical event.  We republish the snnouncement translated into English here: 

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Thu, 13 Jan 2022 01:09:53 +0000
YISSY GARCIA & BANDANCHA @SABOR A CAFÉ
ENGLISH:
 
  FINALLY, Yissy Garcia brings her own group, Bandancha, to Chicago at Sabor a Café
You can view photos and commentary here. 
ESPAÑOL: POR FIN, Yissy Garcia lleva su propio grupo, Bandancha, a Chicago en Sabor a Café. 
Puedes ver fotos y comentarios aquí. 

In other news, Jane Bunnett and Maqueque are coming to the Jazz Showcase in Chicago next week.  Yissy also plays in that group. 

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Mon, 06 Dec 2021 00:14:25 +0000
Harold López-Nussa: Timba a la Americana Harold López-Nussa will play in Berkeley at Freight & Salvage on Thursday October 28th with his brother Ruy López-Nussa on drums, Luques Curtis on bass, and Grégoire Maret on harmonica.

Here are some of Tom Ehrlich's photos from the last tour:

Harold López-Nussa

Harold & Ruy López-Nussa

Luques Curtis

Here's the full tour:

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Wed, 20 Oct 2021 05:41:51 +0000
Iván "Melón" Lewis nominado al Latin Grammy Los timberos y tmberas del mundo lo concen por el apodo "Melón", pianista cubano que atacó las negras y blancas con agresividad estelar en los '90 con Issac Delgado, entre otros en tarima. Clásicos como Luz viajera, No me mires y la Temática, donde el mundo cybernético conoció a Melón por el famosio concierto grabado por Michael Croy el Día de San Valentín 1997 en La Habana., son temas impulsados por su poderosos montunos y cadencias. 

Hoy estamos felices porque Iván acaba de ser nominado al Latin Grammy 2021 bajo la categoría "Mejor Disco de Latin Jazz" con su más reciente producción titulada "Voyager" (voyager significa viajero). FELICIDADES IVÁN !!

ván "Melón" Lewis nominado al Latin Grammy - Disco de Latin Jazz titulado "Voyager"

SPOTIFY = https://open.spotify.com/album/5Ig5ttcukfLwIFbbfwc5Qe
AMAZON = 
https://www.amazon.com/Voyager-Iv%C3%A1n-Melon-Lewis/dp/B092R88LLT
APPLE MUSiC = https://music.apple.com/us/album/voyager/1563924656

Iván nos comenta: "La música, más allá de una expresión artística, la entiendo como una forma de vida; de ahí que intente vivir en consecuencia. Gracias a ella puedo soñar, pensar, reflexionar, ilusionarme… en definitiva: sentir.  A medida que voy componiendo, descubro como poco a poco los temas van tomando forma a la vez que se define su carácter. Es un momento único y sublime. “Voyager” es la ruta por la que me lleva la música en este momento de mi vida y siento como una necesidad el deseo de compartir este viaje con todos ustedes."

T E M A S
1. 90’s
2. Voyager
3. Rising The Hill (A la memoria de Sue Taylor)
4. El viajero (parte 1)
5. Leo dreams of Makemake
6. Alegrizando
7. Boarding Pass
8. Cantilena
9. Gato
10. Spheramente
11. El último viaje

M Ú S I C O S
Iván Melon Lewis  --  Piano y Teclados
Reinier “Negrón” Elizarde  --  Contrabajo
Georvis Pico  --  Batería excepto en 6 y 8
Shayan Fathi  --  Batería y percusión en 6 y 8
Jorge Vistel  --  Trompeta en 3 y 4
Carlos Sarduy  --  Trompeta en 1, 7 y 10
Román Filiú  --  Saxofón alto en 3, 4, 5 y 7
Ariel Brínguez  --  Saxofón tenor en 1, 7, 9 y 10
Juan Viera  --  Congas y percusión en 1, 3, 4 y 10
Yuvisney Aguilar  --  Percusión en 1, 3, 4 y 9
Marina Lledó  --  Voz en 8
Yadam  --  Voz en 11
Fernando Favier  --  Palmas en 6

I N V I T A D O S   E S P E C I A L E S
Gonzalo Rubalcaba  --  Solo de teclado en “El viajero” 
Jorge Pardo  --  Flauta en “Alegrizando”

A G R A D E C I M I E N T O S
Muchas gracias a mi familia, la de aquí y la de allá. Gracias a todos y cada uno de los músicos, que pusieron más que el alma en cada nota. Sin duda, los mejores compañeros de viaje. Mi agradecimiento especial a Gonzalo Rubalcaba. Solo la perspectiva que nos da el paso del tiempo, me permitirá ser consciente de tu generosidad y grandeza como músico y como ser humano. ¡Gracias Maestro!
Gracias a Javier Monteverde y Cezanne ProduccionesGracias a la Música.

C R É D I T O S
Producido por Iván Melon Lewis.
Grabado por Shayan Fathi y Javier Monteverde en Camaleon Studios Madrid y Estudios Cezanne Producciones.
Mezclado y masterizado: Javier Monteverde en Estudios Cezanne Producciones.
Fotografía: Larisa López y Javier Monteverde
Diseño gráfico: Guillaume Saix.
Todos los temas compuestos por Iván Melon Lewis (excepto “Leo dreams of Makemake” de Román Filiú, “Cantilena” de Marlos Nobre y “Gato” de Alberto Ginastera).

Dedicado a la memoria de Ricardo González Duquesne, mi padre. Mi héroe.


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Wed, 13 Oct 2021 19:11:01 +0000
Monterey Jazz Festival 2021 Day 3 of 3 The final day of the Monterey Jazz Festival featured:

Lilliana de los Reyes, granddaughter of Walfredo de los Reyes

George Benson

The Immanuel Wilkins Quartet

The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra directed by Gerald Clayton

The Christian Sands Group, featuring  Skylar Tang (trumpet)

The Kandace Springs Group

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Mon, 11 Oct 2021 06:05:17 +0000
Monterey Jazz Festival 2021 Day 2 of 3 Saturday featured:

Ledisi & Xavier Lynn

The Giveton Gilen Quartet

Debo Ray & Kassa Overall of Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science

Miho Hazama and m_unit

Legendary Activist/Scholar Angela Davis with Terri Lyne Carrington as Ledisi performs

Following in the tradition of Public Enemy, Carrington used samples of speeches by Angela Davis, Leonard Peltier and others in the song No Justice (For Political Prisoners) from her latest album Waiting Game

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Fri, 08 Oct 2021 05:34:22 +0000
Mundo de Van Van Sunday @ 3:00

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Sun, 03 Oct 2021 04:46:10 +0000
Monterey Jazz Festival 2021 Day 1 of 3 Tom Ehrlich photographed the full festival, back on after last year's Covid cancellation. Friday night featured the Mimi Fox organ trio, Pat Metheny's new group Side-Eye and Herbie Hancock.

Also, tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, trombonist Edmundo Pina will be giving a lecture on the history of Los Van Van at the Mission Community Music Center in San Francisco.

 

 

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Sun, 03 Oct 2021 04:16:51 +0000
The Last SJ Jazz Summerfest Gallery is Posted Click here for Tom Ehrlich's photos from Sunday, August 15th, the closing day of the San José Jazz Summerfest featuring Kurt Elling, Kandace Springs, the Cabanijazz Project, the Motet, Claudia Villela and Christian Sands.

Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter guitar

Kandace Springs vocals and piano, drummer Taylor Moore

Jennifer Hartswick trumpet

Claudia Villela and Romero Lubambo

Omar Ledezma with Cabanijazz Project

Christian Sands piano, Yasushi Nakamura bass and Clarence Penn drums

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Sat, 11 Sep 2021 04:52:42 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's San José Jazz Summerfest Report

Tom Ehrlich was on-hand for the 2021 San José Jazz Festival, featuring legendary rapper/actor Common, Pete Escovedo, Ray Obiedo y Mambo Caribe, Justo Almario, Gonzalo Chomat & Iris Cepeda. Three of the four galleries are up (see New Stuff links at the upper right). Check back soon for Sunday's gallery.

Obiedo's band featured Bay Area stars Michael Spiro, David Belove and Jeff Cressman:

Judith Hill

                      Camile Safiya, Joshua Icban & Anthony Mills Branch of Futurelics

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Wed, 08 Sep 2021 06:12:42 +0000
MUSIC IS IN MOURNING Adalberto Álvarez "El Caballero del Son"Adalberto Álvarez "El Caballero del Son"

ENGLISH: Music is in mourning today with the loss of Adalberto Álvarez, who passed away from complications due to COVID-19. During his 46-year career Adalberto was a leader in defending Cuban son, having an immense infuence not only at home but also in the international music scene. Following the news of his hospitalization, there was an outpouring of love on social media from Cuban and international artists as well as fans wishing him a speedy recovery, and a worldwide prayer chain for his health. Today there has been an outpouring of grief and shock at his passing. Although he is no longer with us physically, his legacy will be with us always. When we have had time to post a more fitting tribut, we will. For now we at Timba.com extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the Cuban people. 

Below we have embedded the video from the celebration of Adalberto's 45 years as an artist. There is no greater memorial than his own music.

ESPAÑOL: La música está de luto hoy por la pérdida de Adalberto Álvarez, quien falleció por complicaciones a causa del COVID-19. Durante sus 46 años de carrera, Adalberto fue un líder en la defensa del son cubano, teniendo una inmensa influencia no solo en Cuba sino también en la escena musical internacional. Tras la noticia de su hospitalización, hubo una efusión de amor en las redes sociales de artistas cubanos e internacionales, así como de fanáticos que le deseaban una pronta recuperación y una cadena de oración mundial por su salud. Hoy ha habido un torrente de dolor y conmoción por su fallecimiento. Aunque ya no está físicamente con nosotros, su legado siempre quedará con nosotros. Cuando hayamos tenido tiempo de publicar un tributo más apropiado, lo haremos. Por ahora desde Timba.com hacemos llegar nuestro más sentido pésame a su familia, amigos, colegas y al pueblo cubano.

A continuación incluimos el video de la celebración de los 45 años de Adalberto como artista. No hay mayor memorial que su propia música. 

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Wed, 01 Sep 2021 21:30:34 +0000
CD Review - Se llama sabroso
ENGLISH:  Se llama sabroso (They call it tasty) by Zona Franka is an exciting blend of Cuban and other Latin American music with modern urban music - a style they alternately call "changüi con flow" and "changüi de hoy".  Since two of us here at TIMBA.com (Michael Lazarus and Bill Tilford) believed enough in the music to get personally involved with the project (Omara Portuondo was also intrigued enough to make a guest appearance on the album in 20 años), we are publishing a review by Mildred Gloria Aguilar Díaz originally written for Radio Cadena Habana.  As you will read, it is a more heartfelt description than anything we might have written ourselves.   You can read that review in English here...
ESPAÑOL: Se llama sabroso de Zona Franka es una mezcla emocionante de música cubana y latinoamericana con música urbana moderna, un estilo que alternativamente llaman "changüi con flow" y "changüi de hoy". Dado que dos de nosotros aquí en TIMBA.com (Michael Lazarus y Bill Tilford) creímos lo suficiente en la música como para involucrarnos personalmente en el proyecto (Omara Portuondo también estaba lo suficientemente intrigada tambíen como para aparecer como invitada en el álbum en 20 años), publicamos una reseña por Mildred Gloria Aguilar Díaz escrita originalmente para Radio Cadena Habana. Como leerá, es una descripción más sincera que cualquier cosa que pudiéramos haber escrito nosotros mismos. Puede leer esa reseña en español aquí ...

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Mon, 26 Jul 2021 00:20:41 +0000
Lily La Amazona Del Sabor

ENGLISH: Attention Miami! Tonight at Porto Alegre Brazilian Grill De la 27 at 10 pm kick-start your weekend with live timba by Lily La Amazona Del Sabor & Orquesta with Calixto Oviedo on drums. The cover is $15. Check out Lily's Facebook page for more information and to keep up with all of her performances. You can catch also Lily and Calixto with the Afro Cuban Jazz Trio every Saturday at The Globe Coral Gables.

ESPAÑOL: ¡Atención Miami! Esta noche en Porto Alegre Brazilian Grill De la 27 a las 10 pm comience su fin de semana con la timba en vivo de Lily La Amazona Del Sabor & Orquesta con Calixto Oviedo en la batería. La tapa cuesta $15. Visite la página de Facebook de Lily para obtener más información y mantenerse al día con todas sus actuaciones. También puede ver a Lily y Calixto con el Afro Cuban Jazz Trio todos los sábados en The Globe Coral Gables.

Lily La Amazona del Sabor

Calixto Oviedo

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Fri, 04 Jun 2021 14:08:33 +0000
Our Cubadisco 2020-2021 Coverage Begins ENGLISH:  As promised, our special coverage of Cubadisco 2020-2021, a virtual event, begins today. Although our Bill Tilford cannot be there physically due to the pandemic, he is watching as much of it as can be seen over the Internet and will have commentaries each day during the event beginning today.  You can follow our special section here for the most comprehensive coverage you will see outside of Cuba. 
Bill also hosts the weekly radio program From the Isle of Music which will be featuring music by the nominees and winners (including interviews some weeks) beginning May 16. 

ESPAÑOL: Como prometimos, hoy comienza nuestra cobertura especial de Cubadisco 2020-2021, un evento virtual. Aunque nuestro Bill Tilford no puede estar físicamente allí debido a la pandemia, está observando todo lo que se puede ver en Internet y tendrá comentarios todos los días durante el evento que comienza hoy. Puede seguir nuestra sección especial aquí para obtener la cobertura más completa que verá fuera de Cuba.
Bill también presenta el programa de radio semanal From the Isle of Music, que contará con música de los nominados y ganadores (incluidas entrevistas algunas semanas) a partir del 16 de mayo.

ENGLISH:  For those who love Cuban jazz, Zule Guerra gave a beautiful presentation of music from her album El Viaje this afternoon.  It was not an official Cubadisco event, but her album was nominated in Cubadisco. You can (and should) watch it on her Facebook page
ESPAÑOL: Para los amantes del jazz cubano, Zule Guerra brindó esta tarde una hermosa presentación de la música de su disco El Viaje. No fue un evento oficial de Cubadisco, pero su disco fue nominado en Cubadisco. Puede (y debe) verlo en su página Facebook.

 

 

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Sun, 16 May 2021 00:13:27 +0000
CUBADISCO 2020-2021 BEGINS MAY 15

ENGLISH:  Cubadisco 2020-2021 begins May 15 and continues until May 23.  This weekend, we will begin a special section dedicated to the event, which is virtual this year.   In Cuba, Canal Clave will be televising the event beginning at 9am Saturday the 15th, and although Clave cannot yet be viewed directly over the Internet (our friends in Cuba may consider that a suggestion),  we have been advised that at least some parts of the event will also be carried via social media.   We will let you know more as we know.  

ESPAÑOL: Cubadisco 2020-2021 comienza el 15 de mayo y continúa hasta el 23 de mayo. Este fin de semana, comenzaremos una sección especial dedicada al evento, que es virtual este año. En Cuba, Canal Clave televisará el evento a partir de las 9 a.m. del sábado 15, y aunque Clave todavía no se puede ver directamente a través de Internet (nuestros amigos en Cuba pueden considerar eso una sugerencia), se nos ha informado que al menos algunas partes de el evento también se realizarán a través de las redes sociales. Le haremos saber más a medida que lo sepamos.

ENGLISH: In the meantime, May 14 brings us the first edition of Suena A Cuba, a virtual gathering of record collectors and music lovers. This writer had the pleasure of physically attending a predecessor event a few years ago, and this should be fun even without the rum and the physical contact.  This will be carried in Facebook Live here
ESPAÑOL: Mientras tanto, el 14 de mayo nos trae la primera edición de Suena A Cuba, un encuentro virtual de coleccionistas de discos y melómanos. Este escritor tuvo el placer de asistir físicamente a un evento semejante hace unos pocos años, y esto debe ser divertido incluso sin el ron y el contacto físico. Se lo llevará a cabo en Facebook Live aquí.  

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Thu, 13 May 2021 19:13:33 +0000
CUBADISCO 2020-2021 NOMINEES ANNOUNCED
ENGLISH:  The nominees in Cubadisco 2020-2021, Cuba's most important awards for its artists in the recording industry in Cuba and abroad, were announced in a televised press conference on April 23, 2021. The years 2020 and 2021 were combined due to the COVID 19 - related postponement of Cubadisco 2020, with approximately 380 recordings being considered in this consolidated edition.

The list of nominees, which you can read here, is very impressive, especially when one considers the adverse conditions imposed by the pandemic for recordings made during most of 2020. 
You can watch the press conference (en español) on the Facebook page of the Instituto Cubano de la Música here.  There is also a dedicated page for Cubadisco 2020-2021, which you can find here.

Although the pandemic prevents us from going to Havana right now, TIMBA.com will do what it can to help provide relevant coverage of this edition.  Two of the team, Michael Lazarus and Bill Tilford, have reasons to be especially happy this year as they participated in the production of one of the nominees (Vivencias en clave cubana by Kiki Valera featuring Coco Freeman, a nominee in the category De la Tradición Sonera).

ESPAÑOL: Los nominados en Cubadisco 2020-2021, los premios más importantes de Cuba para sus artistas en la industria discográfica en Cuba y en el exterior, fueron anunciados en una conferencia de prensa televisada en el 23 abril de 2021. Los años 2020 y 2021 se combinaron debido al COVID 19 aplazamiento relacionado de Cubadisco 2020, con aproximadamente 380 grabaciones consideradas en esta edición consolidada.

La lista de nominados, que puede leer aquí, es muy impresionante, sobre todo si se tienen en cuenta las condiciones adversas que impuso la pandemia a las grabaciones realizadas durante la mayor parte de 2020.

Puede ver la conferencia de prensa (en español) en la página Facebook del Instituto Cubano de la Música aquí. También hay una página dedicada a Cubadisco 2020-2021, que puede encontrar aquí.

Aunque la pandemia nos impide ir a La Habana en este momento, TIMBA.com hará todo lo posible para ayudar a brindar una cobertura relevante de esta edición. Dos del equipo, Michael Lazarus y Bill Tilford, tienen motivos para estar especialmente felices este año ya que  participaron en la producción de uno de los nominados (Vivencias en clave cubana por Kiki Valera con Coco Freeman, un nominado en la categoria De la Tradición Sonera).

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Sat, 24 Apr 2021 09:59:01 +0000
IV FESTIVAL MATANZAS JAZZ ONLINE!

ENGLISH:  The 4th Matanzas Jazz Festival will be presented online with a very impressive roster of performers and presenters from April 29 - May 2, 2021. You can read all the details shared by the Organizing Committee (special thanks to its Vice President, Alejandro Falcón), here.
Closer to the date we will provide the appropriate  links for viewing. 
ESPAÑOL: El IV Festival de Jazz de Matanzas se presentará en línea con una lista de artistas y presentadores muy impresionante del 29 de abril al 2 de mayo de 2021. Puede leer todos los detalles compartidos por el Comité Organizador (agradecimiento especial a su Vicepresidente, Alejandro Falcón), aquí.
Más cerca de la fecha, proporcionaremos los enlaces aproppiados para su visualización. 


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Thu, 22 Apr 2021 23:51:50 +0000
Signs of Life in the City of Angels Dayme Arocena, Kati Hernández, & Melvis Santa

LIVE - ONLINE
KATI HERNÁNDEZ's CUBAN MUSIC & DANCE PROGRAM
Saturday & Sunday, April 10 & 11, 2021

 

DAYMÉ AROCENA, and MELVIS SANTA will be featured live on line this weekend in two different classes, thanks to Los Angeles-based Cuban dancer Kati Hernández, director of Kimbámbula dance ensemble, and the power behind a series of on line Cuban dance and music classes that has been dubbed by a growing number of students around the globe as a "virtual university of Cuban arts!"

DAYMÉ AROCENA, composer singer, arranger, internationally feted jazz artist, will be speaking  on Saturday, April 10 at 12:45 pm (Pacific Time) to the Con Clave: Musicality for Dancers class, a class that incidentally, and understandably, has attracted as many musicians as dancers over this last year.

MELVIS SANTA, musician, song writer, singer (Interactivo, Sexto Sentido...) has become a regular bright spot in Kati's program speaking to and leading lectures on Cuban music in the Musicality for Dancers class, as well as periodically teaching Afro Cuban song. This Sunday, April 11 at 11 am (Pacific Time) Melvis will be leading the Afro Cuban song class.

To sign up for these special guest classes ($15/class), as wel as Kati's dance classes, and to peruse the over 60 classes/month that Kati's program offers (including not only musicality, for dancers, Afro Cuban song, popular and Afro Cuban dance classes, but percussion workshops as well), visit www.katicubandanceonline.com.
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Watch for Curuye LA's upcoming interview with Kati Hernández

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Sat, 10 Apr 2021 04:59:08 +0000
R.I.P. Hugo Morejón 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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Sat, 20 Mar 2021 21:29:35 +0000
¡¡ ESTRENO MUNDIAL !! - ¡¡ WORLD PREMIER !! -English version below the music player-
-More info, full artwork and credits to follow in upcoming posts-

ESPAÑOL: SE LLAMA SABROSO de Zona Franka (una zona franca es un puerto libre de impuestos) es una presentación emocionante de un estilo llamado changüí con flow (a veces conocido también como changüí de hoy), una fusión del changüí rural tradicional con el rap y varios estilos de la música cubana y de las Américas. No se puede exagerar la importancia del Changüí en el ADN de la música cubana moderna, entre otras cosas donó algunos cromosomas esenciales a lo que se convirtió en songo, que luego, mezclado con la rumba y otras influencias, evolucionó a la timba. Changüí con flow es otro de sus descendientes.

La mayoría de las canciones en este álbum son clásicos cubanos reinventados con nuevos e innovadores arreglos. ¿Quién hubiera pensado que Dos gardenias funcionaría realmente bien como samba con changüí?

Una versión anterior del grupo existía como Zona Franca ya en 2001 en Guantánamo, la cuna del changüí, pero fue en 2014 cuando Yasser Edén asume la dirección, a partir de ese momento la personalidad musical del grupo comenzó a tomar su forma actual. El lanzamiento independiente del fonograma Changüí de Hoy fue nominado al premio Cubadisco (el equivalente cubano de un GRAMMY®) en 2014 en la categoría Fusión. Dos de sus competidores ese año fueron Interactivo y Telmary, aunque sus estilos son bastante distintos, los fanáticos de los primeros trabajos de Interactivo encontrarán mucho que gustar en este disco. En 2020 cambiaron formalmente su nombre a Zona Franka.

Manejar la transición de cantar a rapear y viceversa es más difícil de lo que parece; si no se hace con un dominio total de ambos, puede sonar casi como si alguien estuviera jugando con el control remoto de la televisión, Zona Franka hace esto a la perfección. Los anclas del grupo son Yasser Edén y Carlos Scott en las voces, juntos con una sección rítmica formidable que se mantiene fiel a su base en Changüí, incluso mientras se aventura en otros estilos. Una característica distintiva de esa sección rítmica es el uso del bongó de monte. Mientras escucha, también disfrutará de algunas infusiones de samba, cumbia vallenata, jazz y elementos flamencos en la mezcla.

Los audiófilos apreciarán los altos valores de producción de este disco, una característica que es de vital importancia para la sección rítmica de este estilo.

-- Bill Tilford of TIMBA.com & From the Isle of Music

ENGLISH: SE LLAMA SABROSO (They Call it Tasty) by Zona Franka (a zona franca is a duty-free port) is an exciting introduction of a style called "Changüí con flow", a fusion of traditional rural changüí with rap and other urban Cuban music. As the name of the group implies, various musical styles from around the Americas are also featured. The songs are Cuban classics re-imagined in fresh, clever and innovative new arrangements that far differ from the original versions.

Changüí's importance in the DNA of modern Cuban music cannot be exaggerated, among other things, it donated some essential chromosomes to what became songo, which later, mixed with rumba and other influences, evolved into timba. Changüí con flow is another one of its descendants.

Managing the transition from singing to rapping and back again is harder than it may seem - if not done with a full mastery of both it can sound almost as if someone has being playing with the remote control for the television. Zona Franka does this seamlessly. The anchors of the group are Yasser Eden and Carlos Hernández on vocals along with a formidable rhythm section that stays true to its grounding in changüi even while venturing into other styles. As you listen, you will also enjoy some infusions of samba, cumbia vallenata, jazz and flamenco elements in the mix.

Audiophiles will appreciate the high production values in this disc, a feature which is critically important for the rhythm section in this style.

A previous version of the group existed as Zona Franca as early as 2001 in Guantánamo, the cradle of changüí, but it was in 2014, when Yasser Eden became director, that the group's current musical personality began to take shape. Their independent release Changüí de Hoy was nominated for a Cubadisco (Cuba's equivalent of a GRAMMY®) in 2014 in the Fusion category. Two of their competitors that year were Interactivo and Telmary, and although their styles are quite distinct, fans of Interactivo's early work will find much to like in this disc. In 2020, they formally changed their name to Zona Franka. They have attained sufficient respect among their peers to convince the legendary Omara Portuondo to make a cameo appearance in this recording.

-- Bill Tilford of TIMBA.com & From the Isle of Music

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Mon, 08 Mar 2021 00:30:20 +0000
JAZZ PLAZA 2021: EPILOGUE

ENGLISH: There are some aspects of the physical version of Jazz Plaza that cannot be captured online- the  wonderful energy between audiences and performers during live concerts and the cameraderie among jazz musicians from all over the world that one experiences afterwards  in late-night jam sessions in hotels and small clubs for example.  Nevertheless, there are several reasons why the on-line version was worthwhile:  
1.  The on-line concerts were excellent.   Many of these are archived on the Ministry of Culture of Cuba YouTube channel and are worth watching. 
2.  This is probably the first time that people who did not physically attend were able to experience the Coloquio Internacional, an excellent series of discussions, documentaries and master classes. Most of that is also archived on the Ministry of Culture of Cuba YouTube channel.  One of the many highlights is an excellent documentary about the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna. 
For those who use Facebook, a Festival Jazz Plaza Facebook page and the Streaming Cuba Facebook page also have many of the videos. 
3.  Chicago-based HotHouse curated and streamed HotHouse Meets Havana, in which many of the Chicago concert segments were by members of the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians), which added an element of the avant garde to the proceedings. Kudos to Hothouse for introducing viewers in Cuba to Chicago's avant garde scene and for introducing international viewers who might not have otherwise watched some of the Cuban concerts to that material. If any AACM members are reading these lines, I would like to suggest pulbicly that encounters, either virtual or physical, between AACM members and young artists in Cuba's experimental jazz community such as Delvis Ponce, Marcos Morales, Michel Herrera and Yasek Manzano could yield interesting results. 
While this writer very much hopes to return to a physical edition of Jazz Plaza, he also hopes that some form is video transmission of the best of the best, both of the concerts and the Colloquio, can be continued.  It would not be necessary to attempt to do this in real time - one could decide which recordings to share after the festival.  The important thing is that the best material be presented to the world from both aspects of the festival.  

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
1.  The website D'Cuba Jazz by jazz journalist Jose Dos Santos is the best website anywhere about jazz in Cuba.   It also has a Facebook page
2.  Radio station CMBF has La Equina del Jazz Monday-Friday nights from 11pm-12am Eastern US Time.  You can listen to it on their website. 
3.  Radio Havana Cuba's English language shortwave service has The Jazz Place every other Saturday night in rotation with Music With A Message.  You can find more information on the RHC website.   Most of the broadcasts are also archived for a short period on Tunein.com
4. This writer's shortwave radio program From the Isle of Music also frequently features Cuban jazz recordings, often with interviews with the artists.   More information can be found on the From the Isle of Music Facebook page. 


un ejemplo de los muchos conciertos excelentes

ESPAÑOL: Hay algunos aspectos de la versión física de Jazz Plaza que no se pueden capturar en línea: la maravillosa energía entre el público y los artistas durante los conciertos en vivo y la cámaradería entre los jazzistas de todo el mundo que se experimenta después en las sesiones de improvisación nocturnas en hoteles y pequeños clubes, por ejemplo. Sin embargo, hay varias razones por las que la versión online ha valido la pena:
1.  Los conciertos en linea fueron excelentes.  Muchos de ellos ya están disponibles en el canal YouTube del Ministerio de Cultura de Cuba. 
2. Es probablemente la primera vez que los no capaces de asistir físicamente fueron capaces de experimentar el Coloquió Internacional, una serie excelente de paneles, documentales y clases magistrales. Disponisble también en su mayoria en el canal YouTube del Ministerio de Cultura de Cuba 
Para los que tienen Facebook, hay también una página del Festival Jazz Plaza  y de Streaming Cuba 
3. HotHouse, con sede en Chicago, seleccionó y transmitió HotHouse Meets Havana, en el que muchos de los segmentos de conciertos desde Chicago fueron realizados por miembros de la AACM (Asociación para el Avance de Músicos Creativos), que agregó un elemento de "avant garde" a los procedimientos. Felicitaciones a Hothouse por presentar a los espectadores en Cuba la escena de "avant garde" de Chicago y por presentar ese material a los espectadores internacionales que de otra manera no habrían visto algunos de los conciertos cubanos. Si algún miembro de la AACM está leyendo estas líneas, me gustaría sugerir pulbicamente que los encuentros, ya sean virtuales o físicos, entre miembros de la AACM y artistas jóvenes de la comunidad de jazz experimental de Cuba como Delvis Ponce, Marcos Morales, Michel Herrera y Yasek Manzano podrían lograr resultados interesantes.
Si bien este escritor tiene muchas esperanzas de volver a una edición física de Jazz Plaza, también espera que alguna forma de transmisión en video de lo mejor de lo mejor, tanto de los conciertos como del Coloquio, pueda continuar. No sería necesario intentar hacer esto en tiempo real; se podría decidir qué partes valen la pena compartir después del festival. Lo importante es que se presente al mundo el mejor material de ambos aspectos del festival.

RECURSOS ADICIONALES: 
1. El sitio web  D'Cuba Jazz de José Dos Santos es el mejor sitio sobre jazz en Cuba en todo el Internet.  También tiene una página Facebook
2.  La emisora CMBF transmite La Esquina del Jazz lunes-viernes 11pm-12pm, escuchable en linea en vivo en su sitio web.  
3.  El servicio inglés de Radio Habana Cuba en onda corta ofrece The Jazz Place cada otro sábado (alternando con Music With a Message).  Más informacion en su sitio web.
4.  El programa en onda corta de este escritor, From The Isle of Music, ofrece grabaciones de jazz cubano frecuentemente, a veces con entrevistas a los artistas.  Más información está disponible en la página Facebook del programa.  

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Sun, 31 Jan 2021 17:38:14 +0000
A PIECE OF JAZZ PLAZA, 1ST DAY ENGLISH:  Jazz Plaza and the International Jazz Colloquium are both being carried on line this year due to the COVID-19 situation.  The sessions are also being archived on line.   The two best places to watch for the daytime sessions are the Ministry of Culture's YouTube page and the Streaming Cuba Facebook page.  Between them, you can capture most of the festival (remember also that HotHouse.net is streaming HotHouse Meets Havana beginning the 21st).  Here are three pieces of the first day to whet your appetite to go watch the rest of it: 
INGLÉS: Jazz Plaza y el Coloquio Internacional de Jazz se están transmitiendo este año en linea debido a la situación del COVID-19. Las sesiones también se están archivando en línea. Los dos sitios  mejores para observar las sesiones diurnas son la página de YouTube del Ministerio de Cultura y la página Facebook de Streaming Cuba. Entre ellos, puede capturar la mayor parte del festival (recuerde también que HotHouse.net estará transmitiendo HotHouse Meets Havana a partir del  21). Aquí hay tres partes del primer día para abrir el apetito a ver el resto:

I.  Opening session, Coloquio Internacional del Jazz Leonardo Acosta en Memoriam: 



II. Concert presentation, Ruy López-Nussa y La Academia:



III:  Concert Session:  Alejandro Falcón Homenaje a Los Muñequitos de Matanzas:

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Wed, 20 Jan 2021 12:28:58 +0000
LEON ALLEN, JESSE CHARBONIER & CUBA In addition to the many Chicago-based musicians that you will encounter in connection with this year's Jazz Plaza, there are additional musicians in the windy city that have performed in Cuba and with Cuban musicians touring in the US.  Here we introduce you to two of them:
1. Leon Allen has performed with several Cuban bands including Manolito Simonet y Su Trabuco, Bamboleo, Hermanos Avilés, Cimafunk and others.  Here he discusses his experiences in a 2020 Skype conversation with Bill Tilford:



2. Singer and filmmaker Jesse Charbonier performed at the Teatro America in Havana during the 2020 edition of Jazz Plaza.  Here his discusses that experience and future plans in a 2020 Skype conversation with Bill Tilford:



Jesse graciously shared three stills from his Jazz Plaza performance:



His video Black Is The Color is here:



Finally, a live clip from his performance in Havana:

If you are watching this year's Jazz Plaza on line (and we hope you are), you will encounter many other Chicago musicians in connection with this year's festival. 

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Tue, 19 Jan 2021 04:37:13 +0000
PROGRAMACIÓN JAZZ PLAZA Y EL COLOQUIO Por primera vez se transmitirá todo el Festival (incl el Coloquio) en linea. 
Además de las transmisiones por la cadena cubana, HotHouse va a llevar HotHouse Meets Havana como publicado previamente.

Toda la programación está disponible  AQUÍ

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Mon, 18 Jan 2021 23:53:43 +0000
JAZZ PLAZA PROGRAMACIÓN PARA EL 19 DE ENERO Es la primera vez que se puede ver el Coloquio en Internet: 

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Sun, 17 Jan 2021 12:38:56 +0000
JAZZ PLAZA UPDATE ENGLISH:  The live performances in venues for the 36th Jazz Plaza (January 21-24)  and the 16th International Colloquium have been canceled due to the COVID-19 situation in Havana, but prerecorded sessions of both concerts and the Colloquium will be broadcast in Cuba, and Hothouse, a Chicago-based not for profit that was a partner in events streamed from Cuba last year, will be streaming interesting events each night in its "Hothouse Meets Havana" series. This will feature prominent jazzistas from both Cuba and the United States.  The daily program and additional details follow below.  
ESPAÑOL: Las presentaciones en vivo en las sedes del 36 ° Jazz Plaza (21-24 de enero) y el XVI Coloquio Internacional han sido canceladas debido a la situación del COVID-19 en La Habana, pero las sesiones pregrabadas de  conciertos y el Coloquio serán transmitidas en Cuba , y Hothouse, una organización sin fines de lucro con sede en Chicago que produjo y facilitó eventos transmitidos desde Cuba el año pasado, transmitirá eventos interesantes cada noche en su serie "Hothouse Meets Havana". Este evento contará con destacados jazzistas tanto de Cuba como de Estados Unidos. El programa diario y detalles adicionales se muestran a continuación.

SCHEDULE/PROGRAMA DIARIO

I.  21 January, 7pm CST (Host:  Jazz Critic Larry Blumenfeld
Roscoe Mitchell (US)
Harold López-Nussa (Cuba)
Hamid Drake & Michael Zerang (US)

II. 22 January, 7pm CST (Host: Richton Thomas)
Michel Herrera (Cuba)
Ari Brown, Yosef Ben-Israel & Charles Heath (US)
Coco Elysses, Alexis Lombre & Ivan Taylor (US) 
Frank Fernández (Cuba)

III. 23 January, 7pm CST (Host: Mark Ruffin)
James Sanders & Leandro López  Várady (US)
Roberto Fonseca (Cuba)
Ben La Mar Gay, Mike Reed & Mayda Del Valle (US)
Orlando "Maraca" Valle (Cuba)

IV. 24 January, 7pm CST (Host: Richard Steele)
Ruy López-Nussa (Cuba)
Tomeka Reid & Junius Paul (US)
Edward Wilkerson, Jamie Kempkers & Jim Baker (US)
Alejandro Falcón (Cuba)

Tickets are free but with suggested donation $25/night or $75 all nights.  For tickets and more information, visit Hothouse.net
Entradas gratis pero con donación sugerida de $25/noche o $75 para todo.Para boletos y más información visite Hothouse.net

Hothouse precedes the presentations above with a free January 18th presentation and roundtable (Cuba:  The Conversation Continues), more details on the Hothouse website.
Además, HotHouse organiza una presentación gratuita del Día de Martin Luther King y una mesa redonda (Cuba, La Conversación Continúa) el 18 de enero a partir de las 7 p.m. 

More next week / más la semana que viene

 

 

 

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Fri, 15 Jan 2021 02:18:00 +0000
HOTHOUSE TO LIVESTREAM JAZZ PLAZA SESSIONS ENGLISH: Chicago-based not for profit HotHouse, which has presented several events related to Cuban music for many years including livestreaming support for two earlier virtual concerts from Cuba this year, will be livestreaming sessions from Jazz Plaza, which will be essentially a virtual event, this year due to COVID. This will be the first time that sessions from the festival will be livestreamed beyond Cuba. This will be presented on the streaming platform HotHouseGlobal January 21-24. Tickets and more details are now available at Hothouse.net 

ESPAÑOL:  HotHouse, una organización sin fines de lucro con sede en Chicago, que ha presentado varios eventos relacionados con la música cubana hace muchos años, incluido el soporte de transmisión en vivo via Internet para dos conciertos virtuales anteriores de Cuba este año, contará con sesiones de transmisión en vivo via Internet desde Jazz Plaza, que será esencialmente un evento virtual esta años debido al COVID,. Será la primera vez que sesiones del festival se transmitirán en vivo más allá de Cuba. Se presentará en la plataforma de HotHouseGlobal del 21 al 24 de enero. Los boletos y más detalles ya están disponibles en Hothouse.net


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Sun, 20 Dec 2020 22:58:38 +0000
Cuban Music Videos on US Television
It's not PBS, but thanks to the internet, it doesn't have to be...
Toni Basanta, an immigrant to Vermont from Cuba, where he had been involved in various aspects of the music and broadcasting sectors, hosts a television program there, the Havana Fairfax Connection, which frequently features fine Cuban music videos as well as some US music videos  (he also has a radio program, The Cuban Bridge, which is currently on a COVID-related hiatus).
During December, every day of the month at 12 Noon Eastern Standard Time, the Havana Fairfax Connection will be playing music videos. The dates which have Cuban music videos are listed below. Worth watching if you are able. If you can't do it at broadcast time, these are also archived on the station's website. 

HAVANA FAIRFAX CONNECTION episodes @ LCATV Channel 1075 
LCATV means Lake Champlain Access Television  
http://lcatv.org/havana-fairfax-connection 

Dec 2nd  Lázaro Moisés Valdés and Bamboleo (Ep.59)
Dec 4th Juan Formell y Los Van Van featuring Havana Queen Dancers  (Ep.7)  
Dec 8th  Kono with Oscar Valdés II & Diákara Group (Ep.72 / AfroCuban Jazz @ its Best w versions of Chano, Dizzy, Coltrane, ... )  
Dec 9th  Argelia Fragoso w Havana Jazz Quintet and Camerata del Son (Ep. 26 / The Golden Voice of Cuba)
Dec 12th Feliciano Arango "Bass on Cuban Timba"  (Ep. 63) 
Dec 14th Ruy López-Nussa y La Academia (Ep. 56)
Dec 16th Canela Group (Ep. 52) 
Dec 19th  Pablo Menéndez y Mezcla with The Cuban Jazz All-Stars (Ep. 44) 
Dec 21st  Dúo Buena Fe  "Cuban Rock y Nueva Trova"  (Ep. 3)
Dec 23rd  Ivette Cepeda y Grupo Reflexión Live in France (Ep.19)  
Dec 24th  Jesús Fuentes feat. Canela Group (Ep. 58) 
Dec 29th  Yumurí y sus Hermanos Live in Havana (Ep. 70) 
Dec 30th  Hilario Durán Big Band Live in Toronto (Ep. 10)

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Tue, 01 Dec 2020 02:22:50 +0000
DANDO LA HORA GOLD EDITION Dando La Hora 30th Anniversary Gold Edition

ENGLISH: Issac Delgado is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his orchestra with the  remastered re-release of his first solo album, "Dando La Hora". The 2020 mastering was done by Livan Mesa and Yorgis Goiricelaya. Tracks 1,2,3,5,6, and 8 also include the trombones recorded in 2001 by Amaury Pérez (arr. by Juan Manuel Ceruto) that replaced the original sampled horns. "Dando La Hora" the Gold Edition is available now on the usual digital sites.

ESPAÑOL: Issac Delgado celebra el 30 aniversario de su orquesta con la reedición remasterizada de su primer disco en solitario, "Dando La Hora". La masterización de 2020 estuvo a cargo de Livan Mesa y Yorgis Goiricelaya. Las pistas 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 y 8 también incluyen los trombones grabados en 2001 por Amaury Pérez (arreglo de Juan Manuel Ceruto) que reemplazaron a los metales sampleados originales. "Dando La Hora" Gold Edition ya está disponible en los sitios digitales habituales.

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Fri, 13 Nov 2020 16:36:08 +0000
World Premier - Zombi Mambo! For Halloween 2020, the award-winning orchestra, Timberos del Norte, is releasing a single from their upcoming second album -- simply entitled "2!" -- due out this December 2020. "Zombi Mambo" belongs on your Halloween playlist and it is available on on Spotify, Apple, Amazon etc. Timberos del Norte 2! - Coming Soon - December 2020 only at Timberos.com.

Check out the world premier of their killer animated video here:

Drums: Carmelo Torres
Percussion: Reinhardt Melz
Trombones: Raul Vallejo
Trumpets: Eric Upchurch
Vocals: CJ Edwards (Shorti C) (Christopher Edwards)
Vocals: Monica Salas
Vocals: Tito Cuba (Ernesto Duffus)
Bass: Ben Bradshaw
Piano: Mr. Pauly
Produced by Paul Matthews
Mastering: Michael Lazarus of www.latinmusicmastering.com

World Premier - Zombi Mambo! - Happy Halloween from los Timberos del Norte

World Premier - Zombi Mambo! - Happy Halloween from los Timberos del Norte

World Premier - Zombi Mambo! - Happy Halloween from los Timberos del Norte

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Mon, 26 Oct 2020 02:34:13 +0000
HAVANA D'PRIMERA MATINEE Havana D'Primera Matinee

ENGLISH: It's been far too long since we have been able to enjoy a Tuesday matinée by Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera at Casa de La Música Miramar. But tomorrow at 4:30pm Havana time, thanks to a collaboration with Canal Clave, fans can enjoy a matinée performance over Canal Clave's channel and Havana D'Primera's YouTube, Facebook and Instagram platforms. Click here for more information about tomorrow's event. If you haven't done it yet, subscribe to Havana D'Primera's YouTube channel and follow them at the Official Havana D'Primera Facebook page and on Instagram.

In other news, Havana D'Primera is about to release a tribute album to classic 90s Timba. While it may be a walk down memory lane for some of us, it will also bring some of the great timba anthems to the attention of the younger generation that missed out on the heady days of the late 1990s. The album contains 20 songs (see below) and is a co-production of Abdala and Páfata and by all accounts will be released imminently. In the meantime, set your alarm for tomorrow's matinée, which will be at 22:30 here in Central Europe. I'll see you online.

ESPAÑOL: Ha pasado demasiado tiempo desde que pudimos disfrutar de una matinée de martes de Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera en Casa de La Música de Miramar. Pero mañana a las 4:30 pm hora de La Habana, gracias a una colaboración con Canal Clave, los fanáticos podrán disfrutar de una matinée en el canal de Canal Clave y las plataformas de YouTube, Facebook e Instagram de Havana D'Primera. Haz clic aquí para más información sobre el evento de mañana. Si aún no lo ha hecho, suscríbate al canal de YouTube de Havana D'Primera y síguelos en la página oficial de Facebook de Havana D'Primera y en Instagram.

En otras noticias, Havana D'Primera está a punto de lanzar un disco homenaje a la timba clásica de los 90. Si bien puede ser un paseo por el camino de la memoria para algunos de nosotros, también traerá algunos de los grandes himnos de la timba a la atención de la generación más joven que se perdió los embriagadores días de finales de los noventa. El álbum contiene 20 canciones (ve abajo) y es una coproducción de Abdala y Páfata y por todas las cuentas será lanzado de manera inminente. Mientras tanto, pon tu alarma para la matinée de mañana, que será a las 22:30 aquí en Europa Central. Te veré online

Havana D'Primera Será que se acabó coming soon

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Mon, 12 Oct 2020 17:33:44 +0000
INTERVIEW WITH JULIO BENITEZ

ENGLISH: I just finished watching Episode 4 of the Cuban Hits Music program on the MB Record YouTube channel. If you haven't seen this new Cuban music program yet, you're in for a treat! The pandemic has shut down concert venues, put an end to tours in 2020, and stopped international travel, leaving Cuban music fans without the contact that we previously enjoyed with our favorite bands. As we have mentioned in other posts, social media such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube have allowed some contact between artists and fans, and Maykel Blanco and MB Record are no exception, but they've taken it one step beyond the live concert streams or live chats. They have created a new Cuban music show. I spoke with Julio Benítez from MB Record about the program.

Julio: We wanted to make a very dynamic program, very entertaining, a showy, colorful program, a program where the interview clip didn't last long, just about a minute, although the same interview could be spread over various parts of the program. So we have already released three episodes. The fourth  comes out on October 4. We've seen that people have liked it, they have identified with the program and that fills us with great pride because it really is what we want, that people know about the directors, meet singers and orchestras of popular dance music.

The show also has different sections, among these are El Lente Curioso about things that are happening, the artists who are recording. It also has a Top 15 of dance music from what is being played on the social media. It has contests where we are giving away two tickets to the Festival de la Salsa. It is a very varied and dynamic program that I think people like.

Click here to read the full interview with Julio where he talks more about the origins and development of Cuban Hits Music. To keep up with the latest don't forget to follow MB Record at Facebook.

Julio Benítez of MB Record

ESPAÑOL: Acabo de terminar de ver el episodio 4 del programa Cuban Hits Music en el canal de  MB Record en YouTube. Si aún no has visto este nuevo programa de música cubana, ¡te espera un regalo! La pandemia ha cerrado salas de conciertos, puso fin a las giras en 2020 y detuvo los viajes internacionales, dejando a los fanáticos de la música cubana sin el contacto que antes disfrutamos con nuestras bandas favoritas. Como mencionamos en otras publicaciones, las redes sociales como Facebook, Instagram y YouTube han permitido cierto contacto entre artistas y fanáticos, y Maykel Blanco  y MB Record no son una excepción, pero han ido un paso más allá de las transmisiones de conciertos o chats en vivo. Han creado un nuevo espectáculo de música cubana. Hablé con Julio Benítez de MB Record sobre el programa.

Julio:  Quisimos hacer un programa bien dinámico, bien ameno un programa vistoso, colorido, un programa que las entrevistas no duraron mucho tiempo sino alrededor de un minuto, aunque la misma entrevista pudiera estar en varias partes del programa. Bueno y entonces así ya llevamos tres programas. El cuarto programa sale el día 4 de octubre y hemos visto que la gente la ha ido gustando, se ha ido identificando con el programa y eso para nosotros nos llena de mucho orgullo porque realmente es lo que queremos, que la gente conozca de los directores, conozca de los cantantes orquestas de la música popular bailable.

El programa también cuenta con diferentes secciones, dentro de ellas El Lente Curioso de las cosas que están pasando, los artistas que están grabando. Cuenta también con un Top 15 de música bailable de lo que se escuche en las redes. Cuenta con concursos donde estamos regalando dos entradas al Festival de la Salsa. Es un programa bien variado y dinámico que yo creo que del agrado de la gente.

Haz clic aquí para leer la entrevista completa con Julio, donde habla más sobre los orígenes y el desarrollo de Cuban Hits Music. Para mantenerse al día con las últimas novedades, no olvides seguir MB Record en Facebook.

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Sun, 04 Oct 2020 20:02:06 +0000
BÁRBARO FINES Y SU MAYIMBE Bárbaro Fines y Su Mayimbe Free Concert

ENGLISH: Attention Timberos and Mayimberos! Tomorrow from 7pm-9pm Lima time (UTC-5), Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe will celebrate their 10th Anniversary with a worldwide online concert completely free! The concert is a production of their Manager #CatoTimbaProducciones for all lovers of Cuban music and will be broadcast from a TV studio in Lima via the band's official Facebook fan page. Click here for a link to the event and sign up so you will get a reminder! 

After seven months of no rehearsals, the Mayimberos have been back on stage preparing for the concert. They tell us "The Mayimbera night is meant to bring joy to all our followers in these difficult times on the planet. It is a way of thanking them for their love. We are waiting for you to enjoy best of our repertoire from home." Despite the pandemic, they also managed to film the video clip for "Me Da La Gana", from their upcoming 4th album. Click here for pictures from the rehearsals and the filming of the video.

ESPAÑOL: ¡Atención Timberos y Mayimberos! Mañana de 7 pm a 9 pm hora de Lima (UTC-5), Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe celebrará su décimo aniversario con un concierto mundial online ¡completamente gratis! El concierto es una producción de su Manager #CatoTimbaProducciones para todos los amantes de la música cubana y será transmitido desde un estudio de televisión en Lima a través de la fan page oficial de la banda en Facebook. Dale clic aquí para el enlace al evento y regístrete para recibir un recordatorio.

Después de siete meses sin ensayos, los Mayimberos han vuelto al escenario preparándose para el concierto. Nos dicen "La noche Mayimbera tiene como finalidad llevar alegría a todos nuestros seguidores en estos tiempos tan dificiles en el planeta. Es una forma de agradecerles su amor.  Los esperamos para disfrutar desde casa con lo mejor de nuestro repertorio." A pesar de la pandemia, también lograron filmar el videoclip de "Me Da La Gana", de su próximo cuarto álbum. Haz clic aquí para ver las imágenes de los ensayos y la filmación del video.

Bárbaro Fines y Su Mayimbe 2020

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Thu, 24 Sep 2020 12:54:49 +0000
R.I.P. Sue Taylor 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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Mon, 14 Sep 2020 04:56:09 +0000
LACHY Y LA SUPREMA LEY Lachy y La Suprema Ley - La Supremecía

ENGLISH: Tomorrow, Saturday, August 22nd "La Supremacía" by Lachy y La Suprema Ley drops worldwide at digital retailers and streaming sites. Released on the Warachando Records label, the album contains 12 tracks and features guest singers Mayito Rivera and Yordys Larrazábal. The arrangments are by Lachy. 

Although you can find some of the songs at YouTube from live performances, Dj Warapo told us a little about what we can expect from the studio album.

"The album consists of 12 tracks. inclduding the intro. There are several Songos, which is the style Lachy is defending. What separates Lachy from the rest is the incorporation of the violin, which gives it a touch of retro Van Van. There is a bolero, which is a tribute to el gran Beny Moré, called "Rezo En La Noche" that El Beny sang back in the day. There is a song on the album called "El Candelazo" sung by Alvaro "El Mayoral" which lasts 9 and a half minutes. The concept of the song is making a long track like Adalberto's "Qué Tú Quieres Que Te Den" singing very contagious "Timba callejero coros" so all the timberos can sing and dance. It brings a different dynamic to the traditional timba track. The track is approached in an urban fashion, which works quite nicely and we can see the new generation identifying with that style. The song Yordys sings is with Pedro Luis [Barrizonte] titled "Nacer Con Ella" and talks about how you need to be born with it to be a star. The song with Mayito is also with Pedro and is titled "Son 500", a tribute to Havana's 500 year anniversary."

Bandleader, composer, arranger and bassist Lázaro Osniel Correa Martínez, better known as Lachy, also took the time to tell us a little about himself and the origins of the band. Click here to read the interview in English.

You can preorder "La Supremacía" at the following links.
iTunes- https://apple.co/2BNBVtk
Google Play- https://bit.ly/39I3Wiz

To keep up with the latest, follow Lachy y La Suprema Ley at their official Facebook page.

ESPAÑOL: Mañana sábado 22 de agosto "La Supremacía" de Lachy y La Suprema Ley llega a nivel mundial en tiendas digitales y sitios de streaming. Lanzado en el sello Warachando Records, el álbum contiene 12 pistas y cuenta con los cantantes invitados Mayito Rivera y Yordys Larrazábal. Los arreglos son de Lachy.

Aunque puedes encontrar algunas de las canciones de presentaciones en vivo en YouTube, Dj Warapo nos contó un poco sobre lo que podemos esperar del álbum de estudio.

"El disco consta de 12 temas incluyendo la intro. Hay varios Songos, que es el estilo que defiende Lachy. Lo que separa a Lachy del resto es la incorporación del violín, que le da un toque retro de Van Van. Hay un bolero, que es un homenaje al gran Beny Moré, llamado "Rezo En La Noche" que cantó El Beny en su día. Hay una canción en el álbum llamada "El Candelazo" cantada por Álvaro "El Mayoral" que dura 9 minutos y medio. El concepto de la canción es hacer una pista larga como "Qué Tú Quieres Que Te Den" de Adalberto cantando "Timba callejero coros" muy contagiosos para que todos los timberos puedan cantar y bailar. Aporta una dinámica diferente al pista de timba tradicional. La pista se aborda de manera urbana, lo que funciona bastante bien y podemos ver a la nueva generación identificándose con ese estilo. La canción que canta Yordys es con Pedro Luis [Barrizonte] titulada "Nacer Con Ella" y habla de cómo necesitas nacer con ella para ser una estrella. La canción con Mayito también está con Pedro y se titula "Son 500", un homenaje al 500 aniversario de La Habana ".

El líder de la banda, compositor, arreglista y bajista Lázaro Osniel Correa Martínez, más conocido como Lachy, también se tomó el tiempo de contarnos un poco sobre él y los orígenes de la banda. Haga clic aquí para leer la entrevista en español.

Puedes reservar "La Supremacía" en los siguientes enlaces.
iTunes- https://apple.co/2BNBVtk
Google Play: https://bit.ly/39I3Wiz

Para mantenerte al día con las últimas novedades, sigue a Lachy y La Suprema Ley en su página oficial de Facebook.

Track list:
Opening
La Supremacía
Chica Material
El Engaño
Nacer Con Ella feat. Yordys Larrazábal
Ponchala DJ
La Sala
La Rumba Soy Yo
Son 500 feat. Mayito Rivera
Las Aparencias
El Candelazo
Rezo En La Noche

 

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Fri, 21 Aug 2020 15:01:11 +0000
New Upcoming Cuban Music Tours for 2021 ESPAÑOL: La empresa líder neuyorquina Searock Entertainment está organizado varias giras de música cubana a partir del verano del 2021. Entre las presentaciones se incluyen Los Van Van, Habana D'Primera y El Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro. Las orquestas vendrán completas apoyando nuevos discos.

La gira de Los Van Van apoyará su nueva producción "Mi Songo 50 Aniversario"...
Searock Entertainment Presents Los Van Van Summer 2021
Habana D'Primera su nuevo disco "Pueblo Grifo"...
Searock Entertainment Presents Habana D'Primera Summer 2021
 y el Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro "Homenaje al Gran Combo de Puerto Rico".
Searock Entertainment Presents el septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro Summer 2021
Entre las ciudades pendientes están: Nueva York, San Juan Puerto Rico, varias cuidades en la Florida, Houston , Los Ángeles, San Francisco y Chicago entre otras. 

Para más información y contrataciones por favor comuníquense con Ernesto Lago @ 917.617.5708 or Leo Tizol @ 917.687.2486 or mundolibremusic@yahoo.com

ENGLISH: The leading New York touring company Searock Entertainment is organizing several Cuban music tours starting in the summer of 2021. Presentations include Los Van Van, Habana D'Primera and El Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro. The orchestras and groups will come complete supporting new records.

Los Van Van will tour in support of their new album "Mi Songo 50 Aniversario", Habana D'Primera their new record "Pueblo Grifo" and the Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro for theirs called "Homenaje al Gran Combo de Puerto Rico".

The list of pending cities are: New York, San Juan Puerto Rico, several cities in Florida, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago among others.

For more information and booking please contact Ernesto Lago @ 917.617.5708 or Leo Tizol @ 917.687.2486 or mundolibremusic@yahoo.com

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Mon, 17 Aug 2020 21:59:13 +0000
NEW SINGLES OUT NOW Maichel y Combinación Cubana "Ella No Está"

Tania Pantoja "Ya No Me Busques"

El Niño y La Verdad "Sufriendo tu amor"

ENGLSH: Yesterday was a big day for new releases. One of the newer bands on the timba scene, Maichel Blanco y Combinación Cubana's "Ella no está" is a nice medium tempo romatica. Tania Pantoja is one of the great female timba voicesand she brings us "Ya no me busques". El Niño y La Verdad released "Sufiendo tu amor" on the heels of the Voces de Hoy project, showing that the band is still working on its own original material. All singles can be found at your favorite digital retailer or streaming site. In these tough times, if you can support your favorite artists by spending 99 cents on a single, it can make a bigger difference than you may realize.

ESPAÑOL: Ayer fue un gran día para nuevos lanzamientos. "Ella no está" de Maichel Blanco y Combinación Cubana, nna de las bandas más nuevas en la escena de la timba, es una bonita romática de tempo medio. Tania Pantoja es una de las grandes voces femeninas de timba y nos trae "Ya no me busques". El Niño y La Verdad lanzó "Sufiendo tu amor" siguiendo el proyecto Voces de Hoy, demostrando que la banda todavía está trabajando en su propio material original. Todos los sencillos se pueden encontrar en tu minorista digital o sitio de transmisión favorito. En estos tiempos difíciles, si puedas apoyar a tus artistas favoritos gastando 99 centavos en un sencillo, puede hacer una diferencia mayor de lo que crees.

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Sat, 15 Aug 2020 16:30:17 +0000
THREE NEW REVIEWS OF JAZZ IN CUBA WITH EXTRAS ENGLISH: Three of the most important pillars of support of jazz in Cuba have been the annual JoJazz competition, which has served to launch the careers of many of the best of Cuba's new generation of jazz artists;  the iconic jazz program La Esquina del Jazz on radio station CMBF, and the Jazz Young Spirit series of albums by JoJazz winners by the Colibrí label.   There are now excellent  recordings associated with all of these.  

You can read our review of La Esquina del Jazz here.   This includes an authorized version of the excellent liner notes by José dos Santos. 

You can read  commentary about  the Jazz Young Spirit Series here.   This includes links to reviews in TIMBA.com of some of the albums in the series. 

You can read our review of Mirando al futuro from Havana Jazz here   Included is an authorized version of the notes by the producer, Gloria Ochoa.

ESPAÑOL Tres de los pilares más importantes de apoyo del jazz en Cuba han sido el concurso anual JoJazz, que ha servido para lanzar las carreras de muchos de los mejores jazzistas de la nueva generación de Cuba; el icónico programa de jazz La Esquina del Jazz en la emisora CMBF y la serie de álbumes El Joven Espiritu del Jazz de la casa discográfica Colibrí, que presenta los ganadores de JoJazz. Ahora hay excelentes grabaciones asociadas con todos.

Puede leer nuestra reseña de La Esquina del Jazz aquí.Incluida es una versión autorizada de las excelentes notas musicologicas de José dos Santos. 

Puede leer comentarios sobre la serie El Joven Espiritu del Jazz aquí.  Includos son enlaces a reseñas en TIMBA.com de algunos de los álbumes en la serie. 

Puede leer nuestra reseña de Mirando al futuro de Havana Jazz aquí  Incluida es una versión autorizada de las notas de la productora, Gloria Ochoa.   

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Sat, 01 Aug 2020 20:21:34 +0000
CUBANEANDO 9th EDITION Cubaneando 9th Edition

ENGLISH: The Cubaneando Festival is held annually in Montreal, Quebec, but due to COVID-19, it is moving on-line this year. The event will take place from July 31st - August 2 and will include DJs, percussion workshops by Tomas Ramos "El Panga, cooking and dance workshops, Cuban films, and concerts. Aisar y El Expresso de Cuba will be closing the event with a concert August 2 at 6:20 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, transmitting from La Terraza de Cerro looking out over Havana. Other concerts you don't want to miss include Bárbara Ruiz La cubanísima, Brenda Navarrete, Anthony Puig, Telmary Díaz and more! Check out the Cubaneando - L'ile De Cuba Facebook page for more information and tune in all weekend long!

ESPAÑOL: El Festival Cubaneando se celebra anualmente en Montreal, Quebec, pero debido a COVID-19, se está moviendo en línea este año. El evento tendrá lugar del 31 de julio al 2 de agosto e incluirá DJs, talleres de percusión de Tomás Ramos "El Panga, talleres de cocina y baile, películas cubanas y conciertos. Aisar y El Expresso de Cuba cerrarán el evento con un concierto el 2 de agosto a las 6:20 pm Hora del Este, transmitiendo desde La Terraza de Cerro con vista a La Habana. Otros conciertos que no querrás perderte incluyen a Bárbara Ruiz La cubanísima, Brenda Navarrete, Anthony Puig, Telmary Díaz y más. Siga la página de Facebook Cubaneando - L'ile De Cuba para más información y sintonizar todo el fin de semana!

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Thu, 30 Jul 2020 19:58:34 +0000
REFLECTIONS ON THE HOTHOUSE CONCERT FOR CUBA ENGLISH:   Bill Tilford watched the Hothouse Concert for Cuba on the Streamingcuba Facebook page and shares some reflections here
ESPAÑOL Bill Tilford vió el Hothouse Concierto Para Cuba en la página de Facebook de Streamingcuba y comparte algunas reflexiones aquí.


ENGLISH:  This year's International Timba Festival will be on line from Havana, Cuba from August 2-4;  more details are available on the Festival Internacional de la Timba Facebook Page.
ESPAÑOL:  El Festival Internacional de la Timba tendra lugar en liena desde La Habana, Cuba del 2 al 4 de agosto, más información está disposible en la
página de Facebook del Festival Internacional de la Timba. 

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Sun, 26 Jul 2020 10:43:12 +0000
LLANTO DE UNA PIEL Yasser Ramos - Llanto de una piel

ENGLISH: The pandemic hasn't slowed Yasser Ramos, it seems to have energized him with ideas. In recent weeks he has released "Despertar Distinto", "Vengo del Monte" and now "Llanto de una Piel", a song inspired by the issue of racism. In all cases, the lyrics transmit a message worth listening in itself, to while the arrangements are still timba pa'l bailador. The band continues living up to the "tumbao" in their name. The singles are all available at digital streaming sites and retailers. Check it out at YouTube below!

ENGLISH: La pandemia no ha frenado a Yasser Ramos, parece haberlo energizado con ideas. En las últimas semanas ha lanzado "Despertar Distinto", "Vengo del Monte" y ahora "Llanto de una Piel", una canción inspirada en el tema del racismo. En todos los casos, la letra transmite un mensaje que vale la pena escuchar en sí mismo, mientras los arreglos siguen siendo timba pa'l bailador. La banda sigue haciendo honor al "tumbao" en su nombre. Los singles están disponibles en sitios de transmisión y minoristas digitales. ¡Compruébalo en YouTube a continuación!

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Wed, 15 Jul 2020 13:27:19 +0000
VOCES DE HOY

ENGLISH: It has been more than a year since Emilio Frías "El Niño" of El Niño y La Verdad, started the ambitious Voces de Hoy project. Emilio wanted to showcase the talent of the younger generation of Cuban popular dance music, so he invited 20 of the hottest young singers to interpret 20 songs. Each song has a different arranger, and in this case Emilio chose a lineup that includes legends from the height of timba such as Joaquín Betancourt, Juan Manuel Ceruto, Germán Velazco, Manolito Simonet and Lazarito Valdés as well as the young guns including Cucurucho, Pachy Jr., Cuchillo, Nachito Jr., Bombón, Maykel Blanco and Dayron Ortega. See below for the full list of singers and arrangers.

The Voces de Hoy project used an interesting and, in my opinion, brilliant marketing strategy. Each Friday a new song was released at digital streaming sites and retailers. Why was this a great idea you ask? Let me digress. Back in "the day" before digital music was easily accessible, especially for Cuban music, I might be able to get a hold of three or four new CDs a year, and I would spend weeks listening over and over, learning each album inside out. Nowadays there is so much on offer for our immediate consumption that we are flooded with new songs and barely have time to keep up. Imagine now, had they waited until all the songs were ready and released a two-album set all at once. People would likely focus on a few of the songs rather than take the time to give each song their full attention. By releasing one song a week, we got to enjoy and obsess over each new track and then could look forward to the next. 

If you haven't already added the Voces de Hoy albums to your streaming playlists, you can click the link  below for the "buy link" for each song. The albums are also on sale at digitial music retailers.

ESPAÑOL: Ha pasado más de un año desde que Emilio Frías "El Niño" de El Niño y La Verdad, inició el ambicioso proyecto Voces de Hoy . Emilio quería mostrar el talento de la generación joven de música popular bailable cubana, por lo que invitó a 20 de los más representativos cantantes jóvenes a interpretar 20 canciones. Cada canción tiene un arreglista diferente, y en este caso Emilio eligió una alineación que incluye leyendas de la altura de la timba como Joaquín Betancourt, Juan Manuel Ceruto, Germán Velazco, Manolito Simonet y Lazarito Valdés, así como las joven poderes como Cucurucho, Pachy Jr., Cuchillo, Nachito Jr., Bombón, Maykel Blanco y Dayron Ortega. Ve a continuación la lista completa de cantantes y arreglistas.

El proyecto Voces de Hoy utilizó una estrategia de marketing interesante y, en mi opinión, brillante. Cada viernes se lanzó una nueva canción en sitios de transmisión digital y minoristas. ¿Por qué fue una gran idea me preguntas? Déjame divagar. Antes de que la música digital fuera fácilmente accesible, especialmente para la música cubana, podría conseguir tres o cuatro CD nuevos al año, y pasaría semanas escuchando una y otra vez, aprendiendo cada álbum al revés. Hoy en día hay tanto en oferta para nuestro consumo inmediato que estamos inundados de nuevas canciones y apenas tenemos tiempo para seguir el ritmo. Imagínete ahora, si hubieran esperado hasta que todas las canciones estuvieran listas y lanzaran en conjunto de dos álbumes de una vez. Es probable que la gente se concentre en algunas de las canciones en lugar de tomarse el tiempo para prestar toda su atención a cada canción. Al lanzar una canción a la semana, pudimos disfrutar y obsesionarnos con cada nueva canción y luego podríamos esperar la próxima.

Si aún no has agregado los álbumes de Voces de Hoy a sus listas de reproducción, puede hacer clic en el enlace a continuación para el "enlace de compra" para cada canción. Los álbumes también están a la venta en tiendas de música digital.

Voces de Hoy V.I

Volume 1:
Track Lead vocals Lyrics Arrangement
Intro      
A Que Me La Llevo Alexander Abreu Emilio Frías Juan Manuel Ceruto
Me Negocio Personal Maikel Dinza Emilio Frías Yusef Diaz
La Bola En La Mano Anthony Puig Emilio Frías Cucurucho Valdés 
La Cocina Ernesto Manuel "Chocolate" Emilio Frías Ian Ignacio Herrera
"Nachito Jr"
Tú No Eres Popular Alaín Pérez Emilio Frías German Velazco
Bendíceme Yasser Ramos Emilio Frías Lazarito Valdes
Decirte Adiós Laraine Cañizares Emilio Frías
Daryon Ortega
Daryon Ortega
Nunca Pensé Juan Guillermo "JG"  Emilio Frías Andy Rubal
Se Terminó Norisley Valladares "El Noro" Emilio Frías Maykel Blanco
Tus Comentarios Christian & Rey Alonso Emilio Frías Roelvis Reyes "Bombón"

Voces de Hoy V.II

Volume 2:
Track Lead vocals Lyrics Arrangement
Intro      
El Padrino Emilio Frías "El Niño" Emilio Frías Wilfredo Naranjo
"Pachy Jr."
Ama A La Vida Yulaysi Miranda Emilio Frías Efrain Chivas "Pacho"
Vengo De Cuba Alexei Sánchez "El Nene" Emilio Frías Manolito Simonet
Que Seas Feliz Rubén & Gaby Rodríguez Emilio Frías Dhayane Rivera Lazaga
Candela Ronny López Emilio Frías Boris Luna
Lo Siento Yordis Larrazabal Emilio Frías Emilio Vega
Por Mala Altides Landa "Aggayú" Emilio Frías Osmany Collado
Lolo Iván "El Hijo de Teresa" Emilio Frías Aisar Hernandez
Qué Lástima Alcibiades Durruthy Emilio Frías
Arian  Chacón
Maykel Garcia "Cuchilla"
Homenaje A Juan Formell Dayán Carrera Emilio Frías
Rubén Bulnes
Joaquin Betancourt

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Sun, 12 Jul 2020 12:24:04 +0000
Some Important Cuban Music Virtual Events I.  CONCERT FOR CUBA / CONCIERTO A CUBA 
DATES / FECHAS  JULY/JULIO  18 & 19  
TIME / HORA   7PM CDT (8PM HORA DE CUBA)  - 9:30PM CDT (10:30 PM HORA DE CUBA)
WHERE/ DÓNDE:   IN CYBERSPACE / EN CIBERESPACIO (DENTRO CUBA EN TV) 
HOTHOUSE TWITCH TV 
HOTHOUSE GLOBAL YOUTUBE
HOTHOUSE FACEBOOK 
WWW.HOTHOUSE.NET

ENGLISH  This very ambitious event will pull together what appears to be a mix of live video feeds and archival video footage including numerous Cuban musicans and other speakers in an impressive  collaboration between several entities and individuals in the United States and Cuba.  At press time some aspects of this event including the final participant list were  still evolving, and for that reason, if you are in Facebook, we encourage you to follow the Hothouse Facebook page or the page of the Instituto Cubano de la Música  (you should  be following that page even without this concert) for more details as they develop.  If you are not in Facebook, you can keep your eye on www.hothouse.net
Hothouse is a Chicago-based organization, and this writer, who lives in Chicago, hopes for the maximum success of the event, especially if that inspires an increase in Chicago presenters and radio stations (especially the latter)  proactively  presenting current music from Cuba both live and on the air..

ESPAÑOL Este evento muy ambicioso reunirá lo que parece ser una mezcla de transmisiones de video en vivo y videos de archivo, incluidos numerosos músicos cubanos y otros oradores en una impresionante colaboración entre varias entidades e individuos en los Estados Unidos y Cuba. En el momento de la publicación, algunos aspectos de este evento, incluida la lista final de participantes, todavía estaban evolucionando, y por esa razón, si está en Facebook, le recomendamos que siga la página de Facebook de Hothouse o la página del Instituto Cubano de la Música (usted debería seguir esa página incluso sin este concierto) para obtener más detalles a medida que se desarrollan. Si no está en Facebook, ojo en  www.hothouse.net
Hothouse es una organización  con sede en Chicago, y este escritor que vive en Chicago espera el máximo éxito del evento, especialmente si eso inspira un aumento en los presentadores y emisoras de radio de Chicago (especialmente la última) que presentan de manera proactiva la música actual de Cuba en vivo y en el aire.


II.  CONCERTS  & PRESENTATIONS VIA STREAMINGCUBA  
WHEN / CUANDO:   FREQUENTLY / FRECUENTEMENTE 
WHERE / DÓNDE:  STREAMINGCUBA FACEBOOK



ENGLISH: Some time ago, we mentioned that Streamingcuba was running live music presentations and other musical content inclunding the presentation of new albums on their Facebook page.  The frrequency and variety of these events has increased since then, and there are even frequent morning videos about the current situation regarding COVID-19  in Cuba.  This is one of the best virtual vehicles for Cuba's music industry and its followers around the world in these difficult times. This writer would love nothing better than to see Cubadisco's live 2021 awards ceremonies available to the world using this or something similar to it. 
ESPAÑOL:  Recientemente, mencionamos que Streamingcuba estaba presentando  música en vivo y otros contenidos musicales, incluida la presentación de nuevos álbumes,  en su página de Facebook. La frecuencia y variedad de estos eventos ha aumentado desde entonces, e incluso hay videos frecuentes de la mañana sobre la situación actual con respecto a COVID-19 en Cuba. En este momento es uno de los mejores vehículos virtuales para la industria musical cubana y sus seguidores en todo el mundo en estos tiempos difíciles. A este escritor no le gustaría nada mejor que ver las ceremonias de premiación de Cubadisco 2021 en vivo disponibles para el mundo entero  usando esto o algo similar.

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Sat, 11 Jul 2020 00:28:46 +0000
DESPERTANDO EL PASADO Soneros All Stars - Despertando el Pasado

ENGLISH: Soneros All Stars' Jan Miklos Bogdan "Yanesito" is back with more traditional son. On the heels of the January release of his "Homenaje a Isaac & Papi Oviedo", he offers us more gems from his early days in Cuba. While the tribute album was inspired by his love of son and particularly the music of the Oviedo family, "Despertando el Pasado" is an actual live recording of a rehearsal in an apartment in Havana. The ten tracks are Cuban classics superbly interpreted by Miguel Damian y Sus Soneros, and Yanesito himself makes an appearance on tres including a solo in "La Mujer De Antonio". Recorded on mini-disc with just one microphone and unedited, it doesn't get any more real than this. "Despertando el Pasado" captures the intensity, excitement and passion of live Cuban music. Best of all, it makes me feel like I'm right there in the room with them in Havana tomando un traguito y bailando son! Check it out on your digital platform of choice!

ESPAÑOL: Jan Miklos Bogdan "Yanesito" de Soneros All Stars regresa con más son tradicional. Siguiendo rápidamente el lanzamiento en enero de su "Homenaje a Isaac & Papi Oviedo", nos ofrece más joyas de sus primeros tiempos en Cuba. Mientras que el álbum homenaje fue inspirado por su pasión por el son y particularmente por la música de la familia Oviedo, "Despertando el Pasado" es una grabación en vivo de un ensayo en un apartamento en La Habana. Las diez pistas son clásicos cubanos magníficamente interpretados por Miguel Damián y Sus Soneros, y el mismísimo Yanesito aparece en el tres incluyendo un solo en "La Mujer De Antonio". Grabado en formato mini-disco con un solo micrófono y sin editar, no puede ser más autentico que esto. "Despertando el Pasado" captura la intensidad, emoción y pasión de la música cubana en vivo. ¡Lo mejor de todo es que me hace sentir que estoy en la sala con ellos en La Habana tomando un traguito y bailando son! ¡Compruébalo en tu plataforma digital preferida!

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Tue, 07 Jul 2020 23:54:17 +0000
BÁRBARO FINES & SU MAYIMBE Bárbaro Fines y Su Mayimbe "Me da la gana"

ENGLISH: "Me Da La Gana" by Bárbaro Fines y Su Mayimbe is now out on all the usual digital platforms. It is the first single from the band's upcoming CD "Directamente a las Venas" and  features Miguel Hernández on lead vocals, with lyrics and arrangement by bandleader and pianist Bárbaro Fines. From the starting tumbao the sello is unmistakable.

It is our first taste of what we can expect from the band's fifth album, which I hope will be released in 2020. "Me Da La Gana" hits the dancers hard with a slow but steady pace that my Cuban friends refer to as "cadencia" and I have never really known how to translate it. Maybe I could describe it as a laid-back groove, no rushing because the intensity doesn't come from velocity but from the powerful, regular pulse of the rhythm section. You can find the single on your favorite streaming site or digital download platform. Enjoy and stay tuned for more information about  "Directamente a las Venas" as it becomes available.

ESPAÑOL: "Me Da La Gana" de Bárbaro Fines y Su Mayimbe ya está disponible en todas las plataformas digitales habituales. Es el primer sencillo del próximo CD de la banda, "Directamente a las Venas", y presenta a Miguel Hernández en la voz principal, con letra y arreglo del director y pianista Bárbaro Fines. Desde el tumbao inicial, el sello es inconfundible.

Es nuestra primera muestra de lo que podemos esperar del quinto álbum de la orquesta, que espero sea lanzado en 2020. "Me Da La Gana" tiene tremenda cadencia para los baladores con un ritmo lento pero constante, sin prisas porque la intensidad no proviene de la velocidad sino del pulso potente y regular de la base. Puedes encontrar el single en tu favorito sitio de transmisión o plataforma de descarga digital. Disfruta y está atento para más información sobre "Directamente a las Venas" a medida que esté disponible.

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Wed, 01 Jul 2020 14:27:27 +0000
MIXAEL CABRERA & SON DEL MUNDO

ENGLISH: In just about one hour, "Ahora le toca a ella",  the new single by Mixael Cabrera & Son del Mundo with lyrics by Esteban Isnardi and arrangemnt by Pablo Timba will premier at Mixael's official YouTube channel. You can click on the video above to set a reminder, or if you're reading this a couple of hours from now, you can watch the video.

I aksed Esteban about the inspiration for the song and this was his reponse:
"The subject is important because, for the first time in popular Cuban dance music, in any case this head-on, the song denounces gender violence, men's violence against women, as well as harassment and patriarchal abuse. This text is one of the many songs that I have ready and that are more socially committed. I continue with my conviction that these topics, and some even stronger and more controversial ones, can be played in the world of Cuban popular dance music.

My collaboration with Pablo Timba was obvious for me, due to the success of the last song we did together, sung by Robertón of Los Van Van, “Empieza mi son”. At first I wanted to propose the song to a great female singer, but Pablo pointed out that it would be even stronger if a man sang it. Immediately the name of Mixael Cabrera came to me for his great qualities as a musician and also as a man, because I sensed that he could accept the challenge that a text of this caliber represents. In addition, lately he is hitting very hard with the song "Tu sonrisa" (more than 100,000 views on YouTube) and with the song that went viral in the quarantine, "El virus lo matamos con música."

It was precisely during this confinement that he created a collective called Son del Mundo, which brings together Cuban musicians scattered across countries on different continents, and it is with this group that we recorded our song."

ESPAÑOL: En apenas una hora, "Ahora le toca a ella", el nuevo sencillo de Mixael Cabrera & Son del Mundo con letra de Esteban Isnardi y arreglos de Pablo Timba se estrenará en el canal oficial de YouTube de Mixael. Puedes hacer clic en el video de arriba para configurar un recordatorio, o si estás leyendo esto dentro de un par de horas, puedes ver el video.

Le pregunté a Esteban sobre la inspiración para la canción y esta fue su respuesta:
"El tema es importante porque, por la primera vez en la música cubana popular y bailable, en todo caso de modo tan frontal, alli se denuncia la violencia de género, la violencia de los hombres contra las mujeres, así como el acoso y el abuso patriarcal. Este texto hace parte de una de las muchas canciones que tengo prontas y que son más comprometidas socialmente.

Pues sigo con mi convicción de que estos temas, y algunos aún más fuertes y polémicos, se pueden tocar en el ámbito de la música popular y bailable cubana. Lo de Pablo Timba fue para mí una evidencia, por el éxito que tuvo nuestro último tema juntos, cantado por Robertón de Los Van Van, “Empieza mi son”.

Al principio yo le quería proponer la canción a una gran referente, pero Pablo me hizo notar que sería todavía más fuerte si la cantaba un hombre. Enseguida me vino en vente el nombre de Mixael Cabrera, por sus grandes cualidades como músico y también como hombre, pues yo intuía que él podía aceptar el desafío que representa una letra de ese calibre. Además últimamente está pegando muy fuerte con la canción “Tu sonrisa” (más de 100.000 visualizaciones en YouTube) y con el tema que hizo viral en la cuarentena, “El virus lo matamos con música”.

Justamente durante este confinamiento el creó un colectivo que llamó Son del mundo, que reúne a músicos cubanos regados en países de diferentes continentes. Y es con esta agrupación que hacemos ahora nuestra canción."

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Sat, 20 Jun 2020 16:32:19 +0000
YASSER RAMOS Y EL TUMBAO MAYOMBE

ENGLISH: The new single "Vengo del Monte" by Yasser Ramos y El Tumbao Mayombe premiered a couple of hours ago at YouTube. Check it out! It will be available in a few days at digital streaming sites and retailers. The arrangement is by bassist Yulian Eire (currently with Elito Revé y Su Charangón) who wrote a number of arrangements on both "Ni Antes, Ni Después" and "La Resistencia".  What can I say except this is another hit by Yasser and his equipo. I am always impressed at the quality of work these young musicians are putting out. If the dance clubs were open, "Vengo del Monte" would be on all the DJ's playlists. For now, we can enjoy it at home and on the DJ streaming shows. Expect to be hearing more soon from Yasser's upcoming album "Atando Cabos" on the Amboss Media label. It will consist of an intro and eleven songs and should be released in December this year.

ESPAÑOL: El nuevo sencillo "Vengo del Monte" de Yasser Ramos y El Tumbao Mayombe se estrenó hace un par de horas en YouTube. ¡Echale un vistazo! Estará disponible en unos días en  minoristas digitales y sitios de transmisión. El arreglo es del bajista Yulian Eire (actualmente con Elito Revé y Su Charangón) quien escribió una serie de arreglos tanto en "Ni Antes, Ni Después" como en "La Resistencia". Qué puedo decir excepto que este es otro éxito de Yasser y su equipo. Siempre estoy impresionada con la calidad del trabajo que realizan estos jóvenes músicos. Si los clubes de baile estuvieran abiertos, "Vengo del Monte" estaría en todas las listas de reproducción de los DJ. Por ahora, podemos disfrutarlo en casa y en los programas de transmisión de DJs. Espere escuchar más pronto del próximo álbum de Yasser "Atando Cabos" bajo del sello Amboss Media. Consistirá en una introducción y once canciones y se lanzará en diciembre de este año.

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Thu, 18 Jun 2020 21:51:48 +0000
CD/DVD REVIEW: MIRANDO AL FUTURO FROM HAVANA JAZZ ENGLISH:  This CD/DVD, an eloquent musical statement  about the  quality and scope of the current  jazz of the younger generation in Cuba  that uses 55 of its musicians,   is currently only available as digitial audio outside of Cuba, but the music is so vital  and its context so important that our review includes the Making Of Video AND a translation of the producer's notes into English.  You can read the review, the notes and some supplemental material about JoJazz  in English here. 





ESPAÑOL:
 
Este CD / DVD, una elocuente declaración musical sobre la calidad y el alcance del jazz actual de la generación más joven en Cuba que utiliza a 55 de sus músicos, actualmente solo está disponible como audio digital fuera de Cuba, pero la música es tan vital y su contexto tan importante que nuestra reseña incluye el video Making Of y las notas de la productora. Puede leer la reseña, las notas y algunos materiales complementarios sobre JoJazz aquí.


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Thu, 18 Jun 2020 01:35:46 +0000
CALLE REAL ONLINE CONCERT TONIGHT! CALLE REALFollow Calle Real at Facebook to keep up on all the latest news

ENGLISH: We have all been missing the summer concerts and festivals that were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tonight we can get a timba fix as Calle Real will be transmitting a live concert in HD from Vasa Theater in Stockholm via the website Abundo! The concert will start at 9:00 pm Central European Time, that's 3:00 pm in Miami, and will run 60 minutes! For many fans this will be the first opportunity you have to see them perform their new hit "La Cenicienta" live! To watch the concert, follow this link where you easily create a profile and can then pay with all major credit cards. The concert costs 75 SEK (about $7.50 or €7.00) and you use the same link to watch the concert tonight.

There has been a lot of talk about how music and other performances that rely on live audiences will suffer long-term consequences from the current pandemic. The service offered by Abundo seems to be an interesting way of getting around this, offering fans a chance to enjoy a live concert and other events and giving bands and artists a chance to earn at least some income until the social distancing rules are no longer necessary. Of course, we all want to get back to being there in person with the bands, but for now I think this is a brilliant solution that allows us to enjoy the music we love and give a little back to the artists while remaining safe! See you at the concert tonight!

ESPAÑOL: Todos hemos perdido los conciertos y festivales de verano que fueron cancelados debido a la pandemia de COVID-19. ¡Esta noche podemos disfrutar de la timba ya que Calle Real transmitirá un concierto en vivo en HD desde el teatro Vasa en Estocolmo a través del sitio web Abundo! El concierto comenzará a las 9:00 pm, hora de Europa Central, son las 3:00 pm en Miami, y durará 60 minutos. ¡Para muchos fanáticos, esta será la primera oportunidad que tendrá de verlos tocar su nuevo éxito "La Cenicienta" en vivo! Para ver el concierto, sigue este enlace donde puedes crear fácilmente un perfil y luego puedes pagar con las principales tarjetas de crédito. El concierto cuesta 75 SEK (alrededor de $ 7.50 o € 7.00) y utiliza el mismo enlace para ver el concierto esta noche.

Se ha hablado mucho sobre cómo la música y otras actuaciones que dependen de audiencias en vivo sufrirán las consecuencias a largo plazo de la pandemia actual. El servicio ofrecido por Abundo parece ser una forma interesante de evitar esto, ya que ofrece a los fanáticos la oportunidad de disfrutar de un concierto y otros eventos en vivo y a las bandas y artistas la oportunidad de obtener al menos algunos ingresos hasta que las reglas de distanciamiento social ya no sean necesarias. Por supuesto, todos queremos volver a estar allí en persona con las bandas, ¡pero por ahora creo que esta es una solución brillante que nos permite disfrutar de la música que nos gusta y devolver un poco a los artistas mientras nos mantenemos a salvo! ¡Nos vemos en el concierto de esta noche!

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Sat, 06 Jun 2020 13:16:03 +0000
MAYO SONERO - SONEROS ALL STARS 2020 Soneros All Stars - Homenaje a Isaac & Papi Oviedo

ENGLISH: Mayo Sonero 2020 is coming to an end, but before it does I want to bring to your attention Soneros All Stars "Homenaje a Isaac & Papi Oviedo" that was released in January of this year. The album is another collaboration between Jan Miklos Bogdan "Yanesito" and Pascual Matos "Sinsonte" and can be found on all the usual streaming sites and at digital retailers. Follow this link to find your distributor of choice. 

"Homenaje a Isaac & Papi Oviedo" is Soneros All Stars' fifth album and a return full circle back to the traditional son that is at the core of contemprary Cuban dance music and that has always been close to Yanesito's heart. You can follow Yanesito's musical journey through his albums that range from modern changüí to songo to timba, but always with his roots in son. 

Yanesito and I had a little conversation the other night about the album and why he chose to do a tribute to Isaac and Papi Oviedo. His first visit to Cuba was in 1996 on the very first charter flight from Stockholm to Havana. His background as a musician was with guitars in blues, jazz, rock and funk and when he went to Cuba his goal was to learn some Cuban percussion. But as you can imagine, a guitarist discovering tres, he was immediately captivated and upon returning to Sweden he took an old guitar and built his first tres. The first son CD he bought was Papi Oviedo's "Encuentro Entre Soneros", and he met Papi while recording the first Soneros All Stars album "Dime Nagüe". This tribute album remakes some of those first songs that Yanesito listened to back at the end of the 1990s.

You can read an earlier interview with him from 2005 on the release of "Dime Nagüe" here. And stay tuned becasue there is more coming form Soneros All Stars this year!

ESPAÑOL: Mayo Sonero 2020 está llegando a su fin, pero antes que se acaba quiero llamar su atención sobre Soneros All Stars "Homenaje a Isaac & Papi Oviedo" que se lanzó en enero de este año. El álbum es otra colaboración entre Jan Miklos Bogdan "Yanesito" y Pascual Matos "Sinsonte" y se puede encontrar en todos los sitios habituales de transmisión y en los minoristas digitales. Siga este enlace para encontrar su distribuidor de elección.

"Homenaje a Isaac & Papi Oviedo" es el quinto álbum de Soneros All Stars y un regreso completo al son tradicional que está en el centro de la música bailable contemporánea cubana y que siempre ha estado cerca del corazón de Yanesito. Puedes seguir el viaje musical de Yanesito a través de sus álbumes que van desde el changüí moderno hasta el songo y la timba, pero siempre con sus raíces en el son.

Yanesito y yo tuvimos una pequeña conversación la otra noche sobre el álbum y por qué eligió a hacer un homenaje a Isaac y Papi Oviedo. Su primera visita a Cuba fue en 1996 en el primer vuelo chárter de Estocolmo a La Habana. Su experiencia como músico fue con guitarras de blues, jazz, rock y funk y cuando fue a Cuba su objetivo era aprender algo de percusión cubana. Pero como puedes imaginar, un guitarrista descubriendo tres, quedó inmediatamente cautivado y al regresar a Suecia tomó una guitarra vieja y construyó su primer tres. El primer CD de son que compró fue "Encuentro Entre Soneros" de Papi Oviedo, y conoció a Papi mientras grababa el primer álbum de Soneros All Stars "Dime Nagüe". Este álbum tributo rehace algunas de esas primeras canciones que Yanesito escuchó a fines de la década de 1990.

Puedes leer una entrevista anterior con él desde 2005 sobre el lanzamiento de "Dime Nagüe" aquí (en inglés). ¡Y estad atentos porque habrá más Soneros All Stars este año!

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Sat, 30 May 2020 20:59:00 +0000
New CD Review: El Viaje (Zule Guerra) ENGLISH:  This writer confesses to having been delinquent in publishing CD reviews of late due to a very significant expansion of his activities in radio (those activities are, however,  at least presenting many of the same artists and their albums). After listening to Zule Guerra's new release, El Viaje, he was specially inspired to find a moment to write even though it is technically "out of turn", no small feat given the quantity of excellent albums issued during the past year. In time he hopes to return to all those who have been waiting very patiently for their opportunity. 
You can read the review of El Viaje in English here. 




ESPAÑOL:
 Este escritor confiesa haberse  retrasado mucho en la publicación de reseñas de CD en los últimos tiempos debido a una expansión muy significativa de sus actividades en la radio (sin embargo, al menos tales actividades presentan muchos de los mismos artistas y sus álbumes). Después de escuchar el nuevo lanzamiento de Zule Guerra, El Viaje, se inspiró especialmente para encontrar un momento para escribir a pesar de que técnicamente está "fuera de turno", no es poca cosa dada la cantidad de excelentes álbumes emitidos durante el año pasado. Con el tiempo, espera volver con todos aquellos que han estado esperando pacientemente sus oportunidades. 
Puede leer la reseña de El Viaje en español aquí.

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Sun, 17 May 2020 16:28:23 +0000
WIL CAMPA ZAPATO NUEVO Wil Campa - Zapato Nuevo

Wil Campa released his new album "Zapato Nuevo" today. Click here to find it on your preferred digital platform.

Track list:
Zapato Nuevo
Rumba Y Vacilón
Pinta Pintor
Muéstrame La Salida
Gallo Peleon
Desnúdate
La Propina
Maldito Cupido
Tú Sabe' Caminar
Fiesta
Escoba
La Vida Sigue

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Fri, 15 May 2020 12:52:00 +0000
Streaming Cuba Advances Online Presence of Cuban Music
ENGLISH:  Sometimes good things emerge from bad times. A couple of months ago, we mentioned that Streamingcuba, a collaborative effort  working with several entities in the music industry in Cuba, was bringing live miniature concerts and other events online via Facebook.  It has also begun to significantly expand the use of Skype, and this writer had the pleasure of being one of many participants in a Skype presentation of several albums entered in Cubadisco. 
You can see a video of that session, which presented five albums released by EGREM, at 
https://www.facebook.com/streamingcuba/videos/301760720810274/
Going forward, there will be several more mini-concerts, and every Friday afternoon at 2pm Habana time, you will also be able to watch a presentation of more albums entered in Cubadisco 2020 at the Facebook Page of Streamingcuba,
https://www.facebook.com/streamingcuba/

ESPAÑOL: A veces surgen cosas buenas de los malos tiempos. Hace un par de meses, mencionamos que Streamingcuba, un esfuerzo de colaboración que trabaja con varias entidades en la industria de la música en Cuba, traía conciertos en miniatura en vivo y otros eventos en línea a través de Facebook. También ha comenzado a expandir significativamente el uso de Skype, y este escritor tuvo el placer de ser uno de los muchos participantes en una presentación via Skype de varios álbumes inscritos en Cubadisco. 
Puede ver un video de esa sesión, que presentó cinco álbumes lanzados por EGREM, en https://www.facebook.com/streamingcuba/videos/301760720810274/
En el futuro, habrá varios mini-conciertos más, y cada viernes por la tarde a las 2 p.m., hora de La Habana, también podrá ver  presentaciónes de más álbumes inscritos en Cubadisco 2020 en la página de Facebook de Streamingcuba, 
https://www.facebook.com/streamingcuba/

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Sun, 10 May 2020 23:10:56 +0000
AISAR Y EL EXPRESSO DE CUBA Aisar y El Expresso de Cuba - A Toda Marcha

ENGLISH: Today is Mother's Day in many countries around the world, including Cuba and the US, and Aisar y El Expresso de Cuba have created a beautiful video for the song "A mi madre" for the upcoming album "A Toda Marcha". They asked fans and bandmembers to contribute pictures of their mothers and the response was tremendous. The video has been uploaded to the band's official YouTube channel. 

"A Toda Marcha" contains eleven songs and one bonus track, "Quince años y seguimos pega'o" for the 15th anniversary of Piso 6. Other videos that have already been released are "El Camarón", a vallenato, and "Un Pastel". Happy Mother's Day from Timba.com!

ESPAÑOL: Hoy es el Día de la Madre en muchos países del mundo, incluidos Cuba y los EE. UU., y Aisar y El Expresso de Cuba han creado un hermoso video para la canción "A mi madre" que forma parte del próximo álbum "A Toda Marcha". Pidieron a los fanáticos y miembros de la banda que aportaran fotos de sus madres y la respuesta fue tremenda. El video se ha subido al canal oficial de YouTube de la banda.

"A Toda Marcha" contiene once canciones y una canción bonus, "Quince años y seguimos pega'o" para el 15 aniversario de Piso 6. Otros videos que ya han sido lanzados son "El Camarón", un vallenato, y "Un Pastel ". ¡Feliz Día de la Madre de Timba.com!

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Sun, 10 May 2020 09:21:20 +0000
MAYO SONERO - VOCES DE HOY ENGLISH: Mayo Sonero continues with "Vengo de Cuba" by Voces de Hoy featuring Alexei Sánchez "El Nene" on lead vocals, Pancho Amat on tres, arrangement and piano by Manolito Simonet and Adalberto Álvarez on second vocals. "Pa' que te enteres y no quede duda, mi nombre es son y vengo de Cuba." Click here to find the song on your favorite platform!

ESPAÑOL: Mayo Sonero continúa con "Vengo de Cuba" de Voces de Hoy con Alexei Sánchez "El Nene" en la voz principal, Pancho Amat en tres, arreglo y piano de Manolito Simonet y Adalberto Álvarez en la segunda voz. "Pa' que te enteres y no quede duda, mi nombre es son y vengo de Cuba". ¡Haz clic aquí para encontrar la canción en tu plataforma favorita!

At the studio during the recording of "Vengo de Cuba"

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Sat, 09 May 2020 17:18:12 +0000
MAYO SONERO - JÓVENES CLÀSICOS DEL SON 25 Años y No Pueden Parar - Jovenes Clásicos del Son

ENGLISH: Today is Cuban Son Day, and Los Jóvenes Clásicos del Son have released their album "25 años y no pueden parar" on streaming sites and at digital retailers. The DVD has also been made available at the Bis Music Official YouTube channel. What a great way to celebrate ¡el día del son!

ESPAÑOL: Hoy es el Día del Son Cubano, y Los Jóvenes Clásicos del Son han lanzado su álbum "25 años y no pueden parar" en sitios de transmisión y en tiendas digitales. El DVD también se puso a disposición en el canal oficial de Bis Music de YouTube. ¡Qué gran manera de celebrar el día del son!

ENGLISH: You can also enjoy the new single composed by lead vocalist José Antonio Rodriguez "Pepitín". It is a message of encouragement and hope to all the peoples of the world during the COVID-19 crisis. Stay tuned for more Dia del Son activities. At 8pm Havana time Adlaberto Álvarez y su Son will post videos from people around the world celebrating son.

ESPAÑOL: También puedes disfrutar del nuevo sencillo compuesto por el vocalista principal José Antonio Rodríguez "Pepitín". Es un mensaje de aliento y esperanza para todos los pueblos del mundo durante la crisis de COVID-19. Estén atentos para más actividades de Dia del Son. A las 8 p.m., hora de La Habana, Adlaberto Álvarez y su Son publicará videos de personas de todo el mundo celebrando el son.

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Fri, 08 May 2020 21:09:43 +0000
MAYO SONERO

ENGLISH: May is the month of Cuban Son. Beginning last year on an initiative of Adalberto Álvarez, the idea is to pay tribute to Cuban son, with May 8th being designated as the main celebration day because Miguel Matamoros and Miguelito Cuní were both born on May 8th. Adalberto announced on May 1st that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuban "Son" Day will be celebrated with an online gathering this year. The event is dedicated to all the donors and workers who have provided services during the quarantine. To participate, click here and follow the instructions provided at the website. NOTE: The flags can be used to change languages at the website.

Maestro Álvarez has also started a petition to have Son declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Stay tuned for more Son news during Mayo Sonero!

ESPAÑOL: Mayo es el mes del son cubano. A partir del año pasado por iniciativa de Adalberto Álvarez, la idea es rendir homenaje al son cubano, con el 8 de mayo designado como el día principal de la celebración porque Miguel Matamoros y Miguelito Cuní nacieron el 8 de mayo. Adalberto anunció el 1 de mayo que debido a la pandemia de COVID-19, el Día del son cubano se celebrará con una reunión en línea este año. El evento está dedicado a todos los donantes y trabajadores que han regalado servicios durante la cuarentena. Para participar, hagan clic aquí y sigan las instrucciones proporcionadas en el sitio web. NOTA: Las banderas se pueden usar para cambiar idiomas en el sitio web.

El Maestro Álvarez también ha iniciado una petición para que el son sea declarado Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial de la Humanidad por la UNESCO. ¡Estén atentos para más noticias del son durante Mayo Sonero!

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Thu, 07 May 2020 08:23:56 +0000
ESA FLAUTA Esa Flauta - EGREM

ENGLISH: Save the date! On Friday, May 8th, EGREM will release "Esa Flauta" at digital retailers and streaming sites. The album comprises the participation of many artists, including Orlando "Maraca" Valle, Yumurí, José Luis Cortés, Carlos Calunga, Peruchín Jr., César López and Enrique Lazaga, to name a few. The album is a journey through Cuban genres. One week later on May 15th EGREM will stream the concert on their YouTube channel. Subscribe now so you don't miss anything!

ESPAÑOL: ¡Reserva la fecha! El viernes 8 de mayoEGREM lanzará "Esa Flauta" en tiendas digitales y sitios de transmisión. El álbum cuenta con la participación de muchos artistas, entre ellos Orlando "Maraca" Valle, Yumurí, José Luis Cortés, Carlos Calunga, Peruchín Jr., César López y Enrique Lazaga, por nombrar algunos. El álbum es un recorrido por generos cubanos. Una semana después, el 15 de mayo, EGREM transmitirá el concierto en su canal de YouTube. ¡Suscríbete ahora para no perderte nada!

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Tue, 05 May 2020 15:29:04 +0000
INTERVIEW WITH ALEJANDRO VALERA Alejandro Valera by Esteban Isnardi

ENGLISH: In these times, videos are very important for orchestras as a vehicle to deliver music to the public (especially when reaching fans in other countries), for the marketing of a single even helping to define the image of the band itself, and today YouTube can be a source of income for artists with the monetization of the channels. With all of this in mind, the choice of video director is no small matter for a bandleader.

We contacted Alejandro Valera, directer of the new Los Van Van video "Vanvaneo" and director of two very recent collaborations with Emilio Frías and Pachy Jr. including the documentary "De Vuelta al Barrio" and the new video "Homenaje a Juan Formell" for the Voces de Hoy project. You have also seen his work with videos by Havana D'Primera, Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son, Manolito y Su Trabuco and Yumurí, to name a few. Click here to read the interview in English, which includes some of these videos at the end.

ESPAÑOL: En estos tiempos los video clips son importantísimo para orquestas tanto como un vehículo para entregar música al público (especialmente a llegar a fanes en otros países), para el marketing de un sencillo y incluso ayudando a definir la imagen de la mismísima banda, y hoy YouTube puede ser un fuente de ingresos para los artistas con la monetización del los canales. Con todo esto en mente, eligir el director de un video clip no es poca cosa para un líder de orquesta.

Contactamos a Alejandro Valera, director del nuevo video "Vanvaneo" de Los Van Van y director de dos colaboraciones muy recientes con Emilio Frías y Pachy Jr. incluyendo el documental "De Vuelta al Barrio" y el nuevo video "Homenaje a Juan Formell" para el proyecto Voces de Hoy. También has visto su trabajo en videos de Havana D'Primera, Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son, Manolito y Su Trabuco y Yumurí, por nombrar algunos. Haz clic aquí para leer la entrevista en español, que incluye algunos de estos videos al final.

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Mon, 04 May 2020 15:10:02 +0000
YASSER RAMOS Y SU TUMBAO MAYOMBE Yasser Ramos

ENGLISH: Yasser Ramos said that he wasn't planning to write a song about the COVID-19 pandemic but when the muse comes to you, you'd better not ignore her. A couple of hours ago "Despertar Distinto" premiered at the Official YouTube channel of Yasser Ramos y Su Tumbao Mayombe. In addition to beautiful lyrics, the song has a great groove and I continue to be a fan of the horn section. ¿Quienes son sus metales? Yasser also released a couple of songs at YouTube yesterday from one of the band's last concerts at Casa de la Música Mirarmar in January 2020 before the COVID crisis. Stay safe and enjoy!

ESPAÑOL: Yasser Ramos dijo que no planeaba escribir una canción sobre la pandemia de COVID-19, pero cuando la musa se baja, será mejor que no la ignores. Hace un par de horas, "Despertar Distinto" se estrenó en el canal oficial de YouTube de Yasser Ramos y Su Tumbao Mayombe. Además de hermosas letras, la cancion tiene tremenda cadencia y sigo siendo fanático de los metales. ¿Quienes son sus metales? Yasser también lanzó ayer un par de canciones en YouTube de uno de los últimos conciertos de la banda en la Casa de la Música Mirarmar en enero de 2020 antes de la crisis de COVID. ¡Cuídate y disfruta!

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Sun, 03 May 2020 19:06:33 +0000
TRIBUTE TO JUAN FORMELL

ENGLISH: Today Cuban music fans around the world remember Juan Formell, who passed away May 1, 2014. You will find a number of tributes on social media. Here is a beautiful guaguancó by Voces de Hoy, featuring Dayan Carrera on lead vocals, with an arrangement by Joaquín Betancourt. The video by Alejando Valera contains some unpublished images by Iván Soca that have not been shared previously. You can find the single at your favorite digital site by clicking on this link

ESPAÑOL: Hoy, los fanáticos de la música cubana en todo el mundo recuerdan a Juan Formell, quien falleció el 1 de mayo de 2014. Encontrarás una serie de homenajes en las redes sociales. Aquí hay un hermoso guaguancó de Voces de Hoy, con Dayan Carrera en la voz principal, con un arreglo de Joaquín Betancourt. El video de Alejando Valera contiene algunas imágenes inéditas  por Iván Soca que no se han compartido previamente. Puede encontrar el single en su sitio digital favorito haciendo clic en este enlace.

Juan Formell by Tom EhrlichPhoto by Tom Ehrlich - Yoshi's in San Francisco December 2010

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Fri, 01 May 2020 16:22:40 +0000
AZÚCAR NEGRA

ENGLISH: A friend of mine, Julio Montero from vancuba.com, has uploaded a video dancing at home to Leonel Limonta & Azúcar Negra's "De un día para otro".  Some of us aren't so lucky as to have a dancer sheltering in place with us, but we can download the song for free at Vancuba! Limonta's nickname is "El Poeta de la Timba" and Julio says: "A song dedicated to humankind in difficult times. Beyond the current circumstance caused by a pandemic, 'De un día para otro' (From one day to another) encourages us to practice solidarity and compassion in all historic times. By looking after and respecting each other, we shall always survive hardships and stress. This is great Cuban music to lift your spirits!" So enjoy the video and the song and stay safe! 

ESPAÑOL:Un amigo mío, Julio Montero de vancuba.com, ha subido un video bailando en casa a "De un día para otro" de Leonel Limonta y Azúcar Negra. Algunos de nosotros no somos tan afortunados como para tener un bailador quedandose en neustra casa, ¡pero podemos descargar la canción gratis en Vancuba! El apodo de Limonta es "El Poeta de la Timba" y Julio dice: "Una canción dedicada a la humanidad en tiempos difíciles. Más allá de las circunstancias actuales causadas por una pandemia, 'De un día para otro' nos anima a practica la solidaridad y la compasión en todos los tiempos históricos. Al cuidarnos y respetarnos mutuamente, siempre sobreviviremos a las dificultades y al estrés. ¡Esta es excelente música cubana para levantar el ánimo! " ¡Así que disfruta el video y la canción y mantente a salvo!

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Mon, 27 Apr 2020 15:43:24 +0000
MONIKA MESA Monika MesaENGLISH: Timba power-couple Mònika Mesa and Joel Domínguez recently posted "Héroes del bien", dedicated to health workers who risk their lives every day to save so many people around the world. Joel is a prolific composer and arranger, not to mention a versatile musician as you will see in the video, and Mónika is one of the great female vocalists of her generation.

ESPAÑOL: La pareja poderosa de la Timba, Mònika Mesa y Joel Domínguez recientemente publicaron "Héroes del bien", dedicado a los trabajadores de la salud que arriesgan sus vidas todos los días para salvar a tantas personas en todo el mundo. Joel es un prolífico compositor y arreglista, por no mencionar a un músico versátil como verás en el video, y Mónika es una de las grandes vocalistas femeninas de su generación

ENGLISH: In addition, today they released the following video at Mònika's YouTube channel, "El que sabe sabe" featuring a collaboration with Los Yakis from Madrid, Spain and another of Joel's compositions. The song is a mix of timba and flamenco. Enjoy!

ESPAÑOL: Además, hoy lanzaron el siguiente video en el canal de YouTube de Mònika, "El que sabe sabe" con una colaboración con Los Yakis de Madrid, España y otra de las composiciones de Joel. La canción es una mezcla de timba y flamenco. ¡Disfrútala!

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Thu, 23 Apr 2020 19:46:18 +0000
MIXAEL CABRERA

ENGLISH: Mixael Cabrera's contribution to the coronavirus collection is presented as the tale the pandemic. It's also a great dance arrangement, produced by Oldrich Gonzales, with Lázaro Ernesto Numa on trumpet and trombone and Daymar Calvario on bass. 

ESPAÑOL: La contribución de Mixael Cabrera a la colección de coronavirus se presenta como la cuenta de la pandemia. También es un gran arreglo para el bailador, producido por Oldrich Gonzales, con Lázaro Ernesto Numa en trompeta y trombón y Daymar Calvario en el bajo.

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Sat, 18 Apr 2020 21:38:59 +0000
WIL CAMPA

ENGLISH: Wil Campa's "Pinta Pintor" feat. Osaín del Monte is now available! Follow the link to find it your favorite streaming site/digital retailer. Wil has also been busy during the coronavirus outbreak and recorded the following message of hope.

ESPAÑOL: "Pinta Pintor" de Wil Campa feat. Osaín del Monte ya está disponible! Sigue el enlace para encontrar tu sitio de transmisión / minorista digital favorito. Wil también ha sido trabajando durante el brote de coronavirus y grabó el siguiente mensaje de esperanza.

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Sat, 18 Apr 2020 18:19:37 +0000
WIL CAMPA - PINTA PINTOR Wil Campa - Zapato Nuevo
ENGLISH: This Friday, April 17th, Wil Campa will release "Pinta Pintor" feat. Osaín Del Monte at digital retailers. The single is from his new CD "Zapato Nuevo" recorded on the EGREM label.

"Zapato Nuevo" will be released in May and contains 12 tracks of Wil's signature son cubano. Other guest artists include Haila Mompíe, Alexander Abreu and Alejandro Falcón. The arrangements and production are by Roniel Alfonso, except "La Vida Sigue", which was arranged by Carlos Cartaya. Follow Wil Campa at Facebook to keep up with the latest news.

ESPAÑOL: Este viernes 17 de abril, Wil Campa lanzará "Pinta Pintor" feat. Osaín Del Monte en minoristas digitales. El sencillo es de su nuevo CD "Zapato Nuevo" grabado con la disquera La EGREM.

"Zapato Nuevo" se lanzará en mayo y contiene 12 temas de son cubano con el sello de Wil. Otros artistas invitados incluyen a Haila Mompíe, Alexander Abreu y Alejandro Falcón. Los arreglos y la producción son de Roniel Alfonso, excepto "La Vida Sigue", que fue arreglado por Carlos Cartaya. Sigue a Wil Campa en Facebook para mantenerte al día con las últimas noticias.

Track list:
Zapato Nuevo
Rumba Y Vacilón
Pinta Pintor
Muéstrame La Salida
Gallo Peleon
Desnúdate
La Propina
Maldito Cupido
Tú Sabe' Caminar
Fiesta
Escoba
La Vida Sigue

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Tue, 14 Apr 2020 20:25:14 +0000
ALAMÍ YEYE

ENGLISH: Although the coronavirus pandemic has put an end to international travel, Gabriel Hernandez and vocalist José Gil Piñera "Gilito" have already recorded four tracks in Havana for their upcoming album: two Latin Jazz numbers, a son and the timba "Alamí Yeye", which also is available at YouTube. The lyrics were wtitten by ex-Yoruba Andabo singer Pedro Celestino Fariña, and the arrangement is by Gabriel Hernandez. The recordings were done at Los Van Van's studio, El Rincón VanVanero. Gilito tells us that the video was also filmed El Solar del Bistec in Havana, the location of the movie El Rey de la Habana. A tour of Mexico is scheduled for October this year. We hope that the pandemic has passed by then and the fans of Cuban music in Mexico can enjoy this journey through Cuban music. When international travel opens up again, we can expect the band to finish recording and hopefully Gabriel Hernandez y Gilito & The Power of Cuban Music will be available in 2021. For now enjoy this great orchestrated rumba "Alamí Yeye" and stay safe.

ESPAÑOL: Aunque la pandemia de coronavirus ha puesto fin a los viajes internacionales, Gabriel Hernández y el vocalista José Gil Piñera "Gilito" ya han grabado cuatro pistas en La Habana para su próximo álbum: dos números de jazz latino, un son y la timba "Alamí Yeye", que también está disponible en YouTube. La letra son de la autoría del ex cantante de Yoruba Andabo, Pedro Celestino Fariña, y el arreglo es de Gabriel Hernández. Las grabaciones se realizaron en el estudio de Los Van Van, El Rincón VanVanero. Gilito también nos cuenta que el video fue filmado El Solar del Bistec en La Habana, el lugar de la película El Rey de la Habana. Una gira por México está programada para octubre de este año. Esperamos que la pandemia haya pasado para entonces y que los fanáticos de la música cubana en México puedan disfrutar de este viaje a través de la música cubana. Cuando los vuelos internacionales recomienzan, podemos esperar que la banda termine la grabación y esperamos que Gabriel Hernández y Gilito & The Power of Cuban Music esté disponible en 2021. Por ahora, disfrute de esta gran rumba orquestada "Alamí Yeye" y manténgase a salvo.

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Mon, 13 Apr 2020 20:31:00 +0000
MAKING OF VANVANEO

ENGLISH: The next official video from the "Legado" album is "Vanvaneo" and will be released soon at Los Van Van's official YouTube channel. The "Making of" video was uploaded yesterday and gives us all a glimpse behind the curtain. In addition to video of the band, the clip makes clever use of caricatures by Esteban Isnardi, who is also known in the world of timba as a dance instructor and composer. Esteban took a moment to explain how this collaboration came about.

See below for some caricatures of Los Van Van that Esteban shared with us.

Esteban: The director and filmmaker Alejandro Valera Losa, who is the one who usually makes the clips for Los Van Van, wrote to me one day asking me if he could use my caricatures of the band members for the VanVaneo video clip. As you can imagine, with the greatest of pride and the greatest of happiness, I said yes. As he later told me, he had come up with the idea after he saw me interrupt the Los Van Van concert in Hamburg in 2016 to give each musician his cartoon in front of the screaming audience.

I sent him the production that he requested, some ready-made cartoons and others that I was working on or transforming, according to his needs. My interaction with the musicians of Los Van Van began before this, and it increased with many comments or messages about this work.

I think I can say that as a cartoonist linked to Cuban music, this is my greatest achievement, something like my crown, because I cannot aspire to anything higher than having my cartoons as protagonists in a clip from Los Van Van. I discovered in the production process that they were cheering them in Cuba, and they have truly done an incredible job, because my drawings come to life without losing for a moment the initial similarity that I tried to capture. Alejandro Valera's sensitivity is amazing, his talent is evident not only in the clips he makes but also in the last movie "De Vuelta al Barrio" that he did with the "El Niño" Emilio Frías.

An anecdote: his wife Farah Portela, a Cuban dance teacher in Glasgow, invited me a few years ago to teach Scotland and at that time I didn't know that she was married to Alejandro, and I couldn't even meet him there.

Another anecdote worth telling: a few days ago Robertón called me, along with his wife, to show me that she had tattooed my cartoon on her shoulder!

Tatuaje de RobertónTattoo done at La Marca in Havana
Design Esteban Isnardi

This all started with that famous concert in Hamburg, but I didn't do it with the aim of promoting my work or selling myself to them...it was a totally disinterested gesture on my part, but it ended in this video clip. Unfortunately I couldn't travel to Cuba, so my presence is only visible in the Making Of, since Alejandro asked me to film myself to include myself in it.

ESPAÑOL: El próximo video oficial del álbum "Legado" es "Vanvaneo" y se lanzará pronto en el canal oficial de YouTube de Los Van Van. El video "Making of" se subió ayer y nos da un vistazo detrás de la cortina. Además del video de la banda, el clip hace un uso ingenioso de caricaturas de Esteban Isnardi, quien también es conocido en el mundo de la timba como instructor de danza y compositor. Esteban se tomó un momento para explicar cómo surgió esta colaboración.

A continuación hay algunos caricaturas de los Van Van que Esteban ha compartido con nosotros.

Esteban: El realizador y cineasta Alejandro Valera Losa, que es el que habitualmente hace los clips de Los Van Van, me escribió un día preguntándome si era posible que él utilizara mis caricaturas de la orquesta para el videoclip VanVaneo. Te imaginas que yo, con el mayor orgullo y la felicidad más grande, le dije que sí. Según me contó después, él ya venía con esa idea desde que me vio interrumpir el concierto de Los Van Van en Hamburgo en el 2016 para obsequiarle a cada músico su caricatura delante del público que gritaba.

Le mandé la producción que él me pedía, algunas caricaturas ya hechas y otras que fui trabajando o transformando, según las necesidades suyas. La interacción mía con los músicos de Los Van Van venía de antes y ahí se incrementó con muchos comentarios o mensajes en torno a esa obra.

Pienso poder decir que como caricaturista vinculado con la música cubana este es mi mayor logro, algo así como mi corona, pues no puedo aspirar a algo más alto que tener a mis caricaturas como protagonistas en un clip de Los Van Van. Descubrí en el proceso de realización que en Cuba las estaban animando, y han hecho verdaderamente un trabajo increíble pues mis dibujos cobran vida sin perder ni un momento el parecido inicial que yo intenté plasmar. La sensibilidad de Alejandro Valera es asombrosa, su talento queda patente no solamente en los clips que realiza sino en la última película “De Vuelta al Barrio“ que hizo con el “Niño” Emilio Frías.

Una anécdota: su esposa Farah Portela, maestra de bailes cubanos en Glasgow, me invitó hace unos años a enseñar a Escocia y en ese momento yo no sabía que estaba casada con Alejandro, y ni siquiera lo pude conocer a él allá.

Otra anécdota digna de contar: hace unos días me llamó Robertón, junto con su mujer, para mostrarme que ella se había tatuado mi caricatura suya en el hombro! [la foto de arriba]

Todo esto empezó en ese famoso concierto en Hamburgo, pero yo no lo hice con el objetivo de promover mi trabajo o de venderme a ellos...fue un gesto totalmente desinteresado de mi parte, pero que desembocó en este videoclip. Desgraciadamente no pude viajar a Cuba, con lo cual mi presencia es visible solamente en el Making Of, pues Alejandro me pidió que me filmara yo mismo para incluirme en él.

All caricatures ©Esteban Isnardi. Used by permission

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Sun, 12 Apr 2020 14:31:44 +0000
MÚSICA DE CUARENTENA

UPDATE: Directed and edited by Joseph Ros, an official video has already been put togetherfor the new single and it is even more poignant, using clips of people in quarantine communicating via social media. Watch closely, and see how many you recognize.

ENGLISH: As people around the world face the ordeal that the COVID-19 pandemic, we are both more separated and yet closer than ever before. Many governments around the world have placed their citizens under quarantine. To remain in our homes is the best thing most of us can do to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our neighbors and ease the burden on the medical staff, first-responders and all the bus drivers and grocery store clerks who keep things running for us. But this has had the effect of leaving people feeling isolated in their homes, cut off from loved ones and friends. The Pandora's Box that is the Internet has enabled us to be close in our isolation, and artists have stepped up to help make the passage of time more endurable with live video streams and "music festivals" from their homes. Everyone has something to offer. Calixto Oviedo is doing his Hablando de Timba series, and I have seen dance instructors offering classes at Facebook. Some bands have also already recorded new songs that reflect various aspects of these strange and trying times. I can't put everything in one post so I will begin with the fantastic new "Quiero verte otra vez" by Havana D'Primera. Stay tuned for more timba quarantine videos.

ACTUALIZACIÓN: Dirigido y editado por Joseph Ros, ya se ha creado un video oficial para el nuevo sencillo y es aún más conmovedor, utilizando clips de personas en cuarentena que se comunican a través de las redes sociales. Miren de cerca y vean cuántos reconocen.

ESPAÑOL: A medida que las personas de todo el mundo enfrentan la terrible experiencia de la pandemia de COVID-19, estamos más separados y aún más cerca que nunca. Muchos gobiernos por el mundo entero han puesto a sus ciudadanos en cuarentena. Permanecer en nuestros hogares es lo mejor que la mayoría de nosotros podemos hacer para protegernos a nosotros mismos, a nuestros seres queridos y a nuestros vecinos y aliviar la carga sobre el personal médico, los socorristas y todos los conductores de autobuses y empleados de supermercados que mantienen ese mundo funcionando para nosotros. Pero esto ha tenido el efecto de dejar a las personas sintiéndose aisladas en sus hogares, aisladas de sus seres queridos y amigos. La Caja de Pandora, que es Internet, nos ha permitido estar cerca en nuestro aislamiento, y los artistas han dado un paso adelante para ayudar a que el paso del tiempo sea más llevadero con transmisiones de video en vivo y "festivales de música" desde sus estancias. Todos tienen algo que ofrecer. Calixto Oviedo está haciendo su serie Hablando de Timba, y he visto instructores de baile que ofrecen clases en Facebook. Algunas bandas también han grabado nuevas canciones que reflejan varios aspectos de estos tiempos raros y difíciles. No puedo poner todo en una publicación, así que comenzaré con el fantástico "Quiero verte otra vez" de Havana D'Primera. Estén atentos para más videos timberos de la cuarentena.

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Tue, 07 Apr 2020 22:06:21 +0000
DE VUELTA AL BARRIO DOCUMENTARY

ENGLISH: I just finished watching the premier of "De Vuelta al Barrio", a documentary about Emilio Frias "El Niño" y La Verdad, directed by Alejandro Valera and I am still floating on a music high. This is a very well-made documentary outlining Emilio's path from the neighborhood of Buena Vista in Havana to Tumbao Habana, Orquesta Revé and finally starting a band with Wilfredo "Pachy" Naranjo Jr. There are interviews with Frank Fernández, Adalberto Álvarez, Issac Delgado, Pupy Pedroso, Elito Revé, Juan Manuel Ceruto, Lazaro Valdés, Germán Velazco and Alexander Abreu, among others. The documentary includes a fair amount of concert footage as well as moments from the recording studio for their three albums. I highly recommend you take an hour of your quarantine time to watch this documentary. It even has English subtitles! 

Emilio is also busy promoting the prodigious "Voces de Hoy" project. The album contains 20 tracks composed by Emilio with vocals by popular singers of today and a each with a different arranger.  For now, three singles are available on digital platforms and the complete album may be released later this month. Click the links below to find the singles on your favorite platform.

ESPAÑOL: Acabo de terminar de ver el estreno de "De Vuelta al Barrio", un documental sobre Emilio Frías "El Niño" y La Verdad, dirigido por Alejandro Valera y todavía estoy flotando en lo alto de la música. Este es un documental muy bien hecho que describe el camino de Emilio desde el barrio de Buena Vista en La Habana hasta Tumbao Habana, Orquesta Revé y finalmente la fundación de una banda con Wilfredo "Pachy" Naranjo Jr. Hay entrevistas con Frank Fernández, Adalberto Álvarez, Issac Delgado, Pupy Pedroso, Elito Revé, Juan Manuel Ceruto, Lázaro Valdés, Germán Velazco y Alexander Abreu, entre otros. El documental incluye videos de conciertos, así como momentos en el estudio de grabación para los tres álbumes. Les recomiendo que se tomen una hora de cuarentena para ver este documental. 

Emilio también está ocupado promocionando el prodigioso proyecto "Voces de Hoy". El álbum contiene 20 pistas compuestas por Emilio con voces de populares cantantes de la actualidad y cada tema por un arreglista diferente. Por ahora, hay tres singles disponibles en plataformas digitales y el álbum completo puede lanzarse a finales de este mes. Haga clic en los enlaces a continuación para encontrar los sencillos en su plataforma favorita.

El Padrino - Emilio Frias
A Que Me La Llevo - Alexander Abreu
Qué Seas Feliz - Rubén & Gaby

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Wed, 01 Apr 2020 21:44:10 +0000
CALIXTO OVIEDO HABLANDO DE TIMBA Calixto Oviedo

ENGLISH: The year 2020 will be remembered for the hashtag #stayathome. While many timberos may be suffering from dance club withdrawal, there are opportunities online to help fill the void. Bill has already posted about some of the streaming concerts being offered. Additionally, timba DJs around the world are putting their turntables to use with shows broadcast on Facebook, such as CuarenTimba. A unique educational opportunity has also arisen. On March 19th, master percussionist and timba legend Calixto Oviedo began a hour-long series called "Hablando de Timba". 

Calixto has an unrivaled knowledge of the rise of timba, having lived it and been part of such groups as Pacho Alonso, Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son and NG La Banda before relocating. Calixto has released three solo CDs "La Recompensa" (timba) and two Latin Jazz albums: "Calixto's Way", and the "Como Suena" with his Cuban Jazz Train. Calixto and our own Kevin Moore worked together on the "Beyond Salsa Percussion" series, volumes 2 and 3.

Calixto is now sharing his experience with us from the comfort of his livingroom, including audio examples. This is a fantastic opportunity to listen and learn, but also to take part in a dialog and ask the questions you've always wanted to ask. This is as valuable for timba newbies as it is for young Cuban musicians who didn't live through the timba of the 90s. You can tune in tomorrow at 12:30pm Pacific Time USA. That's 9:30pm central European time on Calixto's official Facebook page.

ESPAÑOL: El año 2020 será recordado por el hashtag #quedatenecasa. Si bien muchos timberos pueden estar sufriendo la retirada del club de baile, hay oportunidades en línea para ayudar a llenar el vacío. Bill ya ha publicado sobre algunos de los conciertos en streaming que se ofrecen. Además, los DJs de timba de todo el mundo están utilizando sus tocadiscos con los programas transmitidos en Facebook, como CuarenTimba. También ha surgido una oportunidad educativa única. El 19 de marzo, el maestro percusionista y leyenda de la timba Calixto Oviedo comenzó una serie de una hora llamada "Hablando de Timba".

Calixto tiene un conocimiento inigualable del surgimiento de la timba, después de haberlo vivido y formado parte de grupos como Pacho Alonso, Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son y NG La Banda antes de mudarse. Calixto ha lanzado tres discos en solitario "La Recompensa" (timba) y dos álbumes de jazz latino: "Calixto's Way" y "Como Suena" con su Cuban Jazz Train. Calixto y nuestro propio Kevin Moore trabajaron juntos en la serie "Beyond Salsa Percussion", volúmenes 2 y 3.

Ahora comparte su experiencia con nosotros desde la sala de su casa, incluidos ejemplos de audio. Esta es una oportunidad fantástica para escuchar y aprender, pero también para participar en un diálogo y hacer las preguntas que siempre has querido hacer. Esto es tan valioso para los novatos de la timba como para los jóvenes músicos cubanos que no vivieron la timba de los 90. Puede sintonizar mañana a las 12:30 p.m., hora del Pacífico de EE. UU. Son las 9:30 p.m., hora de Europa central, en la página oficial de Facebook de Calixto.

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Mon, 30 Mar 2020 19:53:08 +0000
MÚSICA CUBANA IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

English:  As these lines are being written, much of the world is under restrictions on public gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is affecting musicians everywhere regardless of the type of music that they play since live performance is a much more important income source than recordings, and Cuba is no exception. Festivals and tours have been canceled or postponed, and performance spaces are closed. We encourage you to support your favorite musicians wherever they are and whatever they play, but this being a website dedicated to Cuban music, we wanted to take a moment to mention some things you can do to enjoy and be supportive of that music specifically.
1.  Some musicians in Cuba are using Facebook Live to share live performances online.  More virtual concerts are appearing, some of which are connected to operations like Streaming Cuba. These vary in length from a song or two to nearly an hour. This writer's advice: spend more time enjoying these and less time obsessing about the latest disease statistics.  Internet is still relatively expensive within Cuba so another way you can help the musicians directly is offer to send them telephone or Nauta time via services like Hablacuba.com. 
2.  More Cuban recordings than ever are available in online stores like Amazon or Itunes in addition to Spotify, Deezer and Youtube.  With the departure of tourists from Cuba and the cancellations of tours during the pandemic, the music industry there is suffering  greatly along with the rest of the economy, If you want to help Cuba's music industry and your favorite artists in these times, now is the time to buy the album when you can rather than merely listen for free. 
3.  If you are a radio host, now is the time to be proactive about airing new recordings - the tours that were going to help introduce those to the world have vanished.   Radio can't replace those, but it can help alleviate the problem.
4. If you live outside of Cuba, don't forget the musicians playing this music in your country of residence.  In addition to the immediate loss of income for all of them, the loss of key tours increases the challenges for the career trajectories of rising groups.  An example that this writer has seen personally is that of Kiki Valera y su Son Cubano, whose new recording Vivencias en clave cubana has received excellent critical, popular and radio reactions, and they were about to begin a promising tour launch with the SxSW Festival plus a series of ancillary performances and subsequent dates in other cities.  Thanks to COVID-19, they are now scrambling to find Plan Bs to stay in front of the public, Plan B being mostly videos as in many cities, even virtual concerts are now difficult if not impossible.  Hopefully they will still have a successful forward path, but one can only wonder what life might be like for them  and for many other rising artists  now had the pandemic not intervened. 
We may not be able to share physical space right now, but we CAN connect virtually.  Never forget that.  We are only as alone as we choose to be. 
We invite your comments.



Español
: a medida que se escriben estas líneas, gran parte del mundo está bajo restricciones en las reuniones públicas debido a la pandemia de COVID-19. Se está afectando a los músicos en todas partes, independientemente del tipo de música que tocan, ya que la presentación en vivo es una fuente de ingresos mucho más importante que las grabaciones, y Cuba no es la excepción. Se han cancelado o pospuesto festivales y giras, y los espacios de actuación están cerrados. Lo alentamos a que apoye a sus músicos favoritos donde sea que estén y lo que sea que toquen, pero al ser un sitio web dedicado a la música cubana, queríamos tomarnos un momento para mencionar algunas cosas que puede hacer para disfrutar y apoyar  esa música especificamente.
1. Algunos músicos en Cuba están usando Facebook Live para compartir presentaciones en vivo en línea. Están apareciendo más conciertos virtuales, algunos de los cuales están conectados a operaciones como Streaming Cuba. Se varían en duración de una canción o dos hasta casi una hora. Consejo de este escritor: pase más tiempo disfrutando de ellos y menos tiempo obsesionándose con las últimas estadísticas de enfermedades. Internet sigue siendo relativamente costoso dentro de Cuba, por lo que otra forma de ayudar a los músicos directamente es ofreciéndoles enviarles tiempo telefónico o en Nauta a través de servicios como Hablacuba.com.
2. Más grabaciones cubanas que nunca están disponibles en tiendas en línea como Amazon o Itunes, además de Spotify, Deezer y Youtube. Con la salida de turistas de Cuba y la cancelación de giras durante la pandemia, la industria de la música allí está sufriendo mucho junto con el resto de la economía. Si desea ayudar a la industria de la música de Cuba y sus artistas favoritos en estos tiempos, ahora es el momento de comprar el álbum cuando puede en lugar de simplemente escucharlo gratis.
3. Si usted es un locutor de radio, ahora es el momento de ser proactivo para emitir nuevas grabaciones: las giras que ayudarían a presentarlas al mundo han desaparecido. La radio no puede reemplazarlos, pero sí puede ayudar a aliviar el problema.
4. Si vive fuera de Cuba, no olvidas a los músicos que tocan esta música en su país de residencia. Además de la pérdida inmediata de ingresos para todos ellos, la pérdida de conciertos claves aumenta los desafíos para las trayectorias profesionales de los grupos en ascenso. Un ejemplo que este escritor ha visto personalmente es el caso de Kiki Valera y su Son Cubano, cuya nueva grabación Vivencias en clave cubana ha recibido excelentes reacciones críticas, populares y de radio, y estaban a punto de comenzar un prometedor lanzamiento de gira con el Festival SxSW más una serie de presentaciones auxiliares y fechas posteriores en otras ciudades. Gracias a COVID-19, ahora están luchando para adivinar el Plan B para mantenerse frente al público, el Plan B probablemente es principalmente videos porque en muchas ciudades, incluso los conciertos virtuales ahora son difíciles, si no imposibles. Esperemos que sigan teniendo un camino hacia adelante exitoso, pero uno solo puede preguntarse cómo sería la vida para ellos y para muchos otros artistas emergentes si la pandemia no hubiera intervenido.
Es posible que no podamos compartir espacio físico en este momento, pero SI PODEMOS conectarnos virtualmente. Nunca lo olvida. Solo estamos tan solos como elegimos estar.
Invitamos sus comentarios.

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Sun, 29 Mar 2020 13:31:23 +0000
MIAMI CONCERT ALERT:
POSTPONED / POSPUESTO

 

ENGLISH: Yes, I know, a lot of authorities want you to stay indoors right now, but this is a rare opportunity to see Alaín Pérez live in the United States.  His resume is massive - his own bands, Habana Abierta, Jerry González in Spain, Paco de Lucia to name but a few - and in addition to being an excellent bassist, vocalist and bandleader he is also a supremely entertaining showman.  Since returning to Cuba from Spain a few years ago, he has been setting concert halls on fire there, and he will be in a setting in the United States where the concert will be produced well.  He will be backed by the Julio Montalvo Orchestra. If you are withing driving distance of Miami, you should see this. 
Jorge Luis Pacheco is an excellent pianist and is also very much worth seeing.  He has the mixed blessing of coming from an island that has produced so many but also does excellent shows.  

Time/Date:  Saturday, March 14 8-11 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.)
Where:  Miami Dade County Auditorium, 2901 W. Flagler, Miami
Tickets available through Ticketmaster and at the Miami Dade County Auditorium  box office
For more information, visit Fundarte's Website

ESPAÑOL: Sí, lo sé, muchas autoridades quieren que se quede en casa ahora mismo, pero es una rara oportunidad de ver a Alaín Pérez en vivo en los Estados Unidos. Su currículum es enorme: sus propias bandas, Habana Abierta, Jerry González en España, Paco de Lucía, por nombrar solo algunas, y además de ser un excelente bajista, vocalista y director de bandas, también es un showman sumamente entretenido. Desde que regresó a Cuba desde España hace unos años, ha estado incendiando salas de conciertos allí, y estará en un escenario en los Estados Unidos donde el concierto se producirá bien. Estará respaldado por la Orquesta de Julio Montalvo. Si se encuentra a poca distancia en automóvil de Miami, debería ver esto.
Jorge Luis Pacheco es un excelente pianista y también vale la pena ver. Él tiene la bendición mixta de venir de una isla que ha producido tantos pero también hace excelentes espectáculos.

Hora / fecha: sábado 14 de marzo 8-11 p.m. (puertas abiertas a las 7 p.m.)
Dónde: Auditorio del condado de Miami Dade, 2901 W. Flagler, Miami
Boletos disponibles a través de Ticketmaster y en la taquilla del Auditorio del Condado de Miami Dade
Para obtener más información, visite el sitio web de Fundarte

 

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Fri, 13 Mar 2020 00:16:12 +0000
MAKE JAZZ, NOT WAR: JAZZ PLAZA 2020 IN SUMMARY ENGLISH:  Bill Tilford attended the 35th edition of Jazz Plaza in Havana, and we are pleased to  present his collection of 16 photo galleries plus documents and commentaries about the festival.
You can enjoy that in English here. 
ESPAÑOL:  Bill Tilford asistió a la 35a  edición de Jazz Plaza en La Habana, y nos complace presentar su colección de 16 galerías de fotos más documentos y comentarios sobre el festival.
Puede disfrutar eso en español aquí.

Bobby Carcassés explica todo en scat. 

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Wed, 11 Mar 2020 00:36:37 +0000
Roberto Fonseca in Chicago March 8
Aggua from Roberto Fonseca's new album Yesun

As part of their US tour, Roberto Fonseca will be at the Old Town School of Folk Music's Armitage Avenue location (seldom used for this type of concert today but the iconic location of the OTS for many years) with his drummer Raúl "Ruly" Herrera and bassist Yandy Martínez on Sunday, March 8 at 7pm.  For more information and tickets, visit the Old Town School of Folk Music website here

 

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Thu, 05 Mar 2020 22:42:10 +0000
FIESTA DEL TAMBOR 2020 POSTPONED / POSPUESTO

Fiesta del Tambor 2020

ENGLISH: The 2020 Havana and Rhythm Festival Guillermo Barreto in Memoriam will take place from March 23-29th in various venues in Havana. This year's theme is "Africa, Mother of all Rhythms" and includes a workshop  in African Djembe by Weedie Braimah (Ghana) and a masters class in African Rhythms: Dances of Guinea and Mali by Prof. Talise Campbell (Guinea). Click here for the full program.

As always the Fiesta del Tambor will conduct competitions in percussion as well as dance. There is still time for international dancers to sign up to compete. "International couples or contestants must register by email and review the conditions established such as, registration fee for foreigners, payment methods, among other information before March 14, 2020, which will be available on the festival's websites ..."

If you want full access or only want to take part in specific workshops or concerts, you can purchase everything from a Full VIP Pass to tickets to individual events. Click here for ticketing information and an FAQ.

ESPAÑOL: La Fiesta del Tambor Guillermo Barreto in Memoriam 2020 se llevará a cabo del 23 al 29 de marzo en varios lugares en La Habana. El tema de este año es "África, Madre de todos los ritmos" e incluye un taller en Djembe africano de Weedie Braimah (Ghana) y una clase maestral en Ritmos africanos: Danzas de Guinea y Malí por la profesora Talise Campbell (Guinea). Haga clic aquí para ver el programa completo.

Como siempre, la Fiesta del Tambor presentará competencias de percusión y baile. Todavía hay tiempo para que los bailarines internacionales se inscriban para competir. "Las parejas o concursantes internacionales deben registrarse por correo electrónico y revisar las condiciones establecidas, como la tarifa de registro para extranjeros, los métodos de pago, entre otra información antes del 14 de marzo de 2020, que estará disponible en los sitios web del festival ..."

Si deseas acceder a todo o solo quieres participar en talleres o conciertos específicos, puedes comprar entradas, desde un Pase VIP completo hasta entradas para eventos individuales. Haz clic aquí para obtener información sobre boletos y preguntas frecuentes.

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Thu, 05 Mar 2020 15:13:54 +0000
Concerts of Interest in Miami and Chicago MIAMI

Notwithstanding occasional rumors to the contrary, some quality music from Cuba is still making it to the city.  Global Cuba Fest looks great this year, with the most  relevant highlights as follows:

Saturday, March 7 (North Beach Bandshell):
8pm | Brenda Navarrete and the Miami Debut of Mi Mundo
9pm | Yelsy Heredia and the Changüí Project

Saturday, March 14  (Miami Dade County Auditorium) 
8pm | Piano Marathon Cubano featuring Jorge Luis Pacheco
9pm | Mambo #2020 “Mambo meets Timba” by Alain Perez and Julio Montalvo Orchestra in Concert

Full details can be found on the Fundarte website

CHICAGO
A series of events is coming up fast:

March 8, Old Town School of Folk Music, 909 W. Armitage, Chicago
Roberto Fonseca's Chicago stop on his national tour will take place in the Old Town School of Folk music's original building on Armitage.   



March 12-15, Jazz Showcase, Chicago
Omar Sosa is presenting for 4 nights.  Our friend Thomas Pena of the Latin Jazz Network has a nice review of his recent New York performances here......






March 20 and 21:
Award-winning singer-songwriter Alex Cuba is touring in support of his album Sublime, which Felix Contreras of NPR named as one of the best albums of 2019, as follows:
March 20  Freedom Hall, Park Forest 
March 21: The Den Theatre, Chicago

April 8: Old Town School of Folk Music,  4545 N. Lincoln, Chicago
Harold López-Nussa returns!

 

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Sun, 01 Mar 2020 13:03:15 +0000
Alain! A great new album from Alain Pérez has just dropped - fabulous hardcore timba - El cuento de la buena Pipa:

  

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Sun, 01 Mar 2020 00:40:44 +0000
Roberto Fonseca On Tour

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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Fri, 28 Feb 2020 08:21:02 +0000
FESTIVAL DE LA SALSA EN CUBA Festival de la Salsa en Cuba Feb.27

ENGLISH: The Festival de la Salsa en Cuba is in full swing. Last night the Los Van Van concert was cancelled due to rain, but they will perform tonight from 1:20am to 2:30. What a fantastic line-up! If you want to keep up with each day of the festival, you can follow their official facebook page. I also highly recommend following the page of Nathanaël Mergui Photographe, who is posting stunning photos everyday from the festival as well as pictures the city of Havana and her people.

ESPAÑOL: Festival de la Salsa en Cuba está en pleno apogeo. Anoche, el concierto de Los Van Van se canceló debido a la lluvia, pero actuarán esta noche de 1:20 a.m. a 2:30 p.m. ¡Qué alineación tan fantástica! Si deseas mantenerte al día con cada día del festival, puedes seguir su página oficial de Facebook. También recomiendo que sigas la página de Nathanaël Mergui Photographe, quien publica fotos impresionantes todos los días del festival, así como fotos de la ciudad de La Habana y su gente.

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Thu, 27 Feb 2020 20:40:56 +0000
FESTIVAL DE LA SALSA 2020 Festival de la Salsa en Cuba 2020

ENGLISH: In exactly one month the 5th Edition of the Festival de la Salsa en Cuba will take place in Havana. This year the venue has been moved to Club 500 José Antonio Echeverría Calle 12 between Calzada & 3rd. As usual the event combines, dance workshops, excursions, and six nights of internationally renowned DJs and amazing concerts. This years' foreign artist will be Victor Manuelle, who will close the event on Sunday, March 1st. Click here purchase tickets to various events or a full pass + hotel.

ESPAÑOL: En exactamente un mes, la 5ª Edición del Festival de la Salsa en Cuba tendrá lugar en La Habana. Este año, el lugar se mudó a Club 500 José Antonio Echeverría Calle 12 entre Calzada & 3era. Como es habitual, el evento combina talleres de baile, excursiones y seis noches de DJs de renombre internacional y conciertos increíbles. El artista extranjero de este año será Victor Manuelle, quien cerrará el evento el domingo 1 de marzo. Haga clic aquí para comprar entradas para varios eventos o un pase completo + hotel.

Concerts: The schedule is subject to change/Calendario está sujeto a cambios.

25/02   
  Variety show
  Septeto Santiaguero
   
26/02  
5:00pm-9:00pm DJs and various performers
9:00pm - 10:00pm Monika Mesa y su Máquina Perfecta
10:20pm - 11:40pm      Manolito Simonet y Su Trabuco
12:00am - 1:30am Los Van Van
   
27/02  
5:00pm-9:00pm DJs and various performers
8:30pm-9:30pm David Calzado y La Charanga Habanera
9:50pm - 10:50pm El Noro y 1ra Clase
11:10pm - 12:10am Alaín Pérez
12:30am - 2:00am Paulito FG y su Élite
   
28/02  
5:00pm-9:00pm DJs and various performers
8:30pm-9:30pm El Hijo de Teresa y la Llegada
9:50pm - 10:50pm Papucho y Manana Club
11:10pm - 12:10am NG La Banda
12:30am - 2:00am Havana D'Primera
   
29/02  
5:00pm-9:00pm DJs and various performers
8:30pm-9:30pm Juan Guillermo JG
9:50pm - 10:50pm Adalberto Álvarez y su Son
11:10pm - 12:10am Pupy y los Que Son Son
12:30am - 2:00am Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor 
   
01/03  
5:00pm-9:00pm DJs and various performers
8:30pm-9:30pm Haila Mompié
9:50pm - 10:50pm Lazarito Valdés y Bamboleo
11:10pm - 12:10am El Niño y la Verdad
12:30am - 2:00am Victor Manuelle

 

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Sat, 25 Jan 2020 11:01:12 +0000
Afro-Cuban All Stars Tour Continues ***Click Here for the Rest of the Tour Dates***

ACAS played two sold out shows at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley with several new members and several new pieces, including a tremendous timba original (Se fue y me dijo) and a show-stopping medley of classic Puerto Rican plenas. Alto songo featured a fascinating set of improvised décimas in Controversia Cubana style--featuring vocalist Emilio Suárez and De Marcos, who has become a formidable lead vocalist in his own right, incorporating subtle blues and hiphop inflections at various points. Bay Area master John Santos introduced the show and sat in for a fiery conga solo.

***Click Here for Tom's Freight & Salvage gallery***

Juan de Marcos and Emilio Suárez

New pianist and rumba dancer Orlando Cardoso

Laura González, Caleb Michel and Tony Perigo

Gliceria González and Juan De Marcos González

Gliceria Abreu

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Thu, 23 Jan 2020 06:13:33 +0000
Dancing Software! I haven't fully explored this new program but it looks amazing: educational software for rueda dancers, covering gears, clave changes, et al. Here's the website, and there's a screenshot below. More info will be posted soon. [Kevin Moore]

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Fri, 17 Jan 2020 20:54:23 +0000
JAZZ PLAZA APPROACHES
ENGLISH:  (Sources:  Radio Encyclopedia, DeCubajazz.cult.cu)
The 35th edition of Jazz Plaza, Cuba's international jazz festival, will take place from the 14th to the 19th of January, 2020 in Havana and Santiago de Cuba.  The concert series will be special honors to the late Juan Formell, whose group Los Van Van celebrated its 50th anniversary in December; the late trumpeter Félix Chappottín;Irakere, and the late tresero Niño Rivera, whose 100th birthday would have been last April. Dayramir González, Eduardo Sandoval, Carlos Miyares, Michel Herrera and Pancho Amat will have important roles in the tributes. At least 10 other countries (including the United States) are expected to be represented on stage during the concerts. 
The  15th Edition of the International Jazz Colloquium will celebrate the 105th anniversary of the birth of Chano Pozo, the 60th anniversary of the Associaction of Artists and Writers of Cuba (UNEAC) and the 20th anniversary of the television program A Todo Jazz. 
We'll be present at the portion of the events taking place in Havana.



ESPAÑOL
:
 (Fuentes: Radio Encyclopedia, DeCubajazz.cult.cu)
La 35a edición de Jazz Plaza, el festival internacional de jazz de Cuba, tendrá lugar del 14 al 19 de enero de 2020 en La Habana y Santiago de Cuba. La serie de conciertos será un homenaje especial al fallecido Juan Formell, cuyo grupo Los Van Van celebró su 50 aniversario en diciembre; el fallecido trompetista Félix Chappottín; Irakere, y el fallecido tresero Niño Rivera, cuyo centenario habría sido en abril pasado. Dayramir González, Eduardo Sandoval, Carlos Miyares, Michel Herrera y Pancho Amat tendrán papeles importantes en los homenajes. Se espera que al menos otros 10 países (incluido Estados Unidos) estén representados en el escenario durante los conciertos. 
La 15ª Edición del Coloquio Internacional de Jazz celebrará el 105 aniversario del nacimiento de Chano Pozo, el 60 aniversario de la Asociación de Artistas y Escritores de Cuba (UNEAC) y el 20 aniversario del programa de televisión A Todo Jazz.
Estaremos presentes en la parte de los eventos que tienen lugar en La Habana.  

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Sun, 05 Jan 2020 22:29:22 +0000
Convocation Call for Cubadisco 2020
ENGLISH: The Cuban Music Institute (ICM)  recently published the convocation call for entries for Cubadisco 2020, which will take place in Havana in mid-May. You can read the announcement in English here...
ESPAÑOL: El Instituto CUbano de la Música (ICM) anunció recientemente la convocatorio a Cubadisco 2020, que tendrá lugar en la Habana a mediados de mayo. Puede leer el anuncio en español aquí...

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Sun, 29 Dec 2019 22:36:31 +0000
¡FELICIDADES A FORMELL Y LOS VAN VAN POR SU 50 ANIVERSARIO! Una portada de 1969 / a cover from 1969

ESPAÑOL:  Hoy (el 4 de diciembre) marca el 50 aniversario oficial de Los Van Van, un grupo fundado por el gran Juan Formell que instigó una revolución importante en la música popular bailable en Cuba, y, despues de poco tiempo, comenzó a influir en la música bailable de todo el mundo antes de la aparación de la Timba; José Luís Cortés "El Tosco" tocaba en Los Van Van antes de fundir NG La Banda. Gracias a Radio Habana Cuba en onda corta, este escritor fue capaz de escuchar sus inicios desde una distancia, y durante los 70 sus grabaciones  llegaba a unos programas radiales en ciudades como Nueva York y Chicago en EUA.  
No se puede exagerar la importancia de Los Van Van, que continúa hasta el presente como uno de los grupos musicales más importantes de Cuba y un tesoro para todo el mundo.  En nombre de todo el equipo de TIMBA.com y los oyentes y bailarines de todo el mundo, ¡Felicidades y muchísimas gracias!
Nuestro experto residente en muchos temas, Kevin Moore, ha publicado una extensa sección sobre el grupo a lo largo de los años. Puede explorarla aquí.


Los Van Van 2019

ENGLISH:  Today (December 4) marks the official 50th anniversary of Los Van Van, a group founded by the great Juan Formell that instigated an important revolution in popular dance music in Cuba and, after a short time, began to influence the dance music of the whole world before the appearance of Timba;  José Luís Cortés "El Tosco" played in Los Van Van before founding NG La Banda. Thanks to Radio Havana Cuba on shortwave, this writer was able to listen to their beginnings from a distance, and during the 70s, their recordings arrived to some radio programs in cities like New York and Chicago in the United States. 
One cannot exaggerate the importance of Los Van Van, which continues to the present day as one of the most important musical groups in Cuba and a treasure for the whole world. In the name of the entire TIMBA.com team and listeners and dancers around the world, Congratulations and Many Thanks!
Our resident expert on many subjects, Kevin Moore, has published an extensive section about the group over the years.  You can explore that here. 

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Thu, 05 Dec 2019 04:50:27 +0000
Issac at Freight & Salvage Issac packed Freight & Salvage Monday and will return Tuesday night. It was a high energy show with two surprises: Issacito Delgado on piano and Denis "Papacho" Savón, Issac's longtime conguero, on timbales. The show moves on to Santa Cruz's Kuumbwa Jazz Center Wednesday night. [Tom Ehrlich]

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Tue, 03 Dec 2019 09:04:09 +0000
Issac in Berkeley and Santa Cruz UPDATE: This tour unites Issac with legendary conguero Denis "Papacho" Savón and his son Issacito, who's been in the US playing piano with the Pedrito Martínez Group.

Issac Delgado is bringing back the great band that played SF JAZZ this summer for two nights (Mon. the 2nd & Tues. the 3rd) at Berkeley's Freight & Salvage, and Wednesday the 4th at Santa Cruz's Kuumbwa Jazz Center. There will be free dance lessons with the incomparable Ryan and Sidney (Rueda con Ritmo) at Freight & Salvage beginning at 7:00.

See below for more cities.

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Mon, 02 Dec 2019 21:47:21 +0000
Winners of JoJazz 2019/Ganadores de JoJazz 2019

ENGLISH:   The 22nd Edition of JoJazz, Cuba's national competition for Jjazz musicians,  took place last month.   You can read about the winners in English here
ESPAÑOL:   La 22 edición de JoJazz, el concurso nacional de jovenes jazzistas en Cuba, tuvo lugar el mes pasado.  Puede leer más sobre los ganadores en español aquí. 

ENGLISH:  The Fiesta del Tambor has published its convocation for 2020, which you can read in English here.  You can see an extended retrospective of last year's event here. 
ESPAÑOL:  La Fiesta del Tambor ha publicado su convocatoria para 2020, que puede leer en español aquí. 


ENGLISH:  Jazz Plaza will take place January 14-19 in Havana.    Bill Tilford will be attending this year's event. 
ESPAÑOL:  Jazz Plaza tendrá lugar del 14 al 19 de enero en la Habana.   Bill Tilford asistirá el evento este año. 

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Sun, 01 Dec 2019 22:58:28 +0000
CARNAL INTERNATIONAL RELEASE TODAY Buena Fe - Carnal

ENGLISH: Buena Fe's new CD, CARNAL, was released internationally on digital platforms today. Buena Fe will host a live stream at 4pm Cuban time (10pm here in Central Europe) from the Buena Fe Official Facebook Page to talk about the new album. Below you can enjoy "Patakí de Libertad", the first video from the new album. No, not timba but a very contageous rhythm that makes you want to move and as always, lyrics to make you think.

ESPAÑOL: El nuevo CD de Buena Fe, CARNAL, fue lanzado internacionalmente hoy en plataformas digitales. Buena Fe presentará una transmisión en vivo a las 4pm hora cubana (10pm aquí en Europa Central) desde la página oficial de Facebook de Buena Fe para hablar sobre el nuevo álbum. A continuación puedes disfrutar de "Patakí de Libertad", el primer video del nuevo álbum. No, no es timba, sino un ritmo muy contagioso que te da deseos de moverte y, como siempre, letra para hacerte pensar.

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Fri, 29 Nov 2019 09:59:55 +0000
ISSAC DELGADO LLUVIA Y FUEGO TOUR 2019 Issac Delgado Dec. 6 - Los Angeles

ENGLISH: As 2019 winds down, Issac Delgado will be treating his US fans to several more concerts on his "Lluvia y Fuego" tour. The album was released in May 2019 and features a number of guest artists such as Gilberto Santa Rosa, Alexander Abreu, César López, Pedrito Martínez, Alain Pérez and  Samuel Formell.

Issac Delgado is a consummate professional, who I have have the good fortune to see live twice.  Don't miss your opportunity to see him in concert! The dates below are confirmed, and more are expected soon. Follow Issac at Facebook to keep up with the latest news. 

ESPAÑOL: En lo que el 2019 termina, Issac Delgado estará ofreciendo a sus fanáticos estadounidenses a varios conciertos más en su gira "Lluvia y Fuego". El álbum fue lanzado en mayo de 2019 y cuenta con varios artistas invitados como Gilberto Santa Rosa, Alexander Abreu, César López, Pedrito Martínez, Alain Pérez y Samuel Formell.

Issac Delgado es un profesional consumado, a quien he tenido la suerte de ver en vivo dos veces. ¡No pierdas la oportunidad de verlo en concierto! Las fechas a continuación están confirmadas y se esperan aún más. Siga a Issac en Facebook para mantenerse al día con las últimas noticias.

November 30, 2019 - Miami Beach, FL.  - North Miami Bandshell Buy tickets
December 2, 2019 - Berkeley, CA. - Freight & Salvage Buy tickets
December 3, 2019 - Berkeley, CA. - Freight & Salvage Buy tickets
December 4, 2019 - Santa Cruz, CA. - Kuumbwa
December 6, 2019 - Los Angeles, CA. - Los Globos Buy tickets
December 8, 2019 - Las Vegas, NV. - Rhythms Event Center
December 14, 2019 - New Jersey - Mama Juana Cafe
December 15, 2019 - New York, NY. - DROM Buy tickets

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Tue, 26 Nov 2019 19:15:06 +0000
BUENA FE - CARNAL Buena Fe - CarnalArt & photography: Gabriel Davalos
Graphic Design: Raul Muñoz

ENGLISH: On Monday, November 11th, EGREM released Buena Fe's 11th studio album "Carnal" with a press conferance at Hotel Parque Central Iberostar. The physical CD is now available in Cuba at the EGREM stores at the Casas de la Música as well as in the airport. If you're in Cuba, please pick me up a hardcopy! In the meantime, I will content myself with the digital version which is scheduled for international release on the Metamorfosis lable Friday, November 29th.

As we have come to expect, as much thought has been given to the cover art as to the CD itself. Carnal's cover is by Gabriel Davalos and Raul Muñoz with the participation of dancers from Danza del Alma and Baila Cuba, from Santa Clara. "Carnal" was recorded in Havana at Vieja Linda Records and offers listeners 14 tracks, 13 composed by Israel Rojas and one,"Mía", composed and arranged by Yoel Martinez. We will delve more deeply into the full album credits in the review. For now, suffice to say that Buena Fe continues to defy categorization. 

Buena Fe will be giving three grand concerts at Karl Marx Theater in Havana for the release of "Carnal" November 22, 23 and 24. If you will be in Havana, do your best to get tickets! Follow Buena Fe at Facebook to keep up with the lastest news, videos, interviews, and concert information!

ESPAÑOL: El lunes 11 de noviembre, EGREM lanzó "Carnal", el undécimo álbum de estudio de Buena Fe, con una conferencia de prensa en el Hotel Parque Central Iberostar. El disco físico ahora está disponible en Cuba en las tiendas EGREM en las Casas de la Música, así como en el aeropuerto. Si estás en Cuba, ¡por favor, recógeme el CD! Mientras tanto, me contentaré con la versión digital que está programada para su lanzamiento internacional por la disquera Metamorfosis el viernes 29 de noviembre.

Como hemos llegado a esperar, se ha pensado tanto en la portada como en el CD en sí. La portada de "Carnal" es de Gabriel Davalos y Raúl Muñoz con la participación de bailarines de Danza del Alma y Baila Cuba, de Santa Clara. "Carnal" fue grabado en La Habana en Vieja Linda Records y ofrece a los oyentes 14 pistas, 13 compuestas por Israel Rojas y una, "Mía", compuesta y arreglada por Yoel Martínez. Profundizaremos más en los créditos completos del álbum en la reseña. Por ahora, basta con decir que Buena Fe continúa desafiando la categorización.

Buena Fe ofrecerá tres grandes conciertos en el Teatro Karl Marx en La Habana para el lanzamiento de "Carnal" el 22, 23 y 24 de noviembre. Si vas a estar en La Habana, ¡haz todo lo posible por conseguir entradas! ¡Sigue a Buena Fe en Facebook para mantenerte al día con las últimas noticias, videos, entrevistas e información sobre conciertos!

Track list: 
Patakí de libertad
Valientes
Sobre el arte de retoñar
La Catrina
Carnal
Mía
Cámara lenta
Quién soy yo
Mujer ciudad
Cuatro cuentos
Ni una más
Blues que Guateque
Música vital
Madurar

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Wed, 13 Nov 2019 21:09:48 +0000
LA CLAVE CUBANA La Clave Cubana by Monsi y Su Salsa

"La Clave Cubana" by Monsi y Su Salsa is the first single from "El Tambor", an upcoming album with an expected release during the spring of 2020. The project is under the direction of percussionist Simon Monserrat, who is also the composer and arranger. Released on October 19th, within 24 hours "La Clave Cubana" was on the Spotify Salsa Cubana Top 100 list. It is available at the digital sites below.

Apple Music
Spotify
Amazon

Monsi took time to tell us a little bit about his inspiration for the song as well as what is coming next.

 Simon Monserrat @bytrajkovskiI grew up with Cuban music, coming from a family where both my dad and uncle are musicians. My uncle started a legendary Venezuelan salsa group Federico y Su Combo, according to musicologists it was the first group to have salsa as the name of a record, "Llego la Salsa". But in my opinion, and that's why the lyric say so, salsa = musica cubana, although it has also included influences of other countries' traditions. 

The inspiration for the song is simply my love of Cuban music, which I have grown up with have been playing as a musician for more than 30 years now. I also had the good fortune to play with one of the best, Bebo Valdes, for several years, so he is my musical mentor. I have also worked with bassist Vincent Chappotin, 
          
@bytrajkovski

and many other great Cuban musicians such as Calixto Oviedo, who plays drums and timbales on the track.

It's a very international collaboration, "La Clave Cubana" was recorded here in Sweden, in Finland, piano and bass in New York, drums and timbales in LA. 

The album will be called "El Tambor" - a recurring theme on the album which features a lot of percussion. The single "El Tambor" will be released om Novmeber 18 featuring Edgar 'El Dolor' Quijada, one of Venezuela's best 'salsa dura' singers and lead singer right now in Bailatino.

Follow Monsi y Su Salsa at Facebook to keep up on all the latest information about the album and other singles that are on the way! 

Lead vocals:Jesús 'El Niño' Alejandro
Coros: Moncho, Raciel Garces
Bass: Luis Carrion
Piano: Gonzalo Grau
Drums, Timbales: Calixto Oviedo
Trombones: Andres Mena Guerra
Congas,Bongo, Percussion, Director: Simon Monserrat
Lyrics/music/arrangment: S. Monserrat

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Sat, 09 Nov 2019 20:14:30 +0000
KIKI VALERA CD RELEASE EVENTS
ENGLISH:   Kiki Valera launched his new CD Vivencias en clave cubana (you can read Tom Ehrlich's review here)  with several events on radio and in concerts last weekend.  You can see a photo gallery of the concerts and studio session an KNKX here.  
Kiki has been doing radio interviews for several stations, and Bill Tilford interviewed him in his home for his program From the Isle of Music. That interview will air the week of November 10-16. 
ESPAÑOL:   Kiki Valera lanzó su nuevo CD Vivencias en clave cubana (puede leer una reseña en inglés por Tom Ehrlich aquí)  en la radio y en conciertos el fin de semana pasada.  Puede ver una galería de fotos de los conciertos y la sesión en KNKX aquí
Kiki esta grabando muchas entrevistas radiales para diversas estaciones, y Bill Tilford entrevistó a él en su hogar para su proprio programa From the Isle of Music.  Esta entrevista saldra al aire la semana del 10 al 16 de Noviembre.

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Fri, 01 Nov 2019 01:26:24 +0000
Monterey Jazz, Part 3 Here's Tom's final report from this years Monterey Jazz Festival

Antonio Sánchez

Teodross Avery and Doug Carn

Ambrose Akinmusire

Jazzmeia Horn

Eric Alexander

Peter Burnstein

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Thu, 31 Oct 2019 06:23:17 +0000
Tom's Photos from Monterey Jazz, Pt. 2 This gallery is from Sunday, September 29 and features Kenny Stahl with Murrary Low, Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Abe Rábade from Spain, Electric Squeezebox Orchestra, Barrio Manouche, and a panel on Dexter Gordon featuring Angela Davis and others.

Murray Low piano and Kenny Stahl

Omar Ledezma with Pacific Mambo Orchestra

Maxine Gordon and Angela Davis

Mario Salomón and Luis Jiménez of Barrio Manouche

Pacific Mambo

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Thu, 24 Oct 2019 06:47:47 +0000
Kiki Valera's debut solo album to be released this Friday (para ESPAÑOL haga clic aquí)

Master Cuban cuatro player Kiki Valera -- of Santiago's Familia Valera Miranda fame -- is releasing his first solo record Vivencias en clave cubana this Friday, October 18, 2019 on the Origin Records label. A festive, tropical compendium of musical stories from his life experiences in Cuba, it features all original Cuban sones, boleros and guarachas and was composed and arranged entirely by Kiki and his childhood friend Coco Freeman (ex-cantante of Adalberto Álvarez y su Son and NG La Banda). 

To pre-order click here = https://kikivalera.bandcamp.com/releases

Hard copies will be on-hand the following Friday, October 26, when Kiki will be debuting songs from this new record at Seattle's EARSHOT JAZZ FESTIVAL. 8pm show at the Town Hall.
For more info check out = https://www.earshot.org/2019-festival-schedule/

Here is an excerpt from the album liner notes (written by our own Bill Tilford):
"Kiki Valera's debut solo album Vivencias en Clave Cubana, like the first recording of his family, comes relatively late in his career, although he appears in numerous albums with his family and with others. The eldest son of Familia Valera Miranda's leader Felix Varela Miranda, who just passed away in November 2018, Kiki was introduced to the tres when he was six years old by his father. He later attended the Conservatorio Estaban Salas in Santiago de Cuba to study classical guitar. During his time as a student, he discovered his chosen instrument, the cuatro, while watching a street musician playing the instrument. He was so enamored of its sound and the extra possibilities offered by the fourth pair of strings (the tres has three pairs) that he built his own instrument and developed his own technique of playing, tuning and fingering....

...This album was recorded in its entirety by Kiki at his facility in Seattle. His studies in electrical engineering and recording make him a demanding taskmaster when it comes to audio quality, a feature of this record that you will also appreciate. He employed various specialty recording techniques to capture the living essence of his cuatro and used several pre-amplifiers he hand customized to color and warm the sound along with some vintage microphones. Consequently, the mix and master built on this sonic foundation delivers all the traditional and roots tones with a sophisticated, full-range, modern sound-stage treatment. While dancers will move to this right away, audiophiles will also notice the definition, headphone sweetness, and surprises that are eventually discovered after repeated listening."

Here is the video of the album's first single MI SON
Aquí el video-clip del primer sencillo del disco MI SON

Vivencias en clave cubana - first solo record by master Cuban cuatrista Kiki Valera

ESPAÑOL: El maestro cuatrista cubano Kiki Valera -- de la afamada Familia Valera Miranda de Santiago -- lanzará su primer disco solista titulado Vivencias en clave cubana este viernes 18 de octubre de 2019 bajo el sello Origin Records. Un compedio festivo y tropical de historias musicales de sus propias experiencias en Cuba, el disco cuenta con sones, boleros y guarachas originales compuestos y arreglados en su totalidad por Kiki y su amigo de la infancia Coco Freeman (ex cantante de Adalberto Álvarez y su Son y NG La Banda). 

Para pre-ordenar haga clic aquí = https://kikivalera.bandcamp.com/releases

Copias físicas del CD estarán disponibles el siguiente viernes 26 de Octubre en su concierto en el EARSHOT JAZZ FESTIVAL de Seattle. La presentación es a las 8pm en el Town Hall.
Para más información use este enlace = https://www.earshot.org/2019-festival-schedule/

Aquí les incluyo un extracto de las notas del álbum (escritas por nuestro propio Bill Tilford): 
"El primer álbum solista de Kiki Valera, Vivencias en Clave Cubana, como la primera grabación de su familia, llega relativamente tarde en su carrera, aunque aparece en numerosos álbumes con su familia y con otros. El hijo mayor del líder de Familia Valera Miranda, Felix Varela Miranda , quien falleció en noviembre de 2018, Kiki fue introducido  al instrumento de cuerdas -- el tres cubano -- cuando su padre tenía seis años. Más tarde asistió al Conservatorio Estaban Salas en Santiago de Cuba para estudiar guitarra clásica. Durante su tiempo como estudiante, descubrió su instrumento elegido, el cuatro, mientras miraba a un músico callejero tocar el instrumento. Estaba tan enamorado de su sonido y de las posibilidades sonoricas que ofrecen las cuerdas adicionales (el tres tiene tres pares) que construyó su propio instrumento y desarrolló su técnica propia de tocar, afinar y digitación ...
... Este álbum fue grabado en su totalidad por Kiki en sus instalaciones en Seattle. Sus estudios en ingeniería eléctrica y grabación lo convierten en un capataz exigente en cuanto a calidad de audio, una característica que los oyentes también apreciarán. Empleó varias técnicas de grabación especializadas para capturar la esencia viva de su cuatro y usó varios preamplificadores que personalizó a mano para colorear y calentar el sonido junto con algunos micrófonos antiguos. En consecuencia, la mezcla y el master desarollado sobre esta base sonora ofrece todos los tonos tradicionales y raíces con un tratamiento sofisticado, completo y moderno de sonido. Mientras que los bailarines se moverán de inmediato, los audiófilos también notarán la definición, la dulzura de los auriculares y las sorpresas que finalmente se descubren después de escuchar repetidamente ."

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Tue, 15 Oct 2019 15:05:37 +0000
Tom's Photos from Monterey Jazz, Pt. 1 This gallery is from Saturday, Sept. 28, featuring Kenny Barron & Dave Holland, the Yellowjackets with Luciana Souza, and the Christian McBride Big Band.

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Mon, 14 Oct 2019 04:55:50 +0000
New Album by Hermanos Arango
ENGLISH: 
 Today, EGREM released the latest album by Hermanos Arango (also known as Los Hermanos Arango), Bendita Guanabacoa, to the digital stores. There are so  many recordings by so many artists with titles like "Without Limits", "Beyond the Limits"  etc etc. without actually delivering on the promise of their titles (those recordings are usually well-done but nevertheless stay within certain prescribed boundaries) that readers and listeners have understandably become skeptical about those superlatives when applied to new albums.  That creates a challenge for those of us who write about music when a recording comes along that actually does push beyond conventional boundaries without sounding contrived, as is the case with this album, which is the real thing.  But don't take our word for it, check out the audio track and then read all about the new recording HERE.   

ESPAÑOL: Hoy, EGREM lanzó el nuevo álbum de Hermanos Arango (también conocido como Los Hermanos Arango), Bendita Guanabacoa,  a las tiendas digitales. Hay tantas grabaciones de tantos artistas con títulos como "Sin límites", "Más allá" etc., etc., sin cumplir realmente la promesa de sus títulos (esas grabaciones generalmente son bien hechas, sin embargo, se quedan dentro de ciertos límites prescritos) que es comprensible que  muchos lectores y oyentes se hayan vuelto escépticos acerca de esos superlativos cuando se aplican a nuevos álbumes. Eso crea un desafío para aquellos de nosotros que escribimos sobre música cuando aparece una grabación que realmente supera los límites convencionales sin sonar artificial, como es el caso de este álbum, que es la cosa genuina,  Pero no es necesario creer nuestras palabras, que escuche este track y entonces lea todos los detalles AQUI



..and here is the official "Making of" Video by EGREM:

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Fri, 27 Sep 2019 19:05:30 +0000
New Album by Ernesto Vega
EN
GLISH:  Ernesto Vega has released a beautiful new album, Tradition and Beyond, that reunites 6 winners of Cuba's JoJazz competition.  Our review in English is here



ESPAÑOL:  Ernesto Vega ha lanzado un hermoso nuevo álbum, Tradition and Beyond, que reúne a 6 ganadores previos del consurso cubano JoJazz.  Nuestra reseña en español está aquí. 


Pablo Menéndez (Mezcla) dió una entrevista interesante recientemente en la television cubana que se puede ver aquí:

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Thu, 26 Sep 2019 03:25:16 +0000
Cuban Artists Nominated in the 20th Latin GRAMMY® Awards ENGLISH: TIMBA.com salutes the Cuban nominees and the winner of the Lifetime Achievement award in the 20th Annual Latin GRAMMY awards®:
ESPAÑOL: TIMBA.com felicita a los nominados Cubanos y la ganadora del Premio de la Excelencia Musical en la 20a entrega anual Latin GRAMMY®:

Lifetime Achievement Award/Premio de la Excelencia Musical:  Omara Portuondo
ENGLISH: Omara's work spans decades and several genres of Cuban music, and she is still recording.
ESPAÑOL: Omara  in action with Orquesta Failde last year:El trabajo de Omara abarca décadas y varios géneros de música cubana, y todavía está grabando. Omara en acción con Orquesta Failde el año pasado:



Best Instrumental Album/Mejor Álbum Instrumental: 
Saxofones Live Sessions by Cuban Sax Quintet  (EGREM) 
ENGLISH:  This album is available in most of the digital stores and Spotify.  Here is the official Making Of video: 
ESPAÑOL:  Este álbum está disponible en las tiendas digitales y Spotify.   Aquí está el video oficial "Making Of"



Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album / Mejor Álbum de Lazz Latino
1.  Jazz Batá 2 by Chucho Valdés (Mack Avenue Music Group)
ENGLISH:  This album is available in most of the digital stores and Spotify.  Here is a official live video: 
ESPAÑOL:  Este álbum está disponible en las tiendas digitales y Spotify.   Aquí está un video oficial en vivo:



2. Elemental by Branly, Ruiz & Haslip (Blue Canoe Records)
(Drummer Jimmy Branly was born in Havana / Baterista Jimmy Branly nació en la Habana.) 
ENGLISH:  This album is available in most of the digital stores and Spotify.  Here is a promotional video: 
ESPAÑOL:  Este álbum está disponible en las tiendas digitales y Spotify.   Aquí está un video promocional:

*A track from the album, Red Wall (Va a Caer) is also nominated for Best Arrangement / una pista del álbum, Red Wall (Va a caer) es también un nominado par Mejor Arreglo. 

Best Classical Album / Mejor Álbum de Música Clásica
Cuba: The Legacy by National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba (Rycy Productions, Inc.)
ENGLISH:  This album is available in most of the digital stores and Spotify.  
ESPAÑOL:  Este álbum está disponible en las tiendas digitales y Spotify.   

Best SingerSongwriter Album / Mejor Álbum Cantautor
Acústica by Albita (Innercat Music Group)
ENGLISH:  This album is available in most of the digital stores and Spotify.  Here is a promotional video:
ESPAÑOL:  Este álbum está disponible en las tiendas digitales y Spotify.   Aquí está un video promocional:



Best Traditional Tropical Album / Mejor Álbum Tropical Tradicional:
1.  Lo Nuestro by Yelsy Heredia (Bis Music) 
ENGLISH:  This album is available in most of the digital stores and Spotify.  Here is a promotional video:
ESPAÑOL:  Este álbum está disponible en las tiendas digitales y Spotify.   Aquí está un video promocional:

2. A Journey Through Cuban Music by Aymée Nuviola (Top Stop Music) 
ENGLISH:  This album is available in most of the digital stores and Spotify.  Here is a promotional video:
ESPAÑOL:  Este álbum está disponible en las tiendas digitales y Spotify.   Aquí está un video promocional:



ENGLISH:  It is worth mentioning that one of the other nominees in this category, Vereda Tropical by Olga Cerpa y Mestisay, was partially recorded with Cuban musicians, and the leader of the Peruvian Group Septeto Acarey, Reynier Perez, nominated for La Llave del Son, was born in Cuba.  Also, one of the nominees for Best Salsa Album category, Cuba Linda by Maite Hontelé, is a Cuban-Colombian coproduction. 
ESPAÑOL: Vale la pena mencionar que uno de los otros nominados en esta categoría, Vereda Tropical de Olga Cerpa y Mestisay, fue parcialmente grabado con músicos cubanos, y el líder del grupo peruano Septeto Acarey, Reynier Pérez, nominado para La Llave del Son,  nació en Cuba. Además, uno de los nominados a la categoría  Mejor Álbum de Salsa, Cuba Linda de Maite Hontelé, es una coproducción cubana-colombiana.

Best Pop Song / Mejor Canción Pop, Also Song of the Year / Canción del Año
Mi Persona Favorita by Camila Cabello & Alejandro Sanz
Camila was born in Cuba / Camila nació en Cuba

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Wed, 25 Sep 2019 00:56:54 +0000
Barbaro Fines y Su Mayimbe in Europe Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe in Paris

ENGLISH: Barbaro Fines y Su Mayimbe have arrived in Europe for their autumn tour, which begins tomorrow in Berlin. The band will tour Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, France and Spain from now until November 9th! Check for a concert near you. You can also catch Alexander Acosta at the concerts in Berlin, Cologne, Rome, Saarbruken, Helsikni, Milan, Lyon and Valencia!

ESPAÑOL: Barbaro Fines y Su Mayimbe han llegado a Europa para su gira de otoño, que comienza mañana en Berlín. ¡La banda recorrerá Alemania, Italia, Polonia, Finlandia, Francia y España desde ahora hasta el 9 de noviembre! Busca un concierto cerca de ti. ¡También puedes ver a Alexander Acosta en los conciertos en Berlín, Colonia, Roma, Saarbrücken, Helsinki, Milán, Lyon y Valencia!

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Thu, 12 Sep 2019 14:37:55 +0000
Tom's Issac Delgado Photos from SF JAZZ Here's Tom's gallery from Thursday's and Sunday's shows. Issac will back in the Bay Area at:

Freight & Salvage: Monday & Tuesday, Dec. 2nd and 3rd

Kuumbwa Jazz Center: Wednesday, Dec. 4th (2 shows)

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Tue, 10 Sep 2019 08:27:29 +0000
San Jose Jazz - 2019 - Sunday Click here for Tom's full gallery. (below: Ray & Manny Martínez, Calixto Oviedo, Odalys Caro & Leider Chappottín, Elio Villafranca)

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Fri, 06 Sep 2019 07:26:09 +0000
San Jose Jazz - 2019 Tom Ehrlich's photos from this year's SJ Jazz Summerfest are up. Click here for Friday and here for Saturday. Check back soon for Sunday.

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Tue, 03 Sep 2019 06:02:24 +0000
Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco Chicago Concert Review ENGLISH:   We'll start with what was originally going to be a Leoni Torres Chicago concert review.  
Due what appears to have been a failure of the local promoter/emcee on the ground (who will remain nameless since even unflattering publicity is publicity)  to resolve a press pass issue in a timely fashion, we did not cover this concert to emphasize why this was unacceptable.  Leoni deserved better coverage, and we do hope that  the concert went well. 

ESPAÑOL:  Comenzaremos con lo que originalmente iba a ser una reseña de un concierto de Leoni Torres en Chicago.
Debido a lo que parece haber sido un fracaso del promotor / presentador local en el terreno (quien permanecerá sin nombre ya que incluso la publicidad poco halagüeña es publicidad) para resolver un problema de pase de prensa de manera oportuna, no observamos este concierto con el fin de enfatizar que eso era inaceptable . Leoni mereció una mejor cobertura, y esperamos que el concierto haya ido bien. 

ENGLISH:  You can see our photo gallery and review of Manolito Simonet in Chicago here



ESPAÑOL:  Puede ver nuestra galería de fotos y reseña de Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco en Chicago aquí.

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Mon, 02 Sep 2019 02:13:29 +0000
Issac, Night 1

[all photos by Tom Ehrlich] It was vintage Issac Delgado at SF JAZZ Thursday night, with a 13-piece working band from Cuba--a full complement of young conservatory studs, including a wild new pianist, Victor Campbell, along with three celebrated veterans:

- musical director/tecladista Yusef Díaz of Klímax fame

- Elpidio Chappottín, a founding member of Los Metales del Terror who recorded with NG La Banda when Issac was singing lead

- trombonist Ariel Guillot, who began playing with Issac in the late-90s, taking a break to play with Pupy for a few years.

The show was all in Issac's classic live timba style, thus turning the tributes to Cheo Feliciano and Beny Moré into two of the hottest numbers of the night. The songs spanned Issac's full career, from NG (Necesito una amiga) through the torrid 90s (La sandunguita was truly ferocious) and onwards to La primera plana, Salsa, timba y amor, tracks from the new album, and--in true timba fashion--a few new improvisational tumbaos thrown in for good measure. Chappottín played several smoking hot solos with the soon-to-be-famous young lions hot on his heels. The pianist one-upped Jimi Hendrix by playing part of his solo with his back to the keyboard (almost infinitely harder than JImi's behind-the-neck trick because both hands are doubly reversed from their usual functions). He didn't use his teeth, however. Maybe he will as the weekend progresses! [Kevin Moore]

They're back Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Don't miss it.

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Fri, 16 Aug 2019 08:05:00 +0000
Manolito Simonet & Leoni Torres US Tours to Begin Two US tours worth catching if you can are about to begin:  


I.  Manolito Simonet y  Su Trabuco  are touring multiple US cities from August 23 to 31 as they celebrate 25 years for the band.   Currently-announced dates and locales are

August 23, 2019 - Miami, FL. - Cubaocho Museum & Performing Arts Center 
August 24, 2019 - Tampa, FL. - Avalon Event Center
August 25, 2019 - Chicago, IL. - JC Martini Club
August 29, 2019 - New York, NY. - S.O.B.s
August 30, 2019 - Washington D.C. - Howard Theatre
August 31, 2019 - Newark, N.J. - Palacio Europa

We will be covering the the Chicago performance.   

II.  Leoni Torres will be touring the US from August 23 to September 22 and again with a visit to Miami Beach in February 2020.   We will be covering the Chicago concert on August 29 at the House of Blues

This being TIMBA.com, Manolito Simonet is already well-known to you if you are reading this, and you already know why you need to go.   Leoni Torres sang with Maravilla de Florida and Charanga Habanera  for several years before launching a solo career in 2006.  His style is eclectic but tends towards Salsa Cubana including ballads. In a addition to his solo work, he has had collaborations with Gente de Zona and Gilberto Santa Rosa among others.  Here is a taste of him with Gilberto Santa Rosa

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Fri, 16 Aug 2019 03:37:35 +0000
ISSAC at SFJAZZ To celebrate his new album Issac Delgado is coming to SF JAZZ for 4 nights (August 15-18) with a huge band from Cuba that includes the great Elpidio Chappottín from NG La Banda, Yusef Díaz from Klímax and many other luminaries. This should be one of the most exciting weeks in the Bay Area in recent years.

 

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Tue, 13 Aug 2019 20:30:49 +0000
INTERVIEW WITH ELITO REVÉ Elito Revé Stockholm 2019Elito Revé & Ogbe Shé i Stockholm at the concert hosted by JVH Events

ENGLISH: Elito Revé y Su Charangón are finishing up their European tour with a concert tonight in Catania, Italy and a grand finale at Antilliaanse Feesten in Hoogstraten, Belgium Saturday, August 10. They conrinue their summer tour in Japan with ten concerts, from August 20th through September 1st. 

2019 has been a great year so far for Orquesta Revé. In May together with Los Van Van, they won the Grand Prize at Cubadisco 2019 for the DVD "Dos Leyendas" - a megaconcert with Orquesta Revé and Los Van Van filmed in December 2017. The Charangón also has a CD hot off the presses: "¡UEA!". It isn't available at digital retailers yet, but if you get a chance to catch them in concert you can buy the CD as well as the DVD, so bring some extra cash.

Elito sat down with Timba.com before the concert ni Stockholm Auust 3rd, to talk a little about "¡UEA!", the DVD and upcoming plans for the Charangón. Next February they will tour all of Cuba, beginning in Oriente and moving west. They will be back for a longer European tour in 2020 as well. To keep up with the latest info and videos, subscribe to Elito Revé y Su Charangón at Facebook.

ESPAÑOL: Elito Revé y Su Charangón están terminando su gira europea con un concierto esta noche en Catania, Italia y una gran final en Antilliaanse Feesten en Hoogstraten, Bélgica el sábado 10 de agosto. Continúan su gira de verano en Japón con diez conciertos, del 20 de agosto al 1 de septiembre.

2019 ha sido un gran año hasta ahora para Orquesta Revé. En mayo, junto con Los Van Van, ganaron el Gran Premio en Cubadisco 2019 por el DVD "Dos Leyendas", un megaconcert con Orquesta Revé y Los Van Van filmado en diciembre de 2017. El Charangón también tiene un CD recién terminado: " ¡UEA! ". Todavía no está disponible en los minoristas digitales, pero si tienes la oportunidad de verlos en concierto, puedes comprar el CD y el DVD, así que trae algo de dinero extra.

Elito se sentó con Timba.com antes del concierto en Estocolmo el 3 de agosto, para hablar un poco sobre "¡UEA!", el DVD y los próximos planes para el Charangón. El próximo febrero recorrerán toda Cuba, comenzando en Oriente y avanzando hacia el oeste. Volverán para una gira europea más larga en 2020 también. Para mantenerse al día con la información y los videos más recientes, suscríbete a Elito Revé y Su Charangón en Facebook.

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Wed, 07 Aug 2019 19:20:27 +0000
VARADERO JOSONE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2019 Josone Music Festival 2019

ENGLISH: The 2019 edition of Varadero Josone Music Festival is almost upon us. The concerts begin at 9:00 pm on Thursday, August 22nd and run into the wee hours of the morning on Monday the 26th. This festival is a veritable feast for Cuban music fans. You can get your rumba, jazz and dance music fix over 4 nights at one of Cuba's most iconic beaches. Click here for the full schedule.

ESPAÑOL: La edición 2019 del Varadero Josone Music Festival está casi por llegar. Los conciertos comienzan a las 9:00 pm del jueves 22 de agosto y se siguen hasta la madrugada del lunes 26. Este festival es una verdadera fiesta para los fanáticos de la música cubana. Puede disfrutar de la rumba, el jazz y de la música bailable durante 4 noches en una de las playas más emblemáticas de Cuba. Haga clic aquí para ver el programa completo.

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Sun, 04 Aug 2019 18:53:24 +0000
Los Hermanos Arango

La familia Arango really brought it to Kuumbwa tonight. It's an entirely different repertoire from what we heard at Ashkenaz two years ago and it's easily the farthest anyone has come towards integrating the full array of Afro-Cuban folkloric rhythms and singing into Cuban popular music. Cuban shows are often a smorgasbord - a little danzón, a little guaguancó, a little bolero, a little of everything.

This is not that.

Everything is seamlessly fused together into a powerful and original musical identity. Every song is a throbbingly danceable, hook-filled, harmonically interesting creation. The differences between songs--and there are plenty--are provided by shifting from arará to palo or from abakuá to batá, but nothing is derivative, nothing is gratuitous, and everything sounds like Los Hermanos Arango and nobody else. It has the harmonic interest of jazz, the rhythmic interest of folkloric music, and the raw drive of NG La Banda and North American R&B, but it's not any of these things. It's something new, and something that's been a long time coming. Don't miss it. Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, tonight, August 2. [Kevin Moore] [photos by Tom Ehrlich]

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Fri, 02 Aug 2019 05:40:26 +0000
FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE LA TIMBA Festival Internacional de la Timba 2019

ENGLISH: The first annual Festival Internacional de la Timba ...por siempre Formell, begins tomorrow with on Juan Formell's birthday with an exclusive dinner and inaugural concert at Salon Rosado de La Tropical. The concert will feature Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Los Van Van as well as guests such as Mayito Rivera and José Luis Cortez "El Tosco". Saturday, August 3rd at 23 and Malecón there will be a Mega Concert featuring top international DJs and more than 10 of Cuba's hottest bands including Havana D'Primera, NG La Banda, Issac Delgado, Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor, Pupy y Los Que Son Son and Van Van, of course. The closing concert at La Tropical will begin Sunday, August 4th at 6:00pm and will include concerts by Giraldo Piloto & Klímax, En Niño y La Verdad, El Noro y Primera Clase, Leonel Limonta & Azúcar Negra, Bamboleo, Monika Mesa, Tanja Pantoja and Havana D'Primera.

The Festival isn't only about concerts. For the inauguration, Sala Juan Formell at El Sauce will host  a photo exhibition by Iván Soca as well as a panel discussion with the founding Van Van members and Juan Formell's children. Hotel Comodoro will have showings of Nathanael Mergui's Van Van documentary "Legado" and after parties every night after midnight. If you're in Cuba, don't miss this historic premier edition of the International Timba Festival!

ESPAÑOL: El primer Festival Internacional de la Timba ...por siempre Formell, comienza mañana, el día del cumpleaños de Juan Formell, con una cena exclusiva y un concierto inaugural en el Salón Rosado de La Tropical. El concierto contará con Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Los Van Van, así como invitados como Mayito Rivera y José Luis Cortez "El Tosco". El sábado 3 de agosto en 23 y Malecón habrá un Mega Concierto con los mejores DJ internacionales y más de 10 de las agrupaciones más populares de Cuba, incluidas Havana D'Primera, NG La Banda, Issac Delgado, Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor, Pupy y Los Que Son Son y Van Van, por supuesto. El concierto de clausura en La Tropical comenzará el domingo 4 de agosto a las 6:00 pm e incluirá conciertos de Giraldo Piloto y Klímax, En Niño y La Verdad, El Noro y Primera Clase, Leonel Limonta y Azúcar Negra, Bamboleo, Monika Mesa, Tanja Pantoja y La Habana D'Primera.

El Festival no se trata solamente de conciertos. Para la inauguración, Sala Juan Formell en El Sauce organizará una exposición de fotografías de Iván Soca, así como una mesa redonda con los miembros fundadores de Van Van y los hijos de Juan Formell. El Hotel Comodoro presentará el documental "Legado" sobre Van Van de Nathanael Mergui y after parties todas las noches después de la medianoche. Si te encuentras en Cuba, ¡no te pierdas esta histórica edición principal del Festival Internacional de la Timba!

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Thu, 01 Aug 2019 13:19:54 +0000
Los Hermanos Arango in Santa Cruz and Berkeley

Seminal timba bassist Feliciano Arango, founding member of NG La Banda, comes to the Bay Area for the second time with his jazz-folkloric-fusion group Los Hermanos Arango, featuring his siblings Ignacio on guitar, Eugenio on percussion and Cristina on vocals. They'll be at Kuumbwa Jazz Center on Thursday and Freight and Salvage on Friday. Click here for Tom's gallery from the group's performance at Ashkenaz in 2017.

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Mon, 29 Jul 2019 20:26:35 +0000
CUBADISCO 2019 IN REVIEW ENGLISH:  Cubadisco is Cuba's most important awards program for recordings, on a par with the GRAMMY Awards in the United States, but also much more.   In the most comprehensive coverage of Cubadisco published outside of Cuba, we are pleased to bring you Bill Tilford's impressions of Cubadisco 2019, including multiple photo galleries with commentaries, official videos of several of the winners and the official nominees and winners booklets.   You can read this in English here. 
Several winners were guests on Bill's weekly radio program From the Isle of Music, a program with a global audience that deals with the entire spectrum of Cuban music.   You can learn more about that program here. 




ESPAÑOL
:   Cubadisco es la premiación más importante para grabaciones en Cuba, a la par con los premios GRAMMY en EUA, pero también mucho más.  En la cobertura de Cubadisco más completa publicada fuera de Cuba, nos complace traerle las impresiones de Bill Tilford de Cubadisco 2019, incluyendo múltiples galerías de fotos con comentarios, videos oficiales de muchos ganadores y los folletos oficiales de nominados y ganadores.  Puede leer todo en español aquí. 
Muchos ganadores fueron invitados en el programa radiofónico semanal de Bill, From the Isle of Music, un programa con un público mundial que cuenta con el espectro entero de la música cubana.  Puede aprender más sobre el programa aquí. 

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Sat, 27 Jul 2019 21:10:49 +0000
Issac Delgado 4 Nights @ SFJAZZ Bandmembers and details forthcoming! Click here for more.

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Mon, 22 Jul 2019 23:40:33 +0000
Elito Revé y Su Charangón Elito Revé y Su Charangón Summer 2019

ENGLISH: Elito Revé y Su Charangón begin their summer tour of Europe and Japan that will run from July 23 - September 1. The European leg of the tour begins tomorrow at Sweet Life in Naples, Italy. In addition to five concerts in Italy, the tour will also take them to Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Belgium. Click here for the list of European concerts.

On August 20th the Japanese tour of ten concerts will kick off at Bessie Hall in Sapporo. Click here for the list of concerts as well as ticket information.

The band will be presenting material from their new production "UEA!" as well as classic favorites. Between the new production and the 2019 Cubadisco Grand Prize Award for the DVD/CD collaboration with Los Van Van: "De Revé a Van Van: Dos Leyendas", 2019 is an exciting year for the Charangón and her fans. "Dos Leyendas" as well as two new singles from the upcoming production ,"UEA!" featuring El Micha and "La Guagua" featuring Telmary, are available now at streaming sites and on YouTube.

ESPAÑOL: Elito Revé y Su Charangón comenzará su gira de verano por Europa y Japón, que se desarrollará del 23 de julio al 1 de septiembre. La etapa europea de la gira comienza mañana en  Sweet Life en Nápoles, Italia. Además de cinco conciertos en Italia, la gira también los llevará a Alemania, Suiza, Suecia y Bélgica. Dale clic aquí para ver la lista de conciertos europeos.

El 20 de agosto se iniciará la gira japonesa de diez conciertos empezando en Bessie Hall en Sapporo. Haz clic aquí para ver la lista de conciertos, así como la información de entradas.

La banda presentará material de su nueva producción "UEA!" así como los clásicos favoritos. Entre la nueva producción y el Gran Premio Cubadisco 2019 por la colaboración de DVD / CD con Los Van Van: "De Revé a Van Van: Dos Leyendas", 2019 es un año emocionante para el Charangón y sus fanáticos. "Dos Leyendas", así como dos nuevos singles de la próxima producción, "¡UEA!" con El Micha y "La Guagua" con Telmary, ya están disponibles en los sitios de transmisión y en YouTube.

Part Two of "De Revé a Van Van: Dos Leyendas"

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Mon, 22 Jul 2019 08:36:52 +0000
La Charanga Habanera Europe 2019 David Calzado y Su Charanga Habanera 2019 Tour

ENGLISH: David and the boys are back in Europe on the heels of their US tour, celebrating 30 years charangueando! The gozadera begins tonight in Bilbao, Spain at Santana 27. They will be performing in France, Italy, Austria, Germany and Belgium - appearing at a number of summer festivals. Click here for the list of confirmed concerts.

ESPAÑOL: David y los chicos regresaron a Europa después de su gira por los Estados Unidos, ¡celebrando 30 años charangueando! La gozadera comienza esta noche en Bilbao, España, en Santana 27. Se presentarán en Francia, Italia, Austria, Alemania y Bélgica, y participarán en varios festivales de verano. Dale clic aquí para ver la lista de conciertos confirmados.

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Fri, 19 Jul 2019 15:12:23 +0000
CHICAGO LATIN JAZZ FEST THIS WEEKEND
The Chicago Latin Jazz Festival takes place July 12-14 this year.   Two special highlights are Melvis Santa and Ashedi, who open the Festival in Humboldt Park, and Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, who close it at Navy Pier.  The full schedule is as follows:

FRIDAY, July 12- Humboldt Park Boathouse

7 PM – 8 PM: Melvis Santa and Ashedi
8:15 PM – 9:45 PM: Chicago Latin Jazz Collaborative led by Victor Garcia
Tribute to Jerry Gonzalez

SATURDAY, July 13- Humboldt Park Boathouse

1 PM – 2 PM: Melvis Santa: Afro-Cuban Music Traditions Workshop
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM: The Black Hawk Performance Company
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM: The Black Hawk Performance Company
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Latin Jazz Chat with Roy McGrath and Alejo Poveda
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Fred Cantu Big Band
6:50 PM – 7:50 PM: Nythia Martinez Duo
8:10 PM – 9:30 PM: Jane Bunnett and Maqueque

SUNDAY- Navy Pier 

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Chicago Latin Jazz Collaborative led by Victor Garcia
Tribute to Jerry Gonzalez 
5 PM – 6 PM: Jane Bunnett and Maqueque

For more details, see Chicago Latin Jazz Festival

Melvis Santa and Ashedi are also performing at Sabor a Café Steakhouse on July 13 as follows:

Saturday, July 13, 2019, 9:00pm-12:00am
Melvis Santa & Ashedi at Sabor a Café Steakhouse
2435 W. Peterson Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60659
Come with an appetite, Sabor a Café also has excellent food. 



ENGLISH: Part of Cubadisco every year is an academic symposium presented by CIDMUC.  You can view a photo gallery and the official schedule for the 2019 symposium here.
ESPAÑOL: Cada año, parte de Cubadisco es un simposio academico presentado por CIDMUC.  Puede ver una galería de fotos y la programación oficial aquí. 

 

 


ENGLISH:
EGREM celebrated its 55th anniversary  with a gala concert at the Teatro Karl Marx on May 25.  You can view a photo gallery here
ESPAÑOL: EGREM celebró su 55 aniversario con un concierto de gala en el Teatro Karl Marx en el 25 de mayo.  Puede ver una galería de fotos aquí.

 

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Sun, 07 Jul 2019 21:49:15 +0000
Los Van Van at Stern Grove Los Van Van -- now featuring 3 of Juan Formell's children: Juan Carlos, Samuel and Vanessa -- played San Francisco's historic Stern Grove free concert series, documented by Tom Ehrlich. Click here for the full gallery.

 

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Sat, 06 Jul 2019 06:51:20 +0000
MAYKEL BLANCO Y SU SALSA MAYOR Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor Que tiene que te mueve

ENGLISH: Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor begin a national tour today with a concert in Camagüey. The tour will take them to 16 cities from one end of Cuba to the other, inlcuding a concert on La Isla de la Juventud. Click here for the list of concert dates. The band is also promoting their latest album  "Que Tiene Que Te Mueve", which passed 1.5 million plays on streaming media at the begining of June. If you somehow  missed the release of Salsa Mayor's 6th studio album, you can find it at the usual streaming sites and online retailers.

They also recently released the official video for the brilliant opening track "Ya tú no coronas". And as if that weren't enought, the video for "El Palo", a collboration between FClan and los Mayores, is out at the MB Record YouTube channel. Subscribe to their channel to keep up with the latest Salsa Mayor videos.

ESPAÑOL: Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor comienzan hoy una gira nacional con un concierto en Camagüey. La gira los llevará a 16 ciudades de un extremo de Cuba al otro, incluyendo un concierto en La Isla de la Juventud. Dale clic aquí para la lista de fechas de conciertos. La banda también está promocionando su último álbum "Que Tiene Que Te Mueve", que pasó a 1,5 millones reproducciones en medios de transmisión a principios de junio. Si de alguna manera perdiste el lanzamiento del sexto álbum de estudio de Salsa Mayor, lo puedes encontrar en los sitios de transmisión habituales y en las minoristas en línea.

También lanzaron recientemente el video oficial de la brillante canción de apertura "Ya tú no coronas". Y como si eso no fuera suficiente, el video de "El Palo", una colaboración entre FClan y los Mayores, está en el canal de MB Record en YouTube. Suscríbete a su canal para mantenerse al día con los últimos videos de Salsa Mayor.

Spotify https://spoti.fi/2OQsviL
Youtube https://youtu.be/S0WZA9av0sY
Apple Music https://apple.co/2WMEXmw
iTunes https://apple.co/2OQVy5A
Deezer http://bit.ly/2G6Mw1G

Ya tú no coronas

El Palo - FClan & Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor

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Sun, 30 Jun 2019 15:18:06 +0000
Cuban Music Events in Chicago The following Cuban music events are coming up in Chicago:

Monday, June 24 at 6:30-8:30pm: 
Chucho Valdés & Jazz Batá at Millennium Park
201 E. Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois   

This outdoor concert is free and is in support of the recent album Jazz Batá 2, the batá being the double-headed drums used in sacred (and in more recent times, secular) music in Cuba.   Fareed Haque & Casseus also perform.


Saturday, July 13, 2019, 1:00pm-9:00pm  
Jane Bunnett & Maqueque at Chicago Latin Jazz Festival
Humboldt Park
1400 N. Sacramento, Chicago, Illinois
Maqueque is a headliner at this festival, more details closer to the date. 

Saturday, July 13, 2019, 9:00pm-12:00am
Melvis Santa & Ashedi at Sabor a Café Steakhouse
2435 W. Peterson Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60659
Ashedi is Melvis' Rumba project.    Come with an appetite, Sabor a Café also has excellent food. 

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Sun, 23 Jun 2019 14:15:37 +0000
RESULTS OF CUBADISCO 2019
ENGLISH:  I am back from Cuba and will be sharing quite a few things about Cubadisco 2019 in the weeks to come.  You can begin with a brief summary, which includes free access to the official awards booklet, here. 
ESPAÑOL:  He regresado de Cuba, y durante las próximas semanas, voy a compartir muchas cosas sobre Cubadisco 2019.   Puede comenzar con un breve resumen, que incluye aceso gratis al folleto oficial de la premiación, aquí. 


ENGLISH: One of the  Special Prizes was awarded to Omara Portuondo & Orquesta Failde for Siempre tu voz: homenaje a Benny Moré.   EGREM has just released a promotional video.  
ESPAÑOL:  EGREM ha lanzado un video promocional para Siempre tu Voz: homenaje a Benny Moré por Omara Portuondo y Orquesta Failde.  El disco ganó un Premio Centenario en Cubadisco.

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Sat, 15 Jun 2019 22:17:04 +0000
3 Upcoming Events of Interest in Cuba ENGLISH:   There are three festivals of special interest to TIMBA.com followers coming soon in or near Havana:
ESPAÑOL:  Hay tres festivales de interés especial para seguidores de TIMBA.com próximamente en o cerca de la Habana: 

ENGLISH:  The Asocosalsa group is organizing concerts and a meeting from the 28th-30th of June in Hotel Capri,.Club El Turf, Jardines del Teatro Mella, Salon Rosado de la Tropical and Cine Teatro Avenida in Havana.  More details when we have them.  Thanks to Denis of Denis y su Swing for letting us know about the event. 

ESPAÑOL:  El grupo Asocosalsa  organiza conciertos y una reunión del 28 al 30 del Junio en la Habana en Hotel Capri,.Club El Turf, Jardines del Teatro Mella, Salon Rosado de la Tropical, y Cine Teatro Avenida en la Habana.  Más detalles cuando los tengamos.  Gracias a Denis de Denis y su Swing para informarnos sobre el evento.

ENGLISH:  The first International Timba Festival will take place in Havana from August 2-4, 2019.  Samuel Formell is the artistic director, and an impressive roster of Timba bands will participate. 

ESPAÑOL:
  El Primer Festival Internacional de la Timba tendrá lugar del 2 al 4 de Agosto en la Habana, Cuba.   Samuel Formell es el Director Artistico, y paricipará una lista impresionante de bandas de la Timba. 


ENGLISH:  The second Varadero Josone Jazz & Son Festival is coming to Varadero from August 22-25.  This year's lineup is heavily weighted towards Timba and Son bands.   More information when we have it.   
ESPAÑOL:  El segundo Festival Varadero Josone Jazz & Son tendrá lugar en Varadero del 22 al 25 de Agosto.  La lista de grupos este años esta más fuertemente ponderado hacia la Timba y el Son.  Más detalles cuando los tengamos.  

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Sat, 01 Jun 2019 18:25:40 +0000
Lily Hdez La Amazona Del Sabor Lily Hndz La Amazona Del Sabor

ENGLISH: Lily Hdez, "La Amazona Del Sabor", is putting the finishing touches on her debut album, which contains compositions of her own, such as "Vive La Vida" and "Amiga", as well as collaborations such as with Rojitas on the song "La Amazona Del Sabor". Other participants include Robertón (Los Van Van) and prestigious musicians such as Igor Rivas on trumpet, Anibal Seminario on saxophone, and Calixto Oviedo on percussion. The album is a journey through Cuban and contemporary music. The CD may be available as soon as July, so stay tuned and check out the official video clip of "Vive La Vida".

ESPAÑOL: Lily Hdez, "La Amazona Del Sabor", está dando los toques finales a su álbum debut, que contiene composiciones de su propia autoría, como "Vive La Vida" y "Amiga", así como colaboraciones tales como con Rojitas en la canción "La amazona del sabor". Otros participantes incluyen a Robertón (Los Van Van) y músicos de prestigio como Igor Rivas en trompeta, Anibal Seminario en saxofón y Calixto Oviedo en percusión. El álbum es un recorrido por la música cubana y la actual. El CD puede estar disponible en julio, así que permanezca atento y eche un vistazo al videoclip oficial de "Vive La Vida".

You can also catch Calixto Oviedo & Lily Hdez live. Here a few of their upcoming shows in California.
June 6 - Los Angeles, CA. - The Gate to the Mediterranean - Calixto Oviedo & Lily Hdez Orquesta 
June 14 - Downey, CA. - The Palms - Calixto Oviedo & Lily Hdez Orquesta 
June 16 - Downey, CA. -Boleros De Noche @Downey Theater - Lily Hdez Quintet 
July 26 - Costa Mesa, CA. - Summer Jazz Argyros Plaza - Cuban Jazz Train
July 27 - Oxnard, CA. - Oxnard Salsa Festival - Calixto Oviedo & Lily Hdez Orquesta 
July 28 - Fantasy Resort Hotel - Calixto Oviedo & Cuban Jazz Quartet 

Calixto Oviedo & Lily La Amazona del Sabor  - The Palms

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Fri, 31 May 2019 22:03:56 +0000
WILL CAMPA Wil Campa

ENGLISH: Will Campa & La Gran Unión return Canada for Festival Season 2019! The band will perform at festivals in June, July and August. Click the links below for more information.

ESPAÑOL: ¡Will Campa y La Gran Unión regresarán a Canadá para la temporada de festivales 2019! La banda se presentará en festivales en junio, julio y agosto. Haga clic en los enlaces de abajo para más información.

June 25 - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - SaskJazz
June 27 - Medicine Hat, Alberta - Jazz Fest 2019
July 5 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Carnival
July 27 - Mission, British Columbia - Mission Folk Music Festival 
July 28 - Mission, British Columbia - Mission Folk Music Festival 
July 29 - Mission, British Columbia - Mission Folk Music Festival 
August 18 - Calgary, Alberta - Expo Latino

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Fri, 17 May 2019 12:17:27 +0000
CIMAFUNK!

Asho Productions has now taken Cimafunk all across the US, tearing it up with their funk/reguetón/timba fusion and James Brown-inspired dancing. Here's Tom Ehrlich's report from the Oakland show.

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Fri, 10 May 2019 18:27:47 +0000
A DREAM COME TRUE Alexander Abreu San Francisco

ENGLISH: In 2009 Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera exploded on the scene with their debut album "Haciendo Historia". The first track of that first album is "Resumen de los 90", which declared to the world the band's love and respect for the classic timba hits from a time when Manolín filled stadiums with 90000 screaming fans. Today at Facebook Alexander announced that a dream of his is coming true: in September Havana D'Primera will begin recording a CD of classic 90s Timba hits!

We are talking hits by Los Van Van, Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son, La Charanga Habanera, Issac Delgado, Manolín El Médico de la Salsa, and Paulo FG among others!  Those of us who have danced to these tunes in the past will be able to enjoy them again reinterpreted with the sound of Havana D'Primera. And I can think of no better way to introduce new generations of timberos and salseros to the greats of the 90s than this loving tribute by Alexander and Havana D'Primera.

Alexander said that the album will contain around 15 tracks and will include some guest artists. He is producing the CD himself and arrangements will be by Alexander and Tony Rodriguez. The album will be released with Pafata Production and Unicornio Abdala and should be in the market in January 2020. 

In the meantime Havana D'Primera is now on tour in Colombia and their European Tour 2019 begins on May 17th in Rome, Italy.

ESPAÑOL: En 2009, Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera explotaron en la escena con su álbum debut "Haciendo Historia". La primera canción de ese primer álbum es "Resumen de los 90", que declaró al mundo el amor y el respeto de la banda por los clásicos éxitos de la timba de una época en que Manolín llenó los estadios con 90000 fanáticos gritando. Hoy, en Facebook, Alexander anunció que su sueño se está haciendo realidad: ¡en septiembre Havana D'Primera comenzará a grabar un CD de los éxitos clásicos de Timba de los 90!

¡Estamos hablando de éxitos de Los Van Van, Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son, La Charanga Habanera, Issac Delgado, Manolín El Médico de la Salsa y Paulo FG entre otros! Aquellos de nosotros que hayamos bailado estas melodías en el pasado podremos disfrutarlas nuevamente reinterpretadas con el sonido de Havana D'Primera. Y no puedo pensar en una forma mejor de presentar a las nuevas generaciones de timberos y salseros a los grandes de los años 90 que este cariñoso homenaje de Alexander y Havana D'Primera.

Alexander dijo que el álbum contendrá alrededor de 15 canciones e incluirá algunos artistas invitados. Alexander está produciendo el CD y los arreglos serán de Alexander y Tony Rodriguez. El álbum se lanzará con Pafata Production y Unicornio Abdala y debería estar en el mercado en enero de 2020.

Mientras tanto, Havana D'Primera está de gira en Colombia y su gira europea 2019 comienza el 17 de mayo en Roma, Italia.

Havana D'Primera in Colombia "Tres Días"

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Tue, 07 May 2019 11:55:15 +0000
CUBADISCO 2019 NOMINATIONS

ENGLISH:  Cubadisco 2019 is coming soon - the nominations were announced last week.  See the official nominations booklet and more here. 
ESPAÑOL: Cubadisco 2019 viene pronto -  se anunciaron los nominados la semana pasada.  Ve el folleto oficial de nominaciones y más aquí. 

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Fri, 03 May 2019 02:01:27 +0000
Fiesta del Tambor 2019 Retrospective ENGLISH:  In March, Bill Tilford attended the Fiesta del Tambor in La Habana.  This was the 18th edition of the Festival, which is designed to commemorate the legendary percussionist Guillermo Barreto.  Giraldo Piloto, one of the founding organizers of the festival, is also the guiding Cuban presence at the festival, but each year there is a country of honor, Spain this year, and the Spanish organizing team, led by the International Executive Producer Jorge Alfaro, did an excellent job. The Fiesta del Tambor is an intensive week-long series of percussion and dance competitions, workshops and concerts.  For those who fully participate, there are nearly 18 hours of events most days.   Rumba and Flamenco played prominent roles in the Fiesta, but there was also an extremely impressive lineup of Timba concerts.  I would highly recommend this event to foreigners based on the concert lineup alone, even more so for percussionists and dancers. 
You can download the official schedule here. 
Links to galleries with commentaries are available below. 
ESPAÑOL: En marzo, Bill Tilford asistió a la Fiesta del Tambor en La Habana. Fue la 18ª edición del Festival, que está diseñada para conmemorar al legendario percusionista Guillermo Barreto. Giraldo Piloto, uno de los organizadores fundadores del festival, también es la presencia guiadora de Cuba en el festival, pero cada año hay un país de honor, España este año, y el equipo organizador español, dirigido por el productor ejecutivo internacional Jorge Alfaro, hizo un excelente trabajo. La Fiesta del Tambor es una serie intensiva de una semana de competencias de percusión y danza, clases magistrales y conciertos. Para aquellos que participan plenamente, hay casi 18 horas de eventos casi todos los días. La rumba y el flamenco desempeñaron roles prominentes en la Fiesta, pero también hubo una impresionante variedad de conciertos de Timba. Recomiendo encarecidamente este evento a los extranjeros basándose solo en la lista de conciertos, aún más para percusionistas y bailarines.
Puedes descargar el horario oficial aquí.
Enlaces a galerías con comentarios están disponibles abajo.

Galleries with commentaries / Galerías con comentarios:
Opening Gala 2019 / Gala Concierto
Percussion Contest I / Competencia de Percusión I
Percussion Contest II / Competencia de Percusión II 
Welcome Dinner and Concert / Cena Concierto de Bienvenida 
Dance Classes and Contests / Clases y Competencias de Danza 
Laura de los Ángeles & Daymé Arocena
Noche de Sabian - Cubaplus - Kosamusic
Oderquis Reve & Noro y Primera Clase 
Noche Dedicada a España 
Bamboleo 
Manolito Simonet 
Klimax
Gala Final 



Cimafunk gave an electric sold-out concert in Chicago.  See our gallery here



Omara Portuondo is performing in Chicago at the Old Town School of Folk Music on May 1.  More information and tickets are available here. 

 

 

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Tue, 23 Apr 2019 02:37:23 +0000
Cimafunk Comes to Oakland - May 2nd Everyone's getting excited about a new band from Havana called Cimafunk. Could a mixture of funk and timba be the next "named genre"? They'll be in Oakland on May 2nd at the Complex Oakland, supported by both Walt Digz and DJ Leydis. Click here for tickets and more info. Here they are at La Tropical in Havana.

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Wed, 17 Apr 2019 23:32:16 +0000
Orishas & DJ Walt Digz: Gallery & Concert Report Click here for Tom's photos and report.

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Thu, 11 Apr 2019 05:03:56 +0000
QUE TIENE QUE TE MUEVE RELEASED Que Tiene Que Te Mueve 2019

ENGLISH: "Que Tiene Que Te Mueve" is the first full album by Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor to be released on Maykel's own record label, MB Record. It has been nearly four years since their last studio album and we have been rewarded for our wait with twelve superb tracks. Of course Maykel knows that you're only as popular as your last hit, so during that time Salsa Mayor released "El Chaca Chaca" in 2017 and "Ya Se Acabó" in 2018, both as singles and video clips, as well as the 2018 live album/video "Somos Mayores"  filmed during their 12th anniversary concert, which featured the Cuban National Symphony Orquestra.

The lead singers are now Yordys, Kasanova and Aggayú (Altides Landa) and the album version of "El Chaca Chaca" has been re-recorded with Aggayú on lead vocals. However, "Que Tiene Que Te Mueve" also includes collaborations with the great Mayito Rivera on "Yo Comprendo", and a guaguancó-timba version of Yoruba Andabo's "La Cafetera". This album is quintessential Salsa Mayor with their signature sound and timbalovers dance arrangements. Stay tuned for the full review.

"Que Tiene Que Te Mueve" is available at on-line stores and streaming services.

ESPAÑOL: "Que Tiene Que Te Mueve" es el primer álbum completo de Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor que se lanzará en el propio sello discográfico de Maykel, MB Record. Han pasado casi cuatro años desde su último álbum de estudio y hemos sido recompensados ​​por nuestra espera con doce pistas excelentes. Por supuesto, Maykel sabe que solo eres tan popular como tu último éxito, así que durante ese tiempo, Salsa Mayor lanzó "El Chaca Chaca" en 2017 y "Ya Se Acabó" en 2018, tanto como singles y videoclips, como también en 2018 el álbum / video en vivo "Somos Mayores" filmado durante el concierto del 12° aniversario, que contó con la Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Cuba.

Los cantantes principales ahora son Yordys, Kasanova y Aggayú (Altides Landa) y la versión del álbum "El Chaca Chaca" se ha vuelto a grabar con Aggayú en voz principal. Sin embargo, "Que Tiene Que Te Mueve" también incluye colaboraciones con el gran Mayito Rivera en "Yo Comprendo", y una versión de guaguancó-timba de "La Cafetera" de Yoruba Andabo. Este álbum es Salsa Mayor por excelencia con su sello y arreglos de baile para timbalovers. Estén atentos para la reseña completa.

"Que Tiene Que Te Mueve" está disponible en tiendas digitales y servicios de transmisión.

Track list:
Ya Tú No Coronas
Lo Que Sobra
Que Tiene Que Te Mueve
Yo Comprendo feat. Mayito Rivera
Cógele La Chapa
Mi Monte
El Chaca Chaca
En La Selva
La Cafetera feat. Yoruba Andabo
La Lengua
Déjame Volver
Ya Se Acabó

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Sat, 06 Apr 2019 14:11:54 +0000
Daymé Arocena Concert Report & Fotos Here's Tom's latest report and gallery.

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Mon, 01 Apr 2019 03:35:13 +0000
CIMAFUNK COMES TO CHICAGO AND NOLA THIS WEEK

Cimafunk has taken Cuba by storm, including a nomination in Cubadisco 2018 for their album Terapia. I have seen them live twice in Havana (their leader was also a guest on my radio program From the Isle of Music recently), and their live show is more electric than you would guess from the promo video above.   However, Me Voy is their biggest hit in Cuba, so there it is.  Here's a taste of them live to underscore my point:



So far, the tour has met with an enthusiastic reception.  This week, it comes to Chicago on Tuesday and Wednesday and New Orleans on Saturday as follows:
April 2:  Martyrs, Chicago, IL 
April 3:  Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL 
April 6:  Tipitina's, New Orleans,  LA 
We will be covering the April 3 performance at OTS here on TIMBA.com.   Also, Bill Tilford interviewed Erik, the leader, in Havana last September for his radio program From the Isle of Music.  To celebrate the tour, that interview (with music) will be repeated on shortwave as follows:
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday, April 7,  1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Sofia, Bulgaria 
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday, April 9 0000-0100 UTC (New UTC) on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday, April 8,  8-9PM EST in the US).
Station website: www.wbcq.com 
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday, April 9,  1900-2000 UTC and Saturday, April 13,  1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.
Station website: www.channel292.de

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Sun, 31 Mar 2019 17:00:26 +0000
QUE TIENE QUE TE MUEVE QUÉ TIENE QUE TE MUEVE - Maykel Blanco & su Salsa Mayor

ENGLISH: The very long-awaited new release by Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor "Que Tiene Que Te Mueve" is scheduled to drop worldwide at digital retailers on Friday, April 5th. Save the date! Via their Facebook page we also know that the album contains 12 tracks including collaborations with Mayito Rivera and Yoruba Andabo. They have also announced at Facebook that Mayito will be with them for their entire European Tour in October-November 2019! Check out the video below from the recording sessions in Havana.

ESPAÑOL: El tan esperado lanzamiento del nuevo disco de Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor, "Que Tiene que Te Mueve", se llevará acabo a nivel mundial en las tiendas digitales el viernes 5 de abril. ¡Guarda la fecha! A través de su página de Facebook, también sabemos que el álbum contiene 12 canciones que incluyen colaboraciones con Mayito Rivera y Yoruba Andabo. ¡También han anunciado en Facebook que Mayito estará con ellos en toda la gira europea de octubre a noviembre de 2019! Disfruta del video a continuación de las sesiones de grabación en La Habana.

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Tue, 19 Mar 2019 17:14:04 +0000
CIMAFUNK US TOUR

Cimafunk has taken Cuba by storm, including a nomination in Cubadisco 2018 for their album Terapia. I have seen them live twice in Havana (their leader was also a guest on my radio program From the Isle of Music recently), and their live show is more electric than you would guess from the promo video above.   However, Me Voy is their biggest hit in Cuba, so there it is.   Here's a taste of them live to underscore my point:



Unless you suffer from a Funk allergy (it would be fun to see them share the stage with George Clinton sometime), you will want to see this band, which is now touring the US and already played SXSW.
Here are some upcoming dates (the list is probably not complete):
March 28:  Tropicalia Lounge, Washington, DC
March 29:  The Galleries at Moore, Philadelphia, PA
March 30:  Global Cuba Fest, Miami Beach, FL (with Daymé Arocena, also worth seeing)
April 2:  Martyrs, Chicago, IL 
April 3:  Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL 
April 6:  Tipitina's, New Orleans,  LA 
April 13: Atlanta Jazz Festival, Atlanta, GA 
April 15: AS/COA, New York, NY 


Chicago fans of Chuchito Valdés will be pleased to learn that he is returning to the Jazz Showcase with his trio Thursday, March 21-Sunday, March 24.    He tells me that he has a new album coming, more about this soon.   In trio, his style has both mellowed and deepened with age.  Highly recommended.

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Tue, 19 Mar 2019 04:15:02 +0000
Maestros - Samuel Formell Los Van Van - Legado Author, producer, director : Nathanaël Mergui,
Co-author: Patricia La Peruana (Patricia Ayala)
Editorial advisor: AxEl CubAdicto

ENGLISH: The new Van Van documentary  "Maestros - Samuel Formell Los Van Van - Legado"  has been uploaded to Los Van Van's YouTube page.  It begins with a series of beautiful clips of Havana and Juan Formell, set to Formell singing "La Fantasía", which had tears in my eyes in just the first 30 seconds. 

There have been a number of Van Van documentaries but  "Maestros - Samuel Formell Los Van Van - Legado" picks up with the band during the studio sessions for the CD "Legado". As the title indicates, the documentary focuses on an interview with Samuel Formell and his experiences growing up surrounded by Los Van Van, his journey from musician to musical director, and how his father prepared him for taking on the role of director of Los Van Van. It includes interviews with Issac Delgado, Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso, and Pedrito Calvo as well as classic and more recent Van Van concert video and moments in the EGREM studios during the recording of the album "Legado".

I was left with a huge sense of nostalgia seeing the Van Vaneros who have left the band or have passed away as well as the overwhelming affirmation that Van Van continues to be Van Van— Cosa Gorda.

It is currently only available in Spanish.

ESPAÑOL: El nuevo documental de Van Van "Maestros - Samuel Formell Los Van Van - Legado" se ha subido a la página de YouTube de Los Van Van. Comienza con una serie de hermosos video clips de La Habana y Juan Formell, en los que Formell canta "La Fantasía", que me sacó las lágrimas ya en los primeros 30 segundos.

Han salido una serie de documentales de Van Van, pero "Maestros - Samuel Formell Los Van Van - Legado" retoma con la banda durante las sesiones de grabación para el CD "Legado". Como lo indica el título, el documental se enfoca en una entrevista con Samuel Formell y sus experiencias al crecer rodeado de Los Van Van, su viaje de músico a director musical y cómo su padre lo preparó para asumir el papel de director de Los Van Van. . Incluye entrevistas con Issac Delgado, Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso y Pedrito Calvo, así como video clásico y más reciente de conciertos de Van Van y momentos en los estudios de EGREM durante la grabación del álbum "Legado".

Me quedé con una enorme sensación de nostalgia al ver a Van Vaneros que se han bajado de la banda o han fallecido, así como a la abrumadora afirmación de que Van Van sigue siendo Van Van, Cosa Gorda.

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Sun, 17 Mar 2019 17:14:54 +0000
Daymé Arocena Daymé will be at The Art Boutiki in San José on Tuesday the 19th and at The New Parish in Oakland the following night, with DJ Leydis. Click here for Tom's gallery of their 2016 appearance.

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Thu, 14 Mar 2019 06:11:02 +0000
Alfredo Rodríguez & Pedrito Martínez Duo Alfredo and Pedrito are out on tour - amazingly generating the energy of a full band with just a duo. They'll be at Santa Cruz's Kuumbwa Jazz on Thursday, March 14.

Here's the full tour - and the album.

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Fri, 08 Mar 2019 21:04:34 +0000
SF SalsaRueda 2019 Click here for Tom's massive gallery featuring the first US performance of El Niño y la Verdad and many of the world's best dancers.

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Mon, 25 Feb 2019 17:00:18 +0000
Festival de la Salsa en Cuba Starts Today Festival de la Salsa en Cuba 2019

ENGLISH: The 2019 Festival de la Salsa en Cuba begins today with a dinner and concerts by Yasser Ramos y el Tumbao Mayombe and Yumurí y sus Hermanos. Last night there was a pre-gala warm up at Casa de la Música Miramar with concerts by Ivan el Hijo de Teresa, Maikel Dinza and Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor.

If - like me - you couldn't attend this year, you can still keep up with what's going on through social media. The official Facebook page of the Festival de la Salsa en Cuba will be uploading photos and videos from the events. I also know that there are at least two excellent timba photographers  in Havana right now, so we can live vicariously through their uploads. Luis Angel Gonzales Taipe has even said that he will be uploading pictures live during the concerts! And you may know Nathanaël Mergui's work including his Los Van Van documentary. Check out the trailer below.

ESPAÑOL: El Festival de la Salsa en Cuba 2019 comienza hoy con una cena y conciertos de Yasser Ramos y su Tumbao Mayombe y Yumurí y sus Hermanos. Anoche hubo un calentamiento pre-gala en Casa de la Música Miramar con conciertos de Ivan el Hijo de Teresa, Maikel Dinza y Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor.

Si, como yo, no pudiste asistir este año, todavía puedes mantenerte al día con lo que está pasando a través de las redes sociales. La página oficial de Facebook del Festival de la Salsa en Cuba subirá fotos y videos de los eventos. También sé que hay al menos dos excelentes fotógrafos de timba que están en La Habana en este momento, por los que podemos vivir indirectamente a través de sus subidas. ¡Luis Angel Gonzales Taipe incluso ha dicho que cargará fotos en vivo durante los conciertos! Y es posible que ya conozcas el trabajo de Nathanaël Mergui, incluido su documental sobre Los Van Van.

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Tue, 19 Feb 2019 16:52:45 +0000
Fiesta del Tambor Approaches ENGLISH:  The XVIII Edition of the  Fiesta del Tambor will take place from March 10-14 in Havana Cuba.  The country of honor this year is Spain, and a number of excellent Spanish artists including Diego el Cigala and one of my personal favorites, Patax, will be among the performers.   Fiesta del Tambor is a combination of percussion contests, dance instructions and concerts that include Cuba's best percussionists and their ensembles.  We will be in attendance at  this event for the first time this year.  You can learn much more about the event and the performers at  http://www.fiestadeltambor.cult.cu/

ESPAÑOL: La XVIII Edición de la Fiesta del Tambor tendrá lugar del 10 al 14 de marzo en La Habana Cuba. El país de honor de este año es España, y varios artistas españoles excelentes, entre ellos Diego el Cigala y uno de mis favoritos personales, Patax, estarán entre los artistas. Fiesta del Tambor es una combinación de concursos de percusión, instrucciones de danza y conciertos que incluyen a los mejores percusionistas de Cuba y sus ensembles. Estaremos presentes en este evento por primera vez este año. Puede aprender mucho más en el excelente sitio web del evento, http://www.fiestadeltambor.cult.cu/

ENGLISH:  For 2019, Cubadisco will return to the month of May  We will also attend that event this year.  More details to follow closer to the date.  Meanwhile, if you read Spanish, you can read the convocatoria here.
Also, we have just published more photo galleries from Cubadisco 2018, including concerts by Alberto Lescay & Formas, Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro and guests, Angel Yos y La Maquina Loca and La Tabla.   You can view these in our galleries section

ESPAÑOL:  En 2019, Cubadisco regresará al mes de mayo. También acudiremos al evento  este año. Más detalles para seguir más cerca de la fecha. Mientras tanto, puede leer la convocatoria aquí. 
Además, acabamos de publicar más galerías de fotos de Cubadisco 2018, que incluyen conciertos de Alberto Lescay & Formas, Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro e invitados, Angel Yos y La Maquina Loca y La Tabla. Puedes verlas en nuestra sección de galerías.

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Mon, 18 Feb 2019 21:31:16 +0000
SFJAZZ Gala Honoring Chucho Valdés

Click here for Tom's report and gallery.

Chucho returns to SFJAZZ on March 16 for two shows with the great jazz saxophonist Joe Lovano.

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Tue, 12 Feb 2019 05:52:24 +0000
Dafnis Prieto Big Band Wins Best Latin Jazz Album at GRAMMY Awards ENGLISH:   This year, nearly all of the GRAMMY winners  were announced during the afternoon webcast on the GRAMMY.com webiste.   Although Tropical Latin  and Latin Jazz live performances were not presented in the telecast, the overall quality of the music that WAS presented (including some excellent World Music) was quite good.  For music industry professionals, the afternoon webcast, rather than the later telecast, has become THE show to watch regardless of genre.  
Congratulations to the Dafnis Prieto Big Band for winning the Best Latin Jazz Album category.  Even our perennial Jazz curmudgeon, Bill Tilford, agrees with the outcome this year, and you can read our review of the album here. 
ESPAÑOL: Este año, casi todos los ganadores de los premios GRAMMY se anunciaron durante el webcast por la tarde en el sitio web de GRAMMY.com. Si bien ningunas presentaciones en vivo de Tropical Latin y Latin Jazz se presentaron en el webcast , la calidad general de la música que se presentó (incluyendo algunos excelentes World Music) fue bastante buena. Para los profesionales de la industria de la música, el webcast por la tarde, en lugar de la transmisión televisa posterior, se ha convertido en EL espectáculo para ver independientemente del género. Felicidades al Dafnis Prieto Big Band (Back to the Sunset) por ganar la categoría de Mejor Álbum de Jazz Latino.  Incluso nuestro cascarrabias de Jazz perenne, Bill Tilford, está de acuerdo con el resultado de este año, y puede leer nuestra reseña del álbum aquí.  

ENGLISH: Also, in the GRAMMY awards, even a nomination is a special achievement.  Congratulations to The Spanish Harlem Orchestra (Anniversary) for winning the Best Tropical Latin Album Category, but we salute Formell & Los Van Van (Legado) as well as Orquesta Akokán for their nominations in that category.  You can read our review of Los Van Van's album Legado here. 
ESPAÑOL: Además, en los premios GRAMMY, incluso una nominación es un logro especial. Felicitaciones a The Spanish Harlem Orchestra (Aniversario) por ganar la categoría de Mejor Álbum Latino Tropical, pero una vez más felicitamos a Formell y Los Van Van (Legado), así como a Orquesta Akokán por sus nominaciones en esa categoría.  Puede leer nuesta reseña del álbum de Formell &  Los Van Van, Legado, aquí. 

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Mon, 11 Feb 2019 02:23:37 +0000
El Niño y la Verdad at SF SalsaRueda

The annual SFSalsaRueda Festival is back with the West Coast premiere of one of the most exciting bands in Cuba - El Niño y la Verdad, a 16-piece band following in the long line of Revé spinoffs that includes Van Van, Ritmo Oriental and Dan Den. Bay Area fans will remember Emilio "El Niño" Frías from Revé's 2010 tour.

Click here for a full list of performances, dance classes, workshops and other concerts, including the Bay Area Rumberos and a timba workshop by the legendary Roberto Borrell. 

 

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Mon, 04 Feb 2019 00:57:55 +0000
EMPIEZA MI SON Empieza mi sonImage ©Esteban Isnardi Used by permission

ENGLISH: A new single is on the way from Pablo Timba y Su Timbacalle feat. Robertón Hernández of Los Van Van and lyrics by Esteban Isnardi. "Empieza mi son", which will be released on February 5th, will take its place in the polemic concerning son and salsa. I asked composer Esteban Isnardi what the motivation for the song was and whether he wrote it with Robertón in mind. 

Isnardi: Actually it all started with a controversial video where a famous linear salsa dancer dances, with his "liner" style, a traditional Son.  Many Cuban teachers were offended and a debate was born. There was a video of relative excuses, then another provocative one. I realized that the topic was very current, very contentious. That motivated me to create the phrase "tu salsa termina donde empieza mi son" [your salsa ends where my son starts] and print it on a t-shirt.

Esteban Isnardi I went back to watch videos where the artists that Robertón names, Johnny Pacheco, Blades, Tito Puente, explain that what they did was only Cuban music and that also contributed to my inspiration. My phrase was very successful in social networks and I even discovered that, with the same typography that I chose for my shirt, they had made variations.

In addition to all this, Pablo Timba contacted me and asked me for a song. I started thinking that this would be a good topic and we agreed.

Life, the magic of life, gave us a beautiful opportunity, that is, the Van Van were on tour in Europe and, with Pablo Timba living in Italy, the three days off for the orchestra allowed him to go to Milan from his Sicily and record the song with Robertón. I didn't write it thinking directly about him, but always with the dream that the Van Van, or one of them could sing it, and with this my dream was realized.

Working with the talented Pablo Timba and his group Timbacalle was a great experience, and also the fact that the former Van Van, Pavel Molina (current director of Songomanía), plays the bass in our song, is the cherry on the cake.

I am aware that the song will be controversial, but at the same time I didn't make anything up, what I wrote is based on easily verifiable documents. With that text I added my two cents to ask for respect and, something very nice, Robertón often say "cultura!" as an interjection. That's how he ended the last SMS that he sent me, for example, and precisely  -- my song defends the culture. So there is no better interpreter than him for "Empieza mi son"

To keep up with the latest news from Pable Timba i Su Timbacalle, sign-up for their newsletter.

ESPANOL: Un nuevo single está en camino de Pablo Timba y Su Timbacalle feat. Robertón Hernández de Los Van Van y letra de Esteban Isnardi. "Empieza mi son", saldrá al mercado el 5 de febrero, y tomará su lugar en la polémica sobre el son y la salsa. Le pregunté al compositor Esteban Isnardi cuál fue la motivación de la canción y si la escribió con Robertón en mente.

Isnardi: En realidad todo empezó con un vídeo polémico donde un famoso bailarín de salsa en línea baila, con su estilo de "liner", un Son tradicional. Muchos maestros cubanos se sintieron ofendidos y de ahí nació un debate. Hubo un vídeo de excusas relativas, luego otro provocativo. Me di cuenta que el tema era muy actual, muy "peleado". Eso me motivó a crear la frase "tu salsa termina donde empieza mi son" y sacarla en una camiseta.

Contribuyó a mi inspiración el hecho que volví a ver vídeos donde los artistas que Robertón nombra, Johnny Pacheco, Blades, Tito Puente, explican que ellos lo que hacían era solamente música cubana. Esa frase mía tuvo mucho éxito en las redes sociales e incluso descubrí que, con la misma tipografía que yo elegí para mi camiseta, habían hecho variantes.

 A todo esto, Pablo Timba me contacta y me pide una canción. Me puse a pensar que ese sería un buen tema y estuvimos de acuerdo.

La vida, la magia de la vida, nos regaló una hermosa casualidad, o sea que los Van Van estaban de gira en Europa y, al Pablo Timba vivir en Italia, los tres días de descanso de la orquesta le permitieron ir a Milano desde su Sicilia y grabar el tema con Robertón. No la escribí pensando directamente en él, pero siempre con el sueño de que los Van Van, o uno de ellos pudiera cantarla, con lo cual realicé mi anhelo.

Trabajar con el talentoso Pablo Timba y su grupo Timbacalle fue una experiencia genial, y además el hecho que el ex Van Van Pavel Molina (actual director de Songomanía) toque el bajo en nuestro tema, es la cereza sobre la torta.

Estoy conciente de que el tema será polémico, pero al mismo tiempo no inventé nada, lo que escribí se basa en documentos fácilmente verificables. Con ese texto yo puse mi granito de arena para pedir respeto y, algo muy lindo, Robertón suele decir mucho, como una interjección, "¡cultura!"

 Así es que termina su último SMS que me mandó, por ejemplo, y justamente mi canción defiende la cultura, No hay mejor intérprete que él, entonces, para "Empieza mi son".

Para mantenerse al día con las últimas noticias de Pable Timba y Su Timbacalle, suscríbete a su boletín.

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Tue, 29 Jan 2019 10:38:08 +0000
Festival de la Salsa en Cuba 2019 Festival de la Salsa en Cuba 2019

The 2019 Festival de la Salsa en Cuba is only one month away. If you have any opportunity to be in Havana between February 19-24, I recommend you do it! As always the festival is a combination of classes, dance shows, excursions and the fantastic dance nights with concerts by Cuba's top timba bands and the best timba DJs from around the world. There are full pacakges including room and board, as well as just a passport to the VIP section of the nightly concerts, so something for everyone depending on what you are there for.

For those who purchase the package with the excursion, Maykel Blanco himself will take you to visit the music school Amadeo Roldán and afterwards there wil be a lunch at the Museum of Fine Arts. Dance classes will be held by Maykel Fonts, Sylvia Chapelli and Jennyselt Galata and dance shows by Guaracheros de Regla, Componedores de Batea, La FEU and La Giraldilla.

The 2019 edition is also the first to include the participation of a foreign salsero. Jerry Rivera will perform on the 20th, following Haila and Bamboleo. The Cubans love salsa romantica, so expect to find Parque Almendares full.

Click here to keep up with all the information about the Festival de la Salsa en Cuba, including how to order your tickets. Check out the video below to get it straight from the mouth of Maykel Blanco.

 

Concert Schedule  
19th Yasser Ramos y Su Tumbao Mayombe
Yumuri y Sus Hermanos
20th Haila
Bamboleo
Jerry Rivera
21st El Noro y 1ra Clase
Issac Delgado
Manolito Simonet y Su Trabuco
22nd Chispa y Los Complices
Maravilla de Florida
Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son
Havana D'Primera
23rd Orquesta Aragón
Pupy y Los Que Son Son
Elito Revé y Su Charangón
Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor & guests
24th NG La Banda
Klímax
Los Van Van (50 years) & guests
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Sat, 19 Jan 2019 21:58:51 +0000
Chucho Valdés Lifetime Achievement Award from SFJAZZ Image may contain: 1 person, text

Chucho, Irakere, Omara Portuondo, Yosvany Terry, Harold López-Nussa, Jesús Díaz y su QBA, and many others will gather to celebrate the career of Chucho Valdés on Thursday, Jan. 31 at SFJAZZ.

Here's a great interview with Richard Scheinen about Chucho and his new book with Rebeca Mauleón-Santana, Decoding Afro-Cuban Jazz.

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Fri, 18 Jan 2019 06:31:40 +0000
The Power of Cuban Music The Power of Cuban Music

ENGLISH: The Power of Cuban Music is the brainchild of pianist and director Gabriel Hernandez and vocalist José Gil Piñera (Gilito). The project features nine virtuoso musicians (see below), graduates of the famed Cuban music academies, with a long international trajectory and participation in various festivals, veterans of groups such as the Afro-Cuban All Stars, Cubanismo, Omara Portuondo, Irakere, Issac Delgado, and Paulo F.G. The Power of Cuban Music project brings these musicians together with a repertoire of their own original Latin Jazz pieces as well as a journey through well-known Cuban music with updated contemporary arrangements that highlight the influence of Afro-Cuban rhythms in jazz. 

The repertoire is includes danzón, cha-cha-cha, son, rumba, ballads, Latin jazz and timba. The compositions and arrangements are by Gabriel Hernandez and Alfred Thompson, with Gilito contributing some compositions also arranged by Hernandez and Thompson.

The Power of Cuban Music completed a very successful nine-concert tour of Mexico in the autumn of 2018 and have been invited back for 2019. Other plans for 2019 include a summer tour of Europe and an album for which they are currently selecting the songs. They will record in Havana and will include a number of special guest artist. Check out their EPK below for a taste of what you can expect.

For information about bookings for Europe 2019 contact Yaneicy Martinez.

ESPAÑOL:The Power of Cuban Music es una idea original del pianista y director Gabriel Hernández y el cantante José Gil Piñera (Gilito). El proyecto cuenta con la participación de nueve músicos virtuosos (ver más abajo), graduados de las famosas academias de música cubana, con una larga trayectoria internacional y participación en varios festivales, veteranos de grupos como Afro-Cuban All Stars, Cubanismo, Omara Portuondo, Irakere, Issac Delgado y Paulo FG. El proyecto The Power of Cuban Music reúne a estos músicos con un repertorio de sus propias piezas de jazz latino original, así como un recorrido a través de la música cubana con arreglos contemporáneos actualizados que resaltan la influencia de los ritmos afrocubanos en el jazz.

El repertorio incluye danzón, cha-cha-cha, son, rumba, baladas, jazz latino y timba. Las composiciones y los arreglos son de Gabriel Hernández y Alfred Thompson, con Gilito contribuyendo algunas composiciones también arregladas por Hernández y Thompson.

The Power of Cuban Music completó una exitosa gira de nueve conciertos por México en el otoño de 2018 y fue invitada a regresar en el 2019. Otros planes para 2019 incluyen una gira de verano por Europa y un álbum para el cual actualmente están seleccionando las canciones. La grabación será en La Habana e incluirán varios artistas invitados especiales. Echa un vistazo a su EPK a continuación para ver lo que puedes esperar.

Para información sobre reservas para Europa 2019 contacte a Yaneicy Martinez.

Piano, arrangements and musical director Gabriel Hernandez
Lead vocals Jose Gil Piñera (Gilito)
Alto Sax and arrangements  Alfred Thompson
Tenor Sax Jorge Brauet
Trumpet Alex Guardiola
Bass Cristobal Verdecia
Drums  Rey Nariño
Timbal  Antonio Portuondo (Pacha)
Congas  Reynier Limonta
Sound engineer Oscar Joya

 

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Sun, 13 Jan 2019 22:15:04 +0000
JAZZ PLAZA 2019 PROGRAM

ENGLISH:  With thanks to the Instituto Cubano de la Música, here are the schedules for Jazz Plaza 2019, which takes place both in Havana and Santiago this year.   In addition to the performances by Gastón Joya and Alejandro Falcón that we mentioned earlier, we also want to bring to your attention the performances of Alberto Lescay and Formas, whose new recording Escape won the Opera Prima (Best New Artist) category in Cubadisco 2018: 
January 14, 6PM: Plaza de Marte, Santiago de Cuba 
January 15, 11PM: Club Iris, santiago de Cuba 
January 18, 6PM:  Bertolt Brecht, La Habana, Cuba. 

For the complete schedule of Performances, click here
For the complete schedule of the Academic program in Spanish, click here

ESPAÑOL: Gracias al Instituto Cubano de la Música, aquí está la programación de  Jazz Plaza 2019, que tendrá lugar tanto econciertos de Gastón Joya y Alejandro Falcón que mencionamos anteriormente, también queremos dirigir su atención a los conciertos de Alberto Lescay y Formas, cuya nueva grabación Escape ganó la categoría Opera Prima (Mejor Nuevo Artista) en Cubadisco 2018:
14 de enero, 6PM , Plaza de Marte, Santiago de Cuba 
15 de enero, 11PM:  Iris Jazz Club, Santiago de Cuba
18 de enero, 6PM: Bertolt Brecht, La Habana, Cuba.

Para ver la programación de conciertos, haga clic aquí
Para ver la programación del Coloquio, haga clic aquí

 

 

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Sat, 12 Jan 2019 04:28:54 +0000
JoJazz 2018, Jazz Plaza 2019, Fiesta del Tambor 2019 ENGLISH:  In the better late that never department, we have the winners of JoJazz 2018, along with a nice video about one of them.    Click here for more

ESPAÑOL
En el departamento "mejor tarde que nunca", publicamos los ganadores de JoJazz 2018 junto con video interesante de un grupo ganador.  
Haga clic aquí para más

ENGLISH:  The 34th Edition of Jazz Plaza is about to begin.   This year there does not appear to be a sponsored website for the event, but the lineup, as usual, looks excellent, and we want to give a special mention to a couple of presentations:
1.  On January 14 at 6:30pm in Sala Covarrubias, Teatro Nacional, Havana, Gastón Joya and his trio will be presenting the first official concert, and this will be recorded for a future live album.  Gastón was the winner of the Jazz Soloist category in Cubadisco this year, so this should be superb.
2. Also in Sala Covarrubias on January 19 at 6pm, Alejandro Falcon and Cubadentro along with Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.    
ESPAÑOL: La 34ª edición de Jazz Plaza está a punto de comenzar. Este año no parece haber un sitio web patrocinado para el evento, pero la alineeación, como siempre, se ve excelente, y queremos dar una mención especial a un par de presentaciones:
1. El 14 de enero a las 6:30 pm en la Sala Covarrubias, Teatro Nacional, La Habana, Gastón Joya y su trío presentarán el primer concierto oficial, que se grabará para un futuro álbum en vivo. Gastón fue el ganador de la categoría Jazz Solista en Cubadisco este año, Y este concierto debe ser excelente.
2. También en la Sala Covarrubias el 19 de enero a las 6 pm, Alejandro Falcón y Cubadentro junto con Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.

ENGLISH:  Coming in March is the Fiesta del Tambor, the 2019 Havana International Rhythm and Dance festival.       We'll have coverage of this later this year, in the meantime,  there are two official websites where you can read all about what is developing:
http://www.fiestadeltambor.cult.cu/
http://www.fiestadeltamborpopular.com/

ESPAÑOL: en marzo vendrá la Fiesta del Tambor, el festival internacional de baile y ritmo de La Habana 2019. Tendremos cobertura de esto más adelante este año, mientras tanto, hay dos sitios web oficiales donde puedes leer todo lo que se está desarrollando:
http://www.fiestadeltambor.cult.cu/
http://www.fiestadeltamborpopular.com/

 


 


 

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Thu, 10 Jan 2019 04:34:24 +0000
2019 SFJAZZ Gala

SFJAZZ is pullng out all the stops for their 2019 Gala which will honor Chucho Valdés with a lifetime achievement award.  The main event, which takes place on January 31, 2019, is a concert with some of the best names in jazz and Afro-Caribbean music including Chucho, Irakere 45, Chucho's children (daughter Leyanis Valdés and son Jesse Valdés), legendary vocalist Omara Portuondo, saxophonist and chékere master Yosvany Terry, Harold López-Nussa, vibraphone master Stefon Harris, famed vocalist Dianne Reeves, SFJAZZ Collective, and other special guests. Click here for photos and more info.

An after party follows the main event with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans and Jesús Díaz y su QBA great Bay Area timba band performing.

 [Tom Ehrlich]

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Wed, 19 Dec 2018 06:03:55 +0000
Cubans & Cuban-Americans Nominated in the 61st Annual GRAMMY® Awards

English:  The nominees for the 61st Annual GRAMMY® awards have been announced, and we wish to congratulate the Cuban and Cuba-American  nominees for this edition (we do not see Cubans living in additional countries this year):   
Español:  Se han anunciado los nominados a 61a entrega anual de los premios GRAMMY®,  y deseamos felicitar a los nominados cubanos y cubanoamericanos por esta edición (no vemos cubanos que viven en países adicionales este año):

Best Tropical Latin Album: 

Legado by Formell y Los Van Van (EGREM 2017)

You can read our review in English here

Puede leer nuestra reseña en español aquí



Orquesta Akokán by Orquesta Akokán (Daptone 2018) 

Big band retro Mambo.   Daptone is not a Cuban label but  this was recorded in Estudios Areito with Cuban musicians. 

Mambo retro a la banda grande.  Daptone no es disquera cubana, pero el álbum se grabó en Estudios Areito con músicos en Cuba. 

Best Latin Jazz Album:

Back to the Sunset by Dafnis Prieto Big Band (Independent 2017)

You can read our review in English here

Puede leer nuestra reseña en español aquí 



Cinque by Elio Villafranca (Independent 2018)

A big band project inspired by Congolese traditions throughout the Caribbean. 

Un proyecto de banda grande inspirado en las tradiciones congoleñas de todo el caribe. 

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album 

Gourmet by Orishas (SONY Music Latin 2018) 

One of the most-respected Hip Hop groups in Cuba among foreigners as well as Cubans themselves. 

Uno de los grupos de hip hop más respetados en Cuba entre los extranjeros y los propios cubanos.

Congratulations and good luck to all ! / ¡Felicidades y buena suerte a todos!

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Sun, 09 Dec 2018 00:04:28 +0000
Cuba and the 2018 Latin GRAMMY® Awards The opinions expressed here are my personal opinions and not the official opinions of TIMBA.com
Las opiniones expresadas aquí son mis opiniones personales y no las opiniones oficiales de TIMBA.com 
--Bill Tilford

ENGLISH: There are a couple of big wins for Cuban artists at the 19th Latin GRAMMY® Awards:  Chucho Valdés was awarded a much-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award,  Septeto Santiageuro with José Alberto El Canario won the Best Traditional Tropical Album category for A Mi Qué: - Tributo A Los Clásicos Cubanos (you can read our English-language review of that album here), and Aymeé Nuviola, whose album Como Anillo al Dedo won the Best Tropical Fusion Album category (it was also nominated for a Cubadisco in the Música Bailable - Voces category).  Since being nominated is almost as good as winning in today's industry, we also congratulate Omara Portuondo, whose album Omara Siempre on the EGREM label was nominated for  Best Traditional Tropical Album (it was awarded a Special Prize in Cubadisco 2018);  Telmary, whose album Fuerza Arará on the Colibrí label was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album (it won a Cubadisco Award for Música Urbana this year) , Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera, whose album Cantor Del Pueblo was nominated for Best Salsa Album (it won a Cubadisco Award for Música Bailable - Voces this year); Diego Gutierrez, who album Palante el mambo!  on the EGREM label was nominated for Best Tropical Fusion Album  (it won a Cubadisco Award in Fusión this year), and the Dafnis Prieto Big Band, whose album Back to the Sunset was nominated for Best Latin Jazz Album.

One of the positive achievements not readily apparent to the casual observer is that in addition to EGREM, Colibrí has a nomination.   Both labels have wonderful recordings, but Colibri's accomplishment is especially noteworthy because it has an almost-microscopic  marketing and promotional footprint outside of Cuba. 

Speaking of labels, one of the eternal discussions regarding the Latin GRAMMY awards is the extent to which the major labels may or may not dominate the process.   For the record (pun intended), this year, of the 49 musical (non-technical) awards, 30 were taken by Sony, Warner, Universal and their known affiliates.  If one focuses on the categories of music popular within the United States (excluding Jazz, Classical, Portuguese-language etc), that figure becomes 23 of 30 awards for those labels.   It is beyond the scope of this article to fully explain why this happens. Some element of domination is inevitable, but there are things which aggravate the phenomenon. 

And now, the reason that you saw a disclaimer at the top of the article.  I watched last night's awards program on television.   So much wonderful music was both nominated and awarded prizes this year, but if your only exposure to the "best" of Latin music was that program, you would be within rights to think that Latin music had sunk into a morass of mediocre Reggaeton and badly choreographed "dancing".  I understand that there is a need to maximize ratings and please sponsors, and I believe in LARAS and its mission, but  perhaps 60-70% of the awards telecast was an orgy of mediocrity with an excess of the lowest common denominators of the music.   LARAS, we can do better than this.  If the object is to celebrate the best of recorded Latin music, the telecast failed us in our mission.

ESPAÑOL: Hay un par de grandes triunfos para los artistas cubanos en los XIX Premios Latin GRAMMY®: Chucho Valdés recibió un merecido Premio a la Excelencia Musical, Septeto Santiageuro con José Alberto El Canario ganó la categoría de Mejor Álbum Tropical Tradicional para A Mi Qué: - Tributo A Los Clásicos Cubanos (puede leer nuestra reseña de ese álbum en español aquí), y Aymeé Nuviola, cuyo álbum Como Anillo al Dedo ganó la categoría de Mejor Álbum de Fusión Tropical (fue nominado también para un Cubadisco en la categoría Música Bailable - Voces). Ya que ser nominado es casi tan bueno como ganar en la industria actual, también felicitamos a Omara Portuondo, cuyo álbum Omara siempre bajo el sello EGREM fue nominado para Mejor Álbum Tropical Tradicional (recibió un Premio Especial en Cubadisco 2018); Telmary, cuyo álbum Fuerza Arará bajo el sello Colibrí fue nominado para Mejor Álbum de Música Alternativa (ganó un Premio Cubadisco para Música Urbana este año), Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera, cuyo álbum Cantor del Pueblo fue nominado para Mejor Álbum de Salsa ( ganó un Premio Cubadisco para Música Bailable - Voces este año), Diego Gutiérrez, cuyo álbum Palante el mambo! bajo el sello EGREM fue nominado para Mejor Álbum de Fusión Tropical (ganó un Premio Cubadisco en Fusión este año), y  al Dafnis Prieto Big Band, cuyo álbum Back to the Sunset fue nominado para Mejor Álbum de Jazz Latino.  

Uno de los logros positivos que no sería evidente para el observador casual es que, además de la EGREM, Colibrí tiene una nominación.  Ambos sellos tienen grabaciones maravillosas, pero el logro de Colibrí es especialmente notable porque tiene una huella casi microscópica de marketing y promoción fuera de Cuba.  

Hablando de sellos, una de las discusiones eternas sobre los premios Latin GRAMMY es la medida en que los principales sellos pueden o no pueden dominar el proceso.  Para el registro, este año, de los 49 premios musicales (no técnicos), 30 fueron tomados por Sony, Warner, Universal y sus afiliados conocidos.  Si uno se enfoca en las categorías de música popular en los Estados Unidos (excluyendo jazz, música clásica, de idioma portugués etc.), esa cifra se convierte en 23 de 30 premios para esos sellos.  Está más allá del alcance de este articulo explicar por qué esto sucede.   Un elemento de dominación es inevitable, pero hay cosas que agravan el fenomeno. 

Y ahora,  la razón que uds vieron un descargo de responsabilidad en la parte superior del artículo. Vi el programa de la premiación anoche en la televisión. Tanta música maravillosa fue nominada y recibió premios este año, pero si su única exposición al "mejor" de la música latina fuera esa  emisión, tendría derecho a pensar que la música latina se había hundido en un cenagal de reggaeton mediocre y mal coreografiado "bailando". Entiendo que existe la necesidad de maximizar las calificaciones y complacer a los patrocinadores, y creo en LARAS y su misión, pero tal vez el 60-70% de la transmisión de la premiación fue una orgía de mediocridad con un exceso de los denominadores comunes más bajos de la música. LARAS, podemos hacerlo mejor que esto. Si el objetivo es celebrar lo mejor de la música latina grabada, la transmisión por televisión nos falló en nuestra misión.

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Fri, 16 Nov 2018 20:02:11 +0000
JoJazz 2018 ENGLISH:  JoJazz 2018 takes place in Havana this week.   This competition for young Jazz artists from 16 to 35 years of age (in the past this was 16 to 30) has been a key event in the careers of many of Cuba's best young Jazz artists.  You can read Bill Tilford's account of JoJazz 2017, which includes multiple photo galleries and other information, here.   You can download the brochure for JoJazz 2018 here



ESPAÑOL:  JoJazz 2018 tiene lugar en La Habana esta semana.  Este concurso para jovenes jazzistas de 16 al 35 (en el pasado, de 16 al 30) años de edad es un evento clave en las carreras de mucho de los mejores jovenes jazzistas en Cuba.  Puede leer un articulo por Bill Tilford sobre JoJazz 2017, que incluye varias galerías de fótos y otra información, aquí.  Puede descargar el folleto para JoJazz 2018 aquí. 


Chucho Valdés, from the Facebook page of Mario Escalona, Director of EGREM, with permission

ENGLISH:
  Congratulations to Chucho Valdés for receiving a much-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award at this years Latin GRAMMY® awards! 
Also, Septeto Santiaguero, winner of multiple awards, will be performing at the Latin GRAMMY® awards this week.  Several dignitaries from Cuba's music industry, including the Directors of Cuba's major labels and the Instituto Cubano de la Música,  are also  attending - it would be wonderful if a similarly-important delegation from the United States would try to visit Cubadisco in 2019.  
We'll say more about Cuba's nominees and winners for this year after the awards ceremony, which takes place tomorrow in Las Vegas. 


Part of Cuba's delegation at the Latin GRAMMY awards
From the Facebook page of Mario Escalona, Director of EGREM, with permission

ESPAÑOL:  ¡Felicidades a Chucho Valdés por recibir un muy-merecido Premio a la Excelencia Musical en los premios Latin GRAMMY®!  
Además, el multipremiado Septeto Santiaguero tocará en los premios Latin GRAMMY® esta semana.  También asisten varios dignatarios de la industria musical cubana, incluyendo los directores de las disqueras más importantes en Cuba y el Instituto Cubano de la Música. Sería genial que una delegación igualmente importante de Estados Unidos intentara a visitar a Cubadisco en 2019.
Vamos a decir más sobre los nominados y ganadores cubanos de este año despues de la premiación, que tendrá lugar mañana. 

Septeto Santiaguero, from their Facebook page

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Wed, 14 Nov 2018 18:22:32 +0000
Robert Armas y los Conquistadores de la Salsa El grupo musical cubano-peruano ROBERT ARMAS y los CONQUISTADORES de la SALSA han lanzado su nueva producción discográfica titulada LA TIMBA LA TRAIGO YO, que coincide con su Gira Europa 2018, que comenzó ayer -- el 26 de Octubre --  y termina el 9 de Diciembre 2018. La gira lleva el mismo nombre que el disco, nombre que además comparte el primer tema de dicha producción. 

LA TIMBA LA TRAIGO YO - Nuevo Disco + Gira Europa de Robert Armas y los Conquistadores de la Salsa

Robert Armas y el grupo son embajadores de la MARCA PERÚ -- https://peru.info/es-lat/marca-peru -- un una herramienta nacional de Perú que busca impulsar el turismo, las exportaciones y atraer inversiones. Transmite con firmeza y eficacia la propuesta de valor del Perú. Al ser embajadores, son personas que por sus logros y éxitos en el ámbito personal y profesional destacan local e internacionalmente. Son líderes, ejemplos de excelencia y gestores de una buena reputación. Dato interesenate para los lectores y oyentes de TIMBA.com y la música cubana a través del mundo. 

El disco LA TIMBA LA TRAIGO YO presenta 10 temas más 2 "bonus tracks" para un total de 12 temas. Incluye tres "featurings" con cantantes y/o artistas invitados de Cuba: Armando "Many" Cantero (Los Van Van y antes Pupy y los que Son Son), Tania Pantoja (ex-Bamboleo), Mario "Mayito" Rivera (ex Vam Van) y Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco.   

Aquí la lista completa de os temas (puedes hacer clic aquí para escuchar en Apple Music):
1- La timba la traigo yo
2- Así nadie te va a querer - feat. Mandy Cantero
3- Mal Paso
4- Yo sigo siendo cubano
5-Cara de cemento
6-Perdóname
7- Darte un beso
8- A quien no le gista Cuba
9- Amore del bueno
10- A mi me gusta el son
Bonus 1 - Amigo ratón del queso - feat. Mayito Rivera
Bonus 2 - Y llegaste tú - feat. Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco

LA TIMBA LA TRAIGO YO - Nuevo Disco + Gira Europa de Robert Armas y los Conquistadores de la Salsa

LA TIMBA LA TRAIGO YO - Nuevo Disco + Gira Europa de Robert Armas y los Conquistadores de la Salsa

Info & Booking en Peru y en todo el mundo: Edith Chirinos Uribe.

Orula Producciones = orulaproducciones@hotmail.com

Conquistadores de la salsa = conquistadoresdelasalsa@hotmail.com

+51 982-974-608 (whatsapp)

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Sun, 28 Oct 2018 07:43:59 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Monterey Jazz Photos, Parts 3 & 4 Click here for Part 3 ... and here for Part 4.

Luis Perdomo

Ingrid Jensen

Tia Fuller

Wadada Leo Smith

Diane Reeves

Bria Skonberg

Cécile McLoren Salvant

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Mon, 15 Oct 2018 05:32:37 +0000
Primer encuentro internacional de melómanos y coleccionistas ENGLISH:  Local encounters of melomanos (music lovers) have been commonplace in Havana for some time in El Jelengue de Areito (aka La Patio de la EGREM) and in the hotel Habana Libre, possibly in other places as well.  Music lovers gather with vintage vinyl albums and a phonograph, play songs and talk (even debate occasionally) about the song and/or the artist.    Shortly before Cubadisco began this year, an international version of this event was held for two afternoons in El Jelengue de Areito.   The main sponsors were EGREM and Cuban Books and Records, a Colombian company.   Many of the international attendees were from Colombia,  and some prominent Cuban figures including Pancho Amat, Mario Escalona (EGREM) and Ricardo Oropeza participated in at least part of the event.  After observing the proceedings for a while, this writer, who may have been the only estadounidense,  also partipicated with an album that he had purchased at Tienda Seriosha on Neptuno because it contained a rarely-seen Ritmo Oriental song, Enseñame tu baile Lola, the search for which was once partially responsible for why he is with TIMBA.com today. 
This was a fun event, and I hope there is a second edition next year. 

ESPAÑOL: Los encuentros locales de melomanos (amantes de la música) han sido común en La Habana durante algún tiempo en El Jelengue de Areito (también conocido como El Patio de la EGREM) y en el hotel Habana Libre, posiblemente en otros lugares también. Los amantes de la música se reúnen con álbumes de vinilo antiguos y un tocadisco, reproducen canciones y hablan (incluso debaten ocasionalmente) sobre la canción y / o el artista. Poco antes de que comenzara Cubadisco este año, se realizó una versión internacional de este evento durante dos tardes en El Jelengue de Areito. Los principales patrocinadores fueron EGREM y Cuban Books and Records, una empresa colombiana. Muchos de los asistentes internacionales fueron de Colombia, y algunas prominentes figuras cubanas, entre ellas Pancho Amat, Mario Escalona (EGREM) y Ricardo Oropeza participaron en al menos parte del evento. Después de observar los procedimientos durante un tiempo, este escritor, que puede haber sido el único estadounidense, también participó con un álbum que había comprado en Tienda Seriosha en Neptuno porque contenía una canción de Ritmo Oriental rara vez vista, Enseñame tu baile Lola, el búsqueda de la cuál alguna vez fue parcialmente responsable del motivo por su presencia subsecuente en TIMBA.com hoy.
Fue un evento divertido, y espero que haya segunda edición en el próximo año. 

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Sun, 14 Oct 2018 20:03:08 +0000
Recommended Reading in La Jiribilla about Cubadisco & Primera Linea

ENGLISH:  While Bill Tilford is editing photos and other material, related to Cubadisco, Primera Linea and the 1 Encuentro de Melomanos & Coleccionistas, the Cuban cultural magazine La Jiribilla has published a collection of items that makes one think.   These are in Spanish, but if you are involved in the music and/or recording industry, it is worth the trouble to read them even if you need a translator.
ESPANÓL: Mientras Bill Tilford está editando fotos y otro material relacionado con Cubadisco, Primera Línea y el 1 Encuentro de Melomanos & Coleccionistas, la revista cultural cubana La Jiribilla publicaba una colección  de ítemes interesantes que hace pensar.  Si está involucrado en la industria de la música y / o la grabación, vale la pena leerlos.

The links are to the original articles in La Jiribilla / los enlaces van a los ítemes originales en La Jiribilla:

I.   "Si la población no accede a la música que estamos generando, el evento no tiene sentido" 
- Fernando León Jacomino, entrevista a Marta Bonet de la Cruz, Presidenta del ICM
II. Cubadisco-Primera Línea: ¿necesaria renovación u obligada continuidad?
-Oni Acota Llerena
III. Beatriz Márquez o la diferencia entre ser artista por un día y serlo por siempre 
-Guille Vilar
IV. Cubadisco 2018: Una Mirada desde los protagonistas 
-Milagros Pichardo Pérez y Thalía Fuentes Puebla 
V.  La calidad de la música cubana merece mecanismos eficaces para su promoción
-Michel Hernández
VI. Sonidos del Cubadisco 2018
-La Jiribilla

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Tue, 09 Oct 2018 00:40:43 +0000
Cubadisco & Primera Linea Special Coverage

ENGLISH:  Bill Tilford attended Cubadisco 2018, Primera Linea and the 1 Encuentro Internacional de Melomanos & Coleccionistas in Havana Cuba.   This week we begin the most comprehensive account of the event that you will find outside of Cuba, including documents, photos and more over the next several weeks.    You can start with the official nominations and awards booklets, which are available here  thanks to the Instituto Cubano de la Música and Periodicos Cubadisco.
Beginning the week of October 14, Bill will also be featuring many of the recordings and interviews with the artists on his shortwave radio program From The Isle of Music for the next few months. 

ESPAÑOL: Bill Tilford asistió a Cubadisco 2018, Primera Línea y al 1 Encuentro Internacional de Melomanos y Coleccionistas en La Habana Cuba. Esta semana comenzamos la cobertura más completa del evento que encontrará fuera de Cuba, incluidos documentos, fotos y más durante las próximas semanas. Puede comenzar con las nominaciones oficiales y los libros de premios, que están disponibles aquí gracias al Instituto Cubano de la Música y Periódicos Cubadisco.
A partir de la semana del 14 de octubre, Bill también presentará muchas de las grabaciones y entrevistas con los artistas en su programa de radio de onda corta From The Isle of Music durante los próximos meses.

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Mon, 08 Oct 2018 10:49:37 +0000
NOVEMBER IN HAVANA If you can be in Havana the second and third weeks of November, you have the opportunity to indulge to your heart's delight in music and dance with three overlapping events El Rumbazo, 13th Baila en Cuba and the first Havana Salsa Congress.

Rumbazo Havana 2018

The 2nd annual Rumbazo event will take place in Havana from November 8-12. It looks like a must for rumba fans. Look at that list of participating artists including guest of honor Pedrito Martinez and special guests Dayamé Arocena dn Yissy Garcia & Bandancha! For information on how to participate, e-mail info@postmambo.com 

El Rumbazo #2, Nov. 8-12, 2018 in Havana from Ned Sublette on Vimeo.


13th Baila en Cuba

The 13th Baila en Cuba runs from November 11-16. This event is well-known now to Cuban dance fans, with high quality dance workshops at four levels including the opportunity to dance with a Cuban dance partner, as well as 5 open air nights with concert and shows. If you don't have time for the workshops, you can still buy a concert pass that gets you in to see Los Van Van, Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son, Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Manolito y Su Trabuco, Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor, La Charanga Habanera and Havana D'Primera. You just can't beat that!


Havana Salsa Congress

The first ever Havana Salsa Congress will take place from November 16-18 and reservations need to be made by October 15th, so if you want to participate, don't wait any longer! This event brings linear salsa dancing both - On1 and On2 - to Havana. there will be teachers from Italy, New York and Florida. as well as some Cuban teachers. The concerts will be:
November 15 - Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son
November 16 - Los Van Van
November 17 - Havana D'Primera

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Sun, 07 Oct 2018 14:59:12 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Monterey Jazz Photos, Part 2 Click here for the full gallery.

Marco Bermúdez, Jeremy Bosch, Carlos Cascante

John Santos

Harold López-Nussa

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Sat, 06 Oct 2018 19:38:54 +0000
MANOLITO Y SU TRABUCO Manolito y Su Trabuco

ENGLISH: Manolito Simonet y Su Trabuco begin their 2018 European tour tonight at Changó in Frankfurt, Germany. The band is celebrating it's 25th anniversary this year as well as promoting the release of their latest album "La Vida Cambió". Bring some cash with you in case they are selling hardcopies!

It's been two years since their last European tour but they are making up for that with 18 concerts in 23 days. The tour even includes gigs in Edinburgh, Scotland and Birmingham, England. Cuban bands don't make it to the UK very often so don't miss them! Click here for a list of concert dates and links to buy tickets! I leave you with the title track from "La Vida Cambio".

ESPAÑOL: Manolito Simonet y Su Trabuco comienzan su gira europea de 2018 esta noche en Changó en Frankfurt, Alemania. La banda celebra este año su 25 aniversario y promueve el lanzamiento de su último álbum "La Vida Cambió". ¡Traiga algo de efectivo en caso de que estén vendiendo copias impresas!

Han pasado dos años desde su última gira por Europa, pero lo han compensado con 18 conciertos en 23 días. La gira incluye conciertos en Edimburgo, Escocia y Birmingham, Inglaterra. Las bandas cubanas no llegan al Reino Unido muy a menudo, ¡así que no te las pierdas! Haga clic aquí para la lista de fechas de conciertos y enlaces para comprar entradas! Te dejo con la pista que da título a "La Vida Cambió".

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Fri, 05 Oct 2018 13:13:25 +0000
Cuban Nominations Cuban albums nominated for Latin Grammy 2018

ENGLISH: This year there are eight Cuban nominations in the Latin Grammys in six categories. The awards ceremony will take place November 15th at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. We wish the best of luck to all the Cuban nominees. We'll see whether the Cubadisco results are echoed at the Latin Grammys.

ESPAÑOL: Este año hay ocho nominaciones cubanas en los Latin Grammys en seis categorías. La entrega de premios tendrá lugar el 15 de noviembre en el MGM Grand Arena de Las Vegas. Deseamos la mejor de las suertes a todos los nominados cubanos. Veremos si los resultados de Cubadisco se repiten en los Latin Grammys.

Category Artist Album Label
Best Traditional Tropical Album  Omara Portuondo Omara siempre EGREM
Best Traditional Tropical Album  José Alberto “El Canario" & El Septeto Santiaguero A mí qué – Tributo a los clásicos cubanos Los Canarios Music
Best Salsa Album Alexander Abreu & Havana D’ Primera Cantor de pueblo Páfata Productions S.L
Best Tropical Fusion Album Aymee Nuviola Como anillo al dedo Top Stop Music
Best Tropical Fusion Album Diego Gutiérrez Palante el mambo! EGREM
Best Alternative Music Album Telmary & HabanaSana Fuerza Arará Colibrí
Best Latin Jazz Album Dafnis Prieto Big Band Back to the sunset  Dafnison Music
Best Classical Contemporary Composition Yalil Guerra, composer
Interpreted by La Catrina String Quartet
String cuartet no. 3 (in memoriam Ludvvig Van Beethoven
From the album Alma con Brío
RYCY Productions, Inc

 

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Mon, 01 Oct 2018 13:34:07 +0000
WINNERS CUBADISCO 2018 Cubadisco

The results are in for Cubadisco 2018! I expect we will hear more from Bill Tilford and here are the winners in the categories of most interest to timberos. Congratulations to all the winners!

¡Los resultados ya están para Cubadisco 2018! Espero escuchar más de Bill Tilford y aquí están los ganadores en las categorías de mayor interés para timberos. ¡Felicitaciones a todos los ganadores!

Category Group Album
Premio Especial Formell & Los Van Van Legado
Premio Especial Omara Portuondo Omara Siempre
Música Bailable
Jóvenes Talentos     
Angel Yos
y La Mecánica Loca
Vamo' hacerlo
Música Bailable
Agrupaciones
Adalberto Álvarez y su Son De Cuba pa'l mundo entereo
Música Bailable
Voces
Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera      Cantor del pueblo
Tradición Sonera Ecos del Tivoli Tributo a Rafael Hernández
Música Urbana Telmary y Habana Sana Fuerza Arará
Rumba Rumbatá Gracias a la rumba
Jazz Solistas Gastón Joya Mama Ina
Jazz Ensemble Joaquín Betancourt
y su Joven Jazz Band
Mambazo
Opera Prima Alberto Lescay & Formas Escape

 

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Mon, 01 Oct 2018 08:04:55 +0000
Monterey Jazz Festival Click here for the report and full gallery.

Jane Bunnett and Melvis Santa

Yissy García

Rehearsal: Oscar Hernández and Hubert Laws

Carlos Henríquez

Jane Ira Bloom

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Sun, 30 Sep 2018 04:57:27 +0000
CUBADISCO 2018 NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED

ENGLISH:  In a ceremony in the Hotel Tryp Habana Libre on Friday, September 14, the nominees for Cubadisco 2018 were announced.    Over 240 recordings were submitted to the competition, which among many other things ranks as Cuba's equivalent of international competitions such as the GRAMMY awards.     One key difference  between Cubadisco and the GRAMMY awards is that Cubadisco is also a festival with an academic symposium, a fair, and many concerts throughout an entire week, which this year takes place September 23-30 in Havana. 
We will carry a full account of Cubadisco in early October after the end of the event, in the meantime, you can see a partial nomination list which has been tailored to the special interests of TIMBA.com followers here. 
It is a special pleasure to share the nominees this year because two of the TIMBA.com team participated in recordings that were nominated - Michael Lazarus for mastering Tablero by La Tabla and Vamo´ hacerlo by Angel Yos (Mike also co-mixed the second one), both of which are nominees in Música bailable - jóvenes talentos, and Bill Tilford for contributing some of the liner notes for Escape by Alberto Lescay & Formas, which is a nominee in Jazz Fusion, Grabación and Opera Prima (Cubadisco's version of Best New Artist).    Both feel that it is an great honor to be part of this amazing music. 
ESPAÑOL: En una gala en el Hotel Tryp Habana Libre el viernes 14 de septiembre, se anunciaron los nominados para Cubadisco 2018. Se entregaron más de 240 grabaciones a Cubadisco, que entre varias otras cosas se puede clasificar como el equivalente cubano de competiciones internacionales como los premios GRAMMY. Una diferencia clave entre Cubadisco y los premios GRAMMY es que Cubadisco es también un festival con un simposio académico, una feria y muchos conciertos durante toda una semana, que este año se lleva a cabo del 23 al 30 de septiembre en La Habana.  Publicaremos un relato completo de Cubadisco a principios de octubre después del evento, mientras tanto, puede ver una lista parcial de nominaciones que se ha adaptado a los intereses especiales de los seguidores de TIMBA.com aquí. 
Es un placer especial compartir los nominados este año porque dos del equipo de TIMBA.com participaron en las grabaciones que fueron nominadas: Michael Lazarus por la masterización de Tablero por La Tabla  y Vamo' hacerlo por Angel Yos (Mike también comezcló la segunda), ambos de las cuáles son nominados en Música bailable - jóvenes talentos, y Bill Tilford por contribuir con algunas de las notas de presentación de Escape por Alberto Lescay & Formas, nominado en Jazz Fusion, Grabación y Opera Prima (la versión de Cubadisco de Mejor Artista Nuevo) . Ambos sienten que sea un gran honor ser parte de esta increíble música.

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Sat, 15 Sep 2018 17:39:33 +0000
Two Cuban Performances in Chicago This Weekend

Saturday, September 15 at 9pm, Orquesta Akokán, which playes big band Mambo, will be doing a free performance at Martyrs a part of the World Music Festival. 


Sunday, September 16 at 7PM at the Old Town School of Folk Music, Harold López-Nussa will be playing some sublime Cuban Jazz in Trio. 

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Thu, 13 Sep 2018 05:49:38 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's SJ Jazz Photos, Pt. 4 This gallery covers the third and final day of the 2018 SJ Jazz Summerfest, including John Santos, Kool & the Gang, Changüí Majadero and Nachito Herrera.

John Santos

Gabriel García of Changüí Majadero

Daymar Calvario (ex-Pupy y Los Que Son Son - here with Nachito Herrera)

Nachito Herrera

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Wed, 12 Sep 2018 07:45:50 +0000
Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor USA 2018

ENGLISH: Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor are keeping up their busy tour schedule. Having just returned from a tour of Japan, their Europe 2018 Tour begins with a concert Friday, September 14 in Wroclow, Poland and ends on October 7 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Click here for the European Tour dates. With a brief stop in Havana where they will celebrate their 14th anniversary at La Tropical, they move on to their US Tour 2018. As usual the concerts will be confined to the two coasts. Click here for the US Tour dates. Two concerts have yet to be revealed, so stay tuned for more info about the special concerts October 23rd and October 26th. The band will be performing new songs from their upcoming album "Qué tiene que te mueve"! To get yourself in the mood, check out the full concert video from their 12th Anniversary concert featuring the Symphony Orchestra.

ESPAÑOL: Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor mantienen su apretada agenda de giras. Recién regresado de una gira por Japón, su gira de Europa 2018 comienza con un concierto el viernes 14 de septiembre en Wroclow, Polonia y termina el 7 de octubre en Santiago de Compostela, España. Dale clic aquí para ver las fechas de la Gira Europea. Con una breve parada en La Habana, donde celebrarán su 14º aniversario en La Tropical, pasarán a su gira estadounidense 2018. Como de costumbre, los conciertos se limitarán a las dos costas. Dale clic aquí para las fechas de los Estados Unidos. Aún quedan por revelar dos conciertos, así que estén atentos para más información sobre los conciertos especiales del 23 de octubre y el 26 de octubre. La banda interpretará nuevas canciones de su próximo álbum "Qué tiene que te mueve". Para ponerte de ambiente, chequeen el video completo del concierto del 12 ° Aniversario con la Orquesta Sinfónica.

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Tue, 11 Sep 2018 09:07:56 +0000
D'Cubajazz, La Esquina del Jazz & AMPM ENGLISH Cuba's musical infrastructure in the Internet is growing, and a few particularly outstanding resources are worth sharing here:
ESPAÑOL: La infraestructura musical de Cuba en Internet está creciendo, y vale la pena compartir algunos recursos particularmente destacados aquí:



ENGLISH: D'CubaJazz is THE best website anywhere about Jazz in Cuba.   Directed by Editor in Chief José Dos Santos, Cuba's most important living Jazz journalist since Leonardo Acosta's passing, it is massive, deep, well-written and current.  In Spanish, of course, but there is a video section, links etc. 
ESPAÑOL:  D'CubaJazz es EL mejor sitio web sobre Jazz en Cuba.  Dirigido por el Editor Jefe José dos Santos,  el periodista viviente de jazz más importante en Cuba desde la muerte de Leonarda Acosta, es masivo, profundo, bien escrito y actual.  Hay también secciones de videos, enlaces etc.  
http://www.decubajazz.cult.cu/



ENGLISH: Mr. Dos Santos also produces La Esquina del Jazz, which can be heard on CMBF Monday-Friday from 11pm-Midnight Cuban time (Eastern US time).   CMBF is a music station on Cuban radio, and you can catch a live stream of the program. on their website.    
ESPAÑOL:    Mr. Dos Santos también produce La Esquina del Jazz, que se puede escuchar en CMBF de lunes a viernes 11pm-medionoche hora de Cuba (hora del esta de EEUU). CMBF es una emisora musical en la radio cubana, y el program está escuchable en directo via su sitio web. 
http://www.cmbfradio.cu/



ENGLISH:   Magazine AMPM, directed by Rafa Escalona,  is an excellent new website with a free downloadable magazine that is chronicling both multiple genres of new Cuban music and the evolution of the Cuban music industry.     Even better, it is available in both English and Spanish.  Their first volume includes a nice writeup of other authorities on Cuban music which kindly mentions TIMBA.com but erroneously attributes its founding and direction to Bill Tilford.  TIMBA.com was founded in 1999 by Bruce Ishikawa; the current owner is Michael Lazarus and the current Editor in Chief is Keven Moore.     It is otherwise a very nice article, and we thank them for mentioning us.    The magazine generally is very well done and worth following. 
ESPAÑOL: La Revista AMPM, dirigida por Rafa Escalona, es un excelente nuevo sitio web con una revista descargable (gratis) que relata los múltiples géneros de la nueva música cubana y es crónica de la evolución de la industria musical cubana. Aún mejor, está disponible en inglés y español. Su primer volumen incluye una buena reseña de otras autoridades sobre la música cubana que menciona amablemente a TIMBA.com pero erróneamente atribuyó su fundación y dirección a Bill Tilford. TIMBA.com fue fundado en 1999 por Bruce Ishikawa; el propietario actual es Michael Lazarus y el  editor jefe actual es Keven Moore. Aparte de eso, es un artículo muy bueno, y les agradecemos a ellos por mencionarnos. La revista en general está muy bien hecha y vale la pena seguirla.
http://www.magazineampm.com/

 

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Sun, 09 Sep 2018 02:27:15 +0000
CHUCHO VALDES TO RECEIVE LATIN GRAMMY LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD

ENGLISH:  Chucho Valdés, founder of Irakere and more recently leader of The Afro-Cuban Messengers, and a winner of at least 3 Latin GRAMMY and six GRAMMY awards, will receive the Lifetime Acheivement award from The Latin Recording Academy in November.    Congratulations Chucho!
ESPAÑOL: Chucho Valdés, fundador de Irakere, más recientemente líder de The Afro Cuban Messengers y ganador  de al menos 3 premios Latin GRAMMY y 6 premios GRAMMY, recibirá el Premio a la excelencia musical de La Academia Latina de la Grabación© en Noviembre.  ¡Felicidadas Chucho!

In support of the new album Un Día Cualquiera,   Harold López-Nussa  is touring the US with his trio, which includes drummer Ruy-Adrian López-Nussa and bassist Gastón Joya.   This is a must see concert.  Harold and Ruy-Adrian are both amazing, but I need to say something extra about their current bassist Gastón Joya -  when he gets into a zone, he is so deep into what he is doing that I would even go watch him play with a Polka band if that is what he chose to do. 

Chicagoans will be delighted to know that one of the group's stops is The Old Town School of Folk Music on September 16, one of the few venues in Chicago that truly does justice to Cuban music (there are others, but not many). 

But hey, don't take my word for it.....

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Sat, 08 Sep 2018 00:52:48 +0000
Word

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Fri, 07 Sep 2018 05:32:19 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's SJ Jazz Photos, Pt. 3 This gallery covers the second half of the second day of the 2018 SJ Jazz Summerfest.

Wayne Wallace

Rumbankete

Yissy García

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Sat, 01 Sep 2018 21:09:34 +0000
Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor Europe 2018

ENGLISH: Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor have a heavy schedule this fall. They just performed in Mexico City and then jetted off to Japan where they have four concerts starting with a performance tonight in Nagoya. After Japan, Los Mayores have less than two weeks to rest before beginning their European Tour 2018, which takes them to Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain, The Netherlands and Denmark. Click here for the list of tour dates.

In addition, the band has been working on their new album "Que Tiene Que Se Mueve", which is expected to drop later this year on the MB Record label. Last month they released the official video for the single "Ya se acabó", which is available for purchase. Check out the video below.

ESPAÑOL: Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor tienen un calendario apretado este otoño. Acaban de tocar en la Ciudad de México y luego se fueron en avión a Japón, donde tienen cuatro conciertos, comenzando con una actuación esta noche en Nagoya. Después de Japón, Los Mayores tienen menos de dos semanas para descansar antes de comenzar su Gira de Europa 2018, que los lleva a Italia, Eslovenia, Suiza, Alemania, Francia, España, Holanda y Dinamarca. Dale clic aquí para ver la lista de fechas de la gira.

Además, la banda ha estado trabajando en su nuevo álbum "Que Tiene Que Se Mueve", que se espera que saldrá más adelante este año bajo la etiqueta MB Record. El mes pasado lanzaron el video oficial para el single "Ya se acabó", que está disponible para comprar. Mira el video a continuación.

Spotify: https://goo.gl/crVgdR
Deezer: https://goo.gl/PpEhQi
iTunes: https://goo.gl/DW8XCY

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Wed, 29 Aug 2018 08:34:12 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's SJ Jazz Photos, Pt. 2 This gallery covers the first part of the second day of this summer's SJ Jazz, featuring Cuban drummer Yissy García, Doug Beavers, Sylvia Cuenca, SJZ and Edgardo Cambón.

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Mon, 27 Aug 2018 04:13:00 +0000
MANDY DJ

ENGLISH: Cuban DJ Mandy Angueira, known to Cuban music fans as Mandy DJ, has released an excellent 29-minute video report (in Spanish) from the 2018 Festival de la Salsa en Cuba. It contains short clips of performances as well as interviews with musicians and DJs and excerpts from seminars and excursions for the festival participants. It breaks my heart that I still haven't been able to attend one of these festivals. Will 2019 finally be my year?

ESPAÑOL: El DJ cubano Mandy Angueira, conocida por los fanáticos de la música cubana como Mandy DJ, ha lanzado un video reportaje excelente de 29 minutos (en español) del Festival de la Salsa en Cuba 2018. Contiene clips cortos de actuaciones, así como entrevistas con músicos y DJs y extractos de seminarios y excursiones para los participantes del festival. Me rompe el corazón que todavía no haya podido asistir a uno de estos festivales. ¿2019 finalmente será mi año?

Festival de la Salsa en Cuba 2019

ENGLISH: The 2019 Festival de la Salsa en Cuba will take place from February 19-24 at Parque Almendares. This year, participants will take an excursion with Festival President, Maykel Blanco, to the Amadeo Roldán music school. There will also be dance workshops with live music. See the daily party schedule below.

ESPAÑOL: El Festival de la Salsa en Cuba 2019 tendrá lugar del 19 al 24 de febrero en el Parque Almendares. Este año, los participantes realizarán una excursión con el presidente del Festival, Maykel Blanco, a la escuela de música Amadeo Roldán. También habrá talleres de baile con música en vivo. Vea el calendario de fiestas diarias a continuación.

5:00pm-6:00pm Dance session with DJ/Baile con DJ
6:00pm-7:00pm Various dance and other performances/Comparsas y variades
7:00pm-9:00pm Dance session with DJ/Baile con DJ
9:00pm-10:00pm First band/Primera orquesta
10:00pm-10:30pm Dance session with DJ/Baile con DJ
10:30pm-11:30pm Second band/Segunda orquesta
11:30pm-12:00am Dance session with DJ/Baile con DJ
12:00am-1:00am Third band/Tercera orquesta
1:00am-2:00am Dance session with DJ/Baile con DJ
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Sat, 25 Aug 2018 08:51:42 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's SJ Jazz Photos, Pt. 1 This gallery covers the first night of the 3-day festival.

Eddie Gale

Aaron Abernathy

Bobbito García, aka Kool Bob Love

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Mon, 20 Aug 2018 04:27:27 +0000
ESTO ME HUELE A ÉXITO Yordys Larrazabal

ENGLISH: 2018 keeps on giving and now one of Cuba's most popular young singers - Yordys Larrazabal - is putting the finishing touches on his solo album, and you can't beat the title, "Esto Me Huele A Éxito" [This Smells Like Success To Me]. The album is being released on the MBRecord label, and I was chatting with Yordys today and he told us a little of what we can expect.

The album has 10 songs: 8 of my authorship, a version of a song by maestro Juan Formell, "Tú me haces falta" and another song by a friend, the pianist of Sur Caribe - Rubert La Rosa - "La ley". Arrangers, look ... Manolito Simonet, Joaquin Betancourt, Maykel Blanco, Alfonso Espinosa, Lazarito Valdés, Roelvis Reyes "Bombon", Maykel García "Cuchilla", Yusef Díaz + your servant! Musicians who recorded: many and madrina there were 29! On piano Rolando Luna and others that you might know. The thing is that there are a lot of them, but it was a pure pleasure! And a violin and cello section! Anyway, I tried to give the album a feel of my world and myself! You'll hear influences from Funk, Rock, something very simple from R&B and my strenth, my timba! YORDIS LARRAZABAL

ESPAÑOL: 2018 sigue dando y ahora uno de los cantantes jóvenes más populares de Cuba, Yordys Larrazabal, está dando los últimos toques a su álbum en solitario, y no se puede superar el título, "Esto Me Huele A Éxito". El álbum se está lanzando en la etiqueta MBRecord, y hoy estaba chateando con Yordys y nos contó un poco de lo que podemos esperar.

El disco cuenta con 10 temas, 8 de mi autoría, una versión de una canción del maestro Juan Formell, "Tú me haces falta" y otro tema de un amigo, pianista de la orquesta Sur Caribe - Rubert La Rosa - "La ley". Arreglistas, mira...Manolito Simonet, Joaquin Betancourt, Maykel Blanco, Alfonso Espinosa, Lazarito Valdés, Roelvis Reyes "Bombon", Maykel García "Cuchilla", Yusef Díaz + un servidor! Músicos que grabaron, muchísimos y madrina que fueron 29! Contando en los pianos a Rolando Luna y otros que quizás conoces. Es que son muchos pero un puro placer! Cuerdas de violines y chelos! En fin, traté de llevarlo a mi terreno que huela a mí! Ahí escucharás influencias de Funk, Rock, algo muy sencillo de R&B y mi fuerte, mi timba! YORDIS LARRAZABAL

 

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Fri, 17 Aug 2018 19:47:30 +0000
La Resistencia Dropped Today

Yasser's new CD is out now at the usual on-line stores and streaming sites. It will also be released later on hard copy! It is actually higher on the release list than Maluma (or at least it was earlier today). I just finished my first complete listen of the CD and the arrangements are excellent. It's definitely a dancer's album. Some of the songs we've heard at YouTube already such as Amor sin obligación, Baja tu velocidad, Otra oportunidad and Songo Cerra'o, which is included as a bonus track. Of the ones I haven't heard before, I really like La Resistencia, La Misión, Laborando, Que No Me Den De Esa Cosa, Fallste and La H No Es Muda.  I'm very curious about what La H No Es Muda is about. I understand what he's saying, but I don't get it. Maybe it's a Cuban thing. Some beautiful trombone and trumpet solos on the album. First-rate piano playing. I will be posting a full review later when I've had a chance to listen a few times and digest. Right now I'm just tasting. I have posted the comments by Yasser himself from the disc insert below, so he can answer the question "What is this second production for me?"

El nuevo CD de Yasser ya está disponible en las habituales tiendas en línea y sitios de streaming. ¡También será lanzado más tarde en copia impresa! En realidad es más alto en la lista de lanzamientos que Maluma (o al menos fue hace unas horas). Acabo de eschucar el CD completo por primera vez y los arreglos son excelentes. Definitivamente es un álbum hecho para bailadores. Algunas de las canciones que ya hemos escuchado en YouTube son Amor sin obligación, Baja tu velocidad, Otra oportunidad y Songo Cerra'o, que se incluye como bonus. De los que no he escuchado antes, me gustan mucho La Resistencia, La Misión, Laborando, Que No Me Den De Esa Cosa, Fallste y La H No Es Muda. Tengo mucha curiosidad sobre lo que trata La H No Es Muda. Entiendo lo que dice la letra, pero no entiendo que significa. Tal vez es algo cubano. Hay algunos hermosos solos de trombón y trompeta en el álbum. Piano de primer nivel. Publicaré una reseña completa más tarde cuando haya tenido la oportunidad de escuchar algunas veces y digerir. En este momento solo estoy saboreando. He publicado los comentarios del mismísimo Yasser en el inserto del disco a continuación, para que pueda responder la pregunta "¿Qué es esta segunda producción para mí?"

Track list:
Intro
Mi tumbao no cambia
A tu manera no
La resistencia
La misión
Laborando feat. Yordys Larrazabal
Mi destino
Amor sin obligación
Baja tu velocidad
Que no me den de sa cosa feat. Alexander Abreu
Otra oportunidad
Fallaste
La H no es muda
Bonus track: Songo Cerra'o feat. Mandy Cantero & Samuel Formell

Tunes/iPhone- http://apple.co/2OzRXYp
Android/Google Play- http://bit.ly/2KQS3bK
Amazon- https://amzn.to/2OGsI6W 
Napster- http://bit.ly/2MhLtRt
Deezer- http://bit.ly/2Mv2VRt
Iheartradio- https://ihr.fm/2wd3jKg
Spotify- https://spoti.fi/2Mvsfa5

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Thu, 16 Aug 2018 20:42:13 +0000
RIP Don Pancho Terry Here's Tom's tribute, with photos, to one of the all time greats of Cuban music. Don Pancho composed and played chékere and violin for Maravilla de Florida during their most innovative period and was the patriarch of one of Cuba's most celebrated musical families, including Yosvany and Yunior Terry.

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Tue, 14 Aug 2018 06:53:53 +0000
La Resistencia - Yasser Ramos y El Tumbao Mayombe Yasser Ramos & El Tumbao Mayombe - "La Resistencia"

ENGLISH: "La Resistencia", the second release by Yasser Ramos, is coming to digital retailers on August 16th but is already available for pre-order at iTunes! Below is a teaser of the track "A Mi Que No Me Den De Esa Cosa" featuring Alexander Abreu. The album contains 13 tracks plus the bonus track "Songo Cerra'o", which Yasser recorded with Mandy Cantero and has been a hit for months now.

ESPAÑOL: "La Resistencia", el segundo disco de Yasser Ramos, llegará a los minoristas digitales el 16 de agosto pero ¡ya está disponible para preordinar en iTunes! A continuación hay un adelanto de la canción "A Mi Que No me Den De Esa Cosa" con Alexander Abreu. El álbum contiene 13 pistas más la canción extra "Songo Cerra'o", que Yasser grabó con Mandy Cantero y ha sido un éxito durante meses.

ENGLISH: "La Resistencia" was 6 months in the making and is being released on the Warachando Records Inc label, which was recently started by DJ Warapo, who also has his own production company - Warapo Productions. Click here for an interview with DJ Warapo.

Starting today "La Resistencia" is  available for pre-order at iTunes. Andriod and Google users can pre-order at Google Play. Stay tuned for more info and links to buy the album. 

Follow Yasser Ramos y El Tumbao Mayome on social media:
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram

ESPAÑOL: "La Resistencia" llevaba 6 meses de trabajo y se estrenará bajo el sello Warachando Records Inc, que recientemente fundó DJ Warapo, que también tiene su propia companía de producción, Warapo Productions. Empezando hoy "La Resistencia" está disponible para preordenar en iTunes. Usarios de Android y Google Play lo pueden preordiner en Google Play. Estén atentos para más información y enlaces para comprar el álbum.

Sigue Yasser Ramos y El Tumbao Mayome en los redes sociales:
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram

DJ Warapo & Yasser RamosYasser Ramos & DJ Warapo

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Sun, 12 Aug 2018 14:19:37 +0000
Manolito y Su Trabuco Manolito y Su Trabuco Europe 2018

ENGLISH: It has been two years since Manolito Simonet y Su Trabuco toured Europe, but they will be back this autumn with Ricardo Amaray and brothers Gabi and Ruben Rodriguez on the front line. The dates are beginning to come in so check out their tours page and keep an eye out as we more dates are added to the tour. Right now they have 13 concerts scheduled taking them to Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Italy, Spain and Denmark. Click here for the current list of date and links to buy tickets.

Manolito y Su Trabuco celebrated their 25th anniversay this year, and in May they released their 11th studio album -"La Vida Cambió". As you look for a concert near you, you can enjoy one of the tracks from the new album: "Preso en mi propa piel".

ESPAÑOL: Han pasado dos años desde que Manolito Simonet y Su Trabuco recorrieron Europa, pero volverán este otoño con Ricardo Amaray y los hermanos Gabi y Rubén Rodríguez en primera línea. Las fechas están llegando, así que echa un vistazo a su página de tours y mantente atento ya que se agregan más fechas a la gira En este momento tienen 13 conciertos programados llevándolos a Alemania, la República Checa, Hungría, Francia, Italia, España y Dinamarca. Dale clic aquí para ver la lista actual de fechas y enlaces para comprar entradas.

Manolito y Su Trabuco celebraron su 25º aniversario este año, y en mayo lanzaron su 11º álbum de estudio: "La Vida Cambió". Mientras buscas un concierto cerca de ti, puedes disfrutar de uno de los temas del nuevo álbum: "Preso en mi propa piel".

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Tue, 07 Aug 2018 09:03:02 +0000
Adalberto Álvarez y su Son to Play Chicago's Festival Cubano
The 9th Edition of Festival Cubano in Riis Park, Chicago, Illinois, will have a very special closing Sunday -  Adalberto Álvarez y su Son in their first Chicago appearance since 1999 followed by Gilberto Santa Rosa,  who is Boricua but has become very popular in Cuba lately due to his collaborations with a few artists there.
In its beginnings, Festival Cubano was very cautious (excessively so in this writer's opinion) about booking artists from the island.  In recent years, this has no longer been an issue, and we salute them for that.  Chicago deserves to hear this music.    One thing that the Festival has done well since its beginnings is showcase Chicago's community of  fine Cuban-American musical talent, and it continues to do so this year.  Many of these bands don't have regular club or restaurant gigs, so catch them while you can!
This is a three-day festival from Friday, August 10 to Sunday, August 12.   There are a lot of things besides the concerts - food, rides for the kiddies, dominos etc. etc.   For a complete listing of events and performers, tickets etc, visit the Festival Cubano website here

If you haven't seen it yet, we have a photo gallery of one of  Maqueuque's June performances at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago here Melvis Santa was with them this trip. 

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Sun, 05 Aug 2018 16:38:21 +0000
Pupy y Los Que Son Son Release Concert for Pasándola Bien Psaándola Bien -Pupy y los que son son

ENGLISH: This Saturday July 21st, César "Pupy" Pedroso y Los Que Son Son  will present their new CD "Pásandola Bien" with a grand concert at Teatro Mella in Havana. Guests include Alejandro Falcón, Manolito Simonet, Lazarito Valdés, Los Niches and Charly Mucha Rima. 

"Pasándola Bien" is Pupy's seventh CD since he left Los Van Van to create his own orchestra "Los Que Son Son". He also recorded three solo CDs while still a member of Van Van. Click here for more about Pupy's discography. The latest album contains a stunning 15 tracks albeit the final track is more of a despedida based on the opening track "Pasándola bien". The CD is available at iTunes and other digital retailers. If you're in Cuba pick me up a hardcopy please!  From their recent European tour I leave you with "La cuenta decisiva" lead vocals by 19-year-old Alcibiades Durruthy.

ESPAÑOL: Este sábado 21 de julio, César "Pupy" Pedroso y Los Que Son Son presentarán su nuevo CD "Pasándola Bien" con un gran concierto en el Teatro Mella de La Habana. Los invitados incluyen a Alejandro Falcón, Manolito Simonet, Lazarito Valdés, Los Niches y Charly Mucha Rima.

"Pasándola Bien" es el séptimo CD de Pupy desde que dejó Los Van Van para crear su propia orquesta  - "Los Que Son Son". También grabó tres CD solistas mientras aún era integrante de Van Van. Haz clic aquí para ver más sobre la discografía de Pupy. El último álbum contiene unas impresionantes 15 pistas, aunque la última pista es más una despedida basada en la canción de apertura "Pasándola bien". El CD está disponible en iTunes y otros minoristas digitales. Si estás en Cuba, llévame una copia impresa, por favor. De su reciente gira europea los dejo con "La cuenta decisiva"  voz principal de Alcibiades Durruthy, que sólo tiene 19 años.

 

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Thu, 19 Jul 2018 15:05:38 +0000
EUROPEAN LATIN AWARDS European Latin Awards Frosinone 2018

ENGLISH: This Sunday July 8th Frosinone, Italy will host Europe's biggest Latin Awards event at the new stadium Benito Stirpe. The show begins at 7:00 p.m. and will last six hours! The show will include artists from various countries but for the timberos the poster above is what excites us: Havana D'Primera, NG La Banda, Los Van Van, Paulo FG, Issac Delgado, Manolín and representing for reggaeton are Yomil & El Dany and Osmani Garcia. If you are in Italy and can make the show, here is a link to purchase tickets. If not, you can look for it on Italian TV. They were negotiating to show it on Mega TV in Miami as well, but I don't know how that turned out.

ESPAÑOL: Este domingo 8 de julio, Frosinone, Italia, será la sede del evento de Premios Latinos más grande de Europa en el nuevo estadio Benito Stirpe. El espectáculo comienza a las 7:00 p.m. y durará seis horas! El show incluirá artistas de varios países, pero para los timberos el afiche arriba es lo que nos emociona: Havana D'Primera, NG La Banda, Los Van Van, Paulo FG, Issac Delgado, Manolín y representando el reggaeton estarán Yomil & El Dany y Osmani Garcia. Si te encuentras en Italia y puedes ir al espectáculo, aquí hay un enlace para comprar boletos. Si no, puedes buscarlo en la TV italiana. También estaban negociando para mostrarlo en Mega TV en Miami, pero no sé cómo resultó.

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Fri, 06 Jul 2018 09:27:59 +0000
Josone Jazz & Son Josene Jazz & Son Varadero

ENGLISH: The festivals continue in Varadero. July 12th marks the start of four days of concerts featuring 20 Cuban and international artists at the Jazz & Son festival at Josone Park in Varadero. The park will also host a fair of Cuban cultural products. Concerts begin each evening at 8:30pm and continue until 3:00am. From 2:00am-4:00am the Hotel Melia Varadero will have an aftershow jam with Yissy García and Bandaancha.

Click here for the full program and to buy tickets.

ESPAÑOL: Los festivales continúan en Varadero. El 12 de julio marca el comienzo de cuatro días de conciertos con 20 artistas cubanos e internacionales en el festival Jazz & Son en el Parque Josone de Varadero. El parque también presentará una feria de productos culturales cubanos. Los conciertos comienzan cada noche a las 8:30 p.m. y continúan hasta las 3:00 a.m. De 2:00 a.m. a 4:00 a.m., el Hotel Melia Varadero tendrá una descarga después de la fiesta con Yissy García y Bandaancha.

Haz clic aquí para ver el programa completo y comprar entradas.

Participanting bands:
Los Muñequitos de Matanzas
Osaín del Monte
Rumbatá
Rumberos de Cuba
Yissy y Banda XX (with Telmary & Vania Borges)
Dayme Arocena
Septeto Santiaguero
Pancho Amat
Nicholas Payton
Álvaro Torres
Ernán López Nussa
Horacio "El Negro"
Gente D'Zona
Issac Delgado
Gilberto Santa Rosa
Alejandro Falcón
Roberto Carlos "Cucurucho" Rodriguez
Michel Herrera
DeCuba
Los Van Van

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Sun, 01 Jul 2018 23:09:13 +0000
Festival de Verano in Varadero Festival de Verano Varadero 2018

ENGLISH: The VI edition of the Festival de Verano in Varadero starts tomorrow with a concert at the Anfiteatro Varadero by Gente D'Zona and guests, which starts at 10pm. The other events will take place at the Hotel complex of Playa Caleta & Punta Arenas. See the program below. The event is organized by Clave Cubana - a part of Artex - which is celebrating their 30 year anniversary this year. The aniversary celebration will be closed with a concert by Havana D'Primera and Leoni Torres at La Tropical in Havana on August 25th. So if it's too late for you to catch the Varadero concerts, plan for August!

ESPAÑOL: La VI edición del Festival de Verano de Varadero comienza mañana con un concierto en el Anfiteatro Varadero de Gente D'Zona e invitados, que comienza a las 10pm. Los otros eventos tendrán lugar en el complejo hotelero de Playa Caleta y Punta Arenas. Vea el programa a continuación. El evento está organizado por Clave Cubana, una parte de Artex, que celebra su 30 aniversario este año. La celebración del aniversario se cerrará con un concierto de Havana D'Primera y Leoni Torres en La Tropical, en La Habana, el 25 de agosto. Entonces, si es demasiado tarde para que puedas asistir a los conciertos de Varadero, ¡planifica para agosto!

June 28 10pm Gente D'Zona Anfiteatro de Varadero
             10pm-3am

Beach party 

Hotel Playa Caleta y Punta Arenas

June 29 10pm-3am      JG y su Grupo Hotel swimming pool 
  La Charanga Habanera     
    
Hotel swimming pool 

 June 30 4pm Buena Fe  Beach concert
             10pm-3am Jacob Forever Hotel swimming pool 
  Yoruba Andabo

Hotel swimming pool
 
 July 1st 10am-1pm PMM  Beach party/World Cup

 

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Wed, 27 Jun 2018 10:34:03 +0000
América por su Música 2018
AM-PM (América por su Música), la Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC), el Centro Nacional de Música Popular (CNMP)  y la Casa de las Américas presentan un taller especial, Autogestión de la música en entornos digitales, en FAC del 26 al 29 de junio de 2018.  Para más información, visite americaporsumusica.com  Los eventos incluirán la presentación de una nueva revista dedicada a la industria de música en Cuba, Magazine AM-PM.

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Fri, 22 Jun 2018 02:22:37 +0000
Coming to Chicago: Jane Bunnett, Chuchito Valdés, Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son 3 groups of special interest are coming to Chicago very soon. 

1.  Jane Bunnett and Maqueque Thursday, June 28-Sunday, July 1 at the Jazz Showcase
Melvis Santa, who was just in Chicago with her own group, Ashedi, will be returning to perform with Maqueque, which always features some of Cuba's most prominent female jazzistas. 


12th Annual Chicago Latin Jazz Festival, Friday, July 13-Sunday, July 15
This year the festival spends Friday and Saturday at the usual Humboldt Park location before moving to Navy Pier on Sunday.   The entire lineup looks interesting, but of special interest is a big band project by  Chuchito Valdés and the Chicago Latin Jazz Collective   Chuchito usually performs here with a smaller combo, but this will be a special big band tribute to his grandfather Bebo Valdés.  Friday, July 13 and  Sunday July 15.  The full schedule can be seen using the link above. 


Finally, at this writing, Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son are scheduled to close this year's Festival Cubano in Riis Park on Sunday, August 12.




Melvis Santa and Ashedi
were at Sabor a Café in Chicago June 16 and 17th for a concert, workshop and Rumba jam.  You can see a photo gallery here. 

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Mon, 18 Jun 2018 12:31:28 +0000
HAVANA D'PRIMERA Havana D'Primera European Tour

ENGLISH: Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera are in Madrid tonight where they begin their 2018 European Tour supporting the release of the new and most excellent album "Cantor del Pueblo". The tour will last over one month and will take them to Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland and the Netherlands. They will even appear on TV5 in Italy for the Latin Awards on July 8th. Don't miss the chance to catch the new songs en directo. And take some cash with you because they will be selling hardcopy of thier CDs as well as t-shirts and ball caps! Click here for the updated list of concert dates. I leave you with the title track from the new album at Havana D'Primera's official YouTube channel. Subscribe there to keep up with the latest official video.

ESPAÑOL: Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera están en Madrid esta noche, donde comienzan su gira europea 2018 apoyando el lanzamiento del nuevo y excelente álbum "Cantor del Pueblo". La gira durará más de un mes y los llevará a España, Italia, Francia, Alemania, Dinamarca, Suiza y los Países Bajos. Incluso aparecerán en TV5 en Italia para los Latin Awards el 8 de julio. No te pierdas la oportunidad de vivir las nuevas canciones en directo. ¡Y llévese algo de efectivo porque venderán discos físicos de sus CDs, también camisetas y gorras! Haga clic aquí para ver la lista actualizada de las fechas de los conciertos. Los dejo con la canción que da título al nuevo álbum en el canal oficial de YouTube de Havana D'Primera. Suscríbase para mantenerse al día con el último video oficial.

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Thu, 14 Jun 2018 15:44:33 +0000
Washington DC Artes de Cuba Fest, pt. 5 Part V covers the latest incarnation of Tiempo Libre:

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Thu, 14 Jun 2018 07:52:15 +0000
Washington DC Artes de Cuba Fest, pt. 4 Part IV covers Los Van Van's historic Washington D.C. appearance.

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Mon, 11 Jun 2018 19:54:35 +0000
Melvis Santa & Ashedi in Chicago June 16-17


The delightful Melvis Santa returns to Chicago with three master percussionists/rumberos for concerts and workshops.   Whether you are a musician, dancer or just an aficionado of Rumba, this is a don't-miss, and as a bonus, Sabor a Café is an intimate setting with great sound that serves wonderful Colombian food.   

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Sun, 10 Jun 2018 12:26:31 +0000
Review: ESCAPE Escapes From the Ordinary...

ENGLISH:  Escape, the debut album by Alberto Lescay & FORMAS, has just been released in both Cuba and several international digital stores.   This project represents the best of the best of the NuJazz movement in Cuba, and its release was accompanied with justifiable fanfare in the media in Cuba as well as a presentation concert in the Museo de Bellas Artes in La Habana, the perfect venue considering that the Lescay family is also distinguished in the plastic arts.  If you speak Spanish, you can listen to Rabio Rebelde's podcast special here:
ESPAÑOL: Escape, el álbum debut de Alberto Lescay & FORMAS, acaba de ser lanzado tanto en Cuba como en varias tiendas digitales internacionales. Este proyecto representa lo mejor de lo mejor del movimiento NuJazz en Cuba, y su lanzamiento fue acompañado con fanfarrias justificables en los medios en Cuba, así como un concierto de presentación en el Museo de Bellas Artes en La Habana, el lugar perfecto teniendo en cuenta que la familia Lescay también se distingue en las artes plásticas. Puedes escuchar el podcast especial de Rabio Rebelde aquí:



ENGLISH:  You can read Bill Tilford's review of Escape, which includes the group's EPK video, here.
ESPAÑOL:  Puedes leer la reseña por Bill Tilford de Escape (incluyendo el EPK  video del grupo) 
aquí. 

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Mon, 04 Jun 2018 20:32:57 +0000
Washington DC Artes de Cuba Fest, pt. 3 Here's Part 3 of 5 on this historic Cuban arts festival, featuring Pepito Gómez, Ariacne Trujillo, Yusnier Bustamonte and Benjamin Willis.

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Mon, 04 Jun 2018 05:47:44 +0000
Washington DC Artes de Cuba Fest, pt. 2 Here's Part 2 of 5 on this historic Cuban arts festival.

Ariacne Trujillo with Pepito Gómez

Yusnier Bustamante, Benjamin Willis and Pepito Gomez 

López-Nussa Family

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Sat, 02 Jun 2018 22:44:18 +0000
PAPUCHO Y MANANA CLUB Papucho y Manana Club

ENGLISH: Pedro Ordoñez "Papucho" y Manana Club open their inaugural European tour tonight at Peña Festayre in Paris. They are one of the most exciting young bands in Havana and have a large following internationally, but this will be the first opportunities that many of us have had to see them en directo! This tour will take them to France and Italy.

Papucho y Manana Club have released two full length CDs "Contra La Pared" (2012) and "Respeta" (2017) as well as an EP - "Mi Manana" - in 2015. Catch them if you have a chance! Everyone I have spoken to who has seen them in Havana has become an instant fan. If you can't make any of the concerts, enjoy the video below from DJ Leonel Rogier.  Click here for the list of concerts

ESPAÑOL: Pedro Ordoñez "Papucho" y Manana Club abre su gira europea inaugural esta noche en Peña Festayre en París. Son una de las bandas jóvenes más emocionantes de La Habana y tienen muchos seguidores a nivel internacional, ¡pero esta será la primera oportunidad que muchos de nosotros hemos tenido de verlos en directo! Esta gira los llevará a Francia e Italia.

Papucho y Manana Club han lanzado dos CD completos, "Contra La Pared" (2012) y "Respeta" (2017), así como un EP - "Mi Manana" - en 2015. ¡Asiste al concierto si tienes la oportunidad! Todo el mundo con el que he hablado y que los ha visto en La Habana se ha convertido en un fanático instantáneo. Si no puedes asistir a ninguno de los conciertos, disfrute el siguiente video del DJ Leonel Rogier. Haz clic aquí para ver la lista de conciertos.

 

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Thu, 31 May 2018 19:49:57 +0000
Review - Hasta Que Salga El Sol JG - Hasta Que Salga El Sol

ENGLISH: Lo prometido es deuda and finally I have published my review of the new release by "JG" Juan Guillermo.In this age of attention spans the length of a Twitter post, I will give a quick sumation here for those who don't have the stamina to read the full review. With his third album JG has established his trademark as el dueño del party with ten fun, upbeat dance tracks. The musicianship is excellent and the arrangements include five very good 100% timba tracks as well as five tropical-timba fusions with a fresh and broad appeal. Click here to read a track-by-track review of "Hasta que salga el sol"

I'm sure everyone has been dancing to "Belleza latina" for the past year, so instead below is a taste from the recording of the track "Ell siempre se va sola" feat. Adalberto Álvarez and Michel Gonzalez Poli. You can also subscribe to JG's YouTube channel where he has uploaded six audio tracks from "Hasta que salga el sol". The album is on sale now at Cubamusic.

ESPAÑOL: Lo prometido es deuda y por fin publiqué mi reseña del nuevo álbum de "JG" Juan Guillermo. En esta era cuando la capacidad de atención se extiende a lo largo de una publicación de Twitter, daré aquí una suma rápida para aquellos que no tienen la energía para leer le reseña completa. Con su tercer álbum, JG ha establecido su sello como el dueño del party con diez pistas de baile alegres y divertidas. La musicalidad es excelente y los arreglos incluyen cinco muy buenas pistas de timba 100%, así como cinco fusiones de tropical con timba con un atractivo fresco y amplio. Haz clic aquí para leer una reseña pista-por-pista de "Hasta que salga el sol"

Estoy seguro de que todo el mundo ha bailado con "Belleza latina" durante el año pasado, así que en lugar de eso es un video de la grabación de la canción "Ell siempre se va sola", feat. Adalberto Álvarez y Michel Gonzalez Poli. También puedes suscribirte al canal de JG en YouTube, donde ha subido seis pistas de audio de "Hasta que salga el sol". El álbum ya está a la venta en Cubamusic.

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Tue, 29 May 2018 16:32:52 +0000
Washington DC Artes de Cuba Fest, pt. 1 Click here for the full gallery and report - stay tuned for Parts 2, 3, & 4.

Image may contain: 2 people, people on stage, people playing musical instruments and indoor

Ariacne with Pepito - will she ever tour with her trio??

 

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Sun, 27 May 2018 21:30:19 +0000
CALIXTO OVIEDO y su TIMBA L.A. Este pasado 20 de Mayo en Los Ángeles -- en un festival titlulado Cuban-American Music Festival y localizado en LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes --  muchos amantes de la música latina y cubana fueron testigos del nacimiento de una nueva agrupación timbera aquí en los EE.UU: CALIXTO OVIEDO y su TIMBA L.A. Como saben, Calixto Oviedo Mulens fue el baterista del grupo íconico NG La Banda durante el perido en que porducieron sus más grandes éxitos, incluyendo Santa Palabra, Échale Limón, y El Trágico.

CALIXTO OVIEDO y su TIMBA L.A.

Calixto nos explica: "Hola Michael. Este proyecto, aunque lo tenia en mente hace tiempo, no fue hasta ahora que el organizador del evento Guido Herrera (KXLU 88.9 FM - Alma del barrio) me pidio hacerle un homenaje a NG La Banda, producto de ser cofundador de la misma, como uno de los factores principales a la elaboración de la timba con todo lo que aporté etc. Nada lo demas es historia que conoces. Aquí te presento a los músicos de mi nueva agrupación y nuestras próximas fechas. Le envío un gran saludo a todos los leyentes y seguidores de TIMBA.com".

Próximas presentaciones (next shows) :
2 de Junio - Floridita, Hollywood, Los Ángeles - www.elfloridita.com
9 de Junio - Lacma (Latin Sounds) Los Ángeles - www.lacma.org
Para más información contacte a Calixto aquí.

Músicos de CALIXTO OVIEDO y su TIMBA L.A. (participating musicians) :
Calixto Oviedo - Band Leader, Drums, Timbales - Cuba
Raymanis García - Congas - Cuba
Rayner Fernández - Bongó y coros - Colombia
Azaris Pijuán - Bass - Cuba
Iliana Rose - Piano - U.S.A
Bob Lawrence - Trombone - U.S.A.
Richard Velzen - Trombone - U.S.A.
Leonbardo Govin - Trombone - U.S.A.
Lily Hernández - Cantante - Cuba
Gonzalo Chomat - Cantante - Cuba

CALIXTO OVIEDO y su TIMBA L.A.

CALIXTO OVIEDO y su TIMBA L.A.

CALIXTO OVIEDO y su TIMBA L.A.

This past 20th of May in Los Angeles - at a festival entitled the Cuban-American Music Festival and located at the Plaza of Culture & Arts - many lovers of Latin and Cuban music witnessed the birth of a new U.S.A. based timba group: CALIXTO OVIEDO and his TIMBA L.A. As you know, Calixto Oviedo Mulens was the drummer of the iconic band NG La Banda during the period in which they produced their greatest hits, including Santa Palabra, Échale Limón, and El Trágico.

Calixto explains: "Hi Michael. This project, although I had it in mind for some time, it was not until now that the organizer of the event, Guido Herrera (KXLU 88.9 FM - Alma del barrio) asked me to pay homage to NG La Banda, as I was one of the co-founders and one of the main factors in the development of the timba, with everything I contributed, etc. I want to present to you the musicians of my new group and our upcoming dates. I send a big greeting to all the readers and followers of TIMBA.com".

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Sat, 26 May 2018 06:44:24 +0000
TIEMPO LIBRE AT ARTES DE CUBA TONIGHT! As part of the Artes de Cuba festival, Tiempo Libre will be on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center of Washington DC tonight (May 20) at 6pm EDT.  Like all Millennium Stage free concerts, this will be livestreamed:  .  



TIMBA.com's best photographer, Tom Ehrlich, has been at some key performances during Artes de Cuba, and we are looking forward to seeing some of his work in the future. 

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Sun, 20 May 2018 17:58:40 +0000
LOS VAN VAN AT ARTES DE CUBA TONIGHT!

ENGLISH: It is a pity that Juan Formell is not physically with us for this moment, but his spirit and music most certainly are Los Van Van is in concert tonight at the Eisenhower Theater at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC at 8pm EDT (more information here). This is truly an historic moment in US-Cuba cultural exchanges.   
ESPAÑOL Es una pena que Juan Formell no esté con nosotros físicamente para este momento, pero su espíritu y su música ciertamente están. Los Van Van está en concierto esta noche en el Teatro Eisenhower en el Kennedy Center de Washington, DC a las 8pm EDT (más información aquí). Es realmente un momento histórico en los intercambios culturales entre los Estados Unidos y Cuba.

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Sat, 19 May 2018 22:07:33 +0000
LÓPEZ-NUSSA FAMILY AT ARTES DE CUBA
Tonight, May 18, the López-Nussa family will be in concert in the Terrace Theater at the Kennedy Center as part of Artes de Cubaat 7:30 PM Eastern.   If you are a fan of Cuban Jazz, this is a don't-miss concert. More information is available here. 
Dafnis Prieto is also at Artes de Cuba at 9PM, but we are advised that this is sold out. 

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Fri, 18 May 2018 19:59:24 +0000
MAY 11 ARTES DE CUBA CONCERT LIVESTREAM The May 11 Artes de Cuba concert livestream features Orquesta Miguel Faílde and can be livestreamed here at 6pm Eastern US Time:

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Fri, 11 May 2018 14:16:22 +0000
DE CUBA PA'L MUNDO ENTERO Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son - De CUba Pa'l Mundo Entero

ENGLISH: The great news keeps coming! "De Cuba Pa'l Mundo Entero" is out today at digital retailers and streaming sites. I have found it at Google play, Spotify, Amazon and Cubamusic but not at iTunes. It may show up there in a couple of hours if you only use Apple products so keep checking! I have just bought my copy and will be listening later today!

ESPANOL: ¡Las buenas noticias siguen llegando! "De Cuba Pa'l Mundo Entero" sale hoy a los minoristas digitales y sitios de streaming. Lo encontré en Google Play, Spotify, Amazon y Cubamusic, pero no en iTunes. Puede aparecer allí en un par de horas si solo usas productos de Apple, ¡así que sigue buscando! ¡Acabo de comprar mi copia y la escucharé más tarde!

Track list:
De Cuba Pa'l Mundo Entero
Duele El Corazón
Para Darte Amor
Los Buenos y Los Malos
Rienda Suelta
Qué será Que Tiene La Habana
Soy yo no busques más
Tu Fiesta de Cumpleaños
El Mal de La Hipocrecia
Si No La Quieres Déjala Que Se Vaya

 

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Fri, 11 May 2018 11:32:19 +0000
Calixto Oviedo y su TIMBA LA Calixto y su TIMBA LA

ENGLISH: Sunday, May 20 the Cuban American Music Festival will take place at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in L.A. California and Calixto Oviedo y Su TIMBA LA will offer a tribute to NG La Banda, playing songs such as "El Tragico", "Santa Palabra", "La Expresiva" and "Échale Limón", and during Calixto's set they will play only Cuban Timba from the 90's with that unmistakable hallmark. The singers will be Gonzalo Chomat (Ex Conexion Salsera) and Lily Hernandez in a band composed of 10 musicians. Don't miss it timberos from LA!

ESPAÑOL: Domingo 20 de Mayo el festival Cuban American Music Festival se llevará acabo en  LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in L.A. California y Calixto Oviedo y Su TIMBA LA ofrecerán un homenaje a NG La Banda, tocando temas como "El Trágico", "Santa Palabra", "La Expresiva" y "Échale Limón" además en la hora de concierto se tocará sólo Timba Cubana de la época de los 90 con ese sello inconfudible. Estaran cantando Gonzalo Chomat (Ex Conexion Salsera) y Lily Hernandez en una banda compuesta por 10 músicos. No te lo pierdas timbero de LA!

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Thu, 10 May 2018 21:38:58 +0000
MAY 10 ARTES DE CUBA CONCERT LIVESTREAM Today, May 10, the Artes de Cuba Festival presents Adonis Gonzalez & Mauricio Herrera live at 6pm EDT.  The livestream link is here:

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Thu, 10 May 2018 19:12:38 +0000
DE VEULTA AL BARRIO De Vuelto Al Barrio

EDIT: "De Vuelta Al Barrio" is now out at Spotify and Google Play!

ENGLISH: Emilio Frás "El Niño" y La Verdad are currently touring Europe promoting their third album: "De Vuelta Al Barrio". Tomorrow they will be at New Morning in Paris. Click here to find a concert near you and bring some cash because you can buy the CD - yes hardcopy! - at the concerts. The album is, in my opinion the best yet, which is saying a lot since the two previous albums are excellent and La Verdad won at Cubadisco with their debut album "Llegó La Verdad"

"De Vuelta Al Barrio" is a feast for dancers. It satiates our appetite with fantastic arrangements that really show the maturity of this young group. I confess that I am not a fan of chachachá, but lo and behold if "Cha Pa' Mi Muchacha" isn't one of the songs I keep coming back to! Well played Emilio, Pachy Jr. and Dayron! 2018 is turning out to be a major year for timba releases, so this album is also in the queue for a review. We will get it up as soon as possible. In the meantime, if you can't make a concert, word is that the digital album will be released at the usual retailers tomorrow, May 10th. Below is a taste of one of the songs from the album: "La Cosa Mala". The official video for this song will be out soon as well.

ESPAÑOL: Emilio Frás "El Niño" y La Verdad actualmente están de gira por Europa promocionando su tercer álbum: "De Vuelta Al Barrio". Mañana estarán en New Morning en París. Dale clic aquí para buscar un concierto cerca de ti y trae algo de dinero porque puedes comprar el CD, ¡sí, una copia impresa! - en los conciertos. El álbum es, en mi opinión, el mejor hasta ahora, lo cual es mucho decir ya que los dos álbumes anteriores son excelentes y La Verdad ganó en Cubadisco con su álbum debut "Llegó La Verdad".

"De Vuelta Al Barrio" es una fiesta para los bailadores. Satisface nuestro apetito con fantásticos arreglos que realmente muestran la madurez de este joven grupo. Confieso que no soy fan de chachachá, pero he aquí que "Cha Pa 'Mi Muchacha" es una de las canciones a las que vuelvo. ¡Buena jugada Emilio, Pachy Jr. y Dayron! 2018 se está convirtiendo en un año importante para lanzamientos de discos de timba, por lo que este álbum también está en la cola para su reseña. Lo publicaremos lo más pronto posible. Mientras tanto, si no puedes asistir a un concierto, se dice que el álbum digital se lanzará en las tiendas habituales mañana, 10 de mayo. A continuación una muestra de una de las canciones del álbum: "La Cosa Mala". El video oficial de esta canción saldrá pronto también.

Track List:
Intro
La Princesa de Cayo Hueso
El Primo
Las Manzanas
Tírame La Foto
La Cosa Mala
Cha Pa' Mi Muchacha
Para Ser Cantante
Que Clase Cara
Reflexión
El Nombrecito

"La Cosa Mala"

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Wed, 09 May 2018 13:39:32 +0000
MAY 9 ARTES DE CUBA CONCERT LIVESTREAM Here is the link to tonight's (May 9) Artes de Cuba concert at the Kennedy Center.  Caribe Nostrum will be livestreamed at 6pm Eastern US Time:

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Wed, 09 May 2018 12:24:02 +0000
ARTES DE CUBA OPENING CONCERT LIVESTREAM The Kennedy Center will be livestreaming the opening concert of this month's Artes de Cuba Festival in Washington on Youtube at 8PM Eastern US Time:



UPDATE:  AS OF MAY 9, THIS LINK IS STILL ACTIVE AS AN ARCHIVED CONCERT

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Tue, 08 May 2018 19:51:25 +0000
CUBADISCO POSTPONED


ENGLISH: We have recently been advised that Cubadisco 2018 is being rescheduled to a later date this year, possibly in September.  Part of the reasoning for this is the extensive Artes de Cuba festival at the Kennedy Center this month, with many of Cuba's most important bands out of the country.  This was to be the year in which the theme would be Música Popular Bailable, a genre of special interest to TIMBA.com, and we will be following future developments very  closely. 
ESPAÑOL: Recientemente se nos informó que Cubadisco 2018 se reprogramará para una fecha posterior este año, posiblemente en septiembre. Parte del razonamiento para el cambio es el extenso festival Artes de Cuba en el Kennedy Center este mes, con muchas de las bandas más importantes de Cuba fuera del país. Este sería el año en el que el tema sería Música Popular Bailable, un género de especial interés para TIMBA.com, y seguiremos de cerca los desarrollos futuros.


As part of the second leg of her 2018 US tour, Daymé Arocena gave an excellent concert at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago on May 2.  You can view a photo gallery with commentary here. 

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Mon, 07 May 2018 03:21:31 +0000
JG - HASTA QUE SALGA EL SOL JG - Hasta Que Salga El Sol

ENGLISH: Juan Guillermo Almeida - or just JG - has released his third album "Hasta Que Salga El Sol" internationally on the Unicornio label. It is now available at Cubamusic.com. The single "Belleza latina" featuring Alexander Abreu has been a hit for a year. Other collaborations on the new CD include Michel Gonzales and Adalberto Álvarez on "Ella siempre se va sola", Maikel Dinza who composed and sings on "La Habana la enganchó", Emilio Frias on "La cosa", and El Mola on "La fama pa' la cabeza". A full review will be coming soon. Below is the track list and the video for "Belleza Latina" on the off chance anyone hasn't seen it yet.

ESPAÑOL: Juan Guillermo Almeida - o simplemente JG - lanzó su tercer álbum "Hasta Que Salga El Sol" a nivel internacional bajo el sello discográfico Unicornio. Ahora está disponible en Cubamusic.com. El sencillo "Belleza latina" con Alexander Abreu ha sido un éxito ya hace un año. Otras colaboraciones en el nuevo CD incluyen a Michel Gonzales y Adalberto Álvarez en "Ella siempre se va sola", Maikel Dinza que compuso y canta en "La Habana la enganchó", Emilio Frias en "La cosa", y El Mola en "La fama" pa 'la cabeza ". Una reseña completa llegará pronto. A continuación se encuentra la lista de canciones y el video de "Belleza latina" en caso de que alguien no lo haya visto aún.

Track list:
Vengo de Cuba
Hasta que salga el sol
Ella siempre va sola
La Habana la enganchó
Belleza latina
El cariñoso
La cosa
Voy a mentirle
Tú misma lo dijiste
La fama pa' la cabeza

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Mon, 30 Apr 2018 13:55:17 +0000
DAYMÉ AROCENA IN CHICAGO MAY 2

As part of the second leg of her US Tour, Daymé Arocena will be at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago Wednesday, May 2, followed by Minneapolis on  Thursday, May 3 and St. Joseph, Missouri on Friday, May 4.   Daymé always captivates the audience.

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Mon, 30 Apr 2018 04:22:47 +0000
Pedrito Martínez Group in Saratoga Tonight The latest incarnation of PMG will be at Villa Montalvo tonight. Click here for details and tickets.

The Pedrito Martinez Group

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Fri, 20 Apr 2018 21:10:23 +0000
Interview with Maykel Blanco 2018 Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor 2018

ENGLISH: "Somos Mayores" the CD/DVD from the 12th Anniversary concert of Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor will soon be released to the international market. It is currently only available in Cuba. The concert was a collaboration with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra and consists of 10 tracks, including the intro and a choreography section in the middle. The combination of the music Salsa Mayor and the Symphony Orchestra works beautifully, it never feels forced, and considering the Cuban tradition of charangas, the inclusion of strings in the arrangements is completely natural and extremely danceable.  When it is released I suspect we will only be able to get the audio part. It is very hard nowadays to get a hardcopy outside Cuba and the digital retailers don't seem to be selling the video files. But we'll just have to see. Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor will be touring South America at the end of April and in the fall they will be in Europe. Hopefully they will bring the hardcopy with them, so take some cash with you if you attend a concert.

Maykel took some time to talk with Timba.com about "Somos Mayores", the Festival de la Salsa en Cuba and other steps he is taking to continue his support of Cuban music and it's international diffusion. Click here to read the interview in English.

ESPAÑOL: "Somos Mayores" el CD / DVD del concierto del 12 ° Aniversario de Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor pronto será lanzado al mercado internacional. Actualmente solo está disponible en Cuba. El concierto fue una colaboración con la Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Cuba y consta de 10 pistas, incluida la introducción y una sección de coreografía en el medio. La combinación de la música de La Salsa Mayor y La Orquesta Sinfónica funciona maravillosamente, nunca se siente forzada, y teniendo en cuenta la tradición cubana de las charangas, la inclusión de cuerdas en los arreglos es completamente natural y sumamente bailable. Cuando se lance, sospecho que solo podremos obtener la parte de audio. Es muy difícil hoy en día obtener una copia impresa fuera de Cuba y los minoristas digitales no parecen estar vendiendo los archivos de video. Pero solo tendremos que ver. Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor hará una gira de Sudamérica a fines de abril y en otoño estarán en Europa. Esperemos que traigan la copia física con ellos, así que llévate un poco de dinero si asistes a un concierto.

Maykel se tomó un momento para hablar con Timba.com sobre "Somos Mayores", el Festival de la Salsa en Cuba y otros pasos que está tomando para continuar su apoyo a la música cubana y su difundación internacional. Haga clic aquí para leer la entrevista en español.

"Somos Mayores" track list:
Intro
Que No Me Quiten La Fe
Pa' Que Todo Vaya Alante
Mi Mulata en La Habana
Házte La Que No Me Ves
Choreography
Brujería
Siempre Que Llueve Escampa
El negocio
Afloja La Guayaba

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Wed, 18 Apr 2018 09:13:47 +0000
Interview with Dorgeris Álvarez Dorgeris Álvarez

ENGLISH: The reknowned Cuban orchestra Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son are currently touring Europe and we took the opportunity to talk with pianist and Adalberto's right-hand, Dorgeris Álvarez about the tour, the new CD "De Cuba Pa'l Mundo Entero", upcoming events and also about her life growing up in a family of famous soneros where she took on the role of pianist for her father's band at the age of 16. If you are in Europe, the band still has four concerts left so check their tours page for a concert near you. 

Click here to read the interview with Dorgeris.

ESPAÑOL: La reconocida orquesta cubana Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son está actualmente de gira por Europa y aprovechamos la oportunidad para hablar con la pianista y mano derecha de Adalberto, Dorgeris Álvarez, sobre la gira, el nuevo disco "De Cuba Pa'l Mundo Entero", los próximos eventos y también sobre su vida mientras crecía en una familia de famosos soneros donde ella tomó el papel de pianista para la banda de su padre a la edad de 16 años. Si estás en Europa, todavía quedan cuatro conciertos, así que visita la página de giras para un concierto cerca de ti.

Haga clic aquí para leer la entrevista con Dorgeris.

Title track from "De Cuba Pa'l Mundo Entero"

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Tue, 17 Apr 2018 13:27:22 +0000
Cantor del Pueblo Released! Havana D'Primera - Cantor del Pueblo

ENGLISH: It's been three yeas since the release of the Cubadisco Winning album "La Vuelta al Mundo" and Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera are back with another award-ready CD. "Cantor del Pueblo" contains ten tracks and continues the line of previous CDs, being a timba album but with pan-Caribbean nuances, for example "Tres Dias" slips into 20 seconds of bachata and then back to timba. It works beautifully.

The album has been released by CDBaby in MP3-320 format. It should be up soon at the other digital retailers and streaming sites. A full review will be coming soon, but for now the track list is below.

ESPAÑOL: Han pasado tres años desde el lanzamiento del álbum ganador de Cubadisco "La Vuelta al Mundo" y Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera vuelven con otro CD listo para premiar. "Cantor del Pueblo" contiene diez canciones y continúa la línea de CD anteriores, siendo un álbum de timba pero con matices pan-caribeños, por ejemplo "Tres Días" se entra en 20 segundos de bachata y luego regresa a la timba. Funciona maravillosamente.

El álbum ha sido lanzado por CDBaby en formato MP3-320. Debería estar disponible pronto en los otros minoristas digitales y sitios de streaming. Pronto se publicará una reseña completa, pero por ahora la lista de canciones está a continuación.

Tracks: 
#dprimera
Tres Días
La Mujer Piropo
Cantor del Pueblo
Manatiales
Mujeriego
Habana Mía
Energías Oscuras (ballad)
Pastilla de Mente
Lamento Yoruba

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Sun, 15 Apr 2018 10:37:07 +0000
Tom's Omara Portuondo Gallery Omara Portuondo played Berkeley's Freight & Salvage last week with an all-star group featuring Rolando Luna, Rodney Barreto, Gastón Joya and Andrés Cuayo. Click here for the full gallery

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Sun, 15 Apr 2018 07:52:53 +0000
Daymé Arocena & Pedrito Martínez Group US Tours
Daymé Arocena's USA tour in support of her new release Cubafonía is already underway.    A must-see in her own right, and her backing band is a bonus with some of the best of Cuba's new generation of musicians.  One of them, drummer Ruly Herrera, has already won awards in Cuba with his own group Real Project.  Here's a taste of her live......

AND, COMING VERY SOON.... .


Pedrito Martínez kicks off his Spring 2018 Tour in Evanston, Illinois, right next door to Chicago.  Pedrito has graced these pages many times and puts on a killer set. 


In other news, Feliciano Arango of Los Hermanos Arango tells us that  they are back in the studio with a new album to come.   More details in the future.  If you aren't hip to this group, they are a fascinating mix of authentic Afocuban roots and modern fusion.   This is them at a concert at Berklee interacting with student musicians a few years ago:

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Thu, 12 Apr 2018 03:31:24 +0000
APRIL 7: INTERNATIONAL RUEDA DE CASINO MULTI FLASH MOB DAY

ENGLISH:  The International Rueda de Casino Multi Flash Mob day will take place in various places across the planet on April 7, 2018 at 1600 hours  local time.  Thousands of dancers will be dancing simultaneously for 10 minutes.   To learn more about this event and how you can participate, visit the International Rueda de Casino Multi Flash Mob Day website.
ESPAÑOL:   El Día Internacional de Rueda de Casino Multi Flash Mob tendrá lugar en varios lugares del planeta el 7 de abril de 2018 a las 16:00 hora local. Miles de bailarines bailarán simultáneamente durante 10 minutos. Para obtener más información sobre este evento y cómo puede participar, visite el sitio web de El Día International de Rueda de Casino Multi Flash Mob.

ENGLISH: For your enjoyment, we include two additional videos, one by Grupo Moncada, a passionate  defender of Rueda de Casino in Cuba (above) and the second by Adalberto Álvarez y su Son (below)
ESPAÑOL: Para su disfrute, incluimos dos videos adicionales, uno del Grupo Moncada, un  defensor apasionado de Rueda de Casino en Cuba (por arriba), y el otro del Adalberto Álvarez y su Son (por abajo)

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Thu, 05 Apr 2018 18:21:59 +0000
Timba Meets Jazz Cuban Jazz train Europe

Calixto Oviedo, timbero por excelencia, is bringing his Cuban Jazz Train to Copenhagen's legendary Jazzhus Montmartre for three consecutive shows starting tomorrow, April 5-April 7. Calixto has been touring Europe and below you can check out a video of a recent concert at Nefertiti in Gothenburg, Sweden. As always, Calixto is collaborating with the best. Check out the line-up below. Visit Jazzhus Montmartres webpage to book a table and buy tickets.

Calixto Oviedo (drums / Cuba)
Lily Hernandez (vocal / Cuba)
Fredrik Kronkvist (alto sax / Sweden)
Abel Marcel (piano / Cuba)
Yasser Pino (bass / Cuba)
Eliel Lazo (percussion / Cuba)

On April 10th the Cuban Jazz Train will be stopping at Yoshi's in Oakland. Doors open at 7:30pm. Visit Yoshi's website to get your ticket.

Calixto Oviedo
Lily Hernandez
Oscar Hernandez
Oskar Cartaya
Frank Fontaine
Joey D'Leon

Cuban Jazz Train

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Wed, 04 Apr 2018 09:10:34 +0000
BUENA FE LIVE CONCERT STREAM Buena Fe will be performing tonight, tomorrow and Sunday at Karl Marx Theater. For the first time, they will live stream the concerts for the first two nights allowing fans around the world to participate. Tonight's concert will stream from Buena Fe's Facebook page at 9:00pm Eastern Time. Tomorrow, Saturday, March 31st, EGREM will live stream the concert from their Facebook page also at 9:00pm Havana time. Don't miss the opportunity to catch this band live! They are one of Cuba's most popular pop/rock bands and their lyrics reflect a trova sensibility. If you aren't familiar with them, take this opportunity to get to know them.

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Fri, 30 Mar 2018 22:42:18 +0000
Interview with Aisar Hernandez - 2018 Aisar y El Expresoo de Cuba

ENGISH: I haven't spoken to Aisar Hernandez - bassist and director of El Expresso de Cuba - since January 2016. At that time the band was just recently formed and they were working on recording their first album - the 2017 Cubadisco-winning "Música Cubana, Llegó El Expresso". Aisar has been in Europe for 10 days and I took the opportunity to catch up with him. Click here to read the interview in English.

ESPAÑOL: No he hablado con Aisar Hernández, bajista y director de El Expresso de Cuba, desde enero de 2016. En ese momento la banda se formó recientemente y estaban trabajando en la grabación de su primer álbum - ganador de Cubadisco 2017 "Música Cubana, Llegó El Expresso".. Aisar ha estado en Europa por 10 días y aproveché la oportunidad para ponerme al día con él. Haz click aqui para leer la entrevista en español.


Tú me propones - Akaena Rodríguez lead vocals

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Fri, 30 Mar 2018 11:35:54 +0000
San Diego International Cuban Dance Congress 2018 San Diego Cuban Dance Congress 2018

The 3rd Edition of the four-day San Diego International Cuban Dance Congress will take place October 25-28 at the Town & Country San Diego. The event will include concerts, DJs, dance workshops in son, casino, rueda de casino, rumba and cubaton as well as dance performances. They are also bringing back the popular Timba Boat and Timba Mob Bus. The names of the bands and instructors will be announced later, so follow the Cuban Dance Congress Facebook page to stay updated. In the meantime, you can still get passes at a reduced price until March 31.

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Thu, 22 Mar 2018 13:43:51 +0000
CUBADISCO 2018 ANNOUNCED

ENGLISH:   Cubadisco 2018 will take place in June in Havana, Cuba.  The Cuban Institute of Music (ICM)  has announced the bases for the inscription of recordings in the competition.  That announcement is available here...
In the months to come, our Cubadisco 2018 section will carry the most comprehensive coverage available in English (and apart from Cuban sources generally)  
ESPAÑOL:  Cubadisco 2018 tendrá lugar en La Habana, Cuba en  junio.   El Instituto Cubano de la Música (ICM) ha publicado las bases de la inscripción de grabaciones en el certamen. La convocatoria está disponible aquí...
En los próximos meses,  nuestra sección dedicada al Cubadisco 2018 va a contener la cobertura más exhaustiva en inglés (y aparte de las fuentes cubanas por lo general)

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Sun, 18 Mar 2018 02:53:03 +0000
TIMBA X2 IN FRANCE ENGLISH: France is the center of Timba in Europe tonight with concerts by two of the greatest exponents of Timba: Pupy y Los Que Son Son in Limoges at the Carnival Salsa Festival, and Lazarito Valdés & Bamboleo in Paris for the 6th Rueda de Casino Festival. I would hate to be forced to chose between those two concerts. 

ESPAÑOL: Francia es el centro de Timba en Europa esta noche con conciertos de dos de los más grandes exponentes de la Timba: Pupy y Los Que Son Son en Limoge en el Carnival Salsa Festival, y Lazarito Valdés & Bamboleo en París para el 6º Festival de Rueda de Casino. No me gustaría tener que elegir entre esos dos conciertos.

Pupy y Los Que Son Son

Pupy y Los Que Son Son will perform in France, Spain, Italy and Switzerland on this tour. If you want to catch them in Spain, today is the last day to buy discounted tickets!
Click here for the tour dates.

Pupy y Los Que Son Son actuarán en Francia, España, Italia y Suiza en esta gira. Si quieres verlos en España, hoy es el último día para comprar boletos con descuento.
Haga clic aquí para ver las fechas de la gira.

"Pasándola bien (Guarchará)"

Bamboleo @Festival de Rueda de Casino

Lazarito Valdés & Bamboleo will be heating up Paris with songs from their recent album "Pa' Que Bailes". Their tour will take them to France, Sweden, Finland, Italy and Germany. Click to find a concert near you!

Lazarito Valdés & Bamboleo calentará París con canciones de su reciente álbum "Pa 'Que Bailes". Su gira los llevará a Francia, Suecia, Finlandia, Italia y Alemania. ¡Haz clic para encontrar un concierto cerca de ti!

"Qué culpa tengo yo" from the CD "Pa'Que Bailes"

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Sat, 17 Mar 2018 16:58:17 +0000
JAZZ PLAZA 2018 IN REVIEW Cuarteto de Saxofones de Santiago

ENGLISH:  Bill Tilford attended the Havana portion of Jazz Plaza 2018 (there were concurrent events in Santiago, but one cannot be in two places at once), and in the most comprehensive coverage of the Havana events outside of Cuba, you can find his commentaries, multiple photo galleries and copies of the schedules and the excellent dailies published by Jazz Plaza HERE. 
ESPAÑOL: Bill Tilford asistió a la porción habanera de Jazz Plaza 2018 (hubo eventos simultáneos en Santiago, pero no se puede estar en dos lugares a la vez), y en la cobertura más exhaustiva de los eventos de La Habana fuera de Cuba, puede encontrar sus comentarios, múltiples galerías de fotos y copias de los horarios y los excelentes diarios publicados por Jazz Plaza AQUÍ.

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Tue, 13 Mar 2018 03:51:32 +0000
Upcoming Events in Cuba - Part 2 Fiesta del Tambor 2018

ENGLISH: The 2018 Fiesta del Tambor "Guillermo Barreto in Memoriam" kicked off yesterday with concert at El ISA by Arnie Lang and students of the percussion school at El ISA. Today activities get underway with events in locations throughout the city including Teatro Mella and Jardines del Mella. The new cultural center Casa de la Música de Plaza will host a masters class in batucada by Fabiana Cosa followed by the first leg of the percussion competition in the Sala Teatro. In the Sala Grande there will be concerts tonight by Rozaliz y su orquesta and Bamboleo and the Piano Bar Convergencia will feature Joao Donato, Janis Siegel y Nanny Assis and Luan Carlos Marín y su Grupo. There is so much going on that you need to check out the program. Click here to download final version of the PDF.

ESPAÑOL: Fiesta del Tambor "Guillermo Barreto in Memoriam" 2018 comenzó ayer con un concierto en El ISA por parte de Arnie Lang y alumos de la escuela de percisión en El ISA. Hoy se inician actividades con eventos en lugares de toda la ciudad, incluidos Teatro Mella y Jardines del Mella. El nuevo centro cultural Casa de la Música de Plaza acogerá una clase de maestros de batucada de Fabiana Cosa seguida de la primera etapa de la competencia de percusión en la Sala Teatro. En la Sala Grande habrá conciertos esta noche de Rozaliz y su orquesta y Bamboleo y el Piano Bar Convergencia contará con Joao Donato, Janis Siegel y Nanny Assis y Luan Carlos Marín y su Grupo. Están sucediendo tantas cosas que debes leer el programa. Haz clic aquí para descargar la última versión del PDF.

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Tue, 06 Mar 2018 14:02:16 +0000
Fiesta Del Tambor 2018 Fiesta del Tambor 2018

The 2018 Fiesta del Tambor Guillermo Barreto en Memoriam begins March 5th and really is a party with so many facets that you are guaranteed to find something for you. The complete program has now been published. Check it out and you can even download it as a PDF if you want to have it with you as you walk around Havana.

Many of the events will take place the the new Cultural Center and Casa de la Musica in Plaza, which houses both a concert venue, a piano bar and also a community center. Click here to read Bill's blog on it.  There are music and dance workshops and competitions, and lots of concerts. How about Bamboleo, Klímax, Manolito y su Trabuco, Aisar y el Expresso de Cuba, Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor, Azúcar Negra, Tanja Pantoja, Achy Lang, Charanga Latina, Los 4, Los Van Van, El Niño y la Verdad, Issac Delgado, and Havana d'Primera to name a few. And that doesn't include the jazz and rumba concerts! 

Check out the video below to see how things are already heating up at La Tropical.

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Wed, 21 Feb 2018 20:53:23 +0000
Baby Lores Europe 2018 Baby Lores 2018 Tour

ENGLISH: Baby Lores my be best known for his reggaeton songs such as "Déjala ir" with Insurrecto & Clan 537 and "Los besos de tu boca" with El Chacal, but Lores is multifaceted artist. Beginning his career as a child in Cienfuegos, he has a very nice timbre as lead singer, plays piano, guitar and bass and is also a composer, arranger and producer. In 2013 despite his great success as  a reggaetonero, he decided to record more traditional Cuban genres where he collaborated with stars such as Descemer Bueno, Kelvis Ochoa, Omi Hernández, Roldan (Orishas), Alain Daniel, and Alexander Abreu, who also did some of the arrangements on the album. The CD "180 Grados" became available in 2017 at digital retailers and I recommend you check it out!

Baby Lores will begin touring Europe at the beginning of March. Below are a few of the confirmed dates for the tour. You can keep up with the tour dates by following Baby Lores Official Facebook Page.

ESPAÑOL: Baby Lores es mejor conocido por sus canciones de reggaeton como "Déjala ir" con Insurrecto & Clan 537 y "Los besos de tu boca" con El Chacal, pero Lores es un artista multifacético. Comenzó su carrera como niño en Cienfuegos, tiene un timbre muy agradable como cantante principal, toca el piano, la guitarra y el bajo, y también es compositor, arreglista y productor. En 2013 a pesar de su gran éxito como reggaetonero, decidió grabar géneros cubanos más tradicionales donde colaboró con estrellas como Descemer Bueno, Kelvis Ochoa, Omi Hernández, Roldán (Orishas), Alain Daniel, y Alexander Abreu quien también hizo algunos arreglos en el álbum. ¡El CD "180 Grados" se lanzó en comercios minoristas digitales en el 2017 y recomiendo que lo compruebes!

Baby Lores comenzará an gira de Europa a principios de marzo. A continuación se muestran algunas de las fechas confirmadas para la gira. Puedes mantenerte al día con las fechas de la gira siguiendo la página oficial de Facebook de Baby Lores.

March 2, 2018 - Rome, Italy - Energia do Brasil
March 9, 2018 - Naples, Italy - The Square
March 10, 2018 - Ancona, Italy - La Jarana

Buscaré feat. Kelvis Ochoa CD - "180 Grados"

"Déjala ir 2" feat. Alexander Abreu CD "180 Grados"

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Wed, 21 Feb 2018 20:14:44 +0000
CHUCHO VALDÉS & GONZALO RUBALCALBA EN US
Chucho Valdés and Gonzalo Rubalcalba will perform as a duo at Smphony Center in Chicago on Friday, February 23, 2018 at 8:00pm.   Although each has a long and storied musical career, this tour is said to be their first time performing as a duo.   More information and tickets are available at the Symphony Center website


Omar Sosa
will be on tour in the United States in  several cities in March including a key stop at the Old Town School of Folk Music  in Chicago on March 15.   This tour is in support of his new release with Seckou Keita, Transparent Water, scheduled for release this month.   We'll say more about that recording closer to the date.  For the Old Town School of Folk Music performane, tickets and more information are available here.  The rest of the tour schedule is available here 
Here is some video of Omar and Sekou performing together:

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Mon, 19 Feb 2018 15:57:05 +0000
Upcoming Events in Cuba - Part 1 Festival de la Salsa en Cuba 2018

ENGLISH: Even as the 2018 tour season gets underway, things are heating up in Cuba with a number of great music festivals and events. I will post about them here over the next few days so stay tuned. And remember that if you can't make these events this year, most of them are recurring so you can start planning for next year!

First up is the Festival de la Salsa en Cuba, which begins Wednesday, February 21st. The festival includes dance and music workshops, An excursion in Havana with Papucho, directer of Papucho y Manana Club, as well as fantastic concerts each night in Parque Metropolitano. The opening concert will be held by Wil Campa. Participants can buy complete passes for all events and concerts, concert-only passes or a day pass that is good from 5pm for one day only. The after parties are not included in any of the passes but are something you don't want to miss with animations, DJs, and separate dance floors for traditional versus contemporary music. Foreigners will not be able to attend events this year by buying tickets in moneda nacional, but you can purchase your tickets in advance by following this link.

ESPAÑOL: Mientras la temporada de giras de 2018 se pone en marcha, las cosas se están calentando en Cuba con una serie de grandes festivales y eventos de música. Voy a publicar sobre ellos aquí en los próximos días, así que estad atentos. ¡Y recuerde que si no puedes asistir a estos eventos este año, la mayoría de ellos se repiten cada año para que puedas comenzar a planificar el próximo año!

Primero está el Festival de la Salsa en Cuba, que comienza el miércoles 21 de febrero. El festival incluye talleres de danza y música, una excursión a La Habana con Papucho, director de Papucho y Manana Club, así como fantásticos conciertos cada noche en el Parque Metropolitano. El concierto de apertura se llevará a cabo por Wil Campa. Los participantes pueden comprar pases completos para todos los eventos y conciertos, pases solo de concierto o un pase de un día que es válido a partir de las 5 p.m. durante un solo día. Las after parties no están incluidas en ninguno de los pases, pero son algo que no debe perderse con animaciones, DJs y pistas de baile separadas para música tradicional versus contemporánea. Los extranjeros no podrán asistir a eventos este año comprando boletos en moneda nacional, pero pueden comprar sus boletos con anticipación usando este enlace.

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Sun, 18 Feb 2018 11:48:10 +0000
Barbaro Fines y Su Mayimbe Barbaro Fines y Su Mayimbe

ENGLISH: The winter tour season has really gotten underway in Europe now. Tonight BFM begin their tour with a concert in Seville, Spain at Chaney Discotek. They will be on tour for almost a month and this tour includes a lot of first such as tonight their first concert in Andalusia, their first show in the UK in London on March 9th and first time in Israel, March 11th in Tel Aviv. Click here to find a concert near you!

ESPAÑOL: La temporada de las giras de invierno realmente ha comenzado en Europa ahora. Esta noche BFM comienza su gira con un concierto en Sevilla, España en Chaney Discotek. Estarán de gira durante casi un mes y esta gira incluye muchas primeras como esta noche su primer concierto en Andalucía, su primer show en el Reino Unido en Londres el 9 de marzo y la primera vez en Israel, el 11 de marzo en Tel Aviv. Haz clic aquí para encontrar un concierto cerca de ti!

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Fri, 16 Feb 2018 18:05:01 +0000
Rumba y Candela 8 Rumba y Candela 8

Rumba y Candela 8 is underway today in Strasbourg, France. It is the first of the Cuban festivals in France in 2018. You can keep up with what is happening in France by following Les Festivals Cubains en France at Facebook

The festival includes dance workshops in afro-cuban and casino as well as parties with live music. Tonight Harold Lopez-Nussa trio wil play. Tomorrow Yanesito & Soneros All Stars and on Sunday Elito Revé y Su Charangón. Click here for the rest of the concert dates for Orquesta Revé.

I was planning to go to this festival myself but was not able to in the end. But since this is the first time that Soneros All Stars have performed down in continental Europe, I asked bandleader, bassist and tresero Yanesito (Jan Miklos Bogdan) a few questions on the eve of the band's departure for France.

Jan "Yanesito" BogdanPhoto courtesy of Soneros All Stars Facebook

Para leer la entrevista en Español haz clic aquí.

How does it feel to finally get down to the continent with your group?

It feels great, but I'm also a bit nervous because the whole band has not played together yet. Everyone has been practicing. But we are musicians who are used to adapting and meeting at the soundcheck to rehearse for a couple of hours and then have a fantastic concert in the evening ... haha! The most important thing in Cuban music is the heart and the rhythm. We're going to have fun!

Tell me about the musicians - It's a must be fun to be reunited with Pepito. Have you worked with Alexander "El Caballo Grande" before?

Yes, I have played with Alex at Nefertiti in Gothenburg together with Raúl Lara y Sus Soneros, that show reminds us of what we are going to do on Friday at RYC8 - musicians from different countries/cities get together and just go for it. It requires a lot from everyone and Alex was fantastic, he's a real sonero.

It's been almost exactly 10 years since I worked with Cesar Pedroso in Egrem studio 101 in Centro Habana to record the album "La Timba Soy Yo". It was the first time I met Pepito. At first everything got a little strange. I had chosen Mandy, Sinsonte and Cristina Azcuy to lead and was still looking for another singer. I didn't want the album to sound too much like Pupy Y Los Que Son Son, so I didn't choose Pepito as lead singer but tried to find someone else. After taking with Pupy, Bombon and Sinsonte (all of whom had an important role in production), we chose Pepito. I already knew that Pepito was awesome, so it was natural to bring him in. I have a very good impression of Pepito, he is not only a singer, he also plays guitar. He keeps up on what's going on in music. And not least, his voice is the style I like, brutal output ... sonero/timba, but he also has the softer and gentler voice that suits boleros. I like him, and look forward to working with him live.

I will also bring Raciel Enrique Garces Espinosa with me on lead and coros. He is a Cuban guy who's lived in Sweden maybe 10 years? I don't know exactly. But I've met him through my "brother" Richard Ortega when we worked with Richard Ortega y La Jugada. Raciel is a sonero I love to work with.

Richard Ortega, he is my "brother". There are some men here in the world who understand how you work, how you think, how you are, and that's the kind of guy Richard is. Richard is a rumbero, and he loves jazz. When I play with him, I feel good. When I play with him, I'm Cuban.

I have also chosen to bring two musicians from Gothenburg, because just like me they love Cuban music and are very good friends: Raúl Lara and Rubens Millet Herrera. I was nominated for a GRAMMY with Raúl Lara for his album "Soy Cubano" in the BEST TROPICAL LATIN ALBUM category. Rubens is a great percussionist that I love working with.

On drums, Michel Ortiz Acosta .- a killer percussionist, killer drummer and a real timbero. He is one of those musicians you always want to bring along.

Of course, I have Sweden's best Cuban brass:
Petter Linde - Trumpet
Filip Olandersson - Trumpet
Nikolas Viisanen - Trombone
Johan Åström - Trombone

If you're not familiar with the Soneros All Stars, check out the latest release "El Que Corta El Bacalao". 

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Thu, 15 Feb 2018 20:50:18 +0000
Elito Revé & Su Charangón Elito Revé

ENGLISH: Elito Revé y Su Charangón are in Europe today to begin their 2018 Winter Tour. Tomorrow they play at the Cubayonne festival in Bayonne, France.  The tour takes them to France, Spain, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. Check here for concert dates, and even if they won't be visiting your country, it is worth a timba trip to see this line-up. For some of us it is our first opportunity to see El Indio live since his return to the band. And of course Dagoberto, Yera, and the lovely Susel - who you can enjoy in the video below - will also be there.

Other tours that are currently underway in Europe include Jacob Forever and La Charanga Habanera

ESPAÑOL: Elito Revé y Su Charangón están hoy en Europa para comenzar su Gira de Invierno 2018. Mañana tocarán en el festival Cubayonne en Bayona, Francia. La gira los lleva a Francia, España, Alemania, Italia y Suiza. Consulte aquí las fechas de los conciertos e incluso si no van a visitar su país, vale la pena hacer un viaje timbero para ver este grupo de integrantes. Para algunos de nosotros es nuestra primera oportunidad de ver a El Indio en vivo desde su regreso a la banda. Y, por supuesto estarán Dagoberto, Yera y la adorable Susel, de la que puedes disfrutar en el siguiente video.

Otros tours que ahora se están llevando a cabo en Europa incluyen a Jacob Forever La Charanga Habanera.

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Fri, 09 Feb 2018 12:07:49 +0000
Estelares sencillos y arte gráfico de Cuba Un verdadero deleite ser testigo de los momentos en que la excelencia musical se une con poderosos elementos artísticos visuales. Aquí les brindo tres caratulas nuevas que se distinguen al igual que los sencillos correspondientes.  

Artista / grupo: RUBÉN PAZ y CHÉVERE FUSIÓN
Tema: Loco Por Tí feat Ángel Yos
** Este disco se lanzará este año (2018)
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/08n0RKM3NBf9sbO70GTHym
iTunes:https://itunes.apple.com/fr/album/loco-por-ti-feat-%C3%A1ngel-yos-single/1339273226
Tidal: http://tidal.com/track/83751564
Salúdalos en facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rubenpazycheverefusion/

Artista / grupo: RUBÉN PAZ y CHÉVERE FUSIÓN -- Tema: Loco Por Tí feat Ángel Yos

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Artista / grupo: ZONA FRANCA
Tema: Sabroso (Remix)
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5G8neUhgqs15SU5dypY6Yc
iTunes:https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sabroso-zona-franca-remix-single/1294725065
Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/album/79824145
Salúdalos en facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zonafrancacuba/

Artista / grupo: ZONA FRANCA -- Tema: Sabroso (Remix)

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Artista / grupo: LA TABLA
Tema: El mundo en equilibrio
** Este disco se lanzará este año (2018)
Salúdalos en facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaTablaCuba/

Artista / grupo: LA TABLA -- Tema: El mundo en equilibrio

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Mon, 05 Feb 2018 07:37:28 +0000
ACAS at Freight & Salvage Again Tonight The Afro-Cuban All Stars were amazing last night - only one personnel change. Freight and Salvage is a great venue - wonderful acoustics with a looser, dance atmosphere. Click here for tickets and more info.

Click here for more photos. Full gallery coming soon.

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Wed, 17 Jan 2018 20:15:43 +0000
Juan de Marcos and ACAS

ACAS begins its 2018 tour tonight in South Orange, New Jersey. They'll be in the Bay Area at Freight & Salvage next Tuesday and Wednesday.

It will be essentially the same lineup as last year - here's my review of that tour.

Here's the full schedule.

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Wed, 10 Jan 2018 20:14:21 +0000
2018 Festival de la Salsa en Cuba Festival de la Salsa en Cuba 2018

The 2018 Festival de la Salsa en Cuba is almost upon us and, as with previous years, I will be unable to attend. Fortunately, the Facebook page shares a lot of good photos and videos, so I will follow along there. Also as with previous years there is an all-star line-up for the nightly concerts as well as music and dance workshops, DJ parties and After Parties. This year also includes an excursion in Havana to important places for Cuban musical and cultural production under the guidance of none other than Pedro Lázaro Ordoñez - better known as Papucho, bassist and bandleader of Manana Club.

Participants can buy complete passes for all events and concerts, concert-only passes or a day pass that is good from 5pm for one day only. The after parties are not included in any of the passes but are something you don't want to miss with animations, DJs, and separate dance floors for traditional versus contemporary music. Foreigners will not be able to attend events this year by buying tickets in moneda nacional, but you can purchase your tickets by following this link.

Concert Schedule  
21st Wil Campa
22nd Yasser Ramos y su Tumbao Mayombe
El Niño y la Verdad
Papucho y Manana Club
Havana D'Primera
23rd Alain Pérez
Bamboleo
Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son
Pupy y Los Que Son Son
24th Haila Mompié
Giraldo Piloto y Klímax
El Noro y 1ra Clase
Los Van Van
25th Combinación Cubana
Paulo F.G.
Manolito y Su Trabuco
Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor

For more information check out Festival de la Salsa en Cuba @Facebook. 

Festival de la Salsa en Cuba 2018 program

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Mon, 08 Jan 2018 15:45:53 +0000
Inside the Centro Cultural La Plaza de 31 y 2

ENGLISH: During JoJazz 2017, Bill Tilford also had the opportunity to visit the Centro Cultural La Plaza de 31 y 2, which contains the excellent new Casa de la Música Plaza.  For a look inside, here are two photo galleries with commentary:
ESPAÑOL:  Durante JoJazz 2017, Bill Tilford tuve también la oportunidad de visitar al Centro Cultural La Plaza de 31 y 2, que contiene la nueva y excelente Casa de la Música Plaza.  Para un tur virtual, aquí están dos galerías de fotos con comentarios: 

Inside the Centro Cultural La Plaza de 31 y 2, Part 1
Inside the Centro Cultural La Plaza de 31 y 2, Part 2

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Sun, 07 Jan 2018 19:05:13 +0000
Juan de Marcos & Afro-Cuban All Stars Afro-Cuban All Stars Tour

ENGLISH: Grammy-winner Juan de Marcos and his Afro-Cuban All Stars begin their 2018 winter tour on Wednesday, January 10th in the frigid North Eastern US with concerts in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. The US leg of the tour will also take them to California and Georgia. The European Tour will run from January 1 through February 1st. Click here for all the tour dates.

The tour is in support of the Afro-Cuban All Stars' eighth Album - "Absolutely Live II - Viva Mexico!" - a CD + DVD released in 2017. You can check out one of the videos from the album below. Don't miss this opportunity to bring some Caribbean heat to your winter!

ESPAÑOL: Ganador del Grammy Juan de Marcos y sus Afro-Cuban All Stars comienzan su gira de invierno de 2018 el miércoles, 10 de enero en el glacial noreste de los EE.UU. con conciertos en Nueva Jersey, Nueva York, Pensilvania y Massachusetts. La etapa estadounidense de la gira también los llevará a California y Georgia. El Tour Europeo se desarrollará desde el 1 de enero hasta el 1 de febrero. Haga clic aquí para ver todas las fechas de la gira.

La gira es en apoyo del octavo álbum Afro-Cuban All Stars - "Absolutely Live II - ¡Viva México!" - un CD + DVD lanzado en 2017. Puede ver uno de los videos del álbum a continuación. ¡No pierda esta oportunidad de traer algo de calor caribeño a su invierno!

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Sat, 06 Jan 2018 11:39:54 +0000
Calixto Oviedo European Tour Calixto Oviedo & Cuban Jazz Train

ENGLISH: Calixto Oviedo is returning to Europe for a tour with his Cuban Jazz Train during March and April. We have updated his tours page and will continue updating as more information becomes available. Calixto is busy in the US as well and will be performing with his Cuban Jazz Train in Hollywood at Catalina Jazz Club on January 18th and at Yoshi's in Oakland with his Afro-Cuban Jazz group. You can keep up with Calixto by visiting his official website and his following his Facebook page.

ESPAÑOL: Calixto Oviedo regresa a Europa para una gira con su Cuban Jazz Train durante marzo y abril. Hemos actualizado su página de giras y continuaremos actualizando a medida que haya más información disponible. Calixto también está trabajando mucho en los Estados Unidos y actuará con su Cuban Jazz Train en Hollywood en Catalina Jazz Club el 18 de enero y en Yoshi's en Oakland con su grupo de Jazz Afrocubano. Puede mantenerse al día con Calixto visitando su sitio web oficial y siguiendo su página de Facebook.

Calixto Oviedo & Cuban Jazz Train 

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Thu, 04 Jan 2018 17:11:22 +0000
JOJAZZ 2017 SPECIAL FEATURE / ARTICULO ESPECIAL SOBRE JOJAZZ 2017 ENGLISH:  Bill Tilford attended the 20th Anniversary  of  the Concurso de jóvenes jazzistas (JoJazz 2017)  in Havana, Cuba in November at the invitation of the National Center of Popular Music (CNMP).  More than merely a competition for Cuba's finest young Jazz talent, it also provides a glimpse of things to come in Jazz in Cuba.  We are pleased to present the most comprehensive look at JoJazz that you will find anywhere outside of Cuba (possibly inside for that matter - it includes a couple of hundred photos).  For the article, documents and several photo galleries with commentaries, 
CLICK HERE.
ESPAÑOL: Bill Tilford asistió al 20 aniversario del Concurso de jóvenes jazzistas (JoJazz 2017) en La Habana, Cuba en noviembre  por invitación del Centro Nacional de Música Popular (CNMP). Más que una mera competencia para el mejor talento joven de Jazz de Cuba, también ofrece una idea de lo que vendrá en Jazz en Cuba. Nos complace presentar la mirada más completa de JoJazz que encontrará en cualquier lugar fuera de Cuba (posiblemente dentro también, porque incluye un par de cientos de fotos). Para el artículo, documentos y varias galerías de fotos con comentarios, 
HAGA CLIC AQUÍ.

COMING SOON: 

ENGLISH: The 33rd Festival International Jazz Plaza will be taking place in Havana from the 17th to the 21st of January using several locations (as always) including Teatro Mella, Jardines del Mella, CIDMUC, Casa de la Cultura de Plaza, and the clubs and hotels always have late night presentations as well.  There is a nice website dedicated to the festival this year:
CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL JAZZ PLAZA WEBSITE 
ESPAÑOL: La 33ª edición del Festival International Jazz Plaza tendrá lugar en La Habana del 17 al 21 de enero en varios lugares (como siempre) incluyendo Teatro Mella, Jardines del Mella, CIDMUC, Casa de la Cultura de Plaza, y los clubes y los hoteles siempre tienen presentaciones nocturnas también.  Hay un sitio web, bilingüe y bien hecho, dedicado al festival este año. 
HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA EL SITIO WEB OFICIAL DE JAZZ PLAZA 

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Tue, 02 Jan 2018 22:20:26 +0000
Tom's Yissy García Photos

It was Yissy García and Bandancha's first trip to the Bay Area and they showed why they are one of the hottest new bands in Havana's music scene. I attended the last of three performances in the area (one show at Cafe Stritch in San Jose. Club Uh in Oakland and the last at Ashkenaz in Berkeley). [Tom Ehrlich]

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Thu, 28 Dec 2017 20:40:44 +0000
Interview with Nachito Jr Nachito Jr. Hererra

ENGLISH: Ian Ignacio Herrera López, better known as "Nachito Jr.", has distinguished himself in recent years as one of the young generation of Cuban musicians who are defending the legacy of Cuban dance music. Nachito Jr. comes from a family of renowned musicians named Ignacio, which can lead to some confusion. His father, Ignacio Herrera, played trombone with Orquesta Revé, Los Reyes 73 and Ritmo Oriental while his brother, pianist Ignacio Herrera "Nachito", who currently resides in the US, was a member of Cubanismo for several years before settling in the US. It may seem that Nachito Jr. was always destined to play piano, but the truth is...well, I'll let you read it in his own words in the interview.

Nachito Jr. has worked with a number of timba groups as well as with Roberto Faz, where he had the opportunity to perform with Omara Portuondo. He has been both pianist and musical director for Habana City, Bakuleye, El Noro y 1ra Clase and currently with Yasser Ramos y Su Orquesta. Nachito Jr. also works on arrangements for other artists and is interested in all types of music. On December 23rd there will be a release concert for an album with arrangements by Nachito Jr. for the reggaetonero G Rowell

Click here to read the interview with Nachito Jr.

ESPAÑOL: Ian Ignacio Herrera López, mejor conocido como "Nachito Jr.", se ha distinguido en los últimos años como una de las jóvenes músicos cubanos que defienden el legado de la música de baile cubana. Nachito Jr. proviene de una familia de renombrados músicos llamado Ignacio, lo que puede generar cierta confusión. Su padre, Ignacio Herrera, tocó con Orquesta Revé, Los Reyes 73 y Ritmo Oriental, mientras que su hermano, el pianista Ignacio Herrera "Nachito", que actualmente reside en los EE. UU., fue miembro de Cubanismo durante varios años antes de establecerse en los EE. UU. Puede parecer que Nachito Jr. siempre estuvo destinado a tocar el piano, pero la verdad es ... bueno, te dejaré leerlo con sus propias palabras en la entrevista.

Nachito Jr. ha trabajado con varios grupos de timba, así como con Roberto Faz, donde tuvo la oportunidad de actuar con Omara Portuondo. Ha sido pianista y director musical de Habana City, Bakuleye, El Noro y 1ra Clase y actualmente con Yasser Ramos y Su Orquesta. Nachito Jr. también trabaja arreglos para otros artistas y está interesado en todo tipo de música. El 23 de diciembre habrá un concierto de lanzamiento para un álbum con arreglos de Nachito Jr. para el reggaetonero G Rowell.

Haga clic aquí para leer la entrevista con Nachito Jr.

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Thu, 14 Dec 2017 18:15:12 +0000
Los 4 US Concerts in December Los 4 in LA

ENGLISH: Los 4 are already in the US and will be performing in Virginia, New Jersey, and California where Tanja Pantoja will join them for the LA concert at Project. Click here for the concert dates and venues and stay tuned, because we will be updating their tour page if more concerts are added. In the meantime, I leave you with one of their recent hits from "Privilegio 2".

ESPAÑOL: Los 4 ya están en los Estados Unidos y actuarán en Virginia, Nueva Jersey y California, donde Tanja Pantoja se unirá a ellos para el concierto de LA en Project. Haga clic aquí para ver las fechas de los conciertos y los lugares, y manténgase en sintonía, ya que actualizaremos su página de  giras si se agregan más conciertos. Mientras tanto te dejo con uno de los éxitos recientes de "Privilegio 2".


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Sat, 25 Nov 2017 16:16:47 +0000
Hacerse El Sueco - The Video La Liga Habanera

ENGLISH: The Stockholm-based timba band La Liga Habanera released their new single "Hacerse el Sueco" early this month and three days later the video was uploaded to YouTube. "Hacerse el Sueco" was composed by bandleader, drummer and now lead vocalist, Max Alton. The arrangement is by Max and Måns Ek. See the full credits below.

Max took on lead vocals on this track, since the subject of the song is a Swede in Havana. The video was filmed in Havana, and it's always a pleasure to see her streets and her people. Check out the video below and you can buy the single at iTunes, Amazon and other digital retailers, as well as on streaming apps. 

ESPAÑOL: La Liga Habanera, grupo de timba con sede en Estocolmo, lanzó su nuevo sencillo "Hacerse el Sueco" a principios de este mes y tres días después el video fue subido a YouTube. "Hacerse el Sueco" fue compuesto por el líder de la banda, el baterista y ahora vocalista principal Max Alton. El arreglo es de Max y Måns Ek. Vea los créditos completos a continuación.

Max tomó la voz principal en esta pista, ya que el tema de la canción es un sueco en La Habana. El video fue filmado en La Habana, y siempre es un placer ver sus calles y su gente. Mira el video a continuación y puedes comprar el single en iTunes, Amazon y otros minoristas digitales, así como en aplicaciones de transmisión.

"Hacerse el Sueco" Recorded in Sthockholm Sweden at Farmer street studios and Belaris Estudios in Havana in 2017.
Lead vocals - Max Alton
Background vocals - Raciel Garces, Cecilia Ferrer, Max Alton and Daniel Baro.
Drums - Max Alton
Congas - Miguel
Timbales and bongó - René Suarez
Guiro - Max Alton
Bass - Alfonso Nuñes
Piano - Måns Ek
Tres - Gunnar Tullberg
Trumpets -Rickard Lindgren
Trombones - Johan Åström
Mix - Måns Ek
Master - Masterton Studios

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Thu, 23 Nov 2017 21:11:36 +0000
#Latino

"#Latino" is the fourth album released by Simon Monserrat & Djeli and their second release of 2017, the first being "#Afro", which dropped in July of this year. The title pretty much sums up the album. It is a trip through the Carribean with stops in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and Colombia.

Some of the songs are served straight up such as "Oye mi songo" - self-explanitory - and "Mofongo" - a tasty son montuno - while "La rumba que traigo yo" and "Sabiduria antigua" are fusions, the former Cuban rumba with flamenco the latter a very modern cumbia-fusion with rap by MC Rico Pabon. "Suena tu tambo" is a classic descarga which features solos by Richard Ortega (piano), Monserrat (percussion) and Mats Hermansson (trombone) that allow the musicians to show their chops. "Latibonito" is an Afro-Haitian track, something new to me. A much slower song with vocals by Roger Chatelain, it has a melancholy quality with beautiful solos on violin and flute and almost feels like a slow cha-cha-chá as it progresses. "El Quitipla" picks up the pace again with a fusion of Afro-Venezuelan music and lead vocals in Portuguese from Brazilian Simone Moreno.

Monserrat performs most of the percussion on the album and also flute on "Sabiduria antigua". He has collaborated on the album with musicians such as Puerto Rican Jerry Medina, Colombian Roger Martinez and Cuban trumpet player Yuliesky Gonzalez. Monserrat is based in Sweden and the album features many well-known names from the Swedish timba scene such as Thomas Eby, Richard Ortega, Oldrich Gonzalez, and Raciel Garces Espinoso. See the track list below for more information on particiating musicians. I also want to mention Erik Steen who plays a mean flamenco guitar and Santiago Jimenez on violin.

I recommend that you check "#Latino" out at Spotify. It is available for purchase at the usual digital retailers and streaming sites such as iTunes and Amazon. 

Track list:
1. Oye mi songo ft Jerry Medina, Moncho, Thomas Eby
2. Mofongo ft Yuliesky Gonzalez, Oldrich Gonzalez, Roger Martinez
3. La rumba que traigo yo ft Raciel Garces Espinosa, Angeles Gomez, Erik Steen
4. Sabiduria antigua ft MC Rico Pabón, Marina Johansson
5. Suena mi tambo ft Richard Ortega, Raciel Garces Espinosa, Mats Hermansson
6. Latibonito ft Roger Chatelain, Santiago Jimenez, Martin Pålsson
7. El Quitipla ft Simone Moreno, Dekula Kahanga
8. Oye mi songo ft Jerry Medina, Moncho, Thomas Eby (bonus track)

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Sun, 12 Nov 2017 18:31:38 +0000
De La Habana a Perú De La Habana a Perú

ENGLISH: Lima, Perú will play host to a weekend of Cuban dance workshops presented by Arturo Rojas and Fredyclan. The workshops will be taught by Arturo, Fredyclan and the divine Yanet Fuentes. This is the first time Fredyclan and Yanet Fuentes  have appeared in Lima. The workshops will range from ladies and men's styling to rumba and afro-cuban to casino and son.

I expect that these names need no introduction to timberos and casineros but for any newbies out there let me present them. Fredyclan is a dancer and choreographer and has also made a name for himself as a singer with hits such as "Yo Vengo de Cuba" ft Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera, "Yo Soy Bueno" ft Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco , "Tranquilo Calmao", "La Calle EstáQue Arde" and more.  Yanet Fuentes is a dancer who has appeared in television and film and has even been a choreographer for Shakira. Rounding out the instructors is Peruvian dancer and choreographer Arturo Rojas who is based in Sweden.

ESPANOL: Lima, Perú será la sede de un fin de semana de talleres de bailes cubanos presentado por Arturo Rojas y Fredyclan. Los talleres serán impartidos por Arturo, Fredyclan y la divina Yanet Fuentes. Esta es la primera vez que Fredyclan y Yanet Fuentes han dado clases en Lima. Los talleres van desde styling  de mujeres y hombres hasta rumba y afrocubano, hasta casinos y son.

Imagino que estos nombres no necesiten ninguna introducción a timberos y casineros, pero para los novatos, déjenme presentarlos. FredyClan es bailarín y coreógrafo y también se hizo un nombre como cantante con éxitos conocidas mundialmente comoo "Yo Vengo de Cuba" ft Alexander Abreu y Havana D 'Primera, "Yo Soy Bueno" ft Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco, "Tranquilo Calmao", "La Calle EstáQue Arde" y más. Yanet Fuentes es una bailarina que ha aparecido en televisión y cine e incluso ha sido coreógrafa de Shakira. Completando los instructores está el bailarín y coreógrafo peruano Arturo Rojas radicado en Suecia.

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Fri, 03 Nov 2017 22:35:42 +0000
Tom's Revé Photos Click here for the full gallery.

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Wed, 01 Nov 2017 05:15:11 +0000
EL CHACAL & HAVANA D'PRIMERA @KRAKEN

ENGLISH: On a cold, rainy night  27 October 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden, 1000 people sweated and grooved the night away to the music of El Chacal, Havana D'Primera and FClan. The concert was organized by DJ Isra and Ritmico and was the first time I saw El Chacal or FClan and two years since the last time I saw Havana D'Primera. One very important note before posting the link to the concert review: take cash to the Havana D'Primera concert! They are selling CDs, DVDs, t-shirts and ball caps. I had no cash and came home empty handed but with a full heart. Click here for the concert report. 

To find a Havana D'Primera concert near you click here.

The remainnig dates fior El Chacal
03-11  Danzon - Vienna, Austria
04-11 El Diablo Tun Tun - Milan, Italy
05-11 Salsa Na'ma - Brescia, Italy
07-11 Donoma - Civitanova, Italy 
09-11 La Crespa - Modena, Italy
11-11 Sala Zenith - Madrid, Spain
12-11 Suite 191 -  Barcelona, Spain


ESPAÑOL: En una noche fría y lluviosa el 27 de octubre de 2017 en Estocolmo, Suecia, 1000 personas sudaron y pasaron la noche bailando con la música de El Chacal, Havana D'Primera y FClan. El concierto fue organizado por DJ Isra y Ritmico y fue la primera vez que vi a El Chacal o FClan y dos años desde la última vez que vi Havana D'Primera. Una nota muy importante antes de publicar el enlace para la reseña del concierto: ¡lleva efectivo al concierto de Havana D'Primera! Están vendiendo CD, DVD, camisetas y gorras de béisbol. No tenía dinero y volví a casa con las manos vacías pero con el corazón lleno. Haga clic aquí para ver el informe del concierto.

Para encontrar un concierto de Havana D'Primera cerca de ti dale clic aquí.

Las fechas restantes para El Chacal
03-11 Danzon - Vienna, Austria
04-11 El Diablo Tun Tun - Milán, Italia
05-11 Salsa Na'ma - Brescia, Italia
07-11 Donoma - Civitanova, Italia
09-11 La Crespa - Modena, Italia
11-11 Sala Zenith - Madrid, España
12-11 Suite 191 - Barcelona, España

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Mon, 30 Oct 2017 19:59:13 +0000
Mano a Mano! If you're anywhere near the Bronx, don't miss the historic pairing of Oscar Hernández and Spanish Harlem Orchestra with the new blazing hot Revé featuring Juan Miguel "El Indio" Díaz, back again and better than ever after twenty years, shown below alongside Carlos Cascante of Spanish Harlem. Click here for Tom's latest SHO gallery.

El Charangón put on one of the best timba shows of the 21st Century last night in Santa Cruz. El Indio spent the whole first set in the shadows, singing flawless inobtrusive coros only to come out at the beginning of the second to put on a master class in singing and showmanship. His presence seemed to push everyone including the crowd to a peak experience. Dagoberto was especially brilliant, taking advantage of a problem with the bass amp to invent a new coro ("el bajo se rompió") and generally dominating the room every time he took the mic. Susel continues to shine and Sinsonte's replacement as the obligatory "vieja" singer, Sergei Yera, is a great fit as well. The new rhythm section (new pianist, new bassist (with a 5-string baby bass!), new timbalero, new tresero, same bongosero, same conguero, same güirero - all names will be in the upcoming gallery of photos) was nothing short of electrifying. The new Santiago-born tresero had a crisp sound that blended perfectly with the rhythm section and infused the groove with copious quantities of ... changüismo (is that a word?). At first I thought it was just that I need to get out more, but everyone there came to the same conclusion - it was a show for the ages - with the straw stirring the drink definitely being El Indio (not Sixto Llorente the ex-Trabuquero, but Juan Miguel Díaz, the brother of the late great conguero Angá). "El Indio de la Revé" as he's often called joined the group along with Yumurí after the great Dan Den schism. He sang on the classic Suave suave and Mi salsa tiene sandunga albums, then set off to Spain for a couple decades, but he's back now with a vengeance. Here's an interesting interview with El Indio, Dagoberto and Elito discussing the new lineup and the history of the group:

                                                           Elito and Dagoberto

Oscar Hernández (piano), Marco Bermudez, Jeremy Bosch, Carlos Cascante

All photos by Tom Ehrlich, taken in Santa Cruz at Kuumbwa Jazz Center (SHO) and Moe's Alley (Revé).

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Thu, 26 Oct 2017 06:00:36 +0000
Tom's Revé Photos! Next Show: Tuesday, October 24 at Moe's Alley in Santa Cruz

Click continue reading for the full set of 29 photos from Saturday night's show.

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Mon, 23 Oct 2017 07:05:14 +0000
Elito Revé Birthday Celebration at SF Cigar Bar Tonight Here's the link - photos from last night coming soon - Santa Cruz on Tuesday.

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Sun, 22 Oct 2017 20:15:53 +0000
Revé y su Charangón in SF and Santa Cruz Elio Revé y su Charangón

Finally! A timba tour that's actually happening! See you there!

Here's the link for Tuesday, Oct. 24th at Moe's Alley in Santa Cruz. For Roccapulco SF tickets tomorrow, Saturday call 415-940-0001.

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Sat, 21 Oct 2017 00:48:30 +0000
JOJAZZ 2017 APPROACHES
ENGLISH:
  The twentieth Edition of the International Competition of Young Jazz Artists (JoJazz)  will take place November 16-19 in Havana, Cuba.  JoJazz is short for Jovenes Jazzistas but is also a play on words (joyas=jewels).   It is a competition rather than a festival and is therefore almost unattended by foreigners, but it is a fascinating event because much of Cuba's young emerging Jazz talent passes through this event on the way to bigger and better things.   You can read an English translation of the official call for contestants here (click on the link) - it explains the stucture of the competition in detail.   You can also view some scenes from last year's JoJazz, which I attended, here, here, here and here.

Brenda Besada Rodríguez of CNMP introducing the Jazz Band Femenina de la ENA, JoJazz 2016

ESPAÑOL
: La vigésima edición del Concurso Internacional de Jóvenes  Jazzistas (JoJazz) tendrá lugar del 16 al 19 de noviembre en La Habana, Cuba. JoJazz es la abreviatura de Jovenes Jazzistas pero también es un juego de palabras (joyas). Es más un concurso  que un festival y, por lo tanto, tipicamente experimenta poca presencia de extranjeros, pero es un evento fascinante porque gran parte del joven talento emergente del Jazz de Cuba pasa por este evento en el camino a cosas más grandes y mejores. Puede leer la convocatoria oficial para concursantes aquí (haz clic en el enlace) - se explica la estructura de la competencia en detalle. También puedes ver algunas escenas de JoJazz del año pasado, a lo que asistí, aquí, aquí, aquí y aquí.

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Wed, 18 Oct 2017 02:56:53 +0000
Leonel Limonta and "Voy por ti" Leonel Limonta

ENGLISH: Azúcar Negra's tour agent announced at Facebook that today, Leonel Limonta "El Poeta de la Timba" and director of Azucar Negra, began recording the rhythm section, horns and coros of the song "Voy por ti",  which will be the theme song of an event Limonta is organizing to help the victims of the disaster caused by Hurricane Irma in Cuba. You may recall that in 2008 Limonta also took action and recorded "Así Somos" after Cuba was hit with two hurricanes. "Voy por ti" will include the participation of leading Cuban artists. Among those who have already confirmed their participation in the project are Samuel Formell, Hayla Mompié, Tania Pantoja, Waldo Mendoza, the singers of Anacaona, Dayana La Reguetonera, and Marcos d Alma. Still to confirm are the singers of Los Van Van, Dayan from Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Vania Borges, Osdalgia, Ricardo Amaray and the Rodriguez brothers of Manolito Simonet y Su Trabuco. As the project moves forward, Limonta hopes that more artists will join this worthy cause. All the details about the event, including date and time and venue will be coming soon so stay tuned. 

ESPAÑOL: La agente internacional de Azúcar Negra anunció en Facebook que hoy, Leonel Limonta "El Poeta de la Timba" y el director de Azucar Negra, comenzó a grabar la base rítmica, los metales y los coros de la canción "Voy por ti", que será el tema de un gran evento que Limonta está organizando para ayudar a las damnificados del desastre causado por el huracán Irma en Cuba. Puede recordar que en 2008 Limonta también tomó medidas y grabó "Así Somos" después de que Cuba fue golpeada con dos huracanes. "Voy por ti" incluirá la participación de destacados artistas cubanos. Entre los que ya confirmaron su participación en el proyecto están Samuel Formell, Hayla Mompié, Tania Pantoja, Waldo Mendoza, los cantantes de Anacaona, Dayana La Reguetonera y Marcos d Alma. Aún quedan por confirmar los cantantes de Los Van Van, Dayan de Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Vania Borges, Osdalgia, Ricardo Amaray y los hermanos Rodríguez de Manolito Simonet y Su Trabuco. A medida que avanza el proyecto, Limonta espera que más artistas se unirán a esta valiosa causa. Todos los detalles sobre el evento, incluso la fecha, la hora y el lugar estarán próximos, así que estad atentos.

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Tue, 17 Oct 2017 19:01:25 +0000
Cuban Events This Weekend in California ENGLISH:  With of the terrible news in California from the fires, it's nice to be able to post some good news for Californians. With some well-planned logistics you can see Yeni on Friday and Elito y Su Charangón with Mayito Rivera on Saturday.

ESPAÑOL: Con la terrible noticia en California de los incendios, es bueno poder publicar buenas noticias para los californianos. Con la logística bien planificada puedes ver a Yeni el viernes y a Elito y Su Charangón con Mayito Rivera el sábado.

Yeni Valdés

ENGLISH: The San Diego International Cuban Dance Congress will take place this week, October 19 - 22. On October 20th Yeni Valdés will perform with her band. Doors open at 10pm. Tickets from the full congress pass, to party pass to concert tickets for Yeni's show are available at the following link.

ESPAÑOL: San Diego International Cuban Dance Congress se llevará a cabo esta semana, del 19 al 22 de octubre. El 20 de octubre, Yeni Valdés cantará con su orquesta. Las puertas se abren a las 10 pm. Las entradas desde el pase del congreso completo, al pase de fiesta hasta las entradas para el concierto de Yeni están disponibles en el siguiente enlace.

Elito Revé y Su Charangón

ENGLISH: The San Francisco Bay Area Cuban Festival is underway and this weekend October 21st at Roccapulco you can see Elito Revé y Su Charangón and Mayito Rivera. It has been confirmed that the members of the Charangón have ther visas now. This is a concert you don't want to miss! Get your tickets here.

ESPAÑOL: San Francisco Bay Area Cuban Festival está en marcha y este fin de semana 21 de octubre en Roccapulco puedes ver a Elito Revé y Su Charangón y Mayito Rivera. Se ha confirmado que ahora los miembros del Charangón tienen la visa. ¡Este es un concierto que no quieres perder! Compra tu entrada aquí.

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Tue, 17 Oct 2017 10:23:20 +0000
Yasser Ramos & 9 Milimetros 3rd Anniversary Yasser Ramos y 9 Milímetros Tour

ENGLISH: Today Yasser Ramos & 9 Milímetros celebrate their third anniversary with a mega-concert at Salón Rosado de la Tropical. They have invited many other artists including Papucho y Manana Club, Maikel Dinza, Azúcar Negra, El Niño, Mandy Cantero, Los 4, and PMM. Yasser has promised to present some new songs as well as having some gifts for the audience. 

The band will be touring Europe in early 2018 to present their first CD "Ni antes, ni después". Stay tuned as the concert dates become available. Yasser & 9 Milímetros are also busy working on new material under the musical direction of Nachito Jr. It will be exciting to see what the combination of Yasser and Nachito Jr. brings to the sello of the band. 

If you haven't yet read the interview with Yasser from July 2017, click here. Below is the most recent official video release by the band, "El Artista" - one of the hits from the new album. 

ESPAÑOL: Hoy, Yasser Ramos y 9 Milímetros celebran su tercer aniversario con un mega concierto en el Salón Rosado de la Tropical. Han invitado a muchos otros artistas incluyendo a Papucho y Manana Club, Maikel Dinza, Azúcar Negra, El Niño, Mandy Cantero, Los 4 y PMM. Yasser ha prometido presentar algunas canciones nuevas, así como tener algunos regalos para el público.

La banda estará de gira por Europa a principios de 2018 para presentar su primer CD "Ni antes, ni después". Estén atentos a medida que las fechas del concierto estén disponibles. Yasser & 9 Milímetros también están sacando nuevo material bajo la dirección musical de Nachito Jr. Será emocionante ver lo que la combinación de Yasser y Nachito Jr. aporta al sello de la banda.

Si aún no ha leído la entrevista con Yasser desde julio de 2017, haga clic aquí. A continuación les dejo con el video oficial más reciente de la banda, "El Artista", uno de los éxitos del nuevo álbum.

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Sun, 15 Oct 2017 14:15:27 +0000
OMAR SOSA US CONCERTS Omar Sosa is touring the US with his Quarteto Afrocubano from October 11-17 with stops in Detroit, Albuqueque, Las Vegas, Berkeley and Washington. You can see the full schedule at the omarsosa.com tour page. 


Omar has  also been working on a new project, Creole Spirits, and is using crowdfunding for at least part of the project,   You can learn more in a couple of videos on their indiegogo page






Bay area residents are reminded of the Pablo Menéndez & Mezcla special concert and film premier event at the Brava Theater on Saturday, October 14.   See our original post here. 

Alejandro Falcón's project Alejandro Falcon y Cubadentro is working on an exciting new recording expected to come out in a few months.      Here is a taste of things to come:

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Wed, 11 Oct 2017 01:55:08 +0000
Yeni Valdés in Miami Friday, Oct. 13

Yeni Valdés - among the most imitated Cuban vocalists since Celia Cruz - was the first woman in two of Cuba's greatest bands - NG La Banda and Los Van Van, singing with the latter for 16 years. She now lives in Santa Cruz, California with her husband, Erick Barbería, a batá master who played with the legendary Papo Angarica and a multi-talented timbero equally at home with lead vocals and all the percussion instruments. They'll be playing in a star studded show produced by DJ Asho and featuring Timbalive, DJ Walt Digz, DJ Melao and DJ Danis la Clave next Friday, October 13th. Here's are links for venue information and tickets. And here's the press release in downloadable format.

Erick Barbería

DJ Asho

DJ Walt Digz

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Sun, 08 Oct 2017 06:53:51 +0000
New Tirso Duarte Instructional Youtubes Tirso is doing a whole series of educational timba piano videos on youtube!

There are nine of these so far. And here's my old video on Tirso and Charanga Habanera:

[Kevin Moore]

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Fri, 06 Oct 2017 06:39:25 +0000
MEZCLA CONCERTS IN THE UNITED STATES


Pablo Menéndez & Mezcla
  just arrived in the United States for some special concerts

1. Friday, October 6 at 7:30pm, Pablo Menéndez & Mezcla are perfoming a free concert at the Bates Recital Hall at The University of Texas at Austin, Texas.  Complete details are at the Bates Recital Hall Event Page 

2. On Saturday, October 14, the Brava Theater Center is presenting a concert by Pablo Menéndez & Mezcla hosted by Chuy Varela of KCSM with special guests John Santos, Barbara Dane, John Calloway, Greg Landau, Camilo Landau and others.  The concert will by preceded by the new documentary So Near, So Far, by the award-winning Cuban director Lourdes Prieto and L.A. Chicago David Sandoval.  This documentary is about the life of Pablo Menéndez, Mezcla's leader.  Complete details and tickets can be found at the Brava.org website. 

Incidentally, if you never obtained their 2015 release Pure Mezcla (Direct from Cuba -Live at Yoshi's) - you can still purchase the digital release with special extras on Latinpulsemusic.com

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Fri, 06 Oct 2017 01:47:02 +0000
TIMBA THIS WEEK There is a lot going on this week in addition to the regular concert schedule in Havana. First up, Leonel Limonta & Azúcar Negra will hold a press conference today at Casa de la Música Miramar for the release of their excellent new CD "Tonada pa'l bailador". They will also give a concert at CDLM Miramar on Saturday, October 7th.

Azucar Negra Press Conference 2018

This is Azúcar Negra's 7th album and as the rightly claims, it is a brilliant album for the dancers.  You can find the album at the usual digital retailers and streaming sites. "Tonada pa'l bailador" contains 14 tracks and a full review will be coming shortly.

Track list:
Tonada pa'l bailador
Cuando pienso en ti
De fiesta en fiesta
Retomando el son
Por qué me miras así
Mi chica se rebela
La Habana está de fiesta
Tonada pa'l bailador feat. Alexander Abreu
Agua caliente
El tequila feat. El Micha
Pa' que se entere La Habana
Yo necesito de ti feat. Luna Manzanares
Suave, rico y despacito
Maltratando la tela


Havana D'Primera 10th anniversary

Congratulations to Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera who celebrated their 10th anniversary yesterday. They will hold two special concerts this weekend: Saturday the 7th at Karl Marx Theater with surprise guests and Sunday the 8th at Salón Rosado de la Tropical. Their European Tour begins October 12th in Moscow and they will follow up with a national Cuban tour.

Unlike most young bands, Havana D'Primera didn't have a period of "finding themselves" but burst fully-developed on the timba scene. This was in part due to the fact that many of them had already worked together for years in Issac Delgado's band. Alexander's lyrics also made the Havana D'Primera stand out from the masses. It didn't take long for them to become one of the most popular bands both inside and outside of Cuba. During their first decade, Havana D'Primera has released three studio CDs all of which have been at the top of the timba charts and even done well among regular salseros. Still one of Cuba's greatest trumpeters, Alexander is today also highly sought after for collaborations as a vocalist. 


We cannot fail to mention that today is José Luis Cortés "El Tosco"'s birthday. Where would Cuban music be today without NG La Banda? I shudder to imagine. So Happy Birthday El Tosco and thank you for your role in making our music and dance obsession possible.

El Tosco


And across the pond over here in Europe, Maykel Blanco & su Salsa Mayor begin their European Tour tonight in Paris. Click here for concert dates. Here is a recent live clip of the band performing in La Guayabera in Alamar, Havana, Cuba.  

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Thu, 05 Oct 2017 17:43:08 +0000
New Casa de la Música in Vedado Casa del la Música de PlazaPhoto courtesy of Giraldo Piloto

ENGLISH: On August 20th 2017 a new cultural center was inaugurated in Vedado at 31 & 2. What could be more auspicious than a new Casa de la Música in the neighborhood known as "La Timba"? Unlike the other CDLM, the entry fee is reported to be 8 CUC for Cubans and 15 CUC for foreigners. So far the concert schedule is not showing up at Suenacubano, but I know that Giraldo Piloto y Klímax played there recently and it was Piloto that was kind enough to send us a photo of the new building. In addition to the Casa de la Música, the new cultural center includes a piano bar, a public library, a bookstore, art rooms and a store among other things. Below is a short report from EGREM's YouTube page.

ESPAÑOL: El 20 de agosto de 2017 se inauguró un nuevo centro cultural en el Vedado a 31 y 2. ¿Qué podría ser más auspicioso que una nueva Casa de la Música en el barrio conocido como La Timba? A diferencia de las otras CDLM, la entrada es de 8 CUC para cubanos y 15 CUC para extranjeros. Hasta ahora el calendario de conciertos no está apareciendo en Suenacubano, pero sé que Giraldo Piloto y Klímax tocaban allí recientemente y fue Piloto quien tuvo la amabilidad de enviarnos una foto del nuevo edificio. Además de la Casa de la Música, el nuevo centro cultural incluye un piano bar, una biblioteca pública, una librería, salas de arte y una tienda entre otras cosas. A continuación se presenta un breve informe de la página de YouTube de EGREM.


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Sat, 30 Sep 2017 14:36:21 +0000
HAVANA RHYTHM AND DANCE FESTIVAL 2018 Fiesta del Tambor 2018

ENGLISH: The XVII Edition of the International “Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival" Guillermo Barreto in Memoriam will take place in Havana from March 6 - 11, 2018. As always the festival will include performances by many of Cuba's most popular bands and dance companies as well as competitions in percussion, casino dance, and rumba dance. Masters classes will also be offered in music and dance, including customized classes for groups or individuals. The competitions are open to all ages and both Cubans and international musicians and dancers. If you're interested in competing or would like to attend classes, click here for contact information as well as more detailed information about the event. As the date approaches we'll update with the complete festival program. And I leave you with a new video by Giraldo Piloto & Klímax, below.

ESPAÑOL: La XVII Edición del festival internacional "Fiesta Del Tambor" Guillermo Barreto in Memoriam tendrá lugar en La Habana del 6 al 11 de marzo de 2018. Como siempre el festival incluirá actuaciones de muchas de las orquestas y compañías de baile más populares de Cuba, así como concursos de percusión, y bailes de casino y rumba. Se ofrecerán clases de música y baile, incluyendo clases personalizadas para grupos o individuales. Los concursos son abiertos a todas las edades y tanto para cubanos como para músicos y bailarines extranjeros. Si estás interesado en competir o quieres asistir a clases, haz clic aquí para la información de contacto, así como información más detallada sobre el evento. En cuanto se acerca la fecha vamos a actualizar la página con el programa completo del festival. Y les dejo con un estreno de Giraldo Piloto & Klímax.

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Fri, 29 Sep 2017 18:42:53 +0000
Cuban Music Nominees Add Lift To The 2017 Latin Grammys® Aside from the total domination of the Best Traditional Tropical Album category (all the entries are from Cuban artists), there is some very interesting Cuban music representation this year among the 2017 Latin Grammy® nominees. Congratulations to all the nominees! Felicidades a todos los nominados. 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR - ÁLBUM DEL AÑO
Palabras Manuales - DANAY SUAREZ**

** Danay Suarez Fernandez is a Cuban R&B and rap singer. She has gained attention in Europe, mainly in France. She got her start in the music industry in 2007 with a cold call to Cuban fusion king X-Alfonso. Her work with X-Alfonso led to her discovery a few years later by English DJ and record label owner Gilles Peterson. [source: wikipedia] **

SONG OF THE YEAR - CANCIÓN DEL AÑO
Desde que estamos juntos - DESCEMBER BUENO

BEST NEW ARTIST - MEJOR NUEVO ARTISTA
DANAY SUAREZ

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM - MEJOR ÁLBUM DE MÚSICA ALTERNATIVA
Palabras Manuales - DANAY SUAREZ

BEST ALTERNATIVE SONG - MEJOR CANCIÓN ALTERNATIVA
Intergridad - STEPHEN MARLEY & DANAY SUAREZ

BEST SALSA ALBUM - MEJOR ÁLBUM DE SALSA
ADN - ALAÍN PÉREZ ( más información sobre Alaín aquí )
Isidro Infante Presenta... Cuba Y Puerto Rico, Un Abrazo Musical Salsero - Varios artistas**
** Isidro Infante producer in collaboration with BIS MUSIC

BEST TRADITIONAL TROPICAL ALBUM - MEJOR ÁLBUM TROPICAL TRADICIONAL
Albita - ALBITA
Cuba Sobre Cuerda - BABALÚ QUINTETO
Raíz - EL SEPTETO SANTIAGUERO
El Añejo Jardín - LA COLMENITA (VARIOS ARTISTS - EGREM)
To Beny Moré With Love - JON SECADA feat THE CHARLIE SEPULVEDA BIG BAND

BEST SINGER-SONGWRITER ALBUM - MEJOR ÁLBUM CANTAUTOR
Lo único constante - ALEX CUBA

Presione aquí para nuestra reseña de RAÍZ - Septeto Satiaguero. Raíz - EL SEPTETO SANTIAGUERO - 2017 Latin  Grammy(R) - BEST TRADITIONAL TROPICAL ALBUM - MEJOR ÁLBUM TROPICAL TRADICIONAL

Palabras Manuales - DANAY SUAREZ - 2017 Latin  Grammy(R) - BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM - MEJOR ÁLBUM DE MÚSICA ALTERNATIVA

ADN - ALAÍN PÉREZ - 2017 Latin  Grammy(R) - BEST SALSA ALBUM - MEJOR ÁLBUM DE SALSA

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Wed, 27 Sep 2017 07:35:42 +0000
SJ Jazz Gallery 2 Part 2 covers the groups Tom photographed on Sunday, August 13, 2017. The groups include Jazz by 5, Manny Martínez y La Rebeldia, Lili Hernández Orchestra Featuring Calixto Oviedo, Daymé Arocena and Bay Area Salsa All-Stars Featuring Jimmy Bosch.

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Sun, 24 Sep 2017 16:57:46 +0000
Alain Perez - ADN Official Video

Alaín Pérez has just uploaded the official video to the title track from the ADN album. Very nice video, excellent song - check it out!

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Sat, 23 Sep 2017 16:24:40 +0000
LOS VAN VAN IN MONTREAL Formell & Van Van

Los Van Van in Montreal
ENGLISH:
Los Van Van will perform a single concert in Canada tonight at Rialto in Montreal. Don't miss them if you are in Quebec. The megaconcert that was planned for September 30th with Orquesta Revé at Ciudad Deportivo has been postponed until December 1st - weather conditions permitting.

ESPANOL:
Los Van Van realizarán un solo concierto en Canadá esta noche en Rialto en Montreal. No te lo pierdas si estás en Quebec. El megaconcierto que se programó para el 30 de septiembre con Orquesta Revé en Ciudad Deportivo se ha pospuesto hasta el 1 de diciembre, si las condiciones meteorológicas lo permiten.

Cuba Salsa Fest Lima

Cuba Salsa Fest @Lawn Tennis Tonight
ENGLISH:
Tonight there is a major concert at Clun Lawn Tennis in Lima celebrating the 29th anniversary of La Charanga Habanera, also featuring Elito Revé y su Charangón, Bamboleo and Pedrito Calvo. 

ESPAÑOL:
Esta noche hay un concierto importante en el Club Lawn Tennis en Lima celebrando el 29 aniversario de La Charanga Habanera, también con Elito Revé y su Charangón, Bamboleo y Pedrito Calvo.

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Sat, 23 Sep 2017 06:20:01 +0000
Tom's SJ Jazz Photos, Part 1                                                  Angélique Kidjo and Pedríto Martínez

Monterey Jazz was tremendous - those photos coming soon. Here's the first gallery from San José Jazz Summerfest.

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Tue, 19 Sep 2017 03:41:00 +0000
PRIMERA LINEA POSTPONED TO NOVEMBER ENGLISH: Our hearts are with everyone affected by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey.   Cuba was hit hard by Irma, and Primera Linea, which was to take place this week (see our post of July 4), has been postponed to November 27-30, 2017.  You can see more information and get updates here
ESPAÑOL:  Nuestros corazones están con todos los afectados por el huracán Irma y el huracán Harvey. Cuba fue duramente golpeada por Irma, y  Primera Linea, que iba a tener lugar esta semana (vea nuestro puesto del 4 de julio), se ha pospuesta al 27-30 de noviembre de 2017. Más informacion y actualizaciones están disponibles aquí.


OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST

Louisville, Kentucky:  Louisville has a growing Cuban-American musical colony and community, and The Clifton Roots, Jazz and Heritage Festival is presenting local favorite Cosa Seria, led and powered by some very talented Cuban conservatory graduates, on Thursday, September 21, as well as  with pianist Elio Villafranca on Friday, September 22.  More information and tickets are available on the Clifton Center website

Baltimore:  Chuchito Valdés is performing in quartet at An die Musik LIVE! in Baltimore, Maryland on Friday, Sept. 22 at 8pm and 9pm.
The rest of the quartet for these performances includes Rafael Monteagudo on drums, Steve sachse on bass and Julio Matta on Conga. This writer has heard Rafael and Steve with Chuchito in Chicago - this should be excellent. More details and tickets are available on the An die Musik LIVE! website. 


Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:  
Albertico Lescay,
one of the leading lights of Cuba's Nu Jazz movement, has been spending enough time in and around Pittsburgh during his visit (which ends next month) that I won't be shocked if that city starts showing up as a locale of serious interest to fans of Cuban Jazz within a few short years - he has engaged in an ongoing musical dialogue with several progressive Jazz musicians there (including with members of the Afro Yaqui Music Collective, which fuses Jazz and indigenous music).  His next performance in Pittsburgh is on Monday, September 25 at the Frick Fine Arts Building Auditorium at the University of Pittsburgh, and he is presenting the music of Formas with the musicians he has been collaborating with here.     This concert is free and open to the public, and there is a Facebook event page



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Sun, 17 Sep 2017 10:03:09 +0000
Monterey Jazz This Weekend! First, tomorrow night Pedrito Martínez joins Gonzalo Rubalcaba at SF Jazz at 7:30 p.m.

This year's Monterey Jazz.has an amazing lineup. The Pedrito Martínez Group plays Saturday at 8:45 at Dizzy's Den and Pedrito also plays Friday in a tribute to Dizzy Gillespie, and Sunday with Angélique Kidjo on the arena stage. PMG absolutely shredded it at SJ Jazz - don't miss it.

 From PMG's 2012 Monterey Jazz performance 

                         Pedrito Martínez Group at this summer's San José Jazz Festival

Pedrito with Angélique Kidjo at San José Jazz Festival

Pedrito with Gonzalo Rubalcaba at last year's SF JAZZ performance

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Wed, 13 Sep 2017 19:48:19 +0000
Events of Interest in Miami, New York and Palm Springs Miami, Florida, Saturday, September 9:
Sintesis, one of Cuba's most important Afrocuban Fusion groups,  will be performing at Copper Fest at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 770 Northeast 125th Street, North Miami, Florida..  They are the last of four bands and the festival and are scheduled for 9pm.   Degnis Bofill, one of Cuba's most impressive young percussionists (and a 2016 JoJazz winner as a soloist) will be on tour with them.  More details about Copper Fest can be found on the Copper Fest web page

New York, Saturday, September 9:
Albertico Lescay will be playing with Arturo O'Farrill and Blitz  at the 4th Annual Music on Southern Blvd Festival (Southern Boulevard and 163rd St, NYC)  at 12:30 in the afternoon.  More information is available at the Casita Maria website.  This is an excellent opportunity to hear Albertico,  one of Cuba's rising young Jazz and NuJazz  artists who is visiting a few cities in the Eastern US.  He has been collaborating with a few groups while here, and one hopes that we will eventually be able to see his ensemble, Formas, perform in the United States. 
As for Arturo O'Farrill, he has been doing a lot of impressive work both in the studio and on stage with musicians from Cuba and may now have the most extensive current resume of such projects among Jazz musicians in the US.

Palm Springs, California, Saturday, October 14:
Most of Chuchito Valdes' recent outings in the US have been with a trio,  this is an opportunity to hear him with percussionists Calixto Oviedo and Luis Conte as well as Diego Figueirdo, Carol Welsman and Geraldo Aguillon.   More information and tickets can be found at tickets.psmuseum.org.






Chuchito Valdés, incidentally, will soon release a new album, Sueño que te beso, in collaboration with Juan Poch.  More on this in the future.

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Tue, 05 Sep 2017 23:02:16 +0000
SINTESIS TO PLAY LOS ANGELES AUGUST 25


For followers of Cuba's  Fusion scene,  Sintesis, founded in 1976, needs no introduction.   They have been one of the most important groups performing Afrocuban Fusion there for decades. They are currently still doing performances in their 40th Anniversary tour, which sadly only includes a couple of dates in the US.  One of those is Friday, August 25, at 8:30pm at the Ford Theatres in Los Angeles.   An extra reason to go see this if you can is that they are bringing percussionist Degnis Bofill with them.  Degnis is one of the most impressive young percussionists in Cuba today (and that is saying a LOT).  He won first place in Solistas Mayores at JoJazz in Havana last year AND 3rd place in Composition.  I have seen him perform with a few groups already,  and he has elevated whatever he was in so far.  Not only do you get to help Sintesis celebrate 40 years of excellence, you'll also get a glimpse of part of Cuba's percussion future. 


Also on the bill is Cuban-born violinist Dayren Santamaria and her band Made in Cuba.  Dayren plays in Los Angeles with several excellent groups.  

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS FOR THE CONCERT, SEE THE IGNITE @ THE FORD EVENT PAGE

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Tue, 22 Aug 2017 15:53:52 +0000
FELICIANO ARANGO, ALBERTICO LESCAY ON THE RADIO

ENGLISH: Bill Tilford's shortwave radio program, From the Isle of Music, will have Feliciano Arango, Albertico Lescay and Gizelxanath Rodríguez as special guests along with their music on the next episode.   This program can be heard as follows:

1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in all directions with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0000-0100 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EDT in the US)
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.
From the Isle of Music is not available for listening on demand but some broadcasts can be heard online during the time of the broadcast using Web SDRs or the WBCQ website  WBCQ.COM (ONLY during the broadcast) if you are not receiving the radio signal.

Soon after, there will be a review of the new album by Los Hermanos Arango, The Arangos World, on this website, along with some additional material that Bill recorded with the Arango family in Cuba that did not air on the program. 

ESPAÑOL: El programa radial en onda corta de Bill Tilford, From the Isle of Music, ofrece como invitados especiales a Feliciano Arango, Albertico Lescay y Gizelxanath Rodríguez con su música en el episodio siguiente.   Se puede escuchar el programa:

1. Para Europa del Este pero audible más allá de la zona objetiva en todas las direcciones con 100Kw, domingo 1500-1600 UTC en SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, desde Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. Para las Américas y partes de Europa, martes 0000-0100 UTC en WBCQ, 7490 KHz desde Monticello, ME, EE.UU. (lunes 8-9PM EDT en los EE.UU.)
3 y 4. Para Europa y a veces más allá, martes 1900-2000 UTC y sábado 1200-1300 UTC en Channel 292, 6070 KHz desde Rohrbach, Alemania.
From the Isle of Music no está disponible para escuchar en demanda, pero algunas emisiones pueden ser escuchadas en línea durante la hora de la emisión usando Web SDRs o el sitio web de WBCQ, WBCQ.COM  (SOLAMENTE durante la emisión) si Uds no están recibiendo la señal via radio. 

Publicaremos despues una reseña del nuevo álbum de Los Hermanos Arango, The Arangos World, en este sitio juntos con material adicional que Bill grabo con la familia Arango en Cuba y no incluyó en la emision.   

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Fri, 18 Aug 2017 08:04:05 +0000
Leoni Europe 2017 Leoni Torres Europe 2017

Leoni Torres begins his European tour on August 27th in Malaga, Spain. He will also visit Italy and Switzerland on this tour. I expect we will be seeing more and more of Leoni since his signing with Marc Anthony's Magnus Media. He became a well-known face and voice in Cuban music during his time with La Charanga Habanera, and his subsequent solo career has kept him at the top  of the Cuban charts.

Leoni's solo career has produced salsa hits such as "Soledad"; his own version of "Idilio"; and the beautiful son "Toda una vida" as well as Latin Pop hits like "Amor bonito"; "Para que un día vuelvas" feat. Pablo Milanes; and of course the "Es tu mirada" feat. Alexander Abreu & Kelvis Ochoa. Most recently he has released a new video of "Si tú me dejas" feat El Chacal. Leoni is also the composer of the hit "Traidora" made famous by Gente D'Zona and Marc Anthony. His sello is beautiful texts that never fall into the trap of trying to curry favor with vulgarity. The arrangements vary between genres but have a strong Cuban flavor often firmly rooted in son.

Leoni is an excellent perfomer with a remarkable voice. Don't miss him if you can make one of these concerts. If you're not familiar with his recent work, check out the videos below.

Concert dates:
August 27, 2017 - Malaga, Spain - Sala La Farandula
August 31, 2017 - Zurich, Switzerland - Escherwyss
September 3, 2017 - Rome, Italy - Latin Palace
September 9, 2017 - Valencia, Spain - Sala Fusion
September 10, 2017 - Pamplona, Spain - Sala Jet Set
September 16, 2017 - Madrid, Spain - Sala Gotham
September 17, 2017 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Up & Down

Es tu mirada

Toda una vida


Si tú me dejas

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Wed, 16 Aug 2017 13:46:40 +0000
Chuchito Valdes News & Brenda Navarrete News Chuchito Valdes, who has graced these pages many times in recent years, is currently on tour in the US, and his next performance is at the Jazz At Five festival on the corner of State and Mifflin Streets in Madison, Wisconsin on Wednesday, August 16 at 4:00-8:00pm.  You can find more information about this free concert at the Jazz at Five Event Page
Chuchito will also be releasing a new album very soon, Sueño que te beso.   This is a collaborative project with Spanish composer Juan Poch, and it will be something of a departure from Chuchito's earlier recorded work.   Chuchito tells us that with the state of heightened tensions in the word right now, he wanted to release something a little mellower to help send a message of peace.   We'll have more about the album when it is ready for release (it is still in its final stages).  
Finally, there is now a Chuchito Valdes website, chuchitovaldes.com



Brenda Navarrete will soon release her debut solo album Mi Mundo, with the digital release coming in September and the physical CD after the first of the year.    At the moment she is on tour in Canada with performances on Friday August 18 at Hugh's Room in Toronto (details and tickets here) and at the Markham Jazz Festival at the MacKay Art Centre on Sunday, August 20 (details here)

(Photo courtesy David Pye)

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Tue, 15 Aug 2017 21:48:52 +0000
Casinero Sí o Sí

ENGLISH: In April, Pedrito Calvo Jr. released a new single titled "Casinero Sí o Sí". The video followed in June and both have been very well received by fans of Cuban music and dance. In only 2 months the video at Facebook passed 200000 views and has now passed 300000. We spoke with dancer and now composer Esteban Isnardi about how the song and his collaboration with Pedrito Calvo Jr. came about. Click here for the interview (including a link to the English translation of the lyrics).

ESPAÑOL: En abril, Pedrito Calvo Jr. lanzó un nuevo sencillo titulado "Casinero Sí o Sí". El video siguió en junio y ambos han sido muy bien recibidos por los fanáticos de la música y los bailes cubanos. En sólo 2 meses el video en Facebook pasó 200000 vistas y ya pasó de 300000. Hablamos con el bailador y ahora compositor Esteban Isnardi sobre cómo surgió la canción y su colaboración con Pedrito Calvo Jr. Haga clic aquí para la entrevista.

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Tue, 15 Aug 2017 09:05:44 +0000
Calixto Oviedo at SJ Jazz Today (4:30)

Calixto Oviedo and Lily Hernández will be on the SJ Jazz Salsa stage at 4:30 today, Sunday! The Pedrito Martínez Group outdid itself yesterday. Pedrito has added a snare, two cymbals and a hihat, all of which he plays with his hands along with the 4 congas, foot bell and cajón - it's amazing how the hihat works with the "timba conjunto" format. Oscar Hernández with Jimmy Branly also had everyone buzzing and Jimmy sat in with Pedrito to close his set.

timba.com: Bay Area timberos were excited to see that you're playing with ex-Charanga Habanera bassist Ernesto Kindelán, now one of the brightest lights of the Bay Area scene.

Calixto: Ernesto is a very complete and professional musician. I call him every time I come to SF because I love the way he plays the bass - mucho feeling y mucho sabor. He reminds me of Feliciano Arango - he's always in the pocket but plays very freely. I'm planning to use Ernesto with my Latin jazz project as well.

timba.com: Who else is in the current band?

Calixto: Erick Peralto is a young pianist with a great timba style whose way of playing tumbaos really caught my ear. Tiene tremenda clave. Roberto Morris plays trumpet with strength and that magic Cuban flavor and swing that inspires the other musicians. It's a four-man horn section with a young Santiaguero named Maikel and Anibal Seminario on saxes and an American trombonist named Craig Bryant.

About Carlos Caro ... I'm speechless! I think he and Panga Romas are the two most complete percussionists on the planet - they know the roots, the concept of sound and the groove. When I play with Carlos I can relax and never worry about anything. The bongosero, Rayner Fernández, is also a great corista.

And of course, my beautiful wife Lily Hernández on vocals as always.

timba.com: What kind of material are you going to play?

Calixto: We're going to do 1990s style Cuban timba with original songs like Se te va la vida, and Refranes by Richard Ortega. Also some standards like Issac's Dime si te gusta mi compás, Adalberto's De la hipocresía, and Ya no hace falta by Bamboleo.

timba.com: Where have you been playing in LA?

Calixto: Floridita Restaurant in Hollywood, Viva Hollywood, Vibrato Jazz Grill, Catalina Jazz Club and various clubs in Ontario, Newport Beach and Pomona. Sometimes we play under the name Lily La Negra & Orquesta. We're also recording a second CD with our Latin Jazz band.

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Sun, 13 Aug 2017 14:35:42 +0000
SJ JAZZ!!                   Calixto sitting in with PMG at the 2014 show - photo by Tom Ehrlich

This year will be the most Latin-oriented SJ Jazz Festival since the legendary 2014 Summerfest, and features several of the same headliners - Pedrito Martínez Group, Calixto Oviedo & Lily Hernández (we'll have an interview with Calixto tomorrow) and Jimmy Bosch - as well a some great funk bands - George Clinton & Maceo Parker - Daymé Arocena - Oscar Hernández and a long string of the best Bay Area groups - Conjunto Karabalí, Carlitos Medrano, Manny Martínez, Pacific Mambo and many others.

Pedrito plays Saturday at 3:00 with his own group and at 6:00 with Angélique Kidjo. Calixto will play Sunday at 4:30. Here's the full lineup.

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Fri, 11 Aug 2017 17:33:48 +0000
More About The Afro Yaqui Music Collective & Albertico Lescay

The Afro Yaqui Music Collective was founded in 2014 by Gizelxanath Rodríguez (of Yaqui descent) and Ben Barson, a protege of the late saxophonist Fred Ho, who did pioneering work fusing Asian music and Jazz (Their Friday, August 11 concert is a tribute to him).  The AYMC, which is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,  fuses various forms of indigenous music (not exclusively Yaqui) with Jazz and Hip Hop, and there is a Cuban connection now with Ben Barson recently performing with NuJazz artist Zule Guerra in Cuba and now collaborating with Albertico Lescay, leader of Formas in Cuba, during his visit to the US.   You can see a lot more about this project, which also has a Facebook page, at Ben Barson's website here.   It will be interesting to see how this project and Formas exchange ideas.  

Albertico Lescay, of Santiago but now in Havana, is the leader of Formas, an important group in the NuJazz movement in Cuba.   (Albertico sometimes prefers to use Afro NuJazz because Formas retains more Afrocuban elements than many other groups in this part of the spectrum.) NuJazz in Cuba is a fusion of Cuban music, Jazz and Hip Hop. The strong Cuban foundations and more intricate Jazz patterns in the music distinguish it from what we once called Acid Jazz in the US, but there are parallels in the mixture of genres.  Formas has not yet released an album but has gained significant notice in Cuba. Albertico is currently visiting the US, sometimes playing with the AYMC, sometimes presenting the music of Formas using US musicians (including members of the AYMC). Again, the long-term results of this interchange should be interesting. 

This weekend, you can see these musicians as follows:
Friday, August 11:  Afro Yaqui Music Collective with special guest Albertico Lescay 
Ginny's Supper Club, New York, NY
Saturday, August 12:  Albertico Lescay presents the music of FORMAS with invited guests opening for Villalobos Brothers, part of a benefit performance for migrant justice 
Barnard Vermont

 



TIMBA ALERT:
Since Charanga Habenera has been performing as both Charanga Habanera and Charanga Light (a slightly different formation and repertoire), we asked the folks at Festival Cubano which version would be performing in Chicago on Sunday, August 13.   We were informed that it will be the regular Charanga Habanera. 
Festival Cubano runs from Friday, August 11 through Sunday, August 13 with two stages, food, games etc.  You can find everything you need to know on the Festival Cubano website here. 
When you go, be sure to also check out some of Chicago's fine local Cuban-American talent such as Stacie Sandoval and Matanza y su Latin Express. 

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Thu, 10 Aug 2017 23:03:43 +0000
SEPTETO SANTIAGUERO, VOCAL VIDAS, ALBERTICO LESCAY SEPTETO SANTIAGUERO TOUR CONTINUES
Saturday night, Septeto Santiaguero tore the roof off of Martyrs at their Chicago concert.  I know that I may start some arguments and hurt some feelings, but this IS Cuba's best working traditional Septeto right now.  Your can see a photo gallery here.  Meanwhile, they are in Madison, Wisconsin and Minneapolis, Minnesota and Los Angeles next, as follows:
Tuesday, August 8:  North Street Cabaret, Madison, Wisconsin
Wednesday, August 9:  Dakota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 
Thursday, August 10: The Central Park Sessions, Central Park, Madison, Wisconsin
Friday, August 11:  Grand Performances, Los Angeles, CA (with Vocal Vidas)
IF YOU CAN, GO SEE THIS GROUP!!!!!!!   


VOCAL VIDAS US TOUR
The a capella tradition is Cuba is not just a man thing - there's Vocal Vidas, a female quartet from Santiago de Cuba.  Well, OK, they cheat just a wee bit - they use a little hand percussion, but other than that, they are a capella, and that does not diminish them at all - their voices are wonderful.   They are out in California right now and very much worth seeing as follows in metro LA: 
Tuesday, August 8:  Herb Alpert's Vibrato  Grill
Friday, August 11:  Grand Performances (with Septeto Santiaguero)


ALBERTICO LESCAY IN THE EASTERN US 


We mentioned recently that Albertico Lescay is visiting the US and performing both as an invited guest with the Afro Yaqui Music Collective and presenting some of the music of his own project, FORMAS, with US musicians.   Here are this week's dates with more to follow in the future:
Friday, August 11:  Afro Yaqui Music Collective with special guest Albertico Lescay 
Ginny's Supper Club, New York, NY
Saturday, August 12:  Albertico Lescay presents the music of FORMAS with invited guests opening for Villalobos Brothers, part of a benefit performance for migrant justice 
Barnard Vermont
Albertico also did a workshop in Pittsburgh at the Pryse Academy in Pittsburgh, an institution that works with refugee youth, presenting his music and discussing the importance of music in cultural identity.   
Albertico Lescay  is an artist to watch.   You'll be hearing a lot more about him within a year. 

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Mon, 07 Aug 2017 00:11:36 +0000
Tom's Arango Photos

Here's Tom Ehrlich's gallery from the recent performance of Feliciano Arango and Amistad Cubana at Ashkenaz in Berkeley. 

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Fri, 04 Aug 2017 03:17:53 +0000
EVENTS OF INTEREST IN CHICAGO AND POINTS EAST

Septeto Santiaguero comes to Chicago...
Septeto Santiaguero wlll be at Martyrs on Saturday, August  5 courtesy of HotHouse, which has been back in action recently.  This group, which has won more than one Premio Cubadisco and the 2015 Latin GRAMMY® award, is one of the best of its type.  I have heard them in both Santiago and Habana, and they put on a very rousing show.  They have collaborated with a galaxy of stars, but I actually prefer them in concert by themselves as they will be here. Martyrs is a dance hall, so this will be fun.   For more information and tickets, see the Hothouse event page. 
They are touring in support of their newest album Raiz.  
You can read a review in English here or en español aquí


Charanga Habanera comes to Festival Cubano...
At this writing, it isn't completely clear whether this will be Charanga Habanera classic or Charanga Light, but some version of CH is coming to Festival Cubano at Riis Park on Sunday, August 13. Festival Cubano is a 3-day festival (August 11-13) that has now expanded to two stages, lots of food, games and other good things.  They have always been quite good at showcasing Chicago's fine local talent but rather timid for some years about bringing groups based on the island.  Whichever version of CH shows up, kudos to Festival Cubano for inviting a group like CH, especially in these newly-complicated times.
For more information, see the  Festival Cubano website


Roberto Fonseca on TV...
For those of you with access to Chicago's public television station WTTW Prime, Roberto Fonseca's appearance on The Experience with Dedry Jones will be on the air every night August 3-6.  This was recorded 3 blocks from my home, so naturally I was in the studio audience, and this is goooooood.   The WTTW page is HERE


And over in Pittsburgh, Albertico Lescay visits the US, collaborates with the Afro Yaqui Music Collective.... 
What's that, you say?   Well, for openers, Albertico Lescay is the leader of one of the most interesting NuJazz groups in Cuba that you haven't heard much about yet but will over the next year, Albertico Lescay y Formas.   Here's a taste of Formas



Now let's add the Afro Yaqui Music Collective to the mix.  (I know you're going to ask, so yes, Gizelzanath Rodriguez, the band's co-leader and an operatic soprano, is of Yaqui descent.)   This is a group that explores indigenous music and fuses it with Jazz, Funk and Soul.  Here's a taste of what they do:



Put it all together, and what do you get?  Well, if you are in Pittsburgh, you can find out on Saturday, August 5 at the James Street Gastropub and Speakeasy.  Albertico (without Formas) is here to collaborate with the Afro Yaqui Music Collective. More informatiion about this event and tickets are available HERE.   The other coleader of the Afro Yaqui Music Collective, Ben Barson, recently performed with Zule Guerra in Cuba.   Albertico is also giving workshops, there will be more performances, and there will be a lot more to come about all this in the near future.





Last but not least for now, a photo gallery of Bohemia's performance at the City Winery in Chicago is available HERE.   

 

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Thu, 03 Aug 2017 14:07:57 +0000
Jane Bunnett & Maqueque Here's Tom Ehrlich's gallery and report from the recent Bay Area performance of Jane Bunnett & Maqueque.

Here's the rest of the tour, including Richmond, NY, Ontario and British Columbia.

Other news: Pupy cancelled in the Bay Area due to visas, but the rest of the tour looks good; SJ Jazz (Aug 11-14) is packed with great Latin acts (Pedrito Martínez, Calixto Oviedo, Daymé Arocena, Carlitos Medrano, Conjunto Karabalí, Oscar Hernández Quartet, Jimmy Bosch, Pacific Mambo, Brian Andres, Manny Martínez, and others - plus George Clinton and Maceo Parker - much more on this soon; Tom's Arango photos also coming soon).

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Wed, 02 Aug 2017 13:53:13 +0000
August Tours in the US David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera

ENGLISH: Tonight at Mojitos in Miami, La Charanga Habanera begin their North American tour with four concerts in the US and three in Canada. On the 12th they will perform at Havana 1957, and David has announced that for this concert they will focus on their "classic" repertoire, i.e. the timba Charanga we all loved back in the late 90s early 2000s. Click here to read David's statement at the Charanga Habanera offical Facebook page.

ESPAÑOL: Esta noche en Mojitos en Miami, La Charanga Habanera comienza su gira norteamericana con cuatro conciertos en los Estados Unidos y tres en Canadá. El 12 se presentarán en La Habana en 1957, y David ha anunciado que para este concierto se enfocará en su repertorio "clásico", es decir, la Charanga timbera a la que todos amábamos a fines de los años 90 a principios de los años 2000. Haga clic aquí para leer la declaración de David en la página oficial de Charanga Habanera en Facebook.

August   2, 2017 - Miami, FL. - Mojitos
August 12, 2017 - Miami, FL. - Havana 1957
August 13, 2017 - Chicago, IL. - Festival Cubano
August 25, 2017 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Phoenix Concert Theater
August 26, 2017 - Montreal, Quebec, Canada - Club Soda
August 27, 2017 - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - Commadore Ballroom


QBan Fest

ENGLISH: This Saturday Qban Fest comes to North America celebrating the 15th anniversary  of Pupy y Los Que Son Son with two concerts featuring and guests Tania Pantoja, Pedrito Calvo, Mayito Rivera and Pepito Gómez. This is a must-see if you are in the vicinity of Washington D.C.  or New York City. The San Francisco concert has been postponed and the promoter has informed fans via Facebook that they are rescheduling and will announce dates for Los Angeles and San Francisco, so check their tours page regularly to keep updated.

ESPAÑOL: Este sábado Qban Fest llega a Norteamérica celebrando el 15o aniversario de Pupy y Los Que Son Son con dos conciertos presentando invitados Tania Pantoja, Pedrito Calvo, Mayito Rivera y Pepito Gómez. Este es un evento obligado si estás en las inmediaciones de Washington D.C. o la ciudad de Nueva York. El concierto de San Francisco ha sido pospuesto y el promotor ha informado a los aficionados a través de Facebook que están reprogramando y anunciará fechas para Los Ángeles y San Francisco, así que compruebe su página de tours con regularidad para mantenerse actualizado.

August 5, 2017 - Washington DC - Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club 
August 6, 2017 - New York City, NY - Highline Ballroom


Los Van Van US Tour 2017

ENGLISH: Formell & Los Van Van also begin their US tour on August 5th at the Latin Festival Por+ Música Miami also fetauring La India, Adalberto Álvarez & Su Son, Laritza Bacallao, Los 4 and Carlos Manuel. The tour will includes New York, Florida, California, Oregan, Washington and Puerto Rico. US audiences will get their first live look at the band with Vanessa Formell filling the rol of female vocalist. Click here for the list of concert dates.

ESPAÑOL: Formell & Los Van Van también comienzan su gira por Estados Unidos el 5 de agosto en el Latin Festival Por + Música Miami, también con La India, Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son, Laritza Bacallao, Los 4 y Carlos Manuel. El tour incluirá Nueva York, Florida, California, Oregan, Washington y Puerto Rico. El público estadounidense obtendrá su prime vistazo en vivo de Vanessa Formell llenando el rol de vocalista femenina de Van Van. Haga clic aquí para ver la lista de conciertos.

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Wed, 02 Aug 2017 09:16:15 +0000
BOHEMIA: A NEW TIEMPO LIBRE PROJECT photo courtesy Tiempo Libre    

Jorge Gómez, líder de Tiempo Libre,  habla del nuevo proyecto en español aquí

Tiempo Libre has never been afraid to take risks, whether fusing Bach with Cuban Music, working with symphonies, mixing in other genres of popular music with Timba  and  projects with Joshua Bell and James Galway. They have paid a price of sorts for that path - rather than being the darlings of the less expensive dance halls, they have sometimes had to settle for the likes of the Tonight Show, Live From Lincoln Center, several prestige festivals and three GRAMMY nominations.   They have still been a perfectly danceable música popular bailable band throughout, just maybe a little too uptown at tmes for some of the most hard core Timba purists (which has never stopped open-minded listeners like yours truly from getting into them or most of the dancers either).   

photo courtesy Tiempo Libre

Now comes a new Tiempo Libre project, Bohemia, a quartet that interprets more traditional material from the Cuban songbook.   This isn't the first time that timberos have gone to the traditional songbook- former vanvanero Mayito Rivera for example has delved deep into Rumba and Son. Tiempo Libre itself had its US road debut in Chicago, so it is fitting that Bohemia's road debuts are on Tuesday, August 1 in Minneapolis (Dakota) and Wednesday,  August 2 in Chicago (City Winery). Those of you in those cities will be the first to hear this outside of Miami.   Both of these are among the best venues in their cities for presenting this type of music (I can vouch from experience that the City WInery also has excellent food and drink). 

Jorge Gómez tells us about the new project  in English here

Basically, there will be two Tiempo Libre groups now -the Tiempo Libre that we've known for years, and the Bohemia project.    You can get a taste of  the Bohemia project on their Facebook page here. 

For more information (and tickets) for the Dakota performance, click here....

For more information (and tickets) for the City Winery performance, click here....

Both Tiempo Libre's Bohemia project and the full Tiempo Libre ensemble will be on tour in the weeks to come.  You can see their schedule here.......


 

Septeto Santiaguero is on the road in the US with engagements in multiple cities in support of their latest album Raiz (you can read a review here), which was nominated in the Raíces Soneras y Campesinas category in Cubadisco 2017.   (Septeto Santiaguero  already has some recent Cubadisco and Latin GRAMMY® awards under its belt.)   
As a Chicagoan, I wish to let my fellow Chicagoans know that Septeto Santiaguero will be performing here on Saturday, August 5 at Martyrs, 3855 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, Illinois:   This is being presented by HotHouse, and you can see more information here.   I have seen them live in both Santiago and la Habana, and they pack a wallop - musically speaking, I actually prefer them live by themselves, as they will be here, to their many collaborations with more "famous" artists.   
You can see an earlier version of the tour schedule here, but there have been some date changes, so be sure to verify before you go

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Mon, 24 Jul 2017 18:55:31 +0000
Interview with La Liga Habanera Max Alton & Daniel Baro of La Liga Habanera

ENGLISH: On June 17th La Liga Habanera gave a concert at Fasching in Stockholm and I sat down with director and drummer Max Alton and singer Daniel Baro for a few minutes to talk about their upcoming single "Hacerse El Sueco" as well as the difficulties of rehearsing and recording in Sweden. Since the song is about a Swede in Havana, Max himself sings lead vocals on this track! The video includes a few short teasers from the demo. The single should be out in the fall. The interview is in Spanish with English subtitles.

Max is currently in Cuba and took the opportunity to film a video for the new song. Here is a photo he shared with us from the filming.

Behind the scenbes filming the video to Hacerse el SuecoMax está en Cuba y nos pasó una foto de la grabación del videoclip 

ESPAÑOL: El 17 de junio La Liga Habanera dio un concierto en Fasching en Estocolmo y me senté con el director y baterista Max Alton y el cantante Daniel Baro durante unos minutos para hablar de su próximo single "Hacerse El Sueco", así como las dificultades de ensayar y grabar en Suecia. ¡Ya que la canción trata de un sueco en La Habana, el mismísmo Max canta voz principal en esta pista! El video incluye algunos cortos teasers de la demo. El single debe estar a la venta en el otoño. La entrevista está en español con subtítulos en inglés.

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Sun, 23 Jul 2017 17:33:18 +0000
Feliciano Arango in Berkeley Thursday!

The founding bassist of NG La Banda - and the seminal figure in the development of timba bass - playing will be in the Bay Area with his group Amistad Cubana at Ashkenaz on San Pablo Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. Only $15 in advance - a welcome respite in terms of ticket price inflation. It will be Feliciano's first Bay Area performance since the 90s.

 

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Tue, 18 Jul 2017 21:35:22 +0000
Interview with El Noro El Noro Stockholm - 16 June 2017

ENGLISH: On June 16, 2017 El Noro & 1ra Clase held their first performance in Stockholm. After the show I got a chance to sit down with El Noro and talk a little bit about his roots and the band. It wasn't easy. El Noro is a popular guy and there was a steady stream of friends and fans coming backstage for photographs for a good half an hour. Never once did he lose patience, but seemed to enjoy spending time with everyone. Later people were coming and going so often that we had to stop and restart the interview with a guard at the door to keep it from being opened until we were done. That's why we're laughing at the beginning.

I have uploaded pictures from the concert to the photo gallery. Keep an eye out because the official video for "La Receta (La Costurera") will be out very soon and looks like it will be quite funny.

You can watch the video interview with English subtitles  below, or if you prefer written interviews the English translation can be found by clicking here.

ESPAÑOL: El 16 de junio de 2017, El Noro & 1ra Clase realizó su primera actuación en Estocolmo. Después del show tuve la oportunidad de sentarme con El Noro y hablar un poco sobre sus raíces y la banda. No era fácil. El Noro es un tipo popular y hubo un flujo constante de amigos y fans que venían al backstage para tirar fotografías durante una media hora. Nunca perdió la paciencia, pero parecía disfrutar de pasar tiempo con todo el mundo. Más tarde la gente iba y venía tan a menudo que tuvimos que detener y reiniciar la entrevista con un guardia en la puerta para evitar que se abrió hasta que se hizo. Así que estamos reindo cuamdo empieza.

He subido imágenes del concierto a la galería de fotos. Manténgase atento porque el video oficial de "La Receta" (La Costurera) saldrá muy pronto y parece que será muy divertido.

Puedes mirar la entrevista en el video a continuación.

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Wed, 05 Jul 2017 18:13:04 +0000
Yomil & El Dany - Europe 2017 Yomil & El Dany Europe 2017

Yomil & El Dany are in Europe now. Their tour begins tomorrow in Rome at Fiesta. They have an intense 10-day schedule with eight concerts in Italy, Spain and Austria. Since 2015 they have been at the top of the Cuban charts and have a large following in Miami and among fans of Cuban urban music around the world with their mix of trap, reggaeton and rap which they call "trapton". Below is the most recent video from their album "Ambidiestros".

July 6 - Rome, Italy - Fiesta
July 7 - Milan, Italy - Latin Festival
July 8 - Naples, Italy - L'arenile
July 9 - Verona, Italy - Latino Lovers Festival
July 13 - Vienna , Austria - Der Garten Prater
July 14 - Andorra la Vella, Andorra - Buda Espai Andorra
July 15 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Bikini Note new venue!
July 16 - Madrid, Spain - Teatro de Bodevil

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Wed, 05 Jul 2017 09:57:13 +0000
PRIMERA LINEA - AN IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL EVENT FOR CUBA'S MUSIC INDUSTRY ENGLISH:  The second edition of Primera Linea, an event hosted by the Insituto Cubano de la Música and organized by the Ministry of Culture with multiple coproduceers and sponsors, , is a partner event to WOMEX and should be of a high level of interest to international presenters and other members of the music industry.  It will take place in Havana from September 20-23,  2017. This may also be the closest equivalent that Cuba currently has to the APAP event in the United States.   Highly recommended for professionals presenting or working with Cuban music in any country.  Full details can be found at
http://www.cuba-primera-linea.com/ 
ESPAÑOL: La segunda edición de Primera Linea, evento  dirigido por el Insituto Cubano de la Música y organizado por el Ministerio de Cultura con múltiples coproductores y patrocinadores, es un evento socio de WOMEX,  y debe ser de alto nivel de interés entre presentadores y otros miembros de la industria musical en todo el mundo  que trabajan con la música cubana. Se llevará a cabo en La Habana del 20 al 23 de septiembre de 2017. También puede ser el equivalente más cercano que Cuba tiene actualmente al evento APAP en los Estados Unidos. Muy recomendable para profesionales que presenten o trabajen con música cubana en cualquier país. Puede encontrar más detalles en 
http://www.cuba-primera-linea.com/

ENGLISH:  One of the most distinguishing features of Cubadisco is the International Symposium held at CIDMUC.   You can see a photo gallery, read commentary and download my copy of the program here. 
ESPAÑOL: Uno de los rasgos más destacados de Cubadisco es el Simposio Internacional que se celebra en CIDMUC. Usted puede ver una galería de fotos, leer comentarios y descargar mi copia del programa aquí.

SEPTETO SANTIAGUERO US TOUR: 
Septeto Santiaguero, which has won both Cubadisco and Latin GRAMMY awards as well as regular GRAMMY nominations, is coming to the US in multiple cities from July 19- August 12.  You can see a tour schedule here, and this is their latest video, La canción de la trova.....

 

 

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Tue, 04 Jul 2017 15:07:49 +0000
Jovenes Clasicos del Son - Europe 2017 Jovenes Clasicos del Son - Madrid

ENGLISH: Los Jóvenes Clásicos del Son are back in Europe for a three month tour that begins tonight in Madrid at Sala Galileo. Tonight's concert is a special tribute to Antonio Machín who passed away forty years ago. We have started a tours page for JCS and will update it as more concerts are confirmed, so stay tuned!

Timba fans will recognize lead vocalist José Antonio Rodriguez "Pepitín" from his time with Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor and Manolito y Su Trabuco. If you want to familiarize yourself with the new incarnation of the band, you can purchase their 2016 release "El Bar de Paco". Here is a sample of one of the songs - traditional music and yet with a touch of modernity. You'll see what I'm talking about when you watch the video.

ESPAÑOL: Los Jóvenes Clásicos del Son vuelven a Europa para una gira de tres meses que comienza esta noche en Madrid en la Sala Galileo. El concierto de esta noche es un homenaje especial a Antonio Machín, ya fallecido hace cuarenta años. Hemos empezado una página de giras para JCS y lo actualizaremos a medida que se confirmen más conciertos, ¡así que estad atentos!

Los fans de Timba reconocerán al vocalista José Antonio Rodriguez "Pepitín" de su tiempo con Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor y Manolito y Su Trabuco. Si quieres familiarizarse con la nueva encarnación de la banda, puedes comprar su disco de 2016 "El Bar de Paco". Aquí hay una muestra de una de las canciones - música tradicional y sin embargo con un toque de modernidad. Verás de lo que estoy hablando cuando veas el video.

Jovenes Clasico del Son Booking information

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Tue, 04 Jul 2017 11:18:13 +0000
Review - Sobreviviente Buena Fe - Sobreviviente (2017)

ENGLISH: Cuban singer-songwriters Israel Rojas and Yoel Martinez - better know as Buena Fe - and their team of musicians won big at the 2017 Cubadisco awards. They took home Best Recording, Best Fusion Album and the Grand Prize. It may not be a coincidence that they were awarded the Grand Prize the same year that Trova was the theme. I have posted my review of "Sobreviviente" in our reviews section. The album is available at digital retailers, via streaming apps and the hardcopy can be purchased online at Amazon and Target.

Buena Fe will be performing tonight at El Sauce in Havana and celebrating two birthdays: Yoel Martinez and Yibran Rivero, the new electric guitarist who joined after the tragic death of Dairon Rodriguez. Yibran is best known for his work with the young trova group D'Corazón. To keep up with Buena Fe follow them at the Buena Fe Official Facebook page. We also do our best to keep up with their tour schedule in our tours section. I leave you with two videos from the album.

ESPAÑOL: Los cantautores Israel Rojas y Yoel Martínez - mejor conocidos como Buena Fe - y su equipo de músicos fueron muy premiados en los premios Cubadisco 2017. Se llevaron a casa Mejor Grabación, Mejor Álbum de Fusión y el Gran Premio. Puede que no sea una coincidencia que se les otorgó el Gran Premio el mismo año que Trova fue el tema. He publicado mi reseña de "Sobreviviente" en nuestra sección de reseñas. El álbum está disponible en las tiendas digitales, a través de aplicaciones de streaming y el disco físico se puede comprar por Internet en Amazon y Target.

Buena Fe se presentará esta noche en El Sauce en La Habana y celebrará dos cumpleaños: Yoel Martínez y Yibran Rivero, el nuevo guitarrista eléctrico que se unió al grupo después del trágico fallecimiento de Dairon Rodríguez. Yibran es conocido por su trabajo con el jóven grupo de trova D'Corazón. Para mantenerse al día con Buena Fe, sígalos en la página Facebook oficial de Buena Fe. También hacemos nuestro mejor esfuerzo para mantener al día su página en nuestra sección de giras. Les dejo con dos videos del disco.


La Tempestad feat. Silvio Rodriguez

Alabanza is dedicated to happiness and the video to Dairon

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Sat, 01 Jul 2017 07:58:32 +0000
CHUCHITO VALDÉS IN CHICAGO JUNE 29-JULY 2

Chuchito Valdés returns to the Jazz Showcase in Chicago, which also recently presented Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, Thursday through Sunday, June 29-July 2.   By Chuchito's own account, he honed some of his Jazz chops during some time in Chicago in an earlier period in his life, and he always plays a beautiful set (he is fronting a trio this time).  You can find times and tickets here 

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Wed, 28 Jun 2017 08:05:55 +0000
El Tren Bala Angelito & El Tren Bala

ENGLISH: This weekend El Tren Bala, which now includes singer Marcelo Villar, will be performing their last shows in Lima before starting their European 2017 summer tour organized by Greco Bayobar. The confirmed dates are posted below and if you know of any others please send an email with the date, city and venue. 

Ángelito & El Tren Bala released their first CD "Mi Historia" at online vendors in 2016 and are only weeks away from releasing the singles "El Rey Del Timbón" and "Todo Está Escrito En Esta Vida". The new album will also include Marcelo on lead vocals.

Ángelito Ramírez & El Tren Bala con Michel Maza

They just finished a concert with Michel Maza last night and took a minute after the concert to record a greeting for the fans in Italy.

Tour dates:
Friday June 30 - Madrid, Spain - Discoteca Prisma
Saturday July 1 - Barcelona, Spain- Discoteca Melao Room
Friday July 7 - Florence, Italy - Latin Forever 2
Saturday July 8 - Milan, Italy - Space 25
Sunday July 9 - Rome, Italy - El Campo Sportivo Atletico 2000

ESPAÑOL Este fin de semana El Tren Bala, que ahora incluye al cantante Marcelo Villar, tocarán sus últimos conciertos en Lima antes de iniciar su gira de verano de 2017 organizada por Greco Bayobar. Las fechas confirmadas se publican a continuación y si conoce otras, por favor envíe un correo electrónico con la fecha, ciudad y lugar.

Ángelito & El Tren Bala lanzaron su primer CD "Mi Historia" en las tiendas digitales en 2016 y están a pocas semanas de lanzar los singles "El Rey Del Timbón" y "Todo Está Escrito En Esta Vida". El nuevo álbum también incluirá a Marcelo entre las voces principales.

Conciertos:
Viernes 30 de Junio - Madrid, España - Discoteca Prisma
Sabado 01 de Julio - Barcelona, España - Discoteca Melao Room
Viernes 07 de Julio - Firenze, Italia - Latin Forever 2
Sabado 08 de Julio - Milano, Italia - Space 25
Domingo 09 de Julio - Roma, Italia - el campo sportivo atletico 2000

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Thu, 22 Jun 2017 15:17:28 +0000
Photo Galleries: Maqueque, Daymé Arocena
ENGLISH:
  Daymé Arocena was in Chicago Wednesday and will be in New York Saturday.   A photo gallery of the Wednesday concert is here.  New Yorkers can check her out today. 
ESPAÑOL:  Daymé Arocena estuvo en Chicago el miercoles y va a presentar en Nueva York el sábado.  Una galería del concierto de miercoles está aquí.  Nuevayorquinos pueden disfrutar de ella hoy. 


ENGLISH
: Jane Bunnett and  Maqueque are on tour at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago through Sunday.  A photo gallery of the first Friday show is here
ESPAÑOL:  Jane Bunnett y Maqueque estan de gira 4 noches en Jazz Showcase en Chicago hasta el domingo. Una galería del primer show del viernes está aquí. 


ENGLISH:
During the next two weeks, Bill Tilford's radio program From the Isle of Music features an interview in two parts  with  Bobby Carcassés that they recorded in Bobby's home in May.   Bobby is the creator of Jazz Plaza and one of the most important people  in Jazz in Cuba.  His new album Blues con Montuno won this year's Cubadisco in the Jazz Soloists category.  If you care about Jazz in Cuba, you won't want to miss these episodes.  
ESPAÑOL:  Durante las próximas dos semanas, el programa de radio de Bill Tilford, From the Isle of Music, presenta una entrevista en dos partes con Bobby Carcassés que grabaron en el hogar de Bobby en mayo.  Bobby es creador de Jazz Plaza y una de las personas más importantes en Jazz en Cuba. Su nuevo álbum Blues con montuno ganó esta año un Premio Cubadisco en la categoria Jazz Soloists.  Si te interesa el Jazz en Cuba, no te lo pierdas.  

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Sat, 17 Jun 2017 12:19:36 +0000
Jane Bunnett and Maqueque in Chicago

Jane Bunnett and Maqueque are at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago from June 15-18.   Jane always has impressive projects, and this one, an all-female ensemble, features several first-rate jazzistas cubanas, including this year's Opera Prima winner in Cubadisco, Yissy Garcia, on drums.   
Times and tickets are available on the Jazz Showcase website. 

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Fri, 16 Jun 2017 09:34:40 +0000
Highlights of Cubadisco 2017, Part I ENGLISH:  Bill Tilford attended Cubadisco 2017 and the International Symposium and will begin sharing analysis, highlights and photos in a few days.   Right now, you can download the official winner's booklet (with many thanks to the Cubadisco Publications team) here.   There is also a photo gallery from the awards ceremony here .  AND, we already have reviews of two TImba recordings that received awards in our reviews section:
Mis 21 Años  by Giraldo Piloto & Klimax, Winner of Música Popular Bailable, Maestros
Música Cubana, llegö el Expreso  by Aisar y el Expreso de Cuba, Winner of Música Popular Bailable, Nuevos Talentos 
.....there will be many more to come as well as commentary, analysis and photos.   Also, Bill Tilford's weekly radio program From the Isle of Music is featuring music from the winners for the next several months (often with interviews of the artists, his guest this week is Giraldo Piloto  of Klimax)
ESPAÑOL: Bill Tilford asistió a Cubadisco 2017 y al Simposio Internacional y comenzará a compartir análisis, resúmenes y fotos en unos pocos días. En este momento, puedes descargar aquí el folleto oficial de ganadores (con muchas gracias al equipo de Publicaciones Cubadisco). También hay una galería de fotos de la ceremonia de premiación aquí . Además, tenemos reseñas de dos grabaciones de TImba que recibieron premios en nuestra sección de reseñas:
Mis 21 Años de Giraldo Piloto & Klimax, Ganador de  Música Popular Bailable, Maestros
Música Cubana, llegó el Expreso de Aisar y el Expreso de Cuba, Ganador de Música Popular Bailable, Nuevos Talentos
..... habrá muchos más por venir así como comentarios, análisis y fotos. Además, el programa de radio semanal de Bill Tilford From the Isle of Music está presentando música de los ganadores para los próximos meses (a menudo con entrevistas de los artistas, su invitado esta semana es Giraldo Piloto de Klimax)


Daymé Arocena is doing a mini-tour of four US cities this week - Chicago on the 15th, Boston on the 16th, New York on the 17th and Croton-on Hudson on the 18th.   She will be bringing at least some of her stellar backing band including two-time Cubadisco winner Ruly Herrera, who in addition to having his own project is also her current drummer.   Here's a taste of why you should go if you can: 



For more information about the concerts, Complete details are here
You can also read our review of Cubafonía in English here and in Spanish here.  

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Mon, 12 Jun 2017 08:53:45 +0000
El Noro y 1ra Clase Europe 2017 El Noro y 1ra Clase Stockholm 2017

El Noro y 1ra Clase begin their 2017 tour of Europe next Thursday June 15th at Cabaret Sauvage in Paris. I'm excited because I will get to see the band live for the first time on Friday June 16th in Stockholm! Note: If you're planning to go to the Stockholm concert, buy your tickets in advance because they will not be sold at the door. Click here for the concert dates .

For those of you who have only recently come to timba, here is a short retrospective of El Noro's career. Although he began singing with Doble Impacto, I first met Norisley Valladares "El Noro" in 2007 when he was with Maykel Blanco. His distinctive voice, charismatic stage presence and trademark blond spikes made him instantly recognizable. During his time with Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor, El Noro became a household name among timba fans around the world.

Cuba took note and in December 2007 during a Salsa Mayor national tour, El Noro received a call from Manolito Simonet asking him to join the Trabuco as replacement for Sixto Llorente "El Indio". Honestly, replacing a master-sonero like El Indio is not an easy position to be in, but I went to the second concert El Noro did after joining El Trabuco and was very impressed when the time came for him to sing "Marcando la distancia". He really was able to pull it off, and during his time with Manolito, he also tried his hand at composing. One of his signature songs from that period is "La bomba". Here is El Noro performing "La Bomba" with Manolito in Rome in 2008.

In 2009 none other than César "Pupy" Pedroso invited El Noro to join Los Que Son Son. Here he sang updated versions of "Ni bombones, ni caramelos" and "Parece mentira" and many hits such as "Un loco con una moto", "Seis semanas" and "Dicen que dicen" as well as some of his own compositions: "No te deje por mala", "Esta es mi música" and "La preferencia".

On October 20, 2013 after nearly 4 years with Pupy y Los Que Son Son, El Noro decided to take a big risk and start his own orchestra. Now he could establish his own sello reinterpreting his hits and creating a new repertoire according to his personal musical tastes.

The first CD by El Noro y 1ra Clase - "Sin escalas" - was released in 2015 and was awarded "Best Dance Music - New Talent" at Cubadisco 2016. The album includes a couple of his previous hits "La bomba" feat. Alexander Abreu and "La preferencia", as well as ten new compositions. He chose to only use his own compositions for the first CD.

El Noro has not been idle since then and a new CD is in the works. He has also begun working with other composers. You can find some of his other songs at YouTube such as "3 con 2", "Estoy en 0", "Música diferente", "Pa' lo mal hecho" and "Cinturita."

Summary: For the past ten years El Noro has been one of the most popular and recognizable young singers in Cuba. His career path took him through three important Cuban bands where he learned from each bandleader. His orchestra - 1ra Clase - has already received honors from the Cuban music industry and has completed successful tours of Europe and Peru. If you get the chance to see the band live, don't miss it! I wont!

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Sat, 10 Jun 2017 08:17:07 +0000
2017 LOS VAN VAN U.S.A. TOUR Cuba's premier dance band returns to the US with a full lineup featuring three of founder Juan Formell's children: drummer / timbalero Samuel Formell, bassist Juan-Carlos Formell and the newest addition, the family's youngest daughter, lead vocalist Vanessa Formell. We anticipate that her voice, beauty and her energetic style will increase the adrenaline in all shows.

Formell y Los Van Van - 2017 U.S.A. Tour - Direct from Cuba with visas secured - For bookings contact Searock Music at 917.617.5708 & 917.687.2486

After the passing of Juan Formell, the legacy remained in the hands of his son, Samuel Formell. Samuel has been following the footsteps of his father as musical director of the band. On this tour he brings LVV's most recent musical production entitled "Los Van Van son la patria" from Cuba’s Egrem label, a collection of danceable tracks incorporating innovative, contemporary arrangements of Juan Formell’s hits and new compositions from different members of the band.

The orchestra will be in the US in August 15th , 2017 through August 30th, 2017

For presenters interested in including the legendary Pedrito Calvo as guest singer in any show, please contact www.Searockmusic.com (info below) to discuss this in advance. Pedro Calvo is the most recognized singer of Los Van Van in its first 40 years and and one of the most famous interpreters of contemporary Afro-Cuba music.

For group availability, contact:
Ernesto Lago
Tour Producer /Artist Representative
ernesto@searockmusic.com
(917) 617 – 5708

Leo Tizol
Tour Producer
mundolibremusic@yahoo.com
(917) 687 – 2486

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Fri, 02 Jun 2017 14:45:36 +0000
Rivera y Primera at Roccapulco

Rivera y Primera really did turn out to be la combinación perfecta. Transcending the usual Van Van tribute approach, Mayito and Alexander sang together with obvious preparation on an HdP song, El palo más duro, and Mayito's first  big hit, La sorpresa (Voy a publicar tu foto). Mayito sang Soy todo alone but the band, with Guillermo del Toro switching to drumset, made some very cool changes to the arrangement. The show went two hours and included several new HdP songs as well as a couple of their trademark hits. If you're in SF, LV, LA or Miami, this historic pairing is not to be missed.

Roccapulco's slick new digital backdrop was a big improvement

Avis Tobías was playing with a new ferocity

DJ Walt Digz with DJ Leydis

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Fri, 26 May 2017 16:28:30 +0000
Mayito & Havana d'Primera HAVANA D' PRIMERA   YOSHI'S SAN FRANCISCO --  NOVEMBER 24, 2012  PHOTOS BY TOM EHRLICH © 2012

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL TOUR

Havana d'Primera will be back on the West Coast starting Thursday & Friday, May 25 & 26 at Roccapulco in San Francisco , and this time they have a special guest - ex-Van Van legend, Mayito Rivera.

cuban music, musica cubana

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Tue, 23 May 2017 16:30:48 +0000
Distinction for National Culture Maykel Blanco Distinción de la Cultura Natural

English: On the afternoon of May 17th at a ceremony in the José Martí Memorial, the Ministry of Culture awarded the Distinction of National Culture on 74 musicians and promoters.The award was established in 1981 and is conferred upon people or institutions for outstanding contributions to Cuban culture. Many of the names are familiar to timberos: Maykel Blanco, Rolando Luna, Samuel Formell, Alexander Abreu, Orlando "Maraca" Valle, Pedro Lugo "El Nene", Leo Vera and more. Click here for the full list of award recipients and congratulations to all of them.

Español: En la tarde del 17 de mayo en una ceremonia en el Memorial de José Martí, el Ministerio de Cultura otorgó la Distinción de Cultura Nacional a 74 músicos y promotores. El premio fue establecido en 1981 y se otorga a personas o instituciones por destacadas contribuciones a la cultura cubana. Muchos de los nombres son bien conocidos a los timberos: Maykel Blanco, Rolando Luna, Samuel Formell, Alexander Abreu, Orlando "Maraca" Valle, Pedro Lugo "El Nene", Leo Vera y muchos más. Haga clic aquí para ver la lista completa de receptores del premio y nuestras felicitaciones a todos.

Maykel Blanco Distinción de la Cultura Natural

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Sat, 20 May 2017 12:10:25 +0000
Havana D'Primera Havana D'Primera S.O.B.s

Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera kicked off their US tour with a concert last night at La Scala in Miami. Tonight they will be at SOB's in New York before heading to the other coast for concerts in California, Oregon, Washington and also Las Vegas. The California concerts will also feature Mayito Rivera . Click here to see the US tour dates.   I leave you with a song I have not stopped listening to since it came out. Click here to buy the "Siempre sí" single at Cubamusic - highly recommended!

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Fri, 19 May 2017 03:22:54 +0000
Dairon Rodriguez Lobaina 1984-2017 Dairon Rodriguez Lobaina @Latinoamericando 18 August 2012
Haz clic para leer el artículo en español.

I was going to do a post about Cubadisco at Timba.com today.  In just a few hours we’ll find out who the 2017 winners are. But at about noon CET, my day ground to a halt when I saw the terrible news that Dairon Rodriguez Lobaina had passed away from a heart attack this morning at only 32 years of age. I know he’s not a household name among timba fans but certainly fans of Cuban popular music know Buena Fe, where he was electric guitarist, corista and even rapero for about 9 years. He was also my friend, and like friends and fans he left behind around the world, I am finding it hard to conceive that he is gone.

I first met Dairon in 2012 at 10:00pm in a hotel in Milan. It was the night before the Buena Fe concert at the Latinoamericando festival. The guys were hanging out in the lobby taking advantage of the wifi. Dairon was hungry because earlier that evening he ordered a pizza, ate half of it and wanted to take half back to the hotel room for later. He thought that to speak Italian he just had to say things loudly in Spanish and gesticulate a lot. The result was that the waiter took the other half of his pizza and threw it away. So we ended up going on a late night food run to a nearby gas station and Dairon learned to say “per portare via”.

Dairon was always friendly, laid back and had a great sense of humor. I was once at his home studio in Marianao where he was going to record a song for a new artist. I had to use his restroom and couldn’t help but tease him afterward about how many hair products he had. His response: “Yeah, it looks like a French whore lives here.” He and the guys were always joking around. Here are a couple of typical Dairon moments that I have on film. This is how I remember him.


Dairon always made me laugh

Dairon was also a very talented musician, and in addition to his work with Buena Fe he recorded some solo tracks but never released them on any label that I know of. You can find a few at YouTube as well as hundreds of Buena Fe videos featuring Dairon. I did see him perform “Mírame Madre” - the song he recorded with Javier Milanes for the "Motivos Martianos" project - and captured that on video. He had a beautiful voice. Considering that tomorrow is Mother’s Day in the US and Cuba, it seems the perfect video to leave you with.


Dairon & Javier singing "Mírame Madre"

Dairon made friends wherever he went, and I know that friends and fans around the world were stunned by the news today. The band just got back from a tour of Canada. They are scheduled for a Mother’s Day concert tonight at El Ajibe and are in the running for Best Fusion Album for the 2017 release “Sobreviviente” at the CubaDisco awards tonight as well. That must feel surreal to the band members. My deepest sympathy to Dairon’s parents and family, the band and all his friends around the world. To conclude I leave you with Dairon in his own words from his Facebook account: “I’m a musician, guitarist with the Cuban group Buena Fe. I like to dance, read, challenges (life is the constant surprise of knowing that I exist).”

I would like to invite everyone who knew him to post comments as a tribute to him. We could all share our memories and help one another in the healing process.

UPDATE: Buena Fe won the Grand Prize as well as Best Fusion Album and Best Recording for "Sobreviviente" at Cubadisco tonight. They dedicated the awards to Dairon.

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Sat, 13 May 2017 19:56:42 +0000
CUBADISCO 2017: AND THE NOMINEES ARE.... ENGLISH:   Although the formal booklet is not ready yet, the Cubadisco team in Havana (a thousand thank-you's to them!) was kind enough to share the list of nominees in Cubadisco 2017 as well as the schedule of events.   When the final booklet is available, we will also share that with you here. Cubadisco is Cuba's most important music awards program and much, much more- an academic symposium, a commercial fair, and always many wonderful concerts in genres across Cuba's musical spectrum.  
The nominees are available here.     Congratulations to all!
The schedule is available here. 



ESPAÑOL:  
Aunque el folleto formal no está listo todavia, el equipo de Cubadisco en la Habana (¡mil gracias a ellos!) tuvo la amabilidad de compartir el listado de nominados en Cubadisco 2017 y el horario de los eventos con nosotros.  Les compartir el folleto formal aquí en cuanto este disponible.   
Cubadisco es la premiación musical más importante en Cuba y mucho más - un simposio académico, una feria comercial, y siempre un montón de maravillosos conciertos en todo el espectro musical de Cuba. 
Los nominados están disponibles aquí
¡Felicidades a todos!
El horario está disponible aquí


If you missed the livestream of the International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert from Havana, the video has been posted by the Jazzday.com team.  Enjoy. 

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Tue, 02 May 2017 23:28:47 +0000
More About International Jazz Day in Havana ENGLISH:  Many thanks to the Instituto Cubano de la Música for sending us the Spanish-language version of the message of the Director General of Unesco, Irina Bokova, about International Jazz Day, which you can download here,   and  the final program in Spanish, which you can download here. 
As you will notice from the program booklet, there are actually several days of exciting events and concerts. 
Remember also that a live concert is streaming Sunday from Havana here.  

ESPAÑOL:  Muchísimas gracias al Instituto Cubano de la Música, por enviarnos el mensaje de la Directora General de UNESCO, Irina Bokova , acerca del Día Internacional del Jazz, que se puede descargar aquí,  y el folleto libro final del programa, que se puede descargar aquí. 
Como se notará en el folleto libro del programa, en realidad hay varios díás de eventos y conciertos emocionantes. 
Recuerde también que puede ver el concierto de domingo en vivo via Internet aquí.  

ENGLISH:  In honor of International Jazz Day, Bill Tilford's radio program From the Isle of Music will be featuring Jazz recordings from Cuba and an interview in Spanish with Gloria Ochoa , a very important figure in Cuba's music industry today. You can read about when and how to listen live here
ESPAÑOL :  En honor del Día Internacional del Jazz, el programa radial de Bill Tilford, From the Isle of Music , va a proponer grabaciones del Jazz de Cuba además de una entrevista con Gloria Ochoa , una figura muy importante en la industria de música en Cuba hoy.  Puede leer cuándo y cómo escuchar el progama en vivo aquí.  

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Fri, 28 Apr 2017 07:42:49 +0000
International Jazz Day in Havana on April 30, 2017 INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY IN HAVANA, APRIL 30, 2017


April 30 is the 5th annual International Jazz Day, and Cuba is the host country for the All Star Global Concert this year!  Actually, there is more or less a week of activities around this day, and more than 50 prominent artists from 14 countries (including, of course, Cuba) are participating.  Best of all, the website http://jazzday.com/concert/   will be streaming a special concert live on the 30th.   For a lot more information, visit the website just mentioned.  The lineup is stunning, and this writer deeply regrets not being there in person.   


New Website for the Instituto Cubano de la Música

The Instituto Cubano de la Música has an excellent new website, and even though they tell me that it is still a work in progress (what website isn't, really?), it already has a lot of useful information. 
Check it out at  http://dcubamusica.cult.cu/


Film:  Esteban by Jonal Cosulluela with musical score by Chucho Valdés


I will be watching this in Chicago this week, but I believe that it is traveling the festival circuit now.   It is the Director's debut, and it is about a boy who is musically gifted.   You can read more
here


New from BIS Music:  Cuba y Puerto Rico Un abrazo musical salsero


Not the first Cuba-Puerto Rico project by any means, but the promo video looks and sounds promising.    More after this writer has tasted more of it.    


CUBADISCO 2017


Cubadisco 2017 is coming in a couple of weeks.   Watch for more information soon.

 

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Tue, 25 Apr 2017 22:18:01 +0000
Afro-Cuban All Stars on Fire            ACAS at Kuumbwa Jazz Center - all photos by Tom Ehrlich - full gallery coming soon

The current incarnation of Juan de Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All Stars may be the best in its legendary, star-studded 20-year history. They'll be in LA at the Catalina Bar & Grill tonight through Saturday and in Phoenix on Sunday.

De Marcos quipped that when he started the band he was the youngest member, surrounded by octogenarian legends. Now he's the oldest and he's assembled a blazing hot young band that's as much about innovation as celebrating the past.

Tany Allende, Caleb Michel, Asley Rosell, Marcos Crego, Jiovanni Cofiño

The rhythm section is tight, intense and never too loud - with de Marcos' daughter Gliceria on vibes and synth, ex-Klímax pianist Marcos Crego, ex-Revé musical director Jiovanni Cofiño on bass and a stunning young rhythm section with Arizona-born Caleb Michel on timbales, Tany Allende on congas and newcomer Asley Rosell on bongó.

Juan de Marcos

De Marcos has become an excellent singer and now uses only one additional lead vocalist, Emilio Suárez, who's also started contributing original compositions. 

Juan de Marcos, Laura Lydia González

But what continually blows me away about this band is the horn section. While finding a spot in the band for his younger daughter Laura, de Marcos hit on an idea that works so brilliantly it's a wonder that no other bands have adopted it. Placing a bass clarinet below three trumpets creates a completely unique sound and an ensemble capable of sounding as in tune as three trombones, and as ferocious as the agile, but often unruly combination of trumpets and saxes.

Laura Lydia González

Laura Lydia González combines the accuracy and perfect intonation of a classical player with the bite and rhythmicattack of a percussionist. She also solos on the standard Bb clarinet as I've never heard it played - almost reinventing the instrument. The traditionally straight-laced clarinet tends to be more accurate but less expressive than the sax, but Laura plays with a wailing, soaring tone that sounds more like a soulful trumpet. If you're anywhere near LA or Phoenix don't miss this one.

                   Juan de Marcos, Emilio Suárez, Laura González, Gliceria González

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Wed, 19 Apr 2017 03:36:17 +0000
Some Upcoming Events in San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Chicago I.  San Francisco and Santa Cruz:   


Omar Sosa  
will have a 4-night residency with different guests on different nights at SF Jazz Thursday-Sunday, April 20-23. His Cuarteto AfroCubano, John Santos, percussionist Mino Cinelu , who started his career with Miles Davis, GRAMMY® -winning trumpter Joo Kraus and Yosvany Terry are among the guests during the residency, and the final night includes Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu and Italian trumpeter Paolo Fresu. The trio has played extensively in Europe, but this concert is their debut in North America. 
Omar will also be at Kuumbwa in Santa Cruz  with Gurtu and Fresu on Monday, April 24. 
For more details about the San Francisco concerts, click here.  
For more details about the Kuumbwa concerts, click here.  

Also in Santa Cruz, Juan De Marcos & The Afro Cuban All-Stars will be at Kuumbwa on Monday, April 17.   Full details here.  
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And in Chicago......
1.  Movie Night! 


Ya no es antes, a feature film by Lester Hamlet , in addition to having already won some awards as a film, features a soundtrack with music by Harold López-Nussa , Kelvis Ochoa and Haila .  At the AMC River East 21  Friday April 21- Sunday 23. The director, Lester Hamlet, who already has an impressive body of other work, will be present for all three screenings.Complete details here

2.  Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro concerts 

Two of them coming up on May 1 and 2 - full details at Hothouse.net

3. Roberto Fonseca in a television program taping with a live audience at WTTW Friday, May 5 

Live taping of The Experience features an interview with Roberto followed by a performance and an autograph session.  Full details here

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Sun, 16 Apr 2017 21:01:29 +0000
Bamboleo Tour Starts Today Cubahinama Festival 2017 - Bamboleo

Congratulations to Lazarito Valdés' who celebrates his birthday today which also happens to be the first concert of the Europe 2017 Spring tour for Bamboleo, tonight in Strasbourg, France at the Cubahinama festival. The tour will take them to France, Italy, England, Switzerland, Tunisia and Serbia. Click here for the list of concert dates .

Felicitaciones a Lazarito Valdés en la ocasión de su cumpleaños, que también es el día del primer concierto de la gira de Europa 2017 para Bamboleo, que empieza esta noche en Estrasburgo, Francia, en el festival Cubahinama. La gira los llevará a Francia, Italia, Inglaterra, Suiza, Túnez y Serbia. Dale clic aquí para ver la lista de conciertos.

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Fri, 14 Apr 2017 13:08:11 +0000
Seria de JAZZ AFRO-CARIBEÑO en SUBROSA Nueva York New York City gets a heavy Latin Jazz boost with the announcement of "Eddie Palmieri Presents Afro-Caribbean Jazz Mondays", a new series of musical performances, beginning April 17th running through August 14th, 2017 (every Monday) @ 8pm & 10pm at SUBROSA, located at 63 Gansevoort St, in New York City.

Opening Night: 
Eddie Palmieri Quintet w/ Sp.Invited Guest Joe Locke
Monday, April 17th, 2017 @ 8pm & 10pm

Eddie Palmieri, a restless, yet instinctive artist, embraces the future of his music by unapologetically blazing a distinctive musical path to the delight of fans across the globe. With a musical career that spans over 50 years as a pianist, bandleader and composer of Salsa and Latin jazz, the ten time Grammy® Award winner was honored in 2013 with the NEA Jazz Masters Award, the nation’s highest honor in jazz, recognizing him as a true American musical icon. Palmieri’s new album, “Sabiduria” (Wisdom), will be released in April 2017. “Sabiduria” is a fusion of Jazz, funk and Latin, fused with Afroworld rhythms. Palmieri continues to innovate, and new music will be released in successive volumes commemorating his 80th year along with a tour entitled “EP @ 80.” Palmieri has mentored and toured with countless musicians, many of whom have become leaders in their own right. This celebratory performance will be a mini-reunion for Palmieri’s school of music, featuring over a dozen esteemed vocalists and instumentalists – with an extensive Latin rhythm section including congas, timbales, bongos and maracas. A true powerhouse of brilliance, known for his astute arranging skills and historic compositions, Eddie Palmieri has shown that time is infinite with respect to his repertoire as he continues to thrill audiences throughout the world with his legendary style.

For all media & promo inquiries, please contact:
Jeff Mann | JeffMann@highlineballroom.com
Director of Marketing
HIGHLINE BALLROOM + SUBROSA
BNEG // Office: (212) 997-4555

SUBROSA NYC - An eclectic listening room dedicated to showcasing music, art, and culture. Located in New York’s Meatpacking District, with live music nightly.

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Thu, 23 Mar 2017 02:00:36 +0000
Tom's Photos of the SF SalsarReda Festival The 9th Annual SalsaRueda Fest featured Timbalive with two current and two ex-VanVaneros, including new Bay Area resident Yenisel Valdés, who also made her Santa Cruz debut at the Center Street Food Lounge. Here are links to Tom Ehrlich's galleries from the Festival: concert - soundcheck.

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Tue, 21 Mar 2017 02:20:19 +0000
Pa' Que Aprendas for Sale Now Pa' Que Aprendas - Tony Moreaux & Asokere

"Pa' Que Aprendas", the first single by Tony Moreaux & Asokere, is now available at CD Baby . Lead vocals are by Henri Benítez Hourrutinier (ex-Pupy y Los Que Son Son) and on piano is Javier Gutiérrez Massó, also known as Caramelo de Cuba -a well-known jazz pianist residing in Spain. Buy your copy now!

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Mon, 13 Mar 2017 11:26:54 +0000
INTERNATIONAL RUEDA DE CASINO MULTI FLASH MOB DAY IS APRIL 1

ENGLISH:   The 2017 edition of the International Rueda de Casino Multi Flash Mob Day will take place April 1 at 1600 hours local time (4pm local time wherever you are).   Casino dancers all around the world gather in their localities to participate.   For complete details, including how to participate, see the official website at 
https://flashmob.dileque.si/
ESPAÑOL: La edición 2017 del Día Internacional de la Rueda de Casino Multi Flash Mob  se llevará a cabo el 1 de abril a las 1600 horas locales (hora local de las 4 pm dondequiera que esté). Casineros de todo el mundo se reúnen en sus localidades para participar. Para obtener detalles completos, incluyendo cómo participar, consulte el sitio web oficial en https://flashmob.dileque.si/

RADIO PROGRAMS OF NOTE:
ENGLISH:  Bill Tilford's shortwave radio program From the Isle of Music is presenting a few specials of interest to TIMBA.com readers: 
1.  On March 13/14, 17 and 18, an interview in English with music of Pablo Menéndez about Grupo de Experimentación Sonora del ICAIC , a group that profoundly influenced several genres of Cuban Music. 
2.  On March 20/21, 24 and 25, an interview in Spanish (with music)  of Oriente López about the amazing Jazz/Fusion group Afrocuba and his current projects
3.  On March 27/28, 31 and April 1, an interview in Spanish with Juanito Gómez, one of Cuba's most important Casineros, about Rueda de Casino.   With music.    
ESPAÑOL: El programa radial en onda corta de Bill Tilford From the Isle of Music está presentando algunos especiales de interés para los lectores de TIMBA.com:
1. Los días 13/14, 17 y 18 de marzo, una entrevista en inglés con música de Pablo Menéndez sobre el Grupo de Experimentación Sonora del ICAIC , grupo que profundamente influyó en varios géneros de la música cubana.
2. Los días 20/21, 24 y 25 de marzo, una entrevista en español (con música) de Oriente López sobre el increíble grupo de Jazz / Fusión Afrocuba y sus proyectos actuales
3. Los días 27/ 28, 31 de marzo, una entrevista en español con Juanito Gómez , uno de los casineros más importantes de Cuba, sobre Rueda de Casino. Con música.

To listen / Para escuchar:
1. Tuesdays/los martes 0000-0100 UTC (8-9pm  EDT Mondays/los lunes in the Americas):  
WBCQ  The Planet, 7490 Khz
2.  Fridays/los viernes 1100-1200 UTC, Channel 292 , 6070 KHz 
3.  Saturdays/los sábados 1200-1300 UTC,  Channel 292 , 6070 KHz 

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Sun, 12 Mar 2017 11:06:52 +0000
ERNÁN LÓPEZ-NUSSA TO PLAY GLOBAL CUBA FEST

 

ENGLISH:  Even though he is universally recognized by knowledgeable listeners in the United States as one of Cuba's most important pianists and Jazz artists, it has been many years since Ernán López-Nussa has been presented in a festival setting worthy of his stature in a key US city, so his presence at the 10th Anniversary of Miami's Global Cuba Fest is welcome news. The anniversary event takes place March 18 from 7pm-11pm at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium, and the event features several other notable artists. 
You can read a lot more information about the artists, the festival schedule (which includes other dates), and how to by tickets HERE. 
Kudos to FUNDarte for bringing Ernán to Miami!




ESPAÑOL: A pesar de que él es universalmente reconocido por oyentes conocedores de los Estados Unidos como uno de los pianistas y jazzistas más importantes de Cuba, ha pasado muchos años desde que Ernán López-Nussa fue presentado en un festival digno de su estatura en una ciudad importante en los EE.UU., por lo que su presencia en el 10 º Aniversario del Global Cuba Fest en Miami es una buena noticia. El evento de aniversario se llevará a cabo el 18 de marzo de 7 pm a 11 pm en el Auditorio del Condado de Miami-Dade, y el evento cuenta con varios otros artistas notables.
Puedes leer mucha más información sobre los artistas, el calendario del festival (que incluye otras fechas), y cómo comprar entradas AQUÍ.
¡Felicitaciones a FUNDarte por llevar a Ernán a Miami!

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Sat, 11 Mar 2017 07:58:22 +0000
Pupy y Los Que Son Son In Europe Pupy y los que son son

Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso y Los Que Son Son are on tour in Europe now and had their first concert last night at the Rueda de Casino Festival in Paris.The tour will take them to Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Belgium. Check out their tours page for all the concert dates.

You can follow them during the tour at the Pupy y Los Que Son Son Facebook Page . Enjoy a look at the fantastic concert from last night!

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Sun, 05 Mar 2017 12:55:13 +0000
SIMPOSIO INTERNACIONAL CUBADISCO 2017
ENGLISH:
  From my point of view, the International Symposium held by CIDMUC (the Center for the Research and Development of Cuban Music) which takes place in Havana May 16-18 this year,   is one of the most interesting things about Cubadisco - lectures, debates, demonstrations of instruments etc.   However, it is also held entirely in Spanish, and it is often at a high technical level, so if you are not hispanohablante,  check out the multiple other wonderful things on this website.  My observation (I have attended before) is that those who attend the symposium without knowing the language find themselves  lost very quickly.  However,   if you do undertand Spanish, more details are available in the Spanish version of the post below. 
ESPAÑOL :  Desde mi punto de vista, el Simposio Internacional organizado por CIDMUC (el Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo de la Música Cubana), que tendrá lugar del 16 al 18 de Mayo de 2017, es uno de los eventos más interesantes durante la Feria Internacional Cubadisco. Puede leer los detalles aquí.........

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Sat, 04 Mar 2017 19:06:41 +0000
Alfredo Rodríguez & Pedrito Martínez

Tom caught these two masters playing as a duo at St. Louis' Jazz at the Bistro and a few days later at the Jazz Standard in NYC. The second gallery is the Pedrito Martínez Group, also at the Jazz Standard, with new full-time bassist Sebastián Natal (a multiple threat talent who also plays piano with La Temáti-K).

Stay tuned for video pending approval of the artists. Also coming from Tom are photos from the historic 9th Annual San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival with Timbalive backing a Van Van tribute lineup of Pedrito Calvo, Robertón, Samuel and Yeni.

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Sat, 04 Mar 2017 03:04:25 +0000
Buena Fe - Sobreviviente Sobreviviente - Buena Fe

Today at Karl Marx Theater in Havana, Buena Fe begin the 3-day celebration of the release of their 9th studio album "Sobreviviente". Just four hours after they went on sale, tickets were sold out for all three concerts. The new album incudes collaboration with Silvio Rodriguez on the track "La tempestad", which has already been released as a video clip. Also guesting on the album are Luna Manzanares, Frank Delgado and Vincent Alejandro Trigo of D'CoraSon, who also contruíbuted to the arrangements.

If you can't make the concerts in Cuba to pick up a hardcopy, the digital album is on sale starting today at the usual digital retailers and streaming sites such as iTunes and Spotify . The physical album will go on sale internationally March 31st at international on-line sellers. You can pre-order the physical CD at Target and Amazon now.  I am listening to the digital album now but already pre-ordered the hardcopy. I am excited just to see the full CD sleeve, because the artwork is by the famous Cuban artist Roberto Fabelo .

Buena Fe will also hold a mega-concert on March 17th at the University of Havana stadium before embarking on a national tour from the end of March throughout April. In May they will hold three concerts in Canada: May 5 - Toronto at Opera House Toronto, May 6 - Montreal at South Beach, and May 7 - Vancouver at Russian Hall . Check out the current list of concert dates for Buena Fe in our tours section . You can also keep up on the latest by following Buena Fe at Facebook.

Track list:
Sin Arrepentimiento
Sobreviviente
Dijo el Diablo
La Tempestad - feat. Silvio Rodríguez
Si Nos Dan un Filo
Bolero Sangriento
Besos
Alabanza
De Ti Depende
Lágrimas Tras Cebollas
Una Mujer - feat. Luna Manzanares
Bodas
Hipibano - feat. Frank Delgado & Vicente Alejandro Trigo Junco

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Fri, 03 Mar 2017 10:45:37 +0000
Pa'lante y Con Fe - Video Pa'lante y Con Fe

Alain Almeida y La Constelación de Cuba have released the video to the title track from their debut album "Pa'lante y Con Fe" at YouTube. Their debut album was released in September of 2016 on Cubamusic .Enjoy!

Alain Almeida y La Constelación de Cuba han lanzado en YouTube el video de la canción "Pa'lante y Con Fe".  El álbum de debut fue lanzado en septiembre de 2016 por Cubamusic . ¡Disfrute!

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Fri, 03 Mar 2017 03:49:17 +0000
Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son

Timba.com wishes to congratulate Maestro Adalberto Álvarez and all of the musicians who have been part of this important group over the years on the 33rd anniversary of Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son . They will be celebrating with a concert tonight at the Festival de La Salsa en Cuba . Also performing tonight are Anacaona — who just celebrated their 85th anniversary — and relative newcommers Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera.

Timba.com desea felicitar al Maestro Adalberto Álvarez y a todos los músicos que han formado parte de este importante grupo a lo largo de los años en la ocasión del 33o aniversario de Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son . Estarán celebrando con un concierto esta noche en el Festival de La Salsa en Cuba . También esta noche estarán Anacaona — quien acaba de celebrar su 85o aniversario — y los relativamente recién llegados Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera.

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Sun, 26 Feb 2017 08:54:08 +0000
Música Cubana, Llegó El Expresso

Música Cubana, Llegó el Expresso

Today is the worldwide digital release of the debut album by Aisar y El Expresso de Cuba "Música Cubana, Llegó el Expresso".! If you're in Havana you can celebrate with the orchestra at their concert tonight at Gran Teatro de La Habana from 9am - 2am. Only 5 CUC so don't miss it! February 28th will be the release for the press and on March 5th, the hardcopy will become available - probably only in Cuba to begin with.
You can purchase the digital CD now at:
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

The album contains eleven tracks including updated versions of the four songs that they released as demos previously. Although Aisar has a long list of hits that he wrote during his 10 years as Musical Director of Elito Revéy su Charangón, he chose to use a new material for El Expresso de Cuba to define the band as a completely new project. He sees their repertoire as a compendium of all expressions of Cuban popular dance music with lyrics that reflect the way of life of Cubans.

Track list:
Llego el expresso
La manteca
Cuando beso tu boca
El son del dinero
Tu me propones
Ahora es cuando es
Amor oculto
El patio
No me canso
La tía
El solar

Aisar y El Expresso de Cuba just celebrated their first anniversary on January 21 and the band still has all the original members, despite the high level of turnover in general in Cuban orchestras. He attribuites his to a strong sense of family among the bandmembers. You can catch them live in Havana 6 times a month. They have the following standing gigs: Wednesdays at El Diablo Tun Tun 5-9pm, matinee at Café Cantante the first and third Friday of each month from 4-8pm, the second and fourth Friday of each month from 9pm-2am in the Salon Tablao of the Gran Teatro de La Habana, and the second Saturday of each month from 10pm-2am in Los Jardines del 1830 with the Rueda de Casino project.

Aisar y El Expresso de Cuba

Bandmembers:
Bass & director
Aisar Hernández Segundo
Vocals

Eric Eduardo Broche Vidal
Akaena Rodríguez Armentero
Wilmer Muñoz Pérez
Jorge Luis Peres Llamares
Trombones
Omar Claramont Alfonso,
Joel Enrique Sagó Bell
Hendry Drake González
Piano
Rafael Ernesto Nocedo González
Keyboard
Yuniel Camilo Ibáñez
Drums/timbal
Osmany Moya Prat
Congas
Yosvani Bárbaro Nelson Caliste
Bongo & cowbell
Rafael Lesmes Armentero
Güiro
Miguel Pena Martínez

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Fri, 24 Feb 2017 04:53:09 +0000
Festival de la Salsa en Cuba 2017 Festival de la Salsa 2017

The second annual Festival de la Salsa in Havana, Cuba starts today. It is a week-long event with dance workshops, music workshops, shows and of course great parties with Havana's hottest new bands and favorite veteran bands as well as Cuban and international timba DJs. It also includes unique events such as a trip to Las Terrazas outside Havana with singer Norisley "El Noro" Valladares. The events take place at Hotel Comodoro and Parque Metropolitano. How's this for a concert line-up?

Tuesday


Haila y su Grupo
Yasser Ramos y 9 Milímetros
Enrique Álvarez y su Charanga Latina
Wednesday  

Monica Mesa y su Grupo
Papucho y Manana Club
Thursday


Paulo F.G. y su Élite
Lazarito Valdés y Bamboleo
Los Van Van
Friday

El Noro y 1ra Clase
Pupy y Los Que Son Son
Saturday


Anacaona
N.G. La Banda
Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor
Sunday


Tanja Pantoja y su Orquesta
Adalberto Álvarez y su Son
Havana D'Primera


If you're like me and were not able to make it this year, mark your calendar now so you can go next year. It will be back again in February 2018!

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Mon, 20 Feb 2017 04:53:07 +0000
CHUCHO VALDÉS WINS GRAMMY®
ENGLISH:
 Congratulations to Chucho Valdés and the rest of the team involved in Tribute to irakere (Live in Marciac), which was awarded the GRAMMY®  for Latin Jazz this month.   It is a stellar recording, and you can read our review in English here. 
ESPAÑOL:  Felicidades a Chucho Valdés y a todo el equipo involucrado en Tribute to Irakere (Live in Marciac) , que fue galardonado con el GRAMMY® en Jazz Latino este mes.   Es una grabación estelar, y nuestra reseña en español está disponible aquí


CUBADISCO 2017 IS ANNOUNCED / CUBADISCO 2017 SE ANUNCIA 

ENGLISH:  
The 2017 Cubadisco Awards will take place May 2017 (approx May 13-21 with some events outside this time period).  This year's theme will be Nueva Trova.  We will have many more details in the weeks to come.  You can read a translation of the convocation here. 
ESPAÑOL:  Los Premios Cubadisco 2017 tendrán lugar el mayo de 2017 (approx 13-21 de mayo con eventos adicionales fuera de esas fechas).  Vamos a compartir mucho más información en las semanas que vienen.   La convocatoria está disponible aquí. 



ENGLISH:  Happy 85th Anniversary to Orquesta Anacaona, Cuba's premier all-female dance band! Their musical style has evolved with the times, but they are still going strong with a new generation of performers.   May they have 85 more!
ESPAÑOL:  Feliz 85º Aniversario a la Orquesta Anacaona , la banda de baile femenina más importante en Cuba. Su estilo musical ha evolucionado con los tiempos, pero siguen siendo fuertes con una nueva generación de artistas. Que tengan 85 más!
Para leer más sobre la orquesta, tenemos una sección dedicada a ella aquí

 

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Sun, 19 Feb 2017 12:24:04 +0000
Calle Real Concert Report Calle Real @Fasching 2017

On Friday, February 10, 2017 Calle Real kicked off the 2017 tour season with a sold-out concert at Fasching in Stockholm. Tonight they play the new DR Koncerhuset in Copenhagen. From the intimacy of Fasching in Stockholm to a 1000-person venue with a big stage. Wish I could catch the concert tonight. Calle Real has more planned for the spring as well as some dates left to confirm. Click here for the confirmed dates and check back because there is more to come and we'll publish dates as soon as they are confirmed.

Click here to read the concert report including three videos!

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Fri, 17 Feb 2017 11:09:18 +0000
"Making Of" - VAMO' HACERLO - Ángel Yos y La Mecánica Loca Paris, France based Cuban singer songwriter Ángel Yos is about to release his new album entitled VAMO' HACERLO (Let's Do It!). Click on the album cover below to visit his official website. The album is a collaboration of French and Cuban musicians recorded in both locations. All recodings in Cuba were engineered and mixed by Amaury Pérez, the trombonist famius for his work with Habana D'Primera. Here is PART 1of the "Making Of" for this new record.

For International and European Pre-Sale Click Here
VAMO' HACERLO!
Para la Pre-Venta Inetrnacional y Europea Haz Click Aquí

El cantante cubano basado en París, Francia -- Ángel Yos -- está a punto de lanzar su nuevo álbum titulado VAMO 'HACERLO (Let's Do It!). Haga clic en la portada del álbum para visitar su página web oficial. El álbum es una colaboración de músicos franceses y cubanos grabados en ambos lugares. La ingeniería y bragación en Cuba fué ejectucado por Amaury Pérez, el trombonista famoso por su trabajo con Habana D' Primera. Aquí está el video de "Tu y yo", uno de los temas de este nuevo disco.

In related news the new record will be available in hard copy for the first time this Saturday at the upcoming concert in Bayonne. Here's the info:

ANGEL YOS Y LA MECANICA LOCA IN BAYONNE 
As part of the first edition of the Cubayonne Festival, we invite you to take a direct flight to Havana with this great concert evening which will take place in the space Saez of the House of Associations of Bayonne! SATURDAY, FEBRARY 18.

Featured: Angel Yos y la Mecanica Loca! 
This group is currently recognized as the inescapable figure of the Timba in France, already holder of several danced tubes on all dancefloors timberos: A la Loco Titi, La Moda Cubana, Terrorista ...

As a special bonus his new album VAMO' HACERLO! will be available as a pre-release!

Angel Yos & LML brings us into his world salsero with pieces mixing power and subtlety, rumba and funk, timba and salsa romantica. A musical richness to the height of the 13 musicians of the group. To animate the before and the after, a recognized DJ of the scene Salsa: Axel Cubadicto! 

Schedule:
21h: early evening with DJ Axel Cubadicto 
22h00: Concert Angel yos are the Mecanica Loca 
0:00 to 2:00: Following the lively evening by DJ Axel Cubadicto 
Price: 15 € presale, 20 € D-Day in Ticket office 
For tix see website: http://www.cubayonne.fr/inscription/
Possibility of fpasses for the salseros who wish to participate in the day classes!
Drinks and snacks services during the evening. 
For more Information call 07 60 34 78 61 or email cubayonne@gmail.com

Ángel Yos y la Mecánica Loca

Como parte de la primera edición del Festival de Cubayonne, os invitamos a tomar un vuelo directo a La Habana con esta gran velada de conciertos que tendrá lugar en el espacio Saez de la Casa de Asociaciones de Bayona! SÁBADO, 18 DE FEBRERO.

Destacados: Angel Yos y la Mecanica Loca!
Este grupo es actualmente reconocido como la figura ineludible de la Timba en Francia, ya titular de varios tubos bailados en todas las pistas de baile timberos: A la Loco Titi, La Moda Cubana, Terrorista ...

Como un bono especial su nuevo álbum VAMO 'HACERLO! Estará disponible como pre-lanzamiento!

Angel Yos & LML nos trae a su mundo salsero con piezas mezclando poder y sutileza, rumba y funk, timba y salsa romantica. Una riqueza musical a la altura de los 13 músicos del grupo. Para animar el antes y el después, un reconocido DJ de la escena Salsa: Axel Cubadicto!

Programación
21h: baila con DJ Axel Cubadict
22h00: Concierto Angel Yos y La Mecánica Loca
0:00 a 2:00: baila con DJ Axel Cubadict
Precio: 15 € preventa, 20 € Día en taquill
Para tix ver el sitio web: http://www.cubayonne.fr/inscription
Posibilidad de psses para los salseros que deseen participar en las clases diurnas
Servicios de bebidas y aperitivos durante la noche.
Para más información llame al 07 60 34 78 61 o email cubayonne@gmail.com

Ángel Yos y la Mecánica Loca

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Fri, 17 Feb 2017 03:58:19 +0000
CuJazz Ensemble de Andrés Fernández realiza gira de Cuba

Led by Cuban trombonist Andrés Fernández, the CuJazz Ensemble is a new musical project that brings together talented Costa Rican musicians, receiving the cubop legacy of greats like Dizzy Gillespei, Chino Pozo, Frank Emilio Flynn and Machito.

Two cultures united by the same musical language exposing their experiences with a universal approach.

The Cujazz ensemble combines Andrés Fernández's original compositions with jazz standards from the 1940s, sprinkled with influences from Afro-Cuban jazz, bebop, cooljazz, modern jazz, plus elements of Latin American music and the Caribbean.

Danceable, intellectual, full of chants and colors that immerse you in the journey of a musician who was born in Cuba and has enriched his language throughout the world.

Andrés Fernández: trombonist, singer & composer
Eduardo Montero: pianist & composer
Erick Monge: drumset & composer
Nelson Segura: bass & composer
Kendall Berrocal: congas & minor percussion

www.facebook.com/thecujazzensemble

CuJazz Ensemble

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Thu, 16 Feb 2017 16:55:43 +0000
Fiesta del Tambor 2017 Program Fiesta del Tambor 2017

Giraldo Piloto has published the program for the 2017 Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival. The inauguration party will take place March 6th at Casa de la Música Miramar at 11:00pm with Giraldo Piloto & Klímax and Aisar y El Expresso de Cuba. During the week there will also be concerts in Miramar by Manolito Simonet y Su Trabuco, Pedrito Calvo y La Justicia, Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son, Maykel Dinza y Soneros de la Juventud, Pupy y Los Que Son Son and Elito Revé y su Charangón. Hotel Riviera will host jazz groups all week long, while more timba can be had at Salon Rosado de La Tropical with Van Van, El Niño y la Verdad and Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor on Saturday the 11th and Havana D'Primera, Paulo FG y su Élite , Leonel Limonta y Azúcar Negra and Giraldo Piloto y Klímax on Sunday the 12th. The rumba and Afro-Cuban concerts will be in the gardens of the Teatro Mella.

The percussion classes and competition will be held all week in Sala Avenida and the major percussion performances and the finals for the dance and percussion competitions will all take place at Teatro Mella. This is a fantastic event with so many facets of Cuban music and dance to enjoy at once. Don't miss it if you can be in Havana in March!

Click here for the full program including venues and times.

For questions about tickets for the various event you can write to
Sra. Darlenys eventos2@paradis.artex.cu

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Mon, 13 Feb 2017 13:37:13 +0000
La Clave Cubana Timbera - La Chismosa Clave Cubana Timbera - La Chismosa

La Clave Cubana was founded in 2000 in Buenos Aires, Argentina as an 8-man band that played traditional Cuban repertoire. In 2014 they were reborn as La Clave Cubana Timbera , a 15-man band performing their own compositions with more updated arrangements. Today the single "La Chismosa"   from their upcoming debut album "Llegó La Clave", has dropped at Cubamusic.com. It will also be available soon at the other on-line and streaming sites such as iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon and Spotify. You can check it out in the video also released today.

La Clave Cubana Timbera band is under the direction of tresero Eduardo Suárez "El Guajiro" with pianist Hubert Garcia as the musical director. They write the arrangements while the compositions are by this duo and vocalist Geovanny Ruiz Perez. See below for the list of musicians and the instrumentation.

To keep up on the latest you can follow La Clave Cubana Timbera at their Facebook page .

Band members
Eduardo Suárez "El Guajiro", tres & coros. (Cuba)
Hubert García, piano & coros. (Cuba)
Yoedis Oconor, baby bass. (Cuba)
Erick Ricardo Hernandez, keyboard, coros. (Cuba)
Geovanny Ruiz Pérez, vocals. (Cuba)
Daniel Vera, vocals. (Cuba)
Fernando Cruz, vocals. (Cuba)
Eddy Gomez, vocals, coro & minor percussion. (Cuba)
Cristian Ceccardi, congas. (Argentina)
Choco Drumss, timbales. (Cuba)
Moises Quiroz Gomez, trombone. (Peru)
Gabriel Leonetti, trombone. (Argentina)
Javier Sedeno, trombone. (Venezuela)

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Wed, 08 Feb 2017 17:11:31 +0000
Calle Real on Tour Calle Real

Tour season 2017 is getting underway in Europe, and first up is Calle Real who will be giving three concerts in February - the first right here in Stockholm this Friday February 10th at Fasching. The 11th they will be at Nefertiti in Gothenburg and the 17th they will perform i Copenhagen in Studie 2 at DR Koncerthuset. They already have concerts booked in May and more on the way. You can keep an eye on their tours page as more dates are confirmed or follow Calle Real at their official Facebook page.

Make sure to take some extra cash with you because they will have their CD  "¿¡Dime Qué?!" on hand. It was released in mid December 2015 and was one of the CDs I listened to most throughout 2016. Click here for my full review.

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Tue, 07 Feb 2017 16:12:44 +0000
Yeni Leaves Van Van Yenisel Valdes by Tom Ehrlich para leer el articulo en español haz cliq aquí

The news has been all over Facebook since Sunday - Yenisel Valdés is leaving Los Van Van to begin a new life with her husband Dancer, singer and percussionist Erick Barbeira. The newlyweds will be settling down in California, and Yeni's relocation is what caused her to leave the orchestra. Timba.com wish them both much happiness in their new life together. It will certainly be interesting to see what she does with that voice of her in La Yuma. Bay Area watch out! Kevin, are you paying attention?

During her career, Yeni had to face down tough, macho audiences that were not receptive to seeing a woman in timba bands such as NG La Banda and later Los Van Van. But her combination of grace and humor on stage with that incredible voice earned her the respect and love of the Cuban and international audiences. Where once people thought Maestro Juan Formell was crazy to bring in a woman after the departure of the iconic Pedrito Calvo, now they mourn her leaving and can't imagine Van Van without La Van Vanera.

But the world moves on, and while Yeni has an exciting new life to begin, bandleader and drummer Samuel Formell has the unenviable job of deciding what to do now. Maybe he will find another amazing talent from Cuba's seemingly endless fountain of musical geniuses. Or maybe he'll decide that no one can fill her high heels and stick with three voices. As always, changes in Cuban orchestras fill me both with sadness and yet also a sense of excitement and possibility.

Yeni, I want to leave you with a short clip from an interview I did with Juan in January of 2008. He was talking about how he decided that to fill the space left by Pedrito's departure he would add two singers to the band - Lele and yourself. And here is what he had to say about you. Congratulations and best wishes - Michelle .

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Thu, 02 Feb 2017 15:34:56 +0000
El Niño y La Verdad Europe 2017 El Niño y La Verdad Europe 2017

As promised we have published all the date of the winter tour, which begins with a concert in Essen, Germany on February 11th. The band will visit, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Switzerland. Click to find a concert near you.

Although they will be promoting their latest CD "Más Duro" on this tour, we know they have been performing new songs in Havana. Here is a little taste of the percussion section during the reprise of the new hit "El Profesor", courtesy of Matias Loyttyniemi. I recommend checking out his YouTube account because he has a lot of nice video from various concerts from last year.

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Thu, 26 Jan 2017 11:35:29 +0000
Fiesta del Tambor 2017 Fiesta del Tambor 2017

It's almost time for the  16th Annual Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival - "La Fiesta del Tambor - Guillermo Barreto In Memoriam" . This year's festival will take place the second week of March in Havana and will feature guest artist Aldo Mazza. As with previous years the festival includes percussion and dance classes, performances and competitions. The percussion competition is open to all ages as is the Casino competition. There is also a Rumba dance competition for 15 years and older. Winners of the percussion competition will receive new instruments from brand such as  SABIAN, GON BOPS, PEARL, REGAL TIP, SONOC, and EVANS. Most events will be held in the following venues: Teatro Mella, Teatro Karl Marx, Sala Avenida, El Salón Rosado de La Tropical, Jardines del Teatro Mella and Hotel Palco.

There will also be concerts by the most popular timba and rumba groups, such as Orquesta Revé, Klímax, Paulo F.G., Havana D'Primera, El Niño y La Verdad, Manolitoy Su Trabuco, Azúcar Negra, Bamboleo, Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor, Osain del Monte, Yoruba Andabo, Los Papines, Rumberos de Cuba and more! If you can be in Havana for the festival, do it! For all the information (in Spanish) check out the Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival Official homepage. For information about tourist packages and lodging contact:

Roberto Risquet Redonet Valdés
Especialista Comercial Eventos
Paradiso Turismo Cultural
Email: eventos3@paradis.artex.cu
Email: redonetrisquet@yahoo.com
Tel: +(537) 8365381 / 8383908

And just in case you missed it, here is the most recent video released by Giraldo Piloto & Klímax!

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Thu, 26 Jan 2017 09:19:54 +0000
El Que Corta El Bacalao Drops Today! El que corta el bacalao - Soneros All Stars

Timba 2017 continues to deliver. Today Soneros All Stars release a new CD - "El Que Corta El Bacalao". For this album tresero, bassist, arranger, producer Jan Miklos Bogdan collaborated with singers Emilio "El Niño" Frias, Pascual "Sinsonte" Matos and pianist Wilfredo "Pachy Jr." Naranjo to bring dancers and aficionados of Cuban music a non-stop dance album. "El Que Corta El Bacalao" is going to be a favorite of DJ and dancers this year. Click here for my full review of "El Que Corta El Bacalao".

In related news, Yanesito & Soneros All Stars are beginning to rehearse for an upcoming tour. When we have more information about the when and where of any concert dates, we'll post an update. In the meantime, enjoy the new album. It is available at all the large digital retailers, via music apps and at CDbaby , where you can even order a hardcopy.

Track list  
El Que Corta El Bacalao
Lo Siento
Tú No Eres Popular
El Panadero
Vengo De Cuba
Nunca Pensé

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Wed, 25 Jan 2017 04:45:26 +0000
Pa Que Aprendas - Tony Moreaux & Asokere Tony Moreaux & Asokere

Tony Moreaux is working on his first CD with his new group Asokere , based in Copenhagen. He has come a long way from his childhood in Guantanamo where his father is maraquero and singer with Changüí Guantanamo. Tony studied percussion at the Music Conservatory Esteban Salas in Santiago de Cuba and his timba career began with Carlos Manuel y Su Clan. In the year 2000 Tony relocated to Copenhagen, Denmark where he worked with orchestras such as Grupo Danson. He later became a member of Juan D'Marcos' Afro-Cuban All stars and toured the world extensively. Tony has now formed his own orchestra - Asokere. Last year they performed as a backing band for Tito Nieves on his European tour, and they are currently hard at work finishing their first album.

In 2016 Asokere released their first single "Pa' que aprendas" and Tony recently took time off to tell us a little about the band and their debut album slated for release later this year. Follow Asokere at their Official Facebook Page .

The CD will have 10 songs so that Cuban music lovers can enjoy themselves and dance to the music that I bring with Asokere. Our music style is popular dance music using different genres such as son, son montuno, pilón, cha cha chá, songo ... well it will  have a range of Cuban rhythms and a lot of rhythmic folkloric elements, which I am very interested in doing, since of course I have always been interested in the Yoruba religion. That's why my band's name is: Asokere. Asokere is a song to Eleggua in the Yoruba religion, and I, as Son of Eleggua, was interested in that song and from there came the name of the band.

The band members are Cubans and Danes. The singer is Henry Benitez better known in Cuba as "El Jerry" (ex-Pupy y Los Que Son Son singer). The pianist is Javier Gutiérrez Massó (El Caramelo de Cuba). Several of the members are involved in writing the arrangements, but I always put something of myself into the arrangements and the way in which I want to interpret the songs. This is to say it's always a collective work, because we all have different ways of thinking and of feeling the music.

The first single "Pa' que aprendas" is by the trumpet player Oslen Ceballo, an excellent arranger and trumpet player. The next songs that I will begin to record have arrangements by Maykel "Cuchilla" Garcia (pianist and member of Pupy y Los Que Son Son) and also arrangements by two magnificent musical producers and arrangers - Mauricio Cecilio Diaz and Roniel Alfonso Mella. I hope everyone enjoys it and that you like everything I bring, which is simply dance music for the dancers.

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Tue, 24 Jan 2017 05:41:19 +0000
NEW FROM SEPTETO SANTIAGUERO: RAÍZ ENGLISH:   Septeto Santiaguero is about to release a new recording, Raíz .  You can read our review here. 
There will also be an opportunity to hear a couple of  songs from the new album on Bill Tilford's radio program From the Isle of Music the week of January 30. 

ESPAÑOL:  Septeto Santiaguero está al punto de lanzar una nueva grabación, Raíz . Nuestra reseña está disponible aquí. 
También hay opportunidad de escuchar un par de canciones del nuevo álbum en el programa radial de Bill Tilford, From The Isle of Music , durante la semana del 30 de enero.     




ENGLISH:
 January 26 marks the first anniversary of the passing of Miguel Angel Rasalps "Lele" , who sang with Elio Reve , was a founding vocalist with Los Van Van , and made many wonderful recordings with Los Reyes 73 in the 1970s.  On January 23, 27 and 28, the radio program From the Isle of Music will air a radio tribute with special guest Ricardo Delgado , saxophonist with Los Reyes 73 during the 1970s, with a heavy emphasis on the music of Los Reyes 73
ESPAÑOL :  El 26 de enero es el primer aniversario del fallecimiento de Miguel Ángel Rasalps "Lele", quien cantó con Elio Reve , era vocalista fundador de Los Van Van y hizó muchas grabaciones maravillosas con Los Reyes 73 en los años 70. Los días 23, 27 y 28 de enero, el programa radial From Isle of Music emitirá un tributo radiofónica con el invitado especial Ricardo Delgado , saxofonista de Los Reyes 73 durante los años 70, con un fuerte énfasis en la música de Los Reyes 73. 

ENGLISH:  Juan-Carlos Formell and his side project Son Radical gave a performance in Chicago on January 13.    A small photo gallery is available here. 
ESPAÑOL:   Juan-Carlos Formell y su proyecto paralelo Son Radical dió un concierto en Chicago el 13 de Enero.   Una pequeña galería de fotos está disponsible aquí. 

 

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Sun, 22 Jan 2017 12:44:15 +0000
Bomba y Cuchara La Liga Habanera - Bomba y Cuchara

Timba 2017 is starting with a bang with "Bomba y Cuchara" – the new single by La Liga Habanera, one of Stockholm's favorite timba bands. The band held a concert at Fasching in Stockholm last Saturday and today their new single – "Bomba y Cuchara" featuring Lesmer Solenzar on lead vocals – dropped at CDBaby.com. "Bomba y Cuchara" will soon be at other digital retailers such as iTunes and Amazon as well.

It is a hard-hitting timba arrangement that kicks off with a great piano tumbao and includes clever use of light reggaeton drums from about 1:20 to 1:37 for fans of a more urban style. It works very well. A torrid dance track to usher in the new year. Click here to listen to a preview.

Credits: Drums and timbales Max Alton. Composed and arranged by Max Alton. Lyrics by Lesmer Solenzar and Max Alton. Lead vocals Lesmer Solenzar. Background vocals Pablo Cepeda, Max Alton, Cecilia Ferrer. Trumpets Petter Linde. Trombones Peter Fredriksson. Piano and arrangements Oldrich Gonzales. Bass Alfonso Nuñes. Congas Pablo Cepeda. Recorded in Farmer street Studio Sweden Stockholm. Mix by Måns Ek.

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Tue, 17 Jan 2017 16:58:49 +0000
Con Eleguá y con Orula - ESTRENO El Niño y La Verdad Europe 2017

Emilio Frias "El Niño" y La Verdad have just uploaded their new video "Con Eleguá y con Orula". Emilio did a live Facebook chat beforehand from Panama where they are currently doing promotion. You can check it out at the band's official Facebook site - this is the one they want people to follow to get all the latest news, so be sure to click "Follow". El NIño y La Verdad will be touring Europe from February 15th through March 5th promoting their 2nd CD - "Más Duro". Next week we'll post all the concert dates. For now, enjoy the latest video.

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Sun, 15 Jan 2017 13:27:41 +0000
Gerardo Contino Rings in the New Year with Cuba Caliente

As the holiday season has given way to the New Year, the Cuban music scene of Gotham forges ahead into 2017. The past year has been a fruitful one for NYC, with acts such as Maykel Blanco and Los Van Van making appearances in and around the metro area. However, with the blank slate of the coming year looming overhead, the effects of what 2017 will have to offer has yet to be determined.

Always in search of new endeavors to explore, New York’s very own Gerardo Contino breaks into 2017 with a revamped version of Cuba Caliente, held at Gonzalez y Gonzalez on Mercer Street in Greenwich Village. Contino hosted the event for the summer months of 2016 before embarking on a six-week residency in Doha, Qatar. Upon returning to NY, Los Habaneros in tow, he has once again set his sights on being at the helm of promoting Cuban culture in the Big Apple.

Noticing a need to draw a wider and more diverse audience into the fold, Contino decided to revisit the idea of Cuban Caliente from a new and different angle. Originally billed as a community-networking event for Cubans in New York City, Contino now aims to use the event to appeal to a new public market instead of only promoting to the Cuban community and Cuban dance enthusiasts. Through a regular rotation of original local acts as well as promoting a “more inclusive vibe” in comparison the many dance socials already existing in NYC, he intends to present Cuban music to a far more expansive crowd.

Taking this concept into the musical realm, 2017 sees Contino’s music taking on a new from as well. In the years following his 2013 release of the hard-hitting Cuban Salsa tour de force “Somos Latinos”, Gerardo has issued several singles that have fused Cuban music with everything from Brazilain Samba to Colombian Vallanato. His new original single “Año Nuevo” is an anthemic depiction of the very idea that Cuba Caliente aims to represent, a fusion of pop and world music with an unimistakable Cuban core for anyone with an open mind. The video, shot at the last Cuba Caliente just before the New Year, can be viewed below.

Scheduled to occur most Wednesdays, Cuba Caliente will be held this month Los Habaneros on January 18 and 25 at Gonzalez y Gonzalez located at 192 Mercer St, New York, NY 10012. Doors will open at 9pm, music starts at 10pm and the party ends at 1am. Cover at the door is $10. More information on calendar dates and rotation of bands can be found at Cuba Caliente and Gonzalez y Gonzalez’s respective websites.

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Mon, 09 Jan 2017 22:10:11 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Pedrito Martínez Gallery

Click here for the full gallery of Pedrito's recent tour with Yunior Terry on bass.

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Mon, 09 Jan 2017 22:09:53 +0000
Ban Rarrá in the Bay Arrreá!

Click here for Tom Ehrlich's breathtaking gallery of photos from Ran Rarra's recent SF residency.

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Sun, 08 Jan 2017 21:20:17 +0000
RIP CARLOS AVERHOFF

ENGLISH:     On December 22, 2016, we lost a giant of Cuban Jazz and Timba, saxophonist/flautist Carlos Averhoff.  Born in Matanzas on December 6, 1947, and classically trained, he became part of Irakere and also performed with NG La Banda , Issac Delgado 's group and Emiliano Salvador among others.    He spent his final years in Miami, where he was a Professor of Music at the Florida International University School of Music and Professor of Saxophone at Miami-Dade College.   HIs legacy will live on not only in his recorded music but also in the music of his many students.   Carlos Averhoff Jr. , his son, has also emerged as a saxophonist of distinction. 
ESPAÑOL:    El 22 de diciembre de 2016, perdimos a un gigante de Jazz cubano y Timba, el saxofonista / flautista Carlos Averhoff. Nacido en Matanzas el 6 de diciembre de 1947 y formado clásicamente, se unió con  Irakere y también se presentó con NG La Banda , el grupo de Issac Delgado y Emiliano Salvador entre otros. Pasó sus últimos años en Miami, donde era Profesor de Música en la Escuela de Música de la Florida International University y Profesor de Saxofón en el Miami-Dade College. Su legado vivirá no sólo en su música grabada, sino también en la música de sus muchos estudiantes. Carlos Averhoff Jr. , su hijo, también ha emergido como un saxofonista de distinción.


ENGLISH:   Days 3 and 4 of JoJazz are now available here and here.  
ESPAÑOL :  Ahora están disponibles días 3 y 4 de JoJazz   aquí y aquí.   

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Tue, 03 Jan 2017 20:25:32 +0000
Havana D'Primera Closes 2016 in Miami

Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera will close 2016 with two concerts in Miami. They now have their visas and will perform on December 30th at 9:00pm at The Place of Miami . If you haven't made your New Year's Eve plans yet, why not book a table at Havana 1957 - Brickell where you can ring in the New Year with a concert by Alexander and the guys.

Personally I have been watching the official video for "Siempre sí" over and over again. Havana D'Primera always delivers.

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Wed, 28 Dec 2016 11:40:45 +0000
MORE SCENES FROM JOJAZZ 2016 ENGLISH:   Scenes from Day 2 of JoJazz 2016 are now available here. One of the winners of JoJazz 2016, conguero/percussionist Degnis Bofill, can be seen  performing with José Portillo & Cauce here:



You can hear an interview with Degnis Bofill in Spanish and more music on the shortwave radio program From The Isle of Music this week.  For more information, see the From The Isle of Music Facebook Page. 
ESPAÑOL:
 Más escenas del día 2 de JoJazz 2016 estan disposibles aquí. Un ganador de JoJazz 2016, conguero/percusionista Degnis Bofill, aparece con José Portillo & Cauce arriba. Se puede escuchar una entrevista con Degnis Bofill y más musica en el program radial en onda corta From the Isle of Music esta semana.  Más información está disponible en la página Facebook de From The Isle of Music.  



Juan-Carlos Formell will be visiting from Cuba in January and performing with Son Radical in the Midwest on the following dates: 
Friday, January 13th- Chicago: Mambo Cafe 9 pm
Saturday, January 14th- Galesburg, IL: Knox College Winter Jazz Series, Kresge Hall, Knox College, Galesburg, IL 7 pm
Sunday, January 15th- Iowa City, Iowa: Iowa City Yacht Club 8 pm

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Mon, 19 Dec 2016 00:17:41 +0000
JAZZ PLAZA TAKES PLACE THIS WEEK
ENGLISH:   Jazz Plaza is coming this week and will take place in both La Habana and Santiago de Cuba this year.  The addition  of Santiago de Cuba is an exciting development because Santiago has a small but very impressive and thriving Jazz scene of its own.    You can see some scenes from the last three Jazz Plaza events in various parts of the website.   The colloquium this year is dedicated to the late Leonardo Acosta , Cuba's most important Jazz critic,  who passed away recently.   
You can see most of this year's roster in a video on the Jazz Plaza Facebook Page. 
Bill Tilford still has some unpublished material from Jazz Plaza 2015 that will be published in the near future. 

ESPAÑOL: Jazz Plaza viene esta semana y tendrá lugar en La Habana y Santiago de Cuba este año. La adición de Santiago de Cuba es un desarrollo emocionante porque Santiago tiene una pequeña pero muy impresionante y próspera escena de Jazz propia. Puede ver algunas escenas de los últimos tres eventos de Jazz Plaza en varias partes del sitio web. El coloquio de este año está dedicado al difunto Leonardo Acosta, el crítico de jazz más importante de Cuba, fallecido recientemente.
Bill Tilford ya tiene algún material inédito de Jazz Plaza 2015 que se publicará en un futuro próximo.
Puede ver la mayoría del roster de este año en la página Facebook de Jazz Plaza. 



ENGLISH:  We begin a short series of pieces about JoJazz, the competition that helps ignite the career of so many of Cuba's best young Jazz musicians. 

You can read the first piece about JoJazz 2016, which includes the winners, the program, and an audio interview in Spanish with the founder, Alexis Vázquez, here. 

You can view the first photo gallery here. 

ESPAÑOL:  Comenzamos una breve serie de artículos acerca de JoJazz, el concurso que ayuda a encender la carrera de tontos de los mejores jóvenes jazzistas en Cuba.

Puede leer el primer artículo sobre JoJazz 2016, que incluye los ganadores, el programa, y una entrevista grabada en español con el fundador, Alexis Vázquez, aquí. 

Puede ver la primera galería de fotos aquí. 

 


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Sun, 11 Dec 2016 22:16:59 +0000
Los Van Van - GRAMMY Nomination La Fantasia - GRAMMY Nomination 2016

The 2017 GRAMMY nominees were announced this week. From the Cuban side Chucho Valdes was nominated in the Best Latin Jazz category for “Tribute to Irakere: Live in Marciac” and Los Van Van was nominated for "La Fantasia" for Best Tropical Album. Timba.com wishes them both good luck. the winners will be announced on February 12th.

El Tren is facing competition from Fonseca - "Conexión, Grupo Niche - "35 Aniversario", La Sonora Santanera  - "En Su 60 Aniversario" and José Lugo & Guasábara Combo - "Dónde Están?". If I may campaign for Los Van Van for just a moment, beyond the fact that "La Fantasia" is an excellent album (click here to read Bill's review) , it is special to Cuban music fans because it is a tribute to the late Juan Formell. "La Fantasia" includes some of the last songs in which Juan Formell was involved as composer and arranger. Moreover, the title track features Juan Formell himself on vocals. Formell originally recorded the song as a demo for Luna Manzanares, but after he passed Samuel decided to use his father's vocals and record it on the new album together with the children's choir of Alejandro Garcia Cartula.

Los Van Van also happen to be starting a short US tour tonight at Howard Theatre in Washington D.C. See all the dates below.

Concert Dates:
December 8, 2016 - Washington D.C. - Howard Theatre
December 9, 2016 - New York, NY. - B.B. King Blues Club and Grill
December 10, 2016 -San Francisco, CA. - Roccapulco
December 11, 2016 - Los Angeles, CA. - Conga Room

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Thu, 08 Dec 2016 05:42:21 +0000
12 Years of Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor Maykel Blanco @Teatro Nacional de Cuba 12 Anniversary Concert Maykel Blanco outside the National Theater after rehearsal
photo courtesy of Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor Official Facebook page

Tonight Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor celebrate their 12th anniversary with a concert in Sala Avellaneda at Teatro Nacional de Cuba. The tickets went on sale November 15th and were sold out in just two hours. Maykel has prepared something different this time working with the National Symphony Orchestra in a presentation of their most recent CD "Que no me quiten la fe". Let's hope they also film and upload some of the concert for those of us who  can't attend. Congratulations to Maykel and Los Mayores! In the meantime we can enjoy a taste of their concert from the 2016 Festival de la Salsa  in Havana.

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 05:47:26 +0000
Ahora Es Cuando Es Aisar y El Expresso de Cuba - Ahora Es Cuando Es

#SaveTheDate Friday, November 25th Aisar y El Expresso de Cuba will release the first single "Ahora Es Cuando Es" from their upcoming album "Musica Cubana Llegó El Expresso" on the Bis Music label. The single will be available worldwide at all the typical digital sources, such as iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Deezer and more. This is a must have for all DJs and timberos.

If you are in Cuba, don't miss your opportunity to see Aisar y El Expresso de Cuba live! You can catch them every Wednesday at the matinee at El Diablo Tun Tun from 5:00pm-9:00pm, the first and third Friday of every month at Café Cantante , and the second Saturday of every month at Los Jardines del 1830 from 10:00pm.

The planned release date for the full album is set for December 22 in Cuba. We are very excited about this debut album. This is the real thing ! There's no question that Ahora es cuando es!

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Mon, 14 Nov 2016 15:19:21 +0000
La Charanga Habanera in the US La Charanga Habanera - Vivito y Coleando

Just a reminder that Thursday November 17th at 8pm Eastern Time the 17th Latin Grammy Awards will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year's Cuban nominations are:

David Calzado y Su Charanga Habanera
Best Contemporary Tropical Album
Vivito y Coleando

Jacob Forever
Best Urban/Fusion Performance
Hasta Que Se Seque el Malecón

Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro 
Best Traditional Tropical Album
El Más Grande y Universal

Gente De Zona
Best Tropical Fusion Album
Vizualízate

Omara Portuondo
Best Latin Children's Album
Canciones De Cri Cri “El Grillo Cantor”

Timba.com wishes good luck to all the nominees.

 Following the awards, David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera will do a short US tour with concerts in California, Florida and Texas. Click here for the concert dates. 

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Mon, 14 Nov 2016 14:26:29 +0000
Timbasa & Martha Galarraga

Timbasa is the latest brainchild of Václav Greif, the young Czech Republic virtuoso who was responsible for the sessions that resulted in the Alain Pérez volumes of the Beyond Salsa series.

Václav wrote the material after years of studying Afro-Cuban folkloric music with various masters, including the legendary Piri López of Los Chinitos and Máximino of Rumberos de Cuba. After assembling a group of Czech and Slovakian musicians, he invited the extraordinary Cuban singer Martha Galarraga, who now lives in France where she works with Omar Sosa and others. Here are the full bios of all the participants.

After a series of concerts, Timbasa recorded all of the material live in one day. Here are some clips from the sessions.

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Sun, 13 Nov 2016 13:50:42 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Monterey Jazz Galleries, Part III Click here for the full gallery

Claudia Villela

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Sat, 12 Nov 2016 00:21:35 +0000
JoJazz Takes Place Next Week ENGLISH   : The 19th Edition of JoJazz will take place between November 17-20 in Havana. Many of the excellent Jazz recordings reviewed on this website, especially those in the The Jazz Young Spirit  series from Colibrí, are by winners of this competition, and if you attend a lot of concerts by young Cuban Jazz artists, you have probably seen several winners on stage.   This competition is international and enrolls contestants almost up to the last minute.  YOU CAN READ THE OFFICIAL CONVOCATION HERE.  
The radio program From the Isle of Music   will rebroadcast  music from past winners of JoJazz and interviews with the founder, Alexis Vázquez  , and the director of many of the large ensembles of young artists, Joaquín Betancourt  ,   during   the weeks of November 21 and 28.  (Next week features Harold López-Nussa. )  This program airs Monday nights on shortwave on WBCQ The Planet, 7490 KHz at 8pm Eastern time (US) and Tuesdays at 1900 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz (shortwave) from Rohrbach, Germany. Tunein.com carries a live stream of WBCQ The Planet. 
We will share the highlights of JoJazz with you in December. 
ESPAÑOL:     Quizas aún más importante para el desarrollo de jóvenes jazzistas en Cuba es JoJazz, un concurso para los artistas entre 16-30 años de edad. La 19ª edición de JoJazz se llevará a cabo entre noviembre 17-20 en La Habana. Muchos de las excelentes grabaciones de Jazz reseñadas en este sitio web, especialmente los de la  serie de Colibrí  El joven espiritu de Jazz,  son por los ganadores de este concurso, y si usted asiste a una gran cantidad de conciertos por los jóvenes jazzistas cubanos,  es probable que haya visto varios ganadores en el escenario. Este concurso es internacional y se inscribe concursantes casi hasta el último minuto.  EL TEXTO DE LA CONVOCATORIA  ESTÁ DISPONIBLE AQUÍ.   
El programa radial From the Isle of Music   repetirá sus episodios con la  música de  ganadores anteriores de JoJazz y entrevistas con el fundador, Alexis Vázquez  , y el director de muchos  grandes ensembles de artistas jóvenes, Joaquín Betancourt  , durante las semanas del 21 y 22 de noviembre (Próxima semana contará con Harold López-Nussa .). Este programa se transmite en onda corta lunes por la noche en WBCQ El Planeta, 7490 KHz a partir de las 8 pm hora del Este (Estados Unidos) y los martes a las 1900 UTC en el Channel 292, 6070 KHz (onda corta) desde Rohrbach, Alemania. Tunein.com lleva una transmisión en vivo (no en demanda) de WBCQ El Planeta.
Compartiremos lo más destacado con uds en diciembre. 


Yissy Garcia , a past JoJazz award winner, recently released this new video: 



Another past JoJazz winner, Ernesto Vega , is currently in the studio doing videos with Richie Kaye , a singer/guitarist/songwriter who works in several genres.  Richie was kind enough to share their first video with us for your enjoyment.   You can read the bios of both Richie and Ernesto on Richie's website: 
http://richiekaye.com/richie-kaye-and-ernesto-vega/





(photo Sam Kuslan)

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Fri, 11 Nov 2016 06:25:28 +0000
Orquesta LA TABLA De Cuba So coooolll... check out this new video from an rising-star group: Orquesta LA TABLA de Cuba. It  feature's the band's new hit "El Panadero" from their upcoming album. 

Orquesta LA TABLA de Cuba

Orquesta La Tabla was founded in 2007 by bassist, arranger and composer Yadiel Bolaño. Since its inception, the band counted on young musicians that graduated from music schools in Cuba, where they were influenced by jazz, art and of course different styles of Cuban music. Their first CD -- self-titled -- La Tabla de Cuba, was recorded on the Colibrí label and includes thirteen tracks plus a video clip "El Chance" and the "making of" of this recording , audiovisual both under the direction of Angel Alderete. In 2016 they began working on their secind album and released its first single "El Panadero" (the bread baker) along with a video by acclaimed director Joseph Ros.

Orquesta LA TABLA de Cuba

Orquesta LA TABLA de Cuba

For more info and pics on LA TABLA be sure to check out their group page plus photos and galleries. Bien caliente te lo traigo pa'l gusto del mundo entero!

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Tue, 01 Nov 2016 00:42:01 +0000
Monterey Jazz Festival 2016 - Part 2 Click here for Part 2 of Tom Ehrlich's Monterey Jazz Festival report.

John Santos

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Mon, 31 Oct 2016 23:49:18 +0000
Yoruba Andabo European Tour Yoruba Andabo Europe 2016

Yoruba Andabo are in Italy where they start their European Tour tonight in Florence, Italy. The band is also promoting a new album. Two singles "Rumba con amor" and "Salsa, timba y guaguancó" have already been released and are available at Cubamusic, iTunes and Amazon. The list of confirmed concerts so far is:

Oct 28 Florence, Italy
Oct 29 Helsinki, Finland
Nov 4 Modena, Italy
Nov 6 Brescia, Italy
Nov 9 Berlin, Germany
Nov 11 Warsaw, Poland
Nov 12-13 Belgrade, Serbia
Nov 20 Rome, Italy

More dates will be confirmed within the next day or two so stay tuned and enjoy "Con un estilo diferente" from their new production.

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Fri, 28 Oct 2016 12:44:29 +0000
Monterey Jazz Festival 2016 - Part 1 Click here for Tom's report and gallery from September's Monterey Jazz Festival. (also videos)

Zahili González Zamora

Alfredo Rodríguez

Quincy Jones

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Fri, 28 Oct 2016 02:47:12 +0000
COMING SOON: JAZZ PLAZA & JOJAZZ 2016 ENGLISH :   The 32nd International Jazz Festival of Havana, also known as Jazz Plaza, will take place from December 15-18 in Havana, and, for the first time, in Santiago de Cuba as well.  In addition to adding Santiago de Cuba, which has a small but thriving Jazz scene of its own, other firsts for the festival are a nice festival website  and more intensive participation by international sponsors. 
For more about the Jazz scene in Santiago specifically, I had the pleasure of speaking with Robier González Garbey , Director of the wonderful Iris Jazz Club, in December.  You can hear a recording of that (in Spanish) here.     I also spoke with Raydelis Guibert , an agent for the Iris Jazz Club; you can hear that conversation here.    There is a LOT of background noise in both, but also a lot of interesting information. 
Other items about Jazz Plaza 2015 and Jazz Plaza 2013 can be found elsewhere in this blog and in the photo galleries. 

ESPAÑOL:  
El 32º Festival Internacional de Jazz  de La Habana, también conocido como Jazz Plaza, se llevará a cabo a partir del 15-18 de diciembre en La Habana, y, por primera vez, en Santiago de Cuba también. Además de la adición de Santiago de Cuba, que tiene una pequeña pero próspera escena del jazz de sus propios, otras novedades para el festival son una muy buena página web para el festival  y la participación más intensa de los patrocinadores internacionales.
Para más información acerca de la escena del jazz en Santiago específicamente, tuve el placer de hablar con Robier González Garbey, Director del maravilloso Iris Jazz Club, en diciembre. Se puede escuchar una grabación (en español) aquí. También hablé con Raydelis Guibert, un agente para el Iris Jazz Club; se puede escuchar la conversación aquí. Hay un MONTÓN de ruido de fondo en ambos, pero también una gran cantidad de información interesante.
Otros artículos sobre Jazz Plaza 2015 y Jazz Plaza 2013 se pueden encontrar en otro lugar en este blog y en las galerías de fotos.

ENGLISH : An event perhaps even more important for the development of young Jazz artists in Cuba is JoJazz, a competition for young Jazz artists between 16-30 years of age.   The 19th Edition of JoJazz will take place between November 17-20 in Havana. Many of the excellent Jazz recordings reviewed on this website, especially those in the The Jazz Young Spirit series from Colibrí, are by winners of this competition, and if you attend a lot of concerts by young Cuban Jazz artists, you have probably seen several winners on stage.   This competition is international and enrolls contestants almost up to the last minute.  YOU CAN READ THE OFFICIAL CONVOCATION HERE.
The radio program From the Isle of Music will feature music from past winners of JoJazz and interviews with the founder, Alexis Vázquez , and the director of many of the large ensembles of young artists, Joaquín Betancourt ,   during the next two weeks.     This program airs Monday nights on shortwave on WBCQ The Planet, 7490 KHz at 8pm Eastern time (US) and Tuesdays at 1900 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz (shortwave) from Rohrbach, Germany. Tunein.com carries a live stream of WBCQ The Planet. 
ESPAÑOL:   Quizas aún más importante para el desarrollo de jóvenes jazzistas en Cuba es JoJazz, un concurso para los artistas entre 16-30 años de edad. La 19ª edición de JoJazz se llevará a cabo entre noviembre 17-20 en La Habana. Muchos de las excelentes grabaciones de Jazz reseñadas en este sitio web, especialmente los de la  serie de Colibrí  El joven espiritu de Jazz, son por los ganadores de este concurso, y si usted asiste a una gran cantidad de conciertos por los jóvenes jazzistas cubanos,  es probable que haya visto varios ganadores en el escenario. Este concurso es internacional y se inscribe concursantes casi hasta el último minuto.  EL TEXTO DE LA CONVOCATORIA  ESTÁ DISPONIBLE AQUÍ. 
El programa radial From the Isle of Music contará con música de  ganadores anteriores de JoJazz y entrevistas con el fundador, Alexis Vázquez , y el director de muchos  grandes ensembles de artistas jóvenes, Joaquín Betancourt , durante las próximas dos semanas. Este programa se transmite en onda corta lunes por la noche en WBCQ El Planeta, 7490 KHz a partir de las 8 pm hora del Este (Estados Unidos) y los martes a las 1900 UTC en el Channel 292, 6070 KHz (onda corta) desde Rohrbach, Alemania. Tunein.com lleva una transmisión en vivo (no en demanda) de WBCQ El Planeta.

 

 

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Tue, 25 Oct 2016 08:18:53 +0000
Issac & Pedrito Redux

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Tue, 18 Oct 2016 02:43:20 +0000
Los Van Van 2016 Los Van Van Europe 2016

Los Van Van return to Europe next week for a tour that takes them to Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France. El Tren begins its tour the 19th in Madrid and ends November 5th in Paris. Los Van Van will also be performing in Washington D.C. on December 8th at the Howard Theatre. Click here for the list of tour dates.

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Sat, 15 Oct 2016 14:28:27 +0000
Elito Revé y Su Charangón Elito Revé y su Charangón Europe 2016

Elito Revé y Su Charangón are back for round 2 of their Anniversary Tour in Europe. They will be appearing at a number of important fall Cuban festivals in eight countries, kicking off in Stuttgart, Germany at Festival  de Cuba on Friday the 14th and appearing in my hometown of Stockholm Sweden Saturday the 15th at Festival  A Lo Cubano . As always El Charangón de Elito Revé is a favorite of Cuban music fans, and the strength of their latest album "60 Aniversario" proves that the Charangón will be on top for a long time.

Click here to find a concert near you! I leave you with a little taste from "60 Aniversario" - "El Peluquero" - funny and a bit risqué, and as always great for dancing.

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 10:59:36 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's San José Jazz SummerFest Gallery                                                                       Henry Cole

Click here for the full gallery.

Alfredo Rodríguez & Co.

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Thu, 06 Oct 2016 00:33:50 +0000
Harold López-Nussa US Tour is Underway

Harold López-Nussa ,   part of the formidable López-Nussa family of Jazz greats, is now on tour in the US with his trio, which includes his brother Ruy Adrian López-Nussa on drumes and Alune Wade on bass.        Dates are as follows: 

October 4:   Gateway City Arts, Holyoke, MA
October 5:  Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
October 6-7:  Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ
October 8: Kennedy Center Jazz Club, Washington, DC
October 11: Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, NYC, NY
October 13:  The Side Door, Old Lyme, CT
October 14:  Bric Festival, Brooklyn, NY
October 15:  Chris Jazz Café, Philadelphia, PA
October 16: Yocum Institute of Arts, Wyomissing, PA
October 18:  Dakota, Minneapolis, MN
October 19: SPACE, Evanston, IL
October 20: Conservatory of Music, Milwaukee, WI
October 21-22: Dirty Dog, Detroit, MI
October 23: Baur's, Denver, CO
October 27: Blue Whale, Los Angeles, CA
October 28:  Chickie Wah Wah, New Orleans, LA 

You can click through to more details on the Harold López-Nussa website .  There is a new CD out, El Viaje , which we will eventually review. 
Hopefully  someone will eventually bring his uncle Ernán and his father Ruy up here the same way,   In the meantime, if you are serious about Jazz, take the time to check this out.  You'll be glad that you did.

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Wed, 05 Oct 2016 22:26:44 +0000
Jacob Forever Europe 2016 Urban music artist Jacob Forever is riding a wave of success. A long-time member of Cuba's first line of reggaeton artists, Jacob was part of Gente D'Zona until his departure in 2013. While it must have stung to see GdZ conquer the international scene a year later with "Bailando", Jacob wasn't far behind and achieved international success on his own after the release of his mega-hit "Hasta que se seque el malecón" .  It reached 10 on Billboard's Hot Latin Chart and was nominated for a 2016 Latin Grammy. Jacob himself was nominated as New Artist of the Year and Favorite New Artist - Urban in the 2016 Latin American Music Awards . He is currently working on a video for his new single "Necesito ayuda" .

Jacob is signed with Sony Music Latin and wil release his 4th CD on the label. Meanwhile, he has been performing in Miami and appearing on Latin television programs. On September 24th he surprised fans by inviting  his ex-partner from Gente D'Zona - Alexander Delgado - to join him as special guest singing "Hasta que se seque el malecón" at a concert at Mokai in Miami.

Having recently toured Canada, Europe is next on his list. Jacob's tour begins October 14th in Naples and currently consists of 10 confirmed dates with more to come. To keep up with all the latest news, follow him at Facebook.

Jacob Forever Europe 2016

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Tue, 04 Oct 2016 11:22:57 +0000
RIP Pedrito Fajardo cuban music, musica cubana

We lost another great Los Van Van musician this week. Pedrito was a charter member of Charanga Habanera, switching over to Van Van in about 1996. In addition to being a fine violinist and percussionist, he was one of the great dancing musicians of all time. When he did his violin bow dance with Van Van he visually captured the joy of music better than anyone I've ever seen.

cuban music, musica cubana

Pedrito was also one of the most genuinely warm and kind human beings in the world of Latin music. He will be sorely missed.

Here's a recent clip.

Click here for more of Tom Ehrlich's photos.

cuban music, musica cubana

cuban music, musica cubana

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Sat, 01 Oct 2016 01:02:18 +0000
Interview Thomas de Paula Eby Thomas de Paula Eby - Camaguey photo used by permission
© Thomas de Paula Eby

Calle Real' s lead singer, Thomas de Paula Eby, released the single "Camaguey" on August 8, 2016, which immediately caused timberos to fear that he is leaving Calle Real. Timba.com sat down with Thomas in the studio where he is finishing the mixing of his solo album. We talked about his plans with Calle Real, the single, the video and the album. The tracks are listed below but not in any particular order. 

Tracks:
The Ones
Before we all dry out
Camaguey
River
They never look into my eyes/Mirame a los ojos
It's just me (Rumbita)
We Are
Fill your heart with pride
Down The Line
Games
Lost Moments
Closer

Musicians participating on the album:
Thomas de Paula Eby-Leadvocals, guitars, percussion, mallets (SE)
Andreas Unge-Bass, Guitars, Percussion (SE)
Gunnar ”El Dony” Thullberg-Tres, Guitars (SE)
Gustav Lundgren-Guitars, Cavaquinho (SE)
Felipe ”Babuca” Grimaldi-Guitars (BR)
Sebastian Notini-Percussion (SE/BR)
Fredrik Gille-Percussion (SE)
Zamba N´Dokh M´Baye-Tama (SN)
Harry Wallin-Drums (SE)
Brady Blade-Drums (US)
Per Eklund-Drums (SE)
Jesper Nordenström-Piano (SE)
Bel Barbosa-Accordion (BR)
Giba Conceicao-Cuíca (BR)
Alexande Vieira-Coro (BR)
Raquel Vieira-Coro (BR)
Melo-Coro (SE)
Tilde de Paula Eby-Coro (SE/BR/CU)
Naemi de Paula Bjuhr-Coro (SE)
Bianca Ward-Coro (SE)

More information
http://www.thomaseby.com
https://itunes.apple.com/album/-/id1141361823
https://play.spotify.com/track/5DrwvLSxhgSxRmyzQXTPTN

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Thu, 22 Sep 2016 08:15:26 +0000
Two Fantastic Pedrito Martínez Podcasts My favorite Cuban musician, interviewed by my favorite Cuban music writer and interviewer! And the excerpts and audio quality are exquisite.

  

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Sun, 18 Sep 2016 20:22:35 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Alfredo Rodríguez Gallery

Here's the final installment of Tom's coverage of SFJAZZ Cuban Piano week.

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Sat, 17 Sep 2016 03:09:48 +0000
QEPD DESCARGA.COM 1992-2016

After 24 years of operation, Descarga.com has ceased operations and posted a farewell message on their website.  For many years, especially their early years, they were the most important source of hardcopy CDs of Cuban music in the United States, but they were much more than that - album reviews, articles, in the early years they even had a wonderful newsletter until it eventually went the way of most newsletters in this industry as people began reading less and watching video more.  I was a customer myself for many years (admittedly less so in recent times, but that had more to do with my own circumstances than with theirs). In the 90s, they were even written up in some articles about e-commerce as being in the vanguard of Internet businesses.  

They weren't done in by a competitor doing the same things that they did, but rather by the changing patterns of how many people now consume music (including, unfortunately, the free file-sharing which is gradually destroying the chances for physical recordings to be sold effectively in the marketplace anywhere other than concerts and impairing digital sales in our genres as well). 

Congratulations to Bruce Pollin and the Descarga operation for many years of excellence. This is a sad day for the Tropical Latin music industry and for Latin Jazz as well. 

 

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Fri, 16 Sep 2016 01:03:41 +0000
LEONI TORRES - BAJO LA PIEL Leoni Torres - Bajo La Piel European Tour 2016

Leoni Torres has arrived in Europe where he will begin his September/October 2016 tour "Bajo La Piel" with a concert at Salsa Republica in Barcelona, Spain on Sunday September 18th.

There has been much speculation in the media lately concerning Marc Anthony's interest in Leoni. In the meantime his European tour will include the following dates, among others.

September 18 Barcelona, Spain
September 22 Madrid, Spain
September 23 Paris, France
September  25 Montpellier, France
September 29 Naples, Italy
September 30 Rome, Italy
October 2 Zurich, Switzerland

Stay tuned for more concert dates or click here to follow Leoni at his official Facebook page .

I think most timberos are familiar with his recent hits "Es tu mirada" and "Para que un día vuelvas". Most recently he released the video for the single "Soledad", another collaboration with Yeandro Tamayo featuring Leoni in a more cinematic role than before and also starting his partner of 12 years Yuliet Cruz.

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Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:55:31 +0000
A Fabulous Live Timba YouTube Channel

Click here for the full list. Also Liga Habanera, El Noro, Maikel Blanco, etc.

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Wed, 14 Sep 2016 17:34:08 +0000
New Ivan Melon Lewis Project Ivan 'Melon" Lewis brings the US debut of a new project, the Cuban Swing Express , to the North Beach Bandshell  (7275 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach) from 7-10pm, Thursday, September 9.   It's  free (suggested donation $5.00), and the repertoire has been announced as a very eclectic mix of composers including some of Melon's own works.  This is a 10-piece band consisting of Cuban musicians living in Europe.   
For more information, visit
http://northbeachbandshell.com

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Tue, 06 Sep 2016 19:00:31 +0000
Various Events of Interest This Week Pedrito Martinez Group , City WInery
Chicago, Illinois
Wednesday, September 7 

The PMG has become a regular here and in the NYC flagship location; in fact, City Winery has even made a custom wine a couple of years ago (we are not sure whether it is still available).   

 Habanarte , Various Locations
 Havana, Cuba
 September 8-18

This is the third edition of an extended festival of the arts; in edition to concerts, there are events designed to sponsor collaboration between artists, producers and managers.  This edition will feature a forum sponsored by WOMEX in addition to the other events.  Art on La Rampa , an exposition of arts and crafts that also features textiles, footwear, jewelry, ceramic, garden furniture and other items for sale along with books, multimedia and photography presentations, already in progress in the Pabellon Cuba, has been extended until September 18 this year to permit visitors to enjoy both events simultaneously.
Habanarte has not updated its website for 2016 but does have a Facebook Page

and on the radio....

From the Isle of Music,   a shortwave radio program dedicated to all genres of Cuban Music (even Cuban chamber music), has a short segment with special guest William Roblejo this week; it includes a special theme that he recorded for this year's Habanarte . This week also includes a segment with special quest Maria Ochoa , sister of Eliades Ochoa . She has an interesting career of her own. For several weeks, Guido López Gavilan has been on the program narrating selections from one of Cubadisco 2016's Gran Premio winners, Caribe Nostrum . From the Isle of Music has a Facebook Page with complete program information including how to listen. 
During the two weeks following, the program will feature some of Timba 25 , a forthcoming EGREM release dedicated to a quarter century of Timba. 

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Mon, 05 Sep 2016 09:54:31 +0000
Pa'lante y Con Fe Pa'lante y con fe - portada

Next week Alaín Almeida y La Constelación de Cuba will release their first CD "Pa'lante y Con Fe" on the Cubamusic label, and the album could not be more appropriately named. It has really been an effort of heart and soul as the band struggled to overcome problems that delayed the release for over a year.

The original plan was to release the CD in March 2015, but the band faced problems with both time and financing (the project was self-financed). Alaín spoke with Timba.com about the reasons for the delay of the album.

Alain: Sometimes I had time to record but not the money, and sometimes I had the money but not the time. Here the work schedule is really rough. We average 12 presentations a week. We start playing Wednesday and don't stop until Monday morning. We only have Monday and Tuesday to rest.

The delay was also caused by situations that we have had to face in the collective. At first the orchestra wasn't mine. I just joined the group to make music and continue my career. One day because of differences with of the owner of the orchestra, the musicians and I decided not to continue working with him. But he owned the instruments, and when we broke the association with him, we had to take a loan of 20 000 soles (about 6000 USD) to buy our instruments.

We played to pay off the instruments ... one thousand soles a week. For 20 weeks the money that we could have used to record and other things, had to be used on  the new instruments. From April to late October we were paying one thousand soles a week. After we paid the instruments off, we were able to resume recording.

Making music is a constant struggle. This CD is a dream come true. I've been writing songs since I was 12 or 13, and I have never sold a song or given my songs to anyone. I've been waiting for a moment like this. It's a dream that has motivated me all my life, why I became a singer and why I'm here. It's a great blessing from God.

Timba.com is happy to congratulate Alain Almeida & La Constalación de Cuba on their first album, "Pa'lante y Con Fe". The album will be available next week at all the digital retailers and the band will also press CDs, mainly for the Peruvian audience.

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Sat, 03 Sep 2016 15:32:26 +0000
Melón Lewis Quartet with Pedrito Martínez Here's Tom Ehrlich's second gallery from SFJAZZ's historic Cuban piano festival, this time featuring Melón Lewis's quartet with Jimmy Branly & Román Filiu.

Click here for my series of books on Melón's timba career with Issac Delgado.

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Fri, 02 Sep 2016 02:30:27 +0000
Gonzalo & Pedrito The photos are starting to come in from SFJAZZ's historic Cuban Piano Week series. Click here for Gonzalo Rubalcaba with special guest Pedrito Martínez.

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Sun, 28 Aug 2016 20:17:43 +0000
ANGELITO RAMÍREZ & EL TREN BALA Angelito Ramírez & el Tren Balá Angelito Ramiíez & El Tren Balá working on a new album

Angelito Ramirez & El Tren Balá released their first CD "Mi Historia" on the Cubamusic label in February this year, but they are already working on their second album, which will be titled "El Rey del Timbón" and is expected to reach the market early in 2017. They plan to release three singles before the album drops: "El rey del timbón", "Todo está escrito en esta vida" and "Farandulera".

Mi Historia Mi Historia ©Cubamusic 2016

The band has uploaded a video of "Farandula" from one of the rehearsals to give fans a glimpse of what is coming. You can find many other live videos of Angelito & El Tren Balá at YouTube from their numerous performances in Lima.


A first look at the new song "Farandulera" from the upcoming CD "El Rey del Timbón"
recorded during a rehersal

El Tren Balá is a mix of Cuban and Peruvian musicians:
Director/Songwriter/Composor: Angelito Ramírez (Perú).
Piano/musical directorl: Martín Villanueva "Tripio" (Perú)
Vocals: Maikel Orizondo (Cuba), Renato Fernández (Perú).
Horns: Rudy (Trompeta), Denis (Trombón), Roger (Trombón), Juancito (Saxofón) all Peruvians
Drums & Timbal: Manuel Moreno "Hueso" (Cuba).
Congas: Felito Silva (Cuba).
Baby Bass: Reynier Perez (Cuba).
Güiro: El Baby (Cuba)
Keyboard: Yordanky Hernández "El Rubio" (Cuba).

For more information contact
angelitoramirez.trenbala@gmail.com
Contracts | (+51)956748871 | Renzo Rey (Representative)

Angelito Ramírez

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Wed, 24 Aug 2016 16:30:17 +0000
Cuban Piano Week at SFJAZZ The festivities start tonight with Rebeca Mauleón & Friends. It's billed as a Listening Party, with Rebeca playing classic tracks and talking about the history of Cuban music as well as playing live with a variety of special guests.

Rebeca Mauleón

Tomorrow, Thursday, will be Gonzalo Rubalcaba with Pedrito Martínez, who also plays with Fabián Almazán and Aruán Ortiz Friday. 

Gonzalo Rubalcaba

Pedrito Martínez will also play with both halves of an incredible Saturday double bill featuring Beyond Salsa hero Melón Lewis on Saturday (Román Filiú and Jimmy Branly will also be with Melón) opening for Alfredo Rodríguez, and finally, on Sunday with Harold López-Nussa and Aldo López-Gavilán.

Melón Lewis

Alfredo Rodríguez

Pedrito Martínez

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Wed, 10 Aug 2016 16:25:30 +0000
Maikel Blanco Coming to San Diego in October

Click here for Kay Torres' full report on the San Diego Cuban Dance Conference.

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Sat, 30 Jul 2016 20:06:31 +0000
San José Jazz Summer Fest Coming - August 12-14

Get ready for another San José Jazz Summer Fest.

Click here for more info.

Some highlights of the Afro-Caribbean music presented:

La Máquina Insular from Puerto Rico lead by Hector Tito Matos playing traditional and modern plena

Sotrón - new latin fusion group from the Mission District of San Francisco

The legendary Sergio Méndez and Brazil 2016 

Miguel Zenón Quartet - one of the best Latin jazz groups in the world today

La Mixta Criolla - Bay Area based band playing a mixture of Cabibbean music

Pirulo y La Tribu - new high energy salsa/timba group from Puerto Rico

Alfredo Rodríguez Trio with vocalist Ganavya Doraiswamy - outstanding Cuban piano trio with a beautifully unique vocalist

Jane Bunnett and Maqueque - group of great Cuban women musicians with the incomparable Canadian jazz saxophonist Jane Bunnett

Harold López-Nussa Trio - another outstanding Cuban pianist and his trio

A salsa stage featuring many outstanding local salsa groups such as Jesus Díaz y au QBA, Vissión Latina, Avance and Bay Area Salsa All-Stars  

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Mon, 25 Jul 2016 02:29:58 +0000
Chicago Latin Jazz Festival 2016 Tom was on hand at this summer's Chicago Latin Jazz Festival in Humboldt Park to photograph the John Santos Sextet. Click here for the full gallery.

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Sun, 24 Jul 2016 21:32:46 +0000
Pupy & El Noro @ Cubadisco 2016 En La Habana durante Cubadisco 2016

ENGLISH:   El Noro will be a special guest on the radio program From the Isle of Music  Mon-Tues, July 18-19.  For more information, see the From the Isle of Music Facebook page .  The program will also feature a couple of songs from his new album SIn Escala
ESPAÑOL:  El Noro será el invitado especial en el progama radial From the Isle of Music Lun-Mar 18/19 de Julio. Pará más información, vea la Página Facebook de From the Isle of Music   El programa va a proponer un par de temas del nuevo álbum Sin Escala

 

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Sun, 17 Jul 2016 21:50:20 +0000
Hennes Latin Stage Hennes Latin Stage 2016

Tomorrow marks a very special edition of Hennes Latin Stage at the International Four Day Marches in Nijmegen, Netherlands. Hennes Latin Stage celebrates ten years of bringing the best in Cuban music in a free concert for an international crowd . But that's not all! The Four Day Marches are celebrating their centennial this year and the headliner for Hennes is Elito Revé y Su Charangón who are celebrating 60s years. If you're in The Low Countries, stop by and catch a concert. Orquesta Revé will perform Monday 18th - Wednesday 20th.

Henri van Woerkum - Hennes himself - took some time out of the preparations to answer a few questions for Timba.com

How does it feel to have reached the 10 year marker?

Proud, very proud. We started small scale and are now operating with 30 hardworking volunteers. Without them it would no be possible.

Do you have any reflections about the festival over the years or about the conjunction of the three anniversaries: Hennes 10 years Nijmegen marches 100 and Revé 60?

We are very proud to celebrate Orquesta Revé's  60th anniversary with our 10th. BTW... this will be their 3rd time rocking here at Hennes Latin Stage, multiple days.  Because of the 4 day marches, the city of Nijmegen (170.000 inhabitants)  is loaded with people, more or less 1.000.000 . A percentage pass our free festival, some stay and come back for it the next year. This is how our audience grows.

Why did you choose the unique format of featuring the same band for more than one night in a row?


These famous Cuban bands have a large repertoire. They can easily fill three nights without being boring. For the bands themselves, when they are on tour in Europe, it is good to be 3 days in succession in the same place on weekdays and not weekends.  We take good care of them. Good hotel. Good food, and since two years ago even Cuban food.

Hennes Latin Stage Hennes Latin Stage as seen from above

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Sun, 17 Jul 2016 15:03:05 +0000
Cubadisco at 20
ENGLISH:
  Cubadisco 2016, the 20th anniversary edition,  took place in Havana in May.  Bill Tilford was there (as was photographer Patrick Bonnard from France), and during the weeks to come, he will be posting reviews of the recordings, galleries from the events and other items.  Visit our Cubadisco 2016 section for album reviews, concert photos, documents and more. 

Elito Revé receives a Gran Premio (photo Patrick Bonnard)

ESPAÑOL : Cubadisco 2016, la edición del 20 aniversario, tuvo lugar en La Habana en mayo. Bill Tilford asistió el evento (fotógrafo Patrick Bonnard de Francia también) y durante las próximas semanas, él va a publicar reseñas de las grabaciones, galerías de los eventos y otros artículos. Visite nuestra sección de Cubadisco 2016 para reseñas de álbumes, fotos de conciertos, documentos y más .


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Mon, 04 Jul 2016 15:25:19 +0000
Bembé Maykel Blanco & Su Salsa Mayor
Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor are in Rovinj, Croatia tonight at the Croatian Summer Salsa Festival. I have been hearing fantastic things about this festival and may just have to go next year. After tonight they will play Munich and Zurich. In August Maykel and the Mayores will be in Buenos Aires. Click here for tour information.

Maykel has also released the first official video from the Havana Festival de la Salsa held this February. That's another festival I need to go to next year. Enjoy!

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Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:31:32 +0000
Orquesta Revé Begins 60th Anniversary Tour Elito Revé y su Charangón Europe 2016 The VIII National Changüí Festival ends today in Guantanamo and Elito Revé y su Charangón begin their European Summer Tour on Saturday July 2nd at  the Festival Couleur Cafe in Brussels. The tour will close with three days at Hennes Latin Stage in Nijmegen July 18-20th. Click here for the tour dates . And if you don't find one near you this summer, don't despair! They are already booking dates for an Autumn tour in November including my own town of Stockholm!

This is a special tour as 2016 marks the 60th anniversary of Orquesta Revé. They recently released the CD "La salsa tiene mi son" with remakes of many of the orchestra's greatest hits featuring illustrious guest artists, such as Gilberto Santa Rosa and El Canario. In honor of the imminent tour they released a new single last week called "Que el sol salga" featuring the lovely and talented Susel Orietta Gómez better know as "La China". Dale clic to listen.

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Mon, 27 Jun 2016 17:10:53 +0000
SEPTETO SANTIAGUERO COMES TO LINCOLN CENTER

ENGLISH: Septeto Santiaguero will perform at Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing on Tuesday, June 28 at 6:30 PM.   A performance venue of this caliber in the United States is long overdue for this group, whose album No Quiero Llanto won a Latin GRAMMY® last year.  If I were in New York, I would be there.   For complete details and tickets, see the Lincoln Center's event page. 

ESPAÑOL :  Septeto Santiaguero se presentará en el Midsummer Night Swing del Lincoln Center el martes, 28 de junio a las 6:30 PM.  Un lugar de actuación de este calibre en los Estados Unidos es largo atrasado para este grupo, cuyo álbum No Quiero Llanto ganó un GRAMMY Latino®  el año pasado.  Si yo estuviera en Nueva York, estaría allí.  Para obtener todos los detalles y entradas, consulte la página de eventos del Lincoln Center.

To see a gallery of their May 2016 concert at the Teatro Nacional in Havana / Para ver una galería de fotos de su concierto del mayo 2016 en el Teatro Nacional en La Habana, 
Click Here / Haga click aquí

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Sun, 26 Jun 2016 10:35:52 +0000
Buena Fe Begin US Tour Buena Fe Photo courtesy of Buena Fe @Facebook

Tonight Buena Fe , Cuba's most popular trova-fusion band, kicks off their US tour with a concert at the James L. Knight center in Miami. From their humble beginnings as a duo in Guantanamo, Buena Fe has grown to become a mega-group on the island, with a fan base spanning ages 9 to 90 and a faithful international following as well. This year Buena Fe is working to increase their exposure throughout the Americas, and the US tour will include some firsts such as their first concerts in Puerto Rico, Houston and Tampa. Later this year they will tour Argentina and possibly Chile.

Musically Buena Fe mix pop and rock with just about anything they want: changüí, son, rumba, reggae. But what really makes Buena Fe stand out are the lyrics. Descendants of the Nueva Trova movement, they always have a message that is worth listening to whether they deliver it in a ballad or via double entendre in a changüí. Recent collaborations with timba and reggaeton bands include "La Carta" with Alain Daniel, "Esa mujer" with Orquesta Revé, "Cuba isla bella" with Orishas, and Los 4 who recorded a timbaton cover of Buena Fe's first hit "No juegues con mi soledad".

If you are unfamiliar with their music check out their Vevo page: BuenaFeVEVO . I wil just give you a sample of one of my favorites Pi 3,14 - which has now entered the vernacular as a popular refrain that you can hear in "Yo vengo de Cuba" by F Clan and Havana D'Primera. Click here for the list of tour dates and venues.

Buena Fe on social media
http://www.facebook.com/buenafe.oficial
http://buena-fe.com/
http://twitter.com/buenafe_musica
http://instagram.com/buenafe
http://www.youtube.com/buenafevevo

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Sat, 25 Jun 2016 05:35:58 +0000
Wil Campa Canadian Tour Starts Today Wil Campa

Wil Campa kicks off his Canadian Tour in Medicine Hat, Alberta tonight. He will be in Canada until mid August. Click here for a list of the tour dates .

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Thu, 23 Jun 2016 19:38:55 +0000
Cuba Isla Bella A few weeks ago when Orishas announced they were getting back together they really made my day. This is my kind of Cuban urban music with intelligent lyrics and a taste of son and Cuban music traditions combined with modern hip-hop. Today they released their first new single,  "Cuba Isla Bella" featuring a pantheon of guest artists from various genres: Buena Fe, Descemer Bueno, Issac Delgado, Leoni, Waldo Mendoza, Laritza Bacallao, Gente de Zona and Pedrito Martínez. You can buy the single at digital retailers such as iTunes and Amazon.

Orishas will follow up the release of the new single with a US tour. Click here for the tour dates . Now sit back and enjoy "Cuba Isla Bella" and join me in hoping for a renaissance of Cuban hip-hop!

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Fri, 17 Jun 2016 18:50:56 +0000
Pedrito Martínez Group CD Release Today

Here's Tom's third gallery from the recording session. And Part II if you missed it.

Here's a link to the new album just released today.

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Sat, 11 Jun 2016 01:19:57 +0000
VIII National Changüí Festival Elio Revé Matos @ La Loma del Chivo

June 23th - 27th Guantanamo will again play host to the National Changüí Festival. This year the festival is dedicated to three important anniversaries: the 100th year anniversary of the birth of tresero and founder of the group Changüí Guantanamo - Chito Latamblét, the 60th anniversary of Orquesta Revé, and the 25th anniversary of Los Morenos del Changüí. It is also dedicated to the Guantanamo Diaspora - especially the artists and musicians.

So what does the festival have to offer?

The main activities are:
• Contest for best new Changüí song in honor of Pedro Speck.
• Competitions for treseros, bongoceros, marimbuleros and dancers.
• Rafael Inciarte Seminar: Seeds, Parallels and Projections of Changui
• Meeting Families, Musicians and traditions.
• Traditions in projection
• Changüí and Cumbancha, now. The World's Longest Changüí.
• Tributes, dances, community changüí parties, exhibitions, audiovisual materials.

The concerts will include the participation of Elito Revé y su Charangón, Oderquis Revé and Pancho Amat y su Grupo. There are usually also timba groups participating, but I haven't seen a list yet. If you are in Cuba I strongly recommend making a trip to Guantanamo for this event. While there you should also try to attend some of the community Changüí parties. I went to la Casa del Changüí in Yateras in 2007 and it was really a wonderful experience. I have posted some of my pictures from Guantanamo and Yateras for your viewing pleasure.

The contact information to sign up for all of the events is below, but many events are also free or just require payment of the entry fee to the Casa del Changüí.

Registration fees:
National Participants 50.00 CUP
Foreign participants 50.00 CUC

Contact:
Paradiso Agency. Artex
Email: paradiso@scgt.artex.cu

Elito Revé y su Charangón perform Fresquecito from their 50th anniversary at the
3rd National Changüí Festival in 2007

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Wed, 01 Jun 2016 10:28:59 +0000
Pedrito Martínez Habana Dreams Sessions, Part II Click here for Tom's full gallery.

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Sun, 29 May 2016 14:30:55 +0000
Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor Europe 2016 Maykel Blano & su Salsa Mayor in Rome Photo courtesy of Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor Official Facebook page


Te escapaste

Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor are in full swing with their Summer 2016 tour of Europe . They have played three gigs in Italy where Dancer/Singer Maykel Fonts joined in performing his duet "Dale lo que lleva" with Maykel B and adding some spice to "Bembé" with his world renowned rumba moves. Tomorrow Maykel B and the boys will be at the "I am Cuban All Star Festival" in Corfu, Greece and they will be in my own town of Stockholm, Sweden this Friday May 27th where they will appear with our own Calle Real!

Calle Real in turn has already performed several concerts this year in Ethiopia and France. Both bands released their latest CDs in December of 2015. Maykel Blanco released his fifth studio album "Que no me quiten la fe", which is also Cuba's first Blu Ray disc and Calle Real finally gave fans a long-awaited third album "Dime que?!". Both are excellent CDs and highly recommended. Stay tuned for the reviews (I apologize for falling behind in that). In the meantime you can enjoy a little concert video of both bands performing songs from their new CDs.

Maykel Blanco & Calle Real May 27 Stockholm Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor & Calle Real in Stockholm May 27


Calle real - Te lo di

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Mon, 23 May 2016 09:53:46 +0000
Los Van Van Return To New York & New Jersey As part of this year's Concert Cruises, S.O.Bs in New York is presenting Los Van Van in a special concert on the Infinity Yacht, Friday July 1, 2016. This is a 21+ show with doors opening at 9pm.

** For tickets click here or on the flyer below **

Los Van Van in New York - Infinity Yacht

The following day you can see Los Van Van in New Jersey at Schuetzen Park located at 3167 Kennedy Blvd. North Bergen, NJ 07047. Doors open at 8pm.

** For tickets click here or on the flyer below **

Los Van Van in New Jersey - Schuetzen Park

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Sat, 21 May 2016 15:18:08 +0000
La Charanga Habanera US Tour Charanga Habanera @BBKing New York

David and the boys are back in the USA with their first concert tonight at Twelve in Miami. At the top of the eastern seaboard you can catch them Sunday May 22nd at B.B. Kings in New York City. Click here to book your tickets in advance. 

If you can't make either of these concerts, click here to find one near you!

David's personal invitation to B. B. King's

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Fri, 20 May 2016 16:41:52 +0000
Orquesta Revé - 60th Anniversary Concert Elito Revé y su Charangón - 60th Anniversary

Tonight at Salon Rosado de la Tropical in Havana, Elito Revé y su Charangón will give a concert to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the charangón. It is also a part of the festivities surrounding Cubadisco 2016, which is appropriately themed Música Bailable this year. I hope our own Bill Tilford is able to attend this event and give us a first-hand account. This is a must-see concert for anyone who is in Havana. Special guests include Juan Carlos Alfonso, Issac Delgado, Mayito Rivera, Mandy Cantero, Paulo FG, Haila, Christian & Rey, David Blanco and Grupo Moncada.

The anniversary concert comes right on the heels of the release of "La salsa tiene mi son", which we have been awaiting for years. You can find it at digital retailers and if you're in Havana I bet they'll be selling in hard-copy at the concert.

Timba.com congratulates Elito and all of the members of the charangón - past and present - for their 60 year anniversary.

Elito Revé y su Carangón - La Salsa Tiene Mi Son Available now at online retailers!

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Fri, 20 May 2016 07:57:20 +0000
Charanga Habanera US Tour Starts Friday! La Charanga Habanera Los Chamacos de La Charanga Habanera - photo courtesy of Linda van der Eems

David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera start their US tour in Miami on Friday May 20th with a concert at Twelve Club. I haven't seen them live since 2013 and there have been some changes since then such as Andy Fornet joining on timbales and the singer line-up is now Leisdel Gonzales Castillo, David Montes de Oca, Alexis David Zamora, Heikel Valdes and Chico de la Rosa.  The tour will also take them to California, Washington State, Texas, New York and New Jersey. Click here to find a concert near you.

To catch up with the band check out the new promotional video "A Lak Lak". Special thanks to Linda van der Eems for keeping everyone updated with "La última".

 

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Tue, 17 May 2016 14:51:07 +0000
The Habana Dreams Sessions: Pedrito Martínez Group Tom has posted 8 videos and the first of 3 galleries from the 2015 Havana recording session that produced the Pedrito Martínez Group's second CD, Habana Dreams, to be released on June 10.

Click here for the photo gallery

Click here for an index of the videos 
(don't forget to like & subscribe)

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Sun, 15 May 2016 02:06:45 +0000
SF Dance Alert!

Santiago based dancer master Jorge Luna Roque is bringing his amazing all-star rueda troupe to the Brava Theatre in San Francisco next weekend, May 21st & 22nd. As you can see in the clip above, these guys are amazing. 

Saturday, May 21st 
Vip Pre-Party 6:30-8:00 
Show 8:00-9:30 
Dance party at Brava 9:30-11:00
Sunday, May 22nd
8:00-9:30 Show

Click here for tickets

Click here for the full press release.

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Fri, 13 May 2016 03:27:53 +0000
Siempre Que Llueve Escampa Siempre que llueve escampa

Maykel Blanco & Su Salsa Mayor have just released their new video for "Siempre que llueve escampa" - one of my favorite songs from the brilliant album "Que no me quiten la fe" . It is quite funny and the first time the band has done an animated video. Enjoy the video and get ready to catch the band live on their European tour, which begins in Rome on May 20th. Click here for all the concert dates.

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Mon, 09 May 2016 15:21:09 +0000
Issac & Pedrito Tomorrow - Symphony Space, NY

                                   Click here for Information on Sunday's New York Show

Click here for Tom Ehrlich's Gallery from last weekend's SF Show

Click here for Kevin's Moore's review of the SF Show

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Sat, 07 May 2016 14:31:29 +0000
Aisar Hernandez & El Expresso de Cuba Aisar & El Expresso de Cuba Havana Premier

Aisar Hernandez & El Expresso de Cuba will have their Havana debut tomorrow at 9:00pm in the Salón Juan Formell at El Sauce. The band performed previously this year in Varadero and has been busy with television and radio appearances, but this will be the first chance for the Havana audiences to see the band live. We at Timba.com are very excited to see what Aisar & El Expresso have in store for us. They recently signed an exclusive five-year contract with Bis Music, and we can expect their first CD, "lLlegó el Expresso",  to drop soon. If you're in Havana don't miss this historic first concert.

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Thu, 05 May 2016 14:17:38 +0000
Issac & Pedrito Martínez Group Coming to NY

Click Here for Information on Sunday's New York Show

Check this space for Tom Ehrlich's Upcoming Photo Gallery

Issac Delgado and the Pedrito Martínez Group supplied a historic launch for this year’s Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, a 75-show, summer long series of free daytime concerts with exquisite sound in a gorgeous and relaxed setting. The second and final show in this mini-tour will be on May 8th at Symphony Space in New York City.

Issac Delgado’s bands have always been like finely tuned engines. After carefully choosing and integrating each component through months of rehearsal and touring, he takes to the stage with the steely control and yet reckless abandon of a Formula 1 racecar driver.

Most of the players in such a musical engine play the roles of cylinders, stroking in perfect and predictable synchronization. But like an engine, a great band also needs spark plugs – one or more explosive musicians who add bursts of creativity and unpredictable surges of adrenaline and aggressivity at just the right times. Sparking the first great Issac band were Giraldo Piloto, Tony Pérez and Andrés Miranda; next came Melón, Jimmy Branly and José Miguel; then the epic 1997 incarnation with Alain Pérez, Melón and Georvis Pico; then the Y2K powerhouse featuring Los Yoeles, Páez and Domínguez; then the great unsung 2000 band with Frank Rubio and Bombón Reyes.

Of course, the spark plug analogy applies to some extent to all the great bands: Van Van with Samuel Formell; El Trabuco with Riverón; the great late 1990s Charanga Habanera with Tirso Duarte, Yulién Oviedo and Orlando Mengual; their Bamboleo counterpart with Ludwig Núñez and Rafael Paceiro; and of course Paulito’s astounding combination of the aforementioned Yoeles, Sergio Noroña and Tomasito Cruz. We can hear this same “spark plug” dynamic at work in with bongosero Agustín Gutiérrez in the late-1920s Sexteto Habanero and Lilí Martínez in Arsenio’s legendary conjunto, to say nothing of the litany of great quinto and Iyá players of the folkloric realm.

But with the exception of Miles Davis, no one has assembled more of these monstrous bands than Issac, and he’s apparently got himself a new one in Havana, with his phenomenal pianist son Issacito and several young studs even I haven’t heard of, fresh out of La ENA – la nueva nueva generación.

In 1999, Issac had a dozen historically great bands chomping at his heels, but by the early 2000s, the timberos’ dreams of world conquest had come under withering attack at the hands of reguetón, sequencers, DJs, crippling emigration from Havana, the Bush Administration, and the MP3-driven collapse of the global recording industry. And there was further damage of the self-inflicted variety. Far too many jazz and Latin recordings of recent years suffer from what I call DTS: Dream Team Syndrome. Think how much of your hard drive or CD shelf is consumed with generic albums featuring all of your favorite legends; all playing together; all playing one rumba, one chachachá, one timba barn-burner and one danzón; all sounding remarkably like hundreds of other albums you’ve bought (all right, stolen) (all right, downloaded, possibly with some sort of minimal online monetization scheme involved).

It was in this depressing, debilitating, and very much ongoing musical environment that the rapidly shrinking number of actual working bands began to shrink rapidly in size: from four percussionists to two; from five horns to two; from dedicated coristas and tecladistas to utility men performing multiple roles. But out of this forced austerity, something extraordinary emerged: it was called The Pedrito Martínez Group. Birthed through a process of hundreds of gigs at a small mid-town Manhattan restaurant called Guantanamera, PMG was not a big engine stripped down for better mileage; it was a new kind of vehicle, built from the ground up to produce even more explosive energy at a fraction of the decibel level and with a clarity and precision of interlocking parts impossible with a 14-piece orquesta. If its mammoth predecessors relied on cylinders and spark plugs; PMG had only spark plugs – four of them – spitting fire into every beat. Gone were the horns; gone were the interlocking bells; gone were the guitar and second keyboard. PMG wasn’t even a conjunto – just congas with cajón, a dramatically reimagined hand bell, bass and piano – and yet the quartet played with the power of Van Van and the creative spark of one of Issac’s legendary timba big bands. 

Dream Team Syndrome notwithstanding, the idea of Issac Delgado & Son putting this new type of race car through its paces seemed like something that might just work brilliantly. And so it did. PMG is precisely the type of hyper-creative and wildly improvisational but rock solid rhythm section that Issac has spent his career soaring over. This may or may not herald the dawning of the next great era of Cuban music – probably not – but even if it never happens again, this Sunday's show is not something that should be missed by any sane New York Cubanophile (yes, an oxymoron, I know). [Kevin Moore] [video by Tom Ehrlich-more photos coming shortly]

Recording and Touring News: 

1. PMG’s latest album, Habana Dreams, which features Issac on the title track, is due out in a month but advance copies will be on sale at the New York show. Ned Sublette’s liner notes alone make it worth acquiring this one the old-fashioned way.

2. Issac’s latest album, Made in Havana, is also due in about a month.

3. Issac’s Cuban band is in the visa interview stage and likely to begin touring the US later this year.

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Mon, 02 May 2016 22:04:00 +0000
Pedrito Martínez Group with Issac Delgado!

Wow - either one of these artists would be big news, but together it's a revelation. Issac is famous for his improvisation and his ability to soar over some of the greatest rhythm sections in Cuban music history and as we all know, PMG makes the short list in that particularly category. It's a marriage made in heaven at one of the great outdoor venues. Click here for more info.

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Sun, 01 May 2016 01:24:39 +0000
Cuba on Tour

Juan de Marcos and the Afro-Cuban all Stars kick their East Coast Tour off tonight at Landmark Theatre in Port Washington, New York. Juan de Marcos is known for working with the highest caliber musicians. This year's line-up featuresEmilio Suárez on lead vocals. The band will play 12 gigs so check out their updated list of tour dates to find a concert near you.

Manolito y su Trabuco Tour 2016

If you're in Europe you can catch Manolito y Su Trabuco at Kursalon in Vienna on the second day of their month-long European tour that will take them to ten countries. Click here to find the Trabuca date nearest you!


A taste of some first class timba from their latest album "No puedo parar"

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Fri, 29 Apr 2016 14:34:58 +0000
An Iris Blooms in Santiago
ENGLISH:   Santiago has a relatively small but EXTREMELY impressive Jazz scene, and its epicenter is the Iris Jazz Club, right next to the Plaza de Marte.  It was modeled after the best Jazz clubs in both Cuba and other countries including the United States, and both the ambience and the sound are very impressive. 
ESPAÑOL:  Santiago tiene una escena relativamente pequeña pero extremadamente impresionante del Jazz, y su epicentro es el Iris Jazz Club, justo al lado de la Plaza de Marte. Fue modelado segun los mejores clubes de Jazz en Cuba y otros paises incluyendo Estados Unidos, y tanto el ambiente y el sonido son muy impresionantes. 


ENGLISH:   The building had a few previous lives and began operating as a Jazz club in 2012.  It has live music six nights per week and features both local talent and groups from Havana and beyond.  (Arturo O'Farrill performed there one night during my sojourn in Santiago). 
ESPAÑOL : El edificio tenia unas vidas anteriores y empezó sus opercaciones como un club de Jazz en 2012.  Se presenta música en vivo seis noches cada semana y cuenta con talento local, grupos de la Habana y más allá. (Arturo O'Farrill toco allí durante mi estancia en Santiago). 

ENGLISH: There is a cafeteria, Jazznamá, and a bar dedicated to Emiliano Salvador
ESPAÑOL :  Hay una cafetería, Jazznamá, y un bar dedicado a Emiliano Salvador

ENGLISH:  I had the opportunity to record my conversation with the Director of the Club, Robier González Garbey, about the history of the club and the Jazz Scene in Santiago.  You can listen to that conversation (in Spanish) here. 
I did the same with the agent for the club, Raydelis Guibert, and you can listen to that conversation (also in Spanish) here. 
ESPAÑOL :   Tuve la oportunidad de grabar mi conversación con el Director del Club, Robier González Garbey, acerca de la historia del club y la escena jazzistica en Santiago.  Puede escuchar la conversacíón en español aquí. 
Hice lo mismo con el agente para el club, Raydelis Guiber, y puede escuchar la conversacion (también en español aquí)

ENGLISH:  For a closer  look inside the club, see two photo galleries:  Albertico Lescay & Formas ,  and Arturo O'Farrill and Others  and the review of Ivan Acosta
ESPAÑOL :  Para ver más de cerca el interior del club, vea dos galerías:  Albertico Lescay & Formas y Arturo O"Farrill and Others  y la reseña de Ivan Acosta

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Wed, 27 Apr 2016 21:57:56 +0000
Daymé Arocena click here for full gallery

Daymé Arocena and her group, all living in Cuba, consists of Daymé on vocals and small percussion, Jorge Luis Lazarga on piano and Rafael Aldama on bass.  This young trio, all in their 20's, performed at The New Parish in Oakland California on April 3, 2016, played music which was an organic mixture of Afro-Cuban folkloric music, soul, salsa and jazz. [Tom Ehrlich]

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Mon, 25 Apr 2016 02:04:59 +0000
CUBADISCO 2016 APPROACHES / CUBADISCO 2016 SE ACERCA

ENGLISH:  Cubadisco 2016, Cuba's premiere awards program for recordings plus a week-long concert series, symposium and trade fair, will take place from May 14-22, 2016 and various locations in Havana.   This year's theme is Música  Bailable, and the Country of Honor is Mozambique.   We eagerly anticipate some special edition recordings in genres like Timba and can't wait to see what happens this year. 

In the meantime, we have prepared something special in the aftermath of Cubadisco 2015; our Cubadisco 2015 section now contains pages with links to reviews and videos of many of the nominees, especially in the dance music and Jazz categories.   This is an opportunity to dive deeper into these wonderful recordings, and the videos are (usually) excellent.   
You can visit the English language version of the section here. 

A program on shortwave radio which your servant hosts, From the Isle of Music, is dedicated to several different genres of Cuba's music and also features interviews with the artists in addition to the music.   One of the stations that transmits the program is in Germany, the other in the United States. 

ESPAÑOL: Cubadisco 2016, el programa de premiaciónes más importante en Cuba para la música grabada, además de ser una serie de conciertos durante una semana, un simposio y una feria comercial, tendrá lugar del 14 al 22 de mayo de 2016, en varios lugares de La Habana. El tema de este año es Música Bailable, y el País de Honor es Mozambique. Esperamos con muchisimo entusiasmo algunas grabaciones de edición especial en géneros como la Timba y no podemos esperar a ver qué va a pasar este año.

Mientras tanto, hemos preparado algo especial en las secuelas del Cubadisco 2015; nuestra sección de Cubadisco 2015 ahora contiene páginas con enlaces a reseñas y videos de muchos de los nominados, especialmente en la categorias de música de baile y el Jazz. Es una oportunidad para profundizar más en estas maravillosas grabaciones y los videos son (usualmente) excelentes.
Se puede visitar la versión en español de la sección aquí.

Un programa radial de onda corta, de lo cual su siervo es presentador, From the Isle of Music, se dedica a multiples géneros diferentes de la música de Cuba y también cuenta con entrevistas a los artistas, además de la música. Una de las emisoras que transmiten el programa está en Alemania, la otra  en los Estados Unidos.

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Wed, 20 Apr 2016 22:22:41 +0000
Cubanismo Gallery From Tom Ehrlich

Click here for the full gallery.

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Sat, 02 Apr 2016 16:56:47 +0000
El Baile de la Palangana - Video

Emilio Frias "El Niño" y La Verdad are currently touring Venezuela but yesterday they released the official video for "El baile de la palangana", a whimsical song that has been popular at concerts for months now. The new CD is going by the working title "Más Duro" and as we have mentioned before, it features a number of guest artists such as El Canario Issac Delgado and Alexander Abreu. The band will be touring Europe in May-June and will visit at least nine countries. Stay tuned. We will soon update the tours page with the full list of confirmed concerts.

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Thu, 31 Mar 2016 13:51:40 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Photo-Report on La Rumba Q' Tumba

[click here for the full gallery] For the past two years, DJ Leydis has been bringing a “little bit of Cuba” to the San Francisco Bay Area. Once a month, currently at The New Parish in Oakland, California, DJ Leydis and a group of her friends present a Cuban House Party (called La Rumba Q' Tumba), with DJs Leydis and Walt Digz spinning hot timba dance music, alternating with live performances by Bay Area rumberos. [Tom Ehrlich]

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Sun, 27 Mar 2016 22:31:06 +0000
Cubanismo all Weekend at SF JAZZ!

After their successful show at Yoshi's last year, Cubanismo is back for a string of big concerts at SF JAZZ: tonight, Saturday and a Sunday matinee. Click here for the details. And here's Tom Ehrlich's gallery from the 2015 show.

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Fri, 25 Mar 2016 19:23:02 +0000
Bábaro Fines y su Mayimbe in Europe Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe Europe 2016

Bárbaro Fines y suu Mayimbe - Te Vi Nacer

On the heels of the release of "Te Vi Nacer" - their third and hottest CD yet - Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe are in Europe and will kick off their month-long tour tonight with a concert at Palacio de la Salsa in Riccione, Italy. The tour will take them to Italy, France, Spain, Germany and Sweden.  Click here to find a concert near you. The band is also planning a tour of the US later this year, so stay tuned for more information.

Emilio Frias "El Niño" y La Verdad in Venezuela

Emilio Frias "El Niño" y La Verdada in Venezuela

Also touring right now Emilio Frias "El Niño" y La Verdad are in Venezuela for three weeks. We have updated the tours page so check it out. We know that El Niño y La Verdad have been in the studio working on their next release, so stay tuned for updates about the new CD, which features a number of guest artists including José Alberto "El Canario" and Alexander Abreu.

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Thu, 24 Mar 2016 09:41:20 +0000
¡Cubanismo! hits the SF Jazz Center tomorrow "History was made earlier this week when President Obama became the 2nd sitting American president to visit Cuba in nearly 90 years, and while all eyes (and ears) continue to await the results of the recent thaw in US-Cuban relations, it is clear that the Bay Area has had a long-standing love affair with Cuban music for decades." -- Pianist & Composer Rebeca Mualeón, form an interview with Jesús Alemañy of ¡Cubanismo!, performing at the SF Jazz Center this week March 24-28. Click here to read the full interview. 

Jesús Alemañy & ¡Cubanismo! March 24-27 @ the SF Jazz Center

Jesús Alemañy & ¡Cubanismo!
March 24-27 @ the SF Jazz Center
7:30 pm every night
SFJAZZ Center
201 Franklin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Click HERE for tickets
Box office 415-788-7353

check out and listen to ¡Cubanismo! on youtube

¡Cubanismo! founder Jesús Alemañy came to fame as a brilliant 15-year-old trumpet player for the iconic Cuban group Sierra Maestra – the band that led to the formation of Buena Vista Social Club – and carries on in that fiery Cuban tradition. Alemañy’s all-star orchestra plays sizzling dance tunes full of swaggering horn charts and wild polyrhythms that recall the vintage big-band son sound of the 1940s and 50s, embracing traditional rumba, cha-cha, danzon and pa’ca rhythms arranged in the classic descarga, or “jam session” style. Their 1996 self-titled debut album was a global smash, listed in the Top Ten lists of Billboard, Latin Beat, and Afropop Worldwide that year. In the two decades that followed, ¡Cubanismo! have toured the world relentlessly, while releasing a series of recordings that have expanded the venerated son sound to incorporate influences from American music, in particular the swampy, second-line rhythms of New Orleans, as well as the dancehall sounds of Jamaica. Since its beginning, ¡Cubanismo! has been a proving ground for many of Cuba’s greatest young musicians including pianist Alfredo Rodríguez and bassist Carlitos del Puerto, and the current incarnation is no exception, presenting a blazing ensemble of horns, rhythm section and percussion that transforms a concert hall into a hot night in Havana. 

Jesús Alemañy & ¡Cubanismo! March 24-27 @ the SF Jazz Center

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Wed, 23 Mar 2016 15:37:30 +0000
Ian Stewart Reviews Mike Eckroth's Piano & Rhythm

Click here for Ian's review of this exciting new album with a Who's Who list of New York-based guest musicians: Dandy Rodríguez, Pedrito Martínez, Pepe Espinosa, Rubén Rodríguez, and many more.

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Mon, 21 Mar 2016 19:46:56 +0000
Ivan Acosta y su Grupo De Cuba Somos
ENGLISH:  One of the mainstays of the small but impressive Jazz scene in Santiago de Cuba is Ivan Acosta and his Grupo De Cuba Somos.   I had the opportunity to meet him, record an interview and listen to his music in December.   You can read a review, see some photos and listen to the interview (in Spanish) here.  You can also listen to the interview and some music by the group on the radio program From the Isle of Music on Monday night, March 21; for more information, see the From the Isle of Music Facebook page. 
ESPAÑOL:  Uno de los pilares de la pequeña pero impresionante escena del jazz en Santiago de Cuba es Ivan Acosta y su Grupo De Cuba Somos. Tuve la oportunidad de conocerlo, grabar una entrevista y escuchar su música en diciembre. Usted puede leer una reseña, ver algunas fotos y escuchar la entrevista (en español) aquí. Tambíen pueden escuchar la entrevista y la música del grupo en el programa radial From the Isle of Music el lunes, 21 marzo; para más infomación, visiten la página Facebook de From the Isle of Music

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Sun, 20 Mar 2016 22:50:34 +0000
Conga Pa' Cerrar Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera have just released the official video clip for the single "Conga pa' cerrar" from their latest album "La vuelta al mundo". This is another blazing arrangement by these masters of Timba and cubanía . They have been working on their new CD and in February released a little teaser of the new song "Siempre sí" on the Havana D'Primera Facebook page . This month they perform in Venezuela, next month Peru, and Alexander has also recorded on the upcoming CD by Emilio Frias "El Niño" y La Verdad. 2016 is going to be a great year for timba releases!

And here is the teaser of "Siempre sí".

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Sat, 19 Mar 2016 16:11:51 +0000
More Interesting Events in the US ENGLISH:  On Friday, March 18, a stellar collection of artists from Cuba will be performing at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas: TelmaryYissy Garcia & Bandancha, Dayme Arocena, X Alfonso y La Flota, Kelvis Ochoa. This is a "do not miss" lineup.   
ESPAÑOL:  El viernes 18 de marzo, una colección estelar de artistas de Cuba se presentará en el South by Southwest Festival en Austin, Texas: Telmary, Yissy García y Bandancha, Dayme Arocena, X Alfonso y La Flota, Kelvis Ochoa.   Se trata de una "no se lo pierdan " alineación.

And in Chicago.....



Master percussionist Joaquin "El Pulpo" Pozo will be in town to teach some master classes and to perform as a guest artist with the Angel d'Cuba Septet.   
The classes are:
1. Thursday, 3/17, 7:30pm:  Latin Music School, 2725 W. Division, Chicago,
Facebook page for event:  https://www.facebook.com/events/987941537947443/
2.  Saturday, 3/19, 12-2 PM;  Worlds of Music Chicago, 4161 N. Damen
For more information, see http://www.worldsofmusicchicago.com/#!events/c7bs

The performance with the Angel d'Cuba Septet 
is
Friday, March 18, 8:30pm
Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
For more information, see:

https://www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2016/11-24-2015-gdp-angel-dcuba-830pm/

Angel d'Cuba's group is also sporting Roy McGrath on saxophone and Edwin Sanchez on keyboards.  This could be a great show.  

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Thu, 17 Mar 2016 00:10:53 +0000
Pedrito Martínez Group with Issac Delgado!

Wow - either one of these artists would be big news, but together it's a revelation. Issac is famous for his improvisation and his ability to soar over some of the greatest rhythm sections in Cuban music history and as we all know, PMG makes the short list in that particularly category. It's a marriage made in heaven at one of the great outdoor venues. Click here for more info.

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Mon, 14 Mar 2016 20:50:06 +0000
Cuba Está de Moda Yulién Oviedo has just released his new video for "Cuba está de moda" and it couldn't have arrived at a more propitious time with visits later this month by President Obama and The Rolling Stones who will give a free concert. An enjoyable salsaton with fun coros and even a tip of the hat to the US national anthem. Well played Yulién, well played.

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Mon, 14 Mar 2016 14:39:51 +0000
Some Interesting Events in the US This Weekend Miami:  This weekend, Global Cuba Fest returns to Miami. This year's theme centers on Cuban artists in Spain.  Of special interest to TIMBA.com readers is the March 12 concert by Ivan Melon Lewis, who has made his mark in both Timba and Jazz.  For more information and tickets, see http://www.fundarte.us/fundarte_event.php?id=221 



New York:
 On Saturday, March 12, Cuban Jazz giant Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Esperanza Fernández, one of the world's leading Flamenco singers, present Flamenco Meets Cuba (Oh Vida! A Tribute to Beny Moré and Manolo Caracol).  This will take place at Roulette in Brooklyn.   For complete details and tickets, visit 
http://robertbrowningassociates.com/flamencomeetscuba.html

Here is a video of Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Esperanza Fernández together:

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Wed, 09 Mar 2016 23:32:58 +0000
Encuentro Internacional Danzónero Miguel Failde
Este encuentro, que tiene lugar del 30 de marzo al 3 de abril en la Ciudad de Matanzas,  incluye clases, conciertos, talleres, un concurso de composición y mucho más.   El tribunal de premiación incluye maestros como Joaquín Betancourt Jackman, Maria Victoria Oliver y Alejandro Falcón
Para ver la convocatoria y aprender más acerca del encuentro, haga clic aquí
Para escuchar un anuncio radial, haga clic aquí

El 30 de marzo se lanzará el nuevo álbum Llegó la Failde por Orquesta Miguel Failde (EGREM 2016). El lanzamiento tendra lugar en un evento especial desde la Tropicana Varadero, en vivo por TV Cubana. Pueden escuchar una entrevista con Ethiel Failde, Director de la orquesta,  en el programa radial From the Isle of Music el lunes, 7 de marzo en las Americas entre 7-8pm EST en WBCQ, 7490 KHz (onda corta), escuchable via Internet durante la hora del programa (y solamente durante esa hora) también. 

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Sun, 06 Mar 2016 22:37:37 +0000
SalsaRueda Festival Photos from Tom Ehrlich

Tirso Duarte and Timbalive tore it up at the amazing 8th annual San Francisco SalsaRueda Festival

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Tue, 23 Feb 2016 00:12:54 +0000
Tirso Duarte & Timbalive

(photos by Leonel Rogier) Tirso Duarte returns to California for the first time since November, 2000 at the 8th annual San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival at the Hotel Whitcomb in San Francisco, backed by Timbalive (Saturday night). Timbalive will also - as they do each year - play their own show of original material Sunday night to close the festival.

I'll be giving a lecture on Tirso and his piano style on Saturday afternoon (4:30 to 6:00). Here's a youtube video to give you a preview of some (but not all!) of the content:

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Sat, 13 Feb 2016 01:40:21 +0000
New Timbalive Release / Nuevo Lanzamiento de Timbalive ENGLISH:  Timbalive has a new release, Gasolina de avion, with a number of guest appearances including Descemer Bueno, Robertón, Los 4, Maykel Fonts and others.  You can read the review in English and watch the official video here. 

ESPAÑOL
:  Timbalive tiene un nuevo lanzamiento, Gasolina de avion, con un montón de invitados incluyendo Descemer Bueno, Robertón, Los 4, Maykel Fonts y otros.  Puede leer la reseña en español y ver el video oficial aquí. 

ENGLISH: For those who love most styles of Cuban music in addition to Timba, a new radio program, From the Isle of Music, features almost everything including Timba, Traditiional Son, Jazz cubano, Fusion, Rock, even a little classical.  More importantly, the program includes interviews (sometimes in English, sometimes in Spanish) with different Cuban artists each week. The program airs every Monday night in the Americas (Tuesday morning in Europe and Africa) on WBCQ, 7.490 MHz on shortwave (it also streams on the Internet during the hour of the broadcast). For more info, visit the WBCQ website or the From the Isle of Music Facebook page. The latter mentions the special guest for each upcoming program. 

ESPAÑOL: Para los amantes de la mayoría de los estilos de la música cubana, además de la Timba, un nuevo programa radial, From the Isle of Music, cuenta con casi todo, incluyendo la Timba, Son traditiional, Jazz cubano, Fusión, Fock, incluso un poco Clásica de vez en cuando.. Más importante, el programa incluye entrevistas (a veces en Inglés, a veces en Español) con diferentes artistas cubanos cada semana. El programa se transmite todos los lunes por la noche en las Américas (martes por la mañana en Europa y África) en WBCQ, 7.490 MHz en onda corta (también disponible via Internet durante la hora de la emisión). Para obtener más información, visite el sitio web de WBCQ o la página Facebook de From the Isle of Music. El último menciona el invitado especial para cada programa siguiente.

ENGLISH: Finally, The 8th Annual San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival takes place February 11-14 at the Hotel Whitcomb in San Francisco.  Among many other things, Tirso Duarte will perform with Timbalive, and Kevin Moore will present a lecture about Tirso Duarte.  Complete festival details can be found here. 
ESPAÑOL:  Por último, el 8° Festival de Rueda de Salsa en San Francisco tiene lugar de 11 a 14 febrero en el Hotel Whitcomb en San Francisco.  Entre muchas otras cosas, Tirso Duarte va a actuar con Timbalive, y Kevin Moore va a dar una conferencia acerca de Tirso Duarte.  Todos los detalles del festival se puede encontrar aquí. 

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Mon, 08 Feb 2016 06:28:14 +0000
Carnaval Cubano

MAYITO RIVERA - Carnaval Cubano 2016
Posted by Carnaval Cubano on Tuesday, February 2, 2016


Today marks the beginning of the annual Carnaval Cubano in Wroclow, Poland. The Carnaval includes concerts by FClan on Friday and Jose Torres y Salsa Tropical featuring Mayito Rivera on Saturday. You can see a short clip from one of their rehearsals above. In addition to the concerts, parties and dance shows at night, by day you can take part in dance and music workshops, lectures, a culinary presentation and on Sunday don't miss the noon screening of "The Black Roots of Salsa: The Emancipation of Cuban Rumba". Click here for the full program.

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Thu, 04 Feb 2016 06:02:48 +0000
Reviews, Reviews, Reviews...../ Reseñas, reseñas, reseñas....

ENGLISH:  EGREM has been very productive with some excellent new Jazz releases, all of which are worth listening to.  You can read reviews in English in our Reviews section
ESPAÑOL:  La EGREM ha estado muy productiva con unos excelentes lanzamientos del Jazz, todos los cuales que valen la pena escuchar.  Puede leer reseñas en Español en nuestra sección Reseñas. 
ENGLISH: Also,  a review of Gotas de Sabor by Magic Sax, Santiago de Cuba's answer to Habana Sax
ESPAÑOL:  Además, una reseña de Gotas de Sabor por Magic Sax, el equivalente santiaguero de Habana Sax

ENGLISH: Eliades Ochoa & Barbarito Torres entertained Chicago last weekend, you can read about it and view photos here. 
ESPAÑOL:  Eliades Ochoa y Barbarito Torres entretenieron Chicago el pasado fin de semana, puede leer al respecto y ver las fotos aquí.

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Tue, 02 Feb 2016 21:25:41 +0000
TIMBA LA Calixto Oviedo - Soultone

Get ready salseros of Los Angeles! Calixto Oviedo and TIMBA LA are bringing classic 90s timba to the land of LA Style Salsa. Calixto has put together a team of ten musicians to offer the City of Angles an authentic taste of what timba was like when the Havana scene was at it's most creative. The rhythm section is drums with timbales, congas, bass and piano. The horns are two trombones and two trumpets, and the vocals are by Julio César Bouza (Orquesta Reve and Tumbao Habana) and Lily Hernnández. TIMBA LA will have their debut performance on Saturday March 6th at La Trattoria 25. Book your table now!

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Sun, 31 Jan 2016 13:58:30 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Septeto Nacional Gallery Septeto Nacional, a Cuban music institution since 1927, performed to a sold out crowd at Brava Theater in San Francisco on January 17, 2016, playing their exquisite form of son. Six out of the seven were members of Septeto Nacional, but because of visa problems of their tres player, Iván Camblor, band leader, composer and tres player played with the group. Iván, who is originally from Cuba, lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and leads a local son group, Pellejo Seco. Tito González, local Cuban sonero, also sang vocals on a couple of songs.

Click here for the full gallery.

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Fri, 29 Jan 2016 02:35:54 +0000
Some Things to Come in Havana in 2016 I was at Jazz Plaza in Havana (and also in Santiago de Cuba) in December, and in the near future I will be sharing a lot of what I learned and experienced.  For the moment, there are a number of important events during the next few months in Havana that deserve your attention:

I.
1st Carnaval de la Salsa,  25-28 February, 2016. 
Maykel Blanco
is the producer of this street festival, which has a pretty stellar lineup:


For more information, there is a Facebook Page: Carnaval De La Salsa En Cuba


La XV Fiesta del Tambor Guillermo Barretto  (1-6 Marzo 2016, Habana) es un concurso y festival que atrae a más de 1000 músicos. 
El Centro Nacional de Música Popular convoca a la XV Edición del Concurso y Festival Internacional Fiesta del Tambor “Guillermo Barreto in Memoriam”, que se realizará en la Habana, del 1 al 6 de Marzo de 2016 y contará como sedes principales al Teatro Mella, Teatro Karl Marx, Sala Avenida, El Salón Rosado de La Tropical, Jardines del Teatro Mella
En este evento participarán importantes músicos y percusionistas nacionales e internacionales, las principales bandas de música popular bailable de Cuba, las compañías danzarias más destacadas del país, grupos de jazz, y grupos folklóricos, añadiendo que se impartirán Clases Magistrales de Percusión y Danza.
Como parte de las actividades del evento se realizarán dos Concursos Internacionales, uno de Percusión abierto a todas las edades y a todo el público, y el segundo de baile Casino también con carácter nacional e internacional para mayores de 15 años. Los ganadores de estos concursos recibirán premios de instrumentos musicales de firmas nacional e internacionalmente reconocidas como GON BOPS, SABIAN, PEARL, REGAL TIP, SONOC, EVANS, etc., y además la Cadena Hotelera Sol Meliá, la Agencia Paradiso y los sponsors del evento aportarán importantes reconocimientos tales como: estadía en sus instalaciones, diplomas acreditativos, etc.
La Agencia PARADISO es la receptora del evento.
Atentamente,
Giraldo Piloto
Presidente Fiesta del Tambor

Para más información, el sitio web es http://www.fiestadeltambor.cult.cu/


Cubadisco 2016  (May 14-22, 2016) & 1st Fiesta Mundial de Casino "Casino de Todos" (May 19-22, 2016), both in Havana Cuba

Cubadisco is part music awards (which carry the same level of prestige in Cuba that the GRAMMY awards carry in the United States), part symposium, part trade fair, part concert series, and this year the theme is Música Popular Bailable (Popular Dance Music),  Parallel with the event will be the 1st Fiesta Mundial de Casino, which will include workshops, dance parties and exhibitions. 
For more information in English, click here. 
Para más información en Español, haga clic aquí. 

In the near future, the Organizing Committee will be putting out a call to dance schools and casino groups that may wish to participate in the festival.   If you have a school or group that would like to inquire about participating, The President of the Organizing Committee is Juan Gómez, and his email cubadisco.acad@cubarte.cult.cu

En un futuro próximo, el Comité Organizador publicará una convocatoria para las escuelas de baile y grupos de casino que deseen participar en el festival. Si usted tiene una escuela o grupo que desea preguntar acerca de la participación, el Presidente del Comité Organizador es Juan Gómez, y su correo electronico es cubadisco.acad@cubarte.cult.cu 

NEW RADIO PROGRAM / NUEVO PROGRAMA RADIAL

ENGLISH:   Beginning February 1, yours truly (Bill Tilford) will be doing an hour-long radio program every Monday night from 8-9 PM EST called From the Isle of Music, dedicated to most of the genres of music that you can hear in Cuba.  More information @
From the Isle of Music
ESPAÑOL: A partir del 1 de febrero,  su servidor (Bill Tilford) va a hacer un programa radial de una hora todos los lunes por la noche de 8-9 PM EST llamada From the Isle of Music, dedicada a la mayoría de los géneros de la música que se puede escuchar en Cuba. Más información @ From the Isle of Music

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Sun, 24 Jan 2016 22:49:30 +0000
Llegó Aisar Hernandez Aisar Hernandez photo by Roberto Ruiz
Aisar Hernandez in the studio
Photo ©Roberto Ruiz. Used by permission

Today Aisar Hernandez, director, composer, arranger and bassist of El Expresso de Cuba – the newest group on Havana's popular dance music scene – held a press conference about this fledgling musical project. Sadly, Timba.com was not there. But Aisar did take time out of his busy schedule to do an interview for Timba.com. I also want to give a special thanks to Roberto Ruiz for allowing us to use some of his photos to bring some visuals to the interview.

For those of you who may be new to Timba, Aisar was musical director of the great orchestra Elito Revé y su Charangón for ten years, during which time they released the hit CDs "Fresquecito", "De que estamos hablando" and "La aplanadora de Cuba". In 2008 he also released four songs under the name El Expresso de Cuba, but Aisar stayed with Revé until December 2015 when he announced he would finally start his own band.

Knowing Aisar's talent as a composer and arranger and his command of Cuban popular dance music ranging from timba to more traditional music such as son, I have great expectations for this band. In the interview Aisar tells us not only about the band and how we can expect it to differ from the Charangón, but also about what it takes to be a good band leader and the difficulties of starting  a new orchestra in times such as these.
Click here to read the English translation of the interview.

Dale cliq aquí para leer la entrevista en el español original.

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Thu, 21 Jan 2016 17:30:08 +0000
Septeto Nacional Returns to the US (Updated) UPDATE: The Sunday show was sold out and a clinic (with lots of performing) has been added for Monday. Click here for more details.

Septeto Nacional will be in New York at Lehman College on January 16th (Orquesta Broadway opens) and at Brava Theatre in SF on the 17th. Stay tuned for other dates.

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Sat, 09 Jan 2016 21:15:34 +0000
Pepito Gomez New Single Pepito Gomez - Como le digo que no

One of the most iconic young Cuban voices is back with a new single. Pepito Gómez has released "Como le digo que no" as a single at CD Baby. The song is his own composition with an arrangement that combines the New York sound with Cuba. Pepito gave us a little interview.

Michelle: Tell us about the new single.

Pepito: I composed this song for people who are in love. When a relationship starts, your friends and family start giving their opinions, and even if people say that this relationship isn't right for you or that this partner is not for you, it's too late to say no to what is already in your heart. Neither age difference, nor color, nor race matter when there is love.

Michelle: Is this just a single or part of a future CD?

Pepito: This song is a single from a series of songs that I have composed with the intention of recording a CD in 2016. My goal is to go to sing in Europe to the audience that I haven't seen for a little while, and that write asking when I can go. I think this year will have the opportunity to return.

Michelle: Which musicians were involved in the recording?

Pepito: The song was recorded by musicians from different countries such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, Peru and New York. We have the opportunity o live together and bring to the music a little bit of flavor from every corner of the world. I am very happy that it is like this and that music serves to unite countries and musicians - that people can enjoy it and feel happy.

Michelle: Are you working on other projects as well?

Pepito: I have also a project that will involve several orchestras. I have already spoken with some directors who have said yes. I think it will be interesting if everything turns out as we plan. I think there's no doubt that the people who will enjoy it the most will be the dancers.

Click here to buy "Como le digo que no"

Bass:  Daymar Calvario  ...Cuba
Piano & Arrangement: Junito Davila .. Puerto Rico 
Congas: Mauricio Herrera Tamayo  ... Cuba 
Timbal: Bobby Allende ... Puerto Rico
Bongo: Jhair Sala  ... Peru 
Trumpet: Anibal Martinez  ...Puerto Rico
Trombone: Hommy Ramos  .... Puerto Rico
Coros: Carlos Acevedo y Papote Jimenez .... Puerto Rico
Lyrics , Music, Electric Tres & Production : Jose "Pepito" Gomez ... Cuba 
Mix & Mastering: Rolando Alejandro  ....Puerto Rico
Recording engineer: Adam Perez .... Dominican & Puertorican
Recorded in: Allerton Estudio Bronx NY 
General Production: Guararey Entertainment... NY

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Tue, 29 Dec 2015 15:13:22 +0000
Carnaval de la Salsa Carnaval de la Salsa - Havana

Maykel Blanco isn't content just maintaining his own band Salsa Mayor at the top of the charts year after year, as with their new release "Que no me quiten la fe" (review coming soon). He has also dedicated himself to finding new ways to promote Cuban music and dance, both on the island and internationally.

Part of this endeavor is the 1st annual Carnaval de la Salsa, which will take place in Havana from February 25-28. The program (which is still subject to change) includes concerts by the most popular timba bands in Cuba: Los Van Van, Issac Delgado, Klímax, Manolito y su Trabuco, Paulo FG, Tanja Pantoja, Havana D'Primera, Pupy y Los Que Son Son, El Niño y La Verdad, Elito Revé y Su Charangón, Bamboleo and of course Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor.

That is more than enough to make the Carnaval de la Salsa a must-attend event for any timba fan. But Maykel hasn't forgotten the dancers who want to work on their cubania . By day you can take part in workshops with well-known Cuban dance instructors and the special participation of Maykel Fonts.

For the parties, Maykel (Blanco) is also bringing in international DJs such as Jack El Calvo (France), El Samurai (Italy) and Patricia La Peruana (France), as well as Cuba's best-known timba DJ  - Mandy. There will  be comparsas every day, so this really is going to be an amazing event. I am tempted to ask for vacation, even though I just got back from Cuba three weeks ago. Book your plane tickets now before the prices go up! We will keep you updated, and don't forget to follow Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor at Facebook .

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Mon, 28 Dec 2015 06:05:37 +0000
¡¿Dime Qué?! Calle Real's third CD is available today at on-line digital retailers, just in time for Christmas!

Dime Qué - on sale now!

It has been a long road - six years to be exact - but with patience, dedication and faith the guys from Calle Real will celebrate the release of their third album with a release party tonight at Scala Theater in Stockholm, Sweden. I happen to be out-of-town as often seems to be the case when we have timba events in Stockholm, so I will not eb able to report on the party. But I have already bought the CD and can recommend it as an important addition to any timbero's collection, be you DJ, dancer or simply someone who likes to listen. If you're lucky enough to be at the concert tonight or catch them in concert next year - bring some extra cash and pick up a hardcopy! Stay tuned for the full album review!

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Mon, 21 Dec 2015 08:24:45 +0000
JAZZ PLAZA & OYE MI CANTO ENGLISH:   Jazz Plaza 2015, the 31st Edition of Havana's international Jazz Festival, will take place from December 17-20 in multiple venues in Havana.  This event includes classes, lectures and exhibits in the daytime along with multiple concerts every night in multiple venues in the city. This year's theme is Genres that Influence Jazz, and in addition to an excellent roster of Jazz artists, there will be a few invited guests from other genres including ZZ Top  and Kenny G  You can read a lot more about Jazz Plaza at the Decubajazz website. 
ESPAÑOL:    Jazz Plaza 2015, la 31a edición del Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza, se celebrará del 17 al 20 diciembre en múltiples sedes en La Habana. Este evento incluye clases, conferencias y exhibiciones durante el día junto con múltiples conciertos cada noche en multiples lugares en la ciudad.  El tema de este año es Géneros musicales que influyen en el Jazz, y además de una excelente lista de artistas de jazz, habrán unos invitados de otros géneros como ZZ Top  y Kenny G.  Pueden  leer mucho más sobre Jazz Plaza en  el sitio web Decubajazz.



ENGLISH:  Before that, the third edition of the vocal competition Oye Mi Canto concludes at the Complejo Cultural Heredia in Santiago de Cuba on Saturday, December 12.  This competition has been in progress since September. 
ESPAÑOL : Antes de eso, la tercera edición del concurso vocal Oye Mi Canto concluye en el Complejo Cultural Heredia en Santiago de Cuba el sábado, 12 de diciembre.  Este concurso ha estado en progreso desde septiembre.

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Thu, 10 Dec 2015 09:02:42 +0000
Timba for the Holidays Just in time for the holidays, two long-awaited timba releases will be dropping in December. First out is Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor with "Que no me quiten la fe", which will be available on December 18th. They are being very hush-hush about the 10 tracks on the album other than the songs we've already heard of such as "Te escapaste" and the title track. Maykel promises us that we'll be surprised.

No me quiten la fe

Calle Real is also back after a six-year wait. On December 21st they will release their third CD - "Dime qué". The album contains an intro and 10 tracks (see below). We've heard some of the new songs in recent live performances. At this point you can really say that Calle Real has a sello . Some things that stand out are the laid-back groove and the unusual harmonies in many of the songs. I really enjoy the role of the horns in the new arrangements as well. ButI will leave the album review for later. For now just remember to save the dates December 18th and 21st!

Dime qué

Track list
Intro
Somos El Team
Donymood
Te Lo Di
Bienvenido
Créeme
Película en color
Hoah!
Oye!
Dime Qué
Entre La Espada y La Pared

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Wed, 09 Dec 2015 11:18:47 +0000
58th Grammy Award® Nominations Announced Early yesterday, the 58th Grammy Award® Nominations were announced. Latin Grammy® winners Septeto Santiaguero & José Alberto El Canario are nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album for their collaborative tribute to Cuban music icons Los Compadres (No Quiero Llanto - read our review here) and singer-songwriter Alex Cuba (real name Alexis Puentes, twin brother of Adonis Puentes) is nominated for Best Lain Pop Album. In Best Latin Jazz Album, Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba is nominated with his record "Suite Caminos". Congratulations to all the Nominees! 

This follows good times in Las Vegas a few weeks ago at the 16th annual Latin Grammys. I had the pleasure of hanging out with Alden González (producer & manager) and Fernando Dewar (leader, tres) of El Septeto Santiaguero, our Beyond Salsa star and pianist extraordinaire Iván "Melón" Lewis (who was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Latin Jazz Album, and also performed in the pre-telecast) and our other Beyond Salsa star, bassist, composer, vocalist and all around virtuoso Alaín Pérez. As anyone who has visited the island and experienced the level of musicianship, it was interesting to get their viewpoints on what we were seeing and hearing at the Latin Grammy show compared to the performances in Cuba. It is a televised event after all, and it was GREAT, but my opinion is that after a while the general tendency to rely on flamboyant and pyrotechnic visual elements and stimulation starts eroding the music and sound. The Kennedy Center Honors have succeeded in staying away from this trap and continue delivering breathtaking musical performances. Also I was sad to notice that the Best Salsa Album category was removed from the telecast and into the not-televised part (the pre-telecast, now called "the premier"). We had one (1) single tropical number in the whole show. Jeez... that wasn't too cool.  

One soundbyte that has stayed with me from that night -- courtesy of Alden -- is that he mentioned that "precisely now that the Buena Vista Social Club is saying goodbye to the stage, Septeto Santiaguero emerges as a world-class group, taking the very best of Cuban traditional music to every part of the world". This is a translation from a Cuban newspaper (source), that leaves out the notion of the "passing of the torch" or "passing the baton". It's much better in Spanish: "...(Alden) aprovechó para agradecer a Alain Pérez y Sonlokos -- competidores cubanos en la misma categoría -- las muestras de admiración y respeto. “Lo más importante es que se ha impuesto la música tradicional cubana y ahora, que el Buena Vista Social Club ya no estará más en los escenarios internacionales, el relevo está garantizado”. Pretty cool. 

Here are some more highlights from the Latin Grammys in Las Vegas:

José Alberto El Canario accepts and thanks el Septeto Santiaguero for their Latin Grammy Award®José Alberto El Canario accepts and thanks Alden Gozález and Fernando Dewar from El Septeto Santiaguero for their Latin Grammy Award®

Latin Grammy® nomination medals presented to El Canario, Alden and Fernando (yours truly on the far left)Latin Grammy® nomination medals presented to El Canario, Alden and Fernando (yours truly on the far left - I had the honor of co-mixing and mastering the record)

Iván Melón Lewis performing at the Latin Grammy® Pre-TelecastIván Melón Lewis performing at the Latin Grammy® Pre-Telecast

Javier Monteverde, Iván Melón Lewis, Michael Lázarus, Fernando DewarJavier Monteverde, Michael Lázarus, Iván Melón Lewis, Fernando Dewar

Con el bárbaro de los bárbaros... Latin Grammy® Nominee Alaín PérezCon el bárbaro de los bárbaros... Latin Grammy® Nominee Alaín Pérez (left)

Latin Grammy® tickets, after-party and program materialsLatin Grammy® tickets, after-party and program materials

2015 Latin Grammy® Winner for Best Traditional Tropical Album2015 Latin Grammy® Winner for Best Traditional Tropical Album

Enough said.

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Tue, 08 Dec 2015 04:27:12 +0000
NEW GUINNESS WORLD RECORD FOR RUEDA DE CASINO ESTABLISHED IN HAVANA ENGLISH:  On Wednesday, November 25, the Cuban newspaper Juventud Rebelde reported that 964 dancers established a new Guinness world record (14 minutes and 58 seconds) for dancing a giant Rueda de Casino en Havana, Cuba.   The previous record had been established in Greece in 2014. You can read the entire Juventud Rebelde article here. 
This is as good a time as any to mention the excellent instructional and historical video Bailar Casino es muy facil, which was made in Cuba about a decade ago.   You can read our review in English here. 

ESPAÑOL: El miércoles, 25 de noviembre, el periódico cubano Juventud Rebelde informaba que 964 bailarines habian establecido un nuevo récord mundial Guinness (14 minutos y 58 segundos) con una gigante Rueda de Casino en La Habana, Cuba. El récord anterior se había establecido en Grecia en 2014. Puede leer el artículo completo en Juventud Rebelde aquí.
Este es un momento tan bueno como cualquier otro para mencionar el excelente video instrucciónal  y histórico Bailar Casino es muy facil, realizado en Cuba hace una década. Puede leer nuestra reseña en Español aquí.

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Sun, 29 Nov 2015 17:47:07 +0000
Pedrito Martínez Group at Yoshi's As promised, Tom's second PMG gallery from their recent tour.

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Tue, 24 Nov 2015 13:00:31 +0000
NEW TIMBALIVE VIDEO

ENGLISH:  Timbalive, one of the best and most authentic Timba groups in the United States, has just released a new single, Todo lo que tu quieras.   This will be followed in a few weeks by their new album, Gasolina de avion.  Timbalive has two new vocalists: Eylen Temon, a former member of Orquesta Anacaona, and Michel Marcos.  While we await the new album, you can purchase the single on iTunes here. 
ESPAÑOL: Timbalive, uno de los mejores y más auténticos grupos de Timba en los Estados Unidos, acaba de lanzar un nuevo single, Todo lo que tu quieras. Esto será seguido en unas semanas con su nuevo álbum, Gasolina de avion. Timbalive tiene dos nuevos vocalistas: Eylen Temon, un ex miembro de la Orquesta Anacaona, y Michel Marcos. Mientras esperamos el nuevo álbum,  puede comprar el single en iTunes aquí.


Photo: Darron Jones

ENGLISH:  A student orchestra from ISA and the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic collaborated in an excellent concert in Chicago last week.  You can read a full review here. 
ESPAÑOL: Una orquesta estudiantil de  ISA y el Chicago Jazz Philharmonic colaboraron en un excelente concierto en Chicago la semana pasada. Puede leer una reseña completa aquí.

ENGLISH:  Finally, congratulations to Cuba's Latin GRAMMY winners Pablo Milanés (Lifetime Acheivement Award), Septeto Santiaguero (Best Traditional Tropical Album), Silvio Rodríguez with Calle 13 (Best Short Form Music Video); cubanos Paquito d'Rivera (Best Latin Jazz Album) and Alex Cuba (Best Singer Songwriter Album); and of course TIMBA.com's Michael Lazarus, who co-mixed and mastered the Septeto Santiaguero album and mixed the winner in Best Children's Album, Mister G. Mike was in Las Vegas for the ceremonies, so we'll wait to hear from him before we say more.   
ESPAÑOL: Por último, felicidades a los ganadores cubanos del Latin GRAMMY:  Pablo Milanés (Premio de la Excelencía Musical), Septeto Santiaguero (Mejor Álbum Tropical Tradicional), Silvio Rodríguez con Calle 13 (Mejor Video Musical Versión Corta); cubanos Paquito d'Rivera (Mejor Álbum de Jazz Latino), Alex Cuba (Mejor Álbum Cantuator); y por supuesto Michael Lazarus de TIMBA.com, quien co-mezcló y masterizó el álbum de Septeto Santiaguero y mezcló el ganador en Best Latin Children's Album, Mister G.. Mike estuvo en Las Vegas en las ceremonias, por lo que no vamos a decir más hasta que el regrese. 

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Sat, 21 Nov 2015 20:27:40 +0000
JOJAZZ & JAZZ PLAZA IN CUBA ENGLISH:  From November 19-22,  JoJazz 2015,, the 18th International Competition of Young Jazzistas, will take place in La Habana, Cuba. This event is a combination of competitions and concerts with two age ranges: 16-20 and 21-30, and for many years  it has proven to be a critical moment in the emergence of some of Cuba's best young Jazz tallent.. Joaquín Betancourt Jackman, a key figure in JoJazz, always assembles a special Jazz band which has made some interesting recordings in previous years. You can read a lot more about JoJazz at the Decubajazz website. 
ESPAÑOL: Del 19-22 noviembre, JoJazz 2015, el 18 Concurso Internacional de Jóvenes Jazzistas, se llevará a cabo en La Habana, Cuba. Este evento es una combinación de competencias y conciertos con dos rangos de edad: 16-20 y 21-30, y durante muchos años ha demostrado ser un momento crítico en la aparición de algunos de los mejores talentos jovenes del Jazz en Cuba. Joaquín Betancourt Jackman, una figura clave en JoJazz, siempre monta una banda especial de Jazz que ha hecho algunas grabaciones interesantes en años anteriores. Pueden  leer mucho más sobre JoJazz en el sitio web Decubajazz.

ENGLISH:  Jazz Plaza 2015, the 31st Edition of Havana's international Jazz Festival, will take place from December 17-20 in multiple venues in Havana. We'll have a lot more to say about this event, which includes classes in the daytime along with multiple concerts every night, closer to the date.  This year's theme is Genres that Influence Jazz, and in addition to an excellent roster of Jazz artists, there will be a few invited guests from other genres including ZZ Top and Kenny G You can read a lot more about Jazz Plaza at the Decubajazz website. 
ESPAÑOL:  Jazz Plaza 2015, la 31a edición del Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza, se celebrará del 17 al 20 diciembre en múltiples sedes en La Habana. Vamos a tener mucho más que decir acerca de este evento, que incluye clases durante el día junto con múltiples conciertos cada noche, más cerca de la fecha.  El tema de este año es Géneros musicales que influyen en el Jazz, y además de una excelente lista de artistas de jazz, habrán unos invitados de otros géneros como ZZ Top y Kenny G. Pueden  leer mucho más sobre Jazz Plaza en el sitio web Decubajazz.

ENGLISH: We don't have the inside track on who will win at the Latin GRAMMY awards, which will be announced on November 19, but one thing will definitely happen:  Pablo Milanés will be among the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award on November 18. One thing that many younger people don't know about Mr. Milanes is that in addition to his stellar solo career, he was also a member of the Grupo de Experimentación Sonora del ICAIC (GES), one of Cuba's most important progressive ensembles in its day. Congratulations to Mr. Milanés!
You can watch the presentation of the awards on Latingrammy.com;  remember that most of the genres of greatest interest to many of us are NOT covered on the network television broadcast
ESPAÑOL:  No tenemos "la pista interior" para quién va a ganar en los premios Latin GRAMMY, que se anunciarán el 19 de noviembre, pero una cosa sin duda va a pasar: Pablo Milanés será uno de los ganadores del Premio a la Excelencia Musical en noviembre 18. Uno cosa que muchos jóvenes no saben sobre el Sr. Milanés es que, además de su carrera como solista estelar, él era también un miembro del Grupo de Experimentación Sonora del ICAIC (GES), una de las más importantes agrupaciones progresistas de Cuba en su día. ¡Felicidades a Sr. Milanés!
Pueden ver la presentación de los premios en Latingrammy.com; recuerden que la mayoría de los géneros de mayor interés para muchos de nosotros NO están cubiertos en la teledifusión de red. 

 

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Wed, 18 Nov 2015 01:37:16 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Pedrito Martínez Group Photos Click here for Tom's gallery. PMG opened for Irakere at Sonoma State in Rohnert Park (see previous post). Photos from PMG's Yoshi's gig will be up soon. Also keep an eye out for their upcoming second CD, Havana Dreams, featuring Issac Delgado, Telmary and Descemer Bueno.

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Tue, 17 Nov 2015 00:58:21 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Irakere Photos

Click here for Tom's gallery of photos from Irakere's performance at Sonoma State. Pictured above are Gastón Joya, Dreiser Durruthy and Rodney Barreto.

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Sat, 14 Nov 2015 20:48:03 +0000
CHUCHO VALDÉS & IRAKERE 40 DAZZLE CHICAGO
ENGLISH:  The Chucho Valdés Irakere 40 tour gave an explosive concert at Symphony Center in Chicago on November 6 before moving on to Michigan.  You can read Bill Tilford's  review, which includes some photos, here. 
A few cities remain in the tour:  See our tour listing here.


ESPAÑOL: La gira de Chucho Valdés Irakere 40  dio un concierto explosivo en el Symphony Center en Chicago el 6 de noviembre, antes de pasar a Michigan. Pueden leer la reseña por Bill Tilford, que incluye algunas fotos, aquí.
Quedan algunas ciudades en la gira: Pueden ver nuestra lista de ciudades aquí

ENGLISH:  The excitement in Chicago is far from finished - on Friday, November 13, the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic will present Scenes From Life:  Cuba!, part of a much longer and broader exchange between the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and the Universidad de las Artes (ISA), one of Cuba's premier music education institutions.   This concert will include invited students from ISA. Watch the video below to learn more about the history of this wonderful project, and to purchase tickets for Friday's concert,  see the Auditorium Theatre website here

ESPAÑOL: La emoción en Chicago está lejos de haber terminado - el viernes, el 13 de noviembre, el Chicago Jazz Philharmonic presentará Scenes From Life: Cuba!, parte de un intercambio mucho más largo y más amplio entre el Chicago Jazz Philharmonic y la Universidad de las Artes (ISA), una de las instituciones de educación musical más importantes en Cuba. Este concierto incluirá estudiantes invitados de ISA. Pueden mirar el vídeo a continuación para obtener más información sobre la historia  de este maravilloso proyecto, y para comprar boletos para el concierto del viernes, consulten el sitio web del Auditorium Theatre aquí.

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Sun, 08 Nov 2015 22:06:46 +0000
PMG's 2nd CD Recorded in Havana The Pedrito Martínez Group recorded their second CD in Havana last month, with guest stars Issac Delgado, Telmary, Román Díaz and Descemer Bueno (pictured below). Many more photos coming. Click here for the full gallery.

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Sun, 08 Nov 2015 03:36:14 +0000
CD REVIEW / RESEÑA DE CD: TRIBUTE TO IRAKERE ENGLISH:  Some of you have been or will be fortunate enough to see the Irakere 40 tour in concert, which means that you may have this scorching new disc already.  For the benefit of everyone else, you can read our review here. 
THE IRAKERE 40 TOUR CONTINUES THIS WEEK IN
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI  (4 NOV)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (6 NOV)
HOLLAND, MICHIGAN (7 NOV)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN (8 NOV)

ESPAÑOL: Algunos de ustedes han tenido o van a tener la suerte de ver la gira de Irakere 40 en concierto, lo que significa que ya pueden poseer este nuevo disco, que está en fuego. Para beneficiarse a todos los demás,  pueden leer nuestra reseña aquí.
LA GIRA DE IRAKERE 40 CONTINÚA ESTA SEMANA EN
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI  (4 NOV)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (6 NOV)
HOLLAND, MICHIGAN (7 NOV)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN (8 NOV)

 

 

 

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Tue, 03 Nov 2015 22:59:29 +0000
Wil Campa in Havana Tom's photo series continues ...

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Mon, 02 Nov 2015 16:38:03 +0000
Tom's Excellent Cuban Adventure

Wil Campa playing for several thousand frantic fans in Cienfuegos - click here for the full gallery - more coming soon.

Meanwhile, Irakere continues this week at SFJAZZ.

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Fri, 30 Oct 2015 19:32:39 +0000
Irakere in Santa Cruz Tonight   photos by Tom Ehrlich - Sonoma State University - Oct. 25

Irakere and Pedrito Martínez played an incredible double bill at Sonoma State on Sunday. The new Irakere = hosted by Kuumbwa Jazz Center at Santa Cruz's El Río Theater -consists of a beefed up horn section with an extra trumpet and an insanely great rhythm section consisting of Gastón Joya on bass, Rodney Barreto on drums, Yaroldy Abreu on congas and an amazing batalero/folkloric vocalist named Dresiner Durruthy.

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Tue, 27 Oct 2015 02:16:04 +0000
MORE ABOUT IRAKERE / MÁS ACERCA DE IRAKERE

ENGLISH:  As the Chucho Valdés "Irakere 40" tour continues, it is worth taking a moment to remember a few reasons why Irakere is so important in the history of modern Cuban Jazz and dance music: 

1.  Irakere put Cuba back on the radar of Jazz fans around the world after it had more or less vanished from it for a time.  It's not that there wasn't any Jazz in Cuba, but it had no longer been getting serious  international attention until Irakere came along. 
2.  Many of Cuba's most important modern artists such as José Luis Cortés, César López and Maraca (to name just three of many) spent time in Irakere. In addition to being a world class ensemble in its own right, it was also an influence upon many of the important band leaders to come.  
3.  Irakere was taken equally seriously as a Jazz band and a dance band.  Before them, nearly everyone was perceived primarily as one or the other.   This made it possible for some subsequent artists such as Maraca to follow suit. 
4.  We take the use of batá drums in Jazz for granted now, but Irakere used these in a pioneering way. 
5. Almost a decade before anyone was using the word Timba for a musical style, Irakere was performing its precursors, and that music still holds up today. Without Irakere's musical DNA, Timba as we know it today would have been something different if it existed at all. 

The next stops for this tour are in Rohnert Park,  Santa Cruz and  San Francisco.  Yes, it is a new generation of musicians with Chucho.  So was the original once upon a time.  Arturo and Paquito did not start out as famous names either.   Don't miss this. 

ESPAÑOL: Mientras que la gira de Chucho Valdés "Irakere 40"  continúa, vale la pena tomar un momento para recordar algunas razones que Irakere es tan importante en la historia del Jazz y la Música Popular Bailable en Cuba: 

1. Irakere puso Cuba de vuelta en el radar de los aficionados de jazz de todo el mundo después de que el país había más o menos desaparecido de eso por un tiempo. Por supuesto había el Jazz en Cuba, pero el género no había estado recibiendo la atención internacional en serio hasta Irakere llegó.
2. Muchos de los más importantes artistas modernos cubanos como José Luis Cortés, César López y Maraca (por nombrar sólo tres de muchos) pasaban un tiempo en Irakere. Además de ser un grupo de clase mundial en su propio derecho,  fue una influencia sobre muchos de los líderes de agrupaciones importantes por venir.
3. Irakere fue tomada por igual en serio como un ensemble de jazz y un grupo bailable.  Antes de ellos, casi todo el mundo se percibía principalmente como uno u el otro. Esto desarollo hizo posible que algunos artistas posteriores como Maraca pudieron seguir su ejemplo.
4. Tomamos el uso de tambores batá en Jazz por hecho ahora, pero Irakere utilizaba ellos en forma pionera.
5. Casi una década antes de que alguien estaba usando la palabra Timba para un estilo musical, Irakere tocaba sus precursores, y la música aún mantiene hasta hoy. Sin ADN musical de Irakere, Timba como la conocemos hoy en día habría sido algo diferente si existiera en absoluto.

Los próximos lugares en esta gira están en Rohnert Park, Santa Cruz y San Francisco. Sí, es una nueva generación de músicos que trabajan con Chucho, pero este grupo siempre fue una incubadora importante desde el principio. Tampoco comienzaron Arturo y Paquito como nombres tan famosos. No se lo pierdan.   

ENGLISH:  Yoruba Andabo, one of Cuba's most exciting Afro Cuban folkloric ensembles, is performing in  Chicago  this week.  If you have the good fortune to be near the city, this is another event worth experiencing. 

ESPAÑOL
Yoruba Andabo, uno de los más emocionantes conjuntos folklóricos afro cubanos de Cuba, está presentando en Chicago esta semana. Si tiene la suerte de estar cerca de la ciudad, este es otro evento que vale la pena experimentar.

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Sun, 25 Oct 2015 19:16:43 +0000
Pedrito Martínez Group @Yoshi's Saturday Tom Ehrlich just returned from Havana where he photographed The Pedrito Martínez Group recording their second CD with a variety of guest artists including Issac Delgado, Telmary, Román Díaz and Descemer Bueno.

Pedrito's band will play Yoshi's, Oakland at 7:30, Saturday, Oct. 24 and open for Irakere in Rohnert Park on Sunday. Irakere plays Santa Cruz (no opening act) on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

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Fri, 23 Oct 2015 15:50:47 +0000
CHUCHO VALDÉS "IRAKERE 40" TOUR OF US BEGINS

ENGLISH:  The Chucho Valdés tour of the United States, titled Irakere 40,  begins in Los Angeles today.   This tour uses a tremendous younger generation of Cuba's musicians (with the exception of Chucho himself, of course), honors the 40th anniversary of Irakere's work as a free-standing ensemble, and supports the release of the new CD Chucho Valdés Tribute to Irakere, which was recorded live at the Marciac Jazz Festival.  The clip above is this group live at Marciac.  

ESPAÑOL
: La gira de Chucho Valdés en EEUU, titulada Irakere 40, comienza en Los Ángeles hoy. Esta gira utiliza una generación más joven de tremendos músicos cubanos (con la excepción del mismo Chucho por supuesto), rinde homenaje al 40 aniversario de trabajo de Irakere como un grupo independiente, y apoya el lanzamiento del nuevo CD Chucho Valdés Tribute to Irakere, que fue grabado en vivo en el Festival de Jazz de Marciac. El clip arriba es este grupo en vivo en Marciac.



ENGLISH:  
For those of you who would like to go a LOT deeper into Irakere's  history, the documentary above is an excellent treatment of the original group.  The young musicians in the current touring group are profoundly influenced by Irakere.  You can see the entire US tour schedule here. If you are anywhere near one of the cities on the list, do not miss this.   (Kevin Moore asks that we remind those of you in or near Santa Cruz that it is one of the cities in the tour.) 

ESPAÑOL: Para aquellos de ustedes que les gustaría ir MUCHO MÁS profundamente en la historia de Irakere, el documental de arriba es un excelente tratamiento del grupo original. Los jóvenes músicos en el grupo de gira actual son profundamente influenciados por Irakere. Pueden ver toda la programación de la gira de Estados Unidos aquí. Si están en cualquier lugar cerca de una de las ciudades en  la lista, no se lo pierdan. (Kevin Moore pide que recordemos a aquellos de ustedes en o cerca de Santa Cruz que es una de las ciudades en la gira.)

ENGLISH:  Today is officially the Día de la Cultura Cubana in Cuba.  All of us here would like to take this moment to thank the Cuban people for its wonderful cultural contributions to the world, especially in music. 
ESPAÑOL: Hoy es oficialmente el Día de la Cultura Cubana en Cuba. Todos nosotros  nos gustaría aprovechar este momento para agradecer al pueblo cubano por sus maravillosas contribuciones culturales al mundo, sobre todo en la música.

ENGLISH:  Finally, Telmary Díaz is in Madison Wisconsin this week as part of the Passing the Mic Hip Hop Arts Festival.  She is participating in lectures, roundtables and performances including a concert on Saturday the 24th.  
ESPAÑOL:  Por último, Telmary Díaz está en Madison, Wisconsin esta semana como parte del Passing The Mic Hop Hop Arts Festival. Ella está participando en conferencias, mesas redondas y actuaciones que incluyen un concierto el sábado (24).

 

 

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Tue, 20 Oct 2015 22:15:33 +0000
Yeni Valdés, Maikel Dinza & Sergio Vargas I had a little chat today with Luisin Martí, executive producer and president of Oye Mi Musica Records , and he told me about a few projects that they will release next year. Yeni Valdés of Los Van Van is recording her first solo album! The first single is called "Ya no me llevas de la mano".

Yeni - Ya no me llevas de la mano Yeni Valdés single "Ya no me llevas de la mano"
coming soon by Oye Mi Musica Records

Don't worry, Yeni is not leaving Los Van Van. Luisin tells us "It is nothing related to what people are used to hearing Yeni sing with Los Van Van. It's a salsa dance track and recording is currently underway in Havana and Puerto Rico with the participation of outstanding artists such as pianist José M. Lugo of Guasabara Group. The album will have 10 salsa songs and some surprises".  Luisin has promised to bring us back un cachito pa' huele when he gets back from Havana.

Another Oye Mi Musica project is Maikel Dinza's album "Regalando corazones" with the very sexy cover below. They expect to release it in January/February 2016. I've heard a number of his songs that are up at YouTube and am very much looking forward to his album.

Maikel Dinza Maikel Dinza - "Regalando corazones" should be released in early 2016

In 2016 Oye Mi Musica will also release a CD by Dominican singer Sergio Vargas. It is a collection of boleros he recorded in Cuba. Stay tuned for more info!

Sergio Vargas Dominican Sergio Vargas singing "Boleros en La Habana"

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Sun, 18 Oct 2015 16:15:32 +0000
¡BAÍLALO! Baílalo Cuban Dance & Music Convention

Saturday October 24-28, Isla Margarita, Venezuela will host the ¡Baílalo! Cuban Dance and Music Convention. It is an initiative of dance schools and organized by Kala Entertainment. The Congreso is eight days of Cuban dance workshops with parties every night featuring the best DJs and the top Cuban orchestras. Check out the poster above to see the dates and artists. There will also be a couples dance competition. We found out about it a bit late so I don't know what packages are still available, but I imagine at least the day passes must be. Click here to check out the convention packages . This is supposed to be an annual event so hopefully we'll be able to get the word out a little earlier next year. For now we leave you with the promotional video from their Facebook site.

¡Báilalo! video promocional 2015

Video promocional de el congreso ¡Báilalo! Margarita 2015. Protagonizado por las diferentes academias de baile de la isla de Margarita en el estado Nueva Esparta. Organiza Kala Entertainment.

Posted by Bailalo - Margarita 2015 on Sunday, October 11, 2015
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Sun, 18 Oct 2015 05:07:21 +0000
Early Grammy(R) Action for Cuban Artists The 58th Grammy(R) Awards process began today with the release of the official Entry List to it's academy members. Thankfully, this first round ballot acknowledges some truly great records by Cuban and Cuban music artists alike.

We begin with the already 2015 Latin Grammy(R) nominated and Cubadisco Winner "No Quiero Llanto - Tributo a Los Compadres" (click to read our review), a Tropical Latin double CD collaboration between world-wide salsa star José Alberto "El Canario" and El Septeto Santiaguero. The New York Times reported "The album, which came out earlier this summer as a double CD, reupholsters old music with relentless technical perfection." Sweet. 

Timberos del NorteOther notables in contention under Tropical Latin are Austin, Texas mega-timberos Timberos del Norte with their self-titled debut album, Singer Xiomara Laugar "Tears & Rumba", and Miami's Tiempo Libre "Pánamericano", Sonlokos "Locos Por El Son", and Leslie Cartaya "Llévame Contigo". 

Next we move to Latin Jazz -- a notoriously fierce and culturally important category -- where a not-to-be named album of midi sequences was somehow embarrassingly included under Latin Jazz in the Latin Grammys(R) and is fortunately not present here. Said controversy was avoided. Instead, we have a story of very interesting bedfellows.

Before getting to that we begin with Pure Mezcla, a live release from Pablo Menéndez & Mezcla. The record got a shining review in All About Jazz, who called it "Rare and beautiful music." Read it here. Another musician who left their soul in Cuba is Australian saxophonist Paul Van Ross, who recorded "Mi Alma Cubana" in Havana with the participation of slamming players including master percussionist José Luis Quintana "Changuito". Next we visit NATURA, by bassist and now residing in Denmar Yasser Pino & The Latin Syndicate. Interestingly, the entry list also includes records from fellow players of his Latin Syndicate: percussionist Eliel Lazo "Eliel Lazo & The Cuban Funk Machine" (in which Yasser also performs) and drummer extraordinaire Calixto Oviedo "Como Suena". More on Calixto soon as he will play a CD release concert in New York at SUBROSA on Monday November 30. For tix and more info click here. Dang... they could form a grammy nominee band. Are we talking after-party? I hope so. 

Notable Cuban artists in Latin Jazz - 58th Grammys (R)

It is also important to note that one of TIMBA.com's favorite pianists -- Iván "Melón" Lewis -- who is already nominated for Best New Artist and Best Latin Jazz in this year's Latin Grammys (R), has a great record on the entry list "Ayer y Hoy". Here's a reminder why... enjoy!

More Grammy(R) news to come as we dig deeper into the list and report on other notable entries. ¡Que viva la música cubana!

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Fri, 16 Oct 2015 03:54:04 +0000
SÓLO SE VIVE UNA VEZ Havana D'Primera & Los 4 in Stockholm

Tomorrow - October 13th in Madrid - Havana D'Primera begin their Autumn European tour, which will take them to 27 cities in 12 countries. Click here to find the concert closest to you. Los 4 are also currently on tour and will be in Bologna tomorrow. For the remaining Los 4 concert dates, click here . Both groups are at the height of popularity in their respective genres and both have relatively new albums they are promoting.

Here in Stockholm Cuban music fans will be blessed with a joint concert by Havana D'Primera and Los 4 on October 23rd. It will be the concert of the year and they are calling the event "Sólo se vive una vez". It will be held at Quality Hotel Friends and the technical details are in the hands of Stockholm's best light and soundmen. I will - of course - be reporting on it. Doors open at 8:00pm and close at 03:00am. It is simply going to be awesome!

Due to the popularity of the event the promoters and the hotel have arranged special pricing for concert-goers who are traveling to the concert from other countries or cities. For information on how to take advantage of the special pricing, click here. The pre-concert tickets are nearly sold-out, so get yours before the price goes up. To book concert tickets now click here. VIP tickets are also available for those who want to hang with the bands.

To whet your appetite I leave you with two recent videos. The first is "Regalito de Dios", is one of the most popular songs from Havana D'Primera's album "La vuelta al mundo".  The second is a recent collaboration between Los 4 and La Charanga Habanera "Lo que tengo yo". You've gotta love the Star Wars intro!

Havana D'Primera "Regalito de Dios"

Los 4 & La Charanga Habanera "Lo que tengo yo"

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Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:35:22 +0000
IRAKERE 40: TOUR AND CD RELEASE
Photo: Francis Vernhet

ENGLISH : One of the most important ensembles of all time in Cuban Jazz AND Cuban Popular Dance Music is Irakere .   Although its first recording, Bacalao con pan , was made in 1973 while it was still a sub-group of the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna , it officially became a free-standing group in 1975 (hence the Irakere 40 ) and began to shake the world with its music from then until 2005, when it disbanded. One of the reasons that I am writing these lines today is that Irakere 's music kept me riveted to the shortwave radio in the 1970s, when Cuba's radio stations regularly broadcast their newest releases.  Here is a surviving video fragment of Bacalao con pan from the period that will help you understand the excitement of the time if you weren't around back then:

ESPAÑOL : Uno de los ensembles más importantes de todos los tiempos en el Jazz cubano y la Música Popular Bailable es Irakere . Aunque su primera grabación, Bacalao con pan , se hizo en 1973 cuando todavía era un subgrupo de la Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna , se convirtió oficialmente en un grupo independiente en 1975 (de ahí el Irakere 40 ) y comenzó a sacudir el mundo con su música desde entonces hasta 2005, cuando se disolvió. Una de las razones por las que estoy escribiendo estas líneas hoy en día es que la música de Irakere me mantuvo remachada a la radio de onda corta en la década de 1970, cuando las emisoras en Cuba emitian regularmente sus nuevos lanzamientos. Aquí está un fragmento de vídeo sobreviviente de Bacalao con pan de la época que les ayudarán a entender la emoción del momento si ustedes no estuvieron allí en aquellos tiempos:

ENGLISH:   Now,  Irakere 's founder Chucho Valdés , who celebrated his 74th birthday on Friday, has assembled a special 10-piece group consisting of his Afro Cuban Messengers and five of the best young Cuban Jazz trumpeters and saxophonists for a tour and CD release.   The tour in the United States will take place from October 20-November 16 (including Kevin Moore's favorite city of Santa Cruz, where they will be at the Rio Theatre for the Performing Arts ).  You can see the entire US tour schedule here.  You can also watch a video of this group in action at the Lugano Jazz Festival: 

ESPAÑOL : Ahora, el fundador de Irakere , Chucho Valdés , quien celebró su 74o cumpleaños el viernes, ha reunido a un grupo especial de 10 músicos que consiste en sus Afro Cuban Messengers y cinco de los mejores jóvenes trompetistas y saxiofonistas del Jazz cubano para una gira y un lanzamiento de CD. La gira en Estados Unidos tendrá lugar a partir del 20 de octubre hasta el 16 de noviembre (incluyendo la ciudad favorita de Kevin Moore, Santa Cruz, donde estarán en el Rio Theatre for the Performing Arts ). Pueden ver toda la programación de la gira de Estados Unidos aquí. También pueden ver un video de este grupo en acción en el Festival de Jazz de Lugano:

ENGLISH : A new CD, Tribute to Irakere (Live at Marciac)   will also be released on October 20 (Jazz VIllage/Harmonia Mundi), and we will review it here in the near future.  The roster for Irakere 40 includes Chucho Valdés (piano); Gastón Joya (bass); Rodney Barreto (drums); Yaroldy Abreu (percussion); Dreiser Durruthy Bombalé (batás & vocals); Manuel Machado , Reinaldo Melian & Carlos Sarduy (trumpets); Ariel Bringuez (tenor sax) & Rafael Aguila (alto sax).  
We'll be sharing more about Irakere and its role in modern Cuban Jazz and popular dance music during the weeks to come. In the meantime, Kevin Moore's history and discography of Irakere in the Timbapedia is worth visiting here. 

ESPAÑOL : Un nuevo CD, Homenaje a Irakere (Live at Marciac) también se dará a conocer el 20 de octubre (Jazz Village / Harmonia Mundi), y lo vamos a reseñar aquí en un futuro próximo. Irakere 40 incluye a Chucho Valdés (piano); Gastón Joya (bajo); Rodney Barreto (batería); Yaroldy Abreu (percusión); Dreiser Durruthy Bombalé (batás y voz); Manuel Machado , Reinaldo Melián y Carlos Sarduy (trompetas); Ariel Bringuez (saxo tenor) y Rafael Aguila (saxo alto).
Estaremos compartiendo más sobre Irakere y su rol en el Jazz cubano moderno y la música popular bailable en las semanas venideras. Mientras tanto, la historia  y discografía de Irakere por Kevin Moore en la Timbapedia vale la pena visitar aquí .

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Sun, 11 Oct 2015 16:33:44 +0000
Timba y Salsa There is no question that Cuba está de moda with all the celebrity visits these days - most recently Mick Jagger. Who knows? Maybe Los Van Van - often called "The Rolling Stones of Cuba" -  will feature the Rolling Stones as guests on their next album, which is rumored to be a collaboration with both Cuban and international artists. But enough of my fantasias.

In the meantime, we have some very successful Timba/Salsa collaborations such as Marc Anthony and Gente D'Zona with a salsaton "La gozadera" and Septeto Santiaguero's third Latin Grammy nominated album "No quiero llanto - Homenaje a Los Compadres", which features a number of leading salsa artists from different countries. Amusingly, Bill just posted on it shortly before I did, so I will just direct you to scroll down and check out his post including video. You can also click here to read his full review of the Cubadisco-winning album. On November 19th we'll see if the third Latin Grammy nomination is the charm for the septeto.

Closest to my heart I am pleased to say that the official video of "Muévete pa quí" by Elito Revé y su Charangón featuring Gilberto Santa Rosa is now being promoted in Cuba, having recently been featured on Piso 6. While I feared that Gilberto's romantica voice wouldn't suit the sound of the Charangón, he really did a fantastic job and it is a version I highly recommend to dancers and DJs.

But the TImba/Salsa collaboration goes both ways. Here in Scandinavia Tito Nieves recently performed in Norway backed by a team of leading timberos residing here in Europe. The musicians adapted beautifully to Nieves style. The band included: Tony Moreaux, Peter Ehler, Jorge Egües, Richard Ortega, Yaser Morejon, Oslen Ceballo, Adam Rapa, Jakob Johansen, Andres Mena, Yemi Valdés and Henry Hourrutinier. 

With the normalization of relations between the US ands Cuba and the recent Sony licensing agreement with EGREM, I expect we will see international collaborations snowballing. Van Van and the Rolling Stones...it could happen.

Tito Nieves with Tony Moreaux & Friends in Norway

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Thu, 08 Oct 2015 14:08:07 +0000
Hecho en Cuba: New Release by Manolito Simonet & Dominic Miller ENGLISH:  As the future unfolds, we will be seeing more collaborative projects between Cuban artists and artists in other countries.  On Thursday, October 8, Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco and Dominic Miller will unveil their new album Hecho en Cuba at the Fábrica del Arte. Dominic Miller is perhaps best known for his work with Sting, and this new album includes some of his compositions arranged in a style suitable for Manolito.  You can read more about the background of that project in Spanish here.   
You can also hear some of Manolito's observations (in Spanish) in his studio in May 2015 here. 
ESPAÑOL: Como el futuro se desarrolla, vamos a ver más proyectos de colaboración entre artistas cubanos y artistas de otros países. El jueves, 8 de octubre,  Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco y Dominic Miller darán a conocer su nuevo álbum Hecho en Cuba en la Fábrica del Arte. Dominic Miller es quizás mejor conocido por su trabajo con Sting, y este nuevo álbum incluye algunas de sus composiciones en un estilo que cabe bien el sonido de Manolito.
Puede leer más acerca de los antecedentes de ese proyecto aquí
También puede esuchar unas observaciones de Manolito en su estudio en mayo 2015 aquí

ENGLISH:  Septeto Santiaguero is on the short list of Cuban ensembles that deserve a quality tour of the United States and have not had one yet.  They are one of the very best traditional Son groups in Cuba, and they have 3 Cubadisco awards (including this year for No Quíero Llanto - Tributo a Los Compadres) and 3 Latin GRAMMY nominations (also including this year, for the same album). Presenters in the United States:  When are you going to rectify this oversight????  I have seen them live in Cuba without guest stars, and they are the real thing.



ESPAÑOL:
Septeto Santiaguero está en la lista corta de los grupos cubanos que merecen una gira de calidad de los Estados Unidos y no la han tenido hasta ahora. Ellos son uno de los mejores grupos que tocan el Son tradicional en Cuba, y tienen 3 premios Cubadisco (incluyendo este año para No Quiero Llanto - Tributo a Los Compadres) y 3 nominaciones al Latin GRAMMY (también incluyendo este año para el mismo álbum).  A los presentadores en los Estados Unidos: ¿¿¿¿Cuando van a rectificar esta omisión???? He visto el grupo  en directo en Cuba sin estrellas invitadas, y ellos son la cosa real.

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Wed, 07 Oct 2015 21:58:19 +0000
The Afro-Cuban All Stars & Los Hermanos Arango
ENGLISH:  Juan de Marcos & The Afro-Cuban All Stars gave concerts in Madison and Brookfield, Wisconsin during the weekend.  Bill Tilford attended the concert in Brookfield, and you can see the photo gallery and review here. 
ESPAÑOL:  Juan de Marcos & The Afro-Cuban All Stars dieron conciertos en Madison y Brookfield, Wisconsin durante el fin de semana.  Bill Tilford asistió al concierto en Brookfield, y puede ver la galería de fotos y reseña aquí.  

ENGLISH:  Los Hermanos Arango will give a concert at the Catalina Jazz Club in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 15. This group, which offers a potent mix of folklore, Fusion and Jazz, deserves a lot more attention than it receives in the United States.   A video with some highlights of their performance at the Berklee College of Music follows.  You can read about the history of the group and view more videos  at their website here.  
ESPAÑOL:  Los Hermanos Arango van a dar un concierto en el Catalina Jazz Club en Los Angeles el jueves, el 15 de octubre.  Este grupo, que ofrece una mezcla potente de folklore, Fusión y Jazz, merece mucho más atención que recibe en EEUU.  Un video con vetas de su presentación en el Berklee College of Music sigue.  Puede leer más acerca de la historia del grupo y ver más videos en su sitio web aquí. 

Los Hermanos Arango @ Berklee:

                                                                                                                                                                                    

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Sun, 04 Oct 2015 18:51:11 +0000
This Weekend: Juan de Marcos & The Afro-Cuban All Stars in Wisconsin ENGLISH: As part of his residency at the University of Wisconsin, Juan de Marcos is performing with The Afro-Cuban All Stars on Friday, October 2 at the Overture Hall in Madison, Wisconsin and on Saturday, October 3 at the Wilson Center in Brookfield, Wisconsin.   Both shows start at 8PM.   This ensemble is a spectacular interpreter of styles from the Buena Vista type to more modern Cuban popular dance music.   This is one of the don't-miss concerts in the Midwest this year. 

ESPAÑOL: Como parte de su residencia en la Universidad de Wisconsin, Juan de Marcos está realizando con The Afro-Cuban All Stars el viernes 2 de octubre en el Overture Hall en Madison, Wisconsin y el sábado 3 de octubre en el Wilson Center en Brookfield, Wisconsin . Ambos espectáculos comienzan a las 8PM.  Este ensemble es un espectacular intérprete de estilos,  del tipo de Buena Vista al estilo más moderno de la música popular bailable cubana. Es uno de los "No se lo pierdan"  eventos en el Medio Oeste de este año.

For more  information & tickets / para más información y boletos: 
The Wilson Center  Overture Hall

ENGLISH:  One of the best new Cuban Jazz albums this year comes from Ivan "Melon" Lewis. So far, his new release Ayer y Hoy has been nominated for a Cubadisco (Jazz Cubano) and  a Latin GRAMMY (Latin Jazz and Best New Artist).    You can read our review here. 
ESPAÑOL:  Uno de los mejores nuevo albumes de Jazz Cubano este año viene de Ivan "Melon" Lewis. Hasta ahora, su nuevo lanzamiento Ayer y Hoy ha sido nominado para un Cubadisco (Jazz Cubano) y un  Latin GRAMMY (Latin Jazz y Mejor Nuevo Artista). Puede leer nuestra reseña aquí. 


ENGLISH
:  Within a few days, Gema Corredera, one of the best and most versatile voices on stage today, will release a wonderful new tribute to Marta Valdés, Feeling Marta. You can read our review here. 
ESPAÑOL:  En unos pocos días, Gema Corredera, una de las mejores y más versatiles voces en el escenario hoy, va a lanzar un nuevo tributo maravilloso a Marta Valdés, Feeling Marta. Puede leer nuestra reseña aquí. 

ENGLISH:  The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition on WSLR continues to feature new music from Cuba as part of each program. The latest show, which is archived for another week, includes  the music of Brenda Navarrete, who in addition to her work with Interactivo has her own fascinating Jazz and folkloric music projects (she is, among many other things,  an extremenly accomplished percussionist including batá).   You can also hear a conversation (in Spanish) that she recorded with Bill Tilford in Habana in May 2015 here. 

ESPAÑOL:  The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition en WSLR continua a ofrecer nueva música de Cuba como parte de cada programa.  El último show, que está disponible para la escucha en demanda una semana más, incluye la música de Brenda Navarrete, que además de su trabajo con Interactivo tiene sus propios proyectos en el Jazz y la música folclórica (ella es, entre muchas otras cosas, una percusionista muy consumada incluyendo batá).  También pueden escuchar una conversación (en Español) que ella grabó con Bill Tilford en la Habana en el mayo de 2015 aquí. 

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Sun, 27 Sep 2015 23:12:39 +0000
BFM European Tour Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe

Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe are on the third day of their European tour that will take them to France, Italy, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Spain. The band is as popular as ever with dancers and are performing the new hit "Te vi nacer". Click here to find a concert near you!

Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe están en el tercer día de su gira europea que les llevará a Francia, Italia, Alemania, Finlandia, Suecia, Suiza y España. La banda es tan popular con los bailarines como siempre y está tocando el nuevo hit "Te vi nacer". Dale clic aquí para encontrar un concierto cerca de ti!

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Mon, 21 Sep 2015 12:51:36 +0000
Juan de Marcos González Residency at UW-Madison   (photo:  Aaron Granat)

In September and October, Juan de Marcos González , whose resume includes Sierra Maestra , Buena Vista Social Club , Ruben González , Ibrahim Ferrer, and the Afro Cuban All Stars , will be in residency at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.  There will be a series of lectures, workshops and concerts, and there will be some interesting special guests such as Telmary Diaz during the series.  For the complete schedule aof concerts and workshops, the residency page is here. 

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Sun, 06 Sep 2015 15:58:09 +0000
Jane Bunnett & Maqueque, Palo! & Orquesta El Macabeo in the Midwest

Jane Bunnett & Maqueque, Palo! & Orquesta El Macabeo will all be in the Midwest the weekend of September 4-6, and all are don't-miss acts.  For more information and videos, see the Report From Chicago page.  (Palo! is in Louisville, but it's driveable).  Maqueque's drummer, incidentally, is Yissy Garcia, whose new single Última noticia we just posted recently. 

For those of you who are serious fans of Cuban Jazz, The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition has been including music by Cuba's most important Jazz artists along with interviews that yours truly (Bill Tilford) did with some of them in La Habana in May.   Frankie Pineiro, the host, puts together one of the best playlists on the planet, and you'll hear some new and recent Jazz from Cuba that you won't hear in other places, at least not yet.  You'll also be treated to the best Latin Jazz from everywhere else. The most recent guest was  Yasek Manzano, one of the most interesting Jazz artists in Cuba today.  Check out the Facebook Page to learn how to listen on demand; this program is on the front line of what's happening along with enough history to add perspective. 

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Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:46:46 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Cubanismo Photos Cubanismo made a triumphant return to the US touring circuit this month. Click here for Tom's gallery.

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Tue, 25 Aug 2015 02:38:03 +0000
New Single by Yissy Garcia & Bandancha ENGLISH: Yissy Garcia & Bandancha is one of the most refreshing new musical groups in Cuba.  Labels and categories are always hazardous, but their style is similar to what we once called Acid Jazz in the US with a more sophisticated Jazz element.   A new album will be coming out in the future, and they have released a single, Última noticia, in advance.

You can listen to it here.


This is a great time to be a Chicagoan. Several exciting and important concerts are coming to the area soon. You can read more here. 

ESPAÑOL: Yissy García & Bandancha es uno de los nuevos grupos musicales más refrescantes en Cuba. Las etiquetas y las categorías son siempre peligrosas, pero su estilo es similar a lo que una vez llamamos Acid Jazz en EEUU con un elemento más sofisticado de Jazz. Un nuevo álbum saldrá en el futuro, y han lanzado un sencillo, Última noticia, por adelantado.

Puede escucharlo aquí.

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Sun, 23 Aug 2015 09:57:03 +0000
Chicago's Festival Cubano Brings Miguelito Cuni Jr & Pedrito Calvo ENGLISH:  The 2015 edition of Chicago's Festival Cubano included Miguelito Cuni Jr. and Pedrito Calvo, the first musicians still living in Cuba to perform at this event. Click here for photos and video. 

ESPAÑOL:  La edición 2015 del Festival Cubano de Chicago incluyó a Miguelito Cuni Jr. & Pedrito Calvo, los primeros músicos que aún viven en Cuba para actuar en este evento.  Haga clic aquí para fotos y video. 

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Wed, 19 Aug 2015 14:51:09 +0000
"Dime qué" Thomas Eby, Gunnar Thullberg & Rickard Valdés of Calle RealThomas Eby, Gunnar Thullberg "El Dony" & Rickard Valdés of Calle Real

Last night Calle Real performed at the 2015 Stockholm Kulturfestival and we got the first sample of what is coming on the new album "Dime qué" - Calle Real's first new album in seven years! We will soon upload a concert report including some concert video! They performed 4 new songs, and let me say that fans will not be disappointed. In my opinion there is some particularly cool bass and horns in the new songs, but more on that later.

Before the show the guys took a few minutes to tell us a little about the new CD and upcoming concert dates. 

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Sun, 16 Aug 2015 09:08:11 +0000
Los Van Van click here for Tom Ehrlich's full gallery

THE MUSIC

Los Van Van gave us - as always - a powerhouse groove, tremendous charisma, and an endless repertoire of timeless hits from their 45 years at the top of the Cuban charts. The three young additions - Mandy Cantero on vocals, Pancho Chibás on piano and Yoel Cuesta on congas - were all extremely exciting and made it clear that even without Juan Formell, Van Van is still growing and improving, and in no danger of becoming a heritage act. I would dearly love to hear these new members in a better acoustic setting. The band played a long, powerful set - plus encore - to thunderous applause. That it occurred hours after the US flag was raised in Havana for the first time in 60 years added greatly to the ambience. There were at least 2000 in attendance - no small feat. It's one thing to get 500 people four nights in a row, because the core fans are likely going to attend every show - but 2000 separate individuals at one show was a new high for the Bay Area. Overall then, it was a great success, marred only by shockingly bad sound (see below for more on this). Hopefully Vegas and the other upcoming tour dates will provide sound to approach the quality of the music.

THE REST OF THE TOUR

On Sunday, Van Van will double with Los 4 at Sam's in Las Vegas. The rest of the tour (ABQ, Miami, Denver, NY and Puerto Rico) is here.

THE SOUND

As no other suitable venue was available, the concert was scheduled in a large hall designed for classical music. Sound reinforcement for a timba concert is a daunting task. I've only heard what I would call "perfect" sound at three venues: Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Yoshi's Oakland, and the main SFJAZZ facility, the latter often going beyond "perfect" and venturing into the realm of "magical". I had high hopes about this show, because Davies Symphony Hall would appear to have similar characteristics to SFJAZZ's Robert Miner Auditorium - high ceiling, multiple balconies, and large amounts of obscenely expensive state-of-the-art architectural features designed to create world-class sound. I went in expecting to hear timba with Deutsch Grammophone clarity, but sadly, the sound was really, really bad. It wasn't the worst sound I've ever heard - it had no distortion and wasn't oppressively loud or grating to the ears. Thus, it wasn't in the same universe of sonic pain that we experienced, for example, at the Oakland appearance of Gente d'Zona, or at Café Cócomo on a regular basis. The problem at Davies was that only a thin slice of the frequency range was clear. The güiro was fantastic, and I thought the congas were as well, although I talked to some congueros who didn't agree. Other than that, everything else was pure mud - not distorted - not too loud - just mud - hard enough to hear the pitches, much less the timbres. When I heard Yeni Valdés sing at Yoshi's SF in 2010, her huge, luxuriously resonant voice sent chills down my spine and brought tears to my eyes. At Davies, I could barely make out what she was singing - it was that muddy. And I was dying to hear the details of Mandy Cantero's singing, especially on what looked like an epic and very personalized version of Soy todo. Alas. Hopefully they'll be back soon at a better venue - ideally SFJAZZ's Robert Miner Auditorium on Franklin Street.

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Sun, 16 Aug 2015 03:24:37 +0000
A Visit to the Studio of Manolito Simonet
ENGLISH:  In May, Manolito Simonet was gracious enough to permit Bill TIlford to visit him and record an interview (in Spanish) at his home/studio in Vibora Park.  They conversed about a variety of topics including a new recording that you haven't heard yet (No Puedo Parar), upcoming tours and much more.  

For more in English (photos, audio, etc), click here.    
Manolito y su Trabuco are including a tour of the United States in their plans this year, and we will be sharing a lot more about him and the group in the weeks to come. 

ESPAÑOL:  En mayo, Manolito Simonet tuvo la amabilidad para permitir a Bill Tilford que visite a él y grabe una entrevista (en español) en su casa / estudio en Víbora Park. Ellos conversaron acerca de una variedad de temas, incluyendo una nueva grabación que ustedes no han oído todavía (No Puedo Parar), próximas giras y mucho más.


Para más en español (fotos, audio, etc.), haga clic aquí.
Manolito y su Trabuco está incluyendo una gira por los Estados Unidos en sus planes de este año, y vamos a compartir mucho más sobre él y el grupo en las semanas venideras

ENGLISH:  First,  Los Van Van; then, Buena Vista Social Club, and now (Sunday) Pedrito Calvo and Miguelito Cuni Jr.  These two are at Festival Cubano.  For more information, visit their website. 


ESPAÑOL:  Primero, Los Van Van; entonces, Buena Vista Social Club, y ahora (domingo), Pedrito Calvo y Miguelito Cuni Jr.  Los dos estarán en el Festival Cubano.  Para más, visite su sitio web. 

 

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Sat, 15 Aug 2015 18:46:46 +0000
LOS VAN VAN cuban music, musica cubana

Por fin - Van Van hits the West Coast for the first time in many years. The LA show is advertised as having Pupy and Changuito sitting in. The SF show will be at Davies Symphony Hall. See you there!

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Thu, 13 Aug 2015 19:36:14 +0000
At Last: Los Van Van in Chicago
ENGLISH:  After an absence worthy of Homer, Los Van Van finally returned to Chicago. 
ESPAÑOL: Después de una ausencia digna de Homero, Los Van Van, finalmente, regresó a Chicago.
More here / Mas aquí

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Mon, 10 Aug 2015 23:28:05 +0000
Inside the Museo Nacional de la Música

ENGLISH:  The Cubadisco 2015 section of our website has just been updated to include a special article about the Museo Nacional de la Música, one of Cuba's cultural treasures. 
ESPAÑOL:  La sección Cubadisco 2015 de nuestro sitio web ha sido actualizado para incluir un artículo especial acerca del Museo Nacional de la Música, un tesoro cultural de Cuba.  

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Sun, 09 Aug 2015 13:55:03 +0000
VISAS APPROVED - VISAS APROBADAS

"The undisputed king of Cuban dance orchestras and one of the most influential forces ever in Afro-Cuban music" -- Los Angeles Times

LA FANTASIA – U.S. TOUR 2015
DIRECT FROM CUBA -  FORMELL Y LOS VAN VAN
2015 Los Van Van USA Tour

Formell y Los Van Van 2015 United States Tour

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Thu, 06 Aug 2015 05:19:14 +0000
Los Van Van: US Tour Begins Friday
ENGLISH:
 The Los Van Van US Tour begins Friday in Washington DC with stops in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Denver, San Juan and Miami.  I saw them in Havana in 2014, and they are as excellent as ever.   See our TOURS page for links.   
ESPAÑOL: El gira de Los Van Van en EEUU comienza el viernes en Washington DC con conciertos en Nueva York, Chicago, Los Ángeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Denver, San Juan y Miami. Los vi en La Habana en 2014, y son tan excelente como siempre. Vea nuestra página de GIRAS para enlaces.

ALSO / TAMBIÉN:
ENGLISH:  On Saturday, August 8, Los Van Van and Pablo Menéndez and Mezcla will appear together in a homage to Juan Formell during a prerecorded segment of 23 y M on Cubavision. The program starts at 7pm Eastern US time.  There are a few ways to stream Cubavision Internacional, one of which is here.   Worth watching these two bands playing together.
ESPAÑOL: El sábado, 8 de agosto,  Los Van Van y Pablo Menendez & Mezcla aparecerán juntos en un homenaje a Juan Formell durante un segmento pregrabado del programa 23 y M en Cubavisión. El programa comienza a las 19:00 (7pm) hora del Este de EE.UU.. Hay un par de maneras de ver Cubavisión Internacional a traves el Internet, una de las cuales esta aquí. Vale la pena ver los dos grupos tocando juntos.

MORE ABOUT MEZCLA / MÁS ACERCA DE MEZCLA:
ENGLISH: Pablo Menéndez & Mezcla, who released the new album Pure Mezcla in February, have been attracting a lot of attention lately.  Also on Saturday from 9am-10am Eastern US time, you can listen to a prerecorded interview of Pablo, his sister/tour manager Nina Menéndez and Bill Tilford (Pure Mezcla's Producer) along with a few songs in Janet Howard's wonderful program  Up Front  on WSHA, 88.9 FM, Shaw University public radio.  You can listen via the Internet here. There will also be a special segment about Pure Mezcla on WSLR next week; more about that in a few days. 
ESPAÑOL: Pablo Menéndez & Mezcla, que lanzaron el nuevo álbum Pure Mezcla en febrero, han estado atrayendo mucha atención últimamente. También el sábado de 9 a.m.-10 a.m. hora del Este de EE.UU., se puede escuchar una entrevista pregrabada de Pablo, su hermana / gerente (de giras) Nina Menéndez y Bill Tilford (Productor de Pure Mezcla) junto con algunas canciones en el maravilloso programa de Janet Howard, Up Front, en WSHA, 88.9 FM, la radio pública de la Universidad Shaw. Puede escuchar a través de Internet aquí. También habrá un segmento especial sobre Pure Mezcla en WSLR la próxima semana; más sobre esto en unos pocos días.

CHUCHITO VALDÉS CD RELEASE PARTY, AUGUST 11-12, 2015CATALINA JAZZ CLUB

ENGLISH:
I have not had time to write about it yet, but I have listened to Horizontes, the new CD by Chuchito Valdés.  If you are in or near Los Angeles and love Jazz, you will definitely want to see this concert and buy the CD. For more information, see the Catalina Jazz Club website.  

ESPAÑOL
:  No he tenido tiempo de escribir sobre ello todavía, pero he escuchado Horizontes, el nuevo CD de Chuchito Valdés. Si usted está en o cerca de Los Ángeles y es un amante de Jazz, sin duda deba ver este concierto y comprar el CD.  Para más información, visite el sitio web de Catalina Jazz Club

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Wed, 05 Aug 2015 19:52:33 +0000
Scenes From Cubadisco 2015, Part III ENGLISH:  Part III of Scenes From Cubadisco 2015, a multipart series about this year's event, is now available here.  This includes a look at Estudios Abdala and a concert in honor of the centennial of the birth of Chano Pozo.
ESPAÑOL:  Parte III de Escenas de Cubadisco 2015, una serie en multiples partes acerca del evento de este año, ya está disponible aquí. Incluidos: una mirada a los Estudios Abdala y un concierto para honrar el centenario del nacimiento de Chano Pozo.

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Mon, 03 Aug 2015 22:25:48 +0000
Calixto Oviedo Presents Calixto Oviedo - Como Suena

Tonight At Catalina Jazz Club Calixto Oviedo & his Cuban Jazz Train will present their new album "Como suena" with two sets starting at 8:30pm. The CD will be available for purchase at the concert for $10. Click here for tickets and more information. If you can't make the concert tonight, you can still order a signed copy of the CD from the Cuban Jazz Train website. From August 1st it will also be at CD Baby in digital format. Here's another look at what you can expect tonight and on the CD.

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Thu, 30 Jul 2015 15:10:02 +0000
Scenes From Cubadisco 2015, Part II ENGLISH:  Part II of Scenes From Cubadisco 2015, a multipart series about this year's event, is now available here.  This includes the International Symposium and the special reception for participants from other countries. 
ESPAÑOL:  Parte II de Escenas de Cubadisco 2015 , una serie en multiples partes acerca del evento de este año, ya está disponible aquí.  Incluidos: el Simposio Internacional y la recepción especial para los participantes extranjeros.   

ENGLISH: You may not be able to purchase it yet, but you can hear part of the wonderful new album Ruy Löpez-Nussa presenta La Academia on The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition on WSLR.  on their next program, which airs on Tuesday, July 28.  Visit the program's Facebook page for more details about when and how you can listen (yes, the station can be heard via Internet).  This album was nominated for a Cubadisco award in 2015 in the Cuban Jazz category.
ESPAÑOL:  Puede ser  que no sea capaz de comprarlo todavía, pero se puede escuchar parte del maravilloso nuevo álbum Ruy López-Nussa presenta La Academia en The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition en WSLR. en su próximo programa, que se emite el martes 28 de julio. Visite la página Facebook del programa para obtener más detalles acerca de cuándo y cómo se puede sintonizar (sí, la emisora está disponible a través de Internet tambien). Este álbum fue nominado para un premio Cubadisco 2015 en la categoría de Jazz cubano.

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Sun, 26 Jul 2015 22:52:59 +0000
Cubanismo Returns to Yoshi's CUBANISMO

Cubanismo toured the US many times in the late 90s and early 00s with great success, but then dropped off the map. They're finally back in the game, playing Yoshi's (Oakland) on Sunday. The current lineup has several interesting timba musicians as well as Jesús Alemañy's usual cast of legends: Papiosco, who played brilliant and innovative congas with Klímax and on the Michel Maza albums; Cristóbal Verdecia, of Paulito FG and Havana d'Primera on bass; and Antonio Portuondo "Pachá", who played timabales with Issac, Pedrito Calvo and ACAS.

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Fri, 24 Jul 2015 23:25:29 +0000
Laritza Bacallao - Sólo se vive una vez Laritza Bacallao - Sólo se vive una vez

Laritza Bacallao was born into one of Cuba's prominent music families. Both her grandfather and her father were singers with Orquesta Aragón, and as a child she toured and sang with the band on more than one occasion. Laritza also received formal music education attending the music schools Manuel Saumel and Guillermo Tomás. Add to this a natural talent and a powerful, versatile voice and you have the makings of a star.

While her family represents the best in Cuban traditional dance music, Laritza’s music is Pan-Caribbean electronica that freely mixes rhythms from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. In 2014 she released her first CD “Sólo se vive una vez”, Cubadisco 2015 winner in the category “Opera Prima”. She recently toured the US where she was nominated in Premios Juventud 2015 as “Revelation of the Year” and is currently touring Europe with Chacal & Yakarta.  Click here to read my review of “Sólo se vive una vez”.

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Thu, 23 Jul 2015 16:10:26 +0000
Plena Libre Returns to Kuumbwa

Plena Libre returns to Kuumbwa Jazz Center on August 7th. If you're not already a plena freak, consider that it's probably the single best way to get your head around the mysteries of clave alignment in timba. Plena Libre is one of the leaders in the recent wave of modernized plena groups from Puerto Rico.  Here's the rest of the tour.

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Wed, 22 Jul 2015 21:04:25 +0000
Hennes Latin Stage 2015 Hennes Latin Stage on the river Waal

For the 9th consecutive year Dutch entrepreneur Henri van Woerkom (HENNES) has organized his free Cuban party on the river Waal in Nijmegen. It is a beautiful and intimate festival with participants traveling from far and wide to take enjoy the music. What could be bettr than a week-long Cuban party featuring DJs and live bands? The 2015 edition started Saturday and ends on Friday the 24th with a concert by Nils Fischer's Timbazo, who recently released their second CD - "Rumberos a montón" - to much acclaim.

One of the things that makes Hennes Latin Stage so unique is the fact that the headline band plays three consecutive nights. This year that band is El Niño y la Verdad, who are on their second European Tour and a must-see band for all Cuban music fans.

Rumours are already spreading that Hennes has big plans to celebrate the 10th Edition next year. Moreover, their 10th Anniversary coincides with the 100th Anniversary of 'the international 4 day marches Nijmegen', so expect a double celebration. If you're like me and can't make it this year, mark your calendars for the 3rd week in July 2016: 10 years Hennes Latin Stage anniversary! A great line-up is guaranteed!
Hennes gladly welcomes foreign guests in person !
As always… FREE entrance !

Here is the full 2015 schedule:
Saterday 18 july 2015:
06.00 PM: Dj Joost
08.00 PM: Orquesta Salsabor

Sunday 19 july 2015:
06.00 PM: Dj Lady Kizz & Dj Sigi
08.00 PM: Tomi y su Timbalight

Monday 20 july 2015:

06.00 PM: Dj Eric B
08.00 PM: Barbara y VaiVen Cubano

Tuesday 21 july 2015:

06.00 PM: Dj Leslie
07.00 PM: Barbara y VaiVen Cubano
10.00 PM: Emilio Frias El Niño y La Verdad

Wednesday 22 july 2015:
06.00 PM: Dj Leslie
07.00 PM: Pedro & his cuban experience
10.00 PM: Emilio Frias El Niño y La Verdad

Thursday 23 july 2015:
06.00 PM: Dj Joost & Lady Kizz
07.00 PM: Pedro & his cuban experience
10.00 PM: Emilio Frias El Niño y La Verdad

Friday 24 july 2015
06.00 PM: Dj Joost
08.00 PM: Timbazo

Henri van Woerkom (HENNES) organizer of Cuban festival "Hennes celebrates his annual party and everyone is invited."

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Tue, 21 Jul 2015 13:44:35 +0000
Pedrito Martínez Group on the West Coast

Click here for the full gallery of both the SF JAZZ and Kuumbwa Jazz Center shows.

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Tue, 21 Jul 2015 02:16:11 +0000
Scenes From Cubadisco 2015, Part I

ENGLISH:  Bill Tilford participated in Cubadisco 2015 in Havana, Cuba in May.  The first in a series of pieces about Cubadisco 2015 is now available here. 
ALSO:  You can hear Bill's interview in English of Jazz pianist Alejandro Falcón, who won two Cubadisco awards this year, in the radio archive of The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition with Frankie Pineiro on WSLR until Tuesday, July 28, when the show will run his special segment on the music of Ruy López-Nussa & La Academia.  The show before ACJE bleeds into the first two minutes of the archive, but stay with it.  You can listen here - look for the July 14 program
ESPAÑOL: Bill Tilford participó en Cubadisco 2015 en la Habana, Cuba en mayo.  El primero en una serie de articulos sobre Cubadisco 2015 ya está disponible aquí. 
TAMBIÉN: pueden escuchar la entrevista por Bill (en Inglés) de Jazz pianista Alejandro Falcón, quien ganó dos premios Cubadisco este año, en el archivo de radio The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition con Frankie Piñeiro en WSLR hasta el martes, 28 de julio, cuando el programa pondrá su segmento especial sobre la música de Ruy López-Nussa y La Academia. El programa antes del  ACJE sangra en los primeros dos minutos del archivo, pero quédense con ello. Pueden escuchar aquí - busque el programa de 14 de julio.

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Sun, 19 Jul 2015 21:00:48 +0000
El Tren Cubano is Coming to Chicago

Por fin, a team of presenters has banded together to bring Los Van Van to Chicago!  They are coming to Thalia Hall on Sunday, August 9 at 8PM.  If you need me to tell you why this is a must-go, you must have stumbled onto the wrong website by accident. And yes, even with the loss of Juan Formell, they are still in a class all their own.  For tickets and details, see the Thalia Hall website. Needless to say, there are other US cities on the itinerary, which we think we have here. 

But hey, there's more!  For you traditionalists, the Adios Tour for the Buena Vista Social Club is coming to Ravinia on Wednesday, August 12 at 8:30pm.   Tickets and details at the Ravinia website. Supposedly this is their last trip out, but then I was at Flaco Jimenez Jr's "retirement concert" in Denton, Texas about a decade ago, and the last time I checked he was still playing.  These things happen when you are dedicated to your art. But why take a chance, eh?   

Tell you what, just take the whole week off.  Festival Cubano is happening Friday-Sunday, August 14-16, and that lineup includes Pedrito Calvo, Miguelito Cuni Jr.  and many others. Even the non-Cuban artists like Jose Alberto "El Canario" and Luis Enrique have for the most part been working with Cuban artists recently.  Full details at the Festival Cubano website. 

But Bill, what about RIGHT NOW, you ask?  Got you covered.  This Friday and Saturday,  the Chicago Latin Jazz Festival in Humboldt Park is happening. Complete details are at the Jazz Institute of Chicago's website.  I'll let Mr. Papo Vazquez explain why you should attend: 



Next case. 

Before you go, check out the photo gallery and interview with Jorge Gomez of Tiempo Libre, which was just here.  They tore up the block, and I think they made it to Madrid before they could be arrested for it....

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Tue, 14 Jul 2015 19:05:54 +0000
Oderquis Revé Free Download! Oderquis Revé

Oderquis Revé is celebrating his 66th birthday by giving us all a gift. A new single recorded for the 500th anniversary of Santiago de Cuba is available for free download at El Ratón Rabioso's ReverbNation page . I did it first thing this morning and it was a great vitamin kick to start the day!

Oderquis Revé está celebrando su 66o cumpleaños, dándonos todo un regalo. Un nuevo single grabado para el 500 aniversario de Santiago de Cuba se encuentra disponible para descarga gratuita en la página de El Ratón Rabioso ReverbNation. Descargué el tema hoy por la mañana y fue una gran injección de vitamina para empezar el día!

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Mon, 13 Jul 2015 10:41:07 +0000
Meet Ángel Batule Ángel Batule Ángel Batule music producer & DJ

If you've been listening to contemporary Cuban dance music at all over the past few years you have heard one name shouted out by a wide variety artists - "¡Batule!" Ángel Batule - also known as  "Batule DJ" - is a member of the hugely popular Cuban group Los 4 and also one of the most sought-after music producers, arrangers, composers of the new generation of Cuban musicians.

When the reggaeton craze first swept Cuba, it seemed that the younger musicians were leaving Cuban musical traditions behind. But recent years have seen a move back towards cubanía - a return to the Cuban talent for taking something foreign and making something Cuban out of it. Batule's music is a prime example of this. Having a father who was a sound engineer and a mentor named Tirso Duarte , Batule learned about the complexities of Cuban dance music and combined these with the beats that make the younger generation move - becoming a key figure in the timbaton movement. Although the songs rely heavily on electronic reggaeton beats, they also may incorporate rumba, salsa and even gears such as bomba.

To satisfy my own curiosity, I got in touch with Batule who is just finishing up a tour of Peru with Los 4. He agreed to do a little interview so we at timba.com could get to know the man behind the shout-out "¡Batule DJ!" Click here to read the interview in English .

Dale clic aquí para leer la entrevista en español.

Ángel Batule at work

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Sun, 12 Jul 2015 12:08:57 +0000
More PMO Photos from Tom Ehrlich Click here for Tom's gallery on PMO's show at Stern Grove.

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Sat, 11 Jul 2015 15:31:47 +0000
JG - Que no me controlen JG - Que no me controlen Juan Guillermo "JG" is on a roll. In addition to being everywhere on the radio and in video in successful collaborations such as "Hello Baby" by Cándido Fabré with Larizta Bacallao and "Subasta de amor" with Osvaldo Montero, his second album was nominated in Cubadisco 2015 for Best Popular Dance Album by a New Group.

With "Que no me controlen" JG has established his own sound. It is youthful, positive, fun and above all very danceable. Guest artists include Kelvis Ochoa, La Charanga Habanera and Los Extraterrestres. It has a wide appeal with a mix of timba, timba romantica, tropical fusion and timbaton.  I highly recommend it for dancers and DJs. Put this on at parties and watch the dance floor fill up! Click here to read the review .

Dale clic aquí para leer la reseña en español.

JG said the band will begin recording their third CD titled "Sí, soy yo" in December. For now I leave you with the 2014 Lucas Award-winning video "Que no que no".

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Sat, 11 Jul 2015 11:47:36 +0000
HdP - La Vuelta al Mundo Havana D'Primera La Vuelta al Mundo Release Concert

Tonight at 9pm in Havana's Teatro Nacional Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera officially release their album "La Vuelta al Mundo". Guests at the concert will include Carlos Vareles, Osain del Monte and salsero Luis Enrique, who shares vocals the title track with Alexander. The album was released oustide Cuba by Pafata Productions and won both a Grand Prize and Best Dance Music Album - Maestros at Cubadisco 2015. I don't know if this official release concert marks the release of the Cuban version of the CD on the Unicornio label or if we still have to wait for that to become available. In any case, Teatro Nacional is the place to be tonight if you find yourself in Havana. For more information about the Pafata release and speculation about what may yet be to come, checkout Bill's review . If you don't have "La Vuelta al Mundo" yet, you can buy it from the digital retailers such as iTunes, Amazon and CD-Baby.

Havana D'Primera La Vuelta al Mundo

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Fri, 10 Jul 2015 14:10:23 +0000
Como Suena - Record Release Event Como Suena - Cuban Jazz Train Click the link for the Cuban Jazz Train homepage

Calixto Oviedo's second Latin Jazz CD will drop July 30th with a Record Release Event at the prestigious Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood. The event begins at 8:30pm and will feature special guests. You can buy your tickets in advance .

Amazingly the album has not leaked to the public yet, but those who have heard it during production have given rave reviews. For example, independent journalist Angel Lopez says:

In 2015 Calixto Oviedo brings us a CD of pure Cuban Jazz in his second independent Jazz production. While we have only heard a few songs from this CD, even un-mixed they already carry the promise of a big prize. What artistry by this legendary drummer, timbalero, conguero, composer and bandleader - in short a living legend of all the best we have in this Latin world! I promise you will love it. Please follow him. He is one of the greatest musicians of Cuba and one of the most innovative drummers of all time. The compositions are masterful; there is guaracha, afro, Pilón - a little of everything for your enjoyment. Don't miss it Los Angelinos  - Como Suena .

Calixto Oviedo

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Thu, 09 Jul 2015 16:55:28 +0000
Septeto Santiaguero & Alejandro Falcón in Cuba
ENGLISH:
While in Cuba in May, BIll Tilford had the opportunity to attend several concerts by important Cuban groups.   Photo galleries with commentaries are now available of two Cubadisco award winners: Septeto Santiaguero (here) and Alejandro Falcón (here).  On Tuesday, July 14, Alejandro Falcón will be the featured guest on The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition, a radio program in English hosted by Frankie Pineiro in which BIll Tilford participates,  on WSLR.  To learn more, you can visit the program's Facebook page here. 

Check out our Reviews section for some new CD reviews.  Also, two items of interest in Chicago and South Florida:  In Chicago, Tiempo Libre will be at the Square Roots Festival on Sunday July 12.  In the Sarasota, Florida area, tres phenomenon Renesito Avich will be giving a series of lessons and concerts during the next few weeks.  For more information about these, visit http://renesitoavich.com/


ESPAÑOL:
Mientras en Cuba en mayo, BIll Tilford tuvo la oportunidad de asistir a varios conciertos de importantes agrupaciones cubanas. Galerías de fotos con comentarios ahora están disponibles de dos ganadores de premios Cubadisco: Septeto Santiaguero (aquí) y Alejandro Falcón (aquí) . El martes, 14 de julio,  Alejandro Falcón será el invitado especial en The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition,  un programa radial en inglés conducido por Frankie Piñeiro en el que BIll Tilford participa, en WSLR. Para obtener más información, puede visitar la página de Facebook del programa aquí.

Eche un vistazo a nuestra sección de Reseñas para algunas nuevas reseñas de CD. Además, dos itemes de interés en Chicago y el sur de Florida: En Chicago: Tiempo Libre tocará en el Square Roots Festival el domingo,  12 de julio.  En el área de Sarasota, Florida, fenómeno del tres Renesito Avich va a dar una serie de lecciones y conciertos durante las próximas semanas. Para obtener más información acerca de ellos, visite http://renesitoavich.com/

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Wed, 08 Jul 2015 22:25:42 +0000
Tom Ehrlich on PMG & PMO Mala maña is a brilliant new arrangement from PMG's new pianist Edgar Pantoja:

Tom also filmed Pedrito's unaccompanied conga tour de force at the Santa Cruz show:

And here's the first installment of photos from PMO's soundcheck at Stern Grove:

                                     Braulio Barrera and Omar Ledezma of Pacific Mambo Orchestra

More PMO photos (from the concert itself) will be posted later this week.

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Mon, 06 Jul 2015 03:21:59 +0000
Radio Interview in English With Ernán López-Nussa ENGLISH:  On Tuesday, June 30th, The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition will run an interview in English of Ernán López-Nussa (seen here at the Cubadisco 2015 awards ceremony holding the latest of a growing collection of prizes) that Bill Tilford did with him last month in Havana. The program will also feature music from his latest album, Invencíon Lekszycki (you can read our review here), which won the Cubadisco for Jazz Cubano this year.  The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition runs from 1400-1600 UTC (10am-Noon Eastern in the US) on WSLR, and you can stream it here or listen on-demand for two weeks following the show. 
More CD Reviews:  See the Reviews section for some new reviews of CDs. 
ESPAÑOL: El martes, 30 de junio,  The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition pondrá una entrevista en Inglés de Ernán López-Nussa (visto aquí en la premiación Cubadisco 2015 con su último premio en una creciente colección) que Bill Tilford hizo con él  última mes en La Habana. El programa también contará con la música de su último disco, Invención Lekszycki (puede leer nuestra reseña aquí), que ganó el Cubadisco para Jazz Cubano  este año.The Afro Cuban Jazz Edición se transmite desde 1400-1600 UTC (10am-mediodía hora del Este en los EE.UU.) en WSLR, y se puede sintonizar el programa aquí; también  puede escucharlo en demanda durante las dos semanas después.
Mas reseñas de CD: Vea la sección Reseñas para más nuevas reseñas de CD.

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Sun, 28 Jun 2015 18:29:13 +0000
Tonight El Niño y La Verdad & El Canario Emilio Frias "El Niño" y La Verdad & El Canario in concert

The long-awaited date has finally arrived! Emilio Frias "El Niño" y La Verdad celebrate their 2nd Anniversary at Salon Rosado de la Tropical Benny Moré with the great José Alberto "El Canario" . Other guest artists include Manolito Simonet , Alexander Abreu , Septeto Santiaguero and Osain del Monte .

El Canario arrived Thursday and has been rehearsing with the band since then, so get ready for an amazing concert! I can't tell you how much it hurts that I was not in Havana this weekend. Tonight is also the final concert of three for the presentation of "Soy" - Buena Fe's new album at Karl Marx Theater. But more on that later.

Below you can enjoy a clip from rehearsal uploaded by Emilio to facebook yesterday. To all the timberos in Havana - enjoy the concert! To El Niño y La Verdad - happy anniversary!

 

Posted by Emilio Frias on Saturday, June 27, 2015
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Sun, 28 Jun 2015 09:36:30 +0000
Cubans To Come To Chicago's Festival Cubano Now that Miami practically has a commuter culture of bands from Cuba coming up to play festivals and concerts without serious incidents, cultural events in cities like Chicago have been long overdue to catch up.  Therefore, it is a great pleasure to share the news from today's press conference held by the organizers of Chicago's Festival Cubano at the 90 Miles Cafe:  the performance lineup for the final day of the festival will include Pedrito Calvo and Miguelito Cuni Jr.    Pedrito sang for years with Los Van Van before starting his own band, La Nueva Justicia ,  As for Miguelito Cuni Jr ., he has been performing with Conjunto Chappottin.
The lineup also includes José Alberto "El Canario" .  It would have been even better to see him with Septeto Santiaguero , with whom he recently released No Quiero Llanto , but it is still nice to see him on the bill.  
Congratulations to Festival Cubano for finally crossing the bridge.  I'm  already looking forward to next year when the conversations will progress to which are the most worthy acts from Cuba rather than whether it''s time to start bringing some.  In the meantime, I look forward to Pedrito and Miguelito.
This is the sixth edition of Festival Cubano, and advance discounted tickets are now available at
www.thecubanfestival.com. 
You can see some pictures from the press conference in the Report From Chicago entry for July 23. 

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Tue, 23 Jun 2015 22:50:43 +0000
Tiempo Libre: Back (with a k) to Havana OK, so Tiempo Libre didn't go back to Havana physically, but musically, their new recording, Panamericano, which will be released June 30, for the most part recaptures the feel of that wonderfully rowdy Timba band we all first met a decade ago.  As a lead-up to the CD release, they have rolled out two videos.    Here's the first one:  



To see the second one, go to my sneak preview of Panamericano, which you can read here
Tiempo Libre has some key tour dates coming up in July:
July 9-10:  Subrosa, NYC
July 12: Square Roots Festival, Chicago
July 19-30:  tour of Spain incl. Festival de Segovia
August 13, 2015: Pershing Square, LA
October 10-November 15:  Winnestad Theatre, Portland, OR*
* This is a five week run of a new musical, Cuba Libre. 
November 19-25: Tour of UK including London Jazz Festival


Miguel Zenón at the
Jazz Showcase in Chicago, Thursday, July 25-Sunday, July 28
No, it's not Cuban music, but it is some truly fascinating Latin Jazz happening in the US right now, so I'm going to cheat and sneak it in here.  Mr. Zenón brings his quartet to this four-night stand (two shows nightly plus a matinee on Sunday), which includes himself on sax, Henry Cole on drums, Luis Perdomo on Piano and Hans Glawischnig on bass.  These guys are deep. You can read my review of his last recording, Identities are Changeable, here. 

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Mon, 22 Jun 2015 21:49:02 +0000
Pedrito Martínez in the Area

The most innovative timba band in the world has finally returned to California. You can see them in two shows at SF Jazz on Sunday, June 21st, and at Kuumbwa in Santa Cruz Monday night, June 22nd..

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Sun, 21 Jun 2015 01:59:53 +0000
Pacific Mambo Orchestra + Sheila E, Marlow Rosado & Salsamania Is there a better way celebrate this upcoming Father's Day, Sunday June 21? I don't think so. The Stern Grove Festival continues its series of FREE concerts with the home team PACIFIC MAMBO ORCHESTRA plus special guests Sheila E, Marlow Rosado and the Salsamania Dance Company.

Concert starts at 2pm. Be sure to get there early to get a good spot. Be prepareed to arrive extra early if you need to grab a parking space. Bring your sunscreen, plenty of water and chairs. Capacity is 10,000 people.

¿Hay una mejor manera de celebrar este Día de los Padres, domingo 21 de junio? No lo creo. El Festival Stern Grove continúa su serie de conciertos GRATUITOS con el equipo natal la PACIFICO MAMBO ORCHESTRA más invitados especiales Sheila E, Marlow Rosado y el grupo de baile Salsamania.

El concierto comienza a las 2 de la tarde. Asegúrense de llegar temprano para conseguir un buen lugar para poner sus sillas. Estén preparados para llegar más temprano si necesitan estacionarse. No se olviden de traer su sombrero, agua y lociones para portegerse del sol. La capacidad es de 10,000 personas.

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Thu, 18 Jun 2015 20:07:04 +0000
Radio Waves and New CD Reviews ENGLISH:   Pablo Menéndez of Mezcla on PRI
Earlier this year, Steve Paulson of To The Best Of Our Knowledge, a program on Public Radio International, interviewed Pablo Menéndez of Mezcla in Havana, Cuba. This segment, which aired on May 24,  is part of a longer program about Cuba and Cuban-American relations.  You can listen to that interview here.  Mezcla's most recent album, Pure Mezcla, was released in February, and you can read a "meta review" of that album here
ESPAÑOL: Pablo Menéndez de Mezcla en PRI
A principios de este año, Steve Paulson de To The Best Of Our Knowledge, un programa en Public Radio International, entrevistó a Pablo Menéndez de Mezcla en La Habana, Cuba.  Este segmento, que se emitió el 24 de Mayo, es parte de un programa más largo acerca de Cuba y las relaciones cubano-americanos.  Puede escuchar esta entrevista en inglés aquí.   El álbum más reciente de Mezcla, Pure Mezcla, se lanzó in febrero, y puede leer una "meta-critica" del álbum aquí.  
ENGLISH: Special Cuban Jazz and Fusion segments on The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition
Frankie Piñeiro has had one of the best Latin Jazz programs on radio for many years now, The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition, which airs every other Tuesday morning from 10am-noon Eastern Standard TIme on WSLR, (you can stream it on the Internet) and I will have the pleasure of sharing the new music coming out of Cuba with him in the weeks to come in a segment called Bill's Bag.   Tuesday,  June 16, the program will include an interview with Melvis Santa along with some music from her recent recordings. Then, in future shows (beginning June 30), there will be interviews with Cuban Jazz greats like Ernán López-Nussa, Alejandro Falcón, Yasek Manzano and others along with their most recent recordings which I brought back from Cuba. Frankie's program is "must hear" radio without me (yes, he includes some Timba and some Rumba in his playlists), but now you have two reasons to listen. 
ESPAÑOL:  Segmentos especiales de Jazz y Fusion cubano en la Afro Cuban Jazz Edition
Frankie Piñeiro ha tenido uno de los mejores programas de Jazz latino en la radio desde hace muchos años, The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition, que se emite cada dos martes por la mañana de 10 am-mediodía hora estándar del Este en WSLR, (se puede escuchar en Internet) y tendré el placer de compartir la nueva música que sale de Cuba con él en las próximas semanas en un segmento llamado Bill's Bag. El 16 de junio, el programa incluirá una entrevista con Melvis Santa, junto con un poco de música de sus recientes grabaciones. Luego, en los programas futuros (a partir de 30 de junio), habrá entrevistas con grandes del jazz cubanos como Ernán López-Nussa, Alejandro Falcón, Yasek Manzano y otros, junto con sus grabaciones más recientes que he traído de Cuba. El programa de Frankie es "hay que escuchar" radio sin mí (sí, él  incluye algunos Timba y algunos Rumba en sus listas también), pero ahora usted tiene dos razones para escuchar.
SPEAKING OF MELVIS SANTA.....  she'll be at Zinc Bar in NYC on Thursday, June 18 at 9pm and 10:30pm.  Details HERE.  She'll be leading a quartet.  I heard her in a small group setting in May in Chicago - this is worth checking out.




NEW CD REVIEWS / NUEVAS RESEÑAS DE CD
See our Reviews section for several new CD reviews of recent Cuban recordings
Vea nuestra sección Reseñas para muchas nuevas reseñas de recientes grabaciónes cubanas. 

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Sun, 14 Jun 2015 19:33:48 +0000
Oderquis Revé New Single Oderquis Revé - Vacúnala & La Vida

Today Orderquis Revé y Su Changüí have released two singles: "Vacúnala and "La Vida". The songs are available at iTunes, Amazon and other digital retailers worldwide. This is the first fruit of the new Tumbao Republika label based in Antwerp, Belgium and founded by two dedicated promoters of Cuban music. The single is a teaser for the album that will drop at the end of the year. 

Oderquis' music has all the raw power of changüí and the new songs are sizzling dance tracks, so buy yours now! As a friend of mine pointed out - "You can barely get a napkin at Starbucks for under $2". Get ready to be seeing a lot more about Oderquis Revé y su Changüí here at Timba.com as their long overdue section will soon be published.

If you still need convincing, here is a little taste of "Vacúnala" during a rehearsal in Havana. Enjoy!

Vacunala - ESTRENO 2015

Vacunala ....sonando en el local de ensayo de OderquisA partir de hoy a la venta por iTunes y todos las mayores plataformas digitales - un sencillo con 2 temas : VACUNALA + LA VIDA

Posted by Oderquis Revé y su Changüi on Monday, June 8, 2015
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Mon, 08 Jun 2015 15:16:48 +0000
Back From La Habana
ENGLISH:
 Cubadisco 2015 was an intense and wonderful experience, and I have returned with a massive quantity of photographs and recordings.    In the near future I will begin sharing photos and observations here and the best of the Jazz recordings on the radio along with many reviews of recordings of different genres here.   Most of this will appear in the Cubadisco 2015 section


ESPAÑOL
:  Cubadisco 2015 fue una experiencia intensa y maravillosa, y he regresado con una enorme cantidad de fotografías y grabaciones.  En un futuro próximo  voy a empezar a compartir fotos y observaciones aquí y lo mejor de las graciones de Jazz en la radio unto con muchos reseñas de grabaciones de diferentes géneros aquí.  La mayor parte aparecerá en la sección Cubadisco 2015. 

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Mon, 01 Jun 2015 18:18:02 +0000
Llegó La Verdad - Cubadisco Winner 2015 Llegó La Verdad - caratula Winner of the Cubadisco 2015 Award
Best Popular Dance Album by a New Group

"Llegó la Verdad" was released in Spetember 2014 and nominated for three awards in Cubadisco 2015: Popular Dance Music by a New Group , Opera Prima and Best Recording . They faced stiff competition from the likes of  Alaín Pérez, JG, Alaín Daniel and Laritza Bacallao but took home the prize for Popular Dance Music. I can only agree with the judges decision. "Llegó la Verdad" has been at the top of my playlist for the past nine months. It is rare these days to find an album where you don't skip at least one or two songs. But El Niño y La Verdad have produced a killer dance album that is a true representation of all that is best in Cuban dance music. Click here for the review.

Aquí es el enlace para le la reseña en español.

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Sat, 30 May 2015 12:21:55 +0000
Two New Singers for Salsa Mayor On May 19th Maykel Blanco announced at Facebook that singer Alexis David Zamora Garrido will be leaving Salsa Mayor. Word has it that Alexis David will be joining David Calzado y Su Charanga Habanera. Today Maykel announced that he has signed two singers: Yunier Pérez Enrique and Alejandro González Casanova who we know from Azúcar Negra. The announcement said that they will be recording their first TV program with Los Mayores today, and their first performance with the band will be in the middle of June. We wish Alexis David our best in his new role with the charangueros and are excited to see and hear the new Salsa Mayor with a four man front line!

Maykel Blanco presents new singers Yunier Pérez and Kasanova
Photo courtesy of Maykel Blanco @ Facebook

You have heard Kasanova singing lead on "Un beso y una flor" and "Maltratando la Tela" among other songs.

Alejandro González Casanova
Kasanova

Yunier is the voice behind the hit "A bailar con tacones" studied at El ISA.

Yunier Pérez Enrique
Yunier - also known as "El Chino"

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Wed, 27 May 2015 15:31:07 +0000
Ian Stewart Reviews Peliroja Another promising development in the New York renaissance.

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Wed, 20 May 2015 18:15:16 +0000
Cubadisco 2015 Bill is currently in Havana for Cubadisco and other events and will get back to us with a full report. In the meantime, the Cubadisco 2015 awards have been given and I'll just mention those closest to our hearts at Timba.com.

Havana D'Primera 2015 Cubadisco Awards
Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera won big, taking home the Best Dance Album award as well as Grand Prize, which they shared with Digna Guerra (choral music). These awards come as no surprise to anyone who has listened to Havana D'Primera's new CD "La vuelta al mundo". It is an exceptional album of which a review will be forthcoming from Bill after he gets back from Havana.

Trece RemixIf you missed it, Havana D'Primera has just released a remix of the song "Trece", available at CDBaby. A rap section has been added to the song. In terms of lyrics "Trece" is by far the most "urban" song Havana D'Primera has done. It makes references to the "charada china" or "la bolita" throughout the song. Doce, trece, cincuenta and noventa y seis each take their meaning from this popular yet unofficial lottery. Like many of you, I was ignorant of the whole charada, so I will share here the meanings of these numbers and it will give a whole new dimension to the song. 
12 - prostitute
13 - peacock (or a conceited man)
50 - police
96 - old prostitute

El Niño y La Verdad Cubadisco 2015

Another winner at the 2015 Cubadisco Awards was Emilio Frias "El Niño y La Verdad" who won Best Dance Album by a new group. I have to say that I am so glad Cubadisco had this category because honestly I would have found it very difficult, if not impossible to choose between "Llegó la verdad" and "La vuelta al mundo". My own review of the brilliant debut album by La Verdad will be published soon. "Llegó la verdad" was also nominated for Opera Prima (Laritza Bacallao took that category) and Best Recording, which went to Maykel Bárzaga for "Cuba now danzón". 

Septeto Santiaguero

Septeto Santiaguero took home the award for Best Traditional Son with their magnificent album "No quiero llanto - Tributo a los Compadres" featuring José Alberto "El Canario". Here is SuenaCubano's full list of winners while we await Bill's return with all the gossip from the event and what's up in Havana. Timba.com congratulates all of the 2015 Cubadisco winners!

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Fri, 15 May 2015 08:42:42 +0000
OFFICIAL BOOK OF CUBADISCO 2015 AWARD NOMINEES ENGLISH: Thanks to the Publications Department of Cubadisco, you may download the official book of Cubadisco 2015 nominees here.  It is free but only available in Spanish. 
ESPAÑOL:  Gracias al Departamento de Publicaciones Cubadisco,  puede descargar el libro oficial de nominados premio Cubadisco 2015  aquí. Es gratis, pero sólo está disponible en español.


ENGLISH: 
Melvis Santa was given a warm welcome at Sabor a Café in Chicago - you can view a photo gallery here.   
ESPAÑOL:   Melvis Santa se le dio una bienvenida afectuosa en Chicago en Sabor a Café -puede ver una galería de fotos y el comentario aquí.

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Sun, 10 May 2015 20:25:00 +0000
Just Watch It - The Doors Are Opening

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Sat, 09 May 2015 06:09:38 +0000
PACIFIC MAMBO ORCHESTRA - New Single Release Concert Come celebrate the release of Pacific Mambo Orchestra's new single and first official video -- the PACIFIC MAMBO DANCE -- at the best Friday night dance party in San Francisco.

The west coast gears up for the Pacific Mambo Orchestra's release party for their new single and first official video, the "Pacific Mambo Dance". After the closings of beloved venues Café Cócomo and The Addition (formnerly Yoshi's SF), Bay Area salseros and salseras are out in force seeking a new home-base. Let's hope this new Space 550 can rise to the occasion and accomodate this 20-piece powerhouse. The PMO will bring its legions of "música tropical" lovers to this new club next Friday May 15th.

Purchase advance tickets here =  http://pmo-dance-party.eventbrite.com
*This event will sell out and tickets are $10 more at the door. 

On related news, the PMO is set to perform at the Stern Grove Festival on Sunday June 21st with special guests and fellow grammy award winners Sheila E. and Marlow Rosado. The event should be called Grammys on the Grove if the Academy would allow it. The concert is sponsored by KPFA 94.1 FM. The Stern Grove Festival is FREE and takes place at the Sigmund Stern Grove, a 10,000 audience capacity, beautiful outdoor amphitheater located at 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard in San Francisco. More to come on this story. Mambo's gonna rock your world!

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Fri, 08 May 2015 04:19:06 +0000
CUBADISCO 2015 NOMINEES ANNOUNCED ENGLISH:  Cubadisco 2015, a combination of Cuba's equivalent of the GRAMMY Awards, a music symposium, a trade fair, concerts and exhibitions, will take place in Havana Cuba from May 15-24, 2015.  The nominees for Cubadisco 2015 were announced at a special gala at the Cabaret Tropicana on April 30.   Bill Tilford will be covering Cubadisco in a special section of the From The Studios Report.    You can see the nominees here, and special video links have been added to the list when these were available ("pirated" links were not included).  
There is a special Video Clip category in Cubadisco, and the nominees are:
ESPAÑOL:  Cubadisco 2015, una combinación del equivalente cubano de los Premios GRAMMY, un simposio de música, una feria comerciál, conciertos y exposiciones,  tendrá lugar en La Habana, Cuba a partir de 15 a 24 mayo, 2015. Los nominados a Cubadisco 2015  se anunciaron en una gala especial en el Cabaret Tropicana el 30 de abril.  Bill Tilford estará cubriendo Cubadisco en una sección especial de From The Studios. Puede ver los nominados aquí, y enlaces de vídeo especiales se han añadido a la lista cuando disponibles (no incluimos enlaces "pirateados"). 
Hay una categoria especial, Video Clip, en Cubadisco, y los nominados son: 

1.  Oshún (Adrián Berezaín)



2.. Hablando con Juana (Alaín Pérez)


3.  Canción fácil (Haydée Milanés)



4. Cuando tú dices que me amas (QVA Libre)



5. La Moda (Los Van Van) 

ENGLISH: Congratulations to TIMBA.com's Michael Lazarus; he co-mixed and mastered Septeto Santiaguero's album No Quiero Llanto, which is a nominee in the Traditional Son category. 
ESPAÑOL:  Felicitaciones a Michael Lazarus de TIMBA.com; él co-mezcló y masterizó el álbum No Quiero Llanto de Septeto Santiaguero, que es nominado en la categoría Son Tradicional. 

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Sun, 03 May 2015 14:37:32 +0000
Peter Maiden Update

"¡Ahora sí!" Andy Montañéz at Roccapulco in 2001, one of the multitude of photos Peter Maiden took of Salsa and Timba giants during his intensive 17 years of coverage of the scene. He is stepping down from regular work in music, but says he will definitely still be around. "If you can handle the time involved, the crowds, if you have fast lenses, this work is incredible, and the familiarity with the musicians is wonderful." Peter is currently working on a fiction project as he recovers from a bicycle accident, and he is mastering iPod Touch photography.

Meanwhile, I've finished the latest Beyond Salsa video - this one on Salsa, Songo & The Roots of Latin Jazz - featuring a priceless video of Dizzy Gillespie talking about meeting Chano Pozo, the creation of Manteca, and the importance of Chano's legendary bass tumbao in the development of North American music.

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Thu, 30 Apr 2015 17:55:47 +0000
Irakere with Paulito, Carlos Manuel, José Miguel

Filmed by Michael Croy in Feb. 1996, this was part of a special concert at Casa de la Música.


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Wed, 29 Apr 2015 07:24:40 +0000
LOS VAN VAN

Live Los Van Van from their peak late-90s period with the epic front line of Pedrito Calvo, Mayito Rivera and Robertón Hernández - still several years before the departure of Pupy Pedroso and with all parts of their tremendous creative engine firing on all cylinders. This is a particularly hot performance with surprisingly good audio quality.

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Tue, 28 Apr 2015 12:08:57 +0000
Latin Jazz Train - Como Suena Latin Jazz Train - Cómo Suena

Master percussionist Calixto Oviedo is back with his second Latin Jazz album, due for release very soon. We have heard four of the songs that he has uploaded to his YouTube channel. Below you will find a short teaser with clips of some of the tracks that will be on the album. We have recieved this preliminary review from Miriam Dotls who has had the pleasure of hearing more than we have.

"Calixto Oviedo is finishing his second Latin Jazz production  with his band The Cuban Jazz Train. This new band, which is emerging in L.A. as the flag of Latin Jazz in California and one of the most noted in the USA these days, will present compositions by Yosmel Montejo (bassist), Joel Nunez (sax) Yasser Morejón (one of the great Cuban bassists who resides in Denmark), Calixto Oviedo as well as some classics of Latin Jazz. "Como Suena" is the name of a composition by Yosmel Montejo that also lends its name to the CD. Soon,  in late May, we will be enjoying The Cuban Jazz Train.

The musicians are Montejo Yosmel - bass, Joel Nunez - piano, Nathanael Molina and Alex Rivas -piano, Christian Moraga - congas, Lily D Oviedo - vocals and one of the great Cuban trumpeters of the moment guest star Josiel Perez on flugelhorn. It will for sure be an album that everyone will enjoy, and from now on with what little I have heard you can say Como Suena!" - Miriam Dotls

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Mon, 27 Apr 2015 08:28:39 +0000
Controversia! Paulito & Manolín

Here's a fascinating live bootleg from Havana during the rage late-90s timba explosion. 

Paulito and Manolín had a feigned trash-talking rivalry that served to increase the popularity of each. They would frequently show up at each others shows to duel verbally on stage. For example, Paulito had a coro "ni médico, ni cantante".

Michel Maza also appears briefly and there's a trumpet solo from Carmelo Andrés, now best known as "El Abuelo" in Charanga Habanera's trumpet section.

This tape is also interesting in that it has three Paulito songs that were never released on any official album.

I've tried to get everything in the right order, but bear in mind that this came from an unlabeled cassette. "Cuál es tu trampa" seems to be from a different show and the two Manolín controversias may also be from different nights. Please add your insights to the comments section (en inglés o español, no importa)

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Sat, 25 Apr 2015 03:07:07 +0000
Omar Sosa and Cuarteto Afrocubano at The Jazz Showcase
Omar Sosa
and Cuarteto Afrocubano are at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago every night until Sunday, April 25.  Unlike the album, which includes guest musicians that add some elements of Flamenco and other influences, this is the core quartet and is more down-to-the-bone Cuban in its execution.  BIll Tilford was there for the first set opening night - you can read more and see photos here

In 2012, Santa Habana by Melvis Santa was nominated for a Cubadisco award in the Fusion category.   Melvis has her own projects now but has also been a member of Interactivo (which appears here) and Sexto Sentido.   You can read a review of this recording in English here y en español aquí.

Best of all for Chicagoans, she will be in town May 9 to perform. See Report From Chicago  from April 19 for details. 

In the next month or two, you will be reading and hearing a lot about Ruy López-Nussa, who in no particular order is Ernán López-Nussa's brother, a phenomenal drummer, and the leader of the group La Academia, a group that has some killer recordings that are about to find their way to public notice.   If you were a fan of Grupo Afrocuba, watch this like a hawk.  This is not a reencarnation, but it is every bit as good, in some ways even better.   While we wait, here's a review of a Fusion project (Cuban music and Reggae) that they did with Everton Paul, Remembrance.  You can read it in English here o en español aquí

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Fri, 24 Apr 2015 16:45:08 +0000
Venezuela Debut for Cerrando Filas

International Timba Month has hit Venezuela in the form of Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor. They will perform their Venezuelan debut concert this Saturday in Barquisimeto. Fans are thrilled to finally get an opportunity to see Los Mayores en vivo. Maykel has been working hard over the past few years to really put together not only a great musical repertiore, but also a well-rehearsed, fun performance that makes Salsa Mayor arguably the best timba show in Havana today.

Los Mayores will be in Venezuela for five concerts. Click here to see the list of concert dates. If you are not fortunate enough to be in Venezuela, you can console yourself with the brilliant new DVD/CD "Cerrando Filas" available at iTunes and other digital retailers. Here is a personal message for the Venezuelan fans from the Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor official Facebook page.

Y LLEGAMOS MI GENTE, YA SABEN EL SABADO LOS ESPERAMOS EN BARQUISIMETO, UN ABRAZO, AHORA A DESCANSAR!!

Posted by Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor on Thursday, April 23, 2015
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Thu, 23 Apr 2015 16:07:35 +0000
New Mini-Documentary (Arsenio) A new Beyond Salsa mini-documentary and two musical treasures. The documentary is on Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 2: Arsenio, Cachao and The Golden Age of the 50s, but especially about Arsenio Rodríguez, the mid-century musical visionary whom I call "the first timbero". 

The second link is for a brand new demo from the most exciting lineup El Pikete has put together, featuring the great Reinier Guerra on drums and many other top Miami players.

Click here for El Pikete: Mi detalle.

Finally, we have two never-released-on-CD Arsenio tracks from his absolute prime.

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Wed, 22 Apr 2015 14:10:50 +0000
A LA CARGA CON EL SEPTETO SANTIAGUERO  

Hay Un Run Run is the first single and video for Septeto Santiaguero's new double-album: No Quíero Llanto, Tributo A Los Compadres. The tune features José Alberto and a fantastic vocal-only breakdown with clever (mouth) percussion effects. A real hoot! 

The album is a collaboration with Dominican Salsa Star José Alberto (El Canario) -- who also co-produced the work -- and will be released on his record label. The songs are a tribute to the famous trova duo Los Compadres, of which Compay Segundo of Buena Vista Social Club fame was once tresero and singer. The release date is May 12. 

It also features a slew of incredible artists: Osacar D'León, Eliades Ochoa, Andy Montañez, recent Latin Grammy & Grammy Nominee Aymee Nuviola, Ismael Miranda, Tiburón Morales, Grupo Esencia from Puerto Rico (their track Sarandonga is gold!) and Edwin Bonilla.

Check out Bill Tilford's review (English and Spanish) here or click on the album cover below...

Also very cool is this "making of" video, in which José Alberto and the members of the septeto speak about Los Compadres and their influence on Cuban music and the "son" genre. I especially like the part that discusses the use of whistling that became a unique stamp of the classic santiaguero group that preceded the septeto. Here it is... 

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Tue, 21 Apr 2015 13:12:41 +0000
La Charanga Habanera - Arriba de lo mal hecho Not taking time to rest from their recent European tour, David Calzado y Su Charanga Habanera are touring Canada. They have performed in Toronto and Vancouver. On Wednesday they will be in Edmonton, AB and Friday in Montreal, QC. They are performing a mix of new songs, recent hits and classic medleys. The boys are always a great time so don't miss the show! Here is a link for Edmonton tickets. And click here for tickets to the Montreal show. As a little preview here is a clip form the new song "Arriba de lo mal hecho" performed in Vancouver.

Arriba de lo mal hecho

Posted by David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera on Sunday, April 19, 2015
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Mon, 20 Apr 2015 15:02:24 +0000
Some Important Upcoming US Performances Spring is here, and some dont'miss  performances are coming up in different cities in the United States: 

I. Omar Sosa y Cuarteto AfroCubano

Omar's newest group is currently on tour in multiple cities in the United States in support of their new release ilé, a return to Omar's Cuban musical roots. You can read my review of that album (in English) here.  I will have the good fortune to be able to catch them live during one of their many performances at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago from April 23-26; they also have dates in LA on the 19th, Washington DC on the 29th and Brooklyn NY on the 30th before heading off to Europe.  You can see the full tour schedule here. 


II. Melvis Santa

Melvis Santa already has an impressive resume - a founding member of Sexto Sentido, work with Interactivo as well as many Cuban Jazz artists, film work in Siete días en la Habana and her own projects Santa Habana and Achedi.  This Chicago performance (At Sabor a Cafe on May 9) has her collaborating with a hand-picked ensemble, three of whom took the roof off the place a few weeks ago when they played there with Eliel Lazo:  Cuban saxophonist and keyboardist Orlando Sanchez "Cubajazz",  bassist Joshua Ramos and guitarist/keyboardist Rob Block.  Melvis' voice is one of those that I would listen too even if she were singing the Chicago telephone directory.  But don't take my word for it - her YouTube channel is here. This is also an opportunity to buy her CD Santa Habana, which I have heard (I love it) and will be reviewing soon.  This is a small venue (with wonderful Colombian food incidentally), so make your reservations now.      

III.   Jane Bunnett  and Maqueque

This is hardly Jane Bunnett' s  first rodeo with top-tier Cuban artists, nor is it the first time that an excellent all-female ensemble has come together to perform Cuban music.  What is new is that the lineup includes heavy hitters like drummer Yissy Garcia, who recently stood a few US cities on their ears during a tour with her own project, Bandancha, and this group draws on the strengths of Yissy, Yusa and others to throw down an interesting mix of Cuban music, Jazz and Soul.  The group will be touring Canada and the west coast of the United States in May at the following locations: 

Jazz Bistro – Toronto Canada – Wednesday May 6 to Saturday May 9
PDX Jazz @ Jimmy Mak’s – Portland Oregon – Monday May 11
Jazz Alley – Seattle Washington – Tuesday May 12, Wednesday May 13
Piedmont Piano Company – In-Store Concerts – Oakland CA – Thursday May 14
Jazz Bakery Presents at Moss Theater – Santa Monica CA – Saturday May 16
MIM Music Theater (Musical Instrument Museum) – Phoenix AZ – Sunday May 17
Kuumbwa Jazz Center – Santa Cruz CA – Monday May 18

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Sun, 19 Apr 2015 13:41:42 +0000
Michel Maza con el Charangón

After the tragic death of Elio Revé in 1997, his son Elito took over and within a few years had proven himself to be his father's equal in terms of assembling talent. Lele (now in Van Van) and ex-Trabuquero El Gallo each passed through the group alongside Revé's long-standing lead vocalist Dagoberto Vásquez and like his father, Elito employed a succession of brilliant musical directors - Jiovanni Cofiño, Arnaldo Jiménez and now Aisar Hernández.

This live show comes from the brief but wonderful period during which Michel Maza sang with Revé.

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Sun, 19 Apr 2015 05:25:07 +0000
Feliz Cumple Manolito Simonet Manolito Simonet by Cristian MuñozManolito Simonet photo courtesy of Cristian Muñoz

For International Timba Month we honor not only anniversaries but also birthdays. Bandleader Manolito Simonet celebrates his birthday today and we wish him health, happiness and que haya trabuco pa' rato. Manolito hails from Camagüey and has been one of the main proponents of heavily son-influenced timba. His piano tumbaos are mesmerizing hooks that are irresistible to dancers. Who doesn't immediately recognize the opening tumbao of "Marcando la distancia"?

But Manolito is not just living in the past and neither are we, although we have posted a lot of classic timba and there is more to come. Timba is alive and well in Cuba and here is the recent official video of the collaboration between F-Clan and Manolito Simonet y Su Trabuco "Yo soy bueno". A tasty combination of urban Havana with the son sello of  Manolito Simonet, it is destined to be another big dance floor hit.

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Sat, 18 Apr 2015 07:59:30 +0000
Happy Anniversary Klímax!

Today Giraldo Piloto & Klímax celebrate their anniversary. In tribute we offer fans this video filmed by the late, great Chuck Silverman, this is the original Klímax, playing at the famous "piscina" venue of the Hotel Riviera with the original lineup with priceless closeup footage of Piloto and Yonder de Jesús Peña Llovet (who has a great youtube channel of his own). They play half a dozen songs from the first album, Mira si te gusta (all of the brilliant original Eurotropical material is now downloadable on amazon), and some dramatic and riveting Latin jazz arrangements.

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Fri, 17 Apr 2015 08:18:42 +0000
It was 20 years ago today ...

This concert took place about a month after the Montreux concert posted earlier. 

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Fri, 17 Apr 2015 07:20:13 +0000
Charanga Habanera - Late 1998

This is quite a gem. Remember that after the Suspension Concert, only two members left the group - Dany Lozada and Juan Carlos González. The rest of the group returned to the scene and although they never recorded again, they developed new material. Some songs, like Se que ha fallado, were later done by Charanga Forever, while others, like La suegra, were never officially recorded. Then came the big breakup the following summer of 1998 that yielded Charanga Forever and left Calzado with only Michel Maza and the name "Charanga Habanera". In shockingly short order, he put together the band in this video - one of the greatest in Cuban history. I know I keep saying that about late-90s bands, but I'm tellin' it like is is - many of the great bands of all time were competing against each other on a nightly basis in this brief but magical era.

In any case, this is one of the very best of the Cuban TV documentaries, entitled Charanguero mayor, and including both of the above mentioned rarities, along with Charanguero mayor sung by Michel, Usa condón sung by Tirso and much much more.

For more on all of this:

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Thu, 16 Apr 2015 06:55:34 +0000
Pupy y Los Que Son Son Pupy y Lso Que Son Son Tour 2015

Pupy y Los Que Son Son will soon be gracing the stages of Europe. The tour begins in just over one month and will take them to eleven countries including their first-ever concerts in the UK! Pupy will be bringing his legendary music to Glasgow on May 29th and London on the 30th. The London tickets are going fast so please get yours in time. I've seen Pupy in Europe twice and both concerts were sold out. Click here to find a concert near you.

If you've been following our International Timba Month posts, you've seen the 2001 videos of Pupy y Los Que Son Son with Tirso, Pepito and Mandy as well as a guest appearance by Mayito. Here is their most recent video "La Conga Pelotera" from the album "Sin Límites". You can keep up with the latest news about Pupy y Los Que Son Son at their official Facebook page. Dale Like!

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Wed, 15 Apr 2015 14:09:43 +0000
2 Nights at the Casa de la Música Miramar
ENGLISH:
During Cubadisco 2014, EGREM was kind enough to give me permission to photograph NG La Banda and Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco in the Casa de la Música Miramar.  The Casas are one of the best options for tourists to enjoy some of the best current Timba bands. You can view the photo gallery here. 

Also, see the Reviews section for new reviews of recordings by NG La Banda, Elito Reve y su Charangón and Moncada. 

ESPAÑOL: 
Durante Cubadisco 2014, EGREM tuvo la amabilidad de darme permiso para fotografiar NG La Banda y Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco en la Casa de la Música Miramar. Las Casas son una de las mejores opciones para los turistas a disfrutar de los mejores grupos que tocan la Timba en la actualidad. Puede ver la galería de fotos aquí. 

Además, vea la sección Reseñas para nuevas reseñas de grabaciones de NG La Banda, Elito Revé y su Charangon y Moncada

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Mon, 13 Apr 2015 22:44:20 +0000
Latest Documentary

This one covers the early history of the bass tumbao up through 1950 and Arsenio Rodríguez. Lots of interesting stuff on changüí.

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Mon, 13 Apr 2015 22:43:30 +0000
Manolín & Pututi II at La Cecilia

This is flat-out one of the hottest things I've ever seen. It's probably February 1997 but I'm not sure. Pututi II looks a bit older than he does here. Apparently Pututi I, who was playing drumset on the Marianao video, was out sick with la gripa, so his brother, who normally played timbales, had to play both drums and timbales on short notice. This is itself is not such a feat - many bands, like Van Van and el Trabuco, require their drummers to do this every night, but to do it on the fly - and to do it like THIS is just mind-boggling. Pututi II, and the güiro player, and the whole band, are just out of their minds. I saw Manolín at this same Quinta Avenida outdoor nightclub the very first night I ever spent in Cuba (Feb. 1999) - a concert that led to the creation of timba.com (and the loss of my sanity). There was something truly magical about that outdoor venue that seemed to set every band on fire. The camera stays on the percussion but if you listen carefully you can hear that Issac Delgado is sitting in on two songs.

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Mon, 13 Apr 2015 09:35:55 +0000
El Médico de la Salsa

This video captures the rapture of the Havana public during the Manolin-mania period better than any other I've found. It took place at the massive, outdoor Anfeteatro de Marianao in 1996 as el Médico and his crack surgical team were in the process of pouring an ocean of kerosene on Havana's already raging live music scene. It's also priceless for its documentation of the wicked hot rhythm section of Mipa, Nápoles and the Pututi brothers.

This reconstruction uses film from the cameras of two participants in Caribbean Music & Dance Programs' yearly February pilgrimages to Havana. The main camera is by Michael Croy, who, among other things, filmed the legendary Issac Delgado Valentine's Day concert the following February. I forgot who sent me the other angle (please send me an email if you're reading this!), but I've spliced them together, in some cases repeating sections. 

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Sun, 12 Apr 2015 04:57:33 +0000
Issac Delgado - 25th Anniversary Issac Delgado 25th Anniversary

As I mentioned in a previous post, April is International Timba Month because of the number of significant timba anniversaries. Kevin's ITM post for today is a great concert by NG La Banda at the Montreaux Jazz Festival from 1994. Issac Delgado was part of NG for the first couple of years, but left NG to form his own band around 1990. He recorded his first CD "Dando la hora" in 1991, winning the 1992 EGREM award. Today is Issac's 53rd birthday, which he is celebrating with a red-carpet anniversary concert at La Cecilia.

April 2nd, Kevin posted the full Issac Delgado Valentine's Day 1997 concert - "The Croy Concert", which is one of the most exciting and inspiring concert videos from this great era of timba. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm8HJ8QWY8I

Last month Havana Culture posted an interview with Issac. I think Issac's fans will enjoy it. It's in Spanish with subtitles. Happy birthday Issac!


Interview with Issac Delgado by Havana Culture

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Sat, 11 Apr 2015 05:13:25 +0000
Gozando con el Mes Internacional de la Timba

There have been some lower resolution individual songs from this concert, but now we have the full 90 minute show in very high resolution. This is NG La Banda at the absolute peak of their second great style period - with Calixto Oviedo, Feliciano Arango, Los Metales del Terror, Pan con Salsa, Peruchín, Tony Calá et al.

Click here and here for documentaries on NG and Calixto.

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Sat, 11 Apr 2015 04:39:55 +0000
Paulito in New York - December, 1998

This is the second set of the concert posted a few days ago. Highlights include a massive version of Y ahora qué, La última balá and the masterpiece No te lo creas.

Click here for Part One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sbM6epQq-E

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Fri, 10 Apr 2015 03:27:05 +0000
Ibeyi in San Francisco

Lisa Kaine Díaz and Naomi Díaz are the twin daughters of the legendary Irakere conguero Miguel "Angá" Díaz (who plays in an upcoming Intl Timba Month video coming soon). Tom caught their show at The Independent in SF and logged this report.

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Thu, 09 Apr 2015 03:22:07 +0000
Happy Anniversary Leonel Limonta & Azúcar Negra! Azúcar Negra @ LatinoamericandoLeonel Limonta & Azúcar Negra @ Latinoamericando 2013

Today for International Timba Month  we celebrate the second group with an anniversary in April: Leonel Limonta & Azúcar Negra. Before starting his own orchestra, Leonel Limota wrote major hits for other bands: "24 días" for Issac, "Quítate el disfraz", "Nube pasajera", "El avión" and "Extraños ateos" for La CHaranga Habanera as well as almost all of the "Yo no me parezco a nadie" as manager for Bamboleo.

Haila Mompie sings "Vengo de estreno" shortly after the founding of the band in 1998

Now in full control of his own band, Limonta continued proving his extraordinary talent as songwriter with songs such as "Andar andando", "Vengo de etreno", "3 de azúcar y 2 de café", "Se acabó el pesca'o" and "Bailar con tacones". He also worked with many of the great female singers such as Haila Mompie, Monica Mesa, Tania Pantoja, and Ailyn Dallera. Recently he changed the format of the band to follow the times and has only male vocalists. Below is a clip of one of the new singles "Suave, Rico y Despacito" with Reiner Rojas on lead vocals.

Congratulations to Limonta and los chamaos de Azúcar!

Azúcar Negra 2015

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Wed, 08 Apr 2015 15:21:45 +0000
Salsondria Tuesdays at Favela Cubana

Attention New Yorkers! Salsondria's Tuesday residency at Favela Cubana continues into the month of April. As always, the events showcase some of the best talent in Gotham's Cuban Music scene. Enrique Lopez and Nu D'Lux are among the list of prime artists that will be featured on the Salsondria roster this month. Favela Cubana is located at 543 LaGuardia Place in Manhattan. The party starts at 10pm with a $5 dollar cover.

For those who cannot make it out on Tuesdays, the party continues every Saturdays at Favela's sister restaurant Calle Dao, located in Midtown at 38 W 39th Street and also starts at 10pm ($10 cover). Few events in New York present live Cuban Music with this kind of regularity and accessibility in such an intimate yet high-energy context. A unique, "up close and personal" listening and dancing experience worthy of any Cuban Music lover's attention. Come show your support!

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Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:24:51 +0000
International Timba Month Continues!

Maybe we'll make it International Timba Year.

Here's the second half of Los Que Son Son at la ENA - probably the second public performance of the group. Part One is here: http://goo.gl/1Y0kDB

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Tue, 07 Apr 2015 03:41:25 +0000
Pupy y Los Que Son Son

Here's an intimate glimpse of one of the very first performances of the first great timba band of the 21st Century - Pupy Pedroso y Los Que Son Son - with the devastating front line of Tirso Duarte, Pepito Gómez and Mandy Cantero. Visitors to Havana will recognize the venue as the "Piano Bar", a converted house down the road from the ENA conservatory where students and visitors hang out. Changuito played regularly with the band at this point and various luminaries sit in - Mayito & Robertón of Van Van, Don Pancho Terry, etc. Part 1 highlights include a Changuito solo and Mayito sitting in on Seis semanas.

Click here for the history of Pupy Pedroso, and here for Tirso Duarte.

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Mon, 06 Apr 2015 04:32:26 +0000
Paulito in New York - December, 1998

More historic footage from the final tour of one of Cuba's all-time greatest bands - the 1998 Paulito FG y su Élite. This video is everything that this one (http://goo.gl/DCsSCl) is not: it's not complete, has barely any songs that go all the way from beginning to end and doesn't stay on the tripod. BUT - it has better audio quality, substantially better video quality and some pretty amazing camera work. My suggestion is to study the Miami concert until you've got the gear system and then enjoy this one for the closeups and detail. This is Set 1 - Set 2 is here: http://youtu.be/v-gTbbQN9lQ

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Sun, 05 Apr 2015 05:00:40 +0000
International Timba Month Why is April International Timba Month? Although one cannot put an exact date on the birth of Timba, people tend to go along with the idea that it was with El Tosco & NG La Banda that took the many innovations that had been present in Cuban music and brought them together also adding a few of their own creating what we now call timba. Today NG La Banda celebrate their 27th anniversary. That is the main reason that April was chosen as International Timba Month. However both Azúcar Negra and Klímax also celebrate anniversaries in April, which just makes it that much more appropriate.

Here is an excellent video - courtesy of ex-NG drummer Calixto Oviedo - of one of my favorite NG songs "La Bruja", filmed at the Montreaux Jazz Festival. If you will be in LA this month, don't miss Calixto Oviedo & The Cuban Jazz Train at Trattoria 25! It will be a great way to spend an evening for International Timba Month.

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Sat, 04 Apr 2015 06:15:24 +0000
Paulito in Miami - December, 1998

The audio and video quality is not quite ready for IMAX, but this is a truly historic document - the final concert of the final tour of one of the greatest bands ever assembled. After this December 1998 show at Café Cristal in Miami, conguero Tomasito Cruz and future Tiempo Libre vocalist El Kid Díaz left the group to stay in Miami, and after returning to Havana, bassist Joel Domínguez, drummer Yoel Páez and pianist Yaniel "El Majá" Matos left to join the 1999 incarnation of Issac Delgado's band (the band that played the Y2K Concert posted a few months back). The rest of the band includes El Bola Betancourt on trumpet, Carlos Pérez on trombone Juan Ceruto on sax and arrangements. and of course three future members of Havana d'Primera: Alexander Abreu, Rogelio Nápoles and Yosvel Bernal. When we discuss HdP's "resumen de los 90" mission statement - rekindling the brilliance of the timba era - there's no doubt that the PFG 98 band was their overarching inspiration. You can hear all three of these guys solo on Estamos en escena (use the hyperlinks in the video description for quick navigation).

What sets this band aside from all others is their unique approach to timba gears - Paulito quite literally "calls" each gear change with a sophisticated set of hand signals - explained in this youtube:

In 1997, when the classic album Con la conciencia tranquila was recorded (the source for most of the songs from this show), the rhythm section was the same except for Sergio Noroña on piano, but at that point they had two main timba gears - presión and bomba. In 1998 they added a third "masacote"-style timba gear dubbed (at least by Tomasito) "songo con efectos". They played this more and more over the course of 1998 and you can hear plenty of it in the Noche de Cristal audio concert posted a few months ago. That was about 3 months before this show - the last stop on the historic 1998 US tour. I will soon post another video from a few days before this one - at SOBs - it doesn't have complete songs but does have vastly superior video quality. This beauty of this particular video is that most of the songs are complete and there's very little fancy camera work so you can see Paulito and most of the rhythm section all of the time and you can watch as Paulito dishes out his hand signals and the band responds brilliantly. There's also a long version of Estamos en escena in which almost everyone gets a solo. Last but not least is the never-recorded masterpiece, Laura, and the original version of La última bala, later recorded as Una vez más on the 2000 album of the same name.

This is the same band that played this concert in Havana a few months earlier: 

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Fri, 03 Apr 2015 20:21:25 +0000
New Live Videos In Honor of ... another of the greatest timba concerts ever preserved: Issac Delgado at Casa Cultura on Valentine's Day, 1997, featuring Melón Lewis, Alain Pérez, Daria Delgado, Georvis Pico, Joaquín Betancourt, Andrés Cuayo and many more. Some of the individual songs have been on youtube for a while but now we have the full concert in very high quality - dubbed directly from Mike Croy's original digital camera tape. 

Coming later this week are two epic Paulito FG concerts, including the final show before his stupendously great 1998 band broke up. If you want to get in the mood for this, here's a youtube segment that will teach you how to spot Paulito's inimitable hand signal method for changing gears spontaneously.

PFG is truly the Steph Curry of timba. And these concerts have never been on youtube in any form. Entonces ... prepárense!

Also, in case you missed it, we've also recently added the Charanga Habanera Suspension Concert Restoration Project. The idea here is to find all the various audio and video files of this historic 1997 concert and put everything in order with the best quality media in each case. The cool thing here is that the concert went on after the censors pulled the plug, so we have audio of several additional songs, including two great ones that Charanga Habanera never recorded in the studio. If you're not up to speed on the infamous suspension you can catch up on your charanga chisme here and here.

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Thu, 02 Apr 2015 02:34:39 +0000
International Timba Month 2015 NG La Banda

Yes timber@s, once again it's time to celebrate the birth of our favorite music, which we have not-so-randomly placed in the month in which coincides with the founding of NG La Banda. As we gather again to congratulate ourselves on our excellent taste, let me point out that despite fears that timba is dying, the new generation if timberos has already given us two excellent new albums in 2015: "La Vuelta al Mundo" by Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera and Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor's live CD/DVD "Cerrando Filas" recorded at their 10th anniversary concert last year. Other indications of the health of the genre are the excellent 2014 debut album "Llegó La Verdad" by Emilio Frías "El Niño" y La Verdad - who will celebrate their anniversary on June 28th with guest José Alberto "El Canario" at La Tropical - and the young group Yadiel Bolaño y La Tabla who have just released their first CD, which is being highly praised by DJs.

And the established bands continue doing brilliant work. Los Van Van's "La Fantasía" released earlier this year is undoubtedly one of their best. And we hear more about the upcoming release by Elito Revé y Su Charangón - "La Salsa Tiene Mi Son" - an album with remakes of some of the Charangóns biggest hits from the 90s featuring national and international stars. We've been waiting for this one for a long time. It was recorded at Abdala studios under the musical direction of Aisar Hernández and direction of Elito Revé. It will distributed nationally by Bis Music and internationally by Sony. No, I still don't have the actual release date but let's hope it's this spring. In the video below Elito talks about the new album.

Also just in time for International Timba Month Kevin has released his "Restoration Project" Suspension Concert video (below). He has combined the best available audio with the best available video (VHS recording from television) to create the complete concert from start to finish. Because the television transmission was cut off during "Usa condón", the final part contains only the audio, but it's worth listening to. It brings home the passion and locura of the late 90s in Havana. So timber@s - enjoty the month of April as spring returns and we count the reasons we have to be thankful for having enriched our lives with Cuban music.

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Wed, 01 Apr 2015 12:07:05 +0000
HAVANA D'PRIMERA - LA VUELTA AL MUNDO Havana D'Primera - La Vuelta al Mundo Cover

I can say this with confidence and without having listened to a single track yet - one of the biggest timba releases of 2015 has just come out! Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera "La Vuelta al Mundo" is now available at CD Baby in MP3, MP3-320 and FLAC (lossless) format! I have downloaded mine already! Havana D'Primera is one of very few groups whose albums I will buy without having to listen first. But as soon as I have had a chance I will be back with preliminary thoughts! Go get your copy now! Click here to listen or to download.

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Fri, 27 Mar 2015 09:55:25 +0000
New Beyond Salsa Video

This is the longest one yet - 55 minutes - so I added a Table of Contents of links in the description so you can skip around - there are sections for dancers, drummers, and fans of various groups. 
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Thu, 26 Mar 2015 15:58:29 +0000
Houston Jazz Alert One of the best Jazz clarinet/saxophone artists from Cuba, also an excellent composer, is Ernesto Vega, who works in Houston,  Texas currently.  You can read a review of his debut recording Venir al Mundo here, and a recording with him and Harold López Nussa together is due to be released in Cuba later this year. 
On Friday, March 27, Ernesto will be presenting a performance of his own compositions with his quartet at Cezanne, a nationally-recognized Jazz Club in Houston. You can see all of the details here.  You can also hear his English-language interview with Bill Tilford in the Bill's Bag segment of Frankie Pineiro's The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition on WSLR on Tuesday morning,  March 24 (the show runs from 10am to Noon Eastern time, and you can stream it here.)   If you are in or near Houston, and you like Jazz, don't miss this.  A video taste of Ernesto at work:

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Mon, 23 Mar 2015 21:11:36 +0000
Yissy García, Chuchito Valdés & Brian Lynch
Chuchito Valdés
is doing 9 shows in Trio at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago between Thursday, March 20 and Sunday, March 23.  Musically, Chuchito just keeps getting better as he ages. For complete schedule and tickets, click here

Fresh from some concerts in Miami that are getting raves, Yissy Garcia now moves on to New Orleans. On Saturday afternoon, March 21, she will be performing at the Congo Square New World Rhythms festival, and WWOZ will play a recording of her music on Sunday, March 22.  The WWOZ website, which contains the Congo Square lineup as well, is here.  Then, at 8pm the same day (March 22), she will perform at the Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro.  Catch her group, Bandancha, live if you can - it's a live representative of the new wave of Cuban music that I keep shouting about.  If you can't see it live, catch the WWOZ broadcast.   

Finally, in a recent blog entry about Latin on Lex in New York, I mentioned that one of the artistic directors was Brian Lynch.  He is performing with Phil Woods and We Six at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music Jazz Festival in Milwaukee on Friday, March 20.  As best as I can determine, this will be straight-ahead Jazz but very much worth checking out.  This is part of a larger festival that runs from March 19-21.For complete details, click here

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Wed, 18 Mar 2015 22:10:49 +0000
SF SalsaRueda Festival Photos Are Up! Tom Ehrlich has posted two galleries on the 2015 SF SalsaRueda Festival, featuring Mayito Rivera, Timbalive and hundreds of phenomenal dancers from around the world.

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

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Sun, 15 Mar 2015 16:58:21 +0000
More about Moncada, Conan, Casino, Life, The Universe, and Everything ENGLISH: In Havana, Grupo Moncada (their leader, Jorgé Gómez, was in the first few minutes of the Conan O'Brien special about Cuba), frequently gives concerts at the Jardines del 1830, which has become known as a destination for Casino dancers in that city.   
An interesting piece of the story is that Conan's encounter with Moncada also drew the attention of Rolling Stone, not normally known for showing a deep interest in our part of the musical spectrum. You can check out the Rolling Stone item here.   I doubt that this wlll turn all of  its readers into Casineros overnight, but there is no doubt that it  does help the cause...
Finallyto add a Cuban perspective, you can read a communique from the Press Office of the National Center For Popular Music in Cuba here. 

ESPAÑOL:  En La Habana, Grupo Moncada (su líder, Jorge Gómez, aparece en los primeros minutos del episodio especial  de Conan O'Brien sobre Cuba), da conciertos  con frecuencia en los Jardines del 1830, un lugar que se ha conocido como un destino para los bailarines de Casino en esa ciudad. 
Una parte interesante del cuento es que el encuentro de Conan con Moncada también señaló a la atención de la revista Rolling Stone, normalmente no conocida por mostrar un interés profundo en nuestra parte del espectro musical. Puede ver el item de Rolling Stone (en inglés) aquí. Dudo que este articulo transforme a todos sus lectores en casineros de repente, pero no hay duda que es ayuda a la causa ...
Por último, para añadir una perspectiva cubana, puede leer un comunicado de la Oficina de Prensa del Centro Nacional de Música Popular en Cuba aquí.

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Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:08:11 +0000
Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor Tour Starts Today UPDATE! The audio for the 10th Anniversary concert DVD is now available at iTunes!
Click here to preview and purchase the audio tracks from "Cerrando Filas"

Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor DVD - Cerrando FilasNew DVD Cerrando Filas

Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor are back in Europe where they will visit 6 countries and play 13 concerts in only 15 days before heading to Martinique to conclude their tour. The first concert will be held tonight in Argenteuil (Paris), France at the Festival Caribedanza. They will also perform in Belgium, Germany,  Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Italy. Click here for the list of concerts

The band has been busy with new songs and finishing the DVD of their 10th anniversary concert from 2014 titled "Cerrando Filas". They have released a few teasers for the DVD and it is definitely on my to-buy list! Salsa Mayor is one of the best live performances you can catch. See for yourself! Or Click here to preview and purchase the audio tracks from "Cerrando Filas"

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Sat, 14 Mar 2015 05:34:14 +0000
LATIN ON LEX: KILLER LATIN JAZZ LINEUP

SO, if I were in New York, I would be spending the next three nights at 92Y in New York. The poster above shows the tip of the iceberg - Eddie Palmieri takes the first night with the Afro-Caribbean Jazz Octet; the second night is themed New Cuban New York with Yosvany Terry, Gregory Tardy, Manuel Valera, Pedrito Martínez, Hans Glawischnig and Obed Calvaire; the third night, Bolero Meets Jazz, features an all-star 11-piece ensemble (including Xiomara Laugart on vocals and Phil Woods on alto sax)  and a pre-concert talk with Brian Lynch, the Artistic Director of the Festival. Unless there's a power outage, the storm of the decade or an asteroid strike, this should be epic. For complete details and tickets, visit the 92Y event page here. 

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Wed, 11 Mar 2015 15:15:56 +0000
Global Cuba Fest Part II PLUS: I.  Global Cuba Fest Continues


Yissy García swings into Miami with her new project Bandancha for part 2 of Global Cuba Fest. She'll be at The Light Box at Goldman Warehouse (404 NW 26th St., Miami on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14.  Yissy is part of a new wave of Jazz/Fusion groups in Cuba, and this is a don't- miss if you're able to attend. For more information, visit the Fundarte event page

II.  Jorge Luis Pacheco and Aldo López-Gavilán at the Kennedy Center


For those of us who missed Part I of Global Cuba Fest, we can watch two of the pianists playing at the Kennedy Center's  Millennium Stage the next day thanks to their video archive.  To watch the 2-hour concert of Jorge Luis Pacheco and Aldo López-Gavilán, click here

III. New Omar Sosa Album

Omar Sosa has released an interesting new album, ilé, that was recently featured on NPR's First Listen.  You can read Bill Tilford's review here, and Omar's team has also published a very nice EPK preview, which you can view below....

 

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Tue, 10 Mar 2015 23:33:56 +0000
GLOBAL CUBA FEST PLUS: WHO IS THAT MAN? ENGLISH:  Global Cuba Fest begins in Miami Saturday, March 7 with a don't-miss lineup featuring a marathon of some of Cuba's superb young pianists (Harold López-NussaAldo López-Gavilán and Jorge Luis Pacheco) followed by Volcán with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Horacio El Negro Hernández, Giovanni Hidalgo and Armando Gola.   A Latin Fusion group from Switzerland, Lariba, closes the show.  It continues on Saturday 13-14 with Yissy García and Bandancha, an exciting new project in the current music scene in Cuba.  Bill Tilford interviewed Yissy, who is in  DC March 7,  via telephone earlier this week, and you can listen to that (in Spanish) by clicking here.   Yissy's YouTube channel is here and worth visiting. 
Fundarte's page is here

ESPAÑOL: Global Cuba Fest comienza en Miami el sábado 7 de marzo con una "no se lo pierda" colección de artistas ofreciendo un maratón de algunos de los pianistas jóvenes magníficos de Cuba (Harold López-Nussa, Aldo López-Gavilán y Jorge Luis Pacheco), seguido de Volcán con Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Horacio El Negro Hernández, Giovanni Hidalgo y Armando Gola. Un grupo de fusión latina desde Suiza, Lariba, cierra el espectáculo. Global Cuba Fest continúa  13-14 de marzo con Yissy García y Bandancha, una nuevo proyecto emocionante en la escena musical actual en Cuba. Bill Tilford entrevistó a Yissy, que está en  DC el 07 de marzo, a través del teléfono a principios de esta semana, y para escuchar la entrevista, haga clic aquí.  El canal de Yissy en YouTube está aquí y vale la pena visitar.  
La página de Fundarte está aquí

L: Jorge Gómez, R: Bill Tilford, La Habana, Cuba, May 2014

ENGLISH: If you happened to watch the Conan O'Brien episode about his trip to Cuba, you would have seen him handling a guitar in the presence of a bandleader during the first few minutes. That bandleader was Jorge Gómez of Grupo Moncada, who is also a man who helped Bill Tilford get around during Cubadisco 2014.   You can see a photo gallery and learn a little more about the group here
ESPAÑOL:  Si le pasó a ver el episodio de Conan O'Brien sobre su viaje a Cuba, habría visto a Conan manejando una guitarra en la presencia de un líder de una banda durante los primeros minutos. Ese líder de la banda es Jorge Gómez del Grupo Moncada, que también es un hombre que ayudó a Bill Tilford a ir a muchos lugares durante Cubadisco 2014. Puede ver una galería de fotos y aprender un poco más sobre el grupo aquí.

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Fri, 06 Mar 2015 20:46:37 +0000
Havana Rhythm & Dance Festival Fiesta del Tambor 2015

The 2015 Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival begins tomorrow at 8:30 pm at Teatro Mella with a tribute to drummer Chuck Silverman, who passed away unexpectedly almost a year ago. Chuck was well-known to many of the writers and readers here at Timba.com. He was a great educator and driving force behind Afro-Caribbean rhythms in drumming. Participating in this opening show and tribute are Afrocuba de Matanzas and guests; Osaìn del Monte and Rodney Barreto; Jeff Coffin`s Big Band Project and Yoruba Andabo. Havana's annual festival of drumming and dance under festival president Giraldo Piloto is a must-see event. Click here for the full program

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Mon, 02 Mar 2015 15:30:37 +0000
CUBAN MUSIC NEWS FEBRUARY 28 2015
YISSY GARCIA AND BANDANCHA US TOUR

This is another of the new wave of modern Cuban music groups that are mixing Cuban music, Funk, Jazz Hip Hop and other genres successfully.  Yissy's group is also interesting for other reasons - their next album will be crowdfunded, and this may open the door for more of this activity by Cuban artists if all goes well.  They just finished in New York, will be in Knoxville, then off to DC, then Miami.   Here's a taste of recent New York concert from Yissy's You Tube channel:


GLOBAL CUBA FEST COMES TO MIAMI
March 7, 13, 14; April 11, 2015
Miami Dade County Auditorium and The Light Box at Goldman Warehouse
Opening night, March 7, features a marathon of some of Cuba's superb young pianists (Harold López-Nussa, Aldo López-Gavilán and Jorge Luis Pacheco) followed by Volcán with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Horacio El Negro Hernandez, Giovanny Hidalgo and Armando Goia.   A Latin Fusion group from Switzerland, Lariba, closes the show.   This should be an explosive evening.  Yissy comes in on March 13-14, and Omar Sosa comes in on April 11.  For complete details, visit the Fundarte website here

The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage in Washington DC will have the Harold López-Nussa, Aldo López-Gavilán and Jorge Luis Pacheco part of the program on March 8. 

We recently mentioned Septeto Santiaguero's forthcoming release, No Quiero Llanto - Tributo a Los Compadres.   Word has it that the Septeto will be premiering a video at Billboard Latin on April 28 followed by official release on May 12.  Stay tuned. 

Finally, Chicago musician/bandleader Lise Gilly went to Jazz Plaza 2014 in Havana with several other musicians including Andrea Brachfeld.  Lise was kind enough to write about her trip, and you can read her impressions of Jazz Plaza here. 

 

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Sun, 01 Mar 2015 00:15:30 +0000
Conan in Cuba As most cubanophiles know, Conan O'Brien recently recorded an episode in Cuba that will air on March 4th. Among other things he joined in a rueda at the popular dance club 1830. He definitely has a style all his own. Here are some spots from his web site. Below is a tourist video of Conan's dance stylings, which we can see in full on Wednesday. I especially like the "jumping jacks" move. Other current visiters to Cuba include Paris Hilton and Naomi Campbell.

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Sat, 28 Feb 2015 06:20:57 +0000
Calixto Pre-Release Party Calixto Oviedo Why I am Here Tour

Get ready Los Angeles because Calixto Oviedo is coming at you with his Latin Jazz Train Quintet! They are currently in the process of recording a new CD of Calixto's signature danceable Latin Jazz under the production of Manny Gonzales SA and Calixto Oviedo at Maracatumba Studios in L.A. You can get a sneak peek at what is coming this Wednesday February 25th when Calixto's Latin Jazz Train Quintet will  give a pre-release concert at Trattoria 25 2510 S. Santa Fe Ave. The concert will include special guest Lily Hernández on vocals. For reservations and more information contact (626) 818-4464. It's free admission and parking! Don't missit!

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Mon, 23 Feb 2015 06:58:33 +0000
Conga al estilo de Havana D'Primera Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera are in the studio in Miami working on their third CD with the title "La Vuelta al Mundo". They uploaded a clip from the studio of a conga they have recorded and you have never heard a conga like this! There's a reason they are called D'Primera. Here it is to get you excited about what's to come: conga-timba al estilo de Havana D'Primera! If you're in Miami, don't miss their matinee today at The Place of Miami at 6:00 pm.

Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera están en el estudio in Miami trabajando en su tercer CD con el título de "La Vuelta al Mundo". Ellos cargaron un clip desde el estudio de una conga que han grabado y te juro que nunca haz escuchado una conga como este! Hay una razón por la que son llamados D'Primera. Aquí está para que te entusiasma acerca de lo que está por venir: conga-timba al estilo de Havana D'Primera!  Si estás en Miami no pierdas el matinee hoy en The Place of Miami a las 6:00 pm.

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Sun, 22 Feb 2015 06:12:32 +0000
Interview with Alain Almeida Alain Almeida Manzanares

Alain Almeida Manzanares has been singing timba since he was 18 starting with Sello L.A. and later with groups such as La Charanga Forever, Michel Maza y La Bola and Roberto Armas y Los Conquistadores del La Salsa. It was with the latter orchestra that he finally settled in Lima in 2002, where he also worked with A1 Banda and Barbaro Fines y Su Mayimbe. In March 2013 Alain started his own timba band "La Constelación de Cuba" with a repertoire based on original compositions by himself and musical director and arranger Osuan Ponciano. The band will soon be finishing their first CD - "Pa' Lante y con Fe" - that they plan to release in time for their second anniversary party which will be hosted by the nightclub Makumba in Lima on March 28th. They are also in the process of filming the official video for the hit single "Hoy serás mía". We took the time to do a short interview with Alain. Click here to read the interview where he talks about how he got into music and what led him to start his own band. Dale cliq aquí para leérlo en español. Below is a video with lyrics of "Hoy serás mía" but this is not the official clip that is coming; it's just a teaser. To keep up with the band, you can follow them at the Constelación D'Cuba Facebook page

"Hoy serás mía" with lyrics

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Sat, 21 Feb 2015 14:32:34 +0000
La Fantasía @ Descarga Los Van Van - La Fantasia

The new Van Van album "La Fantasía" is now available at Descarga.com in hardcopy. It is their best album of the past decade so you don't want to miss it! Click here to read Bill's review. It's the best way to prepare yourself for the upcoming US tour celebrating 45 years of Van Van. For more information about the tour click here.

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Tue, 17 Feb 2015 13:10:44 +0000
Complete Program Havana Rhythm & Dance Festival Fiesta del Tambor 2015

As promised we have uploaded the full program for the 2015 Havana Rhythm & Dance Festival. Over six days music and dance events will be held in nine venues across Havana. In addition to the percussion competition and the Casino competition, highlights include the Giants of Percussion at Teatro Mella March 4th at 8:30pm and the concerts at La Tropical on March 7th and 8th with Paulo FG y la Èlite, Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Cándido Fabré y su Orquesta, Lazarito Valdés y Bamboleo, Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco, Giraldo Piloto y Klimax,  Jose Luis Cortés y NG la Banda, Compañía Santiago Alfonso, Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor, and El Niño y La Verdad. Click here to check the full program or to download the program in PDF format, click here.

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Mon, 16 Feb 2015 14:55:02 +0000
CUBAN MUSIC NEWS FEBRUARY 14, 2015 I. Mezcla Celebrates 30 Years, Releases New Album Pure Mezcla

Since Mezcla was already performing in public before the band was officially named, even its leader, Pablo Menéndez, is uncertain about which day should be considered its birthday, but 2015 is the 30th Anniversary year of one of Cuba's foremost Fusion groups, and the group is currently engaged in activities related to that milestone in Cuba. 
Oakland-born Pablo Menéndez and Cuban-made Mezcla have served as a cultural bridge between Cuba and the United States for decades.  A key moment in that history came in 1993, when 5 of the 8 band members were denied entry for a US tour by the State Department.  This galvanized activists and the musical community in the Bay Area.  The lawsuit that followed, Encuentro del Canto Popular vs. Christopher, helped set the course of the subsequent career of one of the leading attorneys in the US for assisting US-Cuba cultural exchanges, William Martinez, and it also helped cement the Bay Area's reputation as a supportive center of the music in the United States.   The show went on after a fashion in 1993 with Santana and some members of his band performing with Pablo Menéndez and Lazaro Ros in place of Pablo's full band.  Here's a clip from Yerba Buena Gardens from that time...  

In 1999, Pablo Menéndez, Bonnie Raitt & Woody Harrelson performed together at an event in the Karl Marx Theater in Havana called Music Bridges in which 40 Cuban musicians and 40 musicians from the US collaborated in a joint songwriting and performance effort.  Sadly, subsequent events in the United States a couple of years later prevented the musicians in both countries  from fully developing the opportunities presented by this project.

In more recent years, Mezcla has placed more emphasis on both Jazz and Folkloric fusion elements including a wonderful DVD made in Cuba, Todos estrellas del Jazz cubano.  Mezcla's current fans include Arturo O'Farrill and Orbert Davis among many others.  

Now, Mezcla has just released a new album, Pure Mezcla, which contains the best parts of a live concert at Yoshi's Oakland in 2013.  The album is already getting airplay across the planet (literally, from Canada to Australia) and is drawing favorable reviews in the music press. Best of all, the intial release is an exclusive download with bonus content on Latin Pulse Music. Don't wait for something to turn up on Amazon or I-Tunes - those are fine services, but the label (Tilford Productions, run by yours truly) has no plans of putting it there in the near future because we were able to load liner notes, bonus content etc. on LPM, and these things matter to us. 
Click here for the album page, which includes sample videos, audio samples and review clips. 


II. Next
Weekend:

The 7th Annual San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival

February 19-22, 2015
Hotel Whitcomb
1231 Market Street, 
San Francisco, CA 94103. 
Ticket Info
Quite simply the best and most important festival of its kind in the United States.  Of very special interest to TIMBA.com's visitors will be the performances by Mayito Rivera (who incidentally  also blogs for us from time to time) and Timbalive and two lectures by our Editor in Chief Kevin Moore on clave and its relationship to the basic dance step. People come from considerable distances to attend this event. Here's a link to Kevin's review of last year's performance of Mayito and Timbalive at this same festival.


III:  Happy Anniversary to Septeto Santiaguero!


Septeto Santiaguero, one of Cuba's best traditional Son bands and a group that has been working with an impressive collection of guest artists in recent years, celebrated its 20th Anniversary on February 2.   Their forthcoming new recording (in May 2015) will be No Quiero Llanto - Tributo a Los Compadres, a joint project with José Alberto El Canario. You can read our review of this excellent recording here in English and aquí en español


IV.  Meanwhile, in Chicago: 

Many Chicagoans are enjoying the 14th Annual
Chicago International Salsa Congress this weekend, and on Sunday, February 15, the Pedrito Martinez Group is doing two shows (5 and 8pm) at City Winery.  We aren't positive, but we think this may be the PMG's first visit to Chicago featuring their new lineup. PMG is a regular visitor here, and the winery has named one of its selections after them. 

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Sat, 14 Feb 2015 20:17:45 +0000
Cuban Cornucopia ENGLISH: Cubadisco 2015 is now in the early stages of considering recordings for its awards program (Cubadisco is many things including Cuba's equivalent of the GRAMMY awards), and it is now inviting submissions for the Symposium that takes place during the event.  Each year has a central theme - this year that theme is symphonic and choral music. For more information (in Spanish) about the upcoming 2015 event, click here.  
There is a section dedicated to Cubadisco in which we recently posted the Edición Resumen, the final publication (in Spanish) of the annual event .  For more information, click here
ESPAÑOL: Cubadisco 2015 se encuentra ahora en las primeras etapas de considerar las grabaciones para su programa de premios (Cubadisco es muchas cosas, incluyendo el equivalente de los premios Grammy de Cuba), y ahora se está buscando las presentaciones para el simposio que tiene lugar durante el evento. Cada año tiene un tema central - este año  el tema es la música sinfónica y coral. Para más información (en español) sobre el próximo evento de 2015, haga clic aquí.
Hay una sección dedicada a Cubadisco en la que recientemente hemos publicado la Edición Resumen, la publicación final (en español) del evento anual. Para obtener más información, haga clic aquí.
ENGLISH: Eliel Lazo in Chicago:
Eliel brings an exciting mix of Songo and Cuban Funk to new listeners.  To see a photo gallery and summary of his performance in Chicago, click here
ESPAÑOL: Eliel Lazo en Chicago:
Eliel trae una mezcla emocionante de Songo y Funk cubano a nuevos oyentes.  Para ver una galería de fotos y un resumen de su actuación en Chicago, haga clic aquí.
ENGLISH: Global Cuba Fest:  
A VERY exciting festival featuring Cuban artists is coming up in Miami in March.  For more information, click here
FINALLY:  Congratulaions to Arturo O'Farrill for his GRAMMY win (Best Latin Jazz Album) for The Offense of the Drrum.  To read a review in English, click here

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Sun, 08 Feb 2015 20:00:30 +0000
Havana Rhythm & Dance Festival - 2015 Fiesta del Tambor 2015 Havana

One month from today sees the start of the 2015 Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival. This is one of the major Cuban music and dance events every year with masters classes and performances as well as competitions for hopeful young percussion musicians in the categories drums, timbales, congas, bongos and batá. The Festival also hosts the International Competition in Casino Dance. Prizes are provided by the event sponsors, which include Hotel Palco, Melia Hotels, Havana Club S.A., Sabian Co, Pearl Drums, Evans, Regal Tip, Bucanero S.A. among others. The competitions are open to both Cubans and non-Cubans. If you are interested in participating, you can click here for contact information

After an intense day of classes and competitions, relax in the evenings with the top bands in Cuba including Havana D'Primera, Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor, Manolito Simonet, Paulo FG, Klímax, Robertico Carcarsés and Interactive, Companía Santiago Alfonso, Companía Liszt Alfonso, Havana Dance Compás, Muñequitos de Matanzas, Afrocuba Matanzas, Osaín del Monte, Yoruba Andabo, Rodney Barreto, Oliver Valdés, Ramsés Rodriguez, and Eliel Lazo among others.

The complete program with times and venues for all events will be released shortly so stay tuned! As travel opportunities open up, this festival is a must for musicians and dancers who want a chance to learn from the very best. Click here for the full announcement with contact information.

Dale cliq aquí para leer la convocatoria en español. 

If you need any more convincing, just check out this video from the 2014 Festival!

Klímax - "Aquí estoy" Havana Rhythm & Dance Festival 2014

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Tue, 03 Feb 2015 13:50:27 +0000
Interview with Samuel Formell Formell y Los Van Van 2015 United States Tour

I spoke to Samuel Formell today and he was about to leave Miami and return to Cuba. The orchestra will be in the US in July 2015 through August 25th.

Read our "La Fantasía" album review (in English) here 
Oprima aquí para leer nuestra reseña del nuevo disco de Los Van Van "La Fantasía" (Español)

Formell y Los Van Van 2015 United States Tour"This year marks the 45th anniversary of LOS VAN VAN and preparations are underway for this summer's 2015 USA Tour, in support of our new album La Fantasia, created an as homaje to my father, Juan Formell." Samuel said. "Jenny, Roberton, Lele and Mandy will be singing on this tour. We have dates already booked for San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Miami with many more to come. We look forward to the return of EL TREN and he will be performing with a 15-piece band."

Searock Music LLC proudly announces the U.S. 2015 tour of Formell y Los Van Van, Cuba’s legendary, Grammy-winning dance orchestra.  Performance dates will be posted on www.Searockmusic.com and on Facebook under SeaRock Entertainment.

Heralded as Cuba’s greatest dance orchestra and known throughout the world for their iconic live performances, Los Van Van return to then US, reuniting with Leo Tizol, the producer and creative force behind their 1996 debut tour of the U.S.

Founded in 1969 by Juan Formell, Los Van Van continue to dominate as one of the world’s foremost interpreters of contemporary Afro-Caribbean music.  Fans can expect to hear the group’s greatest hits along with work from their more current CD releases. 

Continuing the legacy of the late Juan Formell, his son Samuel, the band's artistic director, has left no doubt that the group will follow the footsteps of his father. The tour of Los Van Van will present compositions from their latest production entitled La Fantasía ("The Fantasy"), a collection of danceable tracks incorporating innovative, contemporary arrangements of Juan Formell’s hits from past

“La Fantasía es el mejor album de los Van Van”- Samuel Formell

For group availability, contact:
Searock Entertainment - Leo Tizol - Tour Producer/Artist Representative
mundolibremusic@aol.com
 (917) 687 - 2486

Ernesto Lago - Tour Producer 
(917) 617 - 5708
ernesto@searockmusic.com

Formell y Los Van Van 2015 United States Tour

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Fri, 30 Jan 2015 15:39:22 +0000
Jazzin’ - A New Magazine on Puerto Rican Music

Tom Ehrlich has discovered a new magazine -  Jazzin’, reporting on jazz in Puerto Rico and   scheduled to release its first monthly issue in February, 2015. It will include interviews, reviews of recordings, listings of concerts and more. The magazine will be distributed mainly in Puerto Rico in clubs and restaurants, but the magazine is available to people outside the island for the cost of shipping and handling. If anyone is interested in getting a subscription to this magazine, contact Wilbert Sostre at wsostre@gmail.com. 

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Thu, 29 Jan 2015 23:22:48 +0000
PALO! - "La Malanga Resbala" Exclusive World Premiere PALO! anticipates Grammy(R) week with video premiere and concert. - Miami’s Afro-Cuban Funk band PALO! has much to celebrate: A Grammy nomination and headlining a concert at one of Hollywood’s top music venues. In anticipation of Grammy Week, timba.com is featuring the Exclusive World Premiere of their music video “La Malanga Resbala”.

PALO! storms Los Angeles on February 3rd for Grammy week with a series of high profile appearances on TV, radio and digital media. (Follow “gopalo” on social media to keep track.) The week culminates with Music’s Biggest Night: The 57th Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 8, 2015.

On Friday, February 6, PALO! will be performing at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood.
Tickets can be purchased here.  

“We are blown away.” said Steve Roitstein, the group’s founder and pianist, when asked about their Grammy nomination. “We started PALO! to have fun and make music we’re proud of. Happily, our fans like it too. But this kind of industry recognition was totally unexpected. It’s a real honor.”

The video for “La Malanga Resbala” features a 1950’s-influenced approach. PALO! collaborated with directors Ralf Gonzalez and Andrew Peña, art director Rene Quesada, and fashion designer Yas Gonzalez, who created singer Leslie Cartaya’s look. “They did a fantastic job to reflect our mix of vintage and contemporary sounds.” Roitstein told timba.com. “The Cuban flavor is echoed in the visuals.” In addition to the Grammy Nomination for Best Tropical Latin Album of the Year, the album “PALO! Live” was also nominated for a 2014 Latin Grammy. For more information about the group, see gopalo.com.

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Wed, 28 Jan 2015 04:00:40 +0000
New Mezcla Video Update With Mezcla's 30th Anniversary this year, a few things are happening:  Last week, Radio Metropolitana had a special segment devoted to Mezcla during the week, and on February 15, a new release, Pure Mezcla, will be unveiled as a digital download on Latinpulsemusic.com. There will be some special concert events featuring Mezcla in the weeks to come in Cuba.
A very popular video with unmastered audio of a song from their live concert at Yoshi's Oakland in 2013, Mambo Influenciado, has been on Mezcla's YouTube channel for months; a mastered audio version has now been published on YouTube as a leadup to the new album release:  


This is a great time to be in Chicago if you love Cuban Jazz and Funk.  Orlando Sanchez Soto (Cubajazz)  and Danae Blanco are thriving on a riff at Sabor a Café - you can read more and see a photo gallery here.  
Then, on February 6-7, Eliel Lazo is coming to the same establishment for a concert and workshop (we covered Eliel Lazo & The Cuban Funk Machine a few posts back.)  Finally, the Pedrito Martínez Group comes to Chicago at the City Winery on February 15.  This has become the PMG's regular annual outpost in Chicago, and we believe this will be the first time there with their new lineup. 

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Tue, 27 Jan 2015 07:03:05 +0000
Ear ... Meet Hook With or without the autotune, I can't get these coros out of my head. Hat tip to Antonio in Oz for the heads up. And lots of Emilio Frías coming shortly - stay tuned.

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Sun, 25 Jan 2015 09:15:32 +0000
Tiki Tiki - Video debut from TIMBEROS DEL NORTE Oh yeah! Timba from Texas... Austin, Texas to be exact. The first and self-titled album by TIMBEROS DEL NORTE was named one of the Top 10 Austin Releases (see below).  Grammy-winning trombonist / arranger Raul “Ralo” Vallejo and pianist / producer Paul “Pauly” Matthews spearhead this 10-piece outfit featuring multi-layered vocals and horns in an impressive and enticing 12-song collection of heavily rhythmic Cuban jazz and pop. 

Album download / CD available here = http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/timberosdelnorte

"Timberos Del Norte, self-titled. Deep danceable grooves driven by ebullient horns and vocals mark this collection of Cuban music that sounds like it could have come straight out of Havana but was made right here." -- Peter Blackstock, Austin American Statesman newspaper

Click on their album cover below to visit their website.

Tiki Tiki - Video debut from TIMBEROS DEL NORTE

Tiki Tiki - Video debut from TIMBEROS DEL NORTE

Personnel on TIMBEROS DEL NORTE

Role - InstrumentName
Vocals Tito Cuba, Wawy Cabrera, Danerys Echevarría, Monica Salas and Samaria Pérez-Stanford
Piano Paul "Pauly" Matthews
Trumpets / Guiro George Shalda
Trombones Raúl "Ralo" Vallejo
Bass Framy Díaz
Drums / Percussion Carmelo Torres
Horn arrangements Raúl Vallejo, Pauly, George Shalda
Recording engineers Geroge Shalda & Paul Matthews
(Beardog Studios)
Mixing engineer Richie Pérez of SoundsRight (Miami)
Mastering engineer Michael Lazarus of Latinmusicmastering.com
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Fri, 23 Jan 2015 01:24:13 +0000
New Documentary: This one features some very choice footage, lots of music history, and my new "Ken Burns" trick. 

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Sun, 18 Jan 2015 22:32:20 +0000
NG La Banda en Vivo To whet your appetites for the upcoming Calixto Oviedo youtube, here's a particularly encendiary concert from the mid-1990s.

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Sat, 17 Jan 2015 19:44:26 +0000
Gerardo Contino y Los Habaneros

Subrosa, Blue Note’s new Cuban-themed club located in the heart of the Meat Packing District, has wasted no time in establishing itself as one of Manhattan’s central clubs for Latin music since opening its doors in November of 2014. The club has served as the new headquarters for the Pedrito Martínez Group as well as regular appearances by Pepito Gómez, Ariance Trujillo and other members of New York’s Cuban Music Community.

While the core motive of this establishment has been to feature NYC Cuban artists, Subrosa has been wise to include representatives of other genres as well. Groups ranging from Rana Santacruz’s original Mexican folk, the Colombian Jazz sounds of Pablo Mayor and even the indie rock meets salsa-dura fusion of the Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra are among the recent and upcoming attractions on Subrosa’s calendar.

An upcoming event of particular note is by none other than Gerardo Contino y Los Habaneros. Mr. Contino will be debuting his most recently recorded song “Quisiera Saber” this coming Tuesday Jan 20th at Subrosa. In many ways, the venue is the perfect fit for Contino, his music and his new single. A true believer in the power of cultural diffusion, Contino has often looked to influences outside of his home country in terms of his original compositions and even the members of his own band. His first recording as a leader “Somos Latinos”, while at its core being a Cuban Salsa record, incorporates strong influences from other Latin genres including Cumbia. Ina addition, Contino has collaborated with a wide range of musicians including Peruvian Folkoric Group Kambalache Negro. “Quisiera Saber” is no exception, written in the style of Colombian Vallenato mixed with a healthy dose of pop and Contino’s undeniably Cuban voice.

Contino’s sets will start at 7pm and 9pm and tickets can be bought online via Subrosa’s website. Of course more information on other concerts and events by Contino and his band can be found on his website and Facebook page. Subrosa is located at 63 Gansevoort Street in Manhattan. 63 Gansevoort Street

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Sat, 17 Jan 2015 15:14:22 +0000
Tom's Haila Gallery Click here for Tom Ehrlich's gallery from Haila Mompié's recent Bay Area shows.

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Fri, 16 Jan 2015 02:57:25 +0000
New Single By Mezcla: "I'll See You In C.U.B.A."

ENGLISH: This song (in English), composed by Irving Berlin and interpreted by Pablo Menéndez & Mezcla arrives at a very convenient time given the ongoing public discussion about travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens.  It is a single from the forthcoming album Pure Mezcla, which will be released on February 15th.  The digital release will be via Latin Pulse Music, with which this website is affiliated. 
This is the first of two alternate videos that will be released for this song.  The second one will be released in a few days.  
ESPAÑOL: Esta canción (en inglés), compuesta por Irving Berlin y interpretada por Pablo Menéndez y Mezcla llega en un momento muy conveniente dada la discusión pública en curso sobre los viajes a Cuba de ciudadanos estadounidenses. Se trata de un sencillo del próximo álbum Puro Mezcla, que se lanzará el 15 de febrero. La versión digital estará disponible a través de Latin Pulse Music, con la que este sitio web está afiliado.
Este es el primero de dos videos alternativos que se lanzarán para esta canción. El segundo, se dará a conocer en unos días.

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Thu, 15 Jan 2015 09:57:02 +0000
Estocolmo Se Pone Caliente La Liga Habanera - Estocolmo Se Pone Caliente

La Liga Habanera released their first album "Tremenda Unión", in the summer of 2013. They are back heating up Stockholm's cold, dark winter with their new single "Estocolmo Se Pone Caliente". The songs starts with a tribute to NG La Banda's "El Trágico" and quickly slips into a dance groove with an urban edge courtesy of rap by Bamma B. Definitely timba caliente. We asked bandleader Max Alton to tell us a little about the song.

"Daniel Baro (Flecha) wrote the lyrics together with me, except for the rap which was written by Kevin Dennis (Bamma B) from Trinidad Tobago. Daniel is a singer from Havana who has sung in various son orchestras. The arrangement is by me, Oldrich González, and Petter Linde. We are also working on another song that will be released in 2015."

"Estocolmo Se Pone Caliente" has been released at iTunes and Spotify. Dale clic para escuchar!

Daniel Baro (Flecha) - Lead vocals
Bamma B (Kevin Dennis) - Rap
Oldrich Gonzales - Piano
Aleksander Bdarski - Bass
Alexander Waljansson - Guitar
Jan Kohlin - Trumpet 1
Rickard Lindgren - Trumpet 2
Johan Åström - Trombone
Pablo Cepeda - Backing vocals and congas
Max Alton - Drums, timbales, güiro, bongo and backing vocals
Måns Ek - Mixing
Farmerstreet studios and Mastertone studios

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Mon, 12 Jan 2015 13:28:54 +0000
New Radio Segment Featuring Cuban Jazz
ENGLISH:
 There are several excellent programs that feature Cuban Jazz on the radio in the United States.  One of the very best (and most progressive) is The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition with Frankie Pineiro, who is also a conguero and leader of several musical groups including Guisando Caliente, Viva Cal and Proyecto Son.  This program can be heard during alternate Tuesdays from 10-am-Noon Eastern Time (US) @ WSLR, 96.5 LPFM in Sarasota, Florida.  Frankie also loves Timba and includes a little in his program from time to time. 
Beginning January 13, 2015, I (Bill Tilford) will be joining the program with a new short segment, Bill's Bag, to feature recent Jazz recordings made in Havana and beyond. (many of these  have or will have reviews  in Timba.com).  I am extremely excited about the opportunity to work with Frankie Pineiro to help share the wonderful new Jazz being recorded today, and I hope that you will be equally excited as soon as you listen. 
ESPAÑOL:  Hay varios programas excelentes que ofrecen el Jazz cubano en la radio en los Estados Unidos.  Uno de los mejores (y más progresistas) es The Afro Cuban Jazz Edition con Frankie Pineiro, quien también es conguero y líder de varios grupos musicales, entre ellos Guisando Caliente, Viva Cal y Proyecto Son.  Este programa se puede escuchar durante los martes alternos de 10am-mediodía (hora del este, EE.UU.) @ WSLR, 96,5 LPFM en Sarasota, Florida. Frankie también ama la Timba e incluye un poquito en su programa de vez en cuando. 
Comenzando el 13 de enero, 2015, yo (Bill Tilford) me uniré al programa con un nuevo segmento corto, Bill's Bag, con el fin de ofrecer grabaciones recientes del Jazz hechas en la Habana y más alla (muchas de ellas tienen o tendrán reseñas en Timba.com).   Estoy muy emocionado por la oportunidad de trabajar con Frankie Pineiro para ayudar a compartir el maravilloso nuevo Jazz que se está grabando hoy, y espero que ustedes estarán igualmente emocionados en cuanto ustedes escuchen.   

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Sun, 11 Jan 2015 10:06:10 +0000
Osvaldo Chacón - Se Te Cuela Osvaldo ChacónOsvaldo Chacón is back with "Se te cuela"

Osvaldo Chacón is back with his third CD "Se te cuela", which will be released in 2015! He has uploaded a teaser with clips from the album as well as a four-minute video of his new arrangement of "Te gusto" - the new version of his hit song with Bamboleo. The videos are already making waves with timba fans around the world.  

We asked Osvaldo a few questions about the upcoming album.

This year you will release "Se te cuela", a CD containing nine songs. Who are the authors and arrangers of the songs?
I am the author and arranger of all 9 songs and all mambos (horns) that you are going to hear. The other musician who helped me (the co-arranger) is a young man named Gelmis Castillo Suarez who wrote piano, bass and percussion. He is a very talented young man. He has worked with Azúcar Negra, Son14 and is planning to work with Leo Vera and Tania Pantoja.

What studio did you recorded in?
The recording was done in Studio Forever Music and the recording and programming was done by Daynel Castillo (CUPIDO) who is working with "El Balacero" now! He is a young man of great talent and professionalism in his work. He has produced hundreds of projects for reggaetoneros: El Yonky, Jacob Forever ex-Gente D 'Zona, etc. It was a lovely experience!

Who are the musicians who recorded?
Daynel Castillo Reyes (CUPIDO)  - Programing, all Percussion
Gelmis Castillo Suarez - Arranger, Piano, Bass
Lester Mancebo Magdariga - Trombone
Luis R Fuentes - Trumpet (Sierra Maestra)
Leyanis Campos Marrero - Corista
Gabriel Rodriguez Ducamger - Corista
Rubén Rodriguez Ducamger - Corista 

Tell us about plans for concerts in the UK and Europe.
I have a lot of plans, first to promote the CD well. I'm hoping to sign with a label and start making some videos to have a good start. The new version of "Te gusto", a song I recorded with Bamboleo years ago, has had a viral acceptance. I think the new arrangement is cooler. In just three days on YouTube it had over 400 hits. Many DJs around the world are asking me for a copy. So that's a good sign!

Do you have a release date and where will people be able to buy it?
I will know the release date when the physical disk is ready for sale. It will be sold on the major networks such as iTunes, Amazon, etc. Moreover, it was made with love and I hope the dancers like it since they have the last word!

A warm hug and greetings to all the dancers of Cuban music around the world and thanks to you for the help you have been giving Cuban musicians for a long time on your website Timba.com.

Blessings

Aché, iré, salud pa' mi gente linda!
Osvaldo Chacón

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Fri, 09 Jan 2015 15:58:04 +0000
Latest Beyond Salsa YouTube This one has a very cool method for learning rhythms.

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Wed, 07 Jan 2015 18:03:08 +0000
Grammy-Nominated PALO! San Francisco Debut at The Addition San Francisco music fans are in for a treat: prior to hitting Los Angeles for the Grammys, Miami’s Afro-Cuban Funk band PALO! will be performing in San Francisco for the first time. "We’re excited to play for our friends and fans in the Bay area.” says Steve Roitstein, the band’s founder and keyboardist. “It’s gonna be a blast performing in such a great venue” referring to The Addition (formerly Yoshi’s) San Francisco, where they are booked for a show on Friday, January 30. “We also look forward to bringing our music to folks who haven’t yet had a chance to check us out live.”

PALO! @ The Addition - Friday January 30 2015
Doors 7pm / show 8pm - All Ages Event
The Addition (formerly Yoshi's - San Francisco)
1330 Fillmore St - San Francisco, CA, 94115

>>> CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS <<<

Grammy-Nominated PALO! Makes Their San Francisco Debut at The AdditionLeslie Cartaya sings on the set of the upcoming new video from Afro-Cuban Funk Band PALO!

A live show is where PALO! shines brightest; their album “PALO! Live” was recorded at their 10-year anniversary show, and the results have been impressive. Prior to getting the 2015 Grammy nod, the record was nominated for a Latin Grammy as Best Contemporary Tropical Album of 2014. 

“Our music, steeped in the traditions of Afro-Cuban music, funk, and jazz, thrives in a live setting. We leave room for improvisation and spontaneity, while striving to hit a deep, danceable groove.” After hearing PALO!’s catchy songs and the spectacular vocals of Leslie Cartaya, you will understand why the music industry has recognized this group with two nominations.

Stay tuned to timba.com for more PALO! news; in the weeks to come we will feature the world premiere of their new video for the song “La Malanga Resbala” from their Grammy-nominated album. In the meantime, check out the EPK:

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Wed, 07 Jan 2015 01:54:49 +0000
Interview with Kentucky Salsa All Stars Leader Edel Roque
Technical difficulties with a field recorder prevented an in situ recording, but after the Haila concert in Louisville, Bill Tilford and drummer/bandleader Edel Roque subsequently went back and had a brief recorded telephone conversation about the concert and about Edel's  group, the Kentucky Salsa All Stars, an excellent 12-piece ensemble composed mostly of young musicians educated in Cuba. You can hear a recording of that conversation (in English) here.  Click "continue reading" for more - including Gente d'Zona.

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Sun, 04 Jan 2015 19:28:03 +0000
Haila at Roccapulco                                                                 photos by Tom Ehrlich

Tom said Haila was fabulous at Roccapulco - click continue reading for more photos from last night and click here for tickets to tonight's show. Opening the show will be rumba with Mikhail.

La Peña Cultural Center is having a celebration of the recent Cuban breakthrough here.

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Sun, 04 Jan 2015 18:51:34 +0000
Mini-Documentary: Tirso Duarte This one traces the roots of David Calzado and Charanga Habana from the 1950s to the Suspension Concert to the Charanga Forever split to the arrival of piano tumbao master extraordinaire - Tirso Duarte.

In other news, Haila Mompié plays San Francisco's Roccapulco tonight and tomorrow night.

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Sat, 03 Jan 2015 18:29:59 +0000
LOUISVANA 3AM ENGLISH:  As a Chicagoan, it pains me to say this, but the fact that some artists from Cuba are performing in Louisville instead of Chicago (as opposed to performing in both cities) says things about both places.  This being said, I always enjoy a good excuse to visit Louisville, and Haila provided an excellent one, as did her local backing band, the Kentucky Salsa All Stars.  You can read more and see a gallery of photos here...  
Haila is touring a few cities using different local talent in each place.  As Mayito Rivera has already demonstrated, the talent pool now exists in a few places like Miami, New York and yes, Louisville, to name just three examples, to make this possible for a singer when that artist is the center of the performance (however, we are unlikely to see this happen with an ensemble like Klimax). She will be in Houston on New Years Eve and in San Francisco January 3-4.  Miami was also on her itinerary during this tour.  
The same club that presented Haila, Coconut Beach, will be presenting Gente d'Zona on January 9.  

ESPAÑOL: Como ciudadano de Chicago, me duele decirlo, pero el hecho de que algunos artistas de Cuba están dando conciertos en Louisville en vez de Chicago (en oposición a tocar en ambas ciudades) dice cosas sobre ambos lugares. Dicho esto, siempre me gusta una buena excusa para visitar Louisville, y Haila me dió una excusa excelente, junto con su grupo  de acompánamiento lugareño, las Kentucky Salsa All Stars. Puedes leer más y ver una galería de fotos aquí ...  
Haila está de gira por algunas ciudades utilizando diferentes talentos locales en cada lugar. Como Mayito Rivera ya ha demostrado, la reserva de talento ahora existe en algunos lugares como Miami, Nueva York y sí, Louisville, por citar sólo tres ejemplos, para que esto sea posible para un cantante cuando ese artista es el centro de la actuación (sin embargo, es poco probable que esto pueda suceder con un grupo como Klimax). Ella estará en Houston la Nochevieja y en San Francisco para dos noches (3-4 de enero). Miami también era parte de su itinerario durante esta gira.
El mismo club que presentó a Haila, Coconut Beach, presentará a Gente d'Zona el 9 de enero.

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Sun, 28 Dec 2014 22:12:40 +0000
HAILA COMES TO KENTUCKY

ENGLISH: Thanks to a growing community of musicians who were born and educated in Cuba, Louisville has more than one excellent band and a growing community of fans who support Cuban Salsa, Songo, Timba and other genres. One of these bands, the Kentucky Salsa All Stars, which is led by Cuban-born Edel Roque, will be the backing band for Haila when she appears there on December 26.  The KSAS was opened for Havana d'Primera when it came to Kentucky, and it can definitely play Haila's charts.  It will be interesting to see whether this band becomes Kentucky's answer to La Temati-K on the east coast.  In the meantime, Timba.com will be watching this concert, and you should too if you can. 
ESPAÑOL:  Gracias a una creciente comunidad de músicos que nacieron  y fueron formados en Cuba, Louisville tiene más de uno excelente banda y una creciente comunidad de fans que apoyan a la salsa cubana, Songo, Timba y otros géneros. Una de estas bandas, los Kentucky Salsa All Stars, que está dirigido por el cubano-americano Edel Roque, será la banda de acompañamiento de Haila cuando ella aparece allí el 26 de diciembre.  Los KSAS abrió el show de Habana D'Primera en Kentucky , y ellos sin duda pueden tocar la música de Haila. Será interesante ver si esta banda se convierte en la respuesta de Kentucky para La Temati-K en la costa este. Mientras tanto, Timba.com estará viendo este concierto, y  debes verlo también si  puedes.

Then what?
/ ¿Entonces Qué?

Coconut Beach in Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/coconuts.beach.7?fref=nf

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Sat, 20 Dec 2014 16:18:03 +0000
Mini-Documentary: Los Van Van in the 1990s This is the longest of the Beyond Salsa youtube series, with all sorts of backstories, lyrics, live video clips and photos - covering a truly unbelievable part of the Van Van story.

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Fri, 19 Dec 2014 00:58:01 +0000
Todo lo mejor a Jazz Plaza 2014 ESPAÑOL:   Jazz Plaza en La Habana, Cuba ha evolucionado en uno de los más maravillosos festivales de Jazz en el planeta. Ahora celebrando su trigésimo año, su nombre puede ser engañoso hoy en día ya que no tiene lugar solamente en una plaza (bueno, ALGUNAS de los conciertos, pero sólo algunas), sino también en teatros grandes, clubes, hoteles y otros lugares. Toda la ciudad está escuchando la música y músicos de muchos países vienen a tocar y escuchar (Este escritor asistió al Festival 2013 y lamenta profundamente que él quedará atrapado en su oficina durante el evento de 2014.) El horario del evento siempre se aparece al el último minuto debido a la complejidad del evento, pero se puede oir casí cualquier estilo de Jazz alrededor la cuidad durante la semaña.  Hay un minisimposio sobre Jazz también. 
Según el sitio web suenacubano.com, y de especial interés para nuestros lectores norteamericanos: Arturo O'Farrill, un nominado actual al GRAMMY® en la categoría de Jazz Latino (The Offense of the Drum) presentará en el festival con todo su orquesta, y más tarde, él va a grabar un nuevo proyecto en los estudios Abdala, titulado La conversación continuada
¡Todo lo mejor y mucho éxito a Jazz Plaza 2014!

ENGLISH:  Jazz Plaza in Havana, Cuba has evolved into one of the most wonderful jazz festivals on the planet. Now celebrating its thirtieth year, its name can be misleading today as it does not take place  only in a square anymore (well, SOME of the concerts do, but only some), but also in large theaters, clubs, hotels and other places. The whole city is listening to the music and musicians from many countries come to play and listen (this writer attended the 2013 Festival and deeply regrets that he will remain trapped in his office during the 2014 event.) The final schedule for  the program always appears at the last minute due to the complexity of the event, but you can hear almost any style of Jazz around the city during the week. There is a mini-symposium on Jazz as well.
According to the Suenacubano.com web site, and of particular interest to our North American readers: Arturo O'Farrill, a current  GRAMMY® nominee in the Latin Jazz category (The Offense of the Drum) will perform at the festival with his whole orchestra, and later, he will record a new project in Abdala Studios titled La conversacion continuada
All the best and much success to Jazz Plaza 2014!

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Sat, 13 Dec 2014 15:35:14 +0000
Salsondria

In many ways, one could say that the Cuban Music Community of New York City is currently going through an interesting, uncertain, but nonetheless exciting period in its development. Although modern Cuban Music has been present in NYC for a number of years, the genre is still very much coming of age in the city. Up until recently it has stood in the shadows of Nuyorican Salsa, finding a niche among only a small but discerning crowd. However, as groups such as the Pedrito Martínez Group and bands like them have brought new and much deserved attention to the genre, the rest of New York has almost been forced to pay attention, which in turn has resulted in some sudden yet nonetheless interesting developments. 

On one hand there are new venues such as Subrosa, in which larger enterprises such as Blue Note are bringing Cuban music to the previously untapped attention of the Meatpacking crowd, serving up Música Cubana in an elaborate decor with drink and ticket prices to match. One the other hand there are the established Cuban hubs such as Guantanamera, whose regular groups have also found themselves in a new state of flux as Cuban acts juggle their itineraries with the new performances that are now opening up, allowing for a “changing of the guard” so to speak.    

(Click here to continue reading ...)

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Fri, 12 Dec 2014 13:16:41 +0000
Cuban Artists in the 57th Grammy Nominations Lots of action this year for Cuban artists in the 57th Grammy® nominations! Here's a quick recap:

BEST LATIN TROPICAL ALBUM

Cuban Artists in the 57th Grammy Nominations
Tremendo PALO!
-- Afro-Cuban Funk group PALO! is buzzing hard after their LatinGrammy® nomination. The group -- singer Leslie Cartaya, Raymer Olande, Philbert Armenteros, pianist Steve Roitstein and saxophonist Ed Calle -- got a nomination for their live record Palo! Live. The group’s unique, danceable sound blends the allure of Cuban music with funky beats and jazzy improvisation. You can check out Bill Tilford's review of the record (click) here.


Click HERE to download Track 2 (La Malanga Resbala) from their album PALO! LIVE

Palo! Live nominanated for 2015 Grammy Best Tropical Latin Album

Cuban Artists in the 57th Grammy Nominations

Aymee Nuviola
- Also following her LatinGrammy® nomination, "La Sonera del Mundo" Aymee's album First Class to Havana counts with guest artists Amaury Gutiérrez, Alexis Valdés, Gonzalo Rubalcaba y also nominated percussionist Pedrito Martínez. The singer had a banner year after her participation in Sergio George's SALSA GIANTS tour. 


BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM

Cuban Artists in the 57th Grammy Nominations
Yosvany Terry
- Matanzero and saxophonist Yosvany Terry got a nod for his album New Throned King, is the musical culmination of his spiritual exploration, and one of the most creative recordings of the year. "The entire set is comprised of music Terry composed, based on Arara "cantos" and rhythms, which for the most part have never been performed outside of Matanzas."-- AllAboutJazz.com

Click on the photo below to visit Tom Ehrlich's photo gallery for Yosvany's performance last year at Yerba Gardens in San Francisco.
Cuban Artists in the 57th Grammy Nominations

Cuban Artists in the 57th Grammy Nominations
Pedrito Martínez Group
 - The highly anticipated, self-titled debut album from the Pedrito Martínez Group has been a delight to Latin jazz, traditional jazz and dancers alike. "Pedrito Martinez is undeniably one of the most talented young musicians in Latin music today and has become one of the most in-demand in the industry for both his beautiful voice and his exceptional percussion skills."-- AllAboutJazz.com

Click on the photo below to visit Tom Ehrlich's photo gallery for Pedrito Martínez Group's performance last year at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz.

Cuban Artists in the 57th Grammy Nominations

Cuban Artists in the 57th Grammy NominationsArturo O’Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra - Following in his father's footsteps, Arturo O'Farrill scores another nomination for Motema Music (same label as Pedrito Martínez Group;'s album) with his record The Offense Of The Drum.

"With The Offense of the Drum, O'Farrill nails that lofty goal. The sounds of a big band are here, the sounds of various Afro-Caribbean rhythms are here, and the sounds of some of New York's best musicians in any genre are here. But what's guiding the music is a vision that incorporates sounds from the streets today with a spoken-word performance that's manifesto-like in its call to recognize culture as something that changes and grows every day."-- NPR.org


BEST ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTAL OR A CAPELLA

Cuban Artists in the 57th Grammy NominationsAlfredo Rodríguez - Alfredo puts himself on the Grammy map with an arrangement of Guatanamera, a track from his second record The Invasion Parade. "Co-Produced by Quincy Jones, Rodríguez’ champion and mentor, and featuring a superb ensemble that includes bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding, percussionist and vocalist Pedrito Martínez, and drummer and percussionist Henry Cole, The Invasion Parade comprises nine tracks including originals by Rodríguez as well as evergreens such as 'Guantanamera', Maria Teresa Vera’s 'Veinte Años', and 'Quizás, Quizás, Quizás'..." -- AllABoutJazz.com


BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM

Cuban Artists in the 57th Grammy NominationsLuis Conte - Santiaguero and percussionist Luis Conte partners up with musicians Daniel Ho and Wu Man for a collection of international popular songs adapted for traditional chinese instruments for the album  OUR WORLD IN SONG. "So, a Chinese pipa player, a Cuban percussionist and a Hawaiian guitarist go into a studio cross-pollinating instruments and traditions in a series of musical selections from around the world... and successfully traversed genres with such delicious delight that audiences will find the combo hard to resist." -- WorldMusicCentral.org

There you have it.... Best of luck to all the nominees!

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Wed, 10 Dec 2014 17:36:37 +0000
Another Full Concert (piano-bass closeup)

This is the legendary late 90s Van Van group with Pedrito Calvo, Mayito Rivera and Robertón Hernández.

If you want to see the band from the front with multiple camera angles, search for the Miami Arena 1999 video, currently on YouTube by Pimienta Records and others and probably still in print as a DVD/CD package.

This video, shot by pianist Robert Schwentker in June of 2000 at the Conga Room in Los Angeles, is of special value for a variety of reasons:

1) It has a lot of closeups of the piano (for those who want to learn piano and history buffs, here are introductory videos for two Beyond Salsa Piano books on Pupy Pedroso (Vol. 10 - Vol. 11).

2) This also results in lots of closeups of Juan Formell's baby bass technique.

3) ... and to a lesser degree, closeups of Samuel Formell, who has a very unusual setup (for him), playing from a standing position as he did in his first job, with Issac Delgado. By this point, Samuel was almost always playing seated at a full drum/timbales set. Probably a snafu with the sound rental company, but as you can see, it doesn't seem to cramp his style in the least.

4) This is within 6 months of the departure of Pedrito Calvo and within 1 year of the departure of Pupy Pedroso.

Enjoy!

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Tue, 09 Dec 2014 01:42:03 +0000
Back to Van Van Back on the topic of Los Van Van's 45th anniverary, we have the updated Discography section and the latest Beyond Salsa video - on the 2nd Pupy Pedroso book and concluding with an epic 18-minute mashup of the avalanche of hooks unleashed by Pupy in his final two decades with the band:

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Sun, 07 Dec 2014 05:07:39 +0000
It's New, It's Baaad, and That's Good: ENGLISH:  Eliel Lazo & The Cuban Funk Machine are here.  Be funky.  Be VERY funky. 
ESPAÑOL:  Eliel Lazo & The Cuban Funk Machine están aquí.  Sea funky.  Sea MUY funky. 

Read a review of the new CD here / Lee una reseña del nuevo CD aquí
ENGLISH:  US Tour coming (including Chicago 2/6) in February.   
ESPAÑOL:  Eliel vendrá a los Estados Unidos para una gira (incluyendo Chicago 2/6/15) en februaro.


ENGLISH:
 Haila is coming to Louisville, KY on December 26.   The venue has hosted Charanga Habanera in the past.  More information in the near future. 
ESPAÑOL:  Haila vendrá al Louisville, KY el 26 de diciembre.  El venue ha presentado Charanga Habenera en el pasado. Más información en el futuro cercano. 

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Sat, 06 Dec 2014 17:31:08 +0000
Amazing Weekend in Havana Los Van Van @ La Escalinata de la Universidad de la Habana por Ivan Soca PascualPhoto courtesy of Ivan Soca Pascual

Havana has a wonderful tradition of free concerts at the end of the year. They are off to an early start this weekend with two free mega-concerts. The first took place last night on the Stairway of the University of Havana. To put it mildly, the concert was well-attended. Los Van Van closed their national tour with a free concert and also the official release of the new CD "La Fantasía".  If you're in Havana pick up a hard copy. It isn't up at digital retailers yet, but hopefully next week. Samuel has said that it's Van Van's best CD. It's too early for me to say, but it is definitely the best since "Chapeando", maybe even the best since "Llegó...Van Van". Without question it is going to be a favorite of dancers, so keep an eye out for it.

Una Luz Por La Esperanza - Buena Fe Tonight!

Buena Fe concert @ Carlos III y Boyeros

The other big free concert this weekend takes place tonight at Carlos III and Boyeros. Buena Fe are holding a concert in honor of the doctors fighting ebola in Africa. The show starts early at 7:00pm so families with young children can participate. Buena Fe is also working on a new album which should be out soon.

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Sat, 06 Dec 2014 08:50:39 +0000
45 Years of Los Van Van Another major milestone for El Tren - but sadly the first without their founder.

The big news, of course, is the release of La fantasía. By my count, this is the 26th album of new material. We have: the 15 original EGREM albums, released as La colección; the 5 masterpieces of the 90s, Malecón (has several new originals), Chapeando, Arrasando, La maquinaria and now La fantasía.

At timba.com we have a lovingly prepared recounting of the first first decade and its historical context, a more general surveyon the 80s that includes mini-reviews of all Van Van's releases, and a complete discography.

The Van Van story is also told in parts in the Beyond Salsa series. BS Piano, Vol. 3 covers the first decade, Vol. 10 runs from 1979-1983, Vol. 11 from 1984-1987, Vol. 12 from 1988 to Pupy's departure in 2001. I've yet to write a book on the post-2001 period, but it's coming.

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Thu, 04 Dec 2014 01:33:31 +0000
Beyond Salsa on Los Van Van Here's the latest Beyond Salsa video - in honor of Van Van's upcoming 45th Anniversary (actually it just turned out that way ...). And three new galleries from Tom Ehrlich: Klímax in SF-Pt. 2Roberto Fonseca and Gente de Zona in Oakland.

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Tue, 02 Dec 2014 22:47:42 +0000
Premios Lucas 2014 Se bota a matar

The Premios Lucas (Lucas Awards) are Cuba's video awards. The past few years have seen an explosion of Cuban music on the Internet and the Premios Lucas have been an important part of this movement. The official website brings together and tracks the most popular videos in Cuba. It is an excellent source for those of us living outside Cuba to keep up with what is popular on the island. In addition, every year fans can vote for their favorite video as part of the Premios Lucas. The Premios Lucas also have an active Facebook page that you can "Like" in order to keep up on what is happening in Cuban video. This may help you understand how popular the premios Lucas are in Cuba: they sold out all 2500 tickets and set up big screen TVs outside the Karl Marx theater where about 1000 people went to watch the performances and the awards.

The ceremony included performances by Buena Fe & Havana Queens, David Blanco, Yuli y Havana C, El Niño y La Verdad, Charanga Latina, Haila, Osamu, Waldo Mendoza and Los Ángeles, among others. There were tributes to Juan Formell and Santiago Feliú and EGREM was presented with a special award for its 50 year anniversary. The show was closed by Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera performing "Me dicen Cuba", which was given a special recognition prize by the Premios Lucas.

The big winner last night was filmaker Ian Padrón and Buena Fe who won Best Production, Best Fusion Video and Best Video of the Year for the song "Se bota a matar" from the album "Dial". The video features the dancers from "Havana Queens, who also participated in the beautiful video "La culpla", also from "Dial".

Buena Fe feat. Havana Queens "Se bota a matar" from the CD "Dial"
Director Ián Padrón

The category closest to our hearts at Timba.com is "Popular Dance Music" and the winner was José Rojas for "Que no que no" by JG (you know him, his name is Juan Guillermo) from his last album "Que no me controlen".

JG "Que no, que no" from the album "Que no me controlen"
Director José Rojas

Other winners in dance categories include Alejandro Pérez and El Micha for Best Reggaeton for "Bla bla bla", Manuel Ortega and Los Ángeles won Most Popular Video for "Besando tu boca" and Joseph Ros and Sexto Sentido for "Brujas". Alejandro Pérez also won for Best Traditional and Folkloric Video and Best Photography with "Alcé mi voz" by Ivette Cepeda. Best Choreography went to Sadaise Arencibia who choreographed both the original Descemer Bueno & Gente D'Zona version of "Bailando" and the Enrique Iglesias version. For more about the Premios Lucas 2014 visit their website (in Spanish).

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Mon, 01 Dec 2014 14:59:21 +0000
LOS VAN VAN - LA FANTASIA Los Van Van - La Fantasia

At a press conference on November 29th, Samuel Formell announced that Los Van Van will release their tribute to Juan Formell - "La fantasía" - on Friday, December 5th at the final concert of their national tour, which will be held at the steps of the University of Havana. This will be only one day after the band celebrates its 45th anniversary.

The new CD - recorded at Estudios de 18 EGREM - contains 14 tracks with compositions and arrangements by Juan Formell, Samuel Formell, Juan Carlos Formell, Boris Luna, Jorge Leliebre, Pacho Chibás, Robertón, Mandy Cantero and Juan Ballestero. Alexander Abreu makes an appearance with a brilliant trumpet solo on track 14 - "Soy Van Van". Various DJs have posted short sections of some of the songs, and I am going to say that from what I have heard, I believe that "La fantasía" will be Van Van's strongest album since "Chapeando". Samuel has the daunting task of taking the helm of Cuba's most famous musical instituion, and all indications are that his father prepared him well by making him musical director several years ago. El tren va por buen camino. 

As we were discussing the new album via e-mail, Kevin made the following observations on the subject of remakes, of which "La fantasía" contains two.

Kevin Moore:
1) "Es mucho" is from vol. 5 - 1979 - I think I'm on firm ground in saying the vols 5 & 6 were by far the worst sounding Van Van albums but had some great songs that were unjustly debuted with bad recordings - thus, re-recording anything from those (especially "La rumba no está completa" and "El montuno" - which they've already done and which are two amazing tracks) is a great idea because now Van Van has world-class singing and infinitely better recording capabilities.

2) "Me basta con pensar" started as the B-side bolero of the early 70s single "Que se sepa" - neither of which ever got onto an official album - unless the version Omara did of the A-side with them did got onto one, but "Me basta" was turned into an uptempo arrangement in 1990 for Los Van Van - not by Formell, but by Pupy (this only happened twice and both were masterpieces in my opinion). That version of "Me basta" contains within it - among many other things - the seeds of Manolito y su Trabuco's whole harmonic sello - it sounds like late 90s Trabuco back when Manolito was still in Maravillas de Florida. It's a hugely important timba precursor and one of the best post-revolution tracks period in my opinion - no idea what the new one will be like, but it's definitely anything but a tired old song swept out of the closet for lack of creativity. I'm very curious to hear this whole album.

As are we all Kevin. The first thing I plan to do Friday morning is buy "La fantasía" from whichever on-line store uploads it first. I predict that it will be a great holiday gift for all the Cuban music fans on my list.

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Sun, 30 Nov 2014 05:06:31 +0000
Beyond Salsa Video #9 Our last Beyond Salsa video had a cameo by JS Bach - this one has Kenny G.

The new concert, Issac from Café Cantante, finally gives the world YouTube access to the only known version of Issac's legendary La competencia, aka Hit Parade. It also contains the ultra-killer version of Por qué paró featured in Volume 7.

Also... any minute now we'll have a lot of details on the impending new Van van album, La fantasía -  stay tuned.

 

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Sun, 30 Nov 2014 04:46:20 +0000
"Crowdfunding" Comes To Cuban Music

ENGLISH:  As the recorded music industry in Cuba continues to evolve and diversify, a growing number of new recordings are being made either completely independently or by using the services of Cuba's major recording companies a la carte. (These companies acquire some of those projects later.) A relatively new aspect of the environment is the consideration of crowdfunding by some Cuban artists. The above example is for a new project by Yissy García, an exciting member of the new wave of music in Havana today. Genre labels can be misleading, but the term Acid Jazz as it was used in the United States (her quintet includes a turntable) comes to mind. The crowdfunding company is based in Barcelona, and the campaign is happening now. To see the crowdfunding website page, click here
ESPAÑOL:  A medida que la industria de la música grabada en Cuba sigue evolucionando y diversificándose,  un número cada vez mayor de nuevas grabaciones se están haciendo ya sea totalmente independiente o mediante el uso de los servicios de las principales empresas discograficas de Cuba a la carta. (Estas empresas adquieren algunos de aquellos proyectos más adelante.) Un aspecto relativamente nuevo del medio ambiente es la consideración de crowdfunding por algunos artistas cubanos. El ejemplo anterior es para un nuevo proyecto por Yissy García, miembro emocionante de la nueva onda musical en La Habana de hoy. Etiquetas de género pueden ser engañosos, pero el término Acid Jazz, ya que se utiliza en los Estados Unidos (su quinteto incluye un giradiscos) viene a la mente. La compañía crowdfunding se basa en Barcelona, y la campaña está sucediendo ahora. Para ver la página web de crowdfunding, haga clic aquí.

ENGLISH:  Young but already-renowned tresero Renesito Avich is now offering lessons to the entire planet via Skype.  To register for classes, you can contact him at renesitoclass@gmail.com
ESPAÑOL:  Joven pero ya reconocido tresero Renesito Avich está ofreciendo lecciones a todo el planeta a través de Skype.  Para inscribirse en una clase, puede ponerse en contacto con él @ renesitoclass@gmail.com
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Sat, 29 Nov 2014 19:06:20 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Klímax Photos - Part 1 Here's Tom's first gallery from the amazing but way-too-short Klímax tour. 

The new Van Van album, La Fantasía, is coming very soon - we'll have a lot on this almost immediately.

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Sat, 29 Nov 2014 17:07:34 +0000
¡Atácala Melón! The third Melón volume covers the classic Deja que Roberto te toque, Brindando con el alma  and La chica del sol.

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Thu, 27 Nov 2014 01:03:41 +0000
Timba: The Movie: The Sequel Here's the latest Beyond Salsa video with lots of amusing stuff for non-musicians - with live footage from two Issac and two Charanga Habanera concerts and a bit of Havana d'Primera thrown in for good measure. Also, a guest cameo from JS Bach. 

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Wed, 26 Nov 2014 04:11:58 +0000
Less Famous but Just as Great

If Issac's performance on this early arrangement of Solar de la California doesn't take you on an emotional journey from tears to euphoria, check your pulse. Of Issac's many epic live bands, the Alain/Melón, Yoel/Joel, and Piloto/Pérez incarnations are probably the most famous, but the Spring 2000 group was just as amazing in its own way.

Before Bombón Reyes became the founding drummer/arranger of Pupy y Los Que Son Son and Pupy's spot in Van Van was taken by Roberto "Cucurucho" Valdés, both of these phenomenal musicians played in this short-lived but historically great Issac Delgado Group, along with the ubiquitous bass master Frank Rubio, conguero Denis "Papacho" Savón and many others.

This concert includes the original arrangements of El Solar de la California and Amor sin ética and two tremendous guest vocals by Mayito Rivera. Manolín is on hand, and, doing what he does better than anyone, he adds coros, rather than guías, to the proceedings. Don't forget that you can use the links in the video descriptions to jump from song to song. For Beyond Salsa geeks, this band was the heavyweight champion in the categories of efectos and signals. The rhythm section here is as brilliantly loose and creative as the piano and bass were in the Melón-Alain band of 1997. The '00 band's sello is based on that of the '99 band that played the Y2K Concert that we added last week, but they added their own sello to the inherited sello - you'll see what I mean. Enjoy! If the response is good I'll add another show, two days earlier at the same club, with Robertón sitting in.

And Bay Areans - Gente de Zona will be in Alameda Sunday for their Bay Area premiere. It's supposed to be a full band of live musicians - will they force us to change our name to regueton punto com? [Kevin Moore]

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Sat, 22 Nov 2014 22:46:25 +0000
GENTE DE ZONA BAILANDO TOUR This Sunday, don't miss 3-time 2014 Latin Grammy® Winners GENTE DE ZONA with their full band "Bailando" Tour 2014. November 23rd - Doors open 2pm.

Just Dance (Ballroom) Social Club "Grand Opening"
2500 Embarcadero, Alameda, CA 94606

Online tickets = Eventbrite - Ticketon - Brownpapertickets

kjkl;jg

Este Domingo, no te pierdas a los ganadores de 3 Latin Grammys® 2014 GENTE DE ZONA en concierto con toda su banda completa (12 personas en tarima). 

Just Dance - Social Club "Grand Opening"
2500 Embarcadero, Alameda, CA 94606
Puertas abren 2pm

Taquillas = Eventbrite - Ticketon - Brownpapertickets

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Sat, 22 Nov 2014 03:28:27 +0000
CUBA @ LATIN GRAMMYS Congratulations are in order for Descemer Bueno, Alexander Delgado & Randy Malcom of Gente D'Zona, and Enrique Iglesias who won in three of the four categories for which they were nominated. "Bailando" won Best Urban Song, Best Urban Performance and the coveted Song of the Year. It's great to see Cuban musicians getting such international recognition. There is still a long way to go, since the original version of the song recorded and released in Cuba would probably not even have garnered a nomination (note: this is my opinion and not necessarily the opinion of Timba.com). I hope to see renewed international interest in what is happening in Cuban music as well as a continuation of interational artists collaborating with Cuban musicians, as we have seen with Andy Montañez, Gilberto Santa Rosa and El Canario. Most recently Marc Anthony has released the official video of his version of Polo Montañez' "Flor Pálida" and collaborated with Cuban audiovisual producer Alejandro Pérez, who also produced the "Bailando" videos.

Billboard recently published a good interview with Descemer Bueno titled: "Meet Descemer Bueno, The Talent Behind Enrique Iglesias' Smash Hit 'Bailando'. 

The guys are currently touring Europe and were in their hotel in Paris when the winners were announced. Thanks to Joel Collazo for posting a video of Enrique, Descemer, Alexander and Randy and their reaction to the GRAMMYs.

 

Song for MauraBest Latin Jazz Album LATIN GRAMMYS 2014

Congratulations also to Paquito D'Rivera & Trio Corrente ("Song for Maura") for their tie with Chick Corea ("The Vigil") for Best Latin Jazz Album. I am not a GRAMMY historian so I don't know how often ties happen. Maybe Bill has more comments in this area.

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Fri, 21 Nov 2014 04:35:09 +0000
Coast to Coast TIMBA Thanksgiving A real West Coast treat is in store for next Wednesday, November 26. This Thanksgiving Eve Concert is a Night of Afro-Cuban Jazz w/ Cuban Master Percussionist Calixto Oviedo & his Latin Train In a Tribute to the legendary pianist Bebo Valdés. The performance will feature some of Bebo’s hit songs as well as classic Afro-Cuban jazz standards and Oviedo’s original compositions. 

Tickets here = http://www.flavorus.com/event/Calixto-Oviedo-and-hisLatinTrain/271321

http://www.catalinajazzclub.com/
November 26 at 8:30 pm @ Catalina Jazz Club
6725 W. Sunset Blvd. Hollywood 90028 - Doors Open at 7:00 pm

CALIXTO OVIEDO & HIS LATIN TRAIN - Catalina Jazz Club - Wednesday, November 26, 2014, 08:00PM


Then in the Big Apple, we have a 3 night residency -- November 28, 29 & 30 -- with MAYITO RIVERA y la TEMATI-K at González y González, cuminating in a special live video recording with special guests Pepito Gómez, Willie Torres and Pedrito Martínez.

Gonzalez y Gonzalez - www.GyGnyc.com
192 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10012 - (Btwn. Houston & Bleecker St.)
Tel:(212) 473-7878

Tickets here =  www.facebook.com/gonzalezygonzalez/events

November 28, 29 & 30 - Gonzalez y Gonzalez presents: Mayito Rivera Y La Temati-K (NYC)

 

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Thu, 20 Nov 2014 17:15:49 +0000
Alfredo Rodriguez and Tiempo Libre Galleries Alfredo Rodriguez and Tiempo Libre both gave exceptional performances in Chicago last weekend.  


For more about the Aflredo Rodriguez concert, click HERE


For more about the Tiempo Libre performance, click HERE

We lost an important figure in modern Cuban music recently with the passing of guitarist Carlos Emilio Morales, a founding member of the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna and of Irakere.  The Instituto Cubano de la Música posted an excellent article about his life (in Spanish) on November 13 on their Facebook page, which you can visit here.  Rest in peace, Carlos, and thanks for all the great music that you left us. 

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Thu, 20 Nov 2014 00:26:42 +0000
The Greatest Concert of All Time Series Continues Highlights: Luz viajera vocal improv (both of them) (Y2K), Tirso's guest spot on No me mires (Y2K), Tomasito and Yoel's songo con efectos all through Noche de Cristal (autumn 98 I believe).

Seriously - Issac just KILLS it on Luz viajera - the best vocal improvising I've heard.

The fourth contender for the title - the amazing April 2000 Marina Hemingway show - is coming soon, but in the meantime, here's an honorable mention. This is from the same July 1997 Festival at which Charanga Habanera was suspended. All CH did was to perform their regular nightclub show, but Issac omitted the dance contest from Por qué paró. Compare the version here to this one. but the hottest Por qué paró (no video) is this one. And for a full comparison, there's also this one. Which do you like best and why? (please answer in the comments section)

 

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Mon, 17 Nov 2014 19:50:50 +0000
Timba: The Movie Narrated by: James Earl Jones (he had a bad cold)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese (he was really drunk)

Actually, this is just another Beyond Salsa preview video but it runs 30 minutes and has a lot of "video within video" and history of Issac and timba in general.

                                            Pablo Menéndez and El Capitán (click for Pt. 1)

Ocatvio Rodríguez and José Hermida (click for Pt. 2)

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Sun, 16 Nov 2014 20:10:28 +0000
The Hottest Timba Concert of All Time? If you have other nominations, add them to the comments section!

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Fri, 14 Nov 2014 23:37:51 +0000
The New Pedrito Martínez Group at Harlem Stage Ian Stewart was on hand for the first official performance of PMG with Edgar Pantoja replacing Ariacne Trujillo. Click here for his review. Tonight they open an exciting new Cuban music club, Subrosa. Ian will also soon report on Ariacne's new group (personnel unknown).

photo by Marc Millman Photography

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Wed, 12 Nov 2014 17:18:34 +0000
Grupo Danson Release 2nd CD Grupo Danson CD Rumba, Son con TimbaThe newest addition to my CD collection: Grupo Danson - Rumba, Son con Timba

On Monday Grupo Danson, under the direction of trombonist Carlos Pérez, released their long-awaited second CD - "Rumba, son con timba" - at iTunes and Amazon. I was fortunate to get a hardcopy at their release concert held in Copenhagen Saturday, November 8th. The concert report and a CD review will be coming soon.

Briefly let me say that Grupo Danson is an outstanding body of musicians. The rhythm section has fantastic gears and the trombones are a powerhouse. I highly recommend catching them live, but more on that in the concert report. The CD contains songs by Alaín Pérez, Alexander Abreu, César "Pupy" Pedroso and Carlos Pérez and includes both Alaín and Mandy Cantero as guest singers along with Danson's own singer lineup of Ernesto Manuitt and Henri Benitez. But again, more on the CD in the full review.

track list:
Mezclando culturas A. Abreu arr. A. Abreu ,A. Pérez
Que buena suerte G. Pérez arr. A. Pérez
Sibaguaní C. Pérez arr. C. Pérez
Polvo del ayer G. Pérez arr. A. Pérez
Sabor de mi rumba G. Pérez arr. A. Pérez
José Andrés C. Pedroso arr. C. Pérez
Siempre cha cha chá G. Pérez  arr. A. Pérez
Va y ven de hamaca C. Pérez arr. C. Pérez
Conga cubana G. Pérez  arr. A. Pérez

In the meantime here is a brief interview with Carlos done shortly before the concert. It is in Spanish with English subtitles.

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Wed, 12 Nov 2014 17:09:59 +0000
New Singles From Rumbankete

ENGLISH: Los Angeles-based Rumbankete recently released two excellent new singles, Cuando Suene and Ambicioso Seductor.   This is a group that prides itself on its ability to play both Timba and Salsa Cubana, but these two songs are clearly in the Timba side of the repertoire, and I like them both (Ambicioso Seductor is my favorite), enough so that the radio program Domingos Felices will play them Sunday, November 16, and interview lead singer Iris Sandra Cepeda.  For more information (including where to buy the singles in iTunes), click here
Also:  Chicago will enjoy a trifecta of excellent concerts this weekend:  Cuban Jazz piano virtuoso Alfredo Rodríguez (a favorite of Quincy Jones, incidentally), Tiempo Libre and Arturo Sandoval.   For all the details, see our Report From Chicago page for November 9. 
ESPAÑOL:  Rumbankete, que se basa en Los Angeles, lanzó recientemente dos nuevos sencillos excelentes, Cuando Suene y Ambicioso Seductor.  Este grupo se enorgullece de su capacidad de tocar ambos la Timba y la Salsa Cubana, pero las dos canciones son claramente del lado de la TImba en su repertorio, y me gustan las dos (Ambicioso Seductor es mi favorita), lo suficiente para que el programa de radio Domingos Felices pondrá ellas el domingo, 16 de Noviembre, y la cantante Iris Sandra Cepeda será la entrevistada.  Para más información (incluyendo dónde se  puede comprarlas en iTunes), haga clic aquí.
También:  Chicago va a disfrutar de una trifecta de excelentes conciertos este fin de semana: el pianista cubano Alfredo Rodríguez (un virtuoso del Jazz y uno de los favoritos de Quincy Jones, por cierto), Tiempo Libre y Arturo Sandoval.  para todos los detalles, consulte Report From Chicago  (9 de noviembre). 

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Mon, 10 Nov 2014 21:28:40 +0000
Tiempo Libre Returns to Chicago November 15 ENGLISH:  Tiempo Libre returns to Chicago for two shows at the Old Town School of Folk Music on Saturday, November 15.  The Chicago-based radio show Domingos Felices will be interviewing the leader, Jorge Gómez, and giving away two pairs of tickets and 3 collections of TL's four discs during their braodcast on November 9.  For more details about the concerts and the radio promotion, click here. 
ESPAÑOL:  Tiempo Libre regresa a Chicago para dos espectáculos en Old Town School of Folk Music el sábado, 15 de noviembre.  El programa de radio con sede en Chicago Domingos Felices entrevistará al líder, Jorge Gómez, y regalará dos pares de entradas y 3 colecciones de los cuatro discos de TL durante su show el 9 de noviembre.  Para más detalles sobre los conciertos y la promoción, haga clic aquí. 

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Fri, 07 Nov 2014 20:05:26 +0000
Calixto Heating Up the LA Scene ... and if any major city needs some heating up, it's LA. I can say this because I was born and raised there: Los Angeles sucks - sorry Kay, Gloria, Bob & Paul - the truth hurts. Only Miami surpasses LA for its sheer quantity of unappreciated talent. But don't jump off of City Hall just yet - where there's an Oviedo, there's hope - and there are two of them in Smogville now.

Calixto (of NG La Banda, Pacho Alonso, Adalberto Álvarez and of course Beyond Salsa fame) has put together a super-tight band featuring his talented wife Lily. They tore it up at SJ Jazz this year and now they're starting to play regularly in the LA scene (I use the term "scene" advisedly).

Lily D. Oviedo y su Orchestra play Nov. 8th, 14th and 20th at La Floridita, Tía Juana's and M Bar - full details on the Tours page.

Then, on December 4th, a new incarnation of The Arsenio Rodríguez Project. Here are some photos from their last tour. But this new band - while it lacks the two New York studs - has a lineup that makes me want to do the 6-hour drive and brave the smoggy Southland. Calixto on drums, the great Rigoberto López (of Opus 13 and Adalberto) on bass, changüí master Gabriel García on tres, Alberto Salas on piano (this guy is great), and vocalist Perico Hernández - as close as we're likely to get to Cuní and Scull among the living. This is really a must-see concert. [Kevin Moore]

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Tue, 04 Nov 2014 17:29:00 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Photos: ACAS in SF Another great gallery from another great recent show. Mezcla and Klímax galleries coming next.

News: Juan Carlos Formell becomes the full-time bassist of Los Van Van. Possible US tour in 2015.

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Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:09:02 +0000
Video: Jorge Luis Pacheco Quartet at Kennedy Center
ENGLISH: Jorge Luis Pacheco, another of Cuba's piano phenomena as well as an impressive and eclectic composer (and vocalist), performed in quartet at the Kennedy Center on November 1st. The Kennedy Center keeps a video archive on its website, and therefore, you can watch the entire performance by clicking here.  This is pretty intense, but don't take my word for it - check it out. 
ALSO:  Roberto Fonseca gave a great concert in Chicago.   See more here
ESPAÑOL:  Jorge Luis Pacheco, otro de los fenómenos de piano de Cuba así como impresionante y ecléctica compositor (y vocalista) dió un concierto en el Kennedy Center el 01 de noviembre.   El Kennedy Center mantiene archivos de video en su sitio web, y por lo tanto, se puede ver todo al hacer clic aqui.  Es bastante intensa, pero no confie en mis palabras - échale un vistazo. 
MÁS:  Roberto Fonseca dió un gran concierto en Chicago.  Se puede ver más aquí. 

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Mon, 03 Nov 2014 08:12:27 +0000
New Melvis Santa Project Debuts in New York

Melvis Santa already has an impressive resume in both music and acting - a cofounder at age 14 of Sexto Sentido, more recent recordings with Interactivo and Santa Habana. an acting role in 7 días en La Habana (7 Days in Havana) and work with several other artists.  At the moment, she is working in New York, and on November 1, she is debuting a new project at The Jazz Gallery there.  For those of you who haven't heard her, a video clip from Santa Habana:

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Fri, 31 Oct 2014 05:09:50 +0000
Laritza Bacallao on Carnival Cruise Laritza Bacallao on Carnival Cruise Scandinavia

Bar Brasil's annual Carnival Cruise Stockholm is fast approaching. Every year the Baltic Sea goes Caribbean for 23 hours with dancers, bands, percussionists, and DJs. This year over 100 artists will take part, including Laritza Bacallao - one of the most popular young artists in Cuba. 

Laritza comes from a family of singers. Her grandfather Rafael "Felo" Bacallao and her father Ernesto Bacallao were both singers of the legendary Orquesta Aragón. It seems natural that Laritza would also study music - choral direction and piano - and become a singer. She has a versatile voice and can sing a bolero as well as cha-cha-chá a son or a reggaeton. But the style for which Laritza has become known is the pan-Caribbean dance music that swept her to the top of the charts in Cuba where she has remained for the past couple of years. The arrangements mix everything from samba to salsa to merengue to rumba and conga...you get the idea. She has collaborated with many Cuban artists, such as Pablo FG, Candido Fabré, JG, and Los 4 to name a few. Her infectious party music caught the attention of Puerto Rican salsa star Victor Manuelle, who will soon release a salsa version of her hit "Que suenen los tambores" by composer Osmany Espinosa.

Although she has toured Europe before, this will be Laritza's first Scandinavian performance. She will be backed by an eight-piece band. If you will be in the area, book your cabin now and get ready to rock the boat with the Scandinavian carnival elite. A YouTube search will give you a number of videos with Laritza, but in honor of the Carnival Cruise, I leave you with her hit "Carnaval".

Every year

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Fri, 24 Oct 2014 11:47:18 +0000
Tom Ehrlich Photos from Mont. Jazz Day 3

(above: Harold López-Nussa) Click here for Tom's final gallery from this year's Monterey Jazz Festival. Afro-Cuban All Stars is next, then Klímax.

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Fri, 24 Oct 2014 02:02:33 +0000
Pulling Out the Stops

It turns out Klímax conguero Julio López is also a tremendous rumbero - photos by Tom Ehrlich

Klímax's debut Northern California tour is ending all too soon. In many ways they're playing an even tighter and more aggressive form of timba than they did in the 1990s. The percussion section - together for 15 years now - is absurdly tight, even by Havana standards, and the metales are by far the cleanest, most powerful and most in-tune trumpet-sax section since Los Metales de Terror. Vocal harmonies sublime and great dance routines - although Julio López overshadowed everything with his multi-part rumba-changó tour de force performance, with local hero Christian Pepín covering the congas.

Don't miss tonight - the Giants game will be over by the time they hit at 8:00 and Yoshi's has a nice screen in the lobby.

Click continue reading for more photos.

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Wed, 22 Oct 2014 17:25:22 +0000
***Piloto in SF*** all photos by Tom Ehrlich

The Klímax entourage is now safely in the Bay Area for Piloto's drum clinic in the Mission at 6:30 tonight. Here's a downloadable PDF of the handout for the clinic, including all sorts of information on Piloto and Kosa's other educational programs.

Transportation problems delayed the Felton show, but when Klímax hit the stage, they played a two hour-plus set that blew the roof off the joint. The horn section was as tight and clean as any I've heard out of Cuba and conguero Julio López is truly a force of nature. Ryan and Sidney's Klímax dance class was brilliant as always (they also do classes before each Yoshi's show). For that matter, the stage dancing was also extraordinarily tight, even in the limited space available, but if you want to see Noel Díaz's patented "splits" move, you'll have to go to Yoshi's.

Here's a google map of the clinic location (544 Capp Street, SF CA 94110 | 415-647-6015).

 Community Music Center in San Francisco's Mission District (home page here)

Tomorrow begins two nights at Yoshi's SF (one admission for the whole night). Then off to Seattle and Portland.

Tuesday, 10-21 - San Francisco - Yoshi's SF
Wednesday, 10-22 - San Francisco - Yoshi's SF
Thursday, 10-23 - Seattle - Seattle Club Sur
Friday, 10-24 - Portland - The Conga Club

Julio López - photos by Tom Ehlrich

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Mon, 20 Oct 2014 14:32:02 +0000
The Parade of Cuban Piano Virtuosos in Chicago Continues ENGLISH:   So many masters of the piano have visited Chicago this year - Elio VillafrancaManuel Valera, Aruán Ortiz, Chucho Valdés, Chuchito Valdés, Harold López-Nussa - and more will come.  This week brings

Roberto Fonseca
Mayne Stage,  1328 W. Morse, Chicago, IL
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
7:00pm and 9:30pm 
One of Cuba's most important young Jazz and Fusion pianists and composers and a half-brother of Chuchito Valdés.  Roberto gave a phenomenal concert at the Lotus Festival in Bloomington, Indiana last year.  You can read a review of that performance  here and his recording Yo  here.

ESPAÑOL:   Tantos maestros del piano han visitado Chicago este año - Elio VillafrancaManuel Valera, Aruán Ortíz, Chucho Valdés, Chuchito Valdés, Harold López-Nussa - y más vendrán.  Esta semana trae

Roberto Fonseca
Mayne Stage,  1328 W. Morse, Chicago, IL
Miercoles, 22 de octubre, 2014
7:00pm y 9:30pm   
Uno de los más importantes jóvenes pianistas y compositores en Jazz y Fusión en Cuba y un medio hermano de Chuchito Valdés.  Roberto dió un concerto fenomenal en el Lotus Festival en Bloomington, Indiana el año pasado. Puede leer una reseña del concierto (en ingles) aquí y de su grabacion Yo aquí

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Sun, 19 Oct 2014 23:03:41 +0000
Tribute to Bebo Homenaje a Bebo - Calixto Oviedo

Mark this date in your calendar: Wednesday November 26, 2014. Calixto Oviedo & His Latin Train will offer a Thanksgiving Eve performance of their Tribute to Maestro Bebo Valdés at Catalina Jazz Club on Sunset Boulevard. The Master Percussionist honors the Master Pianist with a night of Afro-Cuban Jazz. Calixto took time from his busy schedule to talk to Timba.com about the concert. Click here to book your tickets now! For more information check out the event at Facebook.

How did the idea arise to do a tribute to Bebo Valdés?

The idea came from my producer Guido Herrera. We decided to use my first presentation at the prestigious jazz club Catalin to honor the great musician Bebo - also utilizing my experiences with him in Stockholm, Sweden where we both lived for many years.

For you personally, what did Bebo Valdés mean to Cuban music - what is his legacy?

I met Bebo Valdés in Stockholm when we both lived there. One day he called me at home and asked me to give drum lessons to his younger son Rickard. From that moment every Wednesday for two years was spent at his home. A great friendship blossomed between our families. Now the opportunity has been presented for my Latin Train Band to perform at the prestigious Catalina Jazz Club. I decided to dedicate my debut show to one of the most important and influential pianist of Cuba. Bebo is a very important part of the history of Cuban music. He trained great artists who later became world stars and his legacy will remain for life. Bebo is Cuba. 

What other news can you give us about your band?

Well my band - I finally found the musicians I needed and who have very similar interests to mine. They are very young musicians but with a high musical level. They come from great bands and carry a large baggage of work. Yosmel Montejo on bass was formerly with Maraca and is a very accomplished musician and also an excellent person, which is very important to do a good job. He is a great connoisseur of the Latin Jazz genre and also an excellent Timbero. He is helping a lot with his compositions and arrangements. 

Joel Nunez is a tremendous saxophonist/pianist who also plays the EWI electronic instrument that brings colors and tones which I love. He has tremendous talent. Nathaniel Molina is a boricua with tremendous BOMBA who plays piano, composes, sings - he is a great all-around musician. Studious 100 x 100, he is a connoisseur of drumming and he knows all the styles. Santiago is a brother from Matanzas with a great history in Cuban music. He is very responsible my brother of the old guard - a great person. The singer Lily D Oviedo continues captivating audiences and rising to the top. She can move between "feeling", samba and ballads with incredible ease. She is very versatile in addition to singing in English or Portuguese. Lily is great. 

This is my band  - Latin Train Band - and we are now preparing our first album. It includes songs by Yosmel Montejo, a few standards and some of my songs.

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Sun, 19 Oct 2014 15:15:49 +0000
Klímax Tour Begins Tonight in LA Giraldo Piloto & Klímax have landed safely and begin their West Coast tour tonight at the 333 Club in Los Angeles. Here's the full itinerary:

CONCERTS: 
Friday, 10-17 - Los Angeles - 333 Club
Saturday, 10-18 - Felton (Santa Cruz) - Don Quixote's
Sunday, 10-19 - Folsom (Sacramento)  - Three Stages at Folsom Lake College
Tuesday, 10-21 - San Francisco - Yoshi's SF
Wednesday, 10-22 - San Francisco - Yoshi's SF
Thursday, 10-23 - Seattle - Seattle Club Sur
Friday, 10-24 - Portland - The Conga Club

KLÍMAX-THEMED DANCE CLASSES:
Saturday, 10-18 - 1:00-4:00 - Santa Cruz Tannery (corner of Hwys 1 & 9)
Tuesday, 10-21 - San Francisco - Yoshi's SF
Wednesday, 10-22 - San Francisco - Yoshi's SF

CLINIC WITH GIRALDO PILOTO:
Monday, 10-20 -  Community Music Center in San Francisco's Mission District (home page here)

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Fri, 17 Oct 2014 16:41:37 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Photos from the Monterey Jazz Festival Habaneros String Quartet

Here are Tom's photos from Saturday at Monterey Jazz 2014. Sunday's gallery coming soon.

Klímax will be in LA Friday and Santa Cruz Saturday. See below for more.

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Thu, 16 Oct 2014 22:59:08 +0000
Piloto Drum Clinic in San Francisco - Oct. 20

If you're in Northern California, this one is absolutely not to be missed. On Klímax's one off-day, Monday, October 20th, Giraldo Piloto will do a clinic-demo session at the Community Music Center in San Francisco's Mission District (home page here). It's only $15 at the door (sliding scale), 6:30 to 8:00. No need to be a drummer or musician - this is a demo rather than a play-along master class - and an incredible opportunity to meet the greatest living Cuban musician never to have come to the United States (til now!) - and to hear him play, talk and answer your questions for 1.5 hours in a small and intimate setting. For more info, call  415-647-6015. Here are the latest concert dates.

There are drummers who compose and composers who drum, but Piloto is on the shortest of short lists in both categories, having won the timba.com award for Best Timba Drummer of All-Time and having written pivotal breakthrough hits for Issac Delgado (No me mires, Por qué paró, etc.), Charanga Habanera (Me sube la fiebre, Mi estrella, Pelirroja), NG La Banda (Te confunde ser esa mujer), Bamboleo (Yo tengo Bamboleo), and of course, Klímax.

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Mon, 13 Oct 2014 00:27:13 +0000
Maykel Blanco & Su Salsa Mayor to Celebrate 10th Anniversary Maykel Blanco & Su Salsa Mayor 10th Anniversary

The place to be in Havana this weekend is Teatro Lázaro Peña for the 10th anniversary celebration of Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor. Maykel has been keeping most of the plans to himself to maintain the air of mystery, but he has stated that in addition to the guest musicians, a number of plastic artists are invited.  Fans from around the world have been sending the band video greetings that Maykel will be incorporating into the anniversary AV show.

The popularity of Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor, both in Cuba and abroad, is indisputable. Maykel's hard work with both the music and the audiovisual aspects of the show has made their matinee one of the must-see concerts for timberos visiting Havana. If you're in Havana, don't miss it!

During a recent appearance on Donde si no, the band performed three new songs that they will be doing at the anniversary gala, and each bears the unmistakable Salsa Mayor sello. Maykel himself classifies his music as son with songo. Over the past decade he has faced criticism for similarities to Van Van and Pupy, but there is no longer any question that Salsa Mayor has its own sound that is as recognizable as the great bands of the classic timba era. Click here to watch the video interview (in Spanish) and see all three of the new songs.

Te Escapaste - Yordys Larrazábal

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Fri, 10 Oct 2014 08:30:02 +0000
KLÍMAX! KLÍMAX! KLÍMAX!

After waiting for this for over 15 years, I didn't want to jinx it by getting excited before the visas came through, but they did and it's all systems go for the US DEBUT, believe it or not, of Giraldo Piloto y Klímax, the last of the great Cuban bands never to have come to the US.

There are 7 dates so far: Los Angeles on the 17th (333 Live), Santa Cruz on the 18th, Yoshi's SF on the 21st and 22nd, Seattle on the 23rd and Portland on the 24th.

The Santa Cruz (Felton) show at Don Quixote's is only $20/advance for the whole night. This is a very nice, low key, spacious club with a large dance floor - Havana d'Primera played there on their first US tour. On the afternoon of the show, Ryan and Sidney of Rueda con Ritmo will be giving classes from 1:00 to 4:00 at the Santa Cruz Tannery (corner of Hwy 1 and Hwy 9), including a special class that deals specifically with the style of Klímax and special dance steps that can used with it.

Klímax has three new singles out on amazon - featuring Piloto's new pianist and collaborator, Javier Moreno Piloto, the latest musical member of the legendary Piloto Barreto clan to join the timba scene. [Kevin Moore]

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Fri, 10 Oct 2014 05:21:48 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Photos from the Monterey Jazz Festival The Monterey Jazz is the longest continuously running jazz festival in the world, having presented everyone from Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and John Coltrane to Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Issac Delgado and the Pedrito Martínez Group. Although this year's event was a bit light on Afro-Caribbean music, it featured many outstanding bands, including living legends Herbie Hancock and Charles Lloyd, young phenoms like Cécile McLoren Salvant and Melissa Aldana, master bassist Christian McBride, and dozens of other great musicians.

This is the first of at least three reports on this year's festival. [Tom Ehrlich]

 
Charles Lloyd with Zakir Hussain (above) - Melissa Aldana with Francisco Mela (below)

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Mon, 06 Oct 2014 01:53:51 +0000
Harold López-Nussa Trio US Tour Continues
The Harold López-Nussa Trio continues its US Tour on the  East Coast.  On October 1, they performed at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, which posts videos of its performances on its website.   You can watch that concert here, and you can see the rest of the tour itinerary here. Catch them live if you can - their performances are electric.  

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Fri, 03 Oct 2014 22:49:17 +0000
Two New Klímax Dates Added BREAKING NEWS! Make that 4 new dates
Seattle and Portland on the 23rd and 24th!

CLICK HERE to see the full list (Klimax USA Tour 2014).
Much more coming on this historic tour.
OPRIMA AQUÍ para evr todas las fechas nuevas.

Kilmax USA Tour 2014

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Fri, 03 Oct 2014 03:59:28 +0000
Harold López-Nussa in Evanston

The Harold López-Nussa trio gave an intense performance at Evanston SPACE on Monday, September 29.  You can see a photo gallery and summary here

Also, Mezcla is at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz tonight (October 2). 

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Fri, 03 Oct 2014 00:03:29 +0000
TONIGHT: MEZCLA AT YOSHI'S OAKLAND Mezcla, which has been on tour in the Midwestern United States (including the World Music Festivals in Millennium Park in Chicago and Madison, Wisconsin) and a few engagements in Washington state, returns to the Bay Area for two nights:  Yoshi's in Oakland on Wednesday, October 1, and the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz on Thursday, October 2. .Here's a clip from their 2013 performance at Yoshi's Oakland:

For times and tickets for Yoshi's Oakland, click here
For times and tickets for Kuumbwa Jazz Center, click here.  

Mezcla is due to release a new album, Pure Mezcla, in November.   Stay tuned. 

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Wed, 01 Oct 2014 18:03:19 +0000
Mezcla: Back to Oakland Mezcla, which has been on tour in the Midwestern United States (including the World Music Festivals in Millennium Park in Chicago and Madison, Wisconsin) and a few engagements in Washington state, returns to the Bay Area for two nights:  Yoshi's in Oakland on Wednesday, October 1, and the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz on Thursday, October 2. .Here's a clip from their 2013 performance at Yoshi's Oakland:



For times and tickets for Yoshi's Oakland, click here
For times and tickets for Kuumbwa Jazz Center, click here.  

Mezcla is due to release a new album, Pure Mezcla, in November.   Stay tuned. 

Also, virtuoso Cuban Jazz pianist/composer Harold López Nussa is on tour in trio with a stop in the Chicago area on Monday, September 29, at Evanston SPACE.   For more details about that show, click here. Several cities remain on the itinerary, which you can view here

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Sun, 28 Sep 2014 23:15:54 +0000
New Singles from Klímax Tom's latest SJ JAZZ gallery begins with a batch of photos by the newest addition to timba.com, renowned Bay Area rumbero/fotógrafo Yussef Breffe. Stay tuned for more from Yussef soon. Also stay tuned for news on the upcoming tour of Klímax (Oct. 18 at Don Quixote's - Oct 21 & 22 at Yoshi's SF ) and the new album from Los Hermanos Arango. Here's are three great new Klímax singles: Aquí estoy , Si te descuidas , and La ternerita .

Yosmel Montejo with Calixto Oviedo - photo by Yussef Breffe

Álvaro Benavides with Pedrito Martínez Group - photo by Tom Ehrlich

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Sat, 27 Sep 2014 17:47:02 +0000
In Motion: The New NCX Album ENGLISH: Manuel Valera and New Cuban Express do it again:  In Motion is as exciting as the first two NCX albums, and it has just been released.   You can read our review in English here

ESPAÑOL: Manuel Valera y New Cuban Express lo hacen otra vez: In Motion es tan emocionante como los dos primeros álbumes de NCX, y se acaba de lanzar.  Puede leer nuestra reseña en español aquí. 

Un nuevo programa de radio en español, Domingos Felices, que se transmite todos los domingos entre 2-4pm hora de Chicago por la tarde, cuenta con nueva música cubana y lo mejor de la otra Salsa incluyendo entrevistas con artistas destacados e interesantes.  Este domingo, por ejemplo, el programa ofrece un par de canciones del nuevo album de El Niño y La Verdad y una entrevista en directo con ganador del GRAMMY Marlow Rosado además de una entrevista grabada con ganador del premio Cubadisco Harold López-Nussa. Marlow tiene una nueva grabación, Salsanimal.   Un video:  



Domingos Felices (también conocido informalmente como Tu Radio Secreta porque la emisora todavía no ha publicado el show en su página web) está disponible alrededor de Chicago en WCEV AM 1450 y via Internet entre 2-4pm hora de Chicago los domingos aquí:
http://www.wcev1450.com/

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Sat, 27 Sep 2014 15:12:43 +0000
The Nominees for the 15th Annual Latin GRAMMY® Awards

(Image Source: Facebook Page of Descemer Bueno)

ENGLISH:  On Wednesday, September 24, the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences® (LARAS) announced the nominations for the 15th Annual Latin GRAMMY® Awards.  For followers of Cuban music, this year is less exciting than last, which included the Lifetime Achievement Award for Juan Formell and more Cuban nominees.  Still, there are some interesting highlights. You can read Bill Tilford's perspectives about this year's nominations here

ESPAÑOL:  El miércoles, 24 de septiembre, La Academia Latina de la Grabacion® (LARAS) anunció las nominaciones a la 15a Entrega Anual del Latin GRAMMY®.  Para los seguidores de la música cubana, este año parece menos emocionante que el anterior, que incluyó el Premio a la Excelencia Musical para Juan Formell y más nominados cubanos.  Sin embargo, hay algunos interesantes aspectos destacados.  Puede leer las perspectivas de Bill Tilford sobre las nominaciones actuales aquí

 

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Thu, 25 Sep 2014 19:33:56 +0000
Mayito Rivera & The Sons of Cuba @WOMEX 14 Mayito RiveraThe 14th World Music Expo - WOMEX, will take place from October 22-26 in the beautiful, historic city of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Last year Los Van Van was given the Artist Award at WOMEX 13. This year Mayito Rivera & The Sons of Cuba have been selected as part of the Artist Showcase. They will perform on October 23rd. Click here to purchase your tickets for the October 23rd showcase.

For those of you unfamiliar with WOMEX, it is a world music trade fair where artists, promoters and labels can meet and network. It also includes showcase performances each night open to visitors, as well as awards for excellence presented at events only open to attendees. 

Mayito's selection for the WOMEX showcase is an affirmation of his recent solo work as represented by the album "Invéntate una historia". All arrangements and lyrics on the new album are by Mayito. With this album he is mixing Cuban music with a broader range of world musical traditions. Check out the electronic press kit below to hear more about Mayito's latest project from the man himself. And if you can't make WOMEX, you can still catch Mayito performing with Soneros de Verdad tomorrow, September 25th in Brussels at Moliere, Friday the 26th in Utrecht at Rasa and Saturday the 27th in The Hague at Korzo

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Wed, 24 Sep 2014 13:27:43 +0000
Harold López-Nussa Comes To The Midwestern US ENGLISH: Stellar Cuban pianist and composer Harold López-Nussa is now on tour in the United States and will be performing in Evanston, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) on Monday, September 29 at 7:30pm at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Avenue, Evanston.  He will be in trio with bassist Gaston Joya and his brother, drummer Ruy Adrian López Nussa. You can read all the details on SPACE's web page for the event. This is a don't miss event for fans of the new Jazz in Cuba. 
Read our review of the album New Day  here. 
See the rest of the tour here.



ESPAÑOL:
  Estelar pianista/compositor cubano Harold López-Nussa se encuentra de gira en los Estados Unidos, y él se presentará en Evanston, Illinois (un suburbio de Chicago) el lunes, 29 de Septiembre a las 7:30pm en SPACE, 1245 Chicago Avenue, Evanston.  Él estará en trío con el bajista Gastón Joya y su hermano, el baterista Ruy Adrián López-Nussa.  Puede leer todos los detalles en la página web de SPACE para el evento.  Esto es un "no se lo pierda" evento para los fans del nuevo Jazz en Cuba. 
Lea nuestra reseña del álbum  New Day  aquí.  Vea el resto de la gira aquí. 

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Tue, 23 Sep 2014 10:11:48 +0000
Cubans Worldwide Unite for "Guantanamera"

Music organization PLAYING FOR CHANGE brings us this Cuban classic... "Guantanamera". PFC started the song with Carlos Varela in Havana and it features over 75 Cuban musicians around the world, from Havana and Santiago to Miami, Barcelona and Tokyo. They recorded and produced this track with Jackson Browne, who explains that “traveling with Playing For Change across Cuba was one of the most rewarding and inspiring musical experiences of my life.”

Aymee Nuviola (vocals)  --  Equis Alfonso (vocals) -- Eva Griñán (vocals) --  Carlos Varela (vocals/guitar) -- Diana Fuentes (vocals) --  Grupo Síntesis (vocals) --  Luis Bofill (vocals/guiro) -- Reinaldo Elosegui (vocals) --  Candi Sosa (vocals/maracas) --  Manuel Galbán (guitar) --  Gabino Jardines (guitar) --  Alexander “Pupi” Carriera (conga) --  Miami Cuban Horns (Braily Ramos: trombone, Carlos Puig, trumpet, Felipe Lamoglia: saxophone) -- Camerata Romeu (strings conducted by Zenaida Romeu Diogenes) -- Manfarrol Medrano (marímbula) --  Gastón Joya (upright bass) --  Ernán López-Nussa (piano) -- Joel Peña (tres) --  La Conga de San Agustín (La Pasión) --  Luis Conte (bongos) --  Luis Valle (trumpet) --   Michelle Fragoso (piano) -- Papa Orbe Ortiz (bass) --  Sergio Cardona Veranes (guitar) --  Rigoberto López (bass)

Playing for Change is a multimedia music project, created by the American producer and sound engineer Mark Johnson with his Timeless Media Group, that seeks to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. Playing For Change also created a separate non-profit organization called the Playing For Change Foundation, which builds music schools for children around the world.

"Guantanamera" is a track from the album “PFC3 Songs Around The World”, which features 185 musicians from 31 countries, including performances from Keith Richards, Sara Bareilles, Taj Mahal, Toots Hibbert from Toots & The Maytals, Los Lobos, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Keb’ Mo’, and Andres Calamaro, in addition to a song produced by Jackson Browne. Here is the cover and link...

PFC3 Songs Around The World

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Fri, 19 Sep 2014 05:28:04 +0000
Buena Fe Miami Rehearsals
Israel Rojas tells us a little about what to expect at the Miami show.

Tomorrow, September 18th, Buena Fe will perform at Miami-Dade County Auditorium with guest Frank Delgado. This year's show is a tribute to contemporary Cuban cinema including audiovisual segments. I can't make the Miami show, but I was in Havana and caught two of the rehearsals where they were preparing for the Miami show.

The first day, Israel missed the first hour of rehearsal because he was giving interviews. The second day they really focused on coordinating the audiovisual part of the show. Someone brought a smart TV that is supposed to work with gestures and voice control. No one could ever get that working, but they did get the video sections of the performance set up, however, you will get no spoilers from me! Below is a little montage of moments from the rehearsals on September 9 and 11, 2014.

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Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:37:16 +0000
Llegó La Verdad El Niño y La Verdad - Llegó La VerdadA photo of my copy of "Llegó la Verdad" on the seat by my departure gate

I totally lucked out! I took a very brief trip to Cuba where I was never able to hook up with Emilio Frias "El Niño" and Pachy Jr. for the interview I have been wanting to about La Verdad. But as luck would have it, while going through security at José Martí airport, I looked up and saw that just two people ahead of me in  line was Emilio. They were on their way to Cancún for the Mayan congress. We hugged, he introduced me to his mom and he gave me the very first copy of the new CD "Llegó La Verdad". Hot off the presses! I knew the news would be out by the time I reached Stockholm (a 16 hour trip) but at least I know I was the very first person to get a copy. As I expected, it is a brilliant album worth the wait. A full review will be coming soon, but let me just say that the songs you have already heard as demos have been re-recorded/re-mixed and sound better than ever. There are 3 songs I haven't heard at all previously. Also worth noting, the new version of "La Mata" no longer features El Micha like the demo did, and "Seguir viviendo" is a Manolito Simonet arrangement with an intro that really brings to mind a "Loco por tus besos" vibe.

Below is a track & genre listing, which you might find interesting. All arrangements are by Wifredo Naranjo "Pachy Jr." and Dayron Ortega except as listed below. The hard copy is on sale in Havana at the EGREM stores. I don't know yet what the iTunes and other digital outlets release date will be.

  1. La verdad (son)
  2. Ese soy yo (son)
  3. Dime cuanto (son)
  4. Mi música (son)
  5. Seguir viviendo (son - arr. & piano Manolito Simonet)
  6. Loco pero te amo (son)
  7. La mata (mozambique)
  8. Verdad amarga (bolero - arr. Emilio Vega)
  9. Piénsalo (timba feat. El Yonky)
  10. Yo sí camino La Habana (son)

 

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Tue, 16 Sep 2014 16:32:26 +0000
Chicago's Cuban Music Explosion Continues

ENGLISH:   Mezcla performed at the World Music Festival in Millennium Park in Chicago on Friday, September 12 - you can see a photo gallery here.   Their tour of the United States continues for the next few weeks, and their new album, Pure Mezcla, is scheduled for release in November. 
You can hear segments of an extended interview (in Spanish) with Pablo Menéndez on the radio show Domingos Felices during the next few Sundays along with some music from the group. 
On Saturday, September 20, Chuchito Valdés returns to Chicago, and the percussionist for this session, Joaquin Pozo "El Pulpo", will give a percussion clinic on Sunday, September 21.  For full details, see the Report From Chicago Events & Reviews page. 

ESPAÑOL:  Mezcla actuó en el Festival de Música Mundial en el Parque del Milenio en Chicago el viernes 12 de Septiembre - se puede ver una galería de fotos aquí. Su gira por los Estados Unidos continúa durante las próximas semanas, y su nuevo álbum, Pure Mezcla, tiene previsto su lanzamiento en noviembre. 
Se puede escuchar segmentos de una entrevista extendida (en español) con Pablo Menéndez en el programa de radio Domingos Felices durante los próximos domingos junto con un poco de la música del grupo. 
El sábado,  20 de septiembre, Chuchito Valdés vuelve a Chicago de septiembre, y el percusionista para esta sesión, Joaquín Pozo "El Pulpo", dará una clínica de percusión el domingo, 21 de septiembre. Para más detalles, véase el informe en la página  Report From Chicago Events & Reviews.

 

 

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Sat, 13 Sep 2014 21:57:04 +0000
MEZCLA US TOUR BEGINS THIS WEEK Mezcla, one of Cuba's most important fusion bands, begins a tour of the United States this week beginning with the World Music Festival in Millennium Park in Chicago  on Friday,  September 12.  As this is being written, the finishing touches are being put on a new recording, Pure Mezcla, which will be released November 1, 2014. (Those of you in radio and the press can write yours truly, Bill Tilford, for more details about the recording.)    This is is raw footage from Mezcla's 2013 concert at Yoshi's in Oakland.:

This tour will be using the same personnel as this concert. This edition of the group relies more heavily on Pablo's guitar than most previous versions  of the group, and he delivers.  For the complete tour itinerary and more, visit Mezcla's website.  And stay tuned for Pure Mezcla, coming in November. 

La Timba, along with other new Cuban music,  is frequently an orphan in many radio stations that play other Caribbean music, so I'm pleased to tell you Frank Camacho and I now are playing a fair share of it (along with other music) on a brand new radio show, Domingos Felices, every Sunday afternoon from 2-4pm Chicago time.  In metro Chicago, you can hear it on WCEV 1450am.  The rest of the planet can listen to it via Internet here.  Hablamos español, pero la música es pa' todo el mundo. Tenemos entrevistas y otras cosas buenas también.  Tenemos una nueva página en Facebook:  Domingos Felices Radio1450

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Mon, 08 Sep 2014 21:37:10 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Photos from SJ JAZZ: Day 3 The final day of SJ Jazz was historic. Here's Part 1 of Tom Ehrlich's mega-gallery.

                      At the Main Stage: Jhair Sala, guest star Calixto Oviedo, Pedrito Martínez

Tito Matos, Kianí Medina and Juan Martínez of Viento de Agua

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Mon, 08 Sep 2014 00:08:19 +0000
Alain Pérez's New Album Getting the old Issac 97 band back together!

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Fri, 05 Sep 2014 21:57:45 +0000
PMO in LA • SJ JAZZ Day 2 Peter Maiden has a full review of Pacific Mambo Orchestra in Marina del Rey - more on this from Mike coming soon - and Tom Ehrlich's SJ JAZZ Day 2 gallery is up. Click on each photo for the gallery.

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Wed, 03 Sep 2014 02:04:07 +0000
Aruán Ortiz, Orlando Sanchez & Miguel Zenon in Chicago

Three interesting Jazz events took place in Chicago over the weekend; you can read about them and see photos here

Durante los meses recientes, Bill Tilford había estado trayendo grabaciones actuales y recientes hechas en Cuba y las hechas por cubano-americanos al show de Frank Camacho, Sábados de Fiesta.  Ellos tambien habían entrevistando a músicos cubanos y cubano-americanos. A partir del Domingo, 7 de septiembre de las 2 a las 4 pm hora de Chicago (1900-2100 TUC) en WCEV 1450am, un nuevo show, Domingos Felices, seguirá el mismo formato basico con la música cubana actual, entrevistas, chistes etc. Se puede escuchar el programa (en español) via Internet. Ellos también pondrán otra música latina, pero la música cubana actual recibirá un énfasis especial. 

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Mon, 01 Sep 2014 17:18:07 +0000
Calixto-Yosmel-Josiel at Yoshi's Oakland Tonight Yoshi's Oakland has finally booked a Cuban act again and it's a great one - AC Jazz Project (can we do something about these generic band names?) - with Josiel and Yosmel, who have been tearing it up with everyone since staying in the US after the Maraca tour, plus Calixto Oviedo and a  highly-touted pianist named Fermín Sinfontes. It's an early show at 7:30 tonight, Aug. 30. See you there.

In other news, what are they putting in water in Sweden?

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Sat, 30 Aug 2014 17:10:29 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's SJ Jazz Photos Click here for the full gallery

Bootsy Collins

Jimmy Bosch

Omar Ledezma of PMO

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Wed, 27 Aug 2014 18:04:56 +0000
A Fifth of Festival Cubano

What do these two  have in common?   If your answer was "Some men can't tell them apart after 8 drinks", that's not a bad guess, but there's actually more:  Read all about it here...

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Fri, 22 Aug 2014 20:54:34 +0000
Jorge Luis Pacheco Returns Look for the return of this phenomenal pianist this fall. He'll be at the Apollo in NY on Oct. 24th in a tribute to Herbie Hancock at the invitation of Quincy Jones. Check for more tour dates at Direct from Cuba.

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Fri, 22 Aug 2014 02:57:41 +0000
JAZZ TOUR EXPLOSION This is going to be a little Chicago-centric, but multiple cities are sometimes involved, and Aruan Ortíz, Mezcla, Harold López-Nussa and Alfredo Rodríguez are all going on tours in the United States very soon, and all of them have stops in Chicago:



1.   Aruan Ortíz Orbiting Quartet.  In Chicago on August 29 at the Beverly Arts Center and Detroit on August 30 at the Detroit Jazz Festival.   This Santiago-born piano virtuoso is now an internationally-famous Jazz artist.   READ MORE HERE 

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Wed, 20 Aug 2014 07:31:59 +0000
Two New Tom Ehrlich Galleries There's still an avalanche of photos from SJ Jazz to come, but for today, we have Roberto Roena and Joe Bataan at Stern Grove (with opening act Vieux Farka Toure) and Conjunto Chappottín at Santa Cruz's Kuumbwa Jazz Center.


Joe Bataan with Roberto Roena

Roberto Borrell (playing clave) with Conjunto Chappottín

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Tue, 19 Aug 2014 01:35:46 +0000
Peter Maiden Reviews Hermán Olivera

Club Fox in Redwood City, located next to the Fox Theater, was on fire Friday night August 15 when Hermán Olivera took the stage with Orquesta Taíno. Olivera has a new album out, “La Voz del Caribe,” which was recorded with Venezuelan musicians. Taíno played Olivera’s difficult charts with a solid groove. Percussion was tight and the three-trombone horn section did very well, with some solos reminiscent of Barry Rogers or Juan Pablo Torres. [click to continue reading ...]

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Mon, 18 Aug 2014 17:18:04 +0000
Buena Fe & the 7th Art in Miami Buena Fe @Miami Dade County Auditorium September 18 2014

In exactly one month on September 18 Buena Fe will return to Miami Dade County Auditorium, the site of their remarkable 2013 sold-out release concert for the CD "Dial" . This year Cuba's favorite pop-rock duo will bring the complete Havana experience including their horn section and a trio of strings. The concert will be an unprecedented audiovisual event combining the music of Buena Fe with clips that have marked Cuban cinema over the years, including "Memorias del Subdesarrollo" (ICAIC 1968), "Casa Vieja" (ICAIC 2010), "Habanastation" (ICAIC 2011), "Animados de Juan Padrón" (1981-2010), "Jose Martí, El ojo del canario" (ICAIC 2010) and "Cuba Va!" (ICAIC 1971) among others. Buena Fe sold out all 2500 seats last year so don't wait to get your tickets on sale now at Ticketmaster

If you're not familiar with Buena Fe I can summarize by saying that while they are generally classified as pop-rock, their arrangements also include fusions with son, conga, changüí, rumba and even with classical pieces such as Lecuona's "La comparsa" and Leo Brouwer's "Un día de noviembre".  But me the most outstanding aspect of the band is the lyrics. To learn more you can start by checking out their section here at Timba.com. They also have their own homepage and a very active and interactive Facebook page

Or maybe I should just let the music speak for itself. Here is the video for "La culpa" from the 2013 CD "Dial".

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Mon, 18 Aug 2014 16:27:57 +0000
Chicago's Festival Cubano: Now For The Entire World When Timberos attack: DJ Fernando Cuban Mix (L) and Master of Ceremonies Frank Camacho (R)

ENGLISH: The party seriously came alive Saturday afternoon at Festival Cubano.   Our friends in Cuba will enjoy learning that Dj Fernando Cuban Mix played Havana d'Primera's Me dicen cuba (and the audience loved it), and Sureya included Juan Formell's Aquí se enciende la candela in her segment   I'll have a story and photos next week, the news du jour is that Festival Cubano goes out to the whole world today.  If you want to watch in Beijing or Vladivostok, there should be a video link on the Festival Cubano website starting at 1600 Coordinated Universal Time (11am in the US) and going until close of festival. Another video link is www.frecuenciaoye.com  AND, from 1600-1700 UTC (11am-Noon Central US), there will be a special edition of Sábados de Fiesta (WCGO AM 1590)  live from the festival.  Must- see TV: Palo! at 23:30 UTC (6:30pm central US).  Must-hear radio:  Sabados de Fiesta at 4pm UTC (11am Central US).

Sureya starts a fire. 

ESPAÑOL:  La fiesta cobró vida en serio la tarde del sábado en el Festival Cubano. Nuestros amigos en Cuba disfrutarán aprendiendo que Dj Fernando Mix cubano pusó Me dicen Cuba por Havana d'Primera (y el público se lo encantó), y Sureya incluyó  "Aquí se Enciende la candela" por Juan Formell en su segmento.  Yo tendré una historia y fotos la próxima semana, lo nuevo es que hoy, Festival Cubano  se transmite para el mundo entero.  Si usted quiere mirar en Beijing o Vladivostok, debe haber un enlace de vídeo en el sitio  web del Festival Cubano a partir de las 16:00 Tiempo Universal Coordinado (11am Centro en los EE.UU.) y se va hasta el cierre del festival. Otro enlace de video es www.frecuenciaoye.com , Y,  4-5 UTC (11am-Mediodía Centro de Estados Unidos), habrá una edición especial de Sábados de Fiesta (WCGO AM 1590) en directo desde el festival.  "Hay que ver" TV:  Palo! a las 11:30 pm UTC (6:30 pm Centro) "Hay que escuchar" radio: Sábados de Fiesta.

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Sun, 17 Aug 2014 09:03:59 +0000
Chicago's Festival Cubano Begins

ENGLISH: Whatever else happens this weekend, it was a pleasure to see Juan Formell's contributions to the music acknowledged at a public festival in Chicago.  We'll be sharing a lot more about this event during the next few days.  For more information about the festival, see thecubanfestival.com

ESPAÑOL:  Pase lo que pase este fin de semana, fue un placer ver el reconocimiento de las contribuciones de Juan Formell a la música en un festival público en Chicago.  Compartiremos mucho más acerca de este evento durante los próximos días.  Para obtener más información sobre el festival ver thecubanfestival.com

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Sat, 16 Aug 2014 02:03:01 +0000
Cuban Recordings and the Latin GRAMMY® Awards ENGLISH:  Every year, more of the best recordings from Cuba are being submitted to LARAS for consideration in the Latin GRAMMY© Awards.  Cuba also has its own superb awards program, Cubadisco, and many recordings are now submitted to both programs.

Although these recordings are of excellent quality and well-known in many countries, in some cases, TIMBA.com may be the resource in the United States that contains a review of them.   Bill Tilford monitors this situation closely, and based on what he has learned, we want to bring to your attention the following reviews and other documentation about several of the recordings from Cuba that are likely to appear in the Latin GRAMMY® process.  This is almost certainly a partial list, but we hope that this will serve as a valuable resource for learning more about these recordings.  Read more here...

ESPAÑOL: Cada año, más de las mejores grabaciones de Cuba  se entregan a LARAS para consideración en los premios Latin GRAMMY®. Cuba también tiene su propio programa de premios magníficos, Cubadisco, y muchas grabaciones se entregan ahora a ambos programas.  

Aunque estas grabaciones son de excelente calidad y muy conocidas en muchos países, en algunos casos, TIMBA.com puede ser el único recurso en los Estados Unidos que contiene una reseña de ellas. Bill Tilford monitoriza de cerca esta situación, y en base a lo que él ha aprendido, queremos traer a su atención  los siguientes reseñas y otra documentación  sobre varias de las grabaciones de Cuba que puedan aparecer en el proceso del Latin GRAMMY®. Esta es casi seguramente una lista parcial, pero esperamos que esto sirva como un recurso valioso para aprender más acerca de estas grabaciones. Lea más aquí...

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Tue, 12 Aug 2014 09:33:20 +0000
Peter Maiden's SJ Jazz Photos Three great new galleries from Peter Maiden - click on each photo to see the full gallery for that group.

Pedrito Martínez Group

QBA

Orquesta Borinquen

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Tue, 12 Aug 2014 03:47:02 +0000
SJ Jazz - One for the Ages Pedrito Martínez Group - Álvaro Benavides on bass - photo by Peter Maiden

Pedrito Martínez Group - San Jose Jazz Festival - photo by Peter Maiden

The 25th San Jose Jazz Festival was absolutely tremendous, capped by the Pedrito Martínez Group playing three stunning shows - one with special guest Calixto Oviedo and another with Jerry González sitting in on trumpet. Among dozens of other amazing acts was the California debut of the classic plena band Viento de Agua, led by Tito Matos, who will be conducting a plena clinic with John Santos at the Mission Cultural Center in San Francisco.

Tito Matos Clinic Tonight
6:30 to 8:30
2868 Mission St.
510-295-7685

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Mon, 11 Aug 2014 04:00:14 +0000
SJ JAZZ: CLIMACTIC LAST DAY Sunday at SJ Jazz is truly a day for the ages. 

Three Pedrito Martínez Group concerts within a 12-hour period provide the incredible opportunity to experience just how differently this historically great band plays each time they pick up their instruments.

Here's my plan to get he most out of this tremendous lineup. Start by waking up a bit early to catch every note of PMG's 12:00 noon show on the main stage. While you wait for their 5:30 set at Café Strich you can hear the tremendous plena group Viento de Agua (with monster plenero Tito Matos) at 2:00 at the Blackbird stage, then slide back over to the main stage for John Santos' and Poncho Sánchez's musical tribute to the late great Armando Pereza, a wonderful man who did as much as anyone to put Northern California on the Latin music map. Next, there should be time to catch part of QBA's set on the salsa stage before the second PMG set at Café Stritch at 5:30. Next you can the tail end of either David Sanborn or the second Viento de Agua show before relaxin' at the Big Easy with Donald Harrison as you build up strength for Pedrito Martinez' climactic 9:00 closer at the Blackbird. [Kevin Moore]

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Sun, 10 Aug 2014 04:39:56 +0000
Alex in Wonderland
English
:
 What should have been Havana d'Primera's triumphant debut in Chicago instead became a surreal competition between a band that wanted to play excellent music and a sound system that attempted to make it sound like something not suitable for human ears.  Who won? Click here to find out. 
Español: Lo que debería haber sido el debut triunfal de  Havana d'Primera en Chicago en vez se convirtió en una competición surrealista entre una banda que quería tocar excelente música y un sistema de sonido que trató de hacer que suene como algo no adecuado para el oído humano. ¿Quién ganó? Haz clic aquí para averiguarlo.


English
:
 The 5th Annual Festival Cubano in Chicago (August 15-17) will include a tribute to Juan Formell during its first night.   On the final night, the lineup includes one of Bill Tilford's favorite bands, Palo!  What else is happening?  Click here to find out. 
Español: El quinto anual Festival Cubano en Chicago (15-17 de agosto) incluirá un homenaje a Juan Formell durante su primera noche. Para la noche final, la lista de los grupos incluye uno de los grupos favoritos de Bill Tilford, Palo!  ¿Qué más pasará?  Haz clic aquí para averiguarlo. 

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Sun, 10 Aug 2014 01:53:27 +0000
SJ JAZZ: DAY 2 Last night was the Bootsy & Bosch show. While you won't find his records in the Latin section, the most natural way to describe a lot of what Bootsy Collins does is with timba terminology: tumbaos, efectos and gear changes. This was no descarga however - the show was as tight and choreographed as Charanga Habanera and had as much of the same type of rhythmic fireworks as ... well ... the old Charanga Habanera. They hit several epic funk groove peaks over the course of a long show on the main stage that was so good that it forced me to miss Pacific Mambo. Jimmy Bosch was a study in contrasts. Where Bootsy had two bassists and a whole troupe of dancers, Jimmy used precisely one person (himself) to cover the entire coro and horn sections as his sextet cycled through a master class on salsa dura. The one-man coro section was a bit odd, but it resulted in some very interesting moments where Jimmy kept changing the coro, forcing his quick-witted young sonero to pull out his best improvising chops.

All in all, a perfect start to a perfect festival that will climax tomorrow with no less that THREE separate performances by The Pedrito Martínez Group. Today, Saturday, We have Calixto Oviedo, Chappottín twice, Fort Apache twice, Wayne Wallace, and all of the Bay Area's best bands: QBA, Avance, Pasión Habanera (aka Pellejo Seco) etc. [Kevin Moore]

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Sat, 09 Aug 2014 17:08:08 +0000
SJ JAZZ BEGINS TONIGHT SJ Jazz Festival's truly historic lineup begins tonight with trombone legend Jimmy Bosch and James Brown legend Bootsy Collins.

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Fri, 08 Aug 2014 17:16:08 +0000
Unity at Zinc

Unity is a musical project and collaborative ideal conceived in the summer of 2006 by Cuban-American drummer Amaury Acosta and Cuban pianist Axel Tosca Laugart. Their musical influences run the gamut and include the likes of J Dilla, Tower of Power, Chucho Valdez, McCoy Tyner, Robert Glasper, Bon Iver, Arnold Schoenberg, Allan Holdsworth, Jimi Hendrix, Derek Trucks, Tyler the Creator, Irakere, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Brian Blade, Jay-Z, Buena Vista Social Club, Busta Rhymes, Freddie Hubbard and many more. Unity’s strong heritage and eclectic modernism come together to form a refreshing and unstoppable sound.

Their debut album Peace, Love &Music was released in April of 2013 “as Unity’s manifesto, mission statement and first step to reaching all those who dream of being enlightened, refreshed and inspired by music again. In their mission of fusing Afro-Cuban culture with modern jazz, soul, hip-hop and gospel they’ve sacrificed neither virtuosity nor groove”.

For their residency at the legendary Zinc bar, located in historic Greenwhich Village, New York City, the group will be performing songs from their album along with new, unreleased compositions The groups lineup will include guitarist Michael Valeanu, pianist Axel Tosca Laugart, bassist Alex Da Silva, saxophonist Max Cudworth, and musical director Amaury Acosta on drums.

Zinc Bar - 82 w 3rd st (Bet. Thompson and Sullivan Sts)

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Fri, 08 Aug 2014 17:14:28 +0000
Los Conquistadores de la Salsa Robert Armas & Los Conquistadores de la Salsa, Peru's pioneering Timba band, are finishing up their month long tour of Europe. They have played in Spain, France, Italy and Germany and this weekend August 9th they  will be coming to my hometown Stockholm, Sweden, for the first time! During their tour this award-winning band has played important festivals such as Festival Cubain Bayamo in Seyne-Sur-Mer, France. They have delighted audiences with their energetic show and popular timba hits as well as performing estrenos from their upcoming fifth album, "Yo traigo mi tumbao". Last night I was able to reach Robert Armas by phone and ask him a few questions about the band, Lima audiences versus European audiences and what we should expect from them in concert. You can listen to the interview below (in Spanish).

Check out their updated section at Timba.com and one of their newest hits at Soundcloud: "A quien no le gusta Cuba".

The concert will take place this Saturday and is the penultimate concert of the tour which ends in Barcelona on Sunday. The evening will also feature Peruvian cuisine, four DJs and a performance and animation by Fredy Clan before Los Conquistadores take the stage. Check out Fredy's fantastic blending of dance and music in the video below. Stay tuned for a concert report.

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Wed, 06 Aug 2014 16:19:28 +0000
Chappottín!

Today's incarnation of Conjunto Chappottín is probably as close as we'll ever get to experiencing what the legendary Arsenio Rodríguez Conjunto sounded like live. When Arsenio left for New York in the early 1950s, his trumpeter, Félix Chappottín, took over as leader and the band has been inherited by Félix's grandson, Angél Jesús Chappottín, and Miguel Cuní, Jr., the son of the group's original star singer. As they explain in this excellent mini-documentary they've really taken to heart the idea of recreating the sound and flavor of a real conjunto.

They'll be at Kuumbwa Jazz Center Thursday - one admission covers the whole night and the dance floor will be open. They'll also play twice on Saturday at the San José Jazz Festival. Tomorrow I'll have much more on the rest of the fest - the best lineup I've ever seen for a Latin festival, included three separate appearances by The Pedrito Martínez Group, Calixto Oviedo, Viento de Agua, Jimmy Bosch, Jerry González and Fort Apache, a tribute to Armando Peraza by Pancho Sánchez and John Santos, Bootsy Collins, David Sanborn, Donald Harrison, Snarky Puppy and virtually every top Bay Area group. SJ Jazz starts Friday evening and runs all weekend.

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Wed, 06 Aug 2014 01:54:08 +0000
New reviews of Cuban CDs and Photo Galleries From La Habana
ENGLISH:  This week, we have published three new photo galleries from La Habana:
ESPAÑOL:  Esta semana, publicamos  tres nuevas galerías de fotos de La Habana:
Michel Herrera  César López & Habana Ensemble    Julio Valdés Fuentes & Pentajazz


ENGLISH: 
Also, there are several new reviews of recordings made in Cuba in our Reviews section. 
ESPAÑOL: Además, hay varias nuevas reseñas de grabaciones hechas en Cuba en nuestra sección de Reseñas

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Tue, 05 Aug 2014 17:51:41 +0000
Remembering Juan Formell Juan Formell in 2008 with the Grammy for Llegó Van VanJuan Formell 2008 at home with the Grammy from Llegó...Van Van

Today marks what would have been the 72nd birthday of one of the most iconic and widely loved figures of Cuban contemporary dance music. A musical pioneer and innovator, Juan Formell enjoyed the challenge of experimentation and creation and the interplay between the dancer and the musician. This is well summed up in "A ver que sale" from the 1974 Areito release known today as Volume III: 
Eh, te voy a cantar y tú vas a bailar a ver qué sale / Eh, tú muévete que yo cantaré a ver qué sale / Pontele atención al de violín, te cantaremos hasta el fin / Y tú serás el bailarin a ver qué sale / Que si sale o si no sale la cosa de aprendizaje.

Over time Juan Formell and Los Van Van became the international symbol of the excellence of contemporary Cuban dance music. It remains to be seen how the younger generation will step up to meet the challenges that Cuban dance music faces today.

Below is the beautiful musical tribute that the Cuban musicians put together for Formell. I invite you all to post your own tribute to Formell in the comments. Felicidades Maestro y que pases tu cumpleaños de fiesta con Arsenio, El Beny y todos los grandes.

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Sat, 02 Aug 2014 07:42:44 +0000
Bay Area: This Time For Sure HAVANA D' PRIMERA   YOSHI'S SAN FRANCISCO --  NOVEMBER 24, 2012  PHOTOS BY TOM EHRLICH © 2012

It's been a historically disappointing summer, full of last minute cancellations and crushed expectations, but we can now confirm that (although the opening Miami and LA shows were canceled due to system-wide visa bugs that, for once, have nothing to do with Cuba) Havana d'Primera is now in the Yuma and ready to roll for Yoshi's SF TONIGHT and Saturday, Minneapolis on Aug. 7th, Chicago on Aug. 8th and at B.B. King's in NYC on August 12th. More details as they come in, but tonight is definitely on - see you there!

Meanwhile, The 2014 San José Jazz Festival (Aug. 8, 9, 10) will be one for the ages and there are no visas involved (phew...) , except for Conjunto Chappottín, who are (I'm 99% sure) already in the country and will also be playing a dance show at Kuumbwa Jazz Center on Aug. 7th. Chappottín has gotten rave reviews on the East Coast. And the REST of the SJ Jazz lineup is just unbelievable - Pedrito Martínez Group, Calixto Oviedo, Fort Apache, Jimmy Bosch, Viento de Agua (hot plena), Donald Harrison, QBA, Pacific Mambo, Pasión Habanera, Orquesta Borinquen, Avance, Wayne Wallace - on and on - and many, including Pedrito Martínez, play more than once. [Kevin Moore, all photos by Tom Ehrlich]

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Fri, 01 Aug 2014 16:25:05 +0000
Maykel Blanco & Maykel Fonts @Latinoamericando Maykel Blanco has just uploaded a beautiful video from the concert at the Latinoamericando Expo in Milan. It is "Bembé" from the CD "A toda máquina", with Yordys Larrazabal on lead and Maykel Fonts dancing. The song ends at 5 minutes during a drum solo by Alain Miguel Reboredo, but you get a feel for the quality of the performance and the professionalism of the festival, which is now in its 24th year. Enjoy!

 

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Thu, 31 Jul 2014 08:15:54 +0000
SILENCE PLEASE! So I was having a conversation at Facebook with timba DJs Melao and Jack El Calvo about the exciting Lima-based band Bun Bun Mezcla'o when they pointed out that we don't have anything about the band here at Timba.com...yet. I currently have three other groups to finish before I can get started on their section, but we can always begin with a little introduction to the band here in Primera Plana.

Bun Bun Mezcla'oPhoto courtesy of Bun Bun Mezcla'o Facebook page

Bun Bun Mezcla'o is one of Lima's youngest orchestras having been formed in 2013 under the direction of Leo Herrera Lugo. Leo studied percussion at Alejandro García Caturla and worked with a number of bands in Lima before ending up as keyboardist and musical director in the group of the late Rafael Labarrera.

Bun Bun Mezcla'o began recording their debut CD "Así soy yo" within months of their formation. The album has not yet been released, but you can find singles at YouTube. Compositions are by Leo and singer Caridad Plaza, while the arrangements are by Leo and pianist Susana Alberte. Both Caridad and Susana came to Lima with the group Son Ladies. We will be updating Timba.com with a section for Bun Bun Mezcla'o as soon as time permits.

Without more ado I will let the music speak for itself: "Silence Please!" originally performed by Rafael Labarrera and now recorded for the album "Así soy yo" by Bun Bun Mezcla'o. 

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Wed, 30 Jul 2014 09:37:23 +0000
The Commercial Fair and International Symposium at Cubadisco 2014
ENGLISH
: Bill Tilford attended the Cubadisco 2014 International Symposium in Havana and also briefly visited the Commercial  Fair. He is still digesting a lot of what he learned during that trip, but in the meantime,
The Cubadisco 2014 Commercial Fair is available here
The Cubadisco 2014 International Symposium is available here 
A piece about Facebook and web pages in Cuba is available here
A lot more about Cubadisco 2014 is available here.  


ESPAÑOL
: Bill Tilford acudió al Simposio Internacional Cubadisco 2014 y también visitó brevemente la Feria Comercial. Él todavía está digeriendo una gran cantidad de lo que aprendió durante ese viaje, pero mientras tanto, 
La Feria Comercial  Cubadisco 2014 está disponible aquí
El Simposio Internacional Cubadisco 2014 está disponible aquí 
Un articulo acerca de las páginas de Facebook y páginas web en Cuba está disponible aquí
Mucho más acerca de Cubadisco 2014 está disponible aquí

 

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Sun, 27 Jul 2014 15:52:47 +0000
Gente D'Zona in Europe Gente D'Zona @Fiesta in Rome

The summer reggaeton invasion of Europe begins tonight with Gente D'Zona's presentation at Fiesta in Rome. Alexander and Randy are riding a wave of unprecedented international recognition as a result of their collaboration with Descemer Bueno and Enrique Iglesias on the hit "Bailando". The first version was all-Cuban with Descemer and Gente D'Zona, and the song was an instant hit in Cuba supported by a breathtakingly beautiful video. When I was there in January they were just going to the Dominican Republic to shoot the video for a new version with Enrique. This second version became an overnight worldwide sensation and has been recorded with Sean Paul in Spanglish and with Luan Santana in Spantugese (Portuspan?).

The success of "Bailando" has given Gente D'Zona major publicity in the US where they have been on CBS, UniVision, Telemundo and where they have performed at the Billboard Awards and the Premios Juventud and given countless interviews and many performances. Just before leaving for Europe, they filmed the official video for the #1 hit "Tú Me Quemas" with Chino y Nacho and Los Cadillacs.

As a fan of Cuban music it is a joy to see Cuban artists getting exposure to international audiences. The tour is only two weeks long and with their busy schedule in the US we may be seeing less of them in Europe so click here to find a concert near you!

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Sat, 26 Jul 2014 14:31:54 +0000
Osmani Garcia "La Voz" Osmani Garcia Frankfurt 9 August 2014Osmani Garcia "La Voz" will be in Frankfurt on August 8

Composer/singer Osmani Garcia "La Voz" will be back in Europe next weekend starting August 1st with shows in Italy, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. He began his career at the age of 19 and has interpreted many different types of Cuban and Caribbean muisc as well as pop. For a time he was part of Paulo F.G.'s group. In 2008 Osmani decide to do his own thing and has become one of the biggest names in the Cuban urban and reggaeton scene.

Osmani is nothing if not controversial. His lyrics are heavy with not-so-subtle sexual innuendo with titles such as "Chupi night", "Emperifollarse" and "Se me va la musa (condón)". His song "Chupi Chupi" caused great debate in Cuba concerning acceptable lyrics and was largely the catalyst for the goverment deciding to tighten restrictions concerning lyrics allowed to played on the radio.

But as Brendan Behan said "There is no such thing as bad publicity except your own obituary," and there is nothing more enticing than something that is censored. Certainly Osmani has gone from success to success and his popularity is undisputable. He has collaborated with artists such as Gente D'Zona and El Chacal and recently with Pitbull. His show is adrenaline-packed, sweaty and sexual. See below for Osmani's announcement of the upcoming tour. Click here to see the complete list of concert dates.

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Fri, 25 Jul 2014 13:38:57 +0000
GRUPO DANSON - MEZCLANDO CULTURAS Grupo Danson

Grupo Danson, under the direction of trombonist Carlos Pérez, exploded on the international Timba scene in 2005 with their debut album "Mi Música". The title track won them the Djembe Award for "Best World Music Track 2005". It has taken nine years, but Danson are back in 2014 with their second CD titled "Mezclando Culturas". Continuing their tradition of collaboration with other Cuban musicians, Alaín Pérez worked with Carlos on the production of the new album and even sings lead on a new arrangement of "Sabor de mi rumba". Mandy Cantero also guests on "Va y ven de hamaca", which is already on DJ turntables in Peru.

Carlos Pérez took a few minutes to tell us about the new CD and the band's imminent plans.

"We now have two singers, Ernesto Manuitt (ex-Klímax) and a Cuban singer who came to Denmark about eight months ago named Henri Benitez (ex-Pupy y Los Que Son Son). This guy is very young and a very good singer and we invited him to record a song that will be on the new album. We also have a new member in the group on coro and trombone. Her name is Teresa Villanueva and she is also Cuban. Our new pianist lives in Stockholm, so maybe you know him. His name is Oldrich Gonzalez and he worked in Cuba with Charanga Forever, among others.

"We were fortunate to be able to invite Mandy Van Van (Armando Cantero) to sing one of our songs, and that track is already playing in Peru. The overall production of this album was done by Alaín Pérez and myself. It was great for the group to work with Alaín, and his arrangements are formidable and have given a new flavor to the sound of the orchestra. So on the new album - Mezclando Culturas  - we will have four singers, and I also sing one song. (Alaín, Henri, Ernest and Mandy!)

"We have 9 songs for the album. The songwriters are Alaín Pérez, Alexander Abreu (one song) and myself. We have five arrangements by Alaín, one arrangement by Alexander and me together, and three of my own arrangements.

"Our plans are now focused on releasing the CD and promoting our music here in Europe and in the United States and South America. We will first release the CD here in Denmark independently, with a label of the musician's union (Gatway). Also we will release it at iTunes and other internet sales sites. We have a couple of gigs here in Denmark and Norway and we are trying to set up a CD release in Stockholm."

Grupo Danson is just putting the finishing touches on the master and expects "Mezclando Culturas" to hit the streets in August or September. While we wait, check out the title track!

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Wed, 23 Jul 2014 11:22:29 +0000
COLIBRÍ AND EGREM IN CUBADISCO 2014

ENGLISH: During his trip to Cuba in May, Bill Tilford received a wonderful collection of documents from EGREM and Colibrí related to their recordings that are part of Cubadisco 2014.  These documents are in Spanish, but Bill is also gradually publishing bilingual reviews of many of these recordings.  These documents and links to reviews that have already been published can be found in the From The Studios section.  Colibrí's documents are available here.  EGREM's documents are available here.  
These documents are worth reading, and the recordings that Bill has heard thus far are also all worth having. 
ESPAÑOL: Durante su viaje a Cuba en mayo, Bill Tilford recibió una maravillosa colección de documentos de la EGREM y de Colibrí relacionados con sus grabaciones que forman parte de Cubadisco 2014.  Los documentos están en español, pero Bill también está publicando paulatinamente reseñas bilingües de muchas de estas grabaciones.  Los documentos y enlaces a las reseñas publicadas se puede encontrar en la sección From The Studios  Los documentos de Colibrí están disponibles aquí.  Los documentos de EGREM están disponibles aquí
Vale la pena leer estos documentos, y de las grabaciones que Bill ha escuchado hasta hora, vale la pena tener todas también.  

ALSO:  Dayramir González Vicet's new project with Edrey aka Ogguere, the Afro Cuban Soul Rebels, recently premiered in New York.  You can read Ian Stewart's review (in English) here. 

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Tue, 22 Jul 2014 01:21:54 +0000
Vancouver Cuban Music Festival Vancouver Cuban Music Festival

Vancouver will host their first-ever Cuban Music Festival October 16-19 at the Performance Works on Granville Island! The festival is a celebration of Cuban culture incuding dance classes, screenings of the movie "They Are We", children's events and concerts. If you're on the west coast of Canada or the US this is worth the trip! For the full progam and ticket information click here.

Concert line-up:
16th - Waldo Mendoza, Pedrito Calvo
17th - Tanja Pantoja & Azúcar Negra
18th - Afro-Latin Groove & Friends, Sixto Llorente "El Indio" & Gardi
19th - Azúcar Negra CD release concert

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Mon, 21 Jul 2014 15:03:30 +0000
Vengo de Cuba Soneros All Stars in the studioSinsonte, El Niño & Yanesito @EGREM MIramar

On March 26, 2014 Soneros All Stars released their third album "Lolo", but before it even hit the streets Jan Miklas Bogdan "Yanesito", was already back in Havana working on his next project. It is a collaboration with Havana's hottest new act El Niño y la Verdad, who just celebrated their first anniversary on June 27th. The new album is titled "El Que Corta El Bacalao" and is slated for released in January 2015. Recorded in EGREM Studios in Miramar, the compositions are by Yanesito and Emilio Frias "El Niño" with arrangments and musical production by Yanesito, Wilfredo Naranjo "Pachy Jr." and Dairon Ortega. Yanesito has uploaded a teaser with behind-the-scenes clips from the studio of one of the songs. "Vengo de Cuba", with Pascual Matos "Sinsonte" on lead vocals. Check it out!

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Sun, 20 Jul 2014 15:48:51 +0000
Chuchito Valdés and Conjunto Chappottin in Chicago















ENGLISH:  Chuchito Valdés and Conjunto Chappottin y Sus Estrellas  both visited Chicago this week during multi-city tours. 
A photo gallery and mini-review of Chuchito's performances are available here
A photo gallery and mini-review of Chappottin's performances are available here. 
ESPAÑOL:  Chuchito Valdés y Conjunto Chappottin y Sus Estrellas  ambos visitaron Chicago esta semana durante sus giras en varias ciudades.
Una galería de fotos y mini-reseña de los shows de Chuchito Valdés están disponibles aquí 
Una galería de fotos y mini-reseña de los shows de Conjunto Chappottin y Sus Estrellas están disponibles aquí 

 

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Thu, 17 Jul 2014 21:48:22 +0000
Festival Cubain Bayamo Festival Bayamo de La Seyne-Sur-Mer

The 14th annual Festival Bayamo is in full swing. To my knowledge it is Europe's longest and certainly the most beautiful Cuban festival of the year, located at Fort Napoleon on the French Riviera. While it's easy to get caught up in the line-up of outstanding bands performing each year, there is much more to the Festival Cubain Bayamo. The festival also offers dance classes, conferences, art exhibitions and Cuban cuisine. Click here for all the information (in French).

But getting back to the bands...each year features four nights of dancing under the stars to the most exciting orchestras on tour. This year the first concert was Contrabando from Belgium. Esto sí es pa' gozar!


Tomorrow Los Conquistadores de La Salsa from Peru take the stage, Friday it will be Elito Revé y Su Charangón and closing the festival is Oderquis Revé y Su Changüí. I was lucky enough to attend in 2008 and what more can you ask than lounging on the Riviera, shopping and soaking up Cuban culture by day, and sweating to timba by night? This festival is really a must for all serious timberos. If you can't make it this year, start planning for July 2015!

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Thu, 17 Jul 2014 09:03:56 +0000
Ya Llegó La Aplanadora de Cuba La Aplanadora de Cuba

The long wait is finally over! It has been four years since Elito Revé y Su Charangón released their last album, and now in the middle of their European Tour, "La Aplanadora de Cuba" has arrived at digital stores worldwide! You get it now at iTunes and Cubamusic

The album was originally reported to be a two-CD set including one CD of new songs and one with remakes of classic Revé hits featuring guest artist such as Gilberto Santa Rosa, José Alberto El Canario and Mayito Rivera. Today's release is the first of the CDs and contains eleven original songs. See the track list below. The second CD with the anthology of hits will be released in November, just in time to make your Christmas list! So get on over to your favorite digital retailer and get the first CD now! And as a treat, we give you the official video of Susel singing "Esa soy yo".

The tracks are:
Intro: La aplanadora de Cuba
No me da la gana
Esa soy yo
El jala jala 
El negocio personal 
La pastillita 
El nombrecito
No debo explicarte nada
Piso 6: Lo más pegao
Maricusa
Tony sin money

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Tue, 15 Jul 2014 15:14:37 +0000
Conjunto Chappottin y Sus Estrellas Is On the Move
Conjunto Chappottin y Sus Estrellas is in the middle of a first-time-ever US tour.  This legendary band dates to the Arsenio Rodriguez era and continues to defend that music with a powerful conjunto that includes 4 trumpets.  Chicagoans can (and should, we might add) catch them tonight, July 14 at Martyrs'  (the photos are from yesterday's excellent performance at the Square Roots Festival). The rest of the tour dates can be found here: 

Conjunto Chappottín y Sus Estrellas Summer Tour


We'll have a lot more pictures and a full review later this week. 

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Mon, 14 Jul 2014 06:41:51 +0000
Hennes Latin Stage 2014 Hennes Latin Stage Nijmegen, Netherlands

Cuban Summer 2014 is in full swing, and in just three hours Oderquis Revé y Su Changüí will kick off the the Cuba in Nijmegen Festival at Hennes Latin Stage in Nijmegen, Netherlands during the annual "international 4 day marches Nijmegen".

If you missed our report last year, here's a link where you can learn more about how the Cuba in Nijmegen festival got started. But what I can tell you about it right now is that it is the most intensive week-long Cuban festival in Europe. Unlike other festivals that feature a new band each night, sometimes several bands in one night, Cuba in Nijmegen lets you really immerse yourself in the bands. Just like in Havana, you can see you favorite bands over and over again! 

This year the focus is on Changüí with Oderquis performing tonight and tomorrow night at 20:00. Elito Revé y Su Charangón will perform three days July 15, 16 and 17 at 21:30. And it should be noted that the new CD, "La Aplanadora de Cuba", will finally be released internationally on Monday, July 14 at iTunes and mallcubano.com. If you can make one of the concert nights take som extra cash just in case they are selling the hardcopy. It is still hard to come by outside of Cuba.

Other bands performing this year are Orquesta Salsabor on Monday the 14th and Tomi y Su Timbalight on Friday the 18th. Now if all of this isn't enough for you, let me throw in one more detail: It's free! So seriously, take a trip to Nijmegen and spend this week immersing yourself in changüí timba! It's the closest thing to Havana that you will find. Click here for the full program.

Here is your personal invitation!

Do you know that feeling too? After a great gig you want more. "Otra Otra Otra!" 

But ... where to find a place to see your favorite band 2 to 3 days in a row. In Nijmegen, a medium-sized university town in the Netherlands. 

This spring they already enjoyed a concert by Los Van Van and Havana D'Primera at the local International Music Festival 'Music Meeting'. 

Totally awesome, but for only one performance. Fortunately local entrepreneur 'Hennes' brings a godsend, again.  For his annual party, everyone's invited by the way, he again booked a few Top Cuban bands. 

With an emphasis on Changui this year:
Oderquis Revé y su Changüí making a start on July 12 and 13
Orquesta Salsabor July 14 
Elito Revé y su Charangón July 15, 16 and 17
Tomi & su Timbalight July 18 

 In the mood...come and party with Hennes, Marloes and the now solid fan base of this unique festival. 

                  "Hennes celebrates his annual party and everyone's invited." 

- Free entrance -

Hennes Latin Stage @ Facebook

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Sat, 12 Jul 2014 11:39:50 +0000
The ULTIMATE LATIN BASS BOOK IT'S ALIVE!!! Beyond Salsa Bass Volume 3 is a historical behemoth of a Latin Bass Book! Doubling as a history and music appreciation course, at 442 pages, Beyond Salsa Bass Vol.3 is by far the longest of the 26 Beyond Salsa books and the first to extensively cover New York and Puerto Rican salsa and pre-salsa as well as Latin jazz. Its audio product (separate purchase) has 616 tracks (a generous selection of 60 free audio tracks is also available by download). The book includes a bass tumbao for every piano tumbao in each of Volumes 3 and 4 of the Beyond Salsa Piano series, but it also includes hundreds of bass tumbaos from and historical analyses of areas of Latin music not covered in the piano series: Puerto Rico, New York, Latin Jazz, the Cuban descargas and additional aspects of the Cuban music of 1959-1989, i.e., from the Cuban Revolution to the Fall of the Berlin Wall. 

CLICK HERE for a FREE pdf sample of Beyond Salsa Bass Volume 3

Beyond Salsa Bass Vol.3 - Salsa, Songo & The Roots of Latin Jazz - Afro-Cuban & Latin Bass Instruction

CLICK HERE to download 60 FREE Tracks from Beyond Salsa Bass Volume 3

In other news about the Beyond Salsa Series, in addition to Bass V3, the next book is almost done as well - Beyond Salsa Piano, Vol. 12 - Pupy Pedroso, Pt. 3 - Los Van Van in the 1990s. The book is equal parts history and piano - covers Van Van's amazing transition into the timba era, arguably van van's greatest period, which includes the top two songs in the timba.com readers poll - Soy todo and Te pone la cabeza mala, and the top album, Llegó Van Van

It was during this period that Samuel Formell replaced Changuito and that Ángel Bonne, Mayito Rivera and Robertón Hernández all joined. The seven (7) albums covered are Crónicas, Aquí el que baila gana, Azúcar, Lo último en vivo, Ay Dios ampárame, Te pone la cabeza mala and Llegó Van Van. The book includes some of pupy's most famous tumbaos, including Qué tiene Van Van, El negro está cocinando, Disco Azúcar, Que le den candela, Tranquilo Mota etc. It also includes piano and bass parts for each tumbao PLUS awesome photos by Tom Ehrlich, Patrick Bonnard and others. [Mike Lazarus]

Beyond Salsa Piano, Vol. 12 -- Pupy Pedroso, Pt. 3 - Los Van Van

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Fri, 11 Jul 2014 06:13:23 +0000
Get Ready for San José Jazz The San José Jazz Festival has by far its best lineup ever this year, with Pedrito Martínez, Conjunto Chappottín, Calixto Oviedo, Jerry González and the Fort Apache Band, Jimmy Bosch, Wayne Wallace, Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Pasión Habanera, Jesús Díaz y su QBA ... it goes on and on.

Meanwhile, trumpeter/musical director Josiel Pérez and promoter Peggy Jo Oliva have created a new group called AC Jazz Project that - its name notwithstanding - sounds like very hot timba to me. Josiel and bassist Yosmel Montejo played the US several times with Maraca y Otra Visión, and the drummer is none other than the great Calixto Oviedo, of NG La Banda and Beyond Salsa fame (all right - mostly of NG La Banda fame ...).They're already booked for Yoshi's on August 30. The band also features Fermin Sifontes, Joel Núñez, Santiago Santiuste, lead vocalist Julio César Bouza Hernández and Christian Arturo Gutiérrez .

Also, Havana d'Primera is confirmed for Yoshi's SF on Aug 1 and 2. We'll have much more on this soon. Also, Roberto Roena has put together a group to replace Pupy y Los Que Son Son at Stern Grove on July 20. [Kevin Moore]

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Wed, 09 Jul 2014 22:53:25 +0000
Afro Cuban Soul Rebels World Premiere
Several months ago, we did a few pieces about Dayramir González, the leader of the phenomenal Afro Cuban Jazz project Habana enTRANCE, which won a Cubadisco for their album of the same name..  Dayramir went on to study at Berklee College of Music and won their Wayne Shorter award for most outstanding Jazz composer in 2013. (You can see more of his resume as of 2013 here.)   He is now resuming his performing career in earnest and has teamed up with Edrey aka Ogguere, also a Cubadisco winner, Jazz poet and a key member of Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura, to lead The Afro Cuban Soul Rebels, a 9-piece ensemble that is about to release its first single (also called Afro Cuban Soul Rebels)

This writer has had his ears peeled for new things by Dayramir since first hearing Habana enTRANCE (which came out before he started writing reviews here.)   Havana Cultura, Edrey aka Ogguere's associates, is also very impressive.  The style of this new project will be different, but we think you'll want to check this out:

Key Links:
Concert info: SOBs, Thursday, July 10   The Afro Cuban Soul Rebels Facebook Page
Ogguere's website

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Sat, 05 Jul 2014 23:08:05 +0000
¡ Aquí viene el SALSANIMAL ! CD Review: Salsanimal by Marlow Rosado & La Riqueña (Big Label Records July 2014)
Review by Bill Tilford, All rights reserved

Download the SALSANIMAL Intro (Track #1) here
Descarga gratis del primer tema Intro SALSANIMAL aquí


This newest release by Marlow Rosado & La Riqueña, whose last album Retro won the GRAMMY for Best Tropical Latin Album in 2012, is a Salsa Dura album with an interesting blend of Cuban, New York and Puerto Rican Styles. As was the case with Retro, there is an impressive supporting cast of guest artists, and this album branches out a little more stylistically.  There are a few touches of Timba piano phrasing and Cuban Descarga in the opening track, Intro SalsanimalAsi Son brings in Cuban Sonero and Timba legend Mayito Rivera for a turn at Salsa Dura.  Quiero Que Me Quieras has a very Puerto Rican (but uptempo) vibe. No Me Interesas has a New York Salsa Dura feel with an unusual (and pretty cool) brass section arrangement.  Cataño opens with some street sounds and is an homage to the municipality that is known as "La Antesala de la Capital", San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Como Te Extraño Nena is also a hard-driving Salsa Dura piece.  Yo Se Que Un Día is a soulful, richly orchestrated bolero/guajira.  Puertas Del Jardin, which give a shout-out to Cartagena and Medellin, incorporates some Cumbia passages in one of the more laid-back songs in the album. Todo Se Lo Llevo is one of two Salsa Romantica tracks in the album. 88 Mil Teclas brings in Larry Harlow and Richie Ray for a piano duel.  It would be a lot of fun to see this live. The album cools down at the end with the tasty Todo A Tus Pies. The one English-language song in the albumn is Ok, Here Is The Truth, which features Pop / R & B star Jon Secada in a very heartfelt Salsa Romantica number (the lyrics are heavier than you typically hear in this style, but I won't include any spoilers here). 

Salsanimal is aimed squarely at dancers - the songs are all dance-floor length, and outside of 88 Mil Teclas, the focus is on section work and vocals rather than instrumental solos.  BUT, the arrangements and section work are excellent and at times innovative - Marlow's extensive musical resume is put to very good use here, and this won't bore musicians either.  Highly recommended for Salsa fans.  

Tracks:

Intro Salsanimal
Quiero Que Me Quieras (vocal: Javier Merino)
No Me Interesas (Vocal: Jose Arroyo)
Asi Son (Featuring Mayito Rivera)
Cataño (Featuring herman Olivera)
Yo Se Que Un Dia (Vocal: Jose Arroyo)
Como Te Extraño Nena (Featuring Alex Matos)
Puertas Del Jardin (Featuring El Checo Acosta)
Todo Se Lo Llevo (Featuring Domingo Quiñones)
OK Here Is The Truth (Featuring John Secada)
88mil Teclas (Ffeaturing Larry Harlow & Richie Ray)
(Bonus Track) Todo A Tus Pies (Featuring De La Torre)

Personnel in Salsanimal

Role - InstrumentName
Piano, Keyboards, Director Marlow Rosado
Lead Vocals & Coros Jose Arroyo, Javier Merino
Trumpets Julián Cifuentes, ivan Odio, Todrigo "Moña" Escobar, Mario Ortiz
Trombones Somar Poveda, Guillermo Cobiellas
Bass Luis Rodriguez, Jose Velazquez, Michael Lazarus, Ricardo Martinez
Timbales/Bongo/Campana, Percussion Director Gamalier Reyes
Bongo/Campana Luis Reyes
Conga Daniel Peña
Additional vocals in Cataño Arianna Rosado, Bivianna Rosado, Adriana Rivera, Edgar Rivera, Michael Rodrigues, Rayme Marrero, Chris Marrero
Guest Artists Alex Matos, Mayito Rivera, Jon Secada, Larry Harlow, Richie Ray, Herman Olivera, El Checo Acosta, Domingo Quiñones,  De La Torre
Musical Producer, Recording Engineer Marlow Rosado
Executive Producers Marlow Rosado, Eddie Mandel
Mixing Engineers Gamalier Reyes, Michael Lazarus
Assistant Engineer Immanuel Ramirez
Mastering Engineer Michael Lázarus
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Tue, 01 Jul 2014 04:42:51 +0000
Interview with Maykel Blanco Maykel Blanco / Su Salsa Mayor @Electric BrixtonMaykel Blanco @Electric Brixton
Photo courtesy of Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor

Maykel Blanco & Su Salsa Mayor are winding down what has been an outstanding tour here in Europe. They are performing tonight in Bayonne, France and still have concerts in Italy, Switzerland and Belgium. They are closing out the tour in style with special guest Maykel Fonts at the Latinoamericando concert in Milan on June 30th and at the Geneva concert on July 5th. If you have any vacation time coming, make sure you don't miss these rare opportunities to see the Maykel x 2 live performance of their hit "Dale lo que lleva". Click here to see the tour dates.

Maykel took time out of his busy tour schedule to answer a few questions about the tour and the future as well as to comment on the passing of Juan Formell. Click here to read the interview in English.

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Sat, 28 Jun 2014 14:51:45 +0000
Muévete pa'quí Elito Revé y su Charangón, La Aplanadora de Cuba, have released the final master of the brilliant hit song "Muévete pa'quí". The original version with lead vocals by Hector Valentín was released in 1999 on Elito's first CD as director of the orchestra following the death of his father: "Changüí en Casa de Nora". The remake features Puerto Rican superstar Gilberto Santa Rosa on vocals. Wow! I will admit that I have always thought of his vocal stylings as more suited to salsa romantica, but that smooth voice of his works fine with the hardcore charangón changüí-timba. He is known for his talent as a sonero and his güías with La Revé are a credit to his talent. This song is destined to be an international hit, that will hopefully make more "regular salsa" fans open up a bit more to Cuban music. The version that leaked out four months ago has already become a dance-floor favorite.

Elito Revé & La Aplanadora de Cuba"Muévete pa'quí" is part of the 2-CD set "La Aplanadora de Cuba", that was released in Cuba at a gala concert in La Tropical on June 22nd. Hopefully it will soon be available outside Cuba via the usual on-line vendors. In case you've been under a rock for the past year, the album contains 24 songs: twelve new songs and twelve remakes featuring collabration with well-known artists, such as Santa Rosa and José Alberto "El Canario", who sings lead on the Revé classic "No seas celosa". Other guest artists include Mayito Rivera, Paulo FG & Muñequitos de Matanzas, Haila, Buena Fe, Gente D'Zona, El Indio (ex-Revé) & Mandy Cantero, El Gallo & El Indio (Sixto Llorente), Issac Delgado and Haila. Well, you get the idea, and that's just the first CD! So until "La Aplanadora de Cuba" becomes available worldwide, here is a taste of the new "Muévte pa´ quí" from a post at Elito's Facebook page to whet your appetite!

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Fri, 27 Jun 2014 16:32:11 +0000
Cuban Music News in Review - June 23, 2014 Pupy y los Que Son Son canceled in Seattle (Jazz Alley) & San Francisco (Stern Grove Festival) - sad news indeed that Pupy will not be playing at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle, Washington, Tuesday and Wednesday July 15 & 16. His July 20 concert at the iconic and free Stern Grove Festival in San Francisco is also canceled. Que pasó Pupy?

Pupy y los Que Son Son canceled in Seattle & San Francisco - Cuban Music News (TIMBA.com)

Adalberto and Paulito FG Call Out Troubled Promoter - we've already reported Adalberto Álvarez's dissatisfaction with Miami based promoter Alexis Somoza Erice (a Cuban national working under the names Zarabanda Producciones and/or 2-22 Productions) here = https://www.timba.com/blog_posts/all-west-coast-shows-for-Alberto-canceled = and now adding insult to injury is the latest blast from Paulito FG on his FB page, 

"En el mes de mayo fuimos contactados por el Sr Alexis Somoza reportándose como representante de la Empresa 2-22 Productions, el cual alegó incluso estar llevando a cabo en ese momento una gira artística al maestro Adalberto Álvarez y solicitó nuestra disponibilidad para hacer lo mismo con nuestra agrupación a finales del mes de junio...  

Adalberto and Paulito FG Call Out Troubled Promoter - Cuban Music News (TIMBA.com)

...Llamo la atención de hechos como estos a todos lo que de una forma u otra se dedican con todo respeto a esta labor de llevar el arte y la cultura de nuestro país y si valoran y consideran con honestidad la valía de nuestros artistas por todo el mundo a fin de que no sean engañados ni manipulados por tales elementos que amparados en supuestas empresas artísticas y proclamándose representantes y promotores musicales, no son más que desfachatados buscavidas, estafadores , timadores y oportunistas de ciertas y determinadas circunstancias que enmascaran su verdaderas intenciones de aprovecharse de la demanda y el prestigio ganado con el sacrificio, talento, empeño y dedicación de los buenos artistas."

Read Paulito's full post here = https://www.facebook.com/paulito.fg

Bamboleo's USA tour for this June with Mr. Somoza was also canceled after shows were booked and advertised (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pg16f1GHO4). 

Miami prepares for upcoming Salsa Dura Album SALSANIMAL by Marlow Rosado (TIMBA.com)Miami prepares for upcoming Salsa Dura Album SALSANIMAL - After his Grammy winning homage to the salsa legends of the 1970's (RETRO - read Bill Tilford's review here), Marlow Rosado y la Riqueña will release their third album entitled SALSANIMAL on July 29. 

La Riqueña counts with Cuban musicians Guillermo Cobiellas (trombone) and Ivan Odio (trumpet). Miami prepares for upcoming Salsa Dura Album SALSANIMAL by Marlow Rosado (TIMBA.com)

The original compositions feature Marlow's hard-hitting, salsa dura style -- including one dedicated to his home town and late father called "Cataño" -- with guest appearances from Premio Lo Nuestro Winner and Dominican singer Alex Matos, singer Domingo Quiñones, "el poeta de la rumba" Mayito Rivera, of Los Van Van fame, singer Hermán Olivera, singer El Checo Acosta from Colombia, pianists Larry Harlow & Richie Ray, Jon Secada and new rising star vocalist De La Torre.

Here are a few videos covering the "making of" SALSANIMAL.

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Tue, 24 Jun 2014 04:58:12 +0000
Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera Booked For Midwestern US

Alexander Abreu and Havana D'Primera, one of the most important Timba groiups performing today and winner of the Música Popular Bailable category in Cubadisco 2013 for their recording Pasaporte, has been booked for two performances in the Midwestern United States. The first performance is at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 7, 2014; the second is at the Logan Square Auditorium,  2539 N. Kedzie in Chicago Illinois on Friday, August 8, 2014. Tickets for the Minneapolis performance are being sold via Eventbrite; Tickets for the Chicago performance may be purchased at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/742435
This group is a must-see if you are able.

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Sun, 22 Jun 2014 22:34:40 +0000
La Maquina de Cuba Tonight in London Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor

Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor will play their UK debut concert tonight in London at Electric Brixton! They just began a month-long tour of Europe coming off of a fantastic trip to Argentina where La Máquina de Cuba thrilled audiences in Buenos Aires and Rosario. The summer tour includes France, England, Germany, Italy, Belguim and Spain. You will be able to catch the combination of Maykel (Blanco) & Maykel (Fonts) singing their hit "Dale Lo Que Lleva" on June 30th at Latinoamericando in Milan and July 5th in Geneva at a concert including Lázaro Valdés and Bamboleo. If you can't make either of these concerts, check out the video below from the concert one week ago in Rosario. Click here for the full list of concerts on the European Summer Tour 2014.

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Sat, 21 Jun 2014 12:28:30 +0000
CHICAGO'S FESTIVAL CUBANO HEADLINERS ANNOUNCED At a press conference on June 18, the organizers of Chicago's Festival Cubano, a privately-organized event that has grown massive since its beginnings,  announced the acts that will be headlining the 5th edition of the event, which will take place from August 15-17 in Riis Park in Chicago.   Some of the key acts will be Palo!, El Gran Combo, Rey Ruiz and Alex Bia among many others.
The organizers announced that the event will also include a tribute to the late Juan Formell
For more details, click here

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Thu, 19 Jun 2014 07:37:02 +0000
Three New CD Reviews by NY Artists New NYC CD Reviews 

Los Hermanos Colón, Rolando Morales-Matos, Gerardo Contino 

   

NYC has been a hotbed for virtually all forms of music from Latin America as well as Afro-Latin music indigenous to the US as well. These three new recordings represent just that, different yet equally significant perspectives of Latin influenced music right here in New York City.

Sabor Colón (Los Hermanos Colón): This 2014 release employs all the tried and true formulas that have made New York salsa great since the beginning, proving once again that one can’t go wrong with concise arrangements and A-list musicians. Each part fits together like a well-designed piece of architecture with every detail accounted for and nothing left out of place. You can read the review here.

Forward (Rolando Morales-Matos): Vibraphonist/multi-instrumentalist Rolando Morales-Matos is the embodiment of what people would picture of a consummate professional musician. His eponymous solo effort, featuring his own ensemble Forward, is a top notch Latin jazz album with intriguing compositions/arrangements and fiery improvisations by Matos and his superb roster of musicians.  You can read the review here.

Somos Latinos (Gerardo Contino): Former NG La Banda vocalist Gerardo Contino brings his band of A-list musicians into the studio to create his first solo album. The result is an explosive Timba paragon with state of the art instrumental work throughout. You can read the review here.
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Mon, 16 Jun 2014 22:13:41 +0000
CUBADISCO 2014 PUBLICATIONS / PUBLICACIONES DE CUBADISCO 2014 ENGLISH: The Publications Department of Cubadisco publishes an excellent series of short magazines during the event. We are pleased to be able to help share these with the rest of the planet. You may find the links in the June 15 entry of the Cubadisco 2014 section of the From The Studios report. 
ESPAÑOL:  El Departamento de Publicaciones de Cubadisco publica cada año una excelente serie de cortas revistas durante el evento. Estamos muy contentos de ser capaces de ayudar a compartir estas revistas con el resto del planeta.   Se puede encontar los enlaces en la entrada del 15 de junio en la sección Cubadisco 2014 del reporte From The Studios

ENGLISH: After his appearances at the Toronto Jazz Festival on June 20-21, Manuel Valera will be doing a short solo piano tour to help promote his new CD Self Portrait (you can read Bill Tilford's review here.) After a solo concert in Toronto on June 22, he will be in Chicago, Illinois; South Bend, Indiana; Ann Arbor, Michigan and Rochester, NY.  You can find more details on manuelvalera.com
ESPAÑOL:  Después de sus conciertos en el  Toronto Jazz Festival (20-21 de junio), Manuel Valera va a hacer una breve gira como solista para promover su nuevo CD Self Portrait (se puede leer la reseña por Bill TIlford aquí). Después de un concierto como solista en Toronto el 22 de junio, estará en Chicago, Illinois; South Bend, Indiana; Ann Arbor, Michigan y Rochester, Nueva York.  Puede encontrar más detalles en manuelvalera.com

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Mon, 16 Jun 2014 19:52:50 +0000
ACAS Blow Away the Hardened Timbaphile photos by Tom Ehrlich

UPDATED: click continue reading below for more Tom Ehrlich photos

The Afro-Cuban All Stars began life as the Rolls Royce of heritage acts, showcasing Cuban legends like Omara Portuondo, Félix Baloy, Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén González, Compay Segundo, et al. Today's ACAS is quite a different beast. The repertoire is largely the same - Chan Chan, El cuarto de tulo, Kila Quique y Chocolate (and now a fresh Arsenio classic, Cangrejo fue a estudiar)  - but the arrangements and execution have become much more modern, exciting and innovative. 

The new rhythm section is tremendous. The break-dancing youngster from the last tour, Tony Moreaux (of royal Grupo Changüí de Guantánamo lineage) is now the old man of the group, joined by two twenty-year old phenoms: conguero Tany Allende (who's already paid his dues with the like of Alain Pérez and Yoel Páez in Spain) and timbalero Caleb Michel (a native English speaker from Phoenix who plays like an ENA graduate). Hearing these three lace the traditional songs with cutting edge timba percussion fireworks is like a shot of pure adrenaline when combined with bassist Giovanni Cofiño, the ex-Revé musical director whose praises I've sung many times, and Marco Crego, who played piano on Klímax's epic third album and was heavily involved in the early formation of Grupo Dansón, which of course became Havana d'Primera. All told it's one of the most exciting new rhythm sections I've heard in recent years. 

The lead vocals are pared down to the consummate pro, Emilio Suárez, and De Marcos himself, who turns out to be quite a singer. He and Suárez spent half of their time with cordless microphones, mingling and dancing with audience members while they sang - never missing a note. By the end, the normally staid SFJAZZ crowd was dancing from the rafters.

Among the most innovative features of this band is the horn configuration. To explain, there's a reason why Van Van and Revé use three trombones: trumpets, while higher, more agile and generally more exciting,  are notoriously hard to play in tune. They're thrilling live when you've had a few beers, but their physical construction, combining valves with the natural overtone series, is a nightmare. De Marcos starts with three exceptionally well-trained trumpeters, but his master stroke is the addition of a bass clarinet. The idea no doubt stemmed from the fact that he wanted to bring his daughter on tour, but the result is a revelation. The perfectly intoned orchestral instrument creates a rich, fat base that holds the trumpets together like glue. Combined with the crystal clear and exquisitely revealing acoustics of the SF JAZZ venue, it's the best trumpet section sound I've ever heard live - and I didn't have a few beers to help me arrive that conclusion - only coffee. Another new sonic feature is JdM's other daughter, who normally plays keyboards, now doubling on a vibe-synth, played with mallets.

Finally, props have to be given to SF JAZZ itself. That room is a work of art. It's never too loud (a miracle if you're a veteran of Cuban music concerts). You hear the rhythm section coming live off of the stage and the vocals and horns from vast arrays of small speakers hanging down from the rafters above. It may not be any better than Yoshi's Oakland on their best night, but SF JAZZ is set up so that there are no bad nights and although it has a huge capacity, the sound is perfect everywhere and every seat "feels" close to the stage.

Get down there tonight through Saturday if you can. Los Angeleans game to brave the Playboy Jazz Fest can hear them on Sunday.

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Thu, 12 Jun 2014 20:03:40 +0000
Afro-Cuban All Stars on Tour

Juan de Marcos is back with another amazing lineup of talent. New members including Giovanni Cofino, ex-bassist and arranger of Revé and Marcos Crego, the ex-pianist of Klimax - also the son of El Greco, the legendary NG La Banda / Irakere trumpeter. Click here for tickets and more info, and here for the rest of the tour, including Los Angeles on the 15th.

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Wed, 11 Jun 2014 17:13:57 +0000
New CD Reviews + Interactivo Concert Gallery ENGLISH: Que Líndo Es El Amor, the newest release by Interactivo, won the Fusion category in Cubadisco 2014.  It is a truly exceptional recording, and you can purchase it online in the United States, something that doesn't always happen with these new releases.  You can read the review here
ESPAÑOL:  Que líndo es el amor, el último lanzamiento de Interactivo, gamó la categoría Fusión en Cubadisco 2014.  Es una grabación verdaderament excepcional, y se puede comprar en Internet en Estados Unidos, algo que no siempre ocurre con estos nuevos lanzamientos.  Se puede leer la reseña aquí.  

ENGLISH: Bueno, by Descemer Bueno, won three Cubadisco awards in 2013.  It's an album of contemporary song that features some of Cuba's best Jazz musicians and singers in the recording. You can read the review here
ESPAÑOL: Bueno, por Descemer Bueno, ganó tres premios Cubadisco en 2013.  Es un disco de canción contemporánea que cuenta con algunos de los mejores Jazzistas y trovadores en Cuba en la grabación.  Se puede leer la reseña aquí.  

ENGLISH:  Reflections, by Chuchito Valdés, is very new and musically speaking, it is the album for which this writer has been waiting for from him a long time.   Chuchito's best work to date as a composer and one of the best new Jazz recordings to be released so far this year.  You can read the review here
ESPAÑOL: Reflections, por Chuchito Valdés, es muy nuevo, y, hablando musicalmente, es el disco para lo cuál este escritor ha estado esperando de él por mucho tiempo.  Su mejor trabajo como compositor hasta la fecha, y una de las mejores nuevas grabaciones de Jazz que se ha lanzado este año hasta aquí.  Se puede leer la reseña aquí.  


ENGLISH:
  Finally:  Bill Tilford saw Interactivo live in Habana during Cubadisco 2014.  You can see a gallery here. 
ESPAÑOL:  Por último, Bill Tilford vio Interactivo en directo en La Habana durante Cubadisco 2014. Se puede ver una galería aquí. 

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Sun, 08 Jun 2014 19:37:51 +0000
Mayito Foto Extravanza

The bad news is that the Bamboleo US Tour is canceled. The good news is that Tom Ehrlich has finished his mega-gallery on all three Mayito Rivera appearances. And of course don't forget to check out Mayito's Tribute to Juan Formell.

BOOK NEWS: my long-awaited (by me, anyway) 440-page history of Puerto Rico, NY and pre-timba Cuba is finally out in hard-copy. The audio and eBook are coming soon. Also, Rebecca Cline's Latin Jazz piano method book is out and it's excellent. [Kevin Moore]

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Sat, 07 Jun 2014 03:05:44 +0000
From Havana, Part I: Cubadisco and More ENGLISH:  During the next several weeks, I'll be sharing several things about Cubadisco, the Symposium associated with it, reviews of important new CD releases from Cuba and many other items. We'll begin with reviews of two of the most important CDs that were Cubadisco winners. 
ESPAÑOL:  Durante las próximas semanas, voy a compartir varias cosas acerca de Cubadisco, el Simposio asociado a esto, reseñas de los nuevos lanzamientos más importantes de Cuba y muchos otros artículos.  Comenzaremos con reseñas de dos de los más importantes CDs que ganaron premios Cubadisco:

ENGLISH: You can read a review of Sacrilegio by Ernán López-Nussa here.  This justifiably won 5 Cubadisco awards including the Grand Prize and should be on the wish list of any serious Jazz fan.  
ESPAÑOL: Se puede leer una reseña de Sacrilegio por Ernán López-Nussa aquí.  Este fonograma ganó justificadamente 5 premios Cubadisco, incluyendo el Gran Premio y debería estar en la lista de deseos de cualquier serio fan del Jazz.


ENGLISH: You can read a review of Me Dicen Cuba, one of EGREM's most important new recordings and a winner of a Special Prize at Cubadisco here.   You can also see a review and photo gallery of a live show associated with the recording here
ESPAÑOL: Se puede leer una reseña de Me dicen Cuba,  una de las más importantes nuevas grabaciones de la EGREM y ganador de un Premio Especial Cubadisco aquí.   También se puede ver una reseña y galería del espectáculo asociado con la grabación aquí


ENGLISH: Also, Manuel Valera is releasing a wonderful new piano solo album, Self  Portrait.  You can read a review here.  His website contains a schedule of several upcoming ensemble and solo performances.
ESPAÑOL: También, Manuel Valera está lanzado un maravilloso nuevo album de piano como solista, Self Portrait.  Se puede leer una reseña aquíSu sitio web contiene un calendario de varias presentaciones como solista y con grupos. 

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Tue, 03 Jun 2014 15:30:04 +0000
Juan Formell y Su Legado Dedicatio to Juan Formell by Mayito Rivera"Para Juan Formell con respeto aquí tienes mi Alma de sonero"  - Mayito Rivera

Sin duda alguna, la triste desaparición física de Juan Formell ha sido un duro impacto que recibe el círculo de la música popular en Cuba y en resto del mundo. Su ausencia no solamente nos provoca un gran dolor sentimental para aquellos que tanto lo queríamos y admirábamos, sino que además, su desaparición física, a mi juicio, pudiera traer consigo cambios y posibles consecuencias negativas en cuanto a la estructura y futuro desarrollo del discurso musical y creativo del género bailable en Cuba. La ausencia física de un gran músico como lo ha sido Juan Formell será lamentable, triste, pero será un factor determinante que marcará diferencias sustanciales, dada la autoridad misma que su figura ejercía como cabeza pensante y audaz dirección, su inigualable talento creativo, la guía, el genio y la inteligencia, su experiencia, el arte y el oficio que poseía y en fin, toda su maestría - no sólo al servicio de sus Van Van - sino que también su influencia traspasa los límites e incide en todas las orquestas de Cuba, tanto para los músicos instrumentistas como para los compositores. 

Dale clic aquí para leer el articulo entero.

Without any doubt, the sad passing of Juan Formell has been a hard blow to the circle of popular music in Cuba and the rest of the world. His absence not only causes great pain to those of us who both loved and admired him, but also in my opinion his passing away could bring changes and possible negative consequences for the structure and future development of the musical and creative discourse of the dance genre in Cuba. The passing of a great musician, as was Juan Formell, will be lamentable, sad, but it will also be a determining factor that will mark substantial differences, given the very authority that his presence commanded as the thinking mind and bold leadership, the unmatched creative talent, the guide, the genius and intelligence, his experience, the art and craft that he possessed, and finally, all his expertise - not only at the service of his Van Van - rather also his influence transcended boundaries and influenced all the orchestras of Cuba, both instrumentalists and composers.

Click here to read the full article in English.

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Sat, 31 May 2014 20:30:38 +0000
Van Van in Europe Los Van Van

On Wednesday, May 28th Los Van Van begin their first European tour of the post-Juan Formell era. In recent years Juan did not accompany the band on their European tours, leaving things in the hands of his son Samuel Formell. Despite the recent loss, Van Van is following their tour schedule and performed recently in Mexico, where the concert was roundly praised. We have published the list of concert dates in their tours page, so find a concert near you.

Other bands on tour in Europe this summer include Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor, Havana D'Primera, Elito Revé y su Charangón, Oderquis Revé y su Changüí, Bamboleo, Mayito Rivera and Issac Delgado. In the US Cubadisco winner Adalberto Álvarez is nearing the end of his tour while Pupy y Los Que Son Son now have four dates listed and Paulo F.G. will be performing later this summer. We will keep updating the tours as more concerts are confirmed. If you know of any concert dates we're missing, send me an e-mail

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Mon, 26 May 2014 16:19:55 +0000
MINTON'S presents JAZZ AT THE CROSSROADS:

Cuba's heralded vocalist and chékere player Eladio "Don Pancho" Terry, will join his sons Yosvany and Yunior Terry in a one-time NYC performance at Minton's in Harlem on Tuesday, May 27, 2014. The night's kaleidoscopic program is said to run the gamut "from AfroCuban Folklore, to Charanga, to Contemporary Latin Jazz". 

The lineup of the evening will consist of the patriarchal Eladio on vocals and percussion, Yosvany Terry on saxophone and Yunior Terry on bass along with pianist Osmany Paredes, percussionist Yusnier Sánchez and flutist Javier Porta. 

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Sun, 25 May 2014 01:59:12 +0000
All West Coast Shows for Adalberto Cancelled ** Updated with Adalberto's official statement on Facebook
If you have more details please add them to the COMMENTS section. Here's Roccapulco's site, saying tonight's show is cancelled.

All West Coast Shows for Adalberto Cancelled

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Fri, 23 May 2014 16:08:41 +0000
Sacrilegio (Ernán López-Nussa) Winner of Grand Prize at Cubadisco 2014 English:  The winners of Cubadisco 2014 were announced during a gala at the Hotel Nacional  de Cuba in Havana Cuba on May 14th. . You can read more and download the official booklet of winners here. 



Español:  Los ganadores de Cubadisco 2014 fueron anunciados durante una gala en el Hotel Nacional de Cuba  en La Habana, Cuba el 14 de mayo  Puede leer más y descargar el folleto oficial aquí. 

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Thu, 15 May 2014 10:53:57 +0000
Calixto Oviedo & Salsa Con Timba Band

Master drummer Calixto Oviedo will be performing May 23rd, at The Granada in L.A. with Salsa, Timba y Sabor Band. Vocalists are Grammy nominated singer Lily D Oviedo and Cuban sonero George Balmaseda. Musicians include Serafin Aguilar on trumpet, Yosmel Montejo on bass, as well as Ramon Flores,  Natanael Molina,  and others. This will be their only L.A. show so don't miss it!

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Thu, 08 May 2014 18:37:42 +0000
Juan Formell photo by Tom, Erhlich • 2010 • Yoshi's, San Francisco

Last night we lost the most important Cuban musician since Arsenio Rodríguez. 

A few hours before getting this horrible news Orlando Fiol and I were working out the chord changes to a string of Juan Formell songs and marveling at his endless creativity. The track below, from 1996, is typical of Formell's best work - running the full range of emotions, starting with melancholy and building slowly and relentlessly through a series of higher and higher climaxes.

A handful of the greatest musicians are able to spend a few years in that magical zone where one brilliant idea flows out of the last and each connects directly with the hearts of their public. Juan Formell stepped into that zone with Aquí se enciende la candela in 1970 and stayed there for as long as he stayed on this earth. 

Among countless awards, Formell won the Grammy in 1999 for Llegó Van Van and the Grammy Latino a la Excelencia in 2013. He also composed the top two songs in our "greatest timba song of all-time" poll - Soy todo and Te pone la cabeza mala. I clearly recall counting the votes and it was not remotely close. But for every towering hit that you know by heart there's another - just as great - that you may not have discovered: Barriste con el, No somos de la gran escena, Quién no ha dicho una mentira, Ponte para las cosas, Pero a mi manera, Si tú te vas, Mis dudas, Me basta con pensar, Tú tranquilo ... we've lost the man, but his music will last forever.

Formell's death caps one of the most tragic two-week periods in memory, with the losses of Armando Peraza, Cheo Feliciano, Chuck Silverman, and Gabriel García Márquez.

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Fri, 02 May 2014 00:10:24 +0000
CUBADISCO 2014: THE NOMINEES ARE...
ENGLISH
:
The list of  nominees for the Cubadisco 2014 awards was made public Tuesday, April 29, at a press conference in Havana, Cuba. The Publications Department of Cubadisco has helpfully sent us the official Nominees booklet and granted permission to share it with the rest of the world.   You can download this and read some of Bill Tilford's observations about the nominations here

ESPAÑOL: La lista de nominados a los premios Cubadisco 2014 se hizo pública el martes, 29 de abril, en una conferencia de prensa en La Habana, Cuba.  El Departamento de Publicaciones de Cubadisco nos ha enviado amablamente el folleto oficial de Nominados y ha concedido el permiso para compartirlo con el resto del mundo.  Puede descargar este folleto y leer algunas observaciones de Bill TIlford sobre las nominaciones aquí.

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Thu, 01 May 2014 22:19:29 +0000
Jorge Luis Pacheco

Pianist Jorge Luis Pacheco will be at Piedmont Piano for two shows Saturday and will be sitting in with Rumbaché and Walt Digz at the Cigar Bar tomorrow night.

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Thu, 01 May 2014 18:06:17 +0000
Bay Area on Fire This Weekend Alfredo Rodríguez, Henry Cole and Ricky Rodríguez held court at Kuumbwa tonight. In addition to being world-class virtuosos on an individual level these three have insanely great chemistry at a level seldom heard in jazz. You can hear them in the intimate atmosphere of SF Jazz's front room every night, Thursday through Sunday.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Mayito Rivera returns to the Bay Area (at Cócomo on Saturday night) with a great band including ex-Paulito drummer Mauricio Herrera.

Click "Continue Reading" for more of Tom Ehrlich's photos from Kuumbwa.

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Thu, 24 Apr 2014 03:12:49 +0000
Cuban Jazz Pianists in Bay Area Two monster jazz pianists from Cuba will be in the Bay Area in the next two weeks:

Alfredo Rodríguez at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz this Wednesday.

Jorge Luis Pacheco playing the famous Fazioli grand at Piedmont Piano Store in Oakland (where we held the Melón clinic from a few years back) on Saturday May 3rd.

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Tue, 22 Apr 2014 03:07:15 +0000
Orquesta Aragón in Chicago

ENGLISH: Orquesta Aragón played two excellent shows in Chicago on Friday, April 18.  You can read a review and see a photo gallery here
Also, Bill Tilford has posted the beginning of a new section about Bis Music, one of the most important recording companies in Cuba (yes, there are a few now).  You can see that here  
Finally, there are more new reviews in the Reviews section. 
ESPAÑOL: Orquesta Aragón actuó dos excelentes espectáculos en Chicago el viernes, 18 de abril. Puede leer una reseña y ver una galería de fotos aquí. 
Además, Bill Tilford ha publicado el principio de una nueva sección acerca de Bis Music, una de las empresas discográficas más importantes en Cuba (sí, hay unas pocas ahora). Puede leer la sección aquí. 
Finalmente, hay más reseñas en la sección Reseñas.

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Sun, 20 Apr 2014 14:40:39 +0000
The Return of Ian Stewart

After setting up Timba Bass Corner and NYC Bulletin, bassist/writer Ian Stewart set out on a six-month cruise ship gig. He returns this week and has already submitted a review of Rafael Rosa's new CD, Portrait.

Meanwhile, I'm up to 442 pages, over 600 audio files, and almost done with the longest book of the Beyond Salsa series: Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 3 - Salsa, Songo and The Roots of Latin Jazz. While it has several hundred bass tumbaos, this is primarily a history book, covering the 1950-1990 period from three points of view: Puerto Rico, New York, and Cuba. More info coming. [Kevin Moore]

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Fri, 18 Apr 2014 18:04:29 +0000
Rest in Peace - Armando Peraza (1924-2014) cuban music, musica cubana                                     photo by Tom Ehrlich - Yerba Buena Gardens - 2007

We've lost one of the all-time greats. Master percussionist Armando Peraza played with Machito, Pérez Prado, Cal Tjader, Tito Puente, George Shearing, Carlos Santana and many others during his 89 years. He lived in the Bay Area for the last 40 years and in addition to being a genius, he was a wonderful guy who offered support and inspiration to everyone around him. He'll be sorely missed. 

Tom Ehrlich's 2007 Gallery - LP Percussion Bio Page - Wikipedia Bio

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Tue, 15 Apr 2014 17:47:04 +0000
Angelito Ramirez & El Tren Bala Release First Single Angel Ramirez y El Tren Bala
Angelito Ramírez y El Tren Bala Live in Lima

Lima continues to make its presence felt on the international timba scene. Ángel Ramírez y El Tren Bala have begun work on their debut CD, which will be titled "Mi historia". They released their first single, "Amigo de qué" this week at YouTube and it is already in rotation on the Timba DJs playlists. The CD is being recorded on the Bambu Records label.

Angelito achieved international fame as the charismatic singer for Barbaro Fines y Su Mayimbe. Last year he left to start his own project together with musical director Amarat Aguila Stuart, who worked in Cuba with such Timba bands as Michel Maza, Bamboleo, Pachito Alonso y Sus Kini Kini, among others. We have uploaded an official biography to Angelito's musician page. Click here to find out more about him.

The single is not available for download yet, but you can check it out at YouTube. Get ready because El Tren Bala is coming! 

Contact & Info:
Renzo Rey Urcia Lucana
Manager/Representative
+51 997081977
+51 981 539 11

E-mail: angelitoramirez.trenbala@gmail.com
Facebook: Angel Ramírez

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Sun, 13 Apr 2014 08:36:01 +0000
Cubadisco: Cuba's Most Important Music Awards and More
Cubadisco 2014 is approaching soon - the nominations will be announced later this month. This year's theme is Percussion, the event will take place May 17-25, 2014, and the guest country is Trinidad and Tobago.  Bill Tilford has published a new section (click here to read it in English) explaining what Cubadisco is and how it works, and he will be following this year's events and awards very closely.   

Cubadisco 2014 se acerca pronto - las nominaciones se darán a conocer a finales de este mes. Este año es dedicado a la percusión, el evento se llevará a cabo del 17 al 25 de mayo 2014, y el país invitado es Trinidad y Tobago. Bill Tilford ha publicado una nueva sección (clic aquí para leerlo en español) explicando lo que Cubadisco es y cómo funciona, y él estará siguiendo muy de cerca los acontecimientos y los premios de este año. 

Also, ten new reviews, many of multiple-CD collections, were published in recent weeks.  See the Reviews section to read these. 

Además, diez nuevas reseñas, muchas de las colecciones de multiple CDs, fueron publicadas en las últimas semanas Vea la sección Reseñas para leerlas. 

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Sat, 05 Apr 2014 16:11:58 +0000
Tom's Pacific Mambo Orchestra Photos Here's Tom Ehrlich's photo gallery for Pacific Mambo Orchestra's standing-room-only March 22 celebration and their first San Francisco appearance after their Grammy(R) win for Best Tropical Album. Thanks again to the Greater Bay Area Latin Music community for all their support!

FYI the new bassist for the Pacific mambo -- Julio de la Cruz -- is a Cuban musician who played with Síntesis and toured with the Puerto Rican singer / songwriter José Feliciano. 

Click on any image to see the full gallery -- Pinche una de las fotos para ver la galería

Co-leaders of PMO Christian Tumalan and Steffen Kuehn

View from the stage - Pacific Mambo Orchestra - Café Cócomo - San Francisco


And on the East Coast we are delighted to hear that Adalberto Álvarez is coming to the US this May and also Pupy y los que Son Son will be coming July. The first shows we know of are Adalberto at S.O.B.s Friday May 16 and Pupy at the Howard Theater in Washington D.C Friday July 25. Check out the info and links below....

Adalberto Álvarez y su Son
Friday, May 16, 2014
Showtime @ 12:00 PM -- Doors open @ 11:00 PM
click here for tickets -- para taquillas presione aquí

Adalberto Álvarez - S.O.B.s NYC - Friday April 16 2014 - Cuban Music News

Adalberto Alvárez  y su Son - Friday May 16 2014 - SOBs New York City
Adalberto Alvárez es pianista, compositor, arreglista y director de orquesta. "El Caballero del Son" es el título que se ha ganado por las antológicas innovaciones y aportes realizados a ese género tradicional y contemporáneo, resulta ser en la actualidad, el sonero cubano más versionado en el ámbito latino de los últimos 30 años.


Pupy y Los Que Son Son
feat. César "Pupy" Pedroso of Los Van Van
Friday, July 25, 2014
Showtime @ 9:00 PM -- Doors open @ 8:00 PM
Tickets $20 in advance, $25 day of show
click here for tickets -- para taquillas presione aquí

Pupy y los que Son Son - July 25 2014 - Howard Theater - Washington D.C. - Cuban Music NewsPupy y los que Son Son - Howard Theater - Washington D.C. - July 25, 2014
Su nombre completo es César de las Mercedes Pedroso Fernández, pero todo el mundo lo llama “Pupy”. Es compositor, arreglista, pianista y director de su grupo timbero "Los Que Son Son". 

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Tue, 01 Apr 2014 16:23:14 +0000
Cuban Saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera SF Residency PAQUITO D'RIVERA & ROBERTA GAMBARINI w/ Roy Hargrove's Quartet

11x GRAMMY®-winning Cuban saxophonist & premier Italian jazz vocalist

http://www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco/livemusic/artist/show/4251

Wednesday - Sunday March 26 - 30
Wednesday, March 26: 8pm $22, 10pm $16
Thursday, March 27: 8pm $24, 10pm $18
Friday, March 28: 8pm $28, 10pm $22
Saturday, March 29: 8pm $30, 10pm $24
Sunday, March 30: 7pm $22, 9pm $16

Paquito D'Rivera with Roy Hargrove's Quartet - Yoshi's SF Wed-Sun Mar 26-30


Paquito D’Rivera
defies categorization. The winner of 11 GRAMMY® Awards, he is celebrated both for his artistry in Latin jazz and his achievements as a classical composer. Born in Havana, Cuba, he performed at age 10 with the National Theater Orchestra, studied at the Havana Conservatory of Music and, at 17, became a featured soloist with the Cuban National Symphony. As a founding member of the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna, he directed that group for two years, while at the same time playing both the clarinet and saxophone with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra. He eventually went on to premier several works by notable Cuban composers with the same orchestra. Additionally, he was a founding member and co-director of the innovative musical ensemble Irakere. With its explosive mixture of jazz, rock, classical and traditional Cuban music never before heard, Irakere toured extensively throughout America and Europe, won several GRAMMY nominations (1979, 1980) and a GRAMMY (1979). Visit Paquito's website here.

ROY HARGROVE'S QUARTET:
Justin Robinson - Alto Sax & flute 
Sullivan Fortner - Piano 
Ameen Saleem - Bass 
Quincy Phillips - Drums

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Thu, 27 Mar 2014 13:24:48 +0000
"Lolo" Available Now! Lolo - EP Soneros All Stars

Delayed by nearly two years, Lolo, the long-awaited new release by Soneros All Stars is now available at on-line retailers such as iTunes and Spotify. Lolo contains six songs, and each one is eminently satisfying from the dancer's point of view. Three are new songs written for the album, and three are updated versions from previous Soneros All Stars releases. Yanesito's journey from traditional sonero to modern timbero is reflected in his arrangements. They are firmly rooted in son, but there is nothing traditional about them. Click here for the full review. 

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Wed, 26 Mar 2014 12:25:00 +0000
Saturday, March 29: International Rueda De Casino Multi Flash Mob Day Saturday, March 29, 2014 has been designated International Rueda De Casino Multi Flash Mob Day by Rueda enthusiasts - teams of Rueda dancers in at least 168 cities worldwide will be performing simultaneously. To learn more about where and when as well as whom to contact for more information, you can visit tha global coordinating web page

Dos y Mas (Arturo Stable and Elio Villafranca, two Jazz artists originally from Cuba with intriguing discographies) gave an excellent performance in Chicago at the Old Town School of Folk Music on March 19.  You can read a review and view a photo gallery here

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Wed, 26 Mar 2014 02:47:38 +0000
Packed Show with the P.M.O. - Peter Maiden Photos Pacific Mambo Orchestra Grammy® Celebration at Café Cócomo - Saturday March 22 2014Check out Peter Maiden's Full Photo Gallery here (or click on the photo above)

Pacific Mambo Orchestra Grammy® Celebration at Café Cócomo - Saturday March 22 2014PMO = (Lo Mejor) Para Mis Oidos.... What a night! Standing room only at Café Cócomo celebrating Pacific Mambo Orchestra's first San Francisco appearance after their Grammy(R) win for Best Tropical Album. A full on smorgasbord of MAMBO and SALSA... free dance lesson by Jake Jacobs, the PMO joined by special guests Karl Perrazo (timbalero of Santana fame) and Armando Cordoba (Avance), special performances by 4 different dance groups, some crazy latina working me for half an hour asking for her money back because she had no room to dance (que pasó con el apoyo latina? - había una pila, pero una pila, de parejas bailando) DJ Hong and just an overall great feeling through the whole night. 

The PMO extended crew was also in full force -- the stamp police Christina Chang helping me make sure no one snuck in through the front exit doors (also thanks for the painting pics Christine) -- as people posed with directors Christian Tumalan (piano) and Steffen Kuehn (lead trumpet) and the band with their special autographed photos. Also a shout out to PMO F.O.H. sound engineer Jimmy Goings for the amazing sound.

Pacific Mambo Orchestra Grammy® Celebration at Café Cócomo - Saturday March 22 2014PMO co-director Christian Tumalan

Pacific Mambo Orchestra Grammy® Celebration at Café Cócomo - Saturday March 22 2014PMO co-director Steffen Kuehn

Also in the house...very cool and incredibly talented artist by the name of Nataliya Tyaglo, who donated a painting she made right there, live during the show. The painting was auctioned for $1200... way to go Nataliya! Check out the painting below...

Pacific Mambo Orchestra Grammy® Celebration at Café Cócomo - Saturday March 22 2014Live art courtesy of Nataliya Tyaglo

Pacific Mambo Orchestra Grammy® Celebration at Café Cócomo - Saturday March 22 2014

Pacific Mambo Orchestra Grammy® Celebration at Café Cócomo - Saturday March 22 2014Some of the PMO horns with Steffen Kuehn (top left) - Tony Peebles, Aaron Lington, Jamie Dubberly, Jeff Cressman 

The next PMO show is Saturday, April 19 at the SF Salsa Festival 2014 (Westin San Francisco Market Street). 

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Tue, 25 Mar 2014 01:49:30 +0000
Colabora Mayito Rivera con Marlow Rosado After doing a well received run of concerts in San Francisco, New York, New Jersey and Virginia, one of our favorite Timba singers, "El Poeta de la Rumba" Mayito Rivera of Los Van Van fame has collaborated with 2013 Grammy® winner Marlow Rosado on his new album with La Riqueña (Marlow's salsa orchestra). The singer recorded at Marlow's new Miami recording facility "Pink Chaos Productions". His new record also counts with the participation of puertorican salsa legend Richie Ray, Fania All-Star Larry Harlow and the recent winner of the Premio Lo Nuestro, the dominican singer Alex Matos. Stay tuned for more info on this new record...

Después de ejecutar varios conciertos muy bien recibidos en San Francisco, Nueva York, Nueva Jersey y Virginia, el destacado cantante de timba cubana "El Poeta de la Rumba" Mario "Mayito" Rivera ha participado en un nuevo tema de la próxima producción del pianista y director salsero Marlow Rosado (y la Riqueña), ganador del Grammy® 2013 . La voz del estelar cantante se grabó en Miami, en el nuevo estudio del Sr. Rosado llamado "Pink Chaos Productions".  El disco cuenta con otros artistas invitados como la leyenda boricua Richie Ray, el Fania All-Star Larry Harlow, y además el reciente ganador del Premio Lo Nuestro, el cantante dominicano Alex Matos. Te brindaremos más información sobre este nuevo disco tan pronto sea posible...

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Fri, 21 Mar 2014 19:39:26 +0000
Pacific Mambo Orchestra Gala + New York Times Article West Coast in the house! This Saturday March 22 marks the first hometown SF appearance by the Pacific Mambo Orchestra since their Grammy® win. There will be many local musicians and dancers on hand to celebrate with. This is the first time in the history of the awards that a salsa band from San Francisco wins the Best Tropical category. The show will also feature dance performances by Couture Dance Alliance, Salsamania, Rica Salsa and Manny & Mireille & SLDC plus DJ Hong.

Grammy® membership applications will be available at the door. 
Call your local Recording Academy Chapter by clicking here
Atlanta - Chicago - Florida - Los Angeles - Memphis - Nashville - New York
Pacific Northwest - Philadelphia - San Francisco - Texas - Washington D.C.

On the East Coast and nationwide, the PMO was featured in the March 15 print edition of the New York Times (March 14th for the web edition) with the headline....

"Oakland’s Surprise: Grammy-Winning Caribbean Sound" .... check it out.

Oakland’s Surprise: Grammy-Winning Caribbean Sound -- Pacific Mambo Orchestra Is Unknown No More

Oakland’s Surprise: Grammy-Winning Caribbean Sound -- Pacific Mambo Orchestra Is Unknown No More

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Wed, 19 Mar 2014 20:59:47 +0000
La Loma del Chivo by Bicitaxi La Loma del Chivo - Guantanamo, Cuba
La Loma del Chivo - Guantanamo, Cuba

I continue my Guantanamo reports with something that isn't exactly music or dance, but is tangentially related to both. If you have been listening to Cuban music for a while, you have undoubtedly heard singers mention "La Loma del Chivo" (goat hill). Speaking for myself, I will tell you that this neighborhood took on legendary proportions in my mind. I imagined some rural community or peripheral neighborhood with lush, green hills where goats grazed lazily in the ever-present Guantanamo sun.

In 2007 I took my first trip to Guantanamo to attend the Third National Changüí Festival. You can imagine my consternation when I found that La Loma del Chivo has neither a hill nor any visible goats. You never know what people may be raising in their houses, however, so I won't rule goats out yet.

Upon my return to Guantanamo seven years later, I took a bicitaxi to various landmarks in the city that I wanted to film. Here is a video of part of my trip around La Loma del Chivo where you will find La casa del Son, La Casa del Changüí and La Casa de la Tumba Francesa all in the same block; where there is an outdoor stage with a life-sized statue of Elio Revé Matos and a wall with the names of famous musicians who have passed away. We even found a nice guy who could tell us the story of why what is apparently a flat, non-agricultural neighborhood bears the name "Goat Hill". I hope those of you who have never been there will enjoy a little look around, and I encourage everyone to attend the Changüí Festival this year May 29 - June 1. For information contact For information contact  José Cuenca or Ernesto Chacón or even me if you want.

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Wed, 19 Mar 2014 12:55:03 +0000
PMG 20/20: Timba Fusion Fortified With Its Own Wine...
The Pedrito Martinez Group gave an excellent performance/party at the City Winery in Chicago AND unveiled a self-named wine there on Saturday, March 15.  You can read a review and see a gallery here (but you'll have to order the wine yourself in order to try it).  

Two concerts and a movie premiere of special interest during the next week: 

Chicago:  Dos y Más is coming to the Old Town School of Folk Music on Wednesday, March 19. This is a promising collaboration between drummer/percussionist Arturo Stable and pianist Elio Villafranca. Both are graduates of the Instituto Superior del Arte in Havana, and their original musical encounter was with Jane Bunnett's Spirits of Havana project.  This will be a Jazz performance that also incorporates a variety of musical influences from around the globe. 

Miami:  The public premiere of an hour-long PBS documentary, Miami Boheme: An American Musical Journey,  will take place at The Stage in Miami on Wednesday, March 19 at 7pm.  This will be followed with a live concert by Palo!, one of several groups documented in the film (some of the others include the Spam Allstars, Locos Por Juana and Sueñalo.)

New York:  Havana Nagila with the KlezmaticsArturo O'Farrill and others at The Town Hall, Sunday, March 23
¡Oy Gocemos!  Havana Nagila is part of a larger Newish Jewish Music Festival that is being presented March 19th and March 23rd in association with the World Music Institute.   This is hardly the first time that a collaboration exploring the confluence of Latin and Jewish music and dance has been performed;  just two of several past recordings include the CDs It's A Scream The Way Levine Does The Rhumba (the liner notes of which include some material by Arturo O'Farrill) and Bagels and Bongos (which sold more than 2 million copies in 1959), and New York's Jewish community was a key participant in the Mambo Craze of the 50s.  (Photo John Abbott)
What makes this project of extra interest is that the Klezmatics and Arturo O'Farrill have the distinction of being in the top rungs of their respective genres AND a lot of experience doing other successful fusion projects.  Additional artists will include Lewis Kahn, who has played with several Salsa bands including the Fania All Stars, Argentine Jazz vocalist Sofia Rei, percussionist Reinaldo de Jesus and others. (Photo Chuck Fishman)

Tickets are available at www.townhall.org and www.ticketmaster.com

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Sun, 16 Mar 2014 15:15:13 +0000
Interactivo in Miami and More...
Interactivo's performance in Miami was more than worth the time and expense to travel from Chicago to see it.   You can see a review and a very extensive photo gallery here

While waiting for the concert, this writer went shopping for recordings.  It is worth mentioning that the Museo del Disco (1301 SW 70th Ave in Miami) is not only stocking many of the EGREM, Colibri and Bis recordings that are reviewed on this website, but it may have the most impressive selection of those in the United States now and deserves special mention for its pro-active efforts to bring that music to buyers here. 

Key Concerts This Week:  Kelvis Ochoa is in Miami on March 15th, and the Pedrito Martínez Group is at the City Winery in Chicago, also on March 15th. 

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Mon, 10 Mar 2014 10:46:14 +0000
Leonel Limonta & Azúcar Negra in Europe Leonel Limonta & Azúcar Negra Europe 2014

In just six days Leonel Limonta & Azúcar Negra will be back in Europe for a month of serious timba y gozadera. Click here for the March dates and some of April. We will be updating again as soon as the final confirmations for April have come in. After their last release, "Bailar en Tacones", Limonta and the muchachos dulces are keeping with the sartorial theme with their latest single "Maltraando la Tela". I was fortunate enough to see Limonta in the process of creating this song, which came to life last year during the Latinoamericando Festival in Milan. Enjoy, and check back next week for April updates!

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Sun, 09 Mar 2014 13:13:04 +0000
For Pastora Yuani Sayú Pastora Yuani SayúsMarch 8 is International Women's Day and while it may not be well-known everywhere, it is very important both here in Sweden and in Cuba. As I sat here contemplating the many talented women who have helped shape Cuban music, it struck me that today I would like to honor one of the most internationally famous women in both salsa and timba: Pastora Yuani Sayú, better known to Latin music fans as Pastorita. Sadly, she passed away in 2013 at the age of 97, but her name has been imortalized and can probably be heard every week in some salsa venue around the world.

I want to thank Niurka Estrada, Mirlania Rodriguez and José Cuenca for the photo pf Pastora and for sharing with me the story about the origins of the song and the subsequent battle over the rights to the song which was resolved in June of 1976. But we'll get to that part of the story later.


Pastora Yuani Sayú

"El Guararey de Pastora" has been a hit many times over. First performed by Changüí Guantánamo, it caught the attention of Juan Formell during a visit to Cuba's easternmost province and was recorded by Van Van in 1974. The song became a hit in Cuba and in 1975 Ray Barretto recorded a salsa version, which also became a huge success in the salsa world outside of Cuba.

So what is the story behind the song that has had seemingly universal appeal? Well let me tell you. Pastora had a daughter who had caught the eye of Roberto Baute Sagarra, tresero of Changüí Guantánamo. He began a romance with her and Pastora was not happy with his attentions towards her daughter because Roberto, also known as Chito, was already married and 20 years older than the object of his affection. This was the source of Pastora's guararey (anger) with her friend Chito and the inspiration for the song.

At the time the song was written, Pedro Speck was the director of Changüí Guantánamo and he registered the rights to the song under his name. It wasn't until the popularity of Van Van's version that the subject of authorship  became an issue. In June 1976 the court ruled in favor of Roberto Baute when Pastorita herself testified on his behalf. Previously attributed to Speck or simply listed as DR, the song is now correctly attributed to Roberto Baute, although it was not officially registered with ACDAM under his name until 21 April 1981. However, I was told in Guantanamo that neither Speck nor Baute ever received any income from the recording or performances of other versions of the song.

Roberto Baute SagarraPhoto of Roberto Baute Sagarra in Casa del Changüí in Guantanamo

Below is a video of the group Suave Caribe performing "El Guararey de Pastora"  on January 9, 2014 at the Thursday night peña in Guantanamo. If you are able I highly recommend attending the National Changüí Festival, which will take place this year from May 29-June 1. It is a unique opportunity to really come face-to-face with the roots of the music and dance we know today as salsa and timba. For more information about the changüí festival contact General Coordinator José Cuenca or Ernesto Chacón.

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Sat, 08 Mar 2014 16:41:48 +0000
Calixto Oviedo Quintet Calixto Oviedo Quintet

The summer tour season will be kicking off soon and we are in the process of updating our tours section as the tour dates get finalized. We have already updated Calixto Oviedo's section with concert dates for the spring and early summer. He will be performing jazz with Calixto's Way Band and dance music with Lily d Oviedo Orquesta as well as going Masters Classes and performing with bands such as the Afro-Cuban Jazz Project. Click here for the full list of concerts as of this moment. 

Calixto has also put together a quintet featuring Josiel Pérez on trumpet, Natanael Molina on piano, Yosmel Montejo on bass, Christian Moraga on congas and percussion, and of course Calixto Oviedo on drums. The Calixto Oviedo Quintet plays a mix of Latin Jazz, Timba and Soul. They will be performing at Mambos Café 1701 Victory Blvd. in Glendale, California on April 24th.

Stay tuned for more tour updates for Azúcar Negra, Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor, Los Van Van, Havana D'Primera, Oderquis Revé y su Changüí, Elito Revé y Su Charangón, Mayito Rivera & Sons of Cuba and more...

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Sat, 08 Mar 2014 14:49:43 +0000
The Celebration Begins: 50 Years of EGREM
  Graphic courtesy EGREM

ENGLISH:  March 31, 2014 marks the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of EGREM, the home of the record label that first brought us Timba and many other forms of modern Cuban music. EGREM began the festivities on February 28th with a press conference to announce its plans for the occasion.   A photo gallery from the conference is available here
With the assistance of several individuals at EGREM, Bill Tilford has established a special section for EGREM and its activities, which is availaible here
All who love modern Cuban music have much to celebrate. 

ESPAÑOL:
31 de marzo 2014 marca el 50 º aniversario del establecimiento de la EGREM, la casa discográfica que nos traía la TImba y muchas otras formas de la música cubana moderna. EGREM comenzó los festejos del 28 de febrero con una conferencia de prensa para anunciar sus planes para la ocasión.  Una galería de fotos de la conferencia está disponible aquí.
Con la ayuda de varias personas de la EGREM, Bill Tilford ha establecido una sección especial sobre la EGREM y sus actividades, que está disponible aquí. 
Todos que aman la música cubana moderna tienen mucho que celebrar. 

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Sun, 02 Mar 2014 14:49:48 +0000
7th National Changüí Festival Changüí dancers in Guantanamo

Announcement of the 7th National Changüí Festival

If Cuba is a global reserve of music, then Guantanamo is one of the reservoirs of Cuban music. In this region you can find almost all genres on the island and some that are unique to Upper Eastern Cuba: changüí, nengón, kiribá ... primal musical forms that are only found in Guantanamo and that remain as alive as the first day.

To know and enjoy Cuban music, Guantanamo is a compulsory stop . If you arrive there you will experience the pleasure of feeling the magic of the authentic. - José Cuenca Sosa

The 7th National Changüí Festival "Elio Revé Matos" will take place in Guantanamo from May 29 - June 1, 2014. The event includes music and dance shows of changüí as well as other music and dance styles unique to the province of Guantanamo such as nengón, kiribá and tumba francesa. In addition there are concerts by timba bands such as Orquesta Revé, although note that at this point I have seen no list of participating timba bands for 2014. The festival features contests between treseros, bongoceros, marimbuleros, dancers and singers as well as a more scholarly segment of conferences. This year the topic is "Origins, Parallels and Projections of Changüí". Events will be held throught the city and in changüí areas such as Casa de Pipi in Yateras. The fee to sign up is 50 CUC for foreigners and 50  CUP for Cubans. To participate or for more information, contact General Coordinator José Cuenca or Ernesto Chacón.

Below is a video I put together where Cuenca tells us about the plans for this year's festival and I threw in a little changüí footage from Guantanamo and from a changüí party at Casa de Pipi in Yateras from the 2007 festival.

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Sun, 02 Mar 2014 14:32:27 +0000
Key Events in Miami, Chicago and New York Miami: Interactivo in concert, Miami Dade County Auditorium, 29th and Flagler Street, Miami FL, March 8, 9PM

This should be one of the concerts of the year in the United States. Interactivo is one of the most progressive and interesting bands in Cuba today; it combines everytthing from Jazz to Hip Hop to modern Cuban dance music, and the most recent information released adds several members of Habana Abierta to the roster along with Gema Corredera, Mayito Rivera and David Torrens. Telmary is also on the roster. We'll post some video of Interactivo closer to the date, but with the additional stars in the show, there are bound to be some musical surprises as well. 

Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com
For additional information, see the Fundarte website at
www.Fundarte.us

Click continue reading for much more.

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Sun, 23 Feb 2014 20:39:17 +0000
Ernesto Oviedo with John Santos

Another amazing Santos/SFJAZZ collaboration, this time with Ernesto Oviedo on vocals. Click here for more great shots.

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Fri, 21 Feb 2014 02:05:07 +0000
The 13th Annual Chicago International Salsa Congress - Mostly NOT Unlucky Article by Bill Tilford, all rights reserved

So, we are looking at the 13th anniversary of an event that is also starting on the 13th day of the month (fortunately, not a Friday), and this might have sent many persons scrambling for their rabbit's foot or other special charms, but most of the Chicago International Salsa Congress was superb (we'll get to the exceptions a little later).  Click continue reading for more.

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Thu, 20 Feb 2014 15:51:31 +0000
Llegó Mayito Rivera Mayito and Timbalive with Yussef Breffe at the 2014 SF Salsa Rueda Festival • photo by Tom Ehrlich

Look - nobody loves Los Van Van more than I do, and like most, I was both sad to hear that Mayito had left the group and uncertain that Mayito Rivera would be able to sustain the iconic gravitas of Mayito Van Van. The solo careers of Lele el padre, Israel Sardiñas, Mayito el Flaco, Ángel Bonne and even Pedrito Calvo will always be overshadowed by their work with Formell, but on the strength of this one performance, Mayito has emphatically cast that monkey off his back. It's now clear that Mayito simply had to leave - he's just too much singer to be relegated to two or three songs a night. 

Mayito captured and hypnotized a huge crowd of dancers and connoisseurs from the first note and relentlessly pushed them higher and higher for an hour and a half of non-stop tour de force inspiration. He was clearly excited and emotional but he maintained complete control, hitting perfectly intoned, full voice high As and above on every song without faltering.

By the second song, the night's opening coro, Llegó Mayito Rivera had taken on a much deeper meaning. This was not going to be merely a nostalgic look back at Mayito Van Van. It was Mayito Rivera, el Poeta de la Rumba, who had arrived - a new artist - now with the space and freedom to fully express himself with cadenzas, rubato intros, rumba and inspiraciones and to aspire on equal turf to the greatness of his idol Beny Moré.

I had seen flashes of Mayito's improvising in Havana, sitting in with Issac and Bamboleo, but this was 90 minutes of sustained in-the-moment brilliance. When he called for a rumba dancer, SF's own Yussef Breffe was busily taking photos with a large unwieldy camera and before he could put it down, Mayito had invented a coro about the non-sequitur of a rumbero con cámara? As soon as Yussef started to break out his prodigious moves, Mayito changed the coro to suelta la cámara! and the coristas, highlighted by the amazing Yezi González, instantly harmonized it while Mayito tossed off one incredible pregón after then next. The whole night was like this, and the euphoria on Yezi's face was telling. She kept looking over at the trombonistas as if to say "can you freaking believe this?" The whole Timbalive band was grinning from ear to ear and responding spontaneously to each unexpected bit of brilliance from Mayito.

Timbalive plays their own set tonight, Sunday, with more dance performances.

Nick Van Eyck and Serena Wong's Salsa Vale Todo with Yenek and Karelia • photo by Tom Ehrlich

Mayito greeted a crowd that was already high as a kite on the strength of a really tremendous series of dance performances. Festival organizers Nick Van Eyck and Serena Wong got a chance to perform with their famous teachers on an amazingly spliced audio segment that went in and out of Charanga Habanera's epic Tema introducción twice. The choreography of its mind-boggling polyrhythmic bloque was stunning.

Meanwhile, over at the Timbaversity, Roberto Borrell gave a brilliant preview of his upcoming Finding the Clave course and Umi Vaughan was inspiring and thought-provoking as usual as he elaborated on his first two books on batá and timba, and threw out a few teasers about his third - a history of his mother's famous Oakland dance studio. [Kevin Moore]

Click Continue Reading for more great photos. Full galleries coming soon.

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Sun, 16 Feb 2014 18:26:04 +0000
Pedrito Calvo Jr. - CUBANEO CUBANEO - Pedrito Calvo Jr.

Pedrito Calvo Jr. is about to releases his second full-length CD, "CUBANEO". It contains ten tracks which range from salsa to timba to timbaton and even one mambo-son, appropriately titled "Mamboson". The album was recorded in Havana and Italy, and mixed and mastered in Italy. We took the opportunity to ask PC about the new project.

Well CUBANEO comes at a necessary for me, after almost 3 years spent between composition, arrangement, recording in Cuba and Italy, and time mixing and mastering. It's CD designed for various audiences where I enjoy moving from salsa to timba, and also what is called timbaton plus as son with mambo where I have in mind a performance dancing.

You collaborated a lot with Juan Kemell on the CD. In addition to arranging five of the songs and singing coro, he was co-musical producer together with you and Azaris Pijuan. How did the working relationship function?

Look, with Kemell there has been a chemistry since the last record, because his arrangements reflect each note or chord in my mind and he always manages to capture it with his expertise. Kemell also followed much of the recording and mixing process with great professionalism. Azeris Pijuan, bassist and musical director of the orchestra, was involved in Italy with all the putting together of arrangements and the other parts of the recording process. It has been a very good combination that has resulted in the album that I dreamed of.

The single that you have released to DJs is called “Ready Pa’ Mí” and is a timbatón that you recorded with Super Joe El Mayoral. What was it like collaborating on a sing with himl?

The song READY PA 'MI was co-written by Joel Gonzales "EL MAYORAL" and myself. Joelito has a million fresh ideas for good songs and one day commenting on how everything moves around an artist, we started writing the chorus and that's how the whole song arose, then the arrangement and midi+demo was made by ​​Oldrich thinking only about reggaeton. Joe and I proposed to do timba version which is what remained.

Do you notice any differences between the musical preferences of the dancers in Cuba and in various cities in Europe?

Surely everyone has various answers, but from what I have seen, the musical preferences do exist but are reduced more each day, and it may be a small thing, but new technologies (if we think 80-90 years) have helped greatly to further promote our music. The European audiences follow more and more the work of all the artists, and as a consequence, the musical patterns of the fans change more easily. I marvel at how people dance in several European countries, they know the Cuban bands, it is really impressive to see how it is promoted and how they have that unbridled passion.

 The official release date may be announced as soon as next week, so stay tuned! 

Track list:
Burundanga
Se Acabó
Con Fe
Cuba Mía
Ready Pa'mí
Felicidad
Chica Mala
Salsa Salsita
Mamboson
Ya Llegué

Arrangment Track
Juan Kemell 1-3-4-6-10
José Ramón Núñez 2-9
Oldrich González 5
Juan Carlos Ávila 7-8

 

 

 

General Direction: Pedro José Calvo

Musical Production: Juan Kemell, Azaris Pijuan, Pedro José Calvo
Executive Production: Christian Madera

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Sun, 16 Feb 2014 16:17:39 +0000
Mayito & Timbalive Tonight @ SF Salsa Rueda Festival! Mayito Rivera @ SF Salsa Rueda FestivalMayito Rivera @ SF Salsa Rueda Festival courtesy of Mayito @ Facebook

Mayito Rivera and Timbalive perform tonight at the San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival. They will play two sets: 10:30-11:30 and 12:00-01:00. The concert will be preceeded by dance performances and DJ Walt Digz will be spinning in between. Click here for the full festival schedule.

Mayito will continue to perform in the US with concerts in New York and again in San Francsico.

February 15, 2014 - San Francisco, CA. - San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival
February 22, 2014 - Rego Park, NY. - Rumba night club
February 23, 2014 - New York, NY. - Gonzalez y Gonzalez
March 1, 2014 - San Francisco, CA. - Teatro Brava

Click here for the current list of Mayito's concerts in the US and Europe. More updates will be forthcoming so stay tuned.

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Sat, 15 Feb 2014 15:19:50 +0000
It's SF Salsa Rueda Festival Time Masterminds Nick Van Eyck and Serena Wong of Salsa Vale Todo (video below) at the 2012 festival.

Here's this year's full schedule. Thursday night is a welcoming party featuring Bay Area timberos Team Bahía, followed by three fully packed days of workshops and performances. Among the highlights are Mayito Rivera's first California show since leaving Los Van Van on Saturday night, backed by Timbalive, who play their own show Sunday night, Roberto Borrell's Finding the Clave course on Saturday, The Bay Area Timba Salsa All Stars on Friday night, and dance performances by troupes from around the world each night in the main ballroom. For tickets and reservations.

cuban music, musica cubanaMayito Rivera

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Thu, 13 Feb 2014 21:24:09 +0000
Mayito Rivera "El Poeta de la Rumba" Upcoming USA Appearances Ok get ready for MAYITO!! "El Poeta de la Rumba" will be in San Francisco SATURDAY February 15 with Timbalive at the 2014 SALSA RUEDA FESTIVAL. This is at the Hotel Whitcomb downtown SF. After that you can catch him with Jhair Sala and Sebastian Natal and their crew LA TEMATI-K in Woodbridge, Virginia at The Palace Nightclub ( 703-490-3814 ) on Friday the 21st and in Elizabeth, New Jersey at Mi Tierra ( 917-459-0014 / 908-422-3088 ) on Saturday the 22nd.

Mayito Rivera "El Poeta de la Rumba" Upcoming USA Appearances

Mayito Rivera "El Poeta de la Rumba" Upcoming USA Appearances Mayito Rivera "El Poeta de la Rumba" Upcoming USA Appearances

 


While Mayito heads over to the East Coast, the West Coast keeps the party going with the first of a series of GRAMMY® Award Grammy celebrations. The PACIFIC MAMBO ORCHESTRA headlines the Santa Rosa Salsa Festival this Saturday February 15 at the Flamingo Hotel.  After that you can catch them celebrating at Terrapin Crossroads on Saturday, March 1 in San Rafael.

Pacific Mambo Orchestra Grammy Award Celebrations

Pacific Mambo Orchestra Grammy Award Celebrations

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Thu, 13 Feb 2014 04:51:31 +0000
Issac's New Band in Cuba

Issac is back in Cuba and has an exciting new band with three members of the original NG La Banda: pianist Rodolfo "Peruchín" Argudín, trumpeter Elpidio Chappottín and saxophonist/arranger Germán Velazco. On synthesizer is Yusef Díaz of Klímax fame. Click continue reading for a larger version of the poster.

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Sun, 09 Feb 2014 21:59:13 +0000
Entrevista a Israel Rojas Israel RojasIsrael Rojas - director and lead vocalist of Buena Fe

I believe it is safe to say that Israel Rojas is one of the busiest men in Havana, and I want to thank him for inviting me to the show "Motivos Martianos", which took place at Teatro Mella on January 21, 2014 and for taking time from his schedule to talk to Timba.com. The interview is in video format and in Spanish. I haven't had time to subtitle or to transcribe and translate. Hopefully I will be able to get around to that soon, but for now I have so much video from my recent trip to Cuba, that it is keeping me quite occupied. Meanwhile, for those who don't speak Spanish let me just mention a few key points.

Israel mentioned that in the first quarter of 2014, the band will launch it's new official homepage buenafe.cu. Up to now, the various homepages the band has had have been in domains outside of Cuba. The band has not always had access to the sites, on ocassion they have been hacked and the domains have been stolen, but above all, Cubans have not had access due to the rquirements for broadband. The new page will be a simpler design, but will now be accessible to all their fans, including Cubans with access to an internet connection.

At the beginning of March, probably in conjunction with the band's 15th anniversay, Galician singer/songwriter Andrés Suárez will perform with Buena Fe at Teatro Karl Marx where he will present his CD "Moraima" (highly recommended!). As for tours, the band plans to tour the US in April and Venezuela in May. They are also trying to arramge a major tour of Latin America for the second half of 2014. This is still in the development stage and we'll update you with more information as son as we have it.

For the rest of the interview we talked about the "Motivos Martianos" project and show, about what it was that caused Israel to become such a devoted follower of José Martí (part of which he attributes to the  Cuban special period) and how he views the art of songwriting.

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Sun, 09 Feb 2014 13:18:30 +0000
Por Fin! Los Hermanos Arango
from afrocubaweb.com

It's been a long wait, but Feliciano Arango and Los Hermanos Arango have finally returned after their one-stop tour to Berklee several years ago. Arango is well-known to timberos as the founding bassist of NG La Banda and co-author of two books on bass-playing. But Los Hermanos Arango is an amazing project in its own right, combining Latin jazz with folkloric vocals, percussion and dancing. They'll be performing and doing master classes all week in Southern California. This is the real deal - don't miss it. The opening act for some of the shows is the changüí group of timba.com friend and contributor Gabriel García.

Thursday, Feb. 6 - Dizzy's, San Diego: 8pm
4275 Mission Bay drive, San Diego, California
dizzysjazz.com

Saturday, Feb. 8 - Noche Cubana at World Beat Center 9pm
2100 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA
worldbeatcenter.org

Sunday, Feb. 9 - Clinic 12-2pm World Beat Center San Diego
worldbeatcenter.org

Tuesday, Feb. 11 - Winston's 10 pm
1921 Bacon St, San Diego, CA
www.winstonsob.com/

Wednesday, Feb.12 SDSU Music Hall 7 pm

Thursday, Feb. 13 - Live concert with Changui Majadero at the Mbar
1846 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA

Here is the facebook RSVP link where we would like people to rsvp:
https://m.facebook.com/events/457220667712537

 

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Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:05:46 +0000
Maykel x 2 Maykel Blanco & Maykel Fonts @ Don Cangrejo Maykel x 2: Blanco & Fonts @ Don Cangrejo

Maykel Blanco and Maykel Fonts are two of the most internationally recognized names of the younger generation of Cuban artists, both excelling in their genre. Maykel Blanco & Su Salsa Mayor exploded on the international timba scene in 2006 with the release of their first CD “Recoge y vete”. Known to fans as “La Maquina de Cuba”, they have since released three more studio CDs and a live album. Their last release “A toda máquina” has been the band’s most successful CD to date, outselling other albums in a matter of months. With a vibrant live show, including audio-visual accompaniment, Maykel Blanco & Su Salsa Mayor are currently one of Havana’s most popular acts and in great demand on the international tour circuit.

Coming from humble beginnings in a solar in Old Havana, Maykel Fonts has become one of the most sought after Cuban dancers worldwide. At the age of 22 he graduated from the Tropicana dance school and shortly thereafter moved to Milan, Italy. Over the years he has worked as an instructor, choreographer and dancer in commercials and television programs, and he recently choreographed and danced in the award-winning video for Havana D’Primera’s hit “Al final de la vida”. In addition to Cuban dances, Maykel has studied flamenco, hip hop, jazz, classic dance as well as other international salsa dance styles, making him a versatile dancer. But without question the genre closest to his essence is Afro-Cuban rumba.

A few months ago these two young powerhouses of Cuban music and dance united to record “Dale lo que lleva”, available on Planet Records compilation "Latino 56 - Salsa Bachata Merengue Reggaeton". Musically the song is designed to be easily accessible to dancers, the coro Izquierda y derecha (Left and right) falling on the one and the five to match the dancers’ steps. The lyrics refer to the similarities in the development of the two Maykels in their different genres.

On January 18th 2014 Maykel Fonts and Maykel Blanco performed “Dale lo que lleva” for the first time live at Casa de la Música Habana. I was not able to attend the concert, but I did find them both at Don Cangrejo on January 16th, and I took the opportunity to ask them a few questions. The video interview is in Spanish. One of my favourite quotes from the interview came from Maykel Fonts when he talked about how with Cuban music and dance "…there are no barriers. When it comes to Cuba, it’s about enjoying yourself" (…no hay barrera. Cuando se trata de Cuba, se trata de gozadera ). I hope you enjoy the interview and the video for “Dale lo que leva” below.

Entrevista a Maykel x 2

Official Video "Dale lo que lleva"

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Tue, 04 Feb 2014 09:48:23 +0000
Havana Rhythm & Dance Festival 2014 Havana Rhythm & Dance Festival 2014

Giraldo Piloto & Klímax have just finished their winter European Tour and in only six weeks Piloto will be busy with the 2014 Havana Rhythm & Dance Festival "Guillermo Barreto in memoriam", which will take place March 11 - 16 at venues throughout Havana. This is really an event to see if you will be or can be in Havana during this period. The festival includes competitions in percussion categories as well as in casino dancing, shows by Cuban and international bands and dance companies, as well as masters classes in percussion and dance.The competitions are open to both Cuban and international participants.

For more information in English, including instructions on how to sign up for the competitions, check out our Fiesta del Tambor 2014 link. The official website has been updated, but it is all in Spanish. In the meantime we share with you a video look back at the 2013 Havana Rhythm & Dance Festival.

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Mon, 03 Feb 2014 06:10:20 +0000
Tom's Havana Reunión Photos Click here for Tom Ehrlich's latest gallery, from the amazing December reunion concert of Melón Lewis, Jimmy Branly and Carlitos del Puerto.

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Mon, 03 Feb 2014 02:07:44 +0000
El Niño y La Verdad Emilio Frias El Niño y La VerdadEl Niño y La Verdad pack the house with their matinee at Casa de La Música Miramar

In March 2013 Emilio Frias "El Niño" and Wilfredo Naranjo "Pachy" decided it was time to leave Orquesta Revé, Cuba's greatest music school, and create their own orchestra. Joining them was Roberto "Chino" Vázquez, formerly bassist for El Trabuco, and shortly thereafter Pascual Matos "Sinsonte" of La Revé. We all know what a tough crowd the timberos of Havana are, but Emilio's popularity as a singer and the strength of the band's repertoire have made them an overnight success. Their Friday matinee at Casa de la Música Miramar is always well-attended and the atmosphere is great! Advice: If you are going to Havana, make sure to catch them at the Friday matinee!

I went to see them on January 17th and the show surpassed expectations. To keep the tourists happy Miramar has become nothing more than a sea of tables with no space left for a dance floor. But everyone was on their feet dancing anyway, as you can see in the picture above, from El Niño's Facebook page. They were filming for a promotional DVD that day. I'm looking forward to seeing the results! There were several guest artist in attendance. Juan Guillermo took a turn on stage with Emilio, and Arlenys ( El Niño's mujer) sang one of her own songs much to the delight of the audience. El Niño and Arlenys are definitely a power couple in Havana. 

Towards the close of the show, Oderquis Revé took the stage but even as he was singing "estás loco" the CDLM was struck by an apagón. Apparently power outages continue to be a problem for Habaneros. We adjourned to the bar in the garden, and I spent some time talking with Pachy and Sinsonte. 

In 2013 El Niño y La Verdad released a five-song demo, which has been very popular among DJs and dancers around the world. Fans will be happy to know that the band went back into the studio on January 24th to begin work on their album! Currently they are promoting the 5th single from the demo "Dime Cuanto". You can check it out in the Timba.com radio below. Alaroye no, alaroye y bien!

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Sun, 02 Feb 2014 07:24:11 +0000
Motivos Martianos Cartelera Motivos Martianos

Today is the 161st anniversary of the birth of José Martí. Cubans around the world have been honoring this great father of the Cuban nation in various ways. Exactly one week ago I had the good fortune to attend one of the first celebrations, which took place at Teatro Mella. The event was called "Motivos Martianos" and was put on by the José Martí Cultural Society under the Artistic and General Direction of Israel Rojas. Rojas is also the organizer behind the upcoming Martí tribute album where each number is either inspired by Martí or in some cases the song lyrics are based on Martís poetry.

The event was sold out, and as you can see by the poster above, it featured a cast of stars from various musical genres and even a childrens' acting company. From a timbero's perspective some of the highlights were Clave y Guaguancó and of course Los Van Van, who closed the event with the song "Dicha Grande". Other performances that particularly struck me were the accoustic offerings of trovadores Eduardo Sosa, Leonardo Garcia and Polito Ibañez. Buena Fe guitarrist Dairon Lobaina and singer Javier Milanes performed a beautiful ballad dedicated to mothers and D'CoraSon will have another hit on their hands with the piece they have written for the Martí album.

Click here for more on the concert, including an interview with Israel Rojas and video of Buena Fe and Los Van Van.

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Tue, 28 Jan 2014 18:40:52 +0000
Me Dicen Cuba Official Video

For months DJs and fans have been uploading videos of Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera performing their 2013 hit "Me Dicen Cuba", only to be forced to remove them. Finally the official video is up and it will hopefully be there to stay!

What can I say about this song? It is another brilliant Alexander Abreu lyric and in my opinion "Me Dicen Cuba" is the new timba anthem for Cuba. The video is a montage of everday scenes of everyday Cubans. It is the product of collaboration between EGREM , the José Martí Cultural Center and the ICAIC. I will be surprised if some tour agency doesn't pick this up as part of an ad campaign! Enjoy!

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Tue, 28 Jan 2014 10:19:49 +0000
Afro-Cuban Grammy Gold - 2014 Awards Update Pacific Mambo Orchestra wins 2014 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album

First thing to say about the Grammy Award Show is that experiencing the event live is very different than watching it on TV. This year things really got started when Robin Thicke joined classic rock band Chicago for some powerful showmanship and HORNS! Real live music finally brought a sense of satisfaction. The sound quality was really good, pleasant yet powerful without being harsh. What you would expect from the music industry's top show. They got that right. 

On the Cuban music front... members of the San Francisco based, 19-piece Latin big band the PACIFIC MAMBO ORCHESTRA are still pinching themselves after defeating Salsa icons Marc Anthony and Sergio George - as well as Colombian pop star Carlos Vives - by taking the 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album Award. It was an honor for these independents to be included, but after this win there will be plenty of head scratching over at Sony Music Latin and Sergio's camp. You can read a review of their well-crafted, self-titled debut release here. For many then, the PMO pulled off something truly unique and special. The Mambo is back for real with their full, rich sound and clever arrangements. It seems they couldn't set the bar any higher for themselves. It will interesting to see how the Pacific Mambo Orchestra follows this up.

Pacific Mambo Orchestra wins 2014 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin AlbumIn related news, La Santa Cecilia, a Los Angeles based rock / alternative band that mixes boleros, cumbia, bossa nova and Cuban music won for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album. LSC is signed to Universal Music Latino. Their winning album is called "Treinta Días" (30 Days). 

The independent, Brazilian music release "Song For Maura" from Trio Corrente (piano - bass - drums) and Cuban clarinetist / saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera won for Best Latin Jazz Album. 

Pacific Mambo Orchestra wins 2014 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album

Also worth mentioning is the Clavo Records release "Pensamientos for Solo Alto Saxophone and Chamber Orchestra", which won for Best Instrumental Composition (the late Clare Fischer composer, Clare Fischer Orchestra performing).  Clare Fischer composed the famous Latin Jazz standard "Morning". Clare's son claimed the award and in his moving speech mentioned that signing an acceptance for a Grammy Award was the last document his father ever signed. 

Here are some selected PMO photos from the Nominee celebration, Grammy pre-telecast & telecast. 

Pacific Mambo Orchestra wins 2014 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album

Pacific Mambo Orchestra wins 2014 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album

Pacific Mambo Orchestra wins 2014 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album

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Tue, 28 Jan 2014 04:32:07 +0000
Rebel Tumbao

Click here for Peter Maiden's review of the new Rebel Tumbao CD featuring José Claussell. 

"Rebel Tumbao is a revelation. It is many things: it is perhaps the most successful album meshing Afro-Cuban and Reggae music to date; it is an exceptional example of deeply felt spiritual and political lyrics; and, in the tradition of Gil Scott-Heron, it has jazz roots and scorching spoken word." - Peter Maiden 

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Tue, 21 Jan 2014 01:30:01 +0000
New Releases & Reviews ENGLISH: In December 2013, Mezcla unveiled a new  DVD of a live performance that included many of the best Jazz artists in Havana.   You might not be able to obtain a copy of this yet, but watch for it - it is phenomenal, and you can read our review here.    Incidentally, Mezcla is also in the process of finalizing a CD of last year's live performance at Yoshi's and has plans to tour the US again later this year.   

ESPAÑOL:
  En diciembre de 2013, Mezcla reveló un nuevo DVD de un concierto en vivo que incluía muchos de los mejores artistas de Jazz en La Habana.  Puede que no sea capaz de obtener una copia de esto todavía, pero mantenga los ojos abiertos  - es fenomenal, y puede leer nuestra reseña aquí. Por cierto, Mezcla también está en el proceso de finalización de un CD del concierto en vivo en Yoshi's en 2013 y tiene planes de montar una gira por EE.UU. de nuevo a finales de este año. 

ENGLISH: Omar Sosa just released a new solo piano CD, Senses. This is a very contemplative recording, and you can read our review here.   It isn't classical music but may appeal to listeners who enjoy that genre as well.  Omar has also been performing live with an aggregation called The New AfroCuban Quartet, which includes Childo Tomas, Ernesto Simpson and Leandro Saint-Hill.   A studio recording is expected in the next several months. 

ESPAÑOL: Omar Sosa  acaba de lanzar un nuevo CD de piano solo, Senses.   Es un fonograma muy contemplativa, y puede leer nuestra reseña aquí. No es la música clásica, pero puede apelar a los oyentes que disfrutan de ese género también. Además, Omar ha estado tocando en vivo con una agregación llamada The New AfroCuban Quartet, que incluye Childo Tomas, Ernesto Simpson y Leandro Saint-Hill.  Una grabación en el estudio se espera en los próximos meses. 

New reviews:   More than a dozen new CD and DVD reviews of Cuban recordings have been published this month in our Reviews section this month with more to come.   These include traditional, Jazz and Timba recordings. 

Nuevas reseñas:   Más de una docena de nuevas reseñas de CDs y DVDs cubanos se han publicado este mes en nuestra sección Reseñas con más por venir.  Estos incluyen grabaciones tradicionales, Jazz y Timba. 

 

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Fri, 17 Jan 2014 12:02:26 +0000
Miriam Ramos To Perform in Miami - Ernesto Vega To Perform in Houston ENGLISH: Cubadisco 2013 Grand Prize winner and Latin GRAMMY nominee (also 2013) Miriam Ramos will be performing at the Miami Dade County Auditorium on January 18 and 19,   Also performing in this concert will be pianist Ulises Hernández.   Miriam will be singing selections from her award-winning trilogy La Canción Cubana (you can read our review here) and will be accompanied by an excellent pianist from that project, Rolando Luna. For more information and to purchase tickets, see the Fundarte web page for the event.  
ESPAÑOL: Miriam Ramos, ganadora del Gran Premio de Cubadisco 2013 y nominado al Latin GRAMMY (también 2013) cantará en el Miami Dade County Auditorium el 18 y el 19 de enero. También actuará en este concierto será el pianista Ulises Hernández.  Miriam estará cantando selecciones de su galardonada trilogía La Canción Cubana (puede leer nuestra reseña aquí) y estará acompañado por un excelente pianista de ese proyecto, Rolando Luna. Para más información y para compra boletos, visite la página web de Fundarte sobre el evento.

ENGLISH: On January 23, Cuban Jazz clarinet wizard and composer Ernesto Vega will be performing at the VIP Preview for the Trinity Jazz Festival in Houston,Texas. His debut release Venir al Mundo won Cubadisco awards for Jazz and Design in 2009 along with being nominated in the Ópera Prima (Best New Artist) and Liner Notes categories.   (You can read our review here.)  Ernesto recently performed at special event at the JEN (Jazz Education Network) conference in Dallas,  and we expect to see and hear a lot more about him in the future, especially since he is expected to release a new recording with Harold López-Nussa later this year.  For more information, see the Trinity Jazz Festival website
ESPAÑOL:  El 23 de enero,  mago cubano de clarinete Jazz  y compositor Ernesto Vega tocará en el VIP Prevista del Trinity Jazz Festival en Houston, Texas.   Su album debut Venir al Mundo ganó premios Cubadisco en las categorias Jazz y Diseño en 2009 junto con haber sido nominado en las categorias Ópera Prima (Mejor Artista Nuevo) y  notas discográficas. (Puede leer nuestra reseña aquí.)  Ernesto tocó recentemiente para un evento especial en la conferencia JEN (Jazz Education Network) en Dallas, y esperamos ver y escuchar mucho más sobre él en el futuro, sobre todo porque se espera que lanzará un nuevo fonograma con Harold López-Nussa más adelante este año. Para más información, visite el sitio web del Trinity Jazz Festival.

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Sun, 12 Jan 2014 04:07:49 +0000
New Group LA TEMATI-K Releases Single and EPK Sebastian Natal (piano) and Jhair Sala (percussion - of Pedrito Martínez fame) are making waves with their new, New York-based band LA TEMATI-K and their first single "Vuelve A Mi", which is currently #1 on our RADIO TIMBA player.

Also, Martin Cohen a.k.a congahead has released their EPK so you can meet the band and get to know them better. Shout out to salsero / engineer Willie Torres! Check it out.

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Wed, 08 Jan 2014 14:24:29 +0000
Big Noise From Havana: ENGLISH: Anyone who despairs about the current state of Jazz in the world need only look to Havana, Cuba to find solace.  We have written before about the musical renaissance currently underway among Cuban musicians living in New York, and Havana is simultaneously experiencing one of its own. This atmosphere of excitement and innovation was evident everywhere during Jazz Plaza 2013, the 29th International Jazz Festival in Havana.  You can read the rest of the article in English here...

ESPAÑOL: Cualquier persona que desespera por el estado actual del Jazz en el mundo sólo necesita mirar a La Habana para encontrar consuelo.  Hemos escrito antes sobre el renacimiento musical en curso entre los músicos cubanos que viven en Nueva York, y La Habana está experimentando lo suyo. Esta atmósfera de entusiasmo y la innovación era evidente en todas partes durante el Jazz Plaza 2013,  el 29º Festival Internacional de Jazz de La Habana.  Puede leer el resto del articulo aquí...

2013 Jazz Plaza (International Festival) - Havana - Full Report + Photo Galleries - Cuban Music News - Noticias de musica cubanaPhoto Gallery 1 - Havana Jazz Plaza International Festival

2013 Jazz Plaza (International Festival) - Havana - Full Report + Photo Galleries - Cuban Music News - Noticias de musica cubanaPhoto Gallery 2 - Havana Jazz Plaza International Festival

2013 Jazz Plaza (International Festival) - Havana - Full Report + Photo Galleries - Cuban Music News - Noticias de musica cubanaPhoto Gallery 3 - Havana Jazz Plaza International Festival

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Sun, 05 Jan 2014 10:14:40 +0000
Nils Fischer & Timbazo Nils Fischer & TimbazoNils Fischer with Timbazo singers
Alberto Caicedo, Fabian Nodarse "Huracán" & Nando Vanin

The second installment of our Eurotimba 2014 series is all about the new project by Nils Fischer & Timbazo. Following up their highly acclaimed debut CD ¡Gracias Joe Cuba!, Nils Fischer has brought together an amazing constellation of artists to do something new. Although he has not revealed the title of the new album to us, Nils did tell us that it will contain original material as well as some existing material á la Timbazo.  Check out the guest list: Lucrecia, Calixto Oviedo, Alexander Abreu, José Luis Quintana ‘Changuito’, Carlos Del Puerto, Julito Padrón, Amik Guerra, Jan Hartong, Ernesto Paz, Bart Platteau and Volkan Bayda.

Below is a promo video with clips of Timbazo and the recording sessions. Timbazo is doing something a little different with this album. In order to fund the mixing, mastering and artwork for the album, They have set up a crowdfunding site. I asked him about this.

Crowd funding is increasingly common in the arts. What made you decide to take the step to use crowd funding?

I got the recordings together by emptying my own wallet, and I appreciate a lot the patient and passionate help of my friend, piano/arranging/soundtech-genius Marc Bischoff who also has a recording studio. The album is almost ready to rock right now, recordings are done. A big part of the production however will be the mix, the mastering, the rights, the artwork, promotion, shipping and so on. 

All that will still cost a lot of money. Nowadays (the CD market is down) you can't earn back your investments by selling the product, to break even is impossible. Besides that, basically all work is for free, too - the problem is that we love music... before I start crying, that's how I discovered crowd-funding which is great, it brings a positive side to all this. Everybody can become a part of the production,  you can already buy the new CD in advance so that we can bring it out. You can even pledge more and there are great rewards for those who do, it is all on the website www.voordekunst.nl. If we don't succeed, all money goes directly back to the pledgers.

The site is in Dutch, but there's a full English translation on my site at voordekunst. I also love to receive emails about it to info@nilsfischer.com

By the way: All who participate will be mentioned in the liner notes ;) Dear timberas & timberos: once more, we do need you to bring our music to you! Please check the possibilities here. Our deadline is 01. of March 2014. ¡Gracias mil!

Click here to read the full interview including videos and anecdotes from the recording sessions.

Timbazo is:
Nils Fischer - leader, congas, bongos, batá & other percussion
Fabian Nodarse “Huracán”- vocals
Alberto Caicedo - vocals
Nando Vanin - vocals
Marc Bischoff - md, grand piano, keyboard & Rhodes
Adinda Meertins - bass
Armando Vidal - drums, timbales
Wigbert Martina – bongos
Joe Rivera - trumpet
Alex Rodriguez  - trumpet
David Rothschild - trombone
Frans Cornelissen – trombone

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Mon, 30 Dec 2013 14:09:12 +0000
Coming in 2014: Jazz Plaza, Cubadisco and much more...

Bill Tilford went to Havana with a licensed cultural/educational "people to people" group trip organized by Plaza Cuba this month, and Jazz Plaza, the great Jazz festival in Havana, was going on at night during the trip.  Plaza Cuba's trips are a great way to visit Cuba legally in a structured, culturally-oriented setting, and while there, he also obtained a lot of information and recordings. Next month, you will see impressions (with photos) of Jazz Plaza, more information about the music industry in Cuba, more about Cubadisco (Cuba's music awards program and festival) and many, many CD reviews.   In the meantime, Happy New Year!

Bill Tilford fue a La Habana este mes con una licencia culturales / educativos "pueblo a pueblo" viaje en grupo organizado por Plaza Cuba, y Jazz Plaza, el gran festival de Jazz en La Habana, estaba pasando en la noche durante este viaje.  Viajar con Plaza Cuba es un gran manera de visitar Cuba legalmente en un ambiente estructurado y orientado culturalmente, y mientras allí, él obtuvó también un montón de información y grabaciones.  Proximo mes, ustedes verán unas impresiones (con fotos) de Jazz Plaza, más información acerca de la industría de la música en Cuba, más acerca de Cubadisco (el programa y feria de premios de la música en Cuba) y muchísimas reseñas de CDs.  Mientras tanto, ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! 

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Sun, 29 Dec 2013 17:46:50 +0000
NEW FROM SONEROS ALL STARS

Get ready, because European Timberos are coming out strong in 2014! First up is a promo with a medley of some of the songs from the soon-to-be-released Soneros All Stars production, "Lolo". I can't give you an exact release date yet, but I dare to say that "Lolo" will be part of the Timbero Summer 2014 soundtrack of your lives. Just check out the lead vocalists: Emilio "El Niño" Frias, Pascual "Sinsonte" Matos, Sixto "El Indio" Llorente, José Antonio "Pepitín" Rodriguez, Lesmer Solenzar and Pedro "El Nene" Lugo. Arrangements are by Jan "Yanesito" Bogdan who also plays tres and bass on the CD and did the production and mixing at Tres N'Bass Studios. The end of the promo provides the full list of credits. So enjoy the promo and stay tuned for an interview with Yanesito and more in my continuing series on Eurotimba 2014!

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Fri, 27 Dec 2013 15:56:10 +0000
Calixto Oviedo & Afro Latin Ensemble @CSULA Calixto Oviedo @CSULA

Begin the new year by expanding your percussion skills! In January 2014, Calixto Oviedo will be teaching a series of Masters Classes at California State University. On January 26th at 7:30pm Calixto and the Afro Latin Ensemble will offer a fund-raising concert with special guest stars Yosmel Montejo (bass) and Josiel Pérez (trumpet). Tickets are $15-$20. You can keep up with Calixto at CSULA via Facebook.

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Thu, 19 Dec 2013 04:13:21 +0000
Yosvany Terry and the Bohemian Trio

Click here for Tom Ehrlich's new gallery on Yosvany Terry's Bohemian Trio concert in NY.

And don't forget Melón-Branly-del Puerto at Yoshi's SF Monday night.

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Sun, 15 Dec 2013 00:08:01 +0000
Melón • del Puerto • Branly The Pedrito Martínez Group concert at Kuumbwa last night was the best I've heard them - I keep waiting to come down to earth but every time I hear this band I'm further convinced that nothing else comes remotely close in terms of crystalizing and extending all of the innovations of the timba era. It's to the point that it's not timba anymore - it's the next generation of Cuban musical genius. It would need its own genre name except that no one else can play like this. Local hero Erick Barbería sat in twice and some truly amazing sparks flew. If you're in LA, trust me - you need to drop everything and go to The Echo on Thursday night. The opening act is Changüí del Guaso - led by changüisero extraordinaire and friend of timba.com Gabriel García .

Meanwhile, back en la Bahía - Melón will be here Monday night with Jimmy Branly and Carlitos del Puerto for a historic "Havana Reunion" show at Yoshi's SF - see below. [Kevin Moore]

Havana Reunion at Yoshi's SF Monday, Dec. 16

This trio reunites three of the pivotal titans of the timba era who left the island and went on to conquer la Yuma as jazzistas: 

Iván "Melón" Lewis - arguably the greatest timba pianist based on his years with Issac Delgado - now tours regularly with megastar Buika (they play SF JAZZ from Dec. 12-15), won the Cubadisco award for his Latin jazz CD/DVD Travesía, and is of course the subject of four volumes of Beyond Salsa Piano.

Carlitos del Puerto, son of the Irakere founder, has played with nearly everyone: Chick Corea, Sting, Herbie Hancock, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder ... you get the idea.

Jimmy Branly played with Melón in Issac's band. Then, when Calixto Oviedo left for Europe, he took over as NG La Banda's drummer and is featured in Drumset Artists of Cuba by Chuck Silverman. Since moving to LA he's played with the likes of The Yellowjackets, Bryan Lynch, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, Lyle Mays, Flora Purim, Tom Scott, Celia Cruz ... it would be easier to list those he hasn't played with.

More important than their success playing other types of music is the chemistry and cubanismo they can bring to the table when they're only in each others' company and have no need to rein in their creativity. I've heard Jimmy and Melón together in LA (and of course you can hear them on Issac's El año que viene), and Jimmy and Carlitos play together on many albums, but this will be the first time all three have played together since leaving Cuba. You can expect the kind of "Cuban ESP" produced by their shared experience in the one of the most explosive eras in Latin music history. See you there. [Kevin Moore]

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Tue, 10 Dec 2013 18:55:39 +0000
Pedrito Martínez Group

PMG played even better than last time to a packed house at SFJAZZ - and signed copies of their new CD. Tonight they'll be at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz, CA. See you there! [Kevin Moore]

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Mon, 09 Dec 2013 06:07:52 +0000
Latin Jazz Nominees in the 56th GRAMMY® Awards Musicians born in Cuba figure prominently in four of the five nominees in the Latin Jazz category of the 56th GRAMMY® Awards, and two of the nominees (Yo by Roberto Fonseca and La noche más Larga by Buika) are good illustrations of why it can be a challenge to assign a genre to some of the best new music being made today.   Here are the nominees in alphabetical order by title:

Eggn by Omar Sosa.  Omar was born in Cuba and is now based in Spain.This recording's origins are in a commission from the Barcelona Jazz Festival.
You can read our review in English here

La noche más larga by Buika.  Although Buika herself was born in Mallorca and is still based in Spain, her key collaborators (including Musical Director Ivan Melón Lewis) have usually been Cuban in recent years. 
You can read our review in English here
Se puede leer nuestra reseña en español aquí 

Latin Jazz - Jazz Latin by the Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet.  This quintet is based in the San Francisco Bay Area,   This writer admits that he didn't see this one coming, but it's a quality album from a bandleader who was already a five-time GRAMMY® nominee. 
Not yet reviewed.

Song For Maura by Paquito d'Rivera.  Born in Cuba and now based in the United States, Paquito needs no introduction, and he now works in multiple styles. This time, he teamed up with Brasil's Trio Corriente for a Brasilian Jazz recording. 
Not yet reviewed. 

Yo by Roberto Fonseca.  Roberto was born and is still based in Cuba, and the group toured the United States earlier this year, electrifying audiences wherever they went. This recording won the Cubadisco Award in the Fusion category (it was also nominated in Jazz) earlier this year.
You can read our review in English here 
Se puede leer nuestra reseña en español aquí

Finally, one of the recordings that this writer had hoped would make the cut was Expectativas, the second recording by Manuel Valera and the New Cuban Express.  It didn't, but a video from the recording session was recently published on YouTube and is worth sharing: 

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Sun, 08 Dec 2013 10:54:22 +0000
Azúcar Negra in Lima Leonel Limonta & Anzúcar Negar in Peru

Leonel Limonta & Azúcar Negra are on tour in Lima and tonight they will play at Budu and at La Makumba in a concert also featuring Team Salsa, La Timba Criolla, Michel Maza & Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe. If you are in Lima, try to catch them at one of their upcoming concerts. Check back with us as we will be updating the Azúcar Negra tours page as more dates are confirmed.
Dec. 7 - Voodoo
Dec. 7 - La Makumba
Dec. 13 - Hipnotic
Dec. 15 - Salsa King
Dec. 24  - La Makumba
Dec. 31 - Salsa King

If you live in Europe, Azúcar Negra will be back during March/April 2014. In the meantime here is their latest video, the title track from the new CD "A bailar con tacones". 

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Sat, 07 Dec 2013 12:18:19 +0000
Giraldo Piloto y Klímax Europe 2014 Giraldo Piloto y Klímax Giraldo Piloto & Klímax

Following up on their brilliant 2012 CD "Todo está bien" (read Bill's review here) , Giraldo Piloto & Klímax are back with a new video, new songs and concerts in Peru and Europe. Piloto took a moment to tell us about the new songs, the next CD and their plans for 2014, which include the Latin Festivalen in Norway! Read his comments below and then check out the new video, which is another hit for the band! Click here for the tours page, which will be updated soon with more concert dates.

Can you tell us about the new video "Si te descuidas"?

In the new video by Klímax we are presenting the first single from the group's new CD that will be ready in mid-2014, and we are introducing the new singers on coros, Raimel and Victor Andy. The composer is Noel Díaz Cruz and the arranger is Yusef Díaz. We already have other songs that we are presenting in our concerts and their titles are: “La ternerita” and “Aquí estoy”. They have all been popular with the dancers.

Plans for2014?

On the 15th of this month will be participating in a concert in Lima, Peru with Tania Pantoja and Ángel Bonne, and for 2014 we will have several presentations in Scandinavia, primarily in Norway from January 24 until February 2. In March I will do various collaborations and hold masters classes in the USA via the company Lucumi Prods of Mrs. Peggy Jo Oliva, who will in turn organize a tour for June with the whole band for the USA.

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Wed, 04 Dec 2013 09:30:38 +0000
Una Carta Abierta a Juan Formell

(Source of photo: EGREM's Facebook page)

Felicitaciones a Juan Formell por su Premio a la Excelencia Musical de la Academia Latina de la Grabación®!   Se puede leer más aquí...

Congratulations to Juan Formell for his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Recording Academy®!   You can read more here...

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Tue, 26 Nov 2013 18:58:47 +0000
Two New Tom Ehrlich Galleries Tom has been busy in NY, catching two great pianists - Osmany Paredes at the Jazz Gallery and Manuel Valera at the Jazz Standard. Here are their personal websites:

Manuel Valera home page

Osmany Paredes home page

Manuel Valera - photo by Tom Ehrlich

Osmany Paredes, Yunior Terry - photo by Tom Ehrlich

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Tue, 26 Nov 2013 16:07:52 +0000
Peter Maiden's Septeto Nacional Gallery

Septeto Nacional has completed another great Northern Californian tour. Pete Maiden reports.

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Sun, 24 Nov 2013 17:12:45 +0000
Rebel Tumbao José Claussell - photo by Tom Ehrlich

Tom heard Rebel Tumbao at the Drom and loved them. Here's his gallery and a link to the Rebel Tumbao  site.

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Thu, 21 Nov 2013 20:22:08 +0000
One NYC Show Only! CHARANGA HABANERA this Saturday at SOBs In support of their new release "Se sufre pero se goza", David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera will play one show, this Saturday, in New York. So far it’s been a stellar year for La Charanga. Jay Z and Beyonce personally requested a “private” concert during their trip to Havana, which was a huge success and widely reported. They have announced the return of renown drum player and singer, Yulien Oviedo, to the group. 

David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera
Saturday, Nov 23, 2013 9:00 PM EST (7:00 PM Doors)
S.O.B.'s 204 Varick St, New York, NY 10014 - (212) 243-4940
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

They will also perform in various cities across the country. Click here for the list of tour dates.

DAVID CALZADO & su CHARANGA HABANERA Saturday,  Nov 23 2013 7:00PM doors / 9:00PM Sharp show $30.00 in advance  (age 21+)


Meanwhile on the west coast, the full photo gallery (click here or on any of the photos) for the Pacific Mambo Orchestra at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore is now up. THE MAMBO LIVES!!!

Pacific Mambo Orchestra 2013 USA TOUR feat. Tito Puente Jr.with special guests Marlow Rosado and Willy Torres - Livermore Bankhead Theater - November 13, 2013PMO co-leader Steffen Kuehn steps up to deliver a burning trumpet solo.
*right click and select open "image in new tab" to view in a larger size

Pacific Mambo Orchestra 2013 USA TOUR feat. Tito Puente Jr.
with special guests Marlow Rosado and Willy Torres
Livermore Bankhead Theater - November 13, 2013
Photos by Ben Torres & Michael Lazarus

Pacific Mambo Orchestra 2013 USA TOUR feat. Tito Puente Jr.with special guests Marlow Rosado and Willy Torres - Livermore Bankhead Theater - November 13, 2013Tito Puente Jr. front and center with Willy Torres on bongó and Braulio Barrera on coro.
*right click and select open "image in new tab" to view in a larger size

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Thu, 21 Nov 2013 04:23:41 +0000
Joaquín Pozo Photos

Here's Tom's latest gallery from Joe's Pub in New York. It turns out to be an urban legend that Joaquín Pozo is related to Chano Pozo - he's not (and we're fixing this at the LPM link). In fact, his famous relative is Jorge Pozo, the great percussionist and composer/arranger for Tata Güines and others.

Meanwhile, back in the Bay Area, Septeto Nacional will be in Santa Cruz tomorrow, Wednesday, and at Yoshi's SF on Thursday and Friday. They've sold out on previous tours so get your tickets in advance.

Book News: Up to my neck in Beyond Salsa Bass, Volume 3: Salsa, Songo and The Roots of Latin Jazz. Revelation of the week: the introduction of Van Van's Aquí el que baila gana, including its seminal use of the famous timba presión kick drum figure, is actually a paraphrase of Cortijo's 1960 classic Oriza (qué lo que pasa aquí? eh? qué lo que pasa aquí?). Rafael Cortijo y su Combo - especially from the late 1950s, is well worth a trip down memory lane. [Kevin Moore]

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Tue, 19 Nov 2013 17:40:42 +0000
Orquesta Pomo Releases "Mi Nena"

Orquesta Pomo has released their new single "Mi Nena" for free download at Noise Trade until November 19th. Don't miss out! From the 20th, the single will be available at iTunes and other digital retailers.

Founded in 2011 by Jonas Pomo and Cecilia Ferrer, Orquesta Pomo is Stockholm's latest contribution to the world of timba. The band plays mainly original material composed and arranged by Cecilia and Jonas. Their style is a mix of timba with soul, jazz and pop also blending with salsa from Colombia and Puerto Rico. Lead vocals on "Mi Nena" are by guest artist Thomas de Paula Eby, lead singer of Calle Real. Check it out and stay tuned for the video which is scheduled for release soon!

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Sun, 17 Nov 2013 11:35:18 +0000
Charanga Habanera plays Latin Grammy Street Party in Miami *The PMO Show is today at 7:30. Come on out Bay Area casineros and dancers....and represent! BankHead Theater in Livermore (click here for tickets).

The PACIFIC MAMBO ORCHESTRA comes close to home mid-way through their first national tour, playing the BankHead Theater in Livermore on Wednesday, November 13th (click here for tickets). Their show features Tito Puente Jr,  2013 Tropical Latin album Grammy Winner Marlow Rosado and ex-Spanish Harlem Orchestra singer Willy Torres . There were 1200 strong at their November 1st show  in Albuquerque New Mexico's Popejoy Hall. Come on out Bay Area people and represent! 

Pacific Mambo Orchestra feat. Tito Puente Jr. at the BankHead Theater in Livermore - Cuban Music News - Noticias de musica cubana

TIMBA.com's Chicago correspondent Bill Tilford recently posted a live concert review of the October 26 PMO show in Gary, Indiana. You can check that out here . Go PMO!!


A few days ago it was announced that David Calzado y La CHARANGA HABANERA  will be performing at the Latin Grammy Street Party in Miami on Sunday, November 6, 2013. Other artists include  Leslie Cartaya, Kat Dahlia, Oscar D'Leon , Domino Saints, Periko & Jessi León, Rigu, and Writesounds. 

Charanga Habanera plays Latin Grammy Street Party in Miami - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubana

Then event will take place in Hialeah on West 16th Avenue between 37th & 42nd St . Great to hear some TIMBA in the Latin Grammy Street Party program!  It's about time already.

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Wed, 13 Nov 2013 16:27:00 +0000
SE SUFRE PERO SE GOZA! David Calzado y sy=u Charanga Habanera - Se sufra pero se goza "Se sufre pero se goza" Charanga Habanera 2013

On the eve of the US tour by David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera, EGREM has announced the release of the new CD "Se sufre pero se goza". The official release will take place at the November 16th concert @La Covacha in Miami, where Blue Night Entertainment will have 500 CDs for sale to concert attendees. If you can't make any of the concerts, EGREM says the CD will be available for digital download next week.

The arrival of La Charanga to the US was delayed due to the overload of work at the American Interests Section. Although the visas were issued, the passports didn't get returned to the band until November 7th. The November 8th concert in Washington has been rescheduled for November 22nd and the band will arrive today for the Latin Grammys concert. Click here to read more of the details directly from the press release by David Calzado.

La Charanga will perform 14 concerts during the tour. Click here for the list of concert dates . Below is a photo of the current singer line-up complete with nicknames so you can familiarize yourself with any changes since last you saw the band. A gozar!

La Charanga Habanera 2013 The Charanga Habanera singers. Photo courtesy of  EGREM 

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Sat, 09 Nov 2013 03:31:39 +0000
Interview with Calle Real @ El Palacio Real Interview with Calle Real

Calle Real is hard at work writing and recording new songs as they prepare for a busy tour season in 2014. They are already booked to play at Rumba y Candela 4 in Strasbourg, France on February 14, 2014 and have plans for tours of the US and Argentina...more information is pending. 

In the meantime, on September 15, 2013 Calle Real performed in front of the Royal Palace in Stockholm at the celebrations for the 40th anniversary of King Carl XIV Gustav as Regent of Sweden. During the break between sets I took the opportunity to talk to Harry Wallin (drums/pailas), Gunnar "El Dony" Thullberg (piano) and Thomas de Paula Eby (lead vocals) about the concert, the tour of Peru and Chile and plans for the future. The video interview also includes clips from the concert where they performed two new songs "Hoah 2013 edition" and "Oye". There is also footage from Peru courtesy of Luis Ángel Gonzáles Taipe, Jesús Nimbona & Alberto Orbegoso. Audio from the Stockholm concert is by Francisco Hernández.

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Mon, 04 Nov 2013 12:11:51 +0000
Manuel Valera & NCX (New Cuban Express) CD Release Party

Expectativas, the killer new album by Manuel Valera & New Cuban Express (aka NCX), has been out since September, and if you listen to any of the best Latin Jazz radio programs, you have probably already heard at least parts of it, but other touring obligations of the members (including Manuel's own time in India and Europe) have delayed the official CD release party until now.  The first New Cuban Express album brought home a GRAMMY nomination, and this one is as good or better,  If you have the opportunity to catch this performance, it is a don't miss.  The details:

Manuel Valera & New Cuban Express
November 6, 2013, 7:30pm & 9:30pm - Jazz Standard,  116 East 27 Street, NY, NY
Musicians:  Manuel Valera, piano and keyboards; Yosvany Terry, saxophones and checkere; Tom Guarna, guitar; John Benitez, bass; Paulo Stagnaro, percussion; Ludwig Afonso, drums

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Sun, 03 Nov 2013 09:51:37 +0000
Havana D'Primera on Tour Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera in Stockholm

Last night I had the great pleasure of seeing Havana D'Primera in Stockholm. I haven't seen them live since 2010, so the anticipation was tremendous. Havana D'Primera is a band that appeals to dancers and musicians alike, and both groups were well represented at the concert, which was arranged by Club Mambo and El Barrio. A full report is coming but in the meantime, I want to urge you to find a concert near you. In 2013 Havana D'Primera has toured every continent with the exception of Africa and Antarctica. There is a reason for this exceptional popularity: their remarkable combination of first-class musicianship and heart.

There are seven dates remaining in the European Tour. Tonight they perform in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Click here for Havana D'Primera's full concert schedule to date. They return to Cuba November 12th and head to Venezuela November 13th where they will give three concerts before returning to Havana. If you are attending Baila en Cuba 2013, you will see Alexander and the guys on November 27th as part of the prodigious concert line-up.

Members of the "Swedish Timba Mafia" @ Havana D'Primera in Stockholm
Stockholm Timberos representing @ Havana D'Primera

Members of Calle Real, La Liga Habanera, Orquesta Pomo and La Jugada were there, as well as musicians from several other Stockholm timba groups.

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Sat, 02 Nov 2013 12:16:20 +0000
Yosvany Terry y Los Parranderos

On the heels of his arará-jazz project, Yovany Terry has turned his attention to the Parrandas tradition of Remedios region of Cuba. He describes it as follows: "Parrandas is a remarkable, locale-specific cultural tradition that has survived the passage of time and the vast gulf of racial and social differences. “Las Noches de Parrandas” represents the marriage of two very different cultures that united to create a unique, important and enduring tradition. In the Parrandas, Spaniards and Africans gathered together to contribute their cultural and artistic energies and create an extraordinary synthesis transcending differences of race, social status, economics, religion and language." Click here for Tom Ehrlich's gallery.

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Thu, 31 Oct 2013 19:08:51 +0000
The Arsenio Rodríguez Project José Mangual, Jr. - Yoshi's SF - photo by Tom Ehrlich

Tom Ehrlich files this photo-report from the recent SF appearance of the Arsenio Rodríguez Project. Stay tuned for news on a related tour featuring big band arrangements of Arsenio classics. Next up from Tom is coverage of Yosvany Terry y los Parranderos.

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Tue, 29 Oct 2013 20:06:16 +0000
DALE LO QUE LLEVA Planet Records has just uploaded "Dale lo que lleva" to YouTube. It is the official video of the new single by Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor featuring world renowned Cuban dancer Maykel Fonts on vocals! The song in a nutshell is about the two Maykels, both of whom learned their art more or less on the street, rather than through the Cuban schools of the arts, and both of whom have gone on to international fame. It is a fun, dancable song even if neither of the Maykels is really a lead vocalist. The video is great fun with some footage of Maykel F trying to teach Maykel B som dance moves.

Currently Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor are in Peru for two weeks where they will have their official CD release for "A toda máquina" on October 30th at Drama. On November 3rd the band will do their first ever 2 hour concert in Peru at Guajiros Room in Tiro Libre. Click here for the full list of concet dates in Lima.

Dale lo que lleva

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Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:48:58 +0000
John Santos-Raúl González Rumba Report Tom files this special report on an event featuring John Santos and Raul Gonzalez Brito "Lali" from Havana, Cuba. It's Lali's first tour performing in the United States.

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Sun, 27 Oct 2013 16:41:26 +0000
The Curuyé Report from LA One of our long-standing and most elusive goals at timba.com has been to find one or more great writers in every area with a strong Latin music scene. This month we've filled two of the top cities on our wish list: New York (Ian Stewart's Gotham Report) and Los Angeles (Kay Torres' Curuyé in LA). We're still looking for regularly reporting from Lima, Miami, and ... oh yeah, Havana.

Speaking of Havana, Bob Fernández talked to Pupy's conguero Duniesky Barretto, who confirmed that both Manolín and Issac both now have working bands in Havana. We reported last week that Manolín had been touring around the island with Pachito Alonso, but now he's played Casa de la Música under his own name. If Issac and el Médico recruit some young geniuses from la ENA start cranking out new material, the level of competition could rise exponentially. Keep your fingers crossed. In other news, two popular young singers, El Noro and El Niño, have left Pupy and Revé respectively to form their own bands and there's some hope that Pupy will finally tour the US again late this year. [Kevin Moore]

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Sat, 26 Oct 2013 05:48:38 +0000
Grupo Contrabando - New TIMBA Videos - Havana D' Primera The Boyz from Belguim (via Cuba) Andrés (El Paisa) Fernández and Dennis Nicles of Grupo Contrabando just released the new video of their 2013 single FE CON BENDICIONES. The bassist Dennis also produced, recorded and mixed the tune. Keep the hits coming! 

http://www.grupo-contrabando.com
Director del grupo de música cubana de Bélgica "Grupo Contrabando" -- Andrés Fernández Ordóñez -- y el bajista / ingeniero / productor Dennis Nicles presentan su nuevo sencillo "Fé Con Bendiciones" (canta Fernando Blanco Moya). 

Trombón: Andrés Fernández (Director)
Voz Principal: Fernando Blanco Moya
Piano: Thomas Bottcher
Congas: Amel Serra
Timbales: Gilberto Quevedo
Saxo Tenor: Ruben Valle
Coros: Victor Pedroso, Rubén Hernández, Andrés Fernández 
Bajo / Grabacion / Mezcla / Productor: Dennis Nicles Cobas
Masterización: Michael Lázarus de http://latinmusicmastering.com

http://twitter.com/Contrabandomus1
http://www.facebook.com/elpaisatrombom
http://www.andresfernandezordonez.com


Harder to pin down is the new video from Alexander Abreu y Havana D' Primera.. La Bailarina, as it keeps popping up on different youtube channels and various sites touting it as an exclusive. We are not sure if this is the official channel but we would definitely like to know when it's really supposed to be hosted. In any case we hope this is it! If it is taken down please reach out to us in the comments section with the new YouTube channel location. Gracias.

Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera
Bailarinas: Lilianis Vázquez, Lidia Llanes, Lisandra Marín, Laurent Flores, Gretel Sánchez y Yusleivy (Yuyú) Vega
Dirección: Joseph Ros
Producción: Tania Menéndez
Producciones COLIBRÍ y YAQUIS PRODUCCIONES

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Fri, 25 Oct 2013 03:12:03 +0000
Beyond Salsa Bass V2 Published

Paperback Book - eBook - Audio Files 

A free audio download is coming soon. This one has four major sections: a theoretical course on creating the rhythmic breaks that Arsenio called cierres, a massive 120-page survey of Arsenio's Cuban recordings, a chapter on Cachao López and a chapter called "The Golden Age" that provides bass tumbaos for each piano tumbao of Beyond Salsa Piano Vol. 2. I'm already about halfway through Volume 3: Salsa, Songo and The Roots of Latin Jazz.

Also new to LatinPulseMusic is a new book by one of my favorite writers, Chuck Silverman. Among many other publications, Chuck wrote the sublime "The Funkmasters" on the rhythm sections of James Brown, one of the greatest method books ever published in my humble opinion. His new book is called The Latin Rudiments. [Kevin Moore]

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Thu, 24 Oct 2013 05:37:38 +0000
Orquesta Pomo - Mi Nena Good news just keeps on coming out of Stockholm! Orquesta Pomo will be releasing their new single "Mi Nena" on November 15th. The song was composed and produced by pianist and bandleader Jonas Pomo and features Thomas Eby, known to timberos as the voice of Calle Real, on lead vocals. "Mi Nena" is a reflection of the band's sello of mixing salsa and timba with soul and jazz to create a very modern groove with an appeal that goes beyond the usual salsa-dancing public. Distributed by Soneros Records, "Mi Nena" will be available at all the major digital outlets on November 15th and the video will debut in early December. In the meantime here is an all-too-short teaser to give you an idea of what's coming! You can keep up with Orquesta Pomo by "liking" their official Facebook page.

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Tue, 22 Oct 2013 14:48:07 +0000
Tom's Arsenio Rodríguez Project Gallery 1                  Perico Hernández and Nelson González - photo by Tom Ehrlich

Tom's first gallery covers the rehearsal at Lennon Studio, San Francisco. Next up, the concert at Yoshi's SF. 

Also, various updates to Peter's Maiden's section to reflect the major updates to his home site.

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Tue, 22 Oct 2013 03:24:31 +0000
Dayramir González at SOB's

Concert review by Ian Stewart and photos by Darwin Noguera.

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Tue, 22 Oct 2013 03:02:39 +0000
Peter Maiden's New Site Launched Peter finally put the finishing touches on his new site and it was worth the wait - historic artists like Celia Cruz and Cachao as well as all the latest timberos. Check it out!

Chocolate Armenteros

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Mon, 21 Oct 2013 14:37:43 +0000
Maykel Blanco in Lima Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor en Lima

On Sunday, November 3 Guajiros Room will present an exclusive two-hour concert with Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor! Lima is famous for it's impressive night life where clubs present three or four bands a per night and each band plays one club for an hour before moving on to another club. But the concert at Guajiros Room is something new! Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor will perform two one-hour sets and this will be an exclusive performance! 

The event is a matinee that will run from 3pm to 12am, with DJ Napa and Cato Timba DJ spinning, an animation by "El Team Black" - Martin Levalle & Muchi Vallumbrosio and three opening acts each performing for one hour: 4:30-5:30 Ángel Ramírez & El Tren Bala, 6:00-7:00 Robert Armas & Los Conquistadores de la Salsa and 7:30-8:30 Alaín Almeida & La Constalación de Cuba. At 9:00pm Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor will take the stage performing until 10:pm and followed by a second set from 10:30-11:30. It will be an unforgettable night for dancers!

The organizers advise fans to be on time! To manage the event they will be following the schedule closely. You can purchase tickets in advance starting on Wednesday the 23rd S/.15 or at the door S/.20. Don't miss this historic chance to see Salsa Mayor A Toda Máquina for 2 full hours! And stay tuned for a report from Lima including HD video!

For more information
David Gonzáles: 956253094
Hernan Vivanco: 989419456
Cato Timba DJ: 946043013

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Mon, 21 Oct 2013 14:13:54 +0000
Meet Gema Corredera In January 2013, Cubana Jazz vocalist Gema Corredera, currently a resident of Miami,  released a fine new album, Derramando Luz, that is winding its way through the early round of the 56th GRAMMY Awards process.  We'll be reviewing it soon, especially since Gema is backed by some familiar names including Yosvany Terry (who is Music Director for the project and co-produced), Yunior Terry, Manuel Valera, Osmany Paredes, Alfredo Chacón and Obed Calvaré.  Here is a video clip about the release:

Speaking of Yosvany Terry, congratulations Yos for being awarded the Cintas Fellowship 2013 for composers!  More about this in our Movimiento en Miami report, which also features a guest article by Eva Silot Bravo about Danay Suárez this week.  

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Sun, 20 Oct 2013 12:54:19 +0000
Manolín Announces His Return to Cuba Pachito Alonso & Manolín "El Médico de la Salsa"Pachito Alonso & Manolín "El Médico de la Salsa"

Manolín and Pachito Alonso are rehearsing together for a national tour of Cuba that begins at Teatro Nacional in Havana on November 9th. They took time to give an interview to the online magazine OnCuba in which Manolín announced his intention to move back to Cuba "forever". For now he will be performing with Pachito Alonso's band, doing a repertoire heavy on Manolín's songs. When the Cuban national tour ends they plan to take the tour international. If you read Spanish, click here for the interview with Pachito and Manolín. If you don't read Spanish do not despair! OnCuba also has an English site, but it usually is a few days behind the Spanish version as the articles are being translated. So check back with them in a couple of days.

This is the answer to many a timbero's prayers! Many people believe that it was Manolín's incredible popularity and his gift for lyrics and for putting together a stellar group of musicians that led to the great burst of creativity in Havana at the end of the 90s. When Manolín left Havana to begin what ended up being a 12-year period in Miami, suddenly the competitiveness decreased and the push for new innovations with it. Only time will tell if Manolín's return will spark a renaissance in a timba scene that has been moving more into reggaeton fusions and simpler pop-inspired arrangements. Will the good natured rivalry between Manolín and Paulo FG flare up again? Will Alexander Abreu find himself challenged in his current role as the most popular singer/composer in Havana? We all wait with excitement to see what develops!

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!

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Fri, 18 Oct 2013 15:45:28 +0000
Direct from Cuba: Grupo CANELA performance series in Miami All female (save for saxophonist Jesús Fuentes) Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz & Salsa Grupo CANELA is set to perform a series of concerts in Miami next month. Somehow this dynamic and versatile band has managed to stay off the radar of presenters in the United States until now. Founded in 1989 by general director Zoe Fuentes Aldama, the members are clasically-trained graduates of various universities in Cuba who also play Latin Jazz, Salsa, Son, Timba, Zouk, Reggae and other Caribbean styles.  They have performed extensively throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America  and have shared the stage with artists such as Chucho Valdés, Steve Turre, Phil Collins, Herbie Hancock, Los Papines, Miriam Makeba, Los Comodores, Danilo Pérez, David Sánchez, Michael Brecker, Cesaria Evora, Alfredo de la Fe and Orquesta Aragón among many others. 

"CUBAOCHO" -- Dia: 08 de November ( Friday ) -- Hora: 9:30 PM
*Ph: 305 389 8437 / 305 285 / 5880
Direccion: 1465 SW 8St. Cor. 15 St.Miami , Fl 33135
E-mail: robertoramos@cubaocho.com

DISCOTECA "ACHE SUPER CLUB" -- Dia: 09 & 30 November, 2013 -- Hora: 10.00 PM
Ph: 786-255-8356 / 786-256-0527
Direccion: 3600 SW 8va St. Miami, FL 33134
E-mail: glez6541@gmail.com

"CASA VIEJA RESTAURANT-BAR" -- Fecha: 10 November ( Sunday ) -- Hora: 11 :00 pm
Ph: 305-386 6638
Direccion: 103- 25 SW Hammoc Blvd.Miami , FL 10325
E-mail: estrella@corp@aol.com

"LA CUEVA DEL PIRATA" -- Fecha: 15 de November ( Friday ) -- Hora: 9:30 pm
Direccion: 1255 w 46th 27 Hialeah(Country ) FL, 33012

"MARACAS PLACE" -- Fecha: 16 de Nov. & 03 de Diciembre, 2013 -- Hora: 10:00 PM
Ph: 305 262 1032
Direccion: 7250 NW 11th St. , Miami FL 33126
Web: www.maracasplacemiami.com

"THE PLACE" -- Fecha: 17 de November ( Domingo )
Mantine Bailable con Rumba Yoruba 
Hora : 6:00 PM -- Ph: 786-400- 5136 / 305 -642-6994
Direccion: 833 SW 29th St. Miami , FL 33135

Direct from Cuba: Grupo CANELA performance series in Miami -- Cuban Music News -- Noticias de música cubana

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Fri, 18 Oct 2013 15:40:26 +0000
El Bicho by Petter de Chocolate El Bicho

Sweden continues to make its mark in the timba world. This time it's a new single by Petter "de Chocolate" Linde, who was one of Calle Real's trumpet players for many years. He has his own project now, and on the first single he has collaborated with rapper Lowcura and Thomas de Paula Eby on a scorching timbatón titled "El Bicho". It is available for purchase at iTunes,Amazon and Spotify. You can listen to it at Soundcloud, and get ready to move your feet because they don't get much faster than this!

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Thu, 17 Oct 2013 14:08:44 +0000
Revé Returns to Cócomo Tonight The Santa Cruz show was fantastic. Last chance for Bay Area fans is tonight at Café Cócomo - band scheduled to start at 10:00 - DJ EMV opens. See you there!

Rueda con Ritmo Performs with Revé - photo by Tom Ehrlich

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Wed, 16 Oct 2013 17:59:09 +0000
CD Reviews: Chuchito Valdés and Timbalive The newest recordings from members of the Valdés dynasty are doing well this year.  We already reviewed Chucho's Border-Free earlier in the year, and it is currently a Latin GRAMMY nominee (Latin Jazz); Chuchito Valdés also has two recordings currently nominated in the 14th Latin GRAMMY Awards (one in Latin Jazz, one in Folklore in a collaboration with Andean folkloric music legend Eddy Navia.) Here are reviews of Grand Piano Live and  Carnaval En Piano Charango

Bill Tilford doesn't doubt for a moment that the following statement will start a few fights, but in his opinion, Timbalive's new Con La Música Cubana NO! is not only Timbalive's best album, but also the best wall to wall Timba dance album (as opposed to Timba plus other things mixed in) to be released by a band based in the United States in many years.  Here's his case, before anyone else makes theirs, please actually listen to the album first...

While we're here, congratulations to Miami's Leslie Cartaya for her Best New Artist nomination in the 14th Latin GRAMMY awards.   We reviewed her eclectic solo debut CD, No Pares, a few months ago. She would be known previously to fans of the Afro-Cuban Funk band Palo!

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Wed, 16 Oct 2013 12:41:21 +0000
Pedrito Martínez Review from Gotham
We've just launched the Gotham Report, written by Ian Stewart of Timba Bass Corner and NYC Bulletin. The first entry is Ian's review of the CD Release Party Concert of the Pedrito Martínez Group.

And don't forget: Revé Tomorrow in Santa Cruz!

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Mon, 14 Oct 2013 20:09:25 +0000
Revé in Santa Cruz Tuesday!! The prodigal son returns - Lachy Fortuna is back with Revé after several years with Charanga Habanera photo by Tom Ehrlich - courtesy of Manuel Suárez and CultuCuba.

Someobody pinch me - I can't believe Elito Revé y su Charangón is playing 5 minutes from my house for $20 for the whole night! That didn't stop me from driving to SF to see their Saturday show at Cócomo. Click here for Tom Ehrlich's gallery.

Rueda con Ritmo performed at Cócomo and will repeat their choreographed rueda of De qué estamos hablando on Tuesday. The new tresero, pianista and singer were all great, but the highlight of the show for me was the amazing güirero, Maykel Díaz - wow - he plays his watermelon-sized güiro with a relentless groove and sound, and he catches everything. See you there!

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Mon, 14 Oct 2013 00:37:09 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Monterey Jazz Photos, Part III This incarnation of the BVSC has four top timberos: Rolando Luna (Issac, PFG, HdP), Andrés Cuayo (Issac), Kalunga (Klímax, Manolito), and Pedro Pablo (both Charangas, Rebambaramba). Here's Tom's gallery.

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Sat, 12 Oct 2013 02:07:24 +0000
Feliz Aniversario Máquina! Maykel Blanco by Cristian Muñoz Maykel Blanco @ Casa de la Música Galiano photo by Cristian Muñoz

Today marks the 9th anniversary of Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor also known as La Nueva Máquina de Cuba. Here in Europe they burst onto the scene with their first CD release "Recoge y Vete" and have remained at the top of the timba charts ever since having released five albums including their best-selling album to date, "A toda máquina", last December. Through planning and hard work they are today one of the most popular young timba bands both inside and outside Cuba. If you are in Lima, don't miss them October 31st @ Songo - Rumba Club. Congratulations to Maykel and the whole piquete ! Below is an interview I did with Maykel after the concert in Copenhagen during their European Summer Tour, including some concert footage.

June 21, 2013 interview with Maykel including concert footage

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Thu, 10 Oct 2013 09:41:16 +0000
Tom's Monterey Jazz Photos, Part 2 Part 2 features Joe Lovano and the Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors, Dave Douglas and Carmen Lundy. Part 3 will feature Omara Portuondo and the Buena Vista Social Club.

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Wed, 09 Oct 2013 01:58:52 +0000
The Pedrito Martinez Group CD Release

Tuesday Oct. 8 will serve as an important date for Cuban music enthusiasts in the New York metro-area, as The Pedrito Martinez Group will be holding a special concert celebrating the release of their much anticipated studio album. Cuban percussion laureate Pedrito Martínez and his distinguished quartet have established themselves as one of the most eminent NY ensembles regardless of style or category. In recent years the group has enjoyed an abundance of live performance opportunities few US-based groups in their genre encounter. Their impressive itinerary includes numerous concert dates across the continental United States and Europe, coupled with the band’s long-standing tenure at Guantanamera Restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen. This wealth of stage time has enabled the group to evolve and mature into one of the tightest and indeed most exciting ensembles in their idiom, resulting in raving accolades from critics and musicians alike.

The Pedrito Martínez Group consists of bassist Alvaro Benavides, percussionist Jhair Sala, pianist Ariacne Trujillo and of course Mr. Martínez himself. Along with their impressive instrumental prowess, all four musicians share vocal duties in both live and studio contexts, producing a group sound that belies their small size as an ensemble. The quartet’s self-titled studio debut is not only an apogee to the countless hours these great musicians have shared on the bandstand, but also serves to exhibit a different side of the group by featuring an impressive guest roster that includes Steve Gadd, John Scofield and Wynton Marsalis.

The show will be held at City Winery located at 155 Varick Street between Vandam and Spring. The music will begin at 8pm, with doors opening at 6pm. Further information on purchasing CDs and tickets is available from the group’s website.

Of course for those who cannot make this event, there is always the option to check out this excellent band every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday starting 8:30pm at Guantanamera Restaurant located at 939 8th Avenue between 55th and 56th. Reservations can be made via http://www.opentable.com/guantanamera.

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Sun, 06 Oct 2013 16:59:46 +0000
Calle Real Concert Report Calle Real @ Royal Palace   Stockholmers dancing to "Con fuerza" in front of the Royal Palace

It took me a while but I have finally published the concert report from Calle Real @ The Royal Palace in Stockholm. As you can see from the photo, although it was cold and rainy, people turned out to dance to Sweden's internationally acclaimed timba band. Calle Real is back at work busily writing new material after a hiatus. The concert report includes five videos from the concert - two estrenos to give you an idea of what is coming. I think you're going to like it! Click here to read the concert review.

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Sun, 06 Oct 2013 15:24:22 +0000
Revé in the US! UPDATE! The tour organizers have changed the schedule and the first concert will now be the October 11th date at Melones. Click here for the correct set of concert dates.

cuban music, musica cubanafrom the 2010 tour - photo by Tom Ehrlich

Elito Revé y su Charangón finally return to the US this week. They play Melones in Hialeah, Friday the 11th.

Next is San Francisco, Café Cócomo, on Saturday the 12th, then Santa Cruz's Moe's Alley on Tuesday the 15th, back to SF and Café Cocomo the 16th, then on to New Jersey on the 18th.

Stay tuned for more info and make sure you catch this incredible group. There have been a few changes since the 2010 tour, with Lachy "El Bello" Fortuna returning on lead vocals and a new pianist.

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Sun, 06 Oct 2013 02:12:46 +0000
Danny Lozada returns in new single by Hungary's BARRIO LATINO

Sometimes technology does make marvels. So this Timba.com reader from Hungary starts sending me some MP3s -- sequences of music he is working on for his band -- because he is looking for a timba singer. Questions, emails, Skype messages...but I never got around to listening to the music. Finally it's 2am one morning and I'm coding and I put it on. Cuerpo, mambo, bloques, BOMBA....man...it's all there! Who is this guy? Turns out it's a project called Barrio Latino. And they really are from Hungary.

Formed in 2005 by trumpeter and composer Tamás Bodzsár and a group of young jazz musicians, BARRIO LATINO is the first Timba orchestra in Hungary.  A full album is in the works with Italy-based singer and cubano Leo Wilber. Thanks to the internet, I was glad to collaborate with Tamás, playing bass and mastering this new single.

Free MP3 download here = http://music.barriolatino.hu -- full track credits here

With this first single from the upcoming album -- entitled "Con Clave Y Tambó" -- we give you the initial sample of the new sound of Barrio Latino, a track that counts with the participation of singer and "charanguero mayor" Danny Lozada. We sincerely hope you enjoy it and share it with your friends. 

Also on RADIO TIMBA, you will find a very diverse mix of Cuban music, with nods to our blogger Mayito Rivera, Calle Real, Paulo FG, Robert Armas y Los Conquistadores de la Salsa, Los Ángeles de la Habana, Tirso Duarte, La LIga Habanarea, Pupy y los que Son Son, Beny Moré, Conjunto Casino, Clave y Guaguancó, Andrés Fernández y Grupo Contrabando and the Pacific Mambo Orchestra.

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Wed, 02 Oct 2013 15:42:32 +0000
Roberto Fonseca at Monterey Jazz Tom's latest gallery features Roberto Fonseca's killer Latin jazz band at Monterey Jazz.

In other news, prepare for Revé! Saturday, Oct. 12 at Café Cócomo, San Francisco ($30 in advance for the whole night) and Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Moe's Alley in Santa Cruz - $20 in advance for the whole night.

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Mon, 30 Sep 2013 03:22:34 +0000
Arsenio Rodríguez Project - Rehearsal Report
Nelson González, Marco Díaz, Josiel Pérez, José Mangual, Jr., Carlos Caro - photos: Tom Ehlrich

The Arsenio Rodríguez Project plays two shows at Yoshi's SF tonight, Saturday. Tom Ehrlich and I were on hand for their rehearsal today and Tom's gallery will be up soon. This is an all-star band at the top of its game. Nelson González and José Mangual, Jr. are living legends, but every musician is a master: musical director Josiel Pérez and bassist Yosmel Montejo are familiar from their tours with Maraca; Carlos Caro (ex-Paulito, ex-Opus 13), Marco Díaz and Eduardo Herrera all hail from Vissión Latina; Niche Romero was in Manolín's incredible Cuban band of the 90s, Roberto Morris played with Sur Caribe in Santiago de Cuba and on lead vocals and clave is the amazing Perico Hernández, who captured the authentic flavor of Arsenio's masterpiece compositions. Both Perico and Eduardo channeled René Scull several times and gave me chills. Their all-Arsenio set list includes the drop-dead masterpieces Me boté de guaño, Dile a Catalina, La vida es un sueño, Kila Quiqui y Chocolate and many more. Don't miss this one. If you're not familiar with Arsenio - trust me, you'lll be addicted. Here's an article to get you up to speed.

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Sat, 28 Sep 2013 01:47:49 +0000
Latin Grammys: Cubans dominate Traditional Tropical & Latin Jazz The 2013 Latin Grammy nominees have been announced! Four (4) out of the five (5) nominees for the Best Traditional Tropical Album category are Cuban music artists (Sentimentales by Lucy Fabery and Humberto Ramírez is a release from Puerto Rico). Here they are:

2013 Latin Grammy nominees

  2013 Latin Grammy nominees
Un Siglo De Pasión    
Arturo Sandoval  
Label: E35
  La Canción Cubana
Ernán Lopez-Nussa y Rolando Luna
Label: Producciones Colibri/Cinquillo
(read our review)
2013 Latin Grammy nominees   2013 Latin Grammy nominees
La Habana Tiene Su Son
Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro
Label: Bis Music
(read our review)
  Vamos Pa' La Fiesta
Septeto Santiaguero
Label: Picap, S.L. 
(read our review)

In the LATIN JAZZ category, the both Valdés father and son recieved nominations. I would put my money on Border Free as our executive summary says it all. Read our review here. La resenà del disco de Chucho Valdés padre aquí. 

Another highight is a Lifetime Achievement Award for the leader of Los Van Van... Juan Formell. read below...

From LARAS - "Oscar D'León, Juan Formell, Roberto Menescal, Totó La Momposina, Palito Ortega, Eddie Palmieri, and Miguel Ríos will be honored with The Latin Recording Academy®'s Lifetime Achievement Award, and Mario Kreutzberger aka "Don Francisco" and Pedro Ramírez Velázquez are the recipients of the prestigious Trustees Award. These honorees will be acknowledged at a special invitation-only ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas as part of the weeklong 14th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards® celebration."

FELICIDADES JUAN!

2913 Latin recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award JUAN FORMELL - Los Van Van

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Thu, 26 Sep 2013 17:01:16 +0000
ROBERTO FONSECA TELEPHONE INTERVIEW
The Latin GRAMMY awards are getting most of the industry's attention right now, but the Lotus Festival in Bloomington Indiana will be presenting Cubadisco winner Roberto Fonseca on Friday, Sept. 27 at 10:30pm. Roberto's recording Yo won the Cubadisco 2013 awards (Cuba's equivalent of a GRAMMY)  for  Fusion and Recording, and it was also nominated in Jazz and Design.   Bill Tilford spoke with Roberto on the telephone Tuesday night, and you can hear that conversation (in English) here (audio quality is mediocre but listenable, and Roberto is interesting). 

Roberto is also opening for the Buena Vista Social Club concert at Orchestra Hall in Chicago on Sunday the 29th (if you haven't bought your ticket yet, that one is already sold out.) 

 

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Wed, 25 Sep 2013 22:49:47 +0000
Lily & Calixto Oviedo @ Café Cocomo Lily & Calixto Oviedo (Mi nuevo sabor)

Friday October 25th Lily and Calixto Oviedo (Mi nuevo sabor) will perform in San Francisco at Café Cocomo , uniting some of the great Bay Area musicians. Surprisingly this will actually be Calixto's first time performing at Café Cocomo, and is at the initiative of organizer Corey Raynor. Performing with Lily and Calixto will be Best Timba Bongocero Carlos Caro, legendary Peruvian bassist David Pinto, who Calixto remarks is one of the greatest bass players he has had the pleasure of seeing both on baby and electric bass, and completing the rhythm section is Peruvian pianist Mario Arseno Jr. The brass will consist of two trombones and one trumpet, El Niche Romero (ex-Manolín El Médico de la Salsa). Guest vocalist for the evening is Edgardo Cambon. This will be a night for all dancers so don't miss it! They will be performing a repertoire including timba cubana, son montuno, Puerto Rican salsa and even bachata.

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Wed, 25 Sep 2013 11:02:06 +0000
Arsenio Rodríguez Project Coming to Yoshi's SF

The Arsenio Rodríguez Project will be playing Yoshi's SF this Saturday night. This is an all-star group with New York legends Nelson González on tres and José Mangual, Jr. on bongó, plus Josiel Pérez on trumpet from Maraca's band and the Bay Area's own Carlos Caro on congas.

On Sunday, they fly to LA to play the Grenada in Alhambra.

Here's our new section on the band

In other Arsenio news, Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 2: Arsenio, Cachao and The Golden Age, will be out in a day or two. It has 120 pages on Arsenio. [Kevin Moore]

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Wed, 25 Sep 2013 02:09:31 +0000
Roberto Fonseca To Play Lotus Festival

Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival, a wonderful event that deserves a lot more national notice than it usually receives. This year's offerings include Cuban Jazz and Fusion artist Roberto Fonseca, whose recording Yo won Cubadisco 2013 awards in the Fusion and Recording (engineering) categories this year (you can read a review of Yo here).  Roberto is playing Friday, September 27 at 10:30 pm, and this show, which will be an interesting departure from what most US listeners typically expect from Cuban music concerts if the material from Yo is performed, is highly recommended. Click here for the Lotus festival's page, which includes a live video. While you're there, check out the rest of the festival schedule, there aren't any additional Cuban acts, but it is very impressive.

In Los Angeles, the AC Jazz Project is having its official CD release party for the new recording Conga Buena at the Catalina Bar and Grill in Los Angeles on Thursday, September 26 at 8:30pm.  This group is based in Los Angeles California and features veterans of MaracaKlimax, Afrocuba and Opus 13.  The leader, trumpeter/composer Josiel Pérez, is originally from Piñar del Rio, played with Maraca and Klimax, and is just getting established in the US after coming here in 2011. The group does both Cuban Jazz and Cuban dance music (Timba, Rumba, Son etc.), and some tracks are already on the radio in a few cities. The album is now available in CD Baby and iTunes

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Sat, 21 Sep 2013 18:05:49 +0000
Calle Real @ El Palacio Real Calle Real @ Palacio real 2013-09-15

Last weekend Sweden celebrated King Carl XIV Gustav's 40 years as Regent. Whether you are a royalist or not, you can't argue with the music selection. Calle Real performed as part of the festivities on Sunday September 15th in front of the Royal Palace, so I call it Calle Real at El Palacio Real. After getting the year off to a great start with the tour of Peru and Chile, the bandmembers were busy with various other projects. But summer is over; it's time to get back to work and they gave us a couple of their "new"songs at the concert. I say "new" because one is an updated version of "Hoah"and the other is a new version of Rasmus Faber's house song "Oye", which Thomas sang lead on. It is now a house/timba song. The full concert report including an interview will follow soon, but here is a little teaser from the Palace Concert: the "Intro" and "Somos Familia" and "Oye" from the second set. Stay tuned for more...

 

 

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Wed, 18 Sep 2013 17:13:47 +0000
"Renacimiento" by Pablo Milanés Pablo Milanés - Worldwide Release "Renacimiento"

Attention! Today Pablo Milanés releases his long-awaited album "Renacimiento" at iTunes! For more details about the CD see his Offical Website .

Track list:
En paz (Amado Nervo - Pablo Milanés)
Apocalipsis (Pablo Milanés)
Dulces recuerdos (Pablo Milanés)
Los males del silencio (Pablo Milanés)
Cual si fuera a morir esta mañana (Pablo Milanés)
Homenaje al Changüí (Pablo Milanés)
Lamento (Ho Chi Minh - Pablo Milanés)
Canto a La Habana (Pablo Milanés)
Amor de otoño (Pablo Milanés)
El otoño del amor (Pablo Milanés)

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Tue, 17 Sep 2013 05:34:03 +0000
Music from Cuba & P.R. carry prominent role in new feature film

After its much anticipated premier at the 2013 Los Angeles film Festival this past July, The House That Jack Built is a new motion picture coming your way after a nearly 20-year long journey. This was the last script written by Joseph Vasquez, whose 1991 film HANGIN' WITH THE HOMEBOYS was a rare Latino themed hit in the early days of the American Indie movement. With the blessings of Joe's mother, producers Mike Lieber and Sam Kitt (Love And Basketball) kept alive the idea of turning the script into a film, which was then filmed on location in New York by director Henry Barrial.  

Quick summary: With the hope of re-creating his gauzy vision of good times gone by, Jack is pot dealer who buys a Bronx building into which he moves his extended family. When his relatives fail to meet his nostalgic expectations, Jack tries to force them to conform. Instead, he learns a sad lesson about the strength and limitations of family bonds.

Music for the film includes Celosa, a Cuban son by 2013 Grammy nominee Raúl Lara, an old-school, Trio-Los-Panchos love song La Golondrina del Amor by boricua Willie "El Zentinela" Delgado, the Afro-Cuban grooves of Vissión Latina with Que Sabor Tiene Odalys, a lively plena from Plena LIbre with Que Rico Tumbao, the dark urban vibe of Hay Que Frontear courtesy of LG el Xtrasensorial and the ending scene cue from another boricua Tropmontune with Que Pasará.  


A red-carpet film screening of The House That Jack Built is scheduled for New York early October (stay tuned for the exact date). It will be the first film in a series called PROYECTO NEXT, sponsored by HBO.

The House That Jack Built - New York screening

Speaking of music in film, the Billboard Film & TV Music Conference is scheduled for October 29 & 30 at the W Hotel in Hollywood. Highlights include talks on the expanding role of music publishers -- the key players behind the scenes securing uses of songs for film and TV projects -- and a keynote address by Alexandra Patsavas, whose credits include "Scandal", “Mad Men”, "Hart of Dixie", "Gossip Girl", "The O.C.", the “Twilight Saga”, "Perks of Being a Wallflower", and the upcoming film “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”. Use the code LPM13 to register here.

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Tue, 17 Sep 2013 04:03:00 +0000
New Releases and Coming Attractions Available Now:  Expectativas by Manuel Valera & New Cuban Express

Expectativas is the second New Cuban Express recording, and like the first one, it is extraordinary. You can read a review of the recording here.  Better yet, an extended sample of one of the TimbaJazz tracks, Chamber Timba, is posted on manuelvalera.com
This is available now through CD Baby, Amazon.com and iTunes. The group will be performing at a CD release party November 6 at the Jazz Standard in New York.

Available September 17:  Conga Buena by the AC Jazz Project

Conga Buena is a potent mix of Afro-Cuban Jazz and modern Cuban dance music, and the AC Jazz Project, led by Josiel Pérez (ex-Maraca and Klimax) features alumni of many of Cuba's best bands. This recording features some heavy hitters like Luis Conte, Jimmy Branly, Kamasi Washington and Dennis Chambers.  The recording will be available for purchase from CD Baby and iTunes. The group will be performing its CD release party on September 26 at the Catalina Jazz Club in Los Angeles, California.

Available October 18:  Con la música cubana no by Timbalive

Timbalive is coming out with a brand new Timba album, Con la música Cubana no, on October 18. The group will be touring Europe in November 2013. More about the album closer to the release date, but in the meantime, Timbalive has been floating a single from the album.  Here is their official video of that song, Conmigo No:

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Sat, 14 Sep 2013 16:28:23 +0000
Michele Rosewoman's New Yor-Uba Historic Recording is Released Tom Ehrlich was present for most of the rehearsals, recording and two concerts of this 30th Anniversary New Yor-Uba project and has published the beginning of an extensive gallery/report.

You can buy the CD here.

Here are Tom's initial report and photos. A more complete report to posted soon.

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Tue, 10 Sep 2013 02:02:43 +0000
Final SJ Jazz Summer Fest Galleries Gallery 6 includes Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Arturo Riera's award ceremony and Vissión Latina.

Arturo Riera - photo by Tom Ehrlich

Gallery 7 covers the big timba finale: Wil Campa y su Gran Unión and the all-star jazz group The Cookers.

Wil Campa - photo by Tom Ehrlich

In summary, here's our coverage of this great event:

Tom Ehrlich 1 - Peter Maiden 1
Tom Ehrlich 2 - Peter Maiden 2
Tom Ehrlich 3 - Peter Maiden 3
Tom Ehrlich 4 - Peter Maiden 4
Tom Ehrlich 5
Tom Ehrlich 6
Tom Ehrlich 7

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Sun, 08 Sep 2013 04:45:09 +0000
Tom Ehrlich - SJ Jazz - Gallery #5 Click here for Tom's photos from the final day of this year's SJ Jazz Summer Fest. Wil Campa, Vissión Latina, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The Cookers still to come. Also a special tribute to Arturo Riera.

Now we know who taught Carlos Caro to play - dear old Mom!

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Sat, 07 Sep 2013 02:29:30 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's San José Jazz Summer Fest Galleries Here are the next two installments of Tom Ehrlich's SJ Jazz Summer Fest photos. Part III covers The Rebirth Jazz Band, Raq Filipina, and Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra.

              Leader and tuba player Philip Frazier of the Rebirth Jazz Band - photo by Tom Ehrlich

 

Part IV has Edgardo Cambón & Candela with Calixto Oviedo and The John Santos Sextet with all sorts of luminaries sitting in.

                            Edgardo Cambón & John Santos - photo by Tom Ehrlich

Here are Part I and Part II. More galleries coming from Sunday, including Wil Campa, Vissión Latina, Pellejo Seco, Natalie Cressman, Yosvany Terry and many more.

 

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Sun, 01 Sep 2013 03:44:07 +0000
Tom's Proverb Trio Photos from SJ Jazz

Tom's second SJ Jazz Summer Fest gallery is up - this one deals exclusively with Dafnis Prieto's  amazing Proverb Trio. They improvise everything - chords, form, lyrics, grooves - but it's not the abstract madness you expect from "free jazz" - the musical materials are very accessible to the ear so what you hear sounds composed even though it's improvised - truly amazing. 

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Wed, 28 Aug 2013 02:02:37 +0000
More Great Videos From Dayramir González and Ivan Llanes Dayramir González (see Dayramir González Brings it to LA and Beyond , July 16) recently sent word about another great video, Iyesa con Miel:  

Ivan Llanes  (see Ivan Llanes & The Cuban Way , March 30) checked in with one of his own, La Caliente :

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Wed, 21 Aug 2013 20:16:47 +0000
EL SON vs LA TIMBA Mayito Rivera photo by Tom Bauer

El titulo de por sí, intenta establecer una comparación basada en mi humilde experiencia, hoy comprendo mejor y perfectamente claro que el SON es una base fundamental para la vida de un músico Cubano. Fue y es una fortuna, una gran dicha, una suerte tremendamente importante, desde nuestra más temprana juventud, siendo niños, muchos colegas que hoy son grandes músicos cubanos, llamase cantantes de música cubana, o instrumentistas en general, todos o casi todos, tuvimos un comienzo, y por lo general para nuestra suerte, este comienzo fue el SON. Repito, estoy refiriéndome a los músicos que ejercemos, o que incursionamos dentro de este género - la música popular bailable. Todos tenemos una historia que contar de nuestra niñez, de nuestros primeros pasos. Seguramente muchos tendremos que recordar aquellos primeros grupitos (en el mejor sentido)…nuestras primeras formaciones musicales, de la etapa más joven. Estoy seguro que casi todos tuvimos - afortunadamente - esta experiencia cantando o tocando algún instrumento en grupitos, de cualquier manera, aquellos llamados COMBOS. Los cubanos sabemos que cosa era decir: armamos un combo, tenemos un combo, tenemos un grupito - emocionante sensación, recuerdos inolvidables. Aquello era la etapa más hermosa de todo músico cubano, el comienzo de sueños, ilusiones, esperanzas, y simplemente felicidad.

Pincha aquí porque, dicho esto, vuelvo al punto - EL SON.

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Tue, 20 Aug 2013 16:08:03 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's First San José Jazz Summer Fest Gallery Dafnis Prieto & Calixto Oviedo - photo by Tom Ehrlich

Click here for Tom's first gallery from Friday at the SJ Jazz Summer Fest - more to come.

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Tue, 20 Aug 2013 00:41:57 +0000
Peter Maiden's San José Summer Jazz Galleries
Yosvany Terry - photo by Peter Maiden

Peter Maiden has three new galleries from the San José  Jazz  Summer Fest, now one of the biggest jazz festivals in the world. Photos from Tom Ehrlich coming later this week. Click on each photo for the complete gallery.

Calixto Oviedo with Edgardo Cambón and Candela - photo by Peter Maiden


Arturo O'Farrill and Iván Renta - photo by Peter Maiden

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Sun, 18 Aug 2013 18:16:21 +0000
UN BUEN CANTANTE Por fortuna hemos tenido a través de la historia musical cubana, una larga lista de grandes y buenos cantantes. No creo necesario mencionarlos, se me van a quedar muchos. Pero vamos aunque sea a reiterar y mencionar a uno de ellos, sin dudas para mi criterio el más grande de todos, pero la pregunta que muchos no responden, es ¿¿¿POR QUÉ BENNY FUE EL MEJOR DE TODOS???

Benny Moré¿Habrá por ahí alguien que NO considere que Benny MORÉ, el de Santa Isabel de las LAJAS, fue el mejor? Esa pregunta lógicamente puede que exista, ya se sabe que para gustos se han hecho los colores…jaaa. Pero señores, simplemente hagan un análisis musical, un poco regresen y vayan a los tiempos aquellos, analicen la obra completa, escuchen sus interpretaciones, comparen a sus preferidos y saquen sus cuentas nuevamente puede que lleguemos a coincidir en la decisión final.

Pincha aquí y buscamos la explicación.


Vídeo de la visita que hice a la tumba de Benny Moré

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Thu, 15 Aug 2013 20:06:11 +0000
Los Conquistadores de la Salsa Announce 2013 USA Tour TIMBA.com is excited to announce the 2013 USA Tour of Los CONQUISTADORES DE LA SALSA, stars of Lima, Peru's established Timba music scene, and ready to meet their US based fanbase after their release of their 4th album CUBANO NATURAL. Confirmed cities to be announced soon -- stay tuned. Their current hit is Enamorao de la Habana ...watch it on their video page. 

Para más información escriba al -- for more information and tour booking contact
conquistadores.usatour [arroba] gmail.com

West Coast = 775.230.6501                                551.482.8766 = East Coast

click here for the full bio in English                        oprima aquí para la biografía en Español

click here to see their Videos                                               oprima aquí para ver los Videos

Robert Armas y los Conquistadores de la Salsa - 2013 USA Tour

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Wed, 14 Aug 2013 18:24:56 +0000
14th Latin GRAMMY Process Begins Latin GRAMMY season is upon us again, and there is always a tremendous number of recordings that are submitted for consideration by Latin Recording Academy (LARAS) members each year. Cuba is now actively including recordings by Cuban artists living in the United States and other countries in its Cubadisco Awards (their equivalent to the GRAMMY awards), and it is our hope that the members of the Latin Recording Academy will be equally proactive in listening to the best of Cuba's recorded output, some of which is now being submitted to the Latin GRAMMY process. Since these recordings don't have the same marketing and publicity support as major-label projects made in the United States or Europe, the article that follows may be helpful as a tool for learning more about these excellent but not always well-known recordings. 
You can read the full article in English here.

La temporada del Latin GRAMMY ha llegado otra vez, y siempre hay un gran número de grabaciones que se someten a la consideración de la Academia Latina de Grabación (LARAS) miembros cada año. Cuba está incluyendo activamente unas grabaciones de artistas cubanos que viven en Estados Unidos y en otros países en los Premios Cubadisco (equivalente a los premios Grammy), y tenemos la esperanza de que los miembros de la Academia Latina de la Grabación serán igualmente proactivo en escuchar lo mejor de la producción grabada de Cuba, algunos de los cuales se presenta ahora en el proceso del Latin GRAMMY. Dado que estas grabaciones no reciben tanto ayuda con marketing y publicidad como los lanzamientos de las etiquetas principales hecho en los Estados Unidos o Europa, el artículo que sigue puede ser útil como una herramienta para aprender más acerca de estos excelentes, pero no siempre bien conocido grabaciones.
Se puede leer el articulo en español aquí.

UPDATE:  Editor's Picks For Your Consideration

SALSA Pasaporte by Alexander Abreu and Havana d'Primera (Colibri)   This won the Cubadisco 2013 award for Popular Dance Music, and it is one of the best Timba/Cuban Salsa albums to appear in years.  You can read our review here

TRADITIONAL Vamos pa' la' fiesta by Septeto Santiaguero (Picap).  This won the Cubadisco 2013 award for Traditional Popular Music and features a number of prominent singers from the United States and other countries as guest artists.   You can read our review here

LATIN JAZZ + ENGINEERING PMO by Pacific Mambo Orchestra (Independent Release)  This Bay Area big band plays hard-hitting, old school Mambo in a way that is mostly old school but with some modern elements of electric guitar and drum kit added to the mix.  You can read our review here

LATIN JAZZ + ENGINEERING San Francisco by Brian Andres & The Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel (Independent Release)   A funky and daring collaboration between some of the most talented players, composers and arrangers residing in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Click here for more info.

RECORD + ALBUM + TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL + ENGINEERING Vuelven Los Amaya! by Los Amaya (Universal Music Spain)  A comeback album from the original kings of Rumba Flamenca. Features a veritable who's who of famous artists from Spain.  Click here for more info.

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Sun, 11 Aug 2013 18:51:19 +0000
Entrevista a Alexander Acosta Alexander Acost - Desafio

Alexander Acosta released his solo CD "Desafio" in November 2012 and has been touring this summer to promote the new CD. I caught up with him at a concert in Stockholm where he was collaborating with Yuly & Havana C, a band for which he was the first singer and also author of one of the songs on their first album. Alexander was born in Santa Clara and sang with bands such as Charanga Forever, Pupy y Los Que Son Son and Elito Revé y Su Charangón before going solo.

Here is a short interview with Alexander, including some video from the concert in Stockholm July 12, 2013, which was produced by Club Mambo an El Barrio. You can still catch Alexander during the summer tour season at the Latinossegor festival in Hossegor, France. I've been there and it's a beautiful location and a great festival so don't miss it! "Desafio" is available at iTunes and Amazon , as well as in hardcopy at the concerts. So take some extra cash!

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Fri, 09 Aug 2013 15:33:48 +0000
Not For Cubans Only, Part II:

(photo supplied by Alejandro Riera courtesy of Festival Cubano)

This is what success looks like from the air, and it's what happens when the whole world is invited to your party and decides to accept the invitation. This was taken during the Saturday night session of the festival. No more "small, upstart festival" for YOU, Festival Cubano.  Now you're going to have a rep to defend. You'll find that it's a mixed blessing but a nice problem to have. 

Click here for part 2 of our coverage with a story and photo gallery including Timbalive's closing act.

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Wed, 07 Aug 2013 14:49:57 +0000
Pacific Mambo Orchestra Preps for National Tour In preparation for their upcoming national tour, the Pacific Mambo Orchestra played the open air lawn to more than 3000 at the Civic Center Plaza in downtown Los Gatos. Sharpening their set and show, the PMO featured 6 saxes, 4 trumpets and 4 trombones...a veritable wall of classic mambo sounds. Visit the official tour page here.

Click HERE to view the full PMO Show Photo Gallery by Peter Maiden 

Jorge Pomar, Bass, with the Band

Co-leader & trumpeter Steffen Kuehn

Co-leader Cirstian Tumalan on the piano and keytar

The Pacific Mambo Orchestra in Full Swing

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Wed, 07 Aug 2013 14:28:30 +0000
COSAS DE CASA ...la musica en caliente Mayito River - "El poeta de la rumba" Mayito Rivera "El Poeta de la Rumba" photo courtesy of mayitorivera.net

Editor's Note: A venerable rumba poet and former lead vocalist of the legendary Cuban band Los Van Van, the now solo artist Mario "Mayito" Rivera joins the blog writing team here at TIMBA.com to bring us a fresh perspective from a singer's point of view.  Here, in his first article, we begin to recognize his direction and fundamental philosophy, and like all of you, we highly anticipate his views and comments. We will provide Mayito with uncensored support and sincerely hope you all enjoy his new column.

Nota del redactor: El poeta de la rumba, ex-cantante del la legendaria orquesta cubana Los Van Van, y ahora un artista solista, Mario "Mayito" Rivera, se una al grupo de escritores de TIMBA.com para traerles la persepectiva y punto de vista de un sonero y intérprete del género. Aquí, en su primer artículo, empezamos a reconocer su dirección y concepto fundamental, y como todos ustedes, esperamos sus opiniones y observaciones con mucha anticipación. Le brindamos el apoyo a Mayito sin censura. Que lo disfruten.

Resulta difícil analizar con certeza todo lo que está pasando dentro del mundo musical, tantos y tantos proyectos en todos los rincones del universo, todos tratando de abrir caminos y crecer. Es digno de admirar, de verdad es algo muy serio a tener en cuenta...y me detengo aquí, para hacer una observación que pocas veces decimos aunque en verdad creo que casi todos valoramos y sabemos. Me quiero referir al honor que representa para CUBA, para nuestra cultura en particular, el fenómeno mundial que se ha desatado a partir de la música cubana bailable...llamase son, timba , rumba y otros géneros. Se trata simplemente del solo hecho de HACER BAILAR, hermosa contribución al patrimonio universal de la humanidad, hoy el mundo BAILA, el mundo se mueve, con el ritmo de los cubanos...de nuestra humilde tierra, encerrada y asediada por las carencias materiales de todo tipo, carencias que todos los que allí vivimos sabemos y conocemos, hasta la hemos aprendido a soportar y casi tengo la seguridad que se ha convertido en un GAME para the daily life del cubano...

Dale clic aquí para seguir leyendo el primer artículo de
Mayito Rivera "El Poeta de la Rumba".

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Tue, 06 Aug 2013 19:40:14 +0000
Not For Cubans Only, Part I:

Every village has its idiot, and this one had a couple of them running about in the audience, but that didn't bother the 99.9% of the people who understood that the object was to celebrate, and celebrate they did.  The neighbors were all invited too, and they came to the party in droves.  Festival Cubano gave Chicago a much-needed Timba fix while scratching the itch for traditionalists and the youngsters as well, and for that, we salute it. 

Click here for part 1 of our coverage with a story and photo gallery.  Part 2 will follow soon.

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Tue, 06 Aug 2013 01:36:35 +0000
NY Cuban Jazz Alert! On Tuesday, August 6 at 7:30pm, Cuban percussionist/composer Enildo Rasua will be performing at the Jazz Standard in a quartet with Troy Roberts on saxophone, Ben Winkleman on piano and Ricky Rodriguez on bass.   Enildo is the creator of the "Third Hand" technique which uses three drumsticks to play both drum kit and other percussion instruments at the same time.  Enildo's career covers a lot of ground both as a performer and an instructor, and this should be worth checking out. 

On Wednesday, August 7 at 9:30 pm, 11:00 pm and 1:00 am, composer/pianist Osmany Paredes, another artist in the new wave of Cuban Jazz musicians shaking things up in New York, will be performing at the Zinc Bar with his quartet. Osmany's early career included time with Charanga America, Enrique Jorrin and Bobby Carcasses. He later founded the group Menduvia and now leads the Osmany Paredes Quartet.  He has also performed in several prominent groups, and this performance is also worth checking out. 

It is also worth keeping an eye on the calendars of both of these clubs because they have become two of the most important venues for this music in New York. 

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Mon, 05 Aug 2013 07:40:16 +0000
Chicago's Festival Cubano Finds Itself
Are we having fun yet?  Yes we are...

Despite dire warnings from a very small handful of self-appointed members of the Purity Of Our Party Patrol that the presence of a non-native taco here, an alcapurria there and the inclusion of some non-Cuban musicians in the entertainment roster would inflict irreparable emotional trauma on attendees, a very large crowd had a very good time at Festival Cubano last night in Chicago.  We'll bring you a full report in a couple of days, but if you are in or near Chicago, get there today, the last day of the Festival. Timbalive, Cachao Mambo All Stars, hey, if you aren't already hooked yet, go to thecubanfestival.com for the rest of the lineup, where and when its at etc. and that should finish the job.  

(What are those weird blotches in the center by Alfredo's head?  We don't know either, but we decided to leave them in because they remind us of our favorite science fiction movies, and we're curious to see whether anyone accuses him of being from the 8th dimension now.  We'll have crisp, blemish-free pictures of him and the band for you in a couple of days...)

One of the highlights was when Alfredo de la Fe, wired for sound, took his violin out into the crowd to solo.The crowd went crazy, and it got more fired up after that as the evening progressed. By the time Jerry Rivera was on, it was like a Rock concert, but in a good way. 

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Sun, 04 Aug 2013 02:13:56 +0000
Calixtomania

Beyond Salsa Percussion is featured in the September issue of Modern Drummer magazine, probably the most high profile exposure we've got since the series was launched. This is Calixto's second feature in the magazine, the last one being in 1994 as part of a "The Drummers of Cuba" series along with Enrique Pla and Changuito.

In other Calixto news, the maestro has actually moved himself and his talented family to Denver, CO. He'll also be featured on an ongoing basis as an "artist in residence" in conjunction Cal State LA's prestigious Latin Music graduate program. And he'll be playing three gigs in Northern California as part of Edgardo Gambón's "A Tribute to the Timbales" concert series. The first will be on Aug. 10th at the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest..

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Fri, 02 Aug 2013 22:19:24 +0000
Happy Birthday Juanito!
                                     photos by Tom Ehrlich-Yoshi's SF-2010

The master turns 71 today and is still cranking out the hits. No other figure (except Pupy) has managed to stay so consistently on the cutting edge with generation after generation of young audiences. For a trip down memory lane, check out our History of Van Van and our comprehensive Los Van Van Discography.


From the 2013 DVD "Van Van 40" by director Ian Padrón

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Fri, 02 Aug 2013 05:57:12 +0000
Festival Cubano in Chicago August 2-4

The 4th annual Festival Cubano, a 3-day celebration of Cuban music, will take place on August 2-4 in Riis Park in Chicago. The band roster this year has a really nice mix of local and out of town acts - some of Saturday's highlights include Xiomara Laugart and Alfredo de la Fe (the closing act that night is Salsero Jerry Rivera ). Sunday packs a wallop with Charangueo, Mambo Fino, Hector Silveira y su Orquesta, and Sureya followed by the Cachao Mambo All Stars.  Timbalive, which was nominated for a Cubadisco award in 2012, a rare honor for a dance band in the United States, closes the festival. For tickets and the complete schedule for this don't-miss event visit thecubanfestival.com

In Los Angeles, on Saturday August 3 at Vitello's, the AC Jazz Project is having a pre-release party featuring material from its new CD Conga Buena, which is due for release in September.  This band is led by trumpeter Josiel Pérez, who played with Maraca's band and Klimax in Cuba, and it brings together a formidable team of musicians (some of them cut their teeth in NG la Banda, Grupo Afrocuba and Opus 13, and percussion monster Luis Conte is the featured conguero). This writer has heard the tracks from the new recording, a potent mix of Jazz and Música Popular Bailable, and it is going to turn some heads when it comes out. For more information, see vitellosjazz.com

 

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Wed, 31 Jul 2013 06:55:45 +0000
Pablo Milanes - Amor de Otoño Pablo Milanés - Amor de otoñoPhoto courtesy of http://www.milanespablo.com/

Today Pablo Milanés releases "Amor de otoño"   at iTunes . It is the first single from his highly anticipated new album "Renacimiento" , which will be available worldwide from September 17th . "Amor de otoño" is a ballad that will delight fans for Pablo's signature use of harmonies, his graceful turn of phrase and that iconic voice.

Pablo has also launched an updated official website with his exensive discography, concert dates, a biography, photos, videos and more. Check it out and suscribe to keep up on the lastest news of this legend of Cuban music. In August Pablo will begin a national tour of Cuba, and in September he will perform in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Click here for concert dates.

Debut performance of "Amor de otoño" 19 May 2013 Karl Marx Theater - Havana, Cuba

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Tue, 30 Jul 2013 10:15:26 +0000
Michel Maza Acquitted? Michel Maza - Como gato de angoraMichel Maza

Fantastic news came out of Lima yesterday! According to Cato TimbaDJ at Facebook, the sublimely talented singer Michel Maza has been acquitted of the charges for which he has been incarcerated in the San Pedro prison (ex-Lurigancho) for the past 17 months. We have not been able to find any Peruvian news site with the exact details of the verdict yet which is supposed to come on Monday, but the timberos of Peru are saying that it is 100% confirmed. This is the result his supporters have been hoping for. We certainly hope it is true!

In January of 2012 Michel and another person were arrested and charged with kidnapping, intimidation and armed robbery of a taxi driver. While Michel admitted to having problems with drugs, he denied the other charges. Fans and friends rallied around him creating Facebook pages dedicated to him, but just one month ago reports came that he had been sentenced to 25 years in prison. The preliminary indications today are that he has actually been acquitted of those charges and will be released on August 7th for time-served for the drug-related charges.

Timberos around the world are already rejoicing at the news and in some cities parties are being planned in honor of the acquittal. We at Timba.com hope to soon see Michel back on stage. We have missed his extraordinary voice.


Michel Maza at 18 singing "Lola, Lola" with la Charanga Habanera in 1997
at the now-famous "Suspension Concert"

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Sat, 27 Jul 2013 07:03:50 +0000
Entrevista a Yuly Greenidge Yuly y Havana CYuly y Havana C

Yuleisis Greenidge, better known as Yuly, is the director of Havana C, a group that has been around for five years but really broke into the scene in 2012 with their mega-hit "Bailando". Yuly plays guitar, piano and percussion and is a product of the Cuban music school system, which she attended from grade school at Alejandro García Caturla to La ENA and El ISA. She was a member of the all-female salsa band Caribe Girls, but left for artistic reasons. 

Yuly founded her own band, but wanted a mixed group of both men and women. In 2009 they recorded their first CD "Bajo de control". It was a salsa CD but never really took off and received limited distribution. Yuly decided to change the sound of the band and looked for new ways to incorporate other Caribbean genres such as reggaeton, plena and bomba. The result has been a resounding success. Havana C has become very popular among young Cubans who appreciate this playful, light style of dance music. When the band is not touring, they have a Wednesday peña at Casa de la Música Miramar.

Havana C is currently doing its first tour of Europe together with Alexander Acosta, an ex-Havana C singer who is best known to timba fans for his time with Orquesta Revé and now for his new solo album "Desafio". I spoke with Yuly before the show in Stockholm about the band, what it's like to be a female director in a male-dominated world and about the direction that Havana C has taken. The video interview is in Spanish. An English subtitled version will be coming soon. So if you don't speak Spanish, check back with us in a week.


Interview in Spanish with Yuly

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Fri, 26 Jul 2013 19:15:09 +0000
Latin Music Shines at the 2013 San Jose Jazz Festival

24th Annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 
Friday, August 9 - Sunday, August 11, 2013
Plaza de César Chavez Park, Downtown San Jose, CA
Click HERE for tickets

The 24th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest is the hottest event of the summer featuring a stellar lineup of international stars, emerging artists and regional favorites. You’ll enjoy more than 100 bands on 11 stages playing jazz, salsa, Latin, blues, R&B, New Orleans and more. It’s the biggest live music event in Silicon Valley—the perfect summer experience with tasty food, wine and microbrews; jazz for kids and after hours events for the grownups.

click HERE to visit the full Event Page with extended video

Focus On Latin Jazz & Salsa
Every year, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest features more Latin jazz and salsa than any other festival in the West. In 2013 they’ve expanded their roster of Latin artists, presenting them on stages throughout the festival. Highlights include two performances by Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra; MacArthur “genius” grant recipient Dafnis Prieto, who performs a set that is 100% improvised; Transcendental Ensemble, which brings its take on the fiery street music of Bahia, direct from Brazil; Colombia’s Audiotrópico which delivers an authentic Latin sound carefully built atop influences of jazz, electronica and funk; Saxophonist Yosvany Terry, who merges sounds of his Cuban homeland with contemporary currents he found in the New York jazz scene; and the great John Santos Sextet presiding over our Latin jazz jam that you can take part in.

2013 San Jose Jazz Festival - Focus on Latin Jazz & Salsa

The ambitious lineup on this year’s Kaiser Permanente Salsa Stage will transport you to three major centers of salsa culture. On Friday, you’ll experience the sounds of New York played by the Josh Jones Ensemble performing a tribute to Ray Baretto and Louis Romero’s Mazacote playing NYC-style salsa dura. Saturday, it’s Puerto Rico—highlights include Edgardo & Candela performing with the great Cuban timbalero Calixto Oviedo and Orquesta Saboricua, playing Puerto Rican-influenced New York salsa. Saturday headliner Ricardo Lemvo takes salsa global by combining the classic sound with pan-African styles. On Sunday we travel to Cuba, birthplace of son, rumba and the contemporary timba, with the award-winning Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of San Francisco. Closing the day is Cuba’s greatest dance band, Wil Campa Y Su Gran Union, the salsa stage’s biggest hit at last year’s Fest. While the styles may differ, every band plays exciting, danceable music, so get out there!

General Admission:
Single Day: $20; Weekend Pass through 7/31: $45; Online until 8/9: $55; At Gate: $60
Click HERE for tickets

VIP:
Weekend Pass through 7/31: $250; Thereafter and at gate: $300; Sat or Sun, $150 per day
Click HERE for tickets

San Jose Rep Stage General Admission: Sat, Sun - $10 per day
Click HERE for tickets

Children (Ages 5 – 12): Daily Pass: $5; Weekend Pass: $15
Click HERE for tickets

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Fri, 26 Jul 2013 13:02:14 +0000
La Mejor Mujer: New Video From Ivan Llanes & The Cuban Way The latest from Ivan Llanes' group in New York...

Also, another New Cuban Express album, Expectativas, is due for release on September 3rd. This writer has heard the tracks, and this is even deeper than the first New Cuban Express recording, the self-titled, GRAMMY-nominated album by Manuel Valera's group. If you are into Latin Jazz (or any kind of Jazz, really), this will be an essential acquisition for you when it comes out. In the meantime, those of you on the East Coast can see most of the group (Joel Frahm is subbing for Yosvany Terry, but do NOT let that stop you for a second) performing at the following locations over the course of the weekend:

July 26-27:  Bohemian Caverns in Washington, DC
July 28: An Die Musik in Baltimore, MD
July 29: Hartford Jazz Society in Hartford, CT

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Thu, 25 Jul 2013 22:44:02 +0000
Vitali Osmachko y Su Timba Habanera Vitaly y Su Timba Habanera - Para Ti"Para Ti" by Vitaly y Su Timba Habanera was released on 15 June 2013

Vitaly Osmachko appeared on the international timba scene twelve years ago with "Desnudar tu cuerpo". The project Vitaly y Su Timba Habanera included the participation of stellar musicians from Cuba such as Ricardo Amaray, Carlos Kalunga, El Gallo, Amaury Pérez and Alexander Abreu. Well Vitaly is back in 2013 with his second CD, "Para Ti", again collaborating with los grandes. The new CD contains ten tracks. All arrangements are by Vitaly with lyrics provided by Giraldo Piloto, Ariel Cubría, Joaquín Betancourt and Alberto Alberto. Click here for an interview with Vitaly about "Para Ti".

A review will be coming soon to Timba.com but let me give you the short version: DJs should add this to their collection, especially DJs who play for a mixed crowd of casino and cross-body dancers. It should appeal to dancers of both styles. "Para Ti" is not available via on-line digital sales or at record stores. It is being distributed by authorized DJs. If you don't find a DJ in your area who is selling the CD, contact pelikanrec@gmail.com, or facebook.com/vitalyysutimbahabanera to order your copy.

Vitali Osmachko & Giraldo Piloto @ Abdala StudiosGiraldo Piloto & Vitaly Osmachko at Abdala

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Sat, 20 Jul 2013 09:20:35 +0000
Buena Fe Update Buena Fe ensayando para los conciertos de Corea del Sur Buena Fe rehearsing with for the concerts in South Korea
Photo courtesy of Buena Fe (PÁGINA OFICIAL)

UPDATE: The concert dates for South Korea are August 2nd at 8:00, 3rd at 19:00 and 4th at 17:00. This facebook link includes instruction on how to book your ticket. Tickets are free but you should book your seat in advance to ensure you get one! Click here for all the information on the concerts and how to book your ticket by fax or e-mail.

Tonight Buena Fe will perform at La Tropical in Havana, giving Habaneros a sneak peek at the show they have put together for their debut performance in South Korea, which will be part of the Festival Cubano del Arte y la Cultura for Martí Cultural Day. The South Korea show will include Cesar López and Habana Ensemble, and the Habana Compas dance company. There will be also an exhibition by photographers Roberto Chile, Julio Larramendi and Gabriel Dávalos .  The event takes place at the beginning of August, although the actual concert date has yet to be announced. Buena Fe will soon be updating their Facebook page with the times, dates and locations. If you happen to be in Asia, this may be your best chance to see the band short of going to Cuba. So keep an eye https://www.facebook.com/buenafe.oficial !

Prior to South Korea, "El Duo" - i.e. Israel and Yoel will travel to El Salvador for two concerts along with trovador Eduardo Sosa:
July 27, 2013 - Santa Ana, El Salvador- Estudio y Lucha @ Teatro Nacional de Santa Ana 6pm
July 28, 2013 - San Salvador, El Salvador- Estudio y Lucha @ UCA Auditorio Ignacio Ellacuría 4pm

In Timba-related Buena Fe news, Israel and Yoel sing with Lachy on the updated version of "Esa Mujer" on the new 2-CD set by Elito Revé y Su Charangón. "La Aplanadora de Cuba" contains 24 songs: 12 remakes interpreted by singers of the charangón together with stars such as Gilberto Santa Rosa, Mayito and Haila, as well as 12 new songs. This is a must have for timberos! In a recent interview by Marino Luzardo at Suena Cubano , Israel said that they worked out an arrangement that was a mix of both styles. Certainly Buena Fe's own changüí fusion "Pi 3,14" was a big hit for the band in 2010/11. Although Israel has written songs for Pedrito Calvo, Bony & Kelly and La Charanga Habanera, this is the first time that they actually have recorded with a timba band, to my knowledge. If someone has other information, let me know.

I leave you with the song (not timba) that has become a summer 2013 anthem in Cuba, from their latest CD,"Dial" , "Volar sin ti" featuring my favorite gallego, Andrés Suárez .

Buena Fe - "Volar sin ti" feat. Andrés Suárez from the CD "Dial" (2013)

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Fri, 19 Jul 2013 12:23:15 +0000
Dayramir González Brings It To LA and Beyond In 2007, Cinquillo (Colibri's main label for modern music) released a truly remarkable debut recording by young Cuban composer and pianist Dayramir González titled  Dayramir & Habana enTRANCe. It justifiably won three Cubadisco awards that year for Best Debut Album, Best Jazz Album and Best Engineered Recording. In an alternate timeline, he would have cranked out a series of recordings that would have put him front and center of those of us who follow Jazz and Fusion, but he chose instead to continue his studies including most recently at Berklee, where he was the first Cuban national to receive a full scholarship. 

Dayramir will be in California until August, and those of you in or near Los Angeles can check him out on Sunday, July 21 at the Catalina Bar and Grill:

Click here for his full bio, which is already impressive.  Here's a promotional video to give you a taste of what they are about:

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Tue, 16 Jul 2013 08:28:41 +0000
Calixto Oviedo in the US Tributo Al Timbal - Edgardo & Candela feat. Calixto OviedoEdgardo Cambon & Candela present tributo al Timbal featuring guest Calixto Oviedo

To say that Calixto's recent work in Denver, Colorado has gone well is an understatement. He started out 2013 with a successful debut concert of his new timba orchestra, a project with bassist Armando Santoyo, before heading back over to Europe for concerts and Masters Classes. He has recently returned to the US after a tour of Japan and has already been featured in an article in the Wall Street Journal concerning his recent concert at Jazz Standard in New York as part of their Afro-Cuban series. You can read the article at WSJ website.

Calixto Oviedo in the Wall Street JournalCalixto Oviedo in the Wall Street Journal

Beyond Salsa Percussion
Calixto followed New York with two concerts in Boston and will now be performing in Denver before heading to the West Coast for eight concerts with Edgardo Cambon in August.  Although he's officially in the US now, you can expect him to keep up his busy travel schedule, so click here to find a concert near you! 

If you are a musician but haven't had an opportunity to take part in one of Calixto's Masters Classes, check out the Beyond Salsa Percussion series volumes 2 & 3.

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Mon, 15 Jul 2013 15:39:13 +0000
Chicago Gets Its Clave On The next three weeks are a great time for both Jazz and dance music in Chicago.

First up, tonight (Sunday, July 14) Hector Silveira brings some seriously good Salsa Cubana (the modern kind) to the 39th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival at the Dusable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place, Chicago. There is also other entertainment throughout the day, and this group hits at 7pm.   Hector fronts one of Chicago's best dance bands, but he also carefully rations his performances, so catch him while you can. 

Next, on Friday and Saturday, July 19-20, the 7th Chicago Latin Jazz Festival at the Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1359 N. Sacramento Av in Chicago brings Jane Bunnett, Hilario Duran and Candido Camero to perform together in trio on Friday and Bobby Sanabria's Quarteto Ache on Saturday. Hilario is a phenomenal Cuban pianist who is now based in Toronto; Candido, who is now 92 years old, is one of the giants of the music, and Jane, also based in Canada, began doing cooperative recordings with musicians in Cuba over two decades ago. New Yorker Bobby Sanabria just came off his 7th GRAMMY nomination.   For the complete schedule, click here. 

TImbalive to join Festival Cubano lineup:   Festival Cubano (August 2-4, Riis Park, Chicago) now has Timbalive on the bill for the final day in place of Manolin.   Buy your tickets now for a discount at Festival Cubano's website

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Sun, 14 Jul 2013 11:10:58 +0000
PMG Photos, Issac, Book News, Rumor Mill

We're now getting close to catching up with the timbanado that hit the Bay Area last month: 5 HdP galleries and about 6 videos; selected Mayimbe shots, soundcheck photos from PMG in SF, and now Tom's PMG gallery from the mind-boggling Santa Cruz show. Still to come are the videos from this show.

PMG comes to the Mendocino Music Fest this coming Friday, July 26.

Everything else is just rumors - maybe Manolito, maybe Revé - keep your fingers crossed, and don't forget Issac in Boston for free on Thursday (see previous post).

Book news - Tirso Duarte is done and on sale at createspace and LPM. Now about 50% done with Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 2. Volume 1 ended with Arsenio, and Volume 2 begins with the most adventurous Arsenio survey yet - the cierres and diablos of almost 50 tracks - Arsenio, my friends, Arsenio - what can I say? Everything keeps coming back to the blind tresero from Bolondrón. Volume 2 will also cover Cachao, Dizzy & Chano, and the 1950s Puerto Rican roots of salsa: César Concepción, Cortijo, Ismael Rivera and the two Titos. Stay tuned!  

Late-breaking news! - timba.com contributor Pepe Martínez reports that Yosvel Bernal has joined Havana d'Primera! Yosvel, the nephew of Van Van's trombonist Mundo, played teclado and then piano with Paulito FG for close to 10 years before moving to Spain. He has a gorgeous voice and has been recording a lot of original R&B flavored tracks. He will apparently sing coro with HdP and help with material. [Kevin Moore]

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Sun, 14 Jul 2013 03:49:43 +0000
Issac in Boston - Free Concert cuban music, musica cubanaphoto by Tom Ehrlich

Thanks to Pedro Aizcorbe for alerting us that Issac Delgado and his group will play - for free - as part of Boston's 9-day Outside the Box festival on Thursday, July 19. 

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Sat, 13 Jul 2013 23:32:45 +0000
Cuba in Nijmegen Starts Today! Cuba in Nijmegen / Hennes Latin Stage 2013
"Hennes celebrates his annual party and everyone is invited."

The Summer Festival Season 2013 is in full swing throught Europe now, and we are grateful to all the enthusiasts that are the driving forces behind these events. We who enjoy the fruits of their labor really have no idea how much time and effort these people put into it.

One particularly interesting case is the annual Hennes Latin Stage in Nijmegen, Netherlands. It is truly the result of the vision of a single person, Henri van Woerkum aka "Hennes". His love of Cuban music and dancing led him to decide to bring Cuba to the Netherlands. It is an ispiring story close to my heart. I think we'd all like to do something like this in our own hometowns. Click here to read the story of the origins of the Cuba in Nijmegen festival in Hennes' own words and see the full program of events for 2013.

It is a week-long Cuban music festival that takes place during the "international 4 day marches Nijmegen", the world's largest marching event, held since 1916 with particpants from 24 countries. The Cuba in Nijmegen event features DJs and top-name bands. Previous years have seen Elito Revé y Su Charangón (2012), Azúcar Negra 3 nights in a row (2007), and in 2008 Maravilla de Florida and Septeto Naborí  each had concerts for for 3 nights. The 2013 Cuba in Nijmegen festival starts today with concerts by Trio Canay at 6:30pm and Contrabando at 9:30 pm. Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor will perform 2 nights in a row July 15-16. You can also see Orquesta Salsabor, Tomi y Su Timba Light and Lariba. Each day begins with a DJ and then at 6:30 the concerts begin with Trio Caney. The headline band goes on at 9:30pm. I can't go this year due to work, but if you're in Europe, hop on a discount airline and take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy the concerts by night and the Nijmegen marches and surrounding events by day.

Concerts:
July 13 Contrabando
July 14 Trio Caney & Friends
July 15 Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor
July 16 Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor
July 17 Orquesta Salsabor
July 18 Tomi y su Timbalight
July 19 Lariba

Hennes Latin Stage 2013 - Nijmegen, NetherlandsHennes Latin Stage on the River Waal in Nijmegen, Netherlands

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Sat, 13 Jul 2013 08:04:43 +0000
Burning Havana D' Primera Videos Esto es Havana D' Primera....de primera. The performances speak for themselves. Enjoy!

Se Te Olvidó Quien Soy

Claudia - Latin Jazz

Rosa La Peligrosa

Sabroso - Descarga Cachao

These videos are now loaded on the Havana D' Primera Video page in progress.
Videography by Tom Ehrlich = https://www.timba.com/users/tomehrlich
Mastering by Michael Lazarus = http://latinmusicmastering.com

Alexander Abreu - leader, vocals, trumpet
Tony Rodríguez - piano
Avis Tobías - bass
Harold Díaz Escobar - teclado
Keisel Jiménez - drums/percussion
Guillermo del Toro Varela - drums/percussion
Mauricio Gutiérrez Upman - drums/percussion
Amaury Pérez Rodríguez - trombone
Jannier Rodríguez - coro
Enrique Luis Pérez - coro
Rogelio Nápoles - guitar
Uyuni Martínez Romero - trumpet
Orlando Jesús Vázquez - trumpet
Angel Batule - sound engineer

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Fri, 12 Jul 2013 06:16:12 +0000
Mayimbe Post-USA Tour Update Breaking News: Mayimbe Auditioning New Singers - As we receive photos, reports and feedback from the Mayimbe tour of the US, the breaking news is that front-line singers Marcelo (Marcelo Villar Cano) and Angelito (Ángel Ramírez Ballesteros) are not part of the band anymore, and that auditions are in process for their replacements. Maybe it's a case of soloist dreams after their incredible reception, as all their concerts were well attended and the band was tight and rehearsed, but at the end of the day this is the music business, and the ultimate currency of this business is "the song". Click here to view the official press release (in larger size) from Bárbaro Fines and the band.  Or here for the text version (look below the press image).

Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe - New singers - Cuban music news - noticias de musica cubana

Word from Florentine Gardens in Los Angeles - De La Habana a Peru a LOS ANGELES! Los Mayimberos ya nacieron en L.A. The Concert started just after after midnight on Friday night. Before the show, I had the chance to meet with the director Barbaro Fines. I was excited to meet with him and discuss this amazing band, his first smokin album "De la Habana a Peru" and his future projects. He seemed pretty emotional at times during our conversation, actually breaking out in tears at times, especially when describing his amazing story and odyssey of finding his passion for Cuban Music once again upon arrival in a foreign country named "Peru". He said "This first album I wrote on the floor of my worn down immigrant motel room after arriving in Lima. I wrote it thinking of my family, friends and my homeland of Cuba which I had left behind. This first album is for them and for my future family, I hope it is to one day become a part of my legacy". He says his second album named "Mensajeros de Olofi" is due out in the coming months (editor's note - may take some more time as the old singers will be replaced in these new tracks). It was amazing to witness this band, the energy and the audience as well. Mainly all young South American / Peruvian in attendance. The turnout was great, about 300-400 persons. The band sounded very tight LIVE as if I was listening to them in a studio. They opened with their Mayimbe intro song, followed up by the very popular "El Diablo" track!  Kudos to San Francisco / Bay Area though as when asked which city was his favorite on this U.S tour thus far, to my surprise, Barbaro's response was "San Francisco". "It has been our most significant and important stop along the tour, It's a very important plaza for Mayimbe" . 
On assignment for Timba.com
David "MANGO" González

New front-line singers for Mayimbe - Cuban Music News - Noticias de musica cubanaGirls get it on with Mayimbe at Florentine Gardens in Los Angeles

New front-line singers for Mayimbe - Cuban Music News - Noticias de musica cubanaBárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe at Florentine Gardens in Los Angeles

New front-line singers for Mayimbe - Cuban Music News - Noticias de musica cubanaDirector and pianist Bárbaro Fines lays it down in Elizabeth, New Jersey

New front-line singers for Mayimbe - Cuban Music News - Noticias de musica cubanaBárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe in Elizabeth, New Jersey

New front-line singers for Mayimbe - Cuban Music News - Noticias de musica cubanaBárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe at S.O.B.s in New York

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Wed, 10 Jul 2013 06:04:31 +0000
Calixto in NY Tonight cuban music, musica cubanaphoto by Tom Ehrlich - 2009 - with the Afro-Cuban All Stars

Calixto Oviedo - of NG La Banda, The Afro-Cuban All Stars, Adalberto Álvarez y su Son, Pachito Alonso (to say nothing of Pacho himself), and Beyond Salsa Percussion - will lead a incredible band at New York's Jazz Standard club tonight, Tuesday, July 9, as part of the New Dimensions In Lazz Jazz, Cuban Drum Series.

It's an amazing band, featuring:

Gustavo Ramírez: played with NG, now probably the best timba pianist on the West Coast.

Mauricio Herrera: played drums with Paulito, 90 Miles, and many others; has now been tearing up the New York scene and YouTube for several years. Here he is with Pedrito Martínez. 

Carlos Averhoff, Jr.: Issac's ex-saxophonist and the son of NG La Banda's and Irakere's Carlos Averhoff, Sr.

Nestor Del Prado: an accomplished Latin jazz bassist, played on varios projects with saxophonist Carlos Averhoff, trumpeter Zoltan Grof, and vibist Pedro Alfonso among many others.

Catch them if you can. Calixto will also be in California later this summer playing a series of gigs with Edgardo Gambón's Candela.

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Tue, 09 Jul 2013 06:01:08 +0000
Mezcla in Chicago Mezcla gave a very successful performance at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago on June 29, 2013.  Kudos to the OTS for its continued leadership role in presenting this music in Chicago. For a photo gallery and review of the concert, click here.

If you weren't at their California, Colorado or Chicago concerts, there is still a way for you to connect with the experience.  The group has set up a Kickstarter page to help defray some of the expenses of the tour (yes, this is an unusual step for a band from Cuba, but this was largely a "do-it-yourself" tour on their part), and as is the case with Kickstarter generally, some interesting premiums are being offered for different levels of support. The page will be active until July 22, so visit now if you are a fan of Mezcla
Click here for Mezcla's Kickstarter page, which includes a video.

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Sun, 07 Jul 2013 12:55:42 +0000
Septeto Santiaguero in Europe! Septeto Santiaguero - Vamos pa' la fiesta

Septeto Santiaguero is back in Europe and their tour begins with a concert tomorrow in Nice, France at Festival Latino de A a Z. The list of confirmed concerts has been uploaded so look for a concert near you . The band's last CD, "Vamos pa' la fiesta", recently won at Cubadisco 2013 in the Traditional Tropical Music category. You can check out Bill's review here . Below is their excellent version of the classic Van Van hit "Qué le den candela".

Qué le den candela - Septeto Santiaguero

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Fri, 05 Jul 2013 06:46:23 +0000
Trumpet Fireworks!
photo by Tom Ehrlich

HdP was only in the Bay Area for three nights but we have now have 5 galleries of world-class photos. Enjoy!

Kuumbwa Jazz Center Santa Cruz Tom Ehrlich
Yoshi's SF - June 1 - Part 1 Peter Maiden
Yoshi's SF - June 1 - Part 2 Peter Maiden
Yoshi's SF - June 1 Tom Ehrlich
Yoshi's SF - May 31 Tom Ehrlich
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Fri, 05 Jul 2013 01:08:31 +0000
Meet Colibri - Swift, Beautiful, But Not So Tiny Now...
Cuba's recording industry has diversified rather dramatically during the past two decades, and one of the most fascinating new companies is Colibrí, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year by (among other things) receiving the largest number of awards (including the Grand Prize) at Cubadisco 2013. We are following them with great interest because they are attracting artists like Klimax, Havana d'Primera and Ernán López-Nussa.   

We have inaugurated a new section about Colibrí and its new releases, which you can visit here.

La industria de la grabación en Cuba se ha diversificado muy dramáticamente durante las últimas dos décadas, y una de las nuevas empresas más fascinantes es Colibrí, que celebra su décimo aniversario este año recibiendo la mayor cantidad de premios (incluyendo el Gran Premio) en Cubadisco 2013. Los estamos siguiendo con gran interés porque están atrayendo a artistas y grupos como Klimax, Havana d'Primera y Ernán López-Nussa.

Hemos inaugurado una nueva sección sobre Colibrí y sus nuevos lanzamientos, que se puede visitar aquí.   

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Tue, 02 Jul 2013 16:20:23 +0000
Chucho Valdés' Border-Free on NPR's First Listen Border-Free, the sensational new album by Chucho Valdés & The Afro-Cuban Messengers, can now be heard on NPR's wonderful program First Listen. This innovative concept lets you try before you buy; you can listen to the album -not just a few seconds here and there, but the actual album - on NPR before it is formally released to the US market, and then if you purchase it through the program's links, a portion of the proceeds helps National Public Radio. This is good for all of us because the overwhelming majority of the radio programs that will play modern Cuban Jazz, Timba and other current Cuban music are on stations that are affiliated with National Public Radio. (See our album reviews in English and en español ,)  
You can hear NPR's First Listen on the web here.

The rest of radio isn't always a wasteland all the time, however: in March 2013, CNN radio's Music Notes did a very nice interview in English of Yosvany Terry and Gema Corredera about their recent releases Derramando Luz and Today's Opinion , and you can listen to it here.

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Mon, 01 Jul 2013 06:36:19 +0000
TIRSO'S PIANO POWER UNLEASHED Volume 14 is the first volume of "Beyond Salsa Piano" to focus on Tirso Duarte, pianist, arranger, composer and singer for the great late-1990s incarnation of Charanga Habanera, recording artist and bandleader under his own name, and ex-singer for NG La Banda and Pupy y Los Que Son Son. This book covers the songs Charanguero mayor, Confianza and El bla bla bla, with note-for-note transcriptions of Tirso’s piano tumbaos and a NOTE-FOR-NOTE TRANSCRIPTION for his entire performance on El bla bla bla. The entire bass part is also transcribed as are the bass tumbaos for each piano tumbao. There is also extensive explanation of the conga marchas and the gear and efecto system used by the late 1990s Charanga Habanera.

Click here to download a sample pdf of the eBook 
Oprima aquí para descargar una muestra pdf del eLibro

Beyond Salsa Piano Volume 14 - Tirso Duarte Part 1 - Cuban music news - Noticias de musica cubanaAuthor Kevin Moore explains: "The obsession with Cuban music that led to the writing of the Beyond Salsa series began – in many respects – in February of 1999, on the night that I first heard Tirso Duarte play the piano. It was at the legendary Disco Azúcar club in Cancún, on the evening before my first trip to Cuba. Tirso’s piano‐playing was so astounding – and so moving – that I found myself incurably addicted by the end of the night. I’ve thought of very little else in the intervening 14 years – returning to Cuba, collecting music, studying Spanish, and studying Cuban and Afro‐Cuban music and history. On each of my subsequent trips to Cuba I met with Tirso and recorded many hours of MIDI files that, to this day, continue to yield amazing insights and on which the material in this book is based." 

He continues: "In this book we’ll study three songs: Charanguero mayor (Chapter 2), Confianza (Chapter 3), and El bla bla bla (Chapter 4). Charanguero mayor and Confianza have three completely different piano tumbaos each and El bla bla bla has four. Each tumbao is first presented on three staves, in its most basic form, along with the accompanying bass tumbao and chord symbols. The three‐staff notation corresponds to the “c” and “d” audio files, which have the piano alone in the left channel and the bass in the right. Next, the rhythm section context is discussed in a “Gear Studies” section, corresponding to the “e” and “f” audio files, which have the piano alone in the left channel and the full rhythm section in the right. Finally, each individual tumbao has a “Controlled Improvisation” section containing a series of variations as played by Tirso. The variations have corresponding “a” and “b” audio files with the left hand of the piano in the left speaker and the right hand in the right."

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Sat, 29 Jun 2013 05:56:51 +0000
Manolin to Headline Chicago's Festival Cubano

The fourth annual Festival Cubano in Chicago expands to three days, and the closing act is Manolin, El Medico de la Salsa.  Read all about it here...

...and remember, Mezcla is at the Old Town School of Folk Music Saturday, June 29.  If you have been reading us lately, you already know why you need to go.  If you haven't, where have you been?

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Fri, 28 Jun 2013 22:58:24 +0000
INTERACTIVO La Pelicula InteractivoThe members of Interactivo during the filming of Interactivo La Película

If you are already familiar with Interactivo, just skip down to the trailer for the documentary below. If you are not yet familiar with Interactivo, allow me to take this opportunity to introduce you. Interactivo is best described as an open project or collective of young musicians under the direction of pianist Roberto Carcassés. They have released two CDs: “Goza Pepillo” (2005) winner of Cubadisco 2006 in the categories Opera Prima, Fusion and Gran Premio and “Cubanos por el mundo” (2010), the subject of a documentary by Cuban filmmaker Tané Martínez. 

Many of the names of musicians that have worked with Interactivo will be familiar to you, such as Roberto Carcassés, Yusa, Telmary, Rodney Barreto, Yaroldi Abreu, Carlos Rios, Raul Verdecia, Julito Padrón, Francis del Río, Oliver Valdés and, Melvis Santa among others. Whereas turnover of musicians is generally a negative thing for timba bands, which are better able to consolidate their sound when the same musicians have been working together for years, it has actually been a strength of Interactivo. The experimental, fusion nature of their music benefits from the constant flow of new ideas as older members leave to do their own projects and new members enter with their own unique influences and visions. Roberto describes their music as “timba funk”.  It really seems to be a fusion of whatever the bandmembers find interesting, building on the musical heritage of everything from  Afro-Cuban traditional music to timba to jazz, funk, soul and hip-hop.

Thanks to Facebook, I stumbled across a link to “Interactivo La Película”, which is available at Vimeo. The documentary is about the release concert for “Cubanos por el mundo” and follows the band from rehearsals through the final show, including interviews with key members as well as cameos by guest artists such as X Alfonso and Rodney Barreto. I contacted Tané Martínez and asked her how the documentary came about.

The project of making “INTERACTIVO La Película” arose when Roberto Carcasses saw my documentary TENGO (2008) on the NYC-based Cuban singer Xiomara Laugart. From there, Roberto proposed that I document the release of their 2nd album "Cubanos por el Mundo" and I immediately started working with them. The social presence that I found in the lyrics of the songs really caught my attention. I wanted to make a movie about Interactivo and the release of the album, but also as a filmmaker I wanted to tell a story of migration, freedom and Cuban music.
Tané Martinez

You can check out the trailer below. The full 70-minute documentary is found at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/ilp/20517029

Note: the trailer is subtitled, but the full documentary is not.

Interactivo La Pelicula Teaser 1.40m from colorbox on Vimeo.

SYNOPSIS
Interactivo, is a Cuban band directed by Roberto Carcasses. The release of their 2nd CD, “Cubanos por el Mundo”, leads us to a deep analysis of migration, freedom and Cuban music. 

CAST
Roberto Carcassés, Melvis Santa, Julio Padrón, Francis del Río, Oliver Valdés + Interactivo. 

TECHNICAL DATA
HD 720, NTSC, Color, 70min
CUBA/USA 2011 

A Colorbox Productions Inc. Production
Director: Tanè Martìnez
Producer: Ivonne Cotorruelo
Script: Zulema Clares, Tanè Martìnez
Música: Roberto Carcassès & Interactivo
Director of Photography: Sveinung Bokn
Audio: Abel Calderòn
Editing: Tanè Martìnez
Post-production of Audio & Mixing: Rocio Garcia Pazos
Post-production of Images: Inti Martìnez
Still Photography: Denise Guerra
Graphic Design: Idania del Rìo

BIOGRAPHY
Tané Martínez (1981, Cuba) 
Director, Producer and Editor.
Studied “Performing Arts” at the Cuban National School of the Arts (ENA) and later studied "Film Direction” at the Training Center  of Cinematography of Mexico (CCC). 
Directed the fictional short  “Malos días mi amor” (2005) and the documentaries "Paquete Familiar" (2004), “Tengo lo que tenia que tener” (2008), “Interactivo La Película” (2011) and “Caminando Aragón” (2012). She is a partner and founder of Colorbox Productions Inc.

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Fri, 28 Jun 2013 15:19:11 +0000
Mezcla - Tom's Photos - Bill Report

Tom Ehrlich's gallery and mini-review from Mezcla's June 26 Oakland show is here, and Bill Tilford has more about the group (including video) , the tour and Saturday's show  in Chicago here.

Meanwhile, back in the Bay Area, Mayimbe plays Cócomo on Sat. 6-29, preceded by Rueda con Ritmo's classes on Mayimbe's unique approach and RcR's unique approach to dancing to it.

And in book news - the Tirso Duarte volume of Beyond Salsa Piano is now available in hard-copy - coming soon to eBook and audio download formats.

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Fri, 28 Jun 2013 03:09:32 +0000
Nuevos Sencillos del Grupo Contrabando de Bélgica

Aquí Andrés "El Paisa" Fernández -- director del Grupo CONTRABANDO de Bélgica -- y el bajista y productor del grupo Dennis Nicles Cobas  hablan sobre el desarollo de los dos nuevos sencillos, "Fe con bendiciones", cantado por Fernando Blanco Moya (uno de los fundadores del grupo), y "No te precupes", cantado por Victor Pedroso. Además podemos ver parte de los dos videos en progreso.

In this interview Andrés "El Paisa" Fernández - director of the Belgian timba band CONTRABANDO - and their bassist and producer Dennis Nicles Cobas discuss the development of their two new singles, "Fe con bendiciones" (Faith with blessings), featuring the lead vocal of Fernando Blanco Moya (one of the founders of the group), and "No te precupes" (Don't worry), with lead vocal by Victor Pedroso. We also get a sneal peek at the new videos (for the singles) in progress. 

Fe con bendiciones - Sencillo 2013 - Canta: Fernando Blanco Moya
No te preocupes - Sencillo 2013 - Canta: Victor Pedroso

Letra y Música: Andrés Fernández Ordoñez "El Paisa"
Arreglo: Contrabando
Grabación y Mezcla: Dennis Nicles Cobas
Masterización: Michael Lazarus de http://latinmusicmastering.com

Twitter - http://twitter.com/Contrabandomus1
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/elpaisatrombon
Website - http://www.grupo-contrabando.com

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Thu, 27 Jun 2013 03:56:35 +0000
New Mezcla Video and Kickstarter Campaign

Mezcla , which is performing in Oakland California June 26  and Chicago June 29, has just launched a Kickstarter campaign which includes some premiums for those of you who sign on as backers. The video (click "play" above) explains more with some live footage of band members here and some of Mezcla's music.   

Click here for the link to Mezcla's Kickstarter page. 

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Wed, 26 Jun 2013 07:35:21 +0000
ENTREVISTA A MAYKEL BLANCO Maykle Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor in DenmarkMaykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor in Denmark 21 June 2013

Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor are performing tonight at Havanna in Berlin. this is the seventh concert of their extensive summer tour of Europe, which consists of 28 concerts. Check the remaining dates to find a concert near you.

Maykel Blanco & Alfonso ÁlvarezAlfonso Álvarez & Maykel Blanco

I caught up with the band at Søpavillonen in Copenhagen on June 21st where I took the opportunity to interview director Maykel Blanco. I have uploaded the video of the interview mixed with clips from the concert. Although the interview is in Spanish, non-Spanish speakers will hopefully enjoy the concert clips.  I will upload an English transcription of the interview and a full concert report later. You can follow Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor at their redesigned website in Spanish, English, Italian and French: www.maykelblanco.com/.

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Mon, 24 Jun 2013 16:05:48 +0000
Tom's HdP Photos

More great Havana d'Primera photos: this time Tom Ehrlich's gallery from June 1 at Yoshi's SF

Book News: Tirso Duarte's first volume of Beyond Salsa Piano is done and in the publishing process - should go live within days.

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Sun, 23 Jun 2013 22:14:31 +0000
Mezcla On Tour in the United States

Mezcla is an historically-important group from Cuba that has opened musical doors both there and in the United States.  As this is being typed (June 22), it is on the last day of a three-day run at Jazz Aspen Snowmass; they then play Oakland on June 26 and Chicago on June 29.  Bill Tilford interviewed Pablo this week, and you can read the transcript here.  Our Mezcla section also has a discography and videos. 

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Sat, 22 Jun 2013 09:24:21 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Danay Suárez Gallery Raúl Perales, Danay Suárez, Sandy Pérez

The rest of Tom's gallery on Cuban hip-hop sensation Danay Suárez can be viewed here.

Meanwhile, Mayimbe, after playing brilliantly to a massive crowd on June 1 in their US debut is coming back to the Bay Area's Club Cócomo on June 29. You can get $15 tickets with no service charge on Rueda con Ritmo's site. RcR's Ryan Mead and Sidney Weaverling are offering three classes on the afternoon of the Mayimbe show, including a study of Mayimbe's style called "Ritmos de Mayimbe". They always have brilliant insights on timba, rhythm and dance, several of which contributed greatly to the brand new Tirso Duarte edition of Beyond Salsa Piano, which should be out within 24 hours.  [Kevin Moore]

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Sat, 22 Jun 2013 04:04:24 +0000
Calixto's Way Quintet - New Latin Jazz Cuban music news - noticias de musica cubana

Click here (oprima aquí) to visit the new Calixto's Way Quintet Tour Page

NEW DIMENSIONS in LATIN JAZZ
presents U.S. DEBUT of CUBAN DRUMMER 
CALIXTO  OVIEDO:  CALIXTO 'S WAY
at JAZZ STANDARD NYC / TUESDAY JULY 9th 2013

The Jazz Standard series "New Dimensions in Latin Jazz" presents the first installment of a Cuban drum festival with the US/NYC debut of the legendary Cuban master drummer  Calixto Oviedo and his all-Cuban jazz quintet,  Calixto's Way.

"One of the most important representitives of Latin jazz in the world of drumming, creator of a new Cuban sound...  Calixto Oviedo is the Elvin Jones of Cuba."
- All About Jazz, Italia

Calixto Oviedo is a living encyclopedia of Cuban drumming and percussion, from the profound roots of African-influenced folklore to the hottest dance music and the cutting edge of jazz. One of the creators of the dynamic timba rhythm when he was the drummer for the iconic Havana group NG la Banda, Oviedo's innovative and brilliant percussive techniques have made him the in-demand drummer for The Afro Cuban All Stars, Buena Vista Social Club, and Arturo Sandoval. His current project, an all-Cuban jazz quintet, is named for his critically-acclaimed album, ” Calixto's Way”.

Calixto's Way Quintet
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Piano: Gustavo Ramírez -- Bass: Nestor Del Prado
Tenor Saxophone: Carlos Averhoff Jr  --  Congas and Percussion: Mauricio Herrera
Drums: Calixto Oviedo

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Thu, 20 Jun 2013 14:37:42 +0000
LOS VAN VAN WINS WOMEX ARTIST AWARD 2013 Los Van Van wins at WOMEX
WOMEX is the biggest international World Music Exposition and they have selected Los Van Van for the 2013 Artist Award. Timba.com wants to congratulate all Vananeros, past and present.  You have been and continue to be a source of joy and pride to the Cuban people, wherever they reside, as well as an inspiration to musicians around the world. Congratulations!

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Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:28:29 +0000
MANOLITO SIN FRENO TOUR Manolito y Su Trabuco - Sin Freno front coverFront cover of Manolito's new CD "Sin Freno"

Manolito y Su Trabuco are on their way to Europe "Sin Freno". The tour starts next week, June 27th, with a concert at the Croatian Summer Salsa Festival in Rovinj. Click here for the complete list of currently confirmed concert dates. The official release date of "Sin Freno" is still unclear and I don't know if they will have the CD with them. But take some extra cash just in case. Hardcopy CDs are getting to be a rare commodity these days, so you don't want to miss a potential opportunity to buy one! Stay tuned for more tour updates!

Track list:

Title Singer
La cosita Ricardo Amaray
Déjala Ricardo Amaray
Sin freno Lázaro "Mayami" Díaz
Chiquita Iván Rodríguez
Vivencias Ricardo Amaray
La cuenta no da Ricardo Amaray
No llores más Iván Rodríguez
Esta noche te quedas conmigo    Ricardo Amaray (bachata)
Farandulero Ricardo Amaray feat. Los 4
A la medida Lázaro "Mayami" Díaz
Cuéntale Ricardo Amaray
Payaso Lázaro "Mayami" Díaz
   

Stay tuned for more tour updates!

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Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:56:17 +0000
Buika's Chicago Concert Photo:  Javi Rojo

This was a blockbuster concert.  To read our review in English, click here.

El concierto fue un éxito de taquilla.  Para leer nuestra reseña en español, haz clic aquí.

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Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:32:46 +0000
Transcendent
all photos by Tom Ehrlich - Monterey Jazz Festival 2012
(concert photography not permitted at SF Jazz)

We've already established that Cuban bands sound as great as they do because their members usually play with only one band - rehearsing, recording and gigging hundreds of times by the time you hear them on tour. This phenomenon is increased by an order of magnitude in the case of the Pedrito Martínez Group. I last saw them in September at the Monterey Jazz Festival, at which point they had already played together in various combinations for over 10 years, and at which point they were as tight as any band I'd ever seen. Since then, they've recorded an album and played at least 150 gigs, many of them in the relaxed environment of the Guantanamera club in Manhattan. The level they've now reached leaves me at a loss for words. I've been staring at this paragraph for 45 minutes and I just can't find a way to describe this band - and if I could, you wouldn't believe me - but if you're anywhere between Monterey and Sausalito, you really need to jump in your car and get yourself to Santa Cruz for the Monday night show at Kuumbwa Jazz Center. $22 in advance - $25 at the door - starting at 7:00 p.m.

For economic reasons, the 7-piece timba format has become more and more common in the US: two percussionists instead of three, one keyboardist instead of two, a sax and a trumpet instead of a full horn section and musicians who double on vocals. But with their "timba conjunto" format, PMG does a lot more than approximate the sound of a big band with less manpower. They've created a new and very different type of group that improves on the 14-piece timba band in many ways. They have everything a timba fan craves - a relentless dance groove, bomba, presión, wicked piano breakdowns, beautifully harmonized hook coros, masterful lead vocals, wild dancing on stage, rhythm section gears, tempo changes, and efectos of unsurpassed quantity and quality. What they don't have are the things that a timba fan puts up with to get all that other good stuff. They're never too loud; you can always hear every voice and instrument clearly; they're always perfectly in-tune; and they're never formulaic or gratuitously glitzy or vulgar.

The biggest improvement is bassist Álvaro Benavides, whose playing has taken a quantum leap forward. His time has become so flawlessly solid that the band can - and often does - drop down to nothing but an ultra-syncopated bass tumbao without the slightest ripple in the groove. Even more astounding is his bomba, with a whole new palette of slides within slides, and thumps within thumps that lock in with Pedrito's low cajón to produce the kind of tembleque-inducing, throbbing hot groove that you'd expect from 1997 Issac or 1999 Bamboleo. His soloing has also become a major weapon in the band's arsenal.

Then there's Jhair Sala. There's no drummer or timbalero in this group; the only metal instrument is Jhair's hand-held cowbell, just as you'd find in the classic conjuntos of Arsenio and Chappottín. The absence of all the other sticked percussion decreases the overall volume by dozens of decibels and exposes all the nuances of the hand percussion, the vocal harmonies, the piano tumbaos, and of the exquisitely expressive hand bell itself. At many points in the set, a break would result in a second or two of complete silence filled only by some delectable little interjection from the campana. At one point, I nearly jumped out of my skin when he created the funkiest sound imaginable by rattling the stick inside of the bell as he put it down to pick up the bongó. He also had a way of playing at climaxes that at first fooled me into thinking that some thrilling new timbre had been injected into the upper range of the piano tumbao. I was also repeatedly stunned by the sheer concentration of synchronized efectos and bloques of all types between Pedrito's congas and Jhair's bell.

And then there's Ariacne. Ariacne Trujillo is a jaw-droppingly great pianist. She has full command over all of the innovations and vocabulary of timba, jazz, gospel, R&B,classical music, and a large palette of strikingly original ideas of her own, but what makes her so special - even by Cuban standards - is her time. It has to be witnessed to be believed. She's a one-woman version of El Tren itself. Over and over the band drops down to just piano - not piano and clave - not piano and güiro - not piano and kick drum - just piano - extremely syncopated piano. But it might as well be Van Van in their prime pounding out Te pone la cabeza - her time is that solid. And she might well be singing lead while she's laying down this torrential groove. Her voice is huge and in all ways virtuosic, but the instant she switches from lead to coro, all the stylized vocalizations disappear and she blends perfectly and luxuriously with the other three voices. Many strong lead singers are terrible at singing coro but Ariacne is one of the best coristas I've ever heard. She's also a tremendous dancer.

And then there's the boss ... it's hard to imagine that anyone on the planet could be as talented, or as talented in so many different ways, as Pedrito Martínez. He could be a world-class specialist as a dancer, a singer, a folkloric master, a pop music drummer or a songwriter, but he effortless combines all these roles into a perfectly balanced package - completely genuine, never contrived, always listening, always pouring his heart into every note, and always completely and utterly on fire. On fire! The man is a force of nature.

And then, finally, there's the band itself - possessed of an identity and a personality of its own greater than the sum of its parts. Is it a timba conjunto? Is it folkloric timba? Jazz timba? Folkloric jazz? Rumba con funk? Yes and no. It might be a new genre if not for the fact that it would be impossible to imitate without getting a group of world-class talents to play together thousands of times over a period of years. PMG takes the concept of "gear changes" to extraordinary lengths: just voices; just piano; just bass; bass and piano; just congas; conga and bongó; just batá; batá and bass; congas, bass and full-on guaguancó dancing. They change wildly from one combination to another; from heart-stopping bomba to four-part a cappella; from a hellacious timba piano breakdown to a 12/8 folkloric groove; from guaguancó to rock-solid popular dance music.

Last, and maybe most important, this band is alive and breathing - reacting with hair-trigger rapidity to every twist and turn in the musical road. I spoke with Paul Siegel, who's heard the band over 200 times - every night he hears something he's never heard before.

I can't wait to see what new miracles he hears for the first time at tonight's show. [Kevin Moore]

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Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:37:55 +0000
Pedrito Martínez in the Bay Area! Jahir Sala, Ariacne Trujillo, Pedrito Martínez, Alvaro Benavides - photo by Tom Ehrlich

If you've never seen the Pedrito Martínez Group, you're in for a treat. It's a quartet that plays with the energy, creativity and danceability of a full timba band, with just the right volume level - you can feel it but you don't need earplugs. They play in two of the best acoustic spaces in the world: the new SF Jazz hall and Santa Cruz's legendary Kuumbwa Jazz Center. You'll never hear timba played as well and SOUND as good and clean as you will in these shows.

The Pedrito Martínez Group plays SF Jazz Sunday night  then goes down to Kuumbwa on Monday  night. Meanwhile, in  a different hall in the SF Jazz structure, the López-Nussa Duo will play SF Jazz  tonight, and twice tomorrow, Sunday.

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Sat, 15 Jun 2013 22:01:39 +0000
HDP Farewell Concert + Carlos Otero Birthday Celebration Miami is the "The Place" for Havana D' Primera's last show of their 2013 USA tour. This farewell concert is also a birthday celebration for Carlos Otero, a local hispanic television celebrity for Miami's AmericaTeVe channel 41.  La "cubanía" will be there in full force. 

For tickets call 305.642.6994 
The Place
833 SW 29 Avenue, Miami, FL 33135

HDP Farewell Concert + Carlos Otero Birthday Celebration - Cuban music news

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Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:42:57 +0000
Los López-Nussa in the Bay Area

(photo by Tom Ehrlich) The duo of Harold and Ruy Adrián López-Nussa played a great set at Kuumbwa tonight and will play SF Jazz four times: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and then two sets sandwiched around the Pedrito Martínez Group's show in the big hall on Sunday. Pedrito then goes down to Kuumbwa on Monday night.

Click Continue Reading for 5 more photos by Tom Ehrlich:

Meanwhile, Peter Maiden's second Havana d'Primera gallery is up here:

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Thu, 13 Jun 2013 02:51:30 +0000
HdP in Kentucky

Havana d'Primera wrapped up this leg of its 2013 North America tour with a performance at Club Azucar in Louisville, KY.  The Kentucky Salsa All-Stars opened for the band. You can see our photo gallery and review here.

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Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:21:10 +0000
Meet Canela de Cuba

This almost-all-female band from Cuba plays it all - Latin Jazz, Folkloric, Música Bailable.  Their story, including some choice videos, is here.

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Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:42:45 +0000
Havana d'Primera Photos UPDATE: New video by Tom Ehrlich - "Havana D' Primera... SABROSO" - A Latin Jazz descarga loosely based on Cachao's "Las Boinas". Here Alexander employs a clever call and response maneuver with his trumpet and the audience, after taking a monster solo. Piano and percussion solos follow.

The first of three Tom Ehrlich galleries of Havana d'Primera in the Bay Area is now up: Friday at Yoshi's SF. Still to come are Saturday at Yoshi's SF and Tuesday at Kuumbwa Jazz Center. And don't forget Peter Maiden's great work from the Saturday show. Finally, several more super high resolution, LPM-mastered videos are coming soon.

                                          Keisel Jiménez - photo by Tom Ehrlich

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Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:39:05 +0000
Highlights of the Cubadisco 2013 Awards
This truly was an excellent year for recordings by Cubans around the world, and the results of Cubadisco 2013 reflected this fact in both the nominations and the list of winners.   You can read our complete article in English here.



Esto realmente fue un año excelente para grabaciónes por cubanos en todo el mundo, y los resultados de Cubadisco 2013 reflejan este hecho, tanto en los nominaciones y la lista de ganadores.  Se puede leer nuestro articulo completo en español aquí.

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Sat, 08 Jun 2013 08:13:29 +0000
Dice Que Se Llama Rosa, Rosa, La Peligrosa

Videography by Tom Ehrlich of http://timba.com
Mastering by Michael Lazarus of http://latinmusicmastering.com

New song by Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera called "Rosa La Peligrosa", which will be included in their third album. One peculiarity of this song is that during the main coro section Alexander and the other singers lift one fist and turn, as if they were revving up a motorcycle. You will see it when they sing "Trabájala" (for example at 4:58).

Special thanks to Lisa Bautista and Jessi Abraham of Yoshi's San Francisco http://yoshis.com/sanfrancisco

Alexander Abreu - leader, vocals, trumpet
Tony Rodríguez - piano
Avis Tobías - bass
Harold Díaz Escobar - teclado
Keisel Jiménez - drums/percussion
Guillermo del Toro Varela - drums/percussion
Mauricio Gutiérrez Upman - drums/percussion
Amaury Pérez Rodríguez - trombone
Jannier Rodríguez - coro
Enrique Luis Pérez - coro
Rogelio Nápoles - guitar
Uyuni Martínez Romero - trumpet
Orlando Jesús Vázquez - trumpet
Angel Batule - sound engineer

Tema nuevo de Alexander Abreu y Havana D' Primera titulado "Rosa La Peligrosa", que será incluido en su tercer disco. Una peculiaridad del tema es que cuando cantan el coro principal Alexander and y los coristas suben un puño y lo tiercen, como si estuvieran acelerando una motora. Lo verás cuando cantan "Trabájala" (por ejemplo a los 4:58).

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Fri, 07 Jun 2013 05:01:04 +0000
PREPÁRATE NUEVA YORK PARA LA DESCARGA DEL AÑO UPDATE: HdP in Santa Cruz tonight at Kuumbwa, 7:00 and 9:00 - Tom's and Peter's Mayimbe photos are now complete: Tom Ehrlich Mayimbe - Peter Maiden Mayimbe 

Havana D Primera + Mayimbe - New York - June 5 &amp; 6 - Cuban Music NewsDE LA HABANA A PERÚ... People of New York and New Jersey, after a truly INCREDIBLE and intense timba weeked in the San Francisco Bay Area. the word is BE READY! Havana D Primera is absolutely on fire with new material like "Rosa La Peligrosa" and Mayimbe is being welcomed with open arms, as this is the first time they come to the US. 

click here for tickets
oprima aquí para comprara boletos

S.O.B.s (Sounds Of Brazil)
200 Varick Street, Basement 
New York, NY 10014
212 -243-4940

Havana D Primera + Mayimbe - New York - June 5 &amp; 6 - Cuban Music News

Havana D Primera + Mayimbe - New York - June 5 &amp; 6 - Cuban Music News

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Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:28:44 +0000
Arsenio Rodríguez To Be Honored In New York

Serious students of the music and musicians with a sense of history already know why this is important. For those who aren't familiar with Arsenio, he was merely one of the most transformative figures in the history of Cuban popular music in the 20th Century.  You can read more about him and his many musical innovations in Kevin Moore's Roots of Timba article here. Arsenio did not die wealthy, and for decades his legacy was often neglected except by the many musicians who used his ideas and his music.  This honor is both appropriate and long overdue. 

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Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:24:33 +0000
Notes From The Jazz Front June 2013 A lot of exciting things for US listeners are coming soon:

Chucho Valdés will be touring the United States in support of the release of his latest CD with the Afro-Cuban Messengers , Border-Free .   This is a killer recording, and you can read our review here. The following US Tour dates have been announced:
June 21:  The Town Hall, New York, NY
Aug 10:  Stanford Jazz / Bing Concert Hall, Stanford, CA
Aug 13:  Miller Outdoor Theatre, Houston, TX
Aug 14:  Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA

Although the López-Nussa family may not have the same level of name recognition as the Valdés family in the United States, it's not for lack of merit.  Two of them, Harold López-Nussa and his brother Ruy Adrian López-Nussa , are touring the US as a duo in June. You can read our review of Harold's wonderful 2011 recording El País de la Maravillas here. The following dates have been posted for that tour: 
June 12: Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz, CA
June 13-16:  SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco, CA
June 18: Jazz Standard, New York, NY
June 19: An die Music, Baltimore, MD
                                               June 21: Regattabar, Cambridge, MA
(also scheduled at Montreal Jazz Festival, July 1)

In other news, Manuel Valera is finishing up another New Cuban Express recording in New York. The last one, which knocked our socks off,  was nominated for a GRAMMY in Latin Jazz last year along with a Cubadisco 2013 nomination in the same category.  Manuel tells us that the group will include mostly the same personnel as the first recording plus additional percussion and may be "perhaps even more Cuban".  We can't wait to hear this!

Over the weekend, we caught the Chuchito Valdés Trio in Chicago. These guys have some serious chemistry going on, and if they should happen to drop in on your town, check them out.  A review and photo gallery are here. 

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Tue, 04 Jun 2013 09:05:11 +0000
Tonight: Havana d'Primera in Las Vegas - Mayimbe in SF UPDATE: Lots of youtube clips of HdP in Vegas. Their next show is Tuesday night (7:00 and 9:00) at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz.

First of all, the links: HdP is at Sam's Town Casino - Mayimbe is again at Café Cócomo as the climax of an all-day Peruvian celebration. Click continue reading for our already massive post of photos, video, links and concert reportage on both shows and related topics, with more coming soon. Left photo below by Peter Maiden, right photos of Rueda con Ritmo with Mayimbe by Tom Ehrlich. 

Click here to CONTINUE READING FOR MUCH MORE (para ver más fotos oprima aquí). This post will be updated several times this afternoon. Tom Ehrlich's and Peter Maiden's photo galleries under NEW STUFF are also works in progress and will get longer and more detailed over the next few days so keep refreshing your page.

             

Havana D Primera - Las Vegas - Sams Town

Mayimbe - San Francisco -  Café Cócomo

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Sun, 02 Jun 2013 18:38:14 +0000
Rosa la Peligrosa! Havana d'Primera tore it up at Yoshi's last night and are back again tonight. Mayimbe starts at midnight at Cócomo - bring your Yoshi's HdP ticket stub for a $5 discount. Mayimbe also Sunday night. HdP goes to Vegas Sunday, then back to SANTA CRUZ Tuesday night at Kuumbwa Jazz Center. Here's the rest of the massive tour. [all photos by Tom Ehrlich]

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Sat, 01 Jun 2013 17:48:00 +0000
EUROPE SUMMER 2013 Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son - Louven, Belgium posterAdalberto Álvarez Tour - click here for concert dates!

It's June and the European Summer tour season is beginning! Los Van Van is already on tour with a performance tonight in Karlsruhe, Germany. Click here to see the rest of the Van Van tour dates. Adalberto Álvarez arrives in Europe on June 5th promoting his excellent new CD "Respeto pa' los mayores". Don't miss your chance to see the new songs live, and bring some extra cash in case they are selling the CD at concerts! Here is the current list of confirmed concerts for Adalberto, but check back in a few days because there are more dates to be added! Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor will start their tour with a concert at La Bomba in Padua, Italy on June 12th. Here are Maykel's Tour plans. Manolito y Su Trabuco will arrive at the end of June for a June/July tour. Here are some of the concert dates for El Trabuco. And we have also published the first dates for Azúcar Negra who will be touring in July. More dates to come on the Azúcar Negra Tours page.

Calixto Oviedo is performing tonight in Copenhagen, Denmark with Latin Jazz Syndicate at Jazzhus Montmartre. Later this month he will begin a series of concerts and workshops in Japan becfore returning to the US for a series of summer concerts across the country. His current schedule can be found here. Also in the US, I'm sure no one has missed that Havana D'Primera is on tour as well as Barbaro Fines y su Orquesta Mayimbe. We will update the Mayimbe Tours page at the beginning of next week, so check back then. Tiempo Libre has also updated their tours page so check it out! And more info on the way as more groups confirm their tour dates so stay tuned!

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Sat, 01 Jun 2013 11:08:38 +0000
¡CANDELA! Havana D' Primera llega a Los Ángeles Havana D Primera en Los Ángeles - Los Angeles Cuban Music Concert - Cuban Music NewsFor tickets click here -- Para boletos oprima aquí 

Hay un nuevo movimiento musical en Cuba, dice Alexander Abreu. Él debe saberlo pues está en el centro de esa revolución musical cubana que esta semana también se escuchará en vivo aquí en Los Ángeles. Es tan novedoso que aun no tiene nombre. Pero su principal impulsor tiene una sugerencia.

Alexander Abreu y HAVANA D' PRIMERA
Tonight - Doors open at 8pm

Club Los Globos 3040 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
Call 323.666.6669

Desde principios del año, la banda inicio una gira mundial que la ha llevado Asunción, Lima, Paris, Londres, Helsinki, Roma, Barcelona y otras ciudades europeas. Este jueves la orquesta de 14 músicos se presenta en Los Globos, un club sobre el bulevar Sunset en la comunidad de Silverlake con una ecléctica cartelera en que destacan actos latinos locales, nacionales e internacionales.

Agregó que cuando se enteró que la banda estaba de gira y planeaba pasar una vez más el por el Sur de California, no podía dejar pasar la oportunidad de amarrarla a Los Globos. "No soy salsero pero me encanta la música del Caribe. El grupo crea una fabuloso ambiente con salsa de mucha elegancia con influencias jazzistas", añade el promotor Ane Uno.

Eso se debe quizá a que el líder de la banda es un consumado trompetista que ha sido comparado con Louis Armstrong por TIMBA.com y otros medios. En Havana D'Primera Abreu canta y toca el instrumento metálico de viento. -- César Arredondo / Especial para La Opinión

Para leer el artículo completo en La Opinión pinche aquí.

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Thu, 30 May 2013 14:41:27 +0000
Potpourri May 2013 First up:  Septeto Santiaguero, winner of the Cubadisco 2013 award for Traditional Tropical Music, has posted this video of Que le den candela on their official Youtube channel:

     

Next,  Buika, whose new release La noche más larga was just reviewed here, has the following US Tour dates with Iván Melón Lewis on piano and  Ramon Porrina on percussion:

Wed, June 12, 2013:   Howard Theatre, DC 
Thurs, June 13, 2013:   The Town Hall, NYC
(part of the Blue Note Jazz Festival)
Sat, June 15, 2013:  Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL (for a WYCC/PBS TV recording to be broadcast as part of the Musicology series). 

Finally, some items of interest to the Midwestern United States:

The Chuchito Valdés Trio is at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago from Thursday May 30-Sunday, June 2, 2013.   Chuchito is the son of Chucho, grandson of Bebo, and a killer pianist in his own right. Guaranteed not to leave you bored. 

Havana d'Primera is coming to Club Azucar in Louisville, KY on June 9.  At this writing, it appears that there may also be an opening set by the Kentucky Salsa All Stars, an emerging local favorite that includes some young Cuban Americans. 

Pablo Menéndez and the Mezcla Jazz All Stars are coming to the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago on Saturday, June 29, 2013.   One of their former vocalists, Angel d'Cuba, who now lives in Chicago and fronts his own group there, is scheduled to join the group for the performance. 

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Wed, 29 May 2013 17:13:07 +0000
Hot from the YouTube Oven Actually, this freshly posted, nicely filmed YouTube is from Paris, but this is the lineup that's currently in the US Touring. Next posted show is at Los Globos in LA Thursday, although Sobredosis (the coach company) has posted something about Fulton and a second LA gig - let us know if you hear any details). [Kevin Moore]

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Tue, 28 May 2013 03:57:07 +0000
New Releases by Buika and Chucho Valdés These two worked together in the wonderful El Último Trago, and now Buika and Chucho Valdés are about to separately release new CDs that are worth having:

La noche más larga, by Buika, is a delightful album that pairs her with Iván Melón Lewis and a supporting cast that includes several other notable Cuban musicians.  You can read our review in English here.

The year is young, but Border-Free, by Chucho Valdés & the Afro-Cuban Messengers, is already a contender for best new Latin Jazz release of 2013.  You can read our review in English here. 


Ellos trabajaron juntos en el maravilloso El Último Trago, y ahora, Buika and Chucho Valdés están a punto de lanzar por separado nuevos CDs que valen la pena tener: 

La noche más larga, por Buika, es un álbum delicioso en que ella trabaja con Iván Melón Lewis y un reparto que incluye a varios otros notables músicos cubanos.  Se puede leer nuestra reseña en español aquí. 

El año es joven, pero Border-Free, por Chucho Valdés & The Afro-Cuban Messengers, ya es un competidor para el mejor nuevo lanzamiento de Jazz latino de 2013.  Se puede leer nuestra reseña en español aquí.

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Mon, 27 May 2013 19:55:39 +0000
LA CHARANGA HABANERA The dust is beginning to settle over Havana after the wave of changes sweeping over La Charanga Habanera in its twenty-fifth year: first the departure of Randy Malcom to Gente D'Zona, then the return of "Lachy Fortuna", Lázaro Maya, to La Revé and most recently and, perhaps most surprisingly, the departure of veteran charanguero Aned Mota to work on projects together with his wife, Diva Haila Mompie. But as Paulo FG might say las aguas tomaron su nivel with the return of Yulién Oviedo to the group, at least for the time being. Indeed Yulién himself sang no hay mal que por bien no venga, and the first video I've seen of the new line up shows us a move back to serious timba, the band having recently won at Cubadisco for their second foray into Latin pop called "Charanga Light 2". According to a recent interview with David Calzado on "23 y M", the new CD will be out soon and will get back to some serious timba. 

With that I leave you to ponder the world of musical chairs that is Havana's music scene, and with a sample of what is to come and a look at new singers El Dandy and El Guay; now re-named El Chapy Guay it seems. Say what you will about the hair styles but trust me, after the dance routine, you will enjoy what you hear! 


La Charanga Habanera - Partienda la tarima (estreno)

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Mon, 27 May 2013 15:48:08 +0000
¡Oviedo-manía!

As is the case with Transcribe!, AmazingSlowdowner and Emulator X, if you showed Tutti's new music education software to a musician from the Dark Ages (2005 or earlier), he or she would pass out in disbelief. In the case of Tutti, you see a whole band playing together in little video squares on your screen. If you click on a musician, you now see four different camera angles of just that musician and there are many other bells and whistles, like slowing the tempo and viewing sheet music as it scrolls along under the video.

The best news is that Vasík Greif and Michael Caba - the Czech Republic geniuses who brought you the video for the books on Alain Pérez and Melón Lewis - have filmed Calixto Oviedo playing all four parts (each with four camera angles) for a variety of Cuban rhythms. This will be a Tutti product soon!

Vasík, Calixto and Marek Caba (Calixto cooked the pasta - a man of many talents)

Calixto will also be playing in New York on July 9 as part of the New Dimensions Jazz series with Calixto's Way, featuring Gustavo Ramírez (ex-NG), Armando Gola (ex-Manolín), Mauricio Herrera (ex-PFG) and Carlos Averhoff, Jr. (ex-Issac). What a band!

Meanwhile, Calixto's son, Yulién, has rejoined Charanga Habanera - at least for their upcoming tour, replacing the departing Randy Martínez - Aned and Lachy Fortuna have apparently also left the group.

Here's Yulién with fellow ex-Charanguero Tirso Duarte, the subject of the soon-to-be-released Beyond Salsa Piano Vol. 14, which, in addition to being packed with piano tumbaos that will leave you speechless, tells the great Charanga Breakup story in greater detail than ever before, with lots of juicy new details from the world's leading Charangalogist, Majela Serrano van der Heuson.

 

Havana d'Primera: Next tour stops are today in Folsom California, May 30, at the historic Los Globos club in LA, and the two nights at Yoshi's SF, next Friday & Sat. 5-31 and 6-1 and then in Santa Cruz at Kuumbwa on Tues. June 4. These last two will sell out soon. You can take your HdP ticket stub to Cócomo afterwards on Saturday to hear Mayimbe for $5 - and their set starts after midnight, so you can do it without missing a note. Sorry for being Bay Area-centric here, but seriously, Miami, you've got nothing to be centric about. Miami is absolutely the least supportive Cuban music city in the world. Hang your heads in shame - and your basketball team is also choking. Okay, enough cross-coastal trash talk for one post - but this ain't over! [Kevin Moore]

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Sun, 26 May 2013 18:22:07 +0000
Danay Suárez Here's Tom's article (with video and photos) on hip-hop artist Danay Suárez and the Bay Area's DJ Leydis. They'll be performing on May 29 at The New Parish in Oakland.

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Thu, 23 May 2013 17:45:02 +0000
JAZZ AND FUSION WINNERS CUBADISCO 2013  

The album Musae by Roman Filiu won the Cubadisco 2013 award in the Jazz category.
You can read our review in English here. 

The album Yo by Roberto Fonseca won Cubadisco 2013 awards in the categories Fusion and Recording.  You can read our review in English here.

Also, we are including our review of one of the other nominees in the Jazz category, Magic Place, by Alfredo Chacón.  You can read our review in English here.

Congratulations to all!


La grabación Musae por Roman Filiu ganó el premio Cubadisco 2013 en la categoría Jazz.
Se puede leer nuestra reseña en español aquí.

La grabación Yo por Roberto Fonseca ganó el premio Cubadisco 2013 en las categorías Fusión y Grabación. Se puede leer nuestra reseña en español aquí.

Además, estamos incluyendo la reseña de uno de los otros nominados en la categoría de Jazz, Magic Place por Alfredo Chacón.  Se puede leer nuestra reseña en español aquí. 

¡Felicitaciones a todos!

 

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Thu, 23 May 2013 16:53:43 +0000
CUBADISCO WINNER (Jazz Cubano): "TODAY'S OPINION" BY YOSVANY TERRY

Today's Opinion by Yosvany Terry is the winner of the Cubadisco 2013 Award, Cuba's equivalent of the GRAMMY awards, in the category Jazz Cubano.  This is one of our own favorite Jazz releases from 2012.    You can read our review of the CD here.

Congratulations, Yosvany!  In the days to come, we will cover the rest of the Cubadisco 2013 winners and share some more CD reviews. 


Today's Opinion por Yosvany Terry  es ganador del premio Cubadisco 2013, equivalente cubano de los premios GRAMMY, en la categoría Jazz Cubano.  Este disco es una de nuestros favoritos del Jazz de 2012.  Se puede leer nuestra reseña del CD (en ingles) aquí

¡Felicitaciones a Yosvany Terry !  En el futuro cercano, vamos a cubrir el resto de los ganadores en Cubadisco 2013 y compartir también mas reseñas de CDs.

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Mon, 20 May 2013 09:43:32 +0000
HAVANA D'PRIMERA AND SEPTETO SANTIAGUERO RECEIVE CUBADISCO AWARDS


Pasaporte by Havana d'Primera is the winner of Cubadisco 2013, Cuba's equivalent of the GRAMMY awards, in the category Popular Dance Music.   You can read our review of the CD here.

Vamos pa' la' Fiesta by Septeto Santiaguero is the Winner of Cubadisco 2013, Cuba's equivalent of the GRAMMY awards,  in the category Traditional Popular Music.  You can read our review of the CD here.  

Congratulations to both of these excellent groups!   In the days to come, we will cover the rest of the Cubadisco 2013 winners and share some more CD reviews. 


Pasaporte por  Havana d'Primera es ganador del premio Cubadisco 2013, equivalente cubano a los premios GRAMMY, en la categoría Música Popular Bailable.   Se puede leer nuestra reseña del CD aquí. 

Vamos pa' la fiesta por el Septeto Santiaguero es ganador del premio Cubadisco 2013, equivalente cubano a los premios GRAMMY, en la categoría Música Popular Tradicional.   Se puede leer nuestra reseña del CD aquí. 

¡Felicitaciones a los dos grupos excelentes!  En el futuro cercano, vamos a cubrir el resto de los ganadores en Cubadisco 2013 y compartir también más reseñas de CDs. 

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Sun, 19 May 2013 13:48:13 +0000
New York Strikes Back with a TIMBA Double-Punch As news of the San Francisco timba trifecta makes it to the East Coast, New York strikes back with an incredible double-header to match El Pikete and Havana D'Primera in Miami...!!!

Direct from Lima Perú, and following their USA debut in San Francisco, Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe will open for Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera BOTH NIGHTS at S.O.Bs in New York City. The SOBs website isn't updated yet but you can...

Click here for tickets -- Oprima aquí pata comprar boletos
Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera y Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe
Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe opening for Havana D'Primera @ S.O.B.s in New York - June 5 & 6 - Cuban music news - Noticias de musica cubana

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Fri, 17 May 2013 20:24:23 +0000
UNBELIEVABLE WEST COAST TIMBA TRIFECTA While Miami is working itself into a veritable frenzy in anticipation of the upcoming Havana D'Primera plus El Pikete on Friday the 24th (see video below), San Francisco...yet again...proves itself as the top market for hardcore Cuban Timba with an unbelievable trifecta on SATURDAY JUNE 1rst: two (2) Havana D' Primera shows at Yoshi's SF at 8 and 10pm, to be followed by -- for the very first time in the USA and their first stop of their USA tour -- Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe from Lima Perú, just a few minutes away at Café Cócomo for an 11:45 show. 

Take your Havana D'Primera ticket stub and get $5 off at the door for the Mayimbe 11:45pm show !! We'll be seeing you there. All west coast timberos and timberas will be dancing FULL FORCE. Mayimbe has a second show at Cócomo on Sunday as well. 

For advance Mayimbe tickets click hereBárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe at Café Cócomo - Saturday June 1rst 2013 - Cuban music news - Noticias de musica cubana

Coast to Coast TIMBA !!!  --  Havana D' Primera  --  El Pikete --  Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe

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Thu, 16 May 2013 07:16:09 +0000
Tom's Review of Sabor de mi Cuba

Carlos Medrano is a very talented Cuban musician currently living in the Bay Area. He returned to Cuba to produce a very cool album with his old compays, including Alexis Bosch of Havana Ensemble and singer Aldo Isidro Miranda of Azúcar Negra and Adalberto Álvarez fame. Click here for Tom's review.

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Mon, 13 May 2013 02:30:16 +0000
Paulito with Mayito and Lele - 1997 Carlos must have a time machine to keep coming up with this stuff. This is more from the concert - the only known video concert - with the insanely great Sergito Noroña on piano (he played on Con la conciencia but left the group in Jan. 1998 - this concert is Dec. 1997). Mayito and Lele, Sr. both sit in. [Kevin Moore]

Keepers of the Flame - Chuck Silverman is relaunching his Keepers of the Flame Cuban Rumba Drumming Traditions project. This could be amazing. Please check it out and consider helping in whatever ways you can.

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Sat, 11 May 2013 18:59:23 +0000
Pepitín y su Q'mbachá Pepitín y su Q'mbachá

Pepitín y su Q'mbachá have another single out. "No lo hagas más dificil" was composed by Pepitín and arranged by Lino Lores, who is producing the album for Q'mbachá. The septeto has recorded three songs so far. It is slow going since they are financing the project themselves, but the album will be worth waiting for. Pepitín is one of the most talented young soneros in Cuba. With his distinctive voice, he worked with Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor and Manolito y su Trabuco before deciding he wanted to start his own septeto to promote son cubano with a touch of timba. So be patient and enjoy the clip below!

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Thu, 09 May 2013 12:41:27 +0000
Ex-NG La Banda Singer GERARDO CONTINO this Sat. in NYC Ex-NG La Banda Singer GERARDO CONYINO plus special guests May 11 New York Cityclick here for tickets -- oprima aquí para taquillas

VAYA CALENTANDO LOS MOTORES para Havana D' Primera en Nueva York Junio 5 y 6. This CD Release Party from Ex-NG La Banda singer Gerardo Contino features special guests Xiomara Laugart (vocalist) and percussionist Luisito Quintero. In Cuba, Gerardo also sang with Charanga Forever and Son Yoruba. The gig will take place at the World Music Institute on 509 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. Tix are only $25.

Here's a short list of the musicians joining Gerardo: Axel Tosca Laugart (piano) - John Benítez (bass) - Roberto Quintero (Congas) - Luisito Quintero (Drums & Timbal). Pianists Oriente López and Manuel Varela will also make an appearance. 

Here's a cool video of Gerardo singing "La Chica Red Bull" with his NYC band. Axel Tosca and John Benítez are in the video as well. Video courtesy of our friend Martin Cohen (Congahead). 

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Tue, 07 May 2013 13:44:55 +0000
Cubadisco 2013 2012 was an excellent vintage for recordings from Cubans both in Cuba and around the world, and the nominees in Cubadisco 2013 reflect this fact.  Timba.com is pleased to shine a spotlight on the categories of greatest interest to our visitors in addition to the entire official list of nominees. To read the article in English, click here.

2012 fue una excelente cosecha para las grabaciones de los cubanos tanto en Cuba como en todo el mundo, y los nominados en Cubadisco 2013 reflejan este hecho. Timba.com se complace en ofrecer un enfoque en las categorías de mayor interés para nuestros visitantes, además de toda la lista oficial de los nominados.Para leer el articulo en español, haz clic aquí.

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Fri, 03 May 2013 23:41:25 +0000
La Timba Criolla La Timba Criolla

For some time now I have been continuing to call Havana the Capital of Timba. But I am beginning to think it's time for me to look at this as the Roman Empire with two Capitals: Havana = Rome and Lima = Constantinople. Another serious timba band has been making waves in Lima: La Timba Criolla. The band writes their own material with a classic 90s timba feel and professional production and presentation. 

LTC is made up of a combination of Cuban and Peruvian musicians, some with a conservatory background and others "timberos naturales". Director and pianist Jairo Betancourt, bassist Amarat Stuart Aguila and drummer Manuel Alejandro Moreno "Hueso" are all alumni of Michel Maza y la Tentación. Lead singer Anthony Muzantes is a well-known Peruvian singer as well as being the composer/arranger of the songs. I am very impressed with his work. He is only 20 years old but you can tell that he knows his timba! Other band members: Williams Nicasio "Macarito" - congas and Percy "Chincilla" - djembe/campana are both from Peru Negro and the percussion is rounded off by well-known Peruvian percussionist Marco Antonio Di Maria. The horn section consists of two trumpets, trombone and sax: Roman Coronado, Pedrito Meza, Fernando Shimabuku and Juancito Rondon. Coristas are Adhemir Charun Rivas and Jerson Jeff. 

La Timba Criolla will be releasing their CD "Llegó el Timbón" next month, so stay tuned for more information about the band. In the meantime I leave you with a taste of LTC en Vivo! A gozar!

La Timba Criolla live @ Persepolis 2013

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Wed, 01 May 2013 10:25:07 +0000
Contrabando Tour Dates Contrabando Abriendo Caminos

Contrabando is one of Europe's leading timba bands. Under the direction of Andrés Fernández "El Paísa", Contrabando has released two CDs and has maintained a steady flow of gigs. They will be touring Europe all summer. Click here to find a concert near you. Check out the video below to see what you have to lok forward to.

Contrabando Live @ "Aquí Cuba" 2012

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Wed, 01 May 2013 09:38:33 +0000
Breaking News: EL PIKETE to open for HDP in Miami  El Pikete opens for Havana D Primera at La Covacha - May 24 in Miami - Cuban Music News - Noticias de la musica cubana

Miami is in for a real TIMBA treat..... El Pikete has been re-activated with all new music from composer / arranger, co-leader and electronic wind instrument (e.w.i.) player Jeans Valdés, AND THEY ARE OPENING FOR HAVANA D' PRIMERA at La Covacha on Friday May 24th !!!

Many fans will immediately recognize some of the new members as they are heavyweights of the genre in their own right. Reinier is an all-star veteran from Paulito F.G. and the Cuban Timba All-Stars, Ivette was the piano player for the Canadian timba band D'talle, Michel is from Havana Power Band, El Kid is ex-Tiempo Libre....not to mention El Pikete itself is Manolín El Médico's band when not backing Manolín. Another real treat is their new female lead Ingrid Leiva (any relation to Pío Leiva?), as Hany is expecting her first child. 

** UPDATE - Ingrid Leyva Fuentes used to be the lead singer for Azucar Negra (Limonta's project) and you can see her in the video I just posted under the band list... Enjoy! El Pikete's lineup is shaping up to be a a new all-star timba group.

CALL 305-594-3717 for tickets or click here = EL PIKETE & HAVANA D' PRIMERA at La Covacha

Here are the new members / aquí los integrantes del (nuevo) PIKETE:

Rol - InstrumentoNombre
E.W.I., Co-leader Jeans Valdés
Congas, Co-leader Alexis "Mipa" Cuesta
Vocals Michel Calvo
Vocals Ingrid Leyva Fuentes 
Vocals Joaquín "El Kid" Díaz
Bass Victoriano Nápoles
Violin Jorge Carlos Oviedo
Piano Ivette Porra
Batería & Timbal Reinier Guerra
Trombone William Paredes
Trombone Eduardo Fonseca
Trumpet William Polledo
 Trumpet Mauricio Del Monte

Lead singer Ingrid Leyva Fuentes with Azucar Negra

El Pikete opens for Havana D Primera at La Covacha - May 24 in Miami - Cuban Music News - Noticias de la musica cubana

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Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:08:24 +0000
Entrevista a Calixto Oviedo Calixto Oviedo Entrevista a Calixto Oviedo

Calixto Oviedo began 2013 with a concert in Boulder, Colorado. From this collaboration a new group was born, Calixto Oviedo y su Orquesta, that has already caught the attention of timberos and Cuban music fans around the world. Calixto took some time from his schedule, which is always full, to tell us a little about the project, the objectives of the group, their repertory and plans for recordings and concerts. Click here to read the interview.

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Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:26:46 +0000
¡VAYA QUE MAMBO MÁS RICO!

HOW TO MAMBO with the new Tutti Music Player
The new interactive, state-of-the-art multimedia standard for music instruction. 
versión en español = oprima aquí
para leer sobre este nuevo tocador y los ritmos afro-cubanos gratis

Last November I attended the Billboard FutureSound Conference in San Francisco and there was one product that totally blew me away... the TUTTI MUSIC PLAYER. A company called Tutti Dynamics has developed an interactive music player for Mac, PC (Windows) and iPad that enables students to practice playing their instruments with master artists. If you are a serious student of Afro-Cuban music this will blow you away! 

In a special partnership with TIMBA.com, Tutti is offering Timba.com readers a complimentary introductory offer to access two free Latin grooves (mambo & afro-cuban) from the Tutti Essential Grooves collection. CLICK HERE to take advantage of this FREE OFFER. 

We wiil keep you updated as more rhythms become available. Just click on the Tutti link on the top right of every page (next to the language flags) to the latest news from Tutti.

Tutti Music Player &ndash; play with masters &ndash; changing the way students around the world practice and play music. An interactive video music player for education and learning.

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Sat, 20 Apr 2013 20:10:35 +0000
Havana Blue  

(photo by Kent Richmond courtesy Chicago Jazz Philharmonic)

Orbert Davis of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and Frank Chaves of River North Dance Chicago had already performed diligent work managing expectations about what to expect and what not to expect from Havana Blue  during interviews in the press and a roundtable discussion at the Instituto Cervantes leading up to the performance, so this writer went into the Auditorium Theatre understanding that this was to be an original interpretive work rather than a series of covers of Cuban music and dance, and he was prepared to receive the work on its own terms.  Nevertheless, it is difficult for anyone who works with Cuban music to watch and listen to "Cuban-inspired" works without also considering the relationships that have unfolded for more than a century between Cuban performers and their American counterparts as well as Cuban and North American music, so this review will speak to both this performance and the bigger picture as well. 

 

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Fri, 19 Apr 2013 01:11:13 +0000
Havana D' Primera Official USA 2013 TOUR DATES Havana D Primera Official USA 2013 Tour Dates

click HERE for all official tour dates (so far) -- oprima aquí para ver las fechas

Ok IT'S ON and it's OFFICIAL. ALL VISAS APPROVED. No "pasaporte" required to get down with Alexander Abreu and Havana D' Primera. The tour opens with a performance at the Cuban Cultural Fest in Tampa on May 18 and runs through Miami, Folsom, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, New York, Virginia, Atlanta and Kentucky.   We'll be seeing you on the road people !!

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Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:21:23 +0000
Pachito Alonso y sus Kini Kini Pachito Alonso & Sus Kini Kini Tour

Pachito Alonso & Sus Kini Kini begin a short promotional tour of Europe in two weeks. Click here to see the concert dates/cities . They will perform in Italy, France and Spain. The band has a new CD "30 Años con mi Tumbao". I don't know if they will be selling it at the concerts, but bring some extra cash just in case! If they are not coming to your country in April, don't despair! They will be back for a full-length tour from August 8 - September 1. We will publish those concert dates as soon as they are available.

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Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:20:00 +0000
Changüí de Guantánamo Working on New CD Attention changüiceros del mundo! Changüí de Guantánamo is recording a CD of all new compositions with the help of Gabriel Garcia of Changüí del Guaso Productions. The first single has been released at iTunes and Amazon, and a video is up at YouTube. Changüí de Guantánamo is the oldest professional changüí group in the world! They are currently in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on a year-long contract at La Bodeguita del Medio. So if you are in Mexico, stop by and see them! You don't even have to pull a Beyonce to do it! And keep your eyes open for news of a possible US Tour!

Mujer Caprichosa

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Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:04:55 +0000
The GRAMMY Foundation's Music Educator Award

(Courtesy of The Recording Academy/ photo by Kevin Winter, WireImage.com 2013)

One of the things that makes the music we write about here so wonderful is the fact that music education has played an important role in shaping the musicians as far back as the days of Cachao, who in addition to his revolutionary musical roles with the early Mambo and the later Descargas was a classically trained bassist who played with the Philharmonic.  Bebo Valdés, whose passing we wrote about recently in this blog, was also trained in the Conservatory.  Formal musical education which included classical training also helped nurture countless members of the new generation of musicians who have brought us Songo, Timba, Jazz etc.   

In the United States, it isn't exactly a secret that music education in the schools has fallen on hard financial times, so we applaud any measures that help recognize and support its importance. The GRAMMY Foundation and The Recording Academy recently unveiled a new Music Educator Award, and the winner will be selected  by a process that includes public participation in the US in nominating the candidates.  

Many of our readers have children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren etc. that may or may not become members of the next generation of Jazz and Latin music performers depending upon the level of support and education that they receive from us and those who are teaching them how to sing and play.  If you are in the United States and  know of a music educator there who has made a difference in their lives, this is your chance to help them get more recognition for their efforts, and there is more than a plaque and a ceremony at stake for them – the winner, to be named in 2014, will also receive a $10,000.00 honorarium, and nine finalists will receive $1,000.00 each.  (The funding for the awards is being supplied by the Ford Motor Company Fund.)

For more about the awards process, the rules, who is eligible, and how to nominate your choice (nominations are open until April 15), visit http://www.grammymusicteacher.com

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Sun, 07 Apr 2013 09:40:40 +0000
Ernesto Oviedo                                                                    photo by Tom Ehrlich

Singer Ernesto Oviedo is the son of the son pioneer Isaac Oviedo (founder of Sexteto Matancero) and the brother of long-time Revé tresero Papi Oviedo. Tom Ehrlich has been raving about his vocal abilities for several weeks. Oviedo will be singing with members of the John Santos group at the Brazilian Cultural Center on April 28th in Oakland

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Sat, 06 Apr 2013 15:35:44 +0000
El Día Internacional de la Timba! Today we celebrate a quarter century of TIMBA! On this date in 1988, NG La Banda was officially formed and thus we consider it to be the official birthday of Timba. El Tosco & NG celebrated with a concert last night in Havana. We want to take this opportunity to thank José Luis Cortés for his contribution to the evolution of Cuban music! Gracias Maestro! Y que sigas 25 años más! Here is a potpourri of the album "En la calle" from the very early days of timba...para recordar!

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Thu, 04 Apr 2013 03:47:33 +0000
Part IV of Afro-Cuban All Stars at SF Jazz

Tom saved some of his most colorful and dramatic shots for this final installment. An amazing tour and SF Jazz's new facility is an amazing venue. Pedrito Martínez will be there in early June.

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Thu, 04 Apr 2013 01:44:04 +0000
Andy Gola & Colé Colé in Colombia Andy Gola & Colé Colé

Andy Gola & Colé Colé are currently in Colombia and begin their visit with a concert this Friday in Bogota at Quiebracanto at 10:00 pm. They will be bringing their mix of salsa, timba and son to the Colombianos who, like the Cubans, know how to party! If we hear about more concert dates we'll publish the information.

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Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:11:29 +0000
Buena Fe - Dial Buena Fe - DIAL "Dial", Buena Fe’s eighth studio CD, was released one month ago on iTunes, Amazon MP3, Spotify and other digital download sites. To my knowledge the hardcopy is only available at the EGREM stores in Cuba and at Buena Fe concerts. If you have the opportunity to score a hardcopy, take it. I did and the cover art by Jesús Lara is worth the purchase price!

I have spent a couple of weeks agonizing over the CD review, not because I didn't know what I wanted to say, but because I didn't know how to say it to really get my point across. As I was working on the review, I took the opportunity to ask Israel and Yoel a few questions. Click here to read the short interview with Buena Fe.

The first official video for the CD was released just over two weeks ago, and a video says more than a thousand words. "La culpa" is a brilliant guaguancó-rock fusion and a perfect example of Buena Fe's talent for combining intelligent lyrics with captivating music. The video, below, was written and directed by Ian Padrón and features the participation of Clave y Guaguancó and Havana Queens.

Click here for my review/report on “Dial” .

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Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:50:00 +0000
BEYOND SALSA BASS VOL.1 RELEASED!! The first bass book in the BEYOND SALSA series of Afro-Cuban musical instruction methods, Beyond Salsa Bass Volume 1 (For Beginners) includes bass tumbaos for each of the piano tumbaos (aka, montunos) in Beyond Salsa Piano, Vol. 1, and contains many additional bass tumbaos plus other exercises, making this first bass volume is more than twice as long (compared to Beyond Salsa Pianio Vol.1). The book begins by categorizing the most common Latin bass tumbaos by their rhythms and then proceeds to tell the history of Latin music from a bassist’s perspective, with notation for bass tumbaos from each era covered: changüí, rumba, son, danzón, big band and son montuno (a detailed study of Arsenio Rodríguez). This is the first book in the new standard for contemporary Latin bass styles. 186 pages (186 páginas) with 212 audio tracks (212 pistas).

Click here to download the FREE sample pdf 

Click here to download FREE introductory bass audio samples 

Click here to visit Kevin's Beyond Salsa Bass Vol.1 hard copy book page 

Beyond Salsa Bass Volume 1

The Audio product includes a fast and slow file for each bass tumbao in the book as well as various example files corresponding to the text. Note that for every piano tumbao in our sister volume, Beyond Salsa Piano, Vol.1, there is a corresponding bass tumbao in the Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 1 book and audio product. In these cases, the piano audio is included in one channel. In other cases, the audio consists of just bass and clave. If this seems confusing, think of it this way: Beyond Salsa Piano Vol. 1 is a subset of Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 1. The bass book has a bass tumbao for every piano tumbao in the piano book, but the bass book also has many more additional tumbaos for tracks not covered in the piano volume. 

For more info on the BEYOND SALSA series ploease visit = http://beyondsalsa.info

To read a more detailed introduction to BEYOND SALSA BASS Vol.1 please click on the continue reading link below (bottom right).......

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Mon, 01 Apr 2013 04:57:18 +0000
Ivan Llanes & The Cuban Way Ivan Llanes played drums and percussion with Maraca  and Sur Caribe in Cuba and moved to New York in 2012 to pursue a solo career.  His new group, Ivan Llanes & The Cuban Way, will present its live public debut performance at the Bronx Museum of the Arts on Friday, April 5 as part of the museum's First Fridays series. The evening begins as a kickoff of the upcoming Havana Film Festival New York at 6pm with a screening of David Grubin's 2012 documentary film Havana, Havana!.  This is followed by the debut live performance of Ivan's group as well as music by DJ Asho.  Ivan tells us that the performance will include two original compositions along with some Cuban Jazz standards, some Timba Cubana and some traditional Cuban music (Danzón, Bolero, Cancion etc.).   The concept of the group is to bring a Cuban feel to a wide range of music from Timba to Jazz to Blues and other styles. 

Ivan hopes to produce a full recording of the group over the course of the next year.  As a taste of things to come, it recorded a demo video in Martin Cohen's studio last year: 

This group should be an exciting addition to the scene, and entrance to the event is free. 

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Sat, 30 Mar 2013 00:43:34 +0000
Great interview with Walfredo de los Reyes This link goes to Emiliano Echeverria's full show . The interview - covering Bebo Valdés, Güillermo Barretto, Cachao and much more - starts at the 26 minute mark. For more on Emiliano, click here.

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Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:57:14 +0000
¡Louisville Baila!

The last time this writer saw this group in the Midwest was literally during the last millennium, and he still remembered the waves of excitement that swept the hall back then, so even though the nearest concert this time was a five-hour drive away, he decided to make the trek to Louisville.  Was it worth the drive? Read on to find out and see our concert photos...

 

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Tue, 26 Mar 2013 01:12:32 +0000
Yes, It Had To Be Manolin Eventually... Better Late Than Never Dept:
Manolin 's Tiene Que Ser Manolin, released last year, has something for everyone, and we do mean every one.  Could that be a problem?  Click here to read our take on that question.

 





An excellent Latin Jazz recording, Guisando Caliente's Coolantro , recently came to our attention after eluding our notice for a couple of years.  The trail also leads to one of the best Afro-Cuban Jazz programs currently on radio (and strreaming on the web) in the United States.  Click here to read the review.

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Sun, 24 Mar 2013 11:55:24 +0000
Michel Robles & El Sello Michel Robles & El Sello

Peru continues to produce timba groups writing original material. Michel Robles & El Sello recently release the official video for "La Bomba Que Tengo". The first coro is a nod to "La Bala de BIlly", The song is very danceable and has been well received by timberos and DJs. Michel has also recorded a pilón/salsa titled "Diva de la noche" with Alexander Abreu.

Twenty-nine year old Michel Robles Ramos was born in Havana. In 2000 he went to Lima where he spent eight years working with Los Conquistadores de la Salsa. During this period he has developed a reputation in the artistic community and has won various awards in vocal competitions on Peruvian television

In January 2011 he decided to form his own band of which he is director, lead singer, composer and arranger. El Sello has 13 members: two Cuban singers, two Peruvian singers and the rest of the muscians are Peruvian. The format is timbal, congas , bongo , two trompets , sax and trombone. Michel tells us that the band plays Cuban music with rhythms influenced by songo, pilón, son and changüi. 'They have developed a following in Lima and perform weekly gigs at various clubs. Michel says that the strengths of the band are having a good rhythm, a good show and charisma, but above all the connection with their audience. You can learn more about Michel Robles & El Sello at their Facebook page . Here I leave you with the video for "La Bomba Que Tengo".

Michel Robles & El Sello "La Bomba Que Tengo"

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Sun, 24 Mar 2013 10:43:52 +0000
Bebo Joins The Descarga Upstairs (Photo courtesy Bebo's Facebook profile)

One of the true giants of Cuban music, composer/bandleader/pianist Ramón Emilio Valdés Amaro, whom we all know as Bebo Valdés, passed away on Friday, March 22 in Sweden at the age of 94.

Bebo was born in Quivicán, Cuba on October 9, 1918, slightly less than a month after another key figure in the music, Israel "Cachao" Lopez.  Bebo began playing piano at about 7 years of age and entered the conservatory in Havana at age 16.  He later began playing piano in the nightclubs of Havana in the 1940s and worked as an arranger in the mid 40s with the great Ernest Lecuona.   From the late 1940s to the late 1950s, he was at the Tropicana, and his band, Sabor de Cuba, was one of the groups that regularly backed legendary performers such as Pio Leyva and Beny More. He was also the arranger and pianist for Rita Montaner during that period. In 1960, he went to Mexico for a time where he worked in television and the studios and ultimately settled into a decades-long residency in Stockholm in 1963.   

Bebo helped further the development of the Mambo and also created an additional rhythm, the Batanga, which competed with the Mambo in Cuba.  He also participated in some of the historic Afro-Cuban Jazz recording sessions commissioned by Norman Granz in the 1950s and was a pioneer in the use of the bata in popular dance music. In the late 1950s, he also made a recording with Nat King Cole. He endured a period of relative obscurity internationally after moving to Europe, but in 1994, the recording Bebo Rides Again (his first album after three decades of mostly playing hotels in Stockholm and mentoring other musicians) helped revive international awareness of him. That awareness spread even further after Bebo's appearance in the 2000 film Calle 54  (a film which absolutely belongs in your collection if you haven't purchased it already) and his 2003 album Lagrimas Negras with Diego El Cigala, which fused Cuban rhythms with flamenco vocals.   He went on to win multiple Latin GRAMMYs and GRAMMYs including  two for El arte del sabor (2002), one for Lagrimas Negras (2003),  two for Bebo de Cuba (2006).  His album with his son Chucho Valdés, Juntos Para Siempre,  won both a GRAMMY and a Latin GRAMMY award (2009) for Best Latin Jazz Album.  In films, he also appeared in  2004's El milagro de Candeal, and more recently, he composed the score for the wonderful film Chico y Rita, which also drew some pieces of its plot from aspects of his life. 

In addition to all of his personal musical accomplishments, he is also the founder of an important musical dynasty including his son Chucho Valdés (whose many milestones include his key role in Irakere) and his grandson Chuchito Valdés.  The 2009 3-CD set Dinastia Valdés showcases music by all three of them. 

His full discography is extensive, and given his work in multiple countries over several decades, we are uncertain as to whether a truly complete one even exists at this writing.    We'll close for now by sharing a You Tube clip from Calle 54 posted by the Instituto de Musica Contemporanea in Lima of Bebo and Cachao performing Lagrimas Negras.  We chose this particular clip for a couple of reasons: one, it's a beautiful clip;  two, there are some parallels between these two men.  They were born a few weeks apart, both were classically trained yet also revolutionized both popular Cuban dance music and Afro-Cuban Jazz, both had major career comebacks after periods of being out of the public eye, and (perhaps most noteworthy), both had long lives (Cachao passed at age 89, Bebo at age 94) while pursuing an endeavor that the popular imagination sometimes believes to be an eater of its own young.  An interesting coincidence is that Cachao also passed on the 22nd of March in 2008. For today's young musicians, there are lessons here about the value of formal musical education and a lifestyle that doesn't cause your departure before you turn 50.  

Goodbye Bebo, and thank you for all that you left us.  We would say "Descanse en paz", but our guess is that you are probably already jamming with some of those other cats who came before. 

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Sat, 23 Mar 2013 01:14:39 +0000
Tom's ACAS Photos, Pt. III Rebeca Mauleón with Gabriel Hernández, Pantaleón, Juan de Marcos and Niño Mentira.

Click here for Part 3 of 4.

Book News: Thanks to the efforts of Vasík Greif the new beyondsalsa.info web site has been launched - everything in one place. There's even a Beyond Salsa Blog. Facebook page is next! Also, the beginning bass book is almost done. Stay tuned!

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Tue, 19 Mar 2013 03:17:12 +0000
The Chicago International Salsa Congress - A Timbero's Perspective Article and all Photos by Bill Tilford, All Rights Reserved

(This installment is for both Salseros and Timberos in the hope that they may remember that there are some common challenges that are faced by all.)

Welcome to the third installment of our series.  We'll have a lot of photos later on along with the first in a series of sound clips that we hope will help illustrate that many common misconceptions about both "Cuban Salsa" and Timba music are exactly that.   In the meantime, I would like to expand a little on some earlier themes from the first two chapters.... read the full article here >>>

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Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:45:47 +0000
Some Key Music Events in the US This Week This is a great week for musical events throughout the United States.  In Miami Beach, the Global Cuba Fest is in progress with several different performing artists including Hilario Bell, who is doing both a workshop and a performance on Saturday, March 16 at 2pm; the Yosvany Terry Quintet, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez & Italuba, who are in concert later at 7pm, and The Creole Choir of Cuba, which is performing on Sunday, March 17 at 7pm. All of these events are at the North Beach Bandshell.  For more information, a link to FUNDarte's page is here

After a few days (March 13-17) at the Blue Note in NYC, The Afro-Cuban All Stars tour continues throughout the United States, but we wanted to bring special attention to their performance at the Clifton Center in Louisville, Kentucky on Wednesday March 20 at 7:30pm. Over the course of the past few years, Louisville has become an important locale for Midwesterners to see this music, and this will be the only Midwest stop for this group during this tour.  (Chicagoans, it's a 5-6 hour drive for you and worth the trip if you can manage the time.) The ticket link to their website is here. 

On Saturday, March 23 at 7:00pm, the AC Jazz Project with very special guest Jimmy Branly, which like Maraca can do both dance and Jazz material, will be bringing what we are told is primarily a Timba dance set to Yoshi's in San Francisco. This truly is a group of all stars - the leader/trumpeter Josiel Perez played with Maraca and Klimax; pianist Fermin Sifontes played with Grupo Afrocuba; bassist Carlos Cuba played with Pablo Milanes and Klimax, and drummer Jimmy Branly has played with NG La Banda and Ernán López Nussa. The group also features conguero Joey De Leon, vocalist Alberto Tomayo, trumpeter Ronal Segovia and saxophonist Camilo Puche. We recently heard a couple of tracks from their forthcoming recording which is currently in production, and if the rest of the tracks are as solid as what we heard, this is going to be a welcome addition to the scene in the United States.  We'll share more when the project is ready. For now, the ticket link for Yoshi's is here.

The Jazz option in San Francisco this week  is a series of 4 concerts by John Santos from March 21-24 at SFJAZZ featuring different guests each evening including Pável Urkiza & Ricardo Pons on the 21st, Papo Vazquez and the Mighty Pirates Troubadours on the 22nd, Filosofía Caribeña II on the 23rd and Omar Sosa, Kenny Endo and Abhigit Banerjee on the 24th. For more information, see their website link here. 

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Sat, 16 Mar 2013 08:29:57 +0000
This Week: Panel discussions in Miami and Chicago Two different roundtable discussions in Miami and Chicago this week look promising for those who are able to attend. The Chicago event, From Cuba to Chicago: Pedro Páramo and Havana Blue, will take place on Thursday, March 14 at the Instituto Cervantes and is a panel discussion about artistic exchanges with Cuba.  Artists from the River North Dance Chicago, the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, Chicago's Goodman Theatre and Cuba's Teatro Buendía will participate in the discussion. Chicago will host the world premieres of Havana Blue and Pedro Páramo in the near future.  
This event is free to the public, but reservations are needed (for reservations, see the web page at  GoodmanTheatre.org/CubatoChicago)

The Miami event, Cuban Music in the Transnational Context,  is a panel discussion featuring the musicians Gema Corredera, Yosvany Terry and Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez with additional panelist Eva Silot Bravo.  This is also on Thursday, March 14.  According to the announcement, there will be a music demonstration along with the panel discussion.  This is also free to the public and will be focusing upon  the impact of musicians who have emigrated to cities like New York, Miami and Madrid and how they are affecting the music globally. Timba.com's regular visitors will note that Yosvany Terry (as well as Yunior Terry) has been mentioned on our site more than once as an artist of special interest in the new music being produced today. 

Also, the Creole Choir of Cuba returns to Chicago after their triumphant performance there in 2011 (you can read our review of that performance here.) This time, they will be performing at the Old Town School of Folk Music on Wednesday, March 13 at 8:30pm. This is a full audiovisual experience, and we recommend it highly. 

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Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:00:13 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Afro-Cuban All Stars Photos

Here's the next installment of Tom's 3- or 4-part series on Juan d'Marcos & the Afro-Cuban All Stars at SF Jazz.  And here are the remaining tour dates. Next stop: Waterbury Connecticut and then on to NY for a full week at the Blue Note.

Coming: Havana d'Primera at Yoshi's SF - May 31 & June 1.

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Sun, 10 Mar 2013 03:31:41 +0000
The Chicago International Salsa Congress - A Timbero's Perspective Article and all photos by Bill Tilford -- All Rights Reserved
(This series of articles is intended primarily for Salseros who are new to Timba,
but Timberos will hopefully also find some items of interest as well.)

Yambú / Guaguancó Workshop

Those of you who know that you are dancing "On 1" or "On 2"  but not too much more than that may not realize that originally, everyone that was dancing was moving to things with other names- Son, Guaracha, Guaguancó, Mambo and many others.  Some of the rhythms and dances (such as the Pilón and Pachanga) have all but vanished over the years because neither Salsa nor Timba preserved them intact.......click here to read the full article >>>

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Sun, 03 Mar 2013 18:10:58 +0000
Afro-Cuban All Stars Photos, Pt. 1

Tom Ehrlich has posted the first of several galleries of Juan de Marcos' triumphant sold-out return to the Bay Area. The band is in great form and JdM has really hit on a great idea by writing for three trumpets and bass clarinet. The clarinet sounds way better than a bari sax and the lines are written in a way that crystalizes the trumpet harmonies. If you get a chance to see a later show on the tour, check this out. The singers and the entire rhythm section are also sublime, as are the acoustics at the new SF Jazz facility. This gallery is from the souncheck. Later this week we'll have more photos from the clinic and two of the concerts. Click here for the rest of the tour which is working its way to the East Coast, including a full week at the legendary Blue Note. [Kevin Moore]

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Sun, 03 Mar 2013 16:12:37 +0000
Monika Mesa y su Máquina Perfecta Monika Mesa y su Máquina Perfecta - Al fin

We have added a section for Monika Mesa y su Máquina Perfecta , whose 2012 Cubadisco-nominated CD "Al Fin" will be available soon outside of Cuba. In the meantime you can browse through the new section with a brief biography, information about the new CD, photos and most importantly videos so you can get to know her music. Timberos already know Monika from her time with bands such as Anacaona, Azúcar Negra and NG La Banda. She has now started her own group under the musical direction of Joel Dominguez (Issac Delgado, Manolín and Paulo FG) and they have already toured Europe twice. They will be back in Europe this fall so keep an eye out for updates to their Tours page. Below you can enjoy a little behind-the-scenes documentary of the Making of the song "SMS".

You can listen to "SMS" at Timba.com radio.

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Sun, 03 Mar 2013 13:56:03 +0000
CD Reviews for February 2013

(Photo by Massimo Montovani)

Let us begin with a few words of praise for the terrestrial CD store, or as we used to call it, the record store   A recent trip to Miami gave us an excuse to run through two of our favorites, the Museo del Disco on SW 70th Street (close to Calle Ocho) and Casino Records  (no website) on Calle Ocho. We also like Lily's on Calle Ocho for some things, but our best finds are usually at the first two.Yes, we know that most of you probably buy on-line these days, but you are missing out on some things when you don't do the physical experience.  For one thing, it's a lot harder to go crate-digging on line. When I'm in a real store, I usually walk out with finds that I was never looking for in the first place. Those finds are often better than the things I was looking for. You may also hear something over the loudspeakers that you never dreamed you might like. This has happened to me more than once.   

(Photo by Alejandro Azcuy)

Also, the physical CD, if done as well as it should be, will come with liner notes telling you more about the band, the musicians and the project.   If you truly care about the details surrounding the band and the recording, track downloads won't get you there from here, and if you hope to rely on the band's website, well, good luck with that. Some are better than others, and most websites aren't forever.

(Cover photo by Jose Ortega)

So, if you have one of these kinds of stores where you live, take the time to go check it out.   It's worth the trouble.  In the meantime, here are three reviews of interesting CDs we acquired recently; the last two came from the stores in Miami: 

For a review of Omar Sosa 's Eggūn,  click here.
For a review of Maykel Blanco 's A Toda Maquina , click here.
For a review of Leslie Cartaya 's No Pares , click here.  

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Sat, 02 Mar 2013 18:21:28 +0000
Havana Rhythm & Dance Festival Program Fiesta del Tambor 2013

The schedule has now been finalized for the 2013 Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival. It is a five-day event including an international percussion competition, dance classes, percussion classes and dance and music performances by major groups in genres from foklore to timba to jazz. Some highlights of the timba concerts:
March 6 - Klímax & Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor @ Hotel Habana Libre
March 7 - 50th anniversary celebration for Los Papines  @ Teatro Mella 8:00pm - 11:00pm
11:00pm - 2:00am Adalberto Álvarez y su Son  @ Hotel Habana Libre
March 8 - Klímax and guests @ Casa de la Música Miramar 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Los Van Van & Havana D'Primera @Teatro Mella 8:30pm - 10:00pm
March 9 - Pupy y los que son son @ Hotel Habana Libre 11:00pm - 2:00am
March 10 - Klímax, Havana D'Primera, JG y su grupo & Oderquis Revé @ La Tropical

Click here for the full schedule and check out the Fiesta del Tambor website for more information.

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Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:24:52 +0000
Manolín Photos, Part II

Here's  Part II of Tom's Manolín photos. On drums was the electrifying Ángel "Pututi II" Arce from the original band that took Havana by storm in the 90s. Also from that band was trumpeter "El Niche" Romero, now a Bay Area resident, joined by Roberto Morris (ex-Sur Caribe).

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Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:44:47 +0000
Buena Fe in Miami Buena Fe @ Miami-Dade County Auditorium Photo courtesy of Buena Fe (Página Oficial)

It has been nearly a week since the big concert by Buena Fe February 22nd at Miami-Dade County Auditorium, and I have now posted my concert report which I was able to complete thanks to the cooperation of friend and fellow Buena Fe fan Líen Álvarez and Javier Otero of Blue Night Entertainment . Since we had such a build-up to the Karl Marx concerts, I start this report with a bit of a summary of the events n Miami beginning with the arrival of Israel and Yoel on February 18th and including their television appearences prior to the concert. There is also a short interview with Javier Otero as well as a playlist of songs from the concert. Click here to read the concert report.

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Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:08:13 +0000
Tom's Manolín Gallery is Up

Here's the first gallery from Manolín's incredible show with Jiovanni Cofiño and Ángel "Pututi II" Arce at Café Cócomo in SF.

Book News: Volume 1 of Beyond Salsa Bass should be out soon.

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Wed, 27 Feb 2013 02:34:43 +0000
Elito Revé y su Charangón in Europe Elito Revé y su Charangón European Tour 2013

Timba fans, La Aplanadora de Cuba will be rolling through Europe again in just about ten days! They are touring for three weeks and will be in Italy, France, Spain and Germany. Click here to find a concert near you. In my opinion, El Charangón is the most hardcore timba band today! Check out Susel and tell me if I'm right. Todo lo que sube tiene que caer!

Susel sings "No debo explicarte nada" from the upcoming new release.

Maykel Blanco is also in Europe again continuing his solo promotional tour for the new CD "A toda máquina" in preperation for the summer tour with the entire band. He has the CD wth him on the tour so take some cash and get yourself a copy. I bet he'll even autograph it for you. The dates and locations of where you can meet Maykel are below.

Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor - A toda máquina
February 25 - Conference - Salerno, Italy
February 26 - Isola Verde - Pontecagnano, Italy
February 27 - Studio Uno - Castera, Italy
February 28 - Nada Más, Termoli, Italy
March 1 - Area Disco - Frosinone, Italy

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Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:48:59 +0000
Mi Salsa Cubana Mi Salsa Cubana Rumba Class in CubaRumba class with Mi Salsa Cubana in Havana

Mi Salsa Cubana has published the dates of their Cuba dance trips for 2013 and 2014.
2013: 23-24 of March to 6-7 of April, 5-6 October to 19-20  October, 28-29 of December 2013 to 4- 5 of January 2014 (half price 1 week)
2014: 4-5 of January to18-19 of January, 12-13 of April to 26-27 of April

There are classes for all levels: beginners, intermediate and advanced as well as for singles, guys, girls, ladies, men and couples. All participants get a Cuban dance partner. The 14 days intensive dance program offers classes in Salsa, Son, Rueda de Casino, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, and Rumba. It is also possible for participants to extend their stay. For more information on terms and prices see Mi Salsa Cubana's website.

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Sat, 23 Feb 2013 10:26:55 +0000
New Release from Orquesta POMO - "El Juego"

La Orquesta Pomo toca un estilo propio de timba con un sonido especial. Con una gran dosis e influencia del soul/pop/jazz y la gran inspiración de la salsa de Cuba, Colombia y Puerto Rico. El material que interpreta la orquesta es original. El inicio de la orquesta fue en el 2011 con Jonas Pomo y Cecilia Ferrer. Jonas comenzó a componer la música y Celilia luego las letras. Los integrantes de la banda fueron luego elegidos detenida y cautelosamente por Jonas y consiguó los que él quería. La primera aparición en público de la "Orquesta Pomo" fue el 5 de abril en Estocolmo, Suecia.

Descarga "El Juego" de la Orquesta Pomo GRATIS aquí
Click here for the free download

Otro punto de interés es que Jonas fué uno de los cantantes de Calle Real en su reciente gira de Sur América. Un pianista de jazz y otros estilos, él ha trabajado con muchos otros artistas y grupos en Suecia como La Tremenda, Jorge Cordero, Gilito y su Clave y por supuesto Calle Real.

New Release from Orquesta POMO - "El Juego" - Cuban music news - noticias de musica cubana

Los miembros del grupo: Jonas Pomo piano & bandleader, Cecilia Ferrer lead vocals, Aksel Friberg bass, Linus Svanberg congas, Magnus Almqvist drums & timbales, Jonas Landolsi güiro, Cristina Pomo backing vocals, Cristian Guerra backing vocals, Alex Saltell backing vocals, Yuliesky Gonzalez Guerra trumpet, Johan Nordefeldt trumpet, Rickard Lindgren trumpet, Peter Fredriksson trombone, Nikolas Viisanen trombone.

Orquesta POMO on Facebook = www.facebook.com/orquestapomo

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Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:48:43 +0000
Pablo Milanés in Spain Pablo Milanes
Pablo Milanés will be back in Spain for two concerts in March before setting out on a world tour later this year. His long-awaited new CD will also be released later this year, and we will get back to you as soon as we have the details. For now the two dates in Spain are:
March 13, 2013  – San Sebastián, Spain  – Victoria Eugenia
March 15, 2012  – A Coruña, Spain – Teatro Colón

I finally saw Pablo live last October in Madrid and it was a thrilling experience. If you don't live in Spain, just take a a mini vacation like I did. You can read my full concert report here, including six videos of Pablo and two of opening act Andrés Suárez. If you don't have time for that right now, I leave you with one of the most beautiful songs in the Spanish language: "Si ella me faltara alguna vez".

Pablo Milanés performs "Si ella me faltara alguna vez" in Madrid 15 October 2013

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Thu, 21 Feb 2013 12:16:55 +0000
Afro-Cuban All Stars in SF Thursday through Sunday cuban music, musica cubana

The brand new state-of-the-art SF Jazz hall plays host to Juan d'Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All Stars for the next four nights. The acoustics are supposed to be absolutely sublime and the band definitely is. Juan will also give a lecture/demonstration (same venue) on Saturday afternoon. See you there!

Click here for more info and tickets.

Click here for the rest of the tour (WA, Canada, Arcata, etc.)

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Thu, 21 Feb 2013 02:22:39 +0000
FIESTA DEL TAMBOR - 2013 Havana Rhythm & Dance Festival 2013 (Fiesta del Tambor)

In less than two weeks the annual Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival will kick off with an inaugural carnival at La Fuente de la Juventud. This is the biggest percussion event of the year with percussion conferences and classes, dance shows and concerts by the biggest timba bands, jazz groups and rumba/folklore groups.  The event includes the participation of international artists from Venezuela, Puerto Rico,Curaçao, Canada, the USA, Japan and Chile. Performances and conferences will be held at Palacio de la Rumba, Hotel Habana Libre, Teatro Mella, Hotel Occidental Miramar, Hotel Melia Cohiba, Casa de la Música Miramar and Salon Rosado de La Tropical. If you will be in Havana during this period don't miss this amazing event. It is a union of some of the world's greatest percussionists. All the information including the full program can be found at the Fiesta del Tambor website.

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Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:04:10 +0000
Two Historic Anniversaries February 19th is an important day in Latin music history. In 1932 Cuba's first all-women dance band, Anacaona, was formed by Cuchito Castro and her sisters Ada, Bola, and Ondina. Also part of the original band were Isabel Álvarez, Berta Cabrera, Elia O'Reilly. Despite prejudices in what was then an all-male industry, Anacaona developed a following and at the height of their popularity, they performed in New York, Europe and Mexico.

Anacaona

Eighty-one years later Anacaona is still releasing hit songs, although the band has a younger look and modern musical style. Congratulations Anacaona!

Anacaona 2013

Today is also the 50th anniversary of the passing of the great Benny Moré who died on February 19, 1963 at the age of 43 due to liver disease brought on by alcoholism. Born in Lajas, Cuba, Benny Moré was a self-taught musician who got his start playing for tips in Havana and by the time of his death was the leader of one of the most popular latin dance bands in the world. It was his voice that got him his first jobs with bands such as Sexteto Cauto and later Conjunto Matamoros with which he traveled to Mexico.... click here to read the full article >>>

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Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:47:45 +0000
The Chicago International Salsa Congress - A Timbero's Perspective Article and all photos by Bill Tilford -- All Rights Reserved

PRELUDIO As I type this, I can already hear the screams of some of my most hard-line Timbero friends and colleagues that I have committed the supreme blasphemy by writing an extended article here about a Salsa Congress, so please allow me to begin by addressing those dear friends. For quite some time now, I have been wandering about looking for insights into whether there are ways to effectively tackle the biggest challenge facing Timba music in the United States:  we as a community have basically failed to attract the levels of mass paying (that word "paying" is important) audiences that the music truly deserves, and at the very time when it is politically easier than it has ever been for bands to tour the United States from Cuba, the economic realities of the position of Timba music in the marketplace have slowed what could  be a flood of amazing bands touring the country to a relative trickle touring  primarily the East and West coasts.  Even in those places, the audience numbers have frequently failed to live up to initial expectations. What's more, many of the US-based bands that play Timba have either fallen upon hard times, adapted by playing more fusion and/or Salsa and/or survived by touring extensively out of the United States. There are a prosperous few, but they are exceptions that prove the rule. This problem is truly odd because much of the Salsa audience is already halfway home - many of the songs they listen to were written and originally performed in Cuba, and most of the most important roots of Salsa come from Cuban music..... click here to read the full article >>>

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Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:36:59 +0000
Tremenda Gozadera con La Charanga David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera - Stockholm 2013

On February 8, 2013 David Calzado y Su Charanga Habanera returned to Stockholm for the first time in four years, under the auspices of Latin Entertainment. During these four years the band has had time to release four CDs and Dantes Cardosa  "El Ricky Ricón" has again left the band, replaced this time by Pedro Nieto. La Charanga is more of a show, película and espetáculo than ever with Aned, Lachy, Junior, Heikel and Pedro on vocals and Randy joining in on vocals during the timbaton numbers. David as always directing the show, interacting with the audience and introducing the songs by singing the coros and getting the fans to sing along. Whatever you may think of the Old Charanga versus the New Charanga, the concerts are always a party and a guaranteed good time. In a room filled with pheromones and sweat people let go, dance, sing and scream and go home with a smile on their face and in their heart. For a full report of the concert with 6 videos including the estrenos "La bomba" and "Esta noche voy a partir el party" click here.

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Sun, 17 Feb 2013 06:13:54 +0000
In Honor of Frank "Machito" Grillo

(Machito is in the center on maracas)

Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez  "Machito" Grillo was born on February 16, 19-something - the most commonly used years are 1908 followed by 1912, 1909 and occasionally 1915. Accounts also differ as to whether he was born in Havana or in Tampa of Cuban parents. A few things are certain:

1. For decades from the 1940s to the 1980s, he had one of the most important Afro-Cuban Jazz orchestras in the United States.  It was his brother-in-law and musical director, Mario Bauza, that introduced Dizzy Gillespie to Chano Pozo.  He also used Jazz musicians like Charlie Parker, Brew Moore and Howard McGhee to lay the foundations of a style that became known as Cubop. 
2. The powerful section work in his band inspired other big band leaders such as Stan Kenton to borrow elements of his music in their own work. 
3.  He made numerous recordings, and his 1975 album Oro, Incienso y Mirra with Dizzy Gillespie was nominated for a GRAMMY  and remains one of the acknowledged classics of AfroCuban Jazz recorded in the United States.   .  

In modern times, his son, Mario Grillo, carries on with a current version of the band.  You can learn more at their website, http://www.machitoorchestranyc.com/
The 75th Anniversary of the original orchestra will be coming up next year.   We salute this giant of the music on the one hundred and something-eth anniversary of his birth. 

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Sat, 16 Feb 2013 13:13:38 +0000
La Maquinaria Cubana La Maquinaria Cubana Photos

Reports and videos are coming in from the debut preformance of El Yuma's newest timba band "La Maquinaria Cubana". It is a thrill for me that they did their first gig in Boulder, Colorado, my hometown. I was not able to be there myself but I have heard from other who were there. Carlos from Radio KUVO said:
"Fox Theater Boulder Colorado was worthy of admiration, Calixto and his team were over the top and chequendengue. We had a bit of Cuba in the Rocky Mountains, in addition to the music, the Cuban restaurant, Frijoles Colorado, was selling delicious Cuban sandwiches, media noches and pork sandwiches. In summary a chéverisima night. Thank Modupe-Thank You-Merci! KUVO live radio in Denver."

And my friend Eric Freeman, one of the great proponents of Cuban music and dance in Colorado and the USA, posted a short report at his Facebook group, Salsaville Dance Studios, where among other things he said "...they sounded real tight, energetic, and fun. The songs, all originals, were good."

You can enjoy this new band yourself since a number of amateur videos have been uploaded to YouTube already. I am impressed by the professionalism and level of muscianship in this fledgling band and the way the audience responds to them. Check out the videos below to see what everyone is talking about! The band also filmed an HD DVD so we should soon have high quality video and audio to enjoy. The band is planning a US tour in May and is also looking at Peru and Japan. We will keep you updated as tour dates start coming in.

Pepito Gomez sings "Inedita"

Lily D Oviedo sings "Manana"

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Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:54:15 +0000
Weekend Report Buena Fe & Havana Queens @ Karl Marx Theater for DIAL release concertBuena Fe & Havana Queens perform "La culpa" 
@ Karl Marx Theater 8 February 2013 
Photo courtesy of Buena Fe (Página oficial) & Gabriel Dávalos -fotógrafo-

It has been a busy concert weekend. On Friday Buena Fe held the first of three concerts for the release of their eighth studio CD "DIAL". I will publish a CD review soon. It is not available via the Internet yet. If you are going to the Miami concert on February 22, be sure to buy a copy because they may sell out the hard copy. Suena Cubana has published a great report on the Friday night concert and Buena Fe has published several pictures. Tonight the release concerts in Havana will conclude with a 6:00pm concert at Karl Marx.

Meanwhile in South America Calle Real is closing their tour this weekend. Last night they performed in Santiago de Chile at Club Amanda and tonight they are at Salsa King in Lima. Word is that they have also done some studio recording during their tour, and we are looking forward to hearing the results.

In my hometown of Boulder, Colorado today is the premier concert of the new timba band "La Maquinaria Cubana" with a concert at Fox Theater! Look at the names in this band! Armando Santoyo, Calixto Oviedo, Pepito Gómez, Lily D Oviedo,  Solange Guenier,  Gustavo Ramirez  Carlos Martin, Andy Crisman,  David Maynez, Johnny Jeymo, Juan Moreno, Dave McLoughlin and Ivan Nava. We are waiting for the video of this important concert!

Finally and closest to home for me, David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera were in Scandinavia this weekend with concerts in Stockholm, Sweden and Trondheim, Norway. There are 12 concerts left on the European tour. Tonight they play at Hotel Bayerisher Hof in Munich, Germany. I attended the Stockholm concert and am currently preparing a full report, but due to popular demand I have already published one of the estrenos that the band performed in Stockholm to YouTube. Stay tuned for the full report and in the meantime enjoy "La bomba"!

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Sun, 10 Feb 2013 06:48:37 +0000
HELP ERNESTO! Ernesto Masa & Alfredo NuñezAlfonso Nuñez & Ernesto Mazar

Attention Charangueros and Bassists of Europe! Last night just before the start of the Charanga Habanera concert in Stockholm two of the tuning keys in Ernesto's bass broke! We were lucky. Disaster was narrowly averted by fellow bassist and former member of Adalberto Álvarez y su Son, Alfonso Nuñez who was able to help Ernesto in his moment of need. But there are 13 concerts left on the tour! So after the show Ernesto made a heartfelt plea to other bassists to help out. You just can't have timba without a bass! Stay tuned for a full concert report later. Here is the video, sorry about the volume level of the music, but after all, we were at a club.

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Sat, 09 Feb 2013 10:16:51 +0000
El Médico Meets Revé cuban music, musica cubanaphoto by Peter Maiden

UPDATE: Manolín & Cofiño are also in Los Angeles tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 9th at the Florentine Gardens.

You may not have heard of Jiovanni Cofiño, but you've heard his music. As the musical director of Elito Revé y su Charangón, he penned such classic arrangements as Dale agua al dominó, 1999 and Se sigue comentando (Uyuyui). He's also a brilliant and thoughtful bassist who's been a huge help to me and other writers on timba such as Orlando Fiol. Cofiño has been in Las Vegas for about 7 years or so where he's put together a very tight and steady working band. From a timba fan's perspective, this means that Manolín has been working with a cohesive, well-rehearsed band led by one of Cuba's best arrangers. One can fantasize about major creative sparks flying, but if nothing else it'll be a chance to hear El Médico finally doing some new timba such as the tracks he introduced last year as SF SalsaRueda. 

The doors open at 7:00, Sunday night at Café Cócomo in SF, with DJ Walt Digz opening and dance lessons provided.

Speaking of SF SalsaRueda, that's coming the following weekend and features the usual staggering selection of bands, instructors, performers and lecturers, including my favorite writer, Ned Sublette.

And speaking of lectures, there's a very exciting free one from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., also Sunday, by Umi Vaughan at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) at 685 Mission St. in SF. Vaughan wrote an excellent book on batá legend Carlos Aldama and has now released his second major treatise on timba: Rebel Dance, Renegade Stance.  The lecture also features music by the ubiquitous DJ Walt Digz and should be a perfect hors d'oevre for el Médico & Cofiño later that night. See you there! [Kevin Moore]

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Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:02:09 +0000
La Charanga Habanera in Stockholm David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera in Stockholm

Tonight I will be enjoying a show as only David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera can put on. David and the boys have been on tour in Europe for a couple of weeks now and some beautiful photos have been coming out of the tour. There are still 14 concerts left so check the Charanga Habanera Tours Page to find a concert near you! Tonight's concert is a joint production by Latin Entertainment & Salsa con Clase and will be held at the big hall at Karolinska Insitutet; perfect timing for an injection of Caribbean heat here in the cold, snowy north. David has invited fans to send any pics they take to the band and they will upload them to their Facebook page . Stay tuned for a report y prepárense para la charanga!

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Fri, 08 Feb 2013 06:04:23 +0000
Yunior Terry's New CD

As a bassist, Yunior Terry has played with just about everyone and is also well-known as a member of the musical family that produced saxophonist Yosvany Terry and the legendary Maravilla de Florida violinist, composer and chékere player Don Pancho Terry, but it turns out that Yunior is also a great composer and lyricist. Tom has the full story on the new album - click here.

Also: Bay Areans - get ready for Manolín - Sunday at Café Cócomo - with a backup band led by Jiovanni Cofiño, the great Revé bassist who wrote the arrangements for 1999, Se sigue comentano, Dale agua al dominó and others. Earlier Sunday afternoon, at 3:00, at MoAD, you can hear a free timba lecture by Umi Vaughan, author of Carlos Aldama's Life in Batá and Rebel Dance, Renegade Stance: Timba Music and Black Identity in Cuba.

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Thu, 07 Feb 2013 19:34:45 +0000
DIAL WEEK - ISRAEL ROJAS DAY Israel Rojas Fiel por Gabriel Davalos Israel Rojas, photo courtesy of Buena Fe (Página Oficial) & Gabriel Davalos

We continue DIAL WEEK with a special celebration: today Israel Rojas, director and lead vocalist of Buena Fe, celebrates his 40th birthday! It has been a hectic week for Buena Fe and their team, between all the preparations for the three shows at Karl Marx, the press conference on Monday, picking up the visas for Miami, and the long-awaited presentation of the new CD "DIAL" starting tomorrow. Let's hope that Israel is able to take a little break today to just relax and celebrate with family and friends.

As a fan I want to thank you, guajiro guantanamero, just for being yourself; an intelligent, funny, easygoing, straightforward, openhearted and sincere man, who spreads a little light in people's lives. You have a rare gift for communicating ideas and emotions and reaching people's hearts. In a time when sarcasm and irony are in style, through your lyrics and by your example, you make people care about things again. May you and those you love always enjoy good health, happiness and music. Happy Birthday Israel!

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Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:32:45 +0000
BUENAFEMANÍA CONTINUES Buena Fe @ Miami Dada County Auditorium Feb 22, 2013Buena Fe has the visas for the Miami Concert!

DIAL WEEK and BuenaFeManía continue! In just two days Buena Fe will finally unveil their new CD "DIAL" with three spectacular shows at Karl Marx Theater February 8-10. Tickets went on sale yesterday and fans have been posting comments such as: I got in line at 6:30 am and waited for six hours to get tickets, but it will be worth it! And my favorite comment: Getting tickets to Karl Marx was almost like getting a visa to the USA.

For the lucky fans who have tickets to Karl Marx, the shows will be more than just concerts. In keeping with the theme of "DIAL" , which is a tribute to 90 years of Cuban Radio, Buena Fe has put together a performance that will be a fusion of art forms such as dance, by the group Havana Queens, as well as acting and film. Buena Fe has worked hard hoping to give their fans  an unforgettable experience.

There is more good news. Buena Fe will do a Valentine's Day concert at Habana Café at Hotel Cohíba. Yes, that means February 14th, at 9:00 pm. So don't despair if you are just not able to wait in line for the Karl Marx tickets. You have another opportunity to see the band soon, albeit not the special extravaganza for "DIAL WEEK"

And the good new just keeps coming! Buena Fe also announced at their Facebook page today that they have the visas for the Miami concert on February 22 at Miami-Dade County Auditorium. I know some fans who live in Tampa and other cities have been afraid to buy tickets and plan a trip until the visas were granted. Well they've been granted, so don't delay any longer! Buy your tickets today at Ticketmaster or you may find them sold out!

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Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:54:23 +0000
BUENAFEMANIA - IT'S DIAL WEEK! UPDATE: Due to BuenaFeMania and the incredible demand for tickets, Buena Fe have just announced that they will have a third concert on Sunday February 10th at 6:00pm!

Buena Fe DIALFuera de aquí se desplaza un dial que me quiere decir cien ideas por igual
Creo que voy a escoger la que, a l menos feliz, emociona, edifica, enamora
                                                                                               "Dial" por Israel Rojas

Ladies and gentlemen, after much waiting for what is probably the most eagerly anticipated of all of Buena Fe's CDs to date, it has been declared "Dial Week" at Buena Fe's official Facebook page and Timba.com is ready for the party! The activities begin today with a press conference that is taking place at Bar Bilongo at EGREM even as I write. They are announcing the plans for the concerts and the personal exposition of artist Jesús Lara. The official CD release takes place with concerts at Karl Marx Theater on Friday the 8th at 9:00pm, Saturday the 9th at 9:00pm and Sunday the 10th at 6:00pm. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at the ticket office at Karl Marx at 9:00am, but fans are already saying they plan to start camping out in front of the ticket office tonight. It's BuenaFeMania!

Buena Fe will follow the two Havana concerts with a major event at Miami Dade County Auditorium on February 22nd. Organized by Blue Night Entertainment, the Miami concert will be filmed for subsequent release of a concert DVD. Tickets are already on sale via ticketmaster. According to an article in the Venezuelan periodical Primicias24, there are also plans to do a worldwide live stream of the concert! This would be historical and more than that, it would be a dream come true for all of the fans in Europe and South America who can't attend any of the release concerts. If we get any more information about a live stream we will update Primera Plana of course!

"Dial" is the 8th studio CD released by Buena Fe, and without ever having heard it, I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that it will be another hit and another Cubadisco winner. Buena Fe seems to live by the credo that anything worth doing is worth doing superbly. Every detail of the production is given the same attention. The album cover itself is worth a design award! The original intent was to release the CD in 2012 for the 90th anniversary of Cuban Radio.  We are used to an eclectic mix of styles from Buena Fe, but this time the idea was to have different songs representing the changing of stations on the radio or different types of songs you would have heard on Cuban Radio over the years. "Dial" may end up redefining eclectic, but I have so far only heard six songs from the album, so this is pure speculation on my part.

In a recent interview in OnCuba, director and lead singer Israel Rojas said that the CD contains 13 tracks, 12 written by himself and "Volar sin ti", which he wrote together with Galician singer/songwriter Andrés Suárez. Interestingly, I have a list of 17 songs! Four of them are from soundtracks of radio programs that all Cubans will recognize. I am going to assume that it is the other 13 original songs that Israel was talking about in the interview. The CD should be on sale at the concerts, so bring some extra money to get yourself a copy. I still don't know what day the album will be available for MP3 download, but I will post an update when I know. The following is a track list for "Dial" minus the four soundtrack songs:
Acompáñame
Buena hembra, mala sangre
Pasa o parece
Ojeo
Volar sin ti (con Andrés Suárez)
Si yo fuera
Pablo
Se bota a matar
La culpa
De proa a popa
Papel en blanco
Dial
Corazón universidad (Bonus track con DcoraSon)

And to do our part in BuenaFeMania, here is a YouTube playlist with five of the songs from "Dial". Enjoy, and stay tuned for further updates during "DIAL WEEK"!

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Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:21:51 +0000
Cuban Music News In Review - Ferbruary 1, 2013 Before we get to my 2013 Winter NAMM (Anahiem) report, here are two excellent upcoming TIMBA shows that are not to be missed.....

Pedrito M&aacute;rtinez Group in Washington D.C. - Cuban Music News - TIMBA in D.C.Pedrito Mártinez Group in Washington DC -- Click here to read the full report from our D.C. correspondent Rosy Estrada. Rosy notes..."Heralded as one of the top percussionists in the Cuban music scene, New York-based Pedrito Martínez will be making his first appearance in the Washington, D.C. area since his 2005 performance as a former percussionist with Yerba Buena at the Kennedy Center. The Pedrito Martínez Group, a quartet of talented musicians and singers, will be performing live at the Artisphere, in Arlington, Virginia, on Saturday, February 9th at 8:00pm."

The very next day farther west we have Manolín "El Médico de la Salsa" at Café Cócomo in San Francisco. Click here for tickets. Excitement is in the air becuase Manolín with be backed by bassist Jiovanni Cofiños band -- an established group in Las Vegas. Jiovanni was the musical arranger and bassist for la Orquesta Revé in early 2000, writing the smash hits 1999, Dale Agua Al Dominó and Se Sigue Comentando!!  

 Manolin "El Medico de la Salsa" LIVE at COCOMO - February 10th, 2013 Club Cocomo San Francisco, CA

Next we have a lighting round review of this year's Anaheim Winter NAMM (National Association of Music Mechants) Trade Show. I was there Thursday, Friday and Saturday and in my 10+ plus year of attending I've never seen it so busy. Rumors of 94,000+ or almost 100k people attended this year. 

2013 Anaheim Winter NAMM - Cuban Music News - TIMBA at the NAMM Show - Noticias de musica cubana

2013 Anaheim Winter NAMM - Cuban Music News - TIMBA at the NAMM Show - Noticias de musica cubanayes we believe in music -- not open to the public -- get your pass and hotel early 

2013 Anaheim Winter NAMM - Cuban Music News - TIMBA at the NAMM Show - Noticias de musica cubanaThe new outdoor stage at NAMM. Right smack in front of the convention center. Tower of Power ripped it up Thrusday evening where I ran into...

2013 Anaheim Winter NAMM - Cuban Music News - TIMBA at the NAMM Show - Noticias de musica cubanaNG La Banda / La Maquinaria / Afro-Cuban All Stars master precussionist Calixto Oviedo

Calixto has a bunch of stuff going on and upon his arrival from Sweden was immediately secuestered by all the pecussion greats for intense sessions of NAMM farandulation. Co-author of the now top Afro-Cuban study method for percussion on the planet Beyond Salsa Percussion, Calixto is sponsored by Tycoon Percussion among others and has an upcoming interview with Modern Drummer magazine, not to mention his La Maquinaria live DVD recording concert in Boulder on Feb 10nth with ex-Pupy star singer Pepito Gómez. 

2013 Anaheim Winter NAMM - Cuban Music News - TIMBA at the NAMM Show - Noticias de musica cubanaLooking good Tycoon. A shout out to fellow TIMBA enthusiast George Balmaseda (Artist Relations Manager) and Ivy Yu (General Manager at Tycoon Percussion).

Another company besides Tycoon making great inroads into Latin percussion is German company MEINL. They have a slick new series of ciongas and timbales.

2013 Anaheim Winter NAMM - Cuban Music News - TIMBA at the NAMM Show - Noticias de musica cubanaThe new Latin percussion series from Meinl. Artists relations manager German Baratto shares a growing interest into Latin percussion and Cuban music. 

2013 Anaheim Winter NAMM - Cuban Music News - TIMBA at the NAMM Show - Noticias de musica cubanaThe Beyond Salsa series from our mad scientist extraordinaire and walking timbapedia Kevin Moore made waves at the show, catching the attention of Modern Drummer Editorial Director Adam J. Budofsky

Stay tuned for coverage of Calixto Oviedo and the Beyond Salsa Percussion books in Modern Drummer Magazine. http://www.moderndrummer.com (the world's top drum magazine).

2013 Anaheim Winter NAMM - Cuban Music News - TIMBA at the NAMM Show - Noticias de musica cubanaSF Bay Area pianist Ben Heveroh lays down some montunos of a new Fazoli piano. Wall to wall, dedicated floors of piano and other gear can be found in great abundance at the NAMM Show.

Now back to post-NAMM show gear lust withdrawal....

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Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:09:43 +0000
Maraca News Maraca's You Tube channel continues to grow, and it recently posted some live footage of him with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Al Di Meola and others.  Here's a nice taste of them improvising:

Watch also  for the forthcoming release of  two new recordings as well - a Jazz one (Todo o nada) and a dance one (Suspendan los comentarios).  A national  tour of Cuba is planned in April 2013.  Also, in August 2013, Maraca will appear with Hubert Laws at the International Flute Convention in New Orleans. 

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Sun, 03 Feb 2013 11:56:01 +0000
Pedrito Martínez in D.C. Click here for Rosy's fascinating article/interview with the supremely talented Mr. Martínez.

Coming tomorrow: Yunior's Terry's new CD, Manolín in SF, book news and much more. [Kevin Moore]

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Fri, 01 Feb 2013 01:03:41 +0000
Septeto Santiaguero 18 Años Poniedo la Gente a Bailar Septeto Santuiaguero - Vamos pa' la fiesta

On February 2nd Septeto Santiaguero will celebrate their 18th anniversary with a concert at noon at the legendary Salón de los Grandes de la Casa de la Trova in Santiago de Cuba. The band's latest CD, "Vamos pa' la fiesta", was selected as one of the best albums of World Music in 2012 by About.com (owned by The New York Times). And the Septeto's new CD was listed among the best salsa and latin jazz CDs of 2012 by the prestigious sites Descarga.com online music sales, ElWatusi.com, Brazil Salsa, Latin Beat Magazine, the Colombian radio station Javeriana Estereo, American stations KPFA 94.1 (Berkeley) and WMNF 88.5 FM (Tampa) and the French newspaper Le Monde, through the blog Mundo Latino. The album includes collaboration with internationally reknowned artists Rubén Blades (and his alter ego Medoro Madera), José Alberto “El Canario”, Cheo Feliciano and Edwin Colón Zayas, Jimmy Bosch and Luisito Quintero. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the heart of Cuban music and the soul of timba, guaranteed to get you dancing!  If you haven't heard "Vamos pa' la fiesta" yet, click here to check it out at Spotify. 

Septeto Santiguero will take their rico son to Mexico with concerts the 14th in Salón Los Ángeles in Mexico City, the 15th in Cuernavaca and the 16th in Veracruz. Don' t miss your chance to party with Septeto Santiaguero! Check out the first video from the album, "Esa familia a mí no me conviene"!

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Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:56:10 +0000
La Maquinaria Cubana It is always good news when a new timba band is born. First we had an explosion of timba bands in Stockholm and now my homestate Colorado has it's first timba band, "La Maquinaria". I have blogged about their upcoming concert February 10 at Fox Theater in Boulder, but like you I didn't know much about the band. So I got in touch with Calixto Oviedo and Armando Santoyo to get a little music sample and to find out about what inspired Armando to put together a timba band in the middle of cowboy country. 

**Update - La Maquinaria on the Fox Theater website + ticket link here...
http://www.foxtheatre.com/2013/02/10/0730PM/La-Maquinaria-Cubana
Call (303) 443-3399

The video above is a sample song that Calixto sent me, although Armando says the band has not yet recorded any demos. Instead they will make a professional quality DVD of the Boulder concert.  After hearing the demo and  interviewing Armando I am very excited about this new group! To read more about the origins of the band, their mission statement, the band members and how they began their collaboration with Calixto and Pepito, click here.

Booking for La Maquinaria Cubana
lamaquinariacubana@aol.com
Contact: Mandy Sant
1-303-475-7894

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Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:55:39 +0000
Coming at You: We just finished listening to Omar Sosa's new release, Eggūn, and it blew us away.   We'll be reviewing it in detail in a few days, but meanwhile, there is a YouTube video that is more informative than the usual promo clip, and it is worth checking out: 

In December 2012, The CMQ Big Band  did some beautifully-orchestrated tributes to Beny Moré featuring Alain Pérez on vocals.   Love the sax section in this band too.  Here's a taste:

                                                                                                                                                                                Last but not least:  After an absence from most of the United States of more than a decade, Ernán López-Nussa is planning a tour here later in 2013.  This will be a reunion tour with two former bandmates, drummer Jimmy Branly and bassist Sawa Perez. In 2011, these three played together for a couple of sessions in Wisconsin and Iowa, and the chemistry and music were great. Ernán won four Cubadiso awards for Veinte Pianos in 2012. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.   

 

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Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:50:40 +0000
Charanga Habanera & Gente D'Zona La Charanga Habanera Europe Winter 2013 TourDavid Calzado y su Charanga Habanera on tour in Europe in February

The 2013 Tours season is already in full swing in Peru with Charanga Forever and Charanga Habanera performing together in Peru last weekend, and Calle Real, Havana D'Primera, Maykel Blanco & Salsa Mayor and Klímax performing together Friday, February 1 in Lima.

Here in Europe Maykel Blanco is just finishing up his solo promotional tour for the "A toda máquina" CD, while La Charanga Habanera will start their European winter tour next Thursday with a concert at Cuba te quiero in Rome. David and the boys will hold 16 concerts across Europe and then head to Japan in March. Their Tours Page has the list of all concerts we know of thus far. If you know of any we are missing, please send me an e-mail.

Gente D'Zona Europe Winter 2013 TourGente D'Zona on tour in Europe February

Also on tour in Europe during the month of February is Cubas hottest reggaeton act, Gente D'Zona. They have 12 concerts in 4 countries, including Spain, France, Italy and Germany. Click here to see the full list of concert dates and find one near you. Again, if we have missed any concerts, please send me an e-mail.

Later this spring we have Elito Revé y su Charangón and Havana D'Primera visiting so stay tuned for tour updates.

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Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:03:19 +0000
Timba in Colorado! La Maquinaria with Calixto Oviedo, Pepito Gomez & Lily D Oviedo

This concert was originally intended to take place back in November in my old hometown of Boulder, Colorado and I was going to be able to attend. But as it is sometimes hard to coordinate musicians' schedules, the concert was postponed until February 10, 2013 at the Fox Theater in Boulder at 8:00pm. It's bad news for me, since I am back in Stockholm and can't make it. But for Colorado timba fans, and I know there are some timberos there in Boulder/Denver, the delay has made it possible for La Maquinaria to bring in more exciting guest artists. In addition to master percussionist Calixto Oviedo, the February 10th concert will feature none other than Pepito Gomez and Lily D Oviedo on vocals! Pepito has been working in Puerto Rico with Jose Lugo y Guasabara while Lily has been performing regularly in Stockholm as well as around Europe and on salsa cruises. The director of La Maquinaria is Armando Santoyo and on piano Gustavo Ramirez currently residing in Los Angeles. It will be a night of timba, Latin jazz and genuine Cuban music. These kind of concerts don't come along so often in Colorado so don't miss it!

Booking for Calixto Oviedo & La Maquinaria
lamaquinariacubana@aol.com
Contact: Mandy Sant
1-303-475-7894

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Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:18:36 +0000
Maykel Blanco Interview As you know, Maykel Blanco is currently on a solo tour of Europe, i.e. without los mayores, to promote the new CD "A toda máquina". This is Salsa Mayor's 5th album and it is also the most successful so far. If you don't already have it, you can get it at iTunes and Maykel is selling the CDs during this little tour so hurry before they are sold out! The remaining dates of this 8-country tour are all in France.
January 22 Lille
January 23 Tours
January 24 La Rochelle
January 25 Bordeaux
January 26 Lyon
January 27 Paris

Solo Frank, Maykel Blanco y Moreno @ ClubCaloSolo Frank, Maykel & Moreno @ ClubCalo

It was great to see Maykel again. It's been two years since his last visit to Sweden so we did a little catching up at dinner, which was provided by Cantineros, a relatively new restaurant/salsa club in the center of Stockholm. After dinner here was a lot of action on the dance floor at Cantineros, but the event was held by ClubCalo at a venue called ARENA, so we took off for the club. Poor Maykel suffered quite a lot from the -17 Celcius temperature. This is what Maykel had to deal with last night.

Estocolmo para un cubanoView from the car window

The plan for the night was a salsa party with 3 dance floors: salsa, bachata and timba, Maykel's presentation of the CD "A toda máquina" and a concert by Solo Frank to promote his new CD "A mi manera". Before Maykel went on stage I did a short interview with him. It's all in Spanish. I haven't had time for subtitles. If you don't speak Spanish, here are some interesting details. The song "El songo de todos" was originally intended to be recorded with Los Van Van, but due to differences in their tour schedules, Maykel was forced to record it without them. Thus he came up with the idea of bringing in the most popular young singers in timba. The video is up at YouTube so check it out if you are one of the few who hasn't seen it yet!

Maykel also mentioned the upcoming mega-concert in Lima on February 1st with Calle Real, Havana D'Primera, Klímax and Salsa Mayor at the Centro de Convenciones de Barranco, as well as the summer tour of Europe which will take place in June and will be with the full band of course. You can keep up with Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor via thier Facebook page and their official website maykelblanco.com.

For those who speak Spanish here is the whole 4 minutes y pico at YouTube filmed in the kitchen with workers going back and forth and bachata blasting in the background.

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Sun, 20 Jan 2013 15:05:02 +0000
Me lo gané! - CALLE REAL to tour South America Our reporter in Chile Erick Ceballo reports that Calle Real is indeed scheduled for concert dates in Chile and Perú. Take a look at our Calle Real Tour Page for more info. 

Calle real South America Tour 2013

Erick reports... "Los suecos de Calle Real se presentan sobre el escenario del club Chocolate, con un show que a nadie dejará sentado, los acompañará la banda local Juana Fé, dando paso a una fiesta del Son!!"

Horario: 21:30 - Edad: +18
Preventa 1 (Solo 100 entradas)
Preventa General $ 9.000 (CLP)
Preventa Vip $ 20.000 (CLP) Con cover 
COMPLETAMENTE AGOTADA LA PREVENTA!

Preventa 2 (Hasta el 6 de febrero)
General $20.000 = V.I.P $ 30.000 Con Cover
En Puerta = General $25.000 = V.I.P $35.000

Duración del evento hasta las 04:00 - venta de entradas a traves de ticketeck  - Evento exclusivo mayores de 18.

Calle Real South America Tour 2013

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Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:10:37 +0000
La Charanga Forever La Charanga Forever La Charanga Forever

Get ready Peru! Lima is the second capital of timba, and the Peruvian timberos are starting 2013 with some amazing events! First up we have the tour of La Charanga Forever. The band will arrive on Wednesday the 16th and will give a press conference at Club Alianza on the 17th. Between the 18th and 27th the band will perform 11 concerts! Check their tours page to find the complete list of concerts, including the mega salsa event on January 26th at Alianza!

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Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:25:54 +0000
Maykel Blanco Solo Tour Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor "A Toda Máquina" In connection with the release of the new CD "A toda máquina" on Planet Records , Maykel Blanco is on a solo promotional tour of eight countries in Europe. This gives fans a great opportunity to meet Maykel in person as well as to pick up a hard copy of the CD. He is currently in Germany and will be going to Italy, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and France before returning to Cuba. Check out the list of cites/venues below to find one near you. Don't miss this opportunity to get to know Maykel personally!




Spain

January 1-2, Madrid / Discoteca Habana8
January 5-6 Barcelona / Discoteca Sabor de Gracia

Austria
January 7 Vienna / Floridita

Germany
January 8 Munich / Circulo
January 9 Hamburg / Latin Academy-La Macumba
January 10 Essen / Cuba Lounge
January 11 Berlin / Habana

Italy
January 12 Bologna / Palacavicchi
January 13 Rome / Palacavicchi
January 14 Interview on Radio Mambo
January 15 Bari / Mulata
January 16 Brindisi / Ficoricco

Denmark
January 17 Copenhagen interview / Diskoteca Søvpavellon

Norway
January 18 Oslo / Café (Club latino) Sjakk Matt tingehuset

Sweden
January 19 Stockholm (radio interview) / Club Cantinero

France
January 22 Lille
January 23 Tours
January 24 La Rochelle
January 25 Bordeaux
January 26 Lyon
January 27 Paris

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Wed, 09 Jan 2013 09:36:24 +0000
Peter Maiden's Azúcar Photos Azúcar, formerly Azúcar y Crema, is an all-female Latin band from the Bay Area. Check out Peter's concert report and photo gallery.

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Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:24:21 +0000
SALSA RUEDA FESTIVAL 2013 5th Annual Salsa Rueda Festival - San Francisco - February 14 - 17 2013 - Biggest Cuban Dance Festival in the U.S.A.

2013 - The 5th Annual Salsa Rueda Festival in S.F.

click here for tickets
Timbaversity Guest Stars - 
Isaias Rojas, Ned Sublette, and Roberto Borrell
Lectures, Q & A sessions, and Multi-Media Demos on Cuban Music and Dance
15 min breaks between dance workshops.
5 LIVE CUBAN BANDS!!
17 hours of Beginners Bootcamp!! -- Beginners Mixer/Social Room
DJ Room with Timba, Salsa, Cubaton, Bachata, Reggaton, Kizomba and more
Instructors/Performers Track -- After Party room w/ all star Salsa Timba DJ's till 5 a.m.

DANCE INSTRUCTORS-2013
Isaias Rojas* (Havana, Cuba)  -- Yeni Molinet (Havana - Italy)  -- Roberto Borrell (Havana-Bay Area) -- Kati Hernandez (Havana-Los Angeles) -- Yismari Ramos Tellez (Havana - Bay Area) -- René Dennis Thompson (Havana - Minneapolis) -- Temistocles Betancourt (Havana - Bay Area) -- Duane Wrenn (Detroit) -- Julian Meija (Atlanta)  -- Ramon Ramos Alayo (Santiago de Cuba - Bay Area) -- Luis "El Indio" Martinez (Havana - Mexico City)  -- Sandra Moro Sleeper (Austin) -- Royland Lobato ( Guantanamo - Bay Area) -- Susana Arenas Pedroso (Havana - Bay Area) -- El Salsaron Cubano (Havana) -- Mike & Simona (Corvallis) -- Chris Rogicki & Evelyn Ramirez (New York City) -- Rick Washington (Bay Area) -- Yussef Breffe (Havana-Bay Area) -- Greisy Prieto & Javier Rosillo (Venezuela) -- Leslie Vazquez & Reinier Fernandez (Havana-Mexico City) -- Amanda & Adrian (D.C.) -- Victoria-Hadar Harel (New York City) -- Tania de La Pena (Los Angeles) -- Wilfredo Guilbiac Rodriguez (Havana - San Diego) -- Nick and Serena (The Bay Area)

2013 Dance Performances
Salsa Vale Todo (SF/Bay Area) -- Rumbanana (Corvallis, OR) -- Las Que Son Son (The Bay Area, CA) -- SALSAtlanta (Atlanta, GA) -- Rueda Vale Todo (SF/Bay Area) -- Fuakata (New York, NY) -- Yeni Molinet (Havana - Italy) -- D.C. Casineros (Washington D.C.) -- CMV con Ritmo (Mexico City, Mexico) -- Ladies of Salsatlanta (Atlanta, GA) -- CMV Kids (Mexico City, Mexico) -- Grupo Experimental Nago (Bay Area) -- Dale Tumbao (Eugene, OR) -- Timba Casino (Mexico City, Mexico) -- Danzarte Maracaibo (Venezuela) -- Fuego Latino (Watsonville, CA) -- Street to Stage (Minneapolis, MN) -- Salsa con Rumba (Mexico - Washington) -- Arenas Dance Company (Bay Area) -- Nick and Serena (SF/Bay Area) -- Las Puras (The Bay Area, CA) -- Rueda Rockets (Moffet Field, CA) -- Bruno and Ann (Minneapolis, MN) -- Dance in Time (D.C.) -- My Salsa Performance Group (Atlanta, GA) -- Cubata (San Diego, CA) -- Soulclectic Roots Dance Company (L.A., CA) -- Sarah Herrera & Adetola Williams (Bay Area)

click here for tickets

 

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Sun, 06 Jan 2013 03:28:50 +0000
Yanet Fuentes & Yoannis Tamayo We haven't had a habit of posting much in the way of dance videos here, but I love this one and couldn't resist. Some day when I grow up, I hope to dance in some sort of approximation of what Yanet Fuentes does. I'm not one to have idols, but Yanet is my dance idol! Here she is dancing to Van Van's "De La Habana a Matanzas" (Mayito version) with Yoannis Tamayo, another of my favorite Cuban dancers. They give a wonderful, improvised demonstration of what Cuban dancing is all about. They do a mix of rumba, afro-cuban dances and casino and are obviously just playing and having a great time. This is what the music is all about, enjoy!

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Fri, 04 Jan 2013 19:38:48 +0000
Happy New Year! TIMBA.com wishes you a happy and prosperous 2013, and as we prepare for the new year, we also wanted to take the opportunity to remember some key moments from this year:

TIMBA.com les desea un feliz y próspero año 2013, y mientras nos prparamos para el nuevo año, hemos quierido aprovechar la oportunidad para recordar algunos momentos importantes de este año: 

Music Industry Awards/ Premios de la industria musical:  

In Cuba's  CUBADISCO  2012,  Acabaito de Nacer (David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera) won the award for Best Album of Current Popular Dance Music.   It is worth mentioning that a band based in the United States, Timbalive, was also nominated in that category.  We believe that this is the first time that a band in the US has received that distinction. 

En Cuba, CUBADISCO 2012, Acabaito de Nacer (David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera) ganó el premio al Mejor Álbum de Musica Popular Bailable Actual.   Vale la pena mencionar que un grupo en los Estados Unidos, Timbalive, también fue nominado en esa categoria.  Creemos que esta es la primera vez que un grupo un ls EE.UU. ha recibido esta distinción.  

Also, Mis 22 Años (NG La Banda)  received a Special Prize along  with 30 Años de Son 14 (Son 14.)

Asimismo, Mis 22 Años (NG La Banda) recibió un Premio Especial junto con 30 Años de Son 14 (Son 14) 

In the United States, La Maquinaria (Juan Formell y Los Van Van)  received a nomination for Best Contemporary Tropical Album in the XIII Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards.   Although this was not necessarily the best Timba recording to come out during this period, we were glad to see that a Timba recording from anyone did finally receive recognition from the Academy.   The Academy also created a new category, Best Tropical Fusion, that will be worth watching in the future.  

En los Estados Unidos, La Maquinaria (Juan Formell y Los Van Van) recibió una nominación al Mejor Álbum Tropical Contemporáneo en La XIII Entrega Anual del Latin GRAMMY.  Aunque esto no era necesariamente la mejor grabación Timba para ser lanzado durante este periodo, nos alegramos de ver que una grabación Timba de cualquier grupo hizó finalmente recibir el reconocimiento de la Academia.  La Academia también ha creado una nueva categoría, Mejor Álbum de Fusión Tropical, que ser digno de ver en el futuro. 

Milestones/Hitos:   

Juan Formell celebrated his 70th birthday this year.  Congratulations Juan, and thanks for all the joy that you have brought us during several decades of wonderful music.    Also, the late Celia Cruz was selected by popular vote in the United States to be recognized with a special portrait in the Smithsonian Institution.   For fans in North America, the most important news of the year may be that 2012 saw a significant increase in tours by bands from Cuba.  Hopefully this trend will continue. 

Juan Formell celebró su cumpleaños número 70 este año.  Felicidades Juan, y gracias por toda la alegría que nos ha llevado durante varias décadas de música maravillosa.  Además, la fallecida Celia Cruz fue seleccionado por votación popular en los Estados Unidos para ser reconocido con un retrato especial en la Smithsonian Institution. Para los fans en  América del Norte, la noticia más importante del año puede ser que el 2012 se registró un aumento significativo en giras con grupos de Cuba.  Esperemos que esta tendencia va a continuar. 

Most Exciting Band of 2012/Grupo más excitante de 2012

TIMBA.com doesn't have an official "Best Band" award, but if we did, it would be difficult to deny Alexander Abreu and Havana d'Primera the honors for 2012.  They sent audiences into a frenzy wherever we saw them play.  

TIMBA.com no tiene un premio de "Mejor Grupo", pero si lo hiciériamos, sería dificil negar Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera los honores en 2012.  Enviaron a un público en un frenesi donde  los vimos tocar.  

Nominado para el Mejor Álbum Tropical - Best Tropical Latin Album Gramy Nominee - CUBANO SOY - Raúl Lara y sus SonerosGRAMMY NOMINATION
Nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album (Mejor Álbum Tropical)  in the upcoming 55th Grammy Awards, CUBANO SOY by Raúl Lara y sus Soneros, is a wonderful tradional Son and Rumba project from a Cuban expat living in Sweden, which practically has its own colony of Cuban musicians now. Raúl studied extensively with José Luis Quintana (Changuito) when he was younger.  He has played with several groups, but Cubano Soy is his debut release as a solo artist.  Raúl's website, which includes some sound clips, is here.  

In Memoriam:

Luis Abreu, Sara González, Paquito Hechavarria, Gregorio "El Goyo" Hernandez

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Sun, 30 Dec 2012 15:37:50 +0000
New Havana D' Primera Photo Gallery MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE  -- FELIZ NAVIDAD

A new Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera photo gallery is up (all photos by Tom Ehrlich). Havana D' Primera played to two sold out shows at Yoshi's San Francisco on November 24, 2012.  Although there was some problems with the sound, HDP played two inspired sets and they lived up to their reputation. Click on any pic to view the gallery...

HAVANA D' PRIMERA   YOSHI'S SAN FRANCISCO --  NOVEMBER 24, 2012  PHOTOS BY TOM EHRLICH © 2012

HAVANA D' PRIMERA   YOSHI'S SAN FRANCISCO --  NOVEMBER 24, 2012  PHOTOS BY TOM EHRLICH © 2012

HAVANA D' PRIMERA   YOSHI'S SAN FRANCISCO --  NOVEMBER 24, 2012  PHOTOS BY TOM EHRLICH © 2012

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Mon, 24 Dec 2012 17:39:57 +0000
A New Musical Hope For Chicago: Article by Bill Tilford
Photos by Bill Tilford (plus a Special Photo Gallery by Joshua Bennett)
All Rights Reserved

Pupy Cantor and the Edwin Sanchez Orchestra at the Old Town School of Folk Music    

     In the late 1990s, and for a brief period in more recent years, Chicagoans had the luxury of seeing some bands from Cuba and Puerto Rico at prices ranging from free to a minimal admission charge at various city festivals and events.   While it was wonderful to experience these performances while they were happening, as a long-term proposition, they may have conditioned audiences to expect to see this music at little or no visible cost (these performances were never truly "free" since payment came from a city budget that was experiencing escalating problems over the years).   More recently, the city has dramatically reduced its financial support for several musical events, cancelling some and dramatically reducing the scope of others.  Among other things, the Viva Chicago festival is no more, and the annual Puerto Rican festival in Humboldt Park has been shortened to adapt to budget cutbacks. The best information available to us indicates that this funding is unlikely to come flowing back in the foreseeable future, and increasing private (both for-profit and not-for-profit) sources will be needed to pick up the slack if Chicagoans hope to see this type of music live.

Henry Cole and the Afrobeat Collective at the Mayne Stage .

     Fortunately, two private venues have already stepped in to do what they can - the Mayne Stage and the Old Town School of Folk Music have been very aggressive in booking touring bands (including bands from Cuba) and have done a commendable job with the resources available to them.  The Old Town School in particular has used its outdoor festival as well as its indoor venues to help give the music a home.   More recently, a new privately-organized festival, Festival Cubano , has also emerged as a noteworthy annual event  (it is doubtful that this particular event will be in a position to book talent from outside the US, at least in the near future, but it has shown positive growth during its first three years in its ability to book a wide range of acts from within the United States).  
    One challenge confronting festivals and large concerts generally is....click here to read the full post...

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Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:54:59 +0000
BUENA FE Buena Fe en la escalinata de Universidad de La Habana Photo courtesy of BUENA FE (PÀGINA OFICIAL)

Last night Buena Fe ended their national tour with a special concert on the steps of the University of Havana. The concert was attended by...well as you can see...by a lot of people. The national tour was in conjunction with the 90th anniversary of the University Student Federation (FEU) and consisted of concerts in 19 cities across Cuba. Last night's concert was the grand finale, and Buena Fe invited a number of special guests including a horn section, Descemer Bueno , Frank Delgado and Boni & Kelly. For more photos from last night's performance, check out Buena Fe's Facebook page , which is very active and contains all the latest information about the band including video, photos and concert dates.

During the tour they have been performing songs from their latest CD, "Dial", which will be released in 2013. Israel Rojas says that this CD represents the beginning of a new phase in Buena Fe's music. Their arrangements have always been eclectic, but "Dial" may be even more so with different styles of music as if you are turning the dial on a radio and switching channels. The song "Pablo" from the movie of the same name, "Ojeo" a song about the role that digital camera technology can play in our intimate lives and "Volar sin ti" a ballad written together with Galician singer/songwriter Andrés Suárez are some of the highlights of the new CD. I haven't heard all of the new songs yet, but if the little lyric teasers they have been uploading to their Facebook page are any indication, this CD will be another award-winning home run for the band. Buena Fe will perform 2 concerts at Karl Marx Theater in Havana for the release of the CD on February 8 and 9. If you will be in Havana at the time, this is a must-see event!

As I have previously posted the videos "Ser de sol" with Descemer Bueno and "Pablo", I will now leave you with video from the first live performance of "Volar sin ti", which took place with Andrés Suárez in Madrid in August.

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Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:20:22 +0000
The Attack of The Killer Remakes:

It's large -- 40 musicians más o menos (it's complicated), it has two CDs, it includes many of the heavy hitters in Havana with some special invited guests, and it's coming at you!  Wait, don't run: read our review here first...

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Tue, 18 Dec 2012 21:36:12 +0000
MB & Salsa Mayor "A toda máquina" Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor "A Toda Máquina"Timberas y timberos...finally the new Maykel Blanco & Salsa Mayor CD, "A toda máquina", is out at iTunes and just in time for the holidays! It contains 13 songs including the hit "El songo de todos" featuring guest singers and a potpurri to close the album. This is the holiday gift for all the timberos you know, and get one for yourself while you're at it! I don't know if the hardcopy will be out in time for Christmas, but one can always start with the MP3 and get the hardcopy later.

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Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:25:26 +0000
Gotham Gets Her Groove Back, Part IV: Article and Photos by Bill Tilford, All Rights Reserved

The opinions that follow are my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of TIMBA.com or of my colleagues.             

El Tosco was right!

     A very striking lesson from the Red Hot + Cuba  performance at BAM is that many of the people in the audience were not your usual suspects for a Cuban music concert, and although they clearly enjoyed the entire show,  there is no denying the fact that it was the Timba selections which really made them get out of their seats and move.  Various people in and out of the music industry have been declaring this music "over", "exhausted", "dead" etc. for years, and these shows clearly demonstrated that not only were the obituaries and eulogies premature, but also that the music can reach and engage new listeners if marketed effectively, presented well and performed with conviction. However, to fill a venue of this size,  presenters must reach well beyond the core community of existing Timba fans and bring in more of the general public (as happened here).  The BAM concert  is Exhibit A that if new listeners hear the music, many of them will become converts. 
     For that show (Red Hot + Cuba) , there was a crack battalion of production, technical and publicity people working behind the scenes as well as an institution, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, that already possessed a loyal cadre of audience regulars of its own. Without all of those ingredients, trying to present this type of "All-Stars" performance can be virtually a suicide mission, financially speaking.  I truly hope that we see shows of that caliber in other cities, but it takes a lot of infrastructure to make this type of extravaganza a success.  

What is wrong with this picture? 

     One final word to the fans:  this is a difficult matter to discuss, but it needs to be said, and the venues and bands won't tell you because they don't want to alienate you and risk causing you to stop buying tickets.  This is about that bootleg video so many of you are taking nowadays.  The venues don't like that you do this, but many of them aren't telling you to put those I-phones and whatnot away because they need your money.  So,  I am going to tell you something:  I don't like it when you do that either, for two reasons: 
     1.  Many Cuban bands lack the means to operate their own reliably-updated websites and Facebook pages, and this makes whatever does show up on the web even more significant for their public image. If you sell bootleg video, you are ripping them off, and yes, in the evolving Cuban economy, you are probably ripping them off as individual people now, so don't even try that excuse. If you post it free on Youtube or anywhere else seen by a lot of people, the audio quality of what you did is often so poor that if you think you are doing this out of love, I would almost prefer that you hated them.  Bad audio makes them sound bad and does not help their chances with those who are learning about them for the first time. Your little souvenir might even accidentally convince somebody that they really aren't worth checking out.  I know this probably isn't going to make you stop taking personal video, but if you must continue, please use your heads about what you do with it afterwards, OK?  (Venues might even want to think about whether there is a practical business model that would allow  them to charge for a VIP "video highlights" package in lieu of tolerating those twenty phones in the air, but that may be easier said than done.)

Next up on America's Dumbest Concertgoers?

       2.  A few of you have even graduated to wide-screen I-pads that are practically the size of TV cameras. If that describes you, has it ever occurred to you that in addition to blocking the sightlines of somebody that might be taking pro-quality shots and video on behalf of the band, you are also blocking the view of other people in the audience who are standing behind you?  Leave those I-pads in your bags, folks. Besides, isn't this dance music?  So why not dance instead already?  Please keep coming, but please also be kind to the bands, the venues and your fellow concertgoers.  

     Final thoughts:  Overall, this series of New York/New Jersey concerts goes in the "win" column for everyone involved, at least from a musical perspective.  For Havana d'Primera in particular,   this was part of a larger national tour that has reinforced that band's reputation as one of the most important groups performing the music today. For those of you who have to travel to New York to do this sort of thing, it is definitely worth the trip.  Always prepare a Plan B (this is true of anything that takes you there, not just Timba concerts), but there is never nothing to do there. Never. If you go to New York for any reason and leave disappointed, that's on you. In a way, I'm glad I don't live there - I would be broke from going to see too many bands and shows.  (Now, if we could only find a suitable regular New York reporter.....)

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Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:19:58 +0000
Gotham Gets Her Groove Back, Part IV: Article and Photos by Bill Tilford -- All Rights Reserved

The opinions that follow are my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of TIMBA.com or of my colleagues.  

     The metropolitan New York area is being blessed with a lot of Cuban music - including Timba - these days, so the future looks bright from that angle. Gotham really does have her groove back! I saw some wonderful shows while visiting, and had I not been attending the Havana d'Primera shows and the BAM extravaganza, there were other options of some sort every night while I was there. This is great news for concertgoers but may prove to be a mixed blessing for presenters and venue operators. Case in point:  There were four opportunities during the week to see Havana d'Primera and two additional chances to see Alexander Abreu individually in the BAM show.  I attended all of the HdP performances, and although I noticed a few of the same individuals at more than one show, the audiences for each night were largely distinct.  If all of the people who saw the HdP shows had been gathered together at one place, there probably would have been a couple of sold out shows (or at least one sold out show with a healthy crowd at the second one). As it is, the crowds were respectable for each show, but people understandably appear to have chosen the date and place that made the most sense to their circumstances. (Only the most hard-core enthusiast would take in four nights of any act.)  On the other hand, it needs to be understood that reducing the number of shows would have almost certainly increased the price of the tickets, perhaps to a level that might have deterred some people from going due to the price. The Friday night BAM show that I saw was very well attended but was also not sold out. Even better, the audience enthusiasm was intense at all of these shows. I write this without knowledge of how any of these shows performed financially (it may take some time for that picture to become clear anyway), but I see two takeaways for future event planners:  (A) there is a genuine demand for the music, and when new listeners hear it, they will love it,  but (B) there will almost certainly be stiff competition to meet that demand in metro New York as the future unfolds, and it may take a stroke of luck for anyone to get a "monopoly" for any specific night; therefore, expectations regarding ticket sales will need to take that factor into account, and a high level of advance publicity will be critical to success in many cases.   


     Which brings us to the issue of ticket sales.  I understand the reasons why past experiences have driven so many fans nationwide to postpone ticket purchases to the last possible moment (usually at the door), but in many cities including New York (and my hometown, Chicago, for that matter), this has turned into a game of "chicken" (in the original version, two cars race toward each other at high speed, and the first driver to turn away before a collision is the "chicken") between fans and concert presenters, and this is a game that the fans will ultimately lose if it continues.  The overhead expenses of presenting a touring band from Cuba are enormous, the profit margins are slim on those occasions when one is made at all, and presenters that are cautious about not losing a lot of money use advance ticket sales to project whether they should proceed and how.  I am seeing an increasing number of last minute cancellations across the country over time due to the absence of advanced ticket sales, and this problem will get worse rather than better if something doesn't change. SO:
Fans:  You need to understand that when you say "I'll buy at the door" you are in effect telling the venue that you really aren't sure that you are interested.  That might not be what you are trying to say, but it is what they will definitely hear.  If you really do want to see a touring group from Cuba, the decision that you will need to make is whether you can trust that you'll get a refund if something does go wrong.  If the answer to that question is "yes",  and if the event is with an established venue rather than the local bingo hall (it usually will be), I would start buying in advance if I were you, or some venues will stop trying to host these acts. 
Concert Presenters, Promoters, Agents and Venues:  You need to understand that right now, there frequently aren't any real incentives for fans to purchase advance tickets, and you can see what's happening with your own eyes.  If I were you, I would start structuring some kind of better incentives for advance purchases into the ticket price even if that means raising the amount for at-the-door sales, and I would stress those more boldly when publicizing the dates.  Understand as well that this problem is also a powerful argument in favor of working with a supportive , established venue rather than renting a hall and relying solely on the credibility of your name as a promoter.  Yes, this may add to your expense line, but it will also add to ticket sales. If you're lucky, that will compensate for the expense.  
Everyone:  Seriously, folks, work this thing out, or we will all see fewer concerts with bands from Cuba in the future even though it will become easier on paper for them to come to the United States and there are plenty of fans to go around. Wouldn't that be ironic?

     Normally, when everything is going perfectly, promoters and agents aren't a visible part of the final story, and by way of introducing this subject, I need to share a couple of  harsh realities about the music industry. The most important one is that if eligibility for sainthood were a requirement to be in the entertainment business, perhaps half of the concerts and recordings that have taken place over the years would never have occurred, and a high percentage of the disc jockeys now in the clubs wouldn't be working either.  A certain amount of hype is part of how things frequently get done in most segments of the industry. The best operators keep that to a necessary minimum, and most never cross the line into blatant dishonesty, but this brings me to my second point.  There are some first-class agencies which I will not name here that have the skill sets and the experience to manage our music well, but after looking at things from the perspectives of risk, time and expense vs. potential reward, they have frequently chosen to focus on more profitable (and less difficult) lines of business.  This limits the pool of potential agencies for this music, and that calls for a certain level of public tolerance of those who can and will handle the music if they are essentially honest by music industry standards, reasonably competent and willing to learn from any mistakes that they do make (that very last item probably disqualifies some would-be promoters who otherwise meet the first two criteria.  Most people in this business make mistakes now and then, the key is whether you can learn from them and improve.)  


     This brings us to the organizer/promoter for the Havana d'Primera , Mayito Rivera and Tirso Duarte concerts (but not the BAM performances), Jay Peña , who had also presented the Mega Timba Concert at the Copacabana earlier this year. Given the very mixed public reaction to that earlier event and the circumstances surrounding it, I was among those who were initially skeptical about whether he should be attempting another Timba concert series of that scale so soon afterwards.   He chose to persevere, and I chose to give him the benefit of the doubt as he moved forward with plans for the second round of concerts. To his credit, he submitted himself to a level of scrutiny from some elements of the Timba community that most agents and promoters would have refused, and while he may have made a few decisions along the way that I would not have made personally, in the end, he presented some excellent concerts that might have been even better with fewer complications if not for circumstances beyond anyone's control (Superstorm Sandy being one of them).  I do believe that working with a respected venue like S.O.B.s made a positive difference in this case, and having them or someone like them on board is (in my opinion) important to the success of future concerts. While I hope that Mr. Peña realizes that he still has some room for improvement in the public relations and traditional (such as press and radio) publicity departments, and I am quite sure there are some other lessons from his experiences that would not be appropriate to share here, I also think that he has clearly demonstrated that he is sensitive to the Timba community and can deliver concerts worth attending. (I for one am very happy with the concerts that he presented this time, and the audiences were very enthusiastic as well.) There are other agents and promoters in this business who have been far worse (and who have even sometimes crossed the line into blatant dishonesty) without experiencing this level of scrutiny from the public.  If anything good comes from Mr. Peña's experience with running the gauntlet, perhaps it will be a signal to the less-reputable types in the business that the Timba community is watching more closely now.  But I also counsel our community to be careful not to drive capable operators from the field by acting with excessive zeal in the name of being vigilant. The pool of available agencies and venues that can and will present these groups effectively is rather small, and we need to remember that as we go forward.

(...to be continued...)

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Tue, 11 Dec 2012 08:30:36 +0000
Independents Get Noticed In the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards One of the myths that we frequently hear about the GRAMMY awards is that if you aren't backed by a label and/or a major agent or already have a huge name, you don't have a prayer of being recognized. Some of this year's nominees for the 55th GRAMMY awards prove that independent projects can get attention, at least in the categories that are of key interest to TIMBA.com's readers:

In the Best Latin Jazz Album category, one of the nominees is Manuel Valera's NEW CUBAN EXPRESS,  which this writer would like to see go all the way (you can read our review here and visit Manuel's website here.) Manuel is a Cuban ex-pat living in New York and is part of what we consider a movement of musicians there that are currently redefining the boundaries of Latin Jazz.

In the Best Tropical Latin Album category, CUBANO SOY, by Raúl Lara y sus Soneros, is a wonderful tradional Son and Rumba project from a Cuban expat living in Sweden, which practically has its own colony of Cuban musicians now. Raúl studied extensively with José Luis Quintana (Changuito) when he was younger.  He has played with several groups, but Cubano Soy is his debut release as a solo artist.  Raúl's website, which includes some sound clips, is here.  

Also in the Best Tropical Latin Album category, Puerto Rican Marlow Rosado's RETRO deserves mention as another independent project that stands out this year. You can read our review here, and his website is here. Marlow is more of a familiar name than the first two artists that we mentioned, but all of his GRAMMY recognition before now has come from his work in support of several other artists. This is the second recording by his own group La Riqueña and is a swinging tribute to the classic "Salsa Dura" of the 1970s. 

Incidentally, TIMBA.com's own Michael Lazarus mastered both Cubano Soy and Retro. Congratulations Mike, having two projects in the same category is a good problem to have.

Congratulations also to Arturo Sandoval, whose Dear Diz won two Latin GRAMMY awards and was nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album here. Two singles from that album, A Night In Tunisia (Actually An Entire Weekend!)  and Salt Peanuts!, were also nominated in the Best Instrumental Arrangement category. This album was a phenomenal tribute to Dizzy Gillespie, and you can read our review here

You can see the complete list of nominees for all categories at GRAMMY.com. One key reason that we saw Timba recordings recognized in the Latin GRAMMYs, but not here, is that voting Latin Recording Academy (LARAS) members are much likelier to be familiar with Timba music, which has a much broader following outside the US (especially in Europe and Latin America).   It is important to note that LARAS is structured to allow membership from artists, engineers and producers based internationally, while NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) is not. Consequently it has a tighter focus on United States - based members and projects. Some recordings which are eligible for consideration in the Latin GRAMMYs don't meet the criteria for consideration in the regular "American" GRAMMYs.  Bottom line:  Never assume that being an independent artist makes this process a waste of time.  If the music is good enough and enough people listen to it, there is always hope. Congratulations and good luck to the nominees! [ Bill Tilford ]

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Mon, 10 Dec 2012 04:31:32 +0000
Gotham Gets Her Groove Back, Part III: Article and Photos by Bill Tilford -- All Rights Reserved 

     Some of Manhattan's clubs may like to tuck the bands into bed as soon as possible after midnight, but over in Queens, some of them don't start jumping until the clock strikes twelve.  After the Friday night Red Hot + Cuba extravaganza at BAM in Brooklyn, I went to La Boom up in Queens.  This is a pan-Latin nightclub (if you are wondering about the name, they bring a huge sparkler "fuse" out with some of their more expensive drink orders), and when I arrived some time before midnight, I was worried at first because the DJ was cranking out a heavy mix of Bachata and Salsa Romantica. What's more, people were dancing to it and really, really digging it. Periodically, the man at the microphone mentioned that Havana d'Primera, Mayito Rivera and Tirso Duarte were coming later, and by this point I wasn't quite sure whether this was being announced as tidings of comfort and joy or more in the spirit of an air-raid warning. Would this turn into a scene like the Blues Brothers at Bob's Country Bunker from that first movie once the bands hit the stage? Fortunately, this turned out to be a bit of residual paranoia on my part left over from my last trip to the Big Apple.  As showtime drew near, there was a gradual transition to Salsa Dura and yes, finally Timba (whew!) at the DJ booth. Earlier in the night,  they were just accommodating the regulars, who are loaded up with bachateros, prior to the main event.  Once the bands came on, this was a Timba crowd with a Timba vibe. (Sidebar: In the unlikely event that the industry ever comes up with a "Best Use of Spandex" award, I might place La Boom's waitresses in nomination. Watching some of these ladies walk almost made me want to order a drink - which I never do when working - and more than compensated for listening to an hour of the "other crowd's" music.)

     Mayito has had some ups and downs since leaving Los Van Van (including a messy train of events earlier in the year with the New York Mega Timba Concert that ended with his not appearing there), but the crowd received him warmly at La Boom as he performed the opening set with a band composed largely of some of New York's finest including Jhair Sala from the Pedrito Martinez Group.  Fortunately for listeners, Miami and New York both have a solid corps of resident musicians who can play this music properly, and Mayito appears to be establishing a serious presence in both places by making the preparations required to have capable backing bands available there.  One additional thing that he did during this visit was drop into Martin Cohen's Congahead studios in Montvale NJ for a photo and video shoot.  (The photos are already up on the Congahead website, and we understand that video is coming later.)

     Tirso has also been a few places - physically and musically - himself in recent years but released an excellent CD in the spring of 2012 titled Tirso Duarte y la mecanica loca, which you can read more about here.  Fortunately for all of us, he is unmistakably back in the Timba saddle now and in top voice.  

     The La Boom concert featured segments by Mayito, Havana d'Primera and Tirso Duarte and went from approximately 1 am-4:30 am (just like old times!).  While returning to the hotel (on the train this time - I stepped out of the club in the middle of a shift change with the taxis, and NOBODY would go into Manhattan), I witnessed a scene that captures the life of a musician so well that I must share share it:  a pretty young puertoriqueña was completely tearing to shreds a fellow who was (or at least had been) her boyfriend for "ditching" her - leaving her with one of his friends - earlier in the evening.  His story?  He was a musician and was trying to close the deal on a gig with a man that wanted to hire him and his group.  But she was not buying this despite his increasingly-desparate pleas,  and I think the young man would have given just about anything to escape her wrath at that point.  Ah, the sacrifices we make in this business for the sake of the music...

     The New Jersey concert, which featured Havana d'Primera and Tirso,  was moved to the Mauna Loa in North Bergen from the original Park Theater in Union City as part of the post-Sandy adjustments.  There was no actual sign outside that said Mauna Loa (the locals told me that this was a result of recent storm damage), and it remains uncertain as to whether this had any impact on attendance (this website did its best on the day of the concert to help advise concertgoers how to find the place).  The crowd that was there was very enthusiastic, and DJ Morales set the tone with some excellent Timba and Afrocuban that you frequently don't hear at these things (by showtime, although this didn't have the largest crowd, it probably had the strongest Afrocuban vibe of any of the shows we saw this trip).  This was a shorter live set (close to 90 minutes)  that went from a little after midnight until about 1:30 am.  The New Jersey side of the river could use more Timba going into the future, but the ideal dates/times/locations may take a little time to sort out yet. 

To read a review and view a photo gallery of the shows  in Queens and in North Bergen, NJ, click here.  

Coming Next:  Part IV:  What Does This All Mean For The Future?

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Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:07:59 +0000
Gotham Gets Her Groove Back, Part II: Article and Photos by Bill Tilford -- All Rights Reserved

Charanga Habanera Takes One For The Team …

      Superstorm Sandy and the damage that it left forced a rescheduling of the Havana d’Primera performances in New York, and for one venue, S. O. B.s, this meant moving the show to a date when they would be on the same bill with the legendary ensemble Charanga Habanera . Unfortunately, a problem that I previously discussed in a July 2012 article about the New York Mega Timba Concert reared its head once again – most of the anticipated audience decided that it wanted to wait until the last possible minute to make a decision about whether to buy tickets.   As we mentioned in that earlier article, this problem is not at all unique to New York, but here its effect was even  deadlier than that of the storms – Timba.com has learned that as the date of the shows approached, a double bill didn’t look economically viable to anyone, and what surely must have been a very difficult decision for the promoter and the venue (especially considering that the whole process of the East Coast tour was being given a level of scrutiny normally reserved for failing banks and corporate bailouts  by elements  of the Timba community) was made.  Bear in mind that this is a venue (S.O.B.s) that had already lost a week’s worth of revenue due to storm damage. From this writer's perspective, both the numbers and the massive wave of popularity that Havana d’Primera was enjoying from its other recent performances would have clearly pointed to keeping Havana d ‘Primera on the program as the right choice.  While this undoubtedly disappointed many Charanga Habanera  fans, the fact that they didn’t “represent” earlier with significant advanced ticket sales helped make this outcome virtually inevitable.  As I mentioned in my July article, the question of whether or not this level of skepticism among ticket buyers is understandable is now beside the point. It’s there, and if this situation continues into the future, some cities will just not see some bands regardless of the identity of the venue, the promoter or even the band. More about this problem and what it means for all of us in the final chapter of our story. 

Alexander Abreu ‘s Ultimate Challenge

      Personally, I had always considered the addition of anyone to a program featuring Alexander Abreu and Havana d’Primera to be a fringe benefit at best – no disrespect to the other artists, whom I also love and enjoy, but HdP was the reason that I took a flight from Chicago to New Jersey -- and I’m willing to wager that most of those who knew what they were in for musically felt the same way.  Consequently, the deletion of Charanga Habanera (and a subsequent miscue about whether or not Tirso Duarte would really be part of the evening’s program)  didn’t dampen my own enthusiasm at all for the show that was to come. After everything that had already happened during the process of getting Havana d’Primera to come to New York, this should have been Alexander’s moment to enjoy the triumph of being there.  But Fate had one last cruel trick up her sleeve:  tragedy struck in the form of the death of Alexander’s father just hours before the show was scheduled to start.   The saying "The Show Must Go On” is true throughout the world, and although the sad news was already beginning to slowly flow through social media and other sources, some care was taken to assure that this did not cast a public shadow over the shows themselves.  The shows did go on, and Alexander performed with a depth of emotion that I have seldom witnessed from anyone on a stage. Alexander, my deepest condolences for your loss, but I also want you to know that in addition to whatever other names you acquire in the course of your career, I will also think of you as El Gigante from this point forward.  You just proved to all of us the hardest possible way that you really do deserve that title. 

To read more about the actual concerts at S O.B.s  (which were powerful) and view the photo galleries, click here. 

El Tosco’s Revenge:  Red Hot + Cuba  at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music)

     Since I already had four nights of Havana d’Primera on my calendar, I originally had not planned to take in any additional shows even though I was aware that Red Hot + Cuba and a few other events were also taking place around the metro area that week.  It just didn’t look practical to attend any extra performances.  But El Tosco found me at S.O.B.s and convinced me that I could and should go to Red Hot + Cuba . ("El Tosco" and "BAM" just SOUND right together, don't they?)   I’m calling this El Tosco ’s revenge because his other trip to New York for a large show earlier in the year had not been nearly as much fun for him for several reasons.   Although Red Hot + Cuba was an extravaganza with multiple artists, El Tosco was the dominating force.   As you’ll see in the photos, he is sporting a tricolored Mohawk these days, a nice touch considering that the original Mohawk tribe lived in what is now upstate New York. The most remarkable thing about this show is that it violated a lot of conventional wisdom about the best way to present modern Cuban music AND it did so successfully.  (By the way, congratulations to this founding father of Timba for 44 years in the business.)

El Tosco makes us an offer we can't refuse...

     I mentioned that Red Hot + Cuba successfully violated conventional wisdom regarding the best way to present modern Cuban music to the general public in the United States. For one thing, the show featured performers from several different ensembles and representing several different genres from traditional ballads to Nueva Trova to Rock to Timba on the same stage performing together.   In the past, we have written unfavorable things ourselves about "All-Star" performances from time to time because they frequently sound like they were thrown together at the last minute, and the results are often a watered-down version of what the music normally sounds like.  Red Hot + Cuba was different.  These musicians functioned as an integrated unit, and no compromises were made with the music or the production values, which were quite high. Also, Timba and Trova tend to attract different audiences in the United States, and conventional wisdom states that you normally don't present them together.  Yet, in this show, it worked. (Note to private promoters:  Don't try this at home.  This writer firmly believes that the involvement of a venerable, established venue, in this case the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the top-shelf skills of the show's production and publicity teams and the concept of performing as an integrated unit were all critical to the show's success.  Not to mention, a portion of the proceeds were to be donated to HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness in Cuba.  Trying to do this type of thing without the full range of crack professionals involved in this show would only make a mess.)    

     Sidebar:  This concert was this writer's first visit in person to the Brooklyn Academy of Music, now celebrating its 150th year.  It  has a very impressive arts complex including the wonderful Howard Gilman Opera House, where this show took place.  We strongly encourage you to learn more about it by clicking here.

     To read our review of the Red Hot + Cuba extravaganza and see some wonderful photos supplied by BAM, click here.  

Coming Next in Part III:   Mayito and Tirso Address The People

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Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:54:12 +0000
Gotham Gets Her Groove Back, Part I: Article and Photos by Bill Tilford -- All Rights Reserved

     I’m going to bend a journalistic rule and write parts of this in the first person because it will be easier to read that way.  Permit me to begin by saluting the people of New York and New Jersey for keeping your spirits high after the recent damage from superstorm Sandy and its aftermath. I was inspired - moved, even - by how well and how quickly you got your spring back in your step. 

     I also need to perform a brief reality check with some of my trash-talking friends in the Bay Area about the metro New York music scene. New York is a big place with a lot of music, and New Yorkers have choices.  In addition to the five performances that I enjoyed in New York and New Jersey, there were a few others, including Yoruba Andabo at Carnegie Hall and Pedrito Martinez at Guantanamera, which I could have taken in as well if I could have figured out how to be at two places at once.    (As I’m typing this, Los Papines are scheduled to perform in New York tonight.) Don’t get me wrong, the Bay Area is a wonderfully loving and supportive host and audience for touring bands, and it has some extremely talented musicians of its own as well, so keep doing what you’re doing.  But remember:  when you go to that Pedrito Martinez concert that you love to rave about, Pedrito plays regularly in his home city, which is New York.  There is also an entire platoon of New York musicians (such as Manuel Valera, Yosvany Terry and Rafael Monteagudo to name just a few examples) who could be melting your ears by playing Timba but have chosen instead to spend most of their time blowing the minds of those of us who also listen to Jazz.  It may possibly have a short supply of writers who are both able and willing to cover that scene, but the scene is very much there.  

     So why call this The Odyssey of Alexander Abreu?   Well, in the original Greek epic poem, Odysseus spent ten years attempting to return home after the Trojan War.  He was delayed and obstructed by sirens, a Cyclops, witches, storms, captivity and monsters among other things.   Alexander’s voyage to New York was closer to ten months than ten years, but he faced his own versions of sirens (in the form of multiple promoters involved in a scramble over terms), a Cyclops (in the form of a venue which was ultimately cancelled after it appeared that the operating terms and conditions would have almost guaranteed a failure), captivity (his wonderful cd Pasaporte was pulled from distribution in the middle of his US tour for a couple of track substitutions at the very time when US sales would have peaked if the cd had remained available) and even Scylla and Charybdis in the form of superstorm Sandy and its aftermath. The storms knocked one of the venues (S.O.B.s) out of action for eight days and took another venue (The Park Theater in New Jersey) out of the game for the duration.  For a time, it seemed as if the gods themselves were determined that Alexander Abreu and Havana d’Primera would not be permitted to perform in New York. 

But - he finally made it and played and sang his heart out when he arrived (in more ways than one, as you will read as the story unfolds).  One good thing about the need to reschedule after the storms was that a lot of other Cuban music hit town at the same time, and the end results for the fans were wonderful. 

In Part II, I’ll begin sharing what it was like when the music started.  That's a phenomenal story in itself.   
Coming Next:  Part II:  Havana d’Primera at S.O.B.s  and El Tosco’s Revenge

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Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:46:24 +0000
More on HdP with Tirso and Mayito Okay, here's the scoop on Queens. Havana d'Primera backed Tirso on four songs: Te molesta que sea feliz, Eso que me pides, Un mal sueño and Déjala que corra. Tirso also played piano while Alexander sat in on one of Tirso's songs.

Mayito has his own US band under the direction of Osiris Martínez founding member of both Manolito y su Trabuco and Pupy y Los Que Son Son, now living in the US. Jhair Sala of the Pedrito Martínez Group was on congas. Mayito sang De igual a igual, Voy a publicar tu foto and Si no te quieres tú.

And of course the three singers traded guías.

Don't forget Rosy's Charanga Report. Next big show is Charanga Habanera in Orlando.

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Sun, 02 Dec 2012 03:32:44 +0000
Bill's Report Bill loved both the Friday show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Queens extravaganza with Tirso and Mayito and both came off without problems. He highly recommends the second round tonight. He was able to see all of both shows easily.

Links: BAM - Havana d'Primera at Maunaloa.

After the BAM show he made it Queens with plenty of time to spare. The Queens show went from 1:00 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. Mayito opened with a band that included at least some NY musicians; then HdP played its normal set; then Tirso played with HdP. There was a lot of interaction with all combinations of musicians and singers on stage. Bill would not part with any more details so we'll have to wait for his reports. If you were at either show, please email us.

TIPS FOR TONIGHT: When you get to Maunaloa (click here for google map), keep in mind that the building says The Nile Restaurant, not Maunaloa, which is in fact the upstairs room of the NIle Restaurant (see photo below). The doors open at 8:00 and the show will probably start at about 12:00 or 1:00 again. That's all I could get. I still don't know if Mayito will be at Maunaloa but Tirso definitely will be and anyone lucky enough to be in the NY area should not fail to miss this historic opportunity. [Kevin Moore]

CHARANGA HABANERA UPDATE: You can't keep a good band down. After being used and abused in New York, Charanga Habanera played to a sold-out house in Washington DC and has 8 more shows in December, starting on the 8th in Orlando, then 5 more FL shows, one in Vegas and one in Puerto Rico. Click here for Rosy's DC report.

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Sat, 01 Dec 2012 18:16:34 +0000
Mayito + Tirso + HdP in Queens Tonight I spoke with Tirso and he confirms that the show at La Boom in Queens (718-204-2069) will indeed happen. Also, tomorrow, Tirso (not sure about Mayito) will also be with HdP in Bergen NJ at Maunaloa (888-584-3070). The caveat is that both shows are likely to start very late, so be prepared. It will be worth it. Call the clubs for updates.

Unlike many ill-advised all-star combinations that wind up being musically inferior to a straight show by a rehearsed band, Tirso and Mayito are ideally suited for this kind of situation. Think of Tirso's legendary appearance with Issac on Dec. 31, 1999 at Casa de la Música, or Mayito's equally brilliant cameo on the legendary live version of Solar de la California in April of 2000 at Marina Hemingway (that's Bombón on drums). Add to this the fact that at the beginning of his career Tirso's voice was compared to Mayito's leading to the famous line on Pupy's version of La bomba soy yo.

yo canto con mi garganta
[I sing with my throat - it sounds much more poetic in Spanish!]
tengo limpia mi conciencia 
[I have a clean conscience]
y si hay cualquier semejanza
[and if there's some resemblance]
eso es pura coincidencia
[it's pure coincidence] 
[audio example]

The combination of these two on the same stage has the potentional to rival the legendary "Controversia" performance of Cándido Fabré and Paulito FG.

I hear the backup band is pretty good too. [Kevin Moore]

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Fri, 30 Nov 2012 19:34:32 +0000
Havana d' Primera is Tearing Up The East Coast Lots of pix and a writeup coming up next week.  Right now, I have a concert to enjoy.  This band and the crowd are both going wild. If you're out East, catch it while you can.  And San Francisco, I love you, but you can still go to Hell.  New York and New Jersey are happening right now!  [Bill Tilford]

Havana D'Primera @ SOBs - Cuban Music News - Noticias de musica cubanaHavana d' Primera - Photo by Bill Tilford - Sent live directly from SOBs

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Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:26:51 +0000
No Tirso, No Charanga, All Havana D' Primera Preliminary reports coming in now.... It's looking like San Francisco is undoubtedly the capital of Timba in the United States. Even the beach town of Santa Cruz - one hour south of San Fran - outsells mid-town Manhattan in metropolitan New York.

No Tirso Duarte, no Charanga Habanera...guests include pianist Alex Tosca and an ex-Muñequitos singer. A pumped-up crowd going absolutely crazy over a brilliant show by Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera. The band is in incredible shape. 

Havana D'Primera will be there (SOB's) tomorrow night. They are on fire and not to be missed. In regards to anything else your guess is as good as ours.

Havana D'Primera US Tour - Cuban Music News - Noticias de musica cubanaAlexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera - Photo by Tom Ehrlich

THE MORAL OF THE STORY: If you're within striking distance of Manhattan, Queens or Bergen, go see Havana D' Primera - it doesn't get better than this and no amount of mixing and matching will make it any better. If whoever shows up and some special magic happens, all the better, but go to see Havana D' Primera because it's simply the tightest, most professional, most creative, and God knows, the most SOULFUL Cuban band you're going to see for a long long time.

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Thu, 29 Nov 2012 03:27:33 +0000
Breaking News - New Lineup for SOBs Tonight Today we received notice of this last-minute change for the upcoming SOBs Havana D' Primera shows. El Charanguero Mayor Tirso Duarte replaces Charanga Habanera at SOBs. Ironically, for some this is a much better pairing of talents. Be sure to say hello to our Chicago correspondent Bill Tilford as he is covering the event now.

Important notice for Charanga Habanera fans: refunds are being processed so call SOBs at 212.243.4940 with your request.

El Charanguero Mayor Tirso Duarte Replaces Charanga at SOBs Tonight

 

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Wed, 28 Nov 2012 19:40:26 +0000
Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera - Live Video - with Fito Reinoso

Videography by Patrick Hickey of Idyll Photography & http://TIMBA.com
https://www.timba.com/users/patrick-hickey-timba-photography
Patrick Hickey proudly uses the Mitra 3D Mic Pro = http://www.3dmicpro.com

Video courtesy of Zookbeat Productions, Lucumiyque and
Easy Entertainment Group (E.E.G.) 551-482-8766

Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera @ Don Quixote's International Music Hall
Felton, California - Tuesday, November 20 2012

Special guest San Francisco's own "El Sonero de la Bahía" Fito Reinoso. 
Stay tuned for more Cuban music at Don Quixote's International Music Hall. 

HAVANA D' PRIMERA is .....
Alexander Abreu - Director, Singer, Trumpet
Jannier Rodríguez - Coro singer
Enrique Luis Pérez - Coro singer
Tony Rodríguez - Piano
Harold Díaz Escobar - Keyboard
Avis Tobías - Bass
Orlando Vázquez - Trumpet
Uyuni Martínez Romero - Trumpet
Carlos Luis Álvarez Guerra - Trombone
Amaury Pérez Rodríguez - Trombone
Rogelio Nápoles - Guitar
Keisel Jiménez  - Percussion 1
Güillermo del Toro Varela - Percussion 2
Mauricio Gutiérrez Upmann - Percussion 3

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Wed, 28 Nov 2012 06:08:41 +0000
Tom's HdP Fotos, Part 2 Fito Reinoso with Alexander - photo by Tom Ehrlich - click for full gallery

Next shows are SOBs Wed/Thurs.

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Mon, 26 Nov 2012 02:24:53 +0000
Havana d'Primera in Miami Tonight Keisel Jiménez - in Felton - photo by Tom Ehrlich

Havana d'Primera completely sold out both Yoshi's shows. It was an incredible night - everything went perfectly - they're apparently already booked to return in March.

Tonight they'll be at The Place in Miami (another link here), then on to New York for four shows: Wed. & Thurs at SOB's, Friday at La Boom in Queens. and Saturday in North Bergen, New Jersey.

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Sun, 25 Nov 2012 17:07:39 +0000
"Innovation" by Rafael Monteagudo and The Music Connection Now Available!

Back in September, we wrote a sneak preview of this exciting new Jazz recording, but the actual release to the public was delayed until now.  (You can read our review here.)  Rafael Monteagudo and his bassist, Carlos del Pino, are part of the exciting and creative wave of Jazz artists originally from Cuba who now live and work in New York.  The pianist, Chiemi Nakai, is originally from Japan and made a name for herself in the music there prior to coming to the US. 
This CD, which we highly recommend for Jazz listeners (this goes triple for bassists), is now available on CD Baby. The page includes some audio preview clips. 

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Sat, 24 Nov 2012 15:44:39 +0000
Tom's HdP Fotos, Part I photo by Tom Ehrlich - Enrique Pérez, Guillermo del Toro, Alexander Abreu

This is the first of Tom Ehrlich's Felton galleries, covering the soundcheck and part of the show.

Saturday's 10:00 show at Yoshi's SF is now (again) sold out, but this time it looks completely sold out, so jump on 8:00 while you still can. The band has been chilling its heels in SF for several days so they're well rested and loaded for bear (pardon all my dated slang) - just sayin' - get ready for this one!

And don't forget Beyond Black Friday: here's Tom's photo of Alexander and Orlando Vázquez checking out Beyond Salsa for Beginners before the Felton show:

Alexander is pointing out how the drumsticks are aligning with each other in Patrick Bonnard's killer shot of HdP in Europe. [Kevin Moore]

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Fri, 23 Nov 2012 21:54:09 +0000
Beyond Black Friday      


paperback book - eBook - audio - FREE AUDIO -  paperback book - eBook - audio    

What do you give a timbero who has everything? Beyond Salsa for Beginners: An Introduction to Latin Music for Dancers and Listeners is for the diehard music fan who doesn't necessarily want to learn an instrument. It's a full history of Cuban music from the very beginning, including changüí, rumba, comparsa, son, danzón, son montuno, charanga, mambo, Arsenio, Arcaño, Aragón, the descargas, Cachao, Beny, Celia, Tito, Machito, Rubén Blades, mozambique, pilón, songo, Irakere, Afro-Cuban folkloric music, and my most thorough timba history to date. There's an extensive glossary and a special guide to Cuban Spanish for English speakers complete with tips on pronunciation, accent marks, and slang. I have to admit that I went through a period where I thought the world began and ended with timba, but as I started trying to understand where timba came from I found an endless well of priceless music from every decade of the era of recorded music. The book tells you how to find it, understand it, warm up to it, and see how and why it's so critical to timba. It's almost impossible to find a timba song that doesn't have multiple references to these earlier genres in the lyrics, melodies and arrangements. There's also an analysis of the growth of salsa and the way Cuban and Nuyorican music have influenced each other over the years. The book also has a full set of very basic clapping and singing exercises to learn the most basic rhythms that even non-musicians should know: clave, dancing "on 2" and "on 3" the most basic rhythm of each bell and drum and so on. There's also a history of how each bell and percussion instrument evolved over the decades and a huge section explaining how to listen to trickier Afro-Cuban folkloric rhythms.

The second book, Beyond Salsa Percussion, Vol. 1 is for beginning drummers and timbaleros. The idea is that before you take your first lesson you should learn how to sing and clap all the basic rhythms - first one at a time, and then in combinations of 2 and 3. This way, you can spend your lessons working on technique, posture and tone production without being distracted by coordination.

IMPORTANT NOTES: These two books share several sections. BS Percusion V.1 has a lot more rhythms, but doesn't have any of the history and discography stuff that in BS for Beginners. Each one is ideal for its target audience, but if you buy both, you'll be annoyed to have purchased some duplicate material. So if you want them both, send me an email so you can get a big discount to account for the duplicate material.

AUDIO: This is also a bit confusing so please read carefully. There are 107 free tracks that you can download here. These tracks are covered by both books, so you'll need the free tracks no matter which book you buy. By the time you get through the free tracks, you'll know how well the method works for you and you can download the rest for the usual fee at LPM.

SPECIAL OFFER: If you buy both eBooks, the audio for both is free, so buy the books on LPM, then email me to receive the free audio. So in summary, for people who want both books: if you want both paperback books, email me for a discount, and if you want both eBooks, buy them on LPM and then email me for the audio. (kevin - at - timba.com). [Kevin Moore]

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Fri, 23 Nov 2012 06:00:08 +0000
Peter Maiden's Havana d'Primera Gallery photo by Peter Maiden

Update: 10:00 tickets now back on sale. Original Post: Click on the photo for Peter Maiden's photo gallery from the Havana d'Primera Santa Cruz show. Note that Yoshi's SF has stopped selling advance tickets for the 10:00 show. I'm not sure if they're holding any back for night-of-show. There are still a small number of 8:00 show advance tickets

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Wed, 21 Nov 2012 21:12:00 +0000
Havana d'Primera West Coast Tour Continues photo by Peter Maiden

Wow - HdP packed Don Quixote's International Music Hall in Felton. It turns out to be a great venue - reasonably priced, great sound, great dance floor, great food. Patrick Hickey was on hand with his amazing video rig so you'll have some clips to look forward to, and Peter Maiden (above) and Tom Ehrlich were both clicking away with reckless abandon. The band was on fire - new tunes - two longs sets. Bay Area sonero extraordinaire Fito Reinoso sat in and brought the house down. Hopefully we'll be getting more Cuban shows at Quixote's in the near future.

Next tour stop: Saturday night at Yoshi's San Francisco - only one night this time - my advice is to buy advance tickets - I wouldn't be surprised to see people turned away at the door. The rest of the tour is here.

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Wed, 21 Nov 2012 05:03:15 +0000
Curuye's Havana d'Primera Report Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera tore it up in LA - check out Kay Torres' report here. They play Don Quixote's off of Highway 17 in Santa Cruz - only $20 for the whole night and then Yoshi's SF on Saturday. Here's the rest of the tour. Bill's report is here.

Havana D' Primera US Tour 2012 - Cuban Music News - noticias de musica cubana

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Tue, 20 Nov 2012 03:57:14 +0000
BEYOND SALSA FOR BEGINNERS IS HERE! Beyond Salsa for Beginners: An Introduction to Latin Music for Dancers and Listeners is the flagship volume for the comprehensive Beyond Salsa series that includes multi-volume sets of books on each instruments of the Cuban rhythm section: piano, bass, drums, timbales, bongó, congas, clave, ensemble, etc. There is an introductory free download of 107 audio files with sample pdf available here. 248 pages (248 páginas) with 184 audio tracks (184 pistas).

Beyond Salsa For Beginners - Cuban music news - Noticias de musica cubana

Format: Beyond Salsa For Beginners is an introductory volume for the comprehensive Beyond Salsa series of music methods books. Each volume is made up of an eBook with accompanying audio (and video if available) tracks. The books and audio tracks are sold separately.

Hard copy: The hard copy version can be purchased here.

eBook: The eBook is made available through our View to Print system. 248 pages.

Audio: All the audio has been organized into 184 audio tracks. 

Free Audio: The FREE audio portion of this volume can be downloaded here.

The Beyond Salsa For Beginners method alternates between two different types of chapters:Listening Tours and Clapping, Singing and Dancing Exercises.

The Listening Tours cover the full history of Cuban music: Afro-Cuban folkloric music, rumba, changüí, comparsa, son, danzón, son montuno, songo, timba, salsa et al. For each genre we have a "highlighted track" - analyzed with time stamps to point out the main features. After a short history of the genre and its place in the overall scheme of things, we have a Further Listening list. The idea is to make a playlist of the highlighted tracks and listen repeatedly to develop an emotional connection with the music before studying the chapter.

Interspersed among the Listening Tours are four Rhythmic Exercises chapters on clapping, counting and singing the basic rhythms on which all of this music is based: clave, the basic dance steps, cinquillo, tresillo, and all the other essential rhythms of Latin music.

Click here for a FREE pdf sample of the Beyond Salsa For Beginners eBook.

Click here to see the table of contents for Beyond Salsa For Beginners.
Email the author = kevin [at] timba [dot] com

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Tue, 20 Nov 2012 03:40:23 +0000
Some Reflections about the 13th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards

Although there were no victories for Timba this year, there was some progress in gaining recognition for our music.  Bill Tilford explains why here.

Aunque no hubo victorias para la Timba este año, hubo algún progreso en el reconocimiento de nuestra música,  Bill Tilford te lo explica aquí.

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Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:26:20 +0000
Havana D' Primera U.S. Tour Begins!

     Havana d'Primera's Fall U. S. Tour opened at LA's Conga Room on November 15th and drew a crowd estimated at 500 for a knockout concert with a different bongosero and the premiere of the new song Mi  Bailarina . A live video clip of the song can be found in the November 9 post on the  Havana Buzz Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HavanaBuzz?filter=1

    We haven't heard any feedback yet regarding the Oregon and Washington concerts, but next up on the calendar is Tuesday night, Nov. 20, at Don Quixote's International Music Hall in Felton (Santa Cruz County) at 6275 Hwy 9, Felton, CA:  http://www.donquixotesmusic.info/
Doors open at 7:30pm and the cost is $20.00 in advance ($23.00 at the door) for the whole night!

     Later, on Saturday, November 24, Yoshi's will host two shows in San Francisco:
http://www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco/jazzclub/artist/show/2620

     The East Coast gets a taste the following week with Miami on the 25th, NYC on the 28th and 29th, and North Bergen, NJ on December 1.

    We would be including a review of HdP's fantastic new album, Pasaporte , but we have received word that it has been removed from on-line distribution in order to substitute two tracks before redistributing.   This means that those of you already in possession of the original will have a collectors' item eventually.  We'll do a full review when the new version is available including a comparison of the original version and the revised one.

     Have you attended any of these concerts?  Tell us what you thought!  There are two ways to do this:  You can leave a comment on this blog (see the lower left hand corner of this post) or go to our Forums page and start a thread. 

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Sun, 18 Nov 2012 10:46:16 +0000
Buena Fe - New Video & National Tour Buena Fe

On the eve of their national tour, Buena Fe has released the video "Pablo" from the film of the same name. It was shot on location in Camagüey. The tour begins tomorrow in Santa Clara and for the month of November the band will be heading to Eastern Cuba for 10 concerts, including free concerts in Holguín, Guantanamo and Santiago de Cuba, where the people are still recovering from the severe damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. The band will also perfrom at the Festival Aragua in Maracay, Venezuela on December 2nd and will then return to complete the national tour which will end on December 20th on the steps of the University of Havana as part of the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the University Student Federation (FEU). 

During the tour, Buena Fe will be presenting songs from their new CD, "Dial". For more information about the video, the new CD and the tour, check out the interview with Israel Rojas at Suena Cubano. Follow them at Buena Fe (Página Oficial) on Facebook.

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Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:07:14 +0000
Havana D'Primera AND Charanga Habanera Double-Header Uff cayó la bomba!!!  Pinch us we are dreaming ... a historic TIMBA double-header at S.O.B.s in New York with Alexander Abreu and Havana D' Primera AND David Calzado y la Charanga Habanera. Yes....BOTH bands will perform BOTH nights November 28 & 29.

Now, la pregunta de los 64 mil chavitos....who will open for who (quien le abrirá a quien) ???? Please leave us a message in out guestbook area (déjanos un mensaje en el area de Saludos). Havana D'Primera will be a tough act to follow so we'll see.... UFFFF. 

Alexander Abreu and Havana D' Primera AND David Calzado y la Charanga Habanera. November 28 & 29 - 2 night double-header at S.O.B.s in NYC - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubana

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
S.O.B.s  --  200 Varick Street  New York, NY 10014  --  (212) 243-4940

 

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Fri, 09 Nov 2012 18:29:07 +0000
Créeme Audiovisual Out Soon! I am so excited! I just watched the teaser for the soon-to-be-released documentary of Michel Mirabal's "Créeme" project that was held during the Bienal in Havana this summer. This work is a collaboration between some members of what I see as Havana's artistic elite. Michel Mirabal is one of Cuba's most recognized young artists and has held exhibitions in the US in Miami, L.A. and Chicago, as well as in Paris, France; Buenos Aires, Argentina and Bogota, Colombia. His collection includes the Rockefeller family, Donald Trump, Mohammed Ali, Carlos Santana and author Gabriel Garcia Márquez, among others.

Michel Mirabal

For "Créeme" he teamed up with Havana's hip-hop community. They composed and recorded songs inspired by Michel's work, including a fantastic hip-hop remake of one of my favorite Buena Fe songs "Soy" with Raudel from Escuadrón Patriota and Israel Rojas of Buena Fe. Other artists included Silvito El Libre,  Maykel Xtremo, Soandry Hermanos de Causa, Carlitos Mucha Rima, Bárbaro el Urbano Vargas and Al2. To top it all off was the biggest name in Cuban music: Juan Formell & Los Van Van. The entire event was documented by another of the young guns of the Havana artistic community: filmmaker Ian Padrón.  Padrón has been on the leading edge of socially conscious filmmaking with works such as the award winning movie "Havanastation", the groundbreaking video of "Ser de sol" by Buena Fe & Descemer Bueno and with audiovisual of this historic concert. They are currently subtitling and editing the DVD, which I hope will be ready in time to make it into my stocking as a Christmas gift! So check out the teaser here and keep an eye out for the DVD release!

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Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:32:20 +0000
Havana D'Primera - La Bailarina Update: The Union City New Jersey gig has now been resceduled for December 1st! As those of you in the US prepare for the upcoming Havana D'Primera tour, DJ Mandy from Casa de la Música Miramar has released exclusive video of Havana D'Primera performing the new single "La Bailarina". It's still in the early stages and is an excellent example of how the Cuban bands test songs out on live audiences as they are developing them. This song is just a collection of coros and mambos and gears right now. It will be interesting to see how the final version turns out. Click here for the current list of concert dates in the US.


La Bailarina - new song in the works

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Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:46:01 +0000
Los Papines return to the USA after 12 years Los Papines USA Tour - Cuban Music News - Noticias de musica cubana

After tweleve (12) years Cuba's "Ambassadors of the Rumba" LOS PAPINES return to the U.S. to showcase their classic folkloric performances. Los Papines, a five-member ensemble, celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2003. 

"I went last Sunday and Los Papines, comprised of Luis, Ricardo, Jesus, Luisito and Juliet Abreu managed to get everybody’s shoulders and hips moving. The chorus of one of their songs said it all: Even the palm trees move with the wind and the earth shakes. Los Papines are some of the country’s best diplomats. With only five musicians they have inspired people to dance in 62 countries, transmitting the energy of a big band and showing the strength of Cuban music. Many years after the group formed, they continue to be a reference point of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean percussion." -- Irina Echarry, Havana Times

30 de Noviembre ( Viernes ) , 2012, " The Place ”
833 Southwest 29th Ave: Miami , Florida 33139
Informacion & reservacion: 786-400-5191

3 de Diciembre ( Lunes ), 2012 Night Club “ S.O.B’S ”, New York
200 Varick St. 10014  --  Phone : 212-243-4940 / www.sobs.com

4 de Diciembre ( Martes ) Restaurant Night Club “ Guantanamera ”
939 8va Ave.& 56 St. Manhattan  --  Phone:: 212-262-5354.*

08 de Diciembre ( Sábado ) Taller de percusión - www.oyuoro-afrocuban.com
405 West 55 St. on 9th Ave: New York , 10019  --  Phone:917-370-5081

15 de Diciembre ( Sábado ) " Cuba Ocho " Miami, Florida - 11pm
Phone:305.285.5880, 1465 SW 8th 33135, website www.cubaocho.com

Los Papines USA Tour - Cuban Music News - Noticias de musica cubana

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Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:42:36 +0000
Yarién Oviedo "El Yoruba" Debut Yarién Oviedo "El Yoruba"
Yarién Oviedo, better known as "El Yoruba", will debute with his reggaeton group in Stockholm on November 24 at Salsa Club Cantineros. Yarién, singer with Buena Vista Social Club, Havana Lounge, Afro-Cuban All Stars, Calixto Oviedo y su Banda and many other groups in Europe, is taking the stage now with his own band and his own original songs. Special guest at the concert will be "la máquina del sabor", percussion maestro Calixto Oviedo. Featured dancers will be Laura Elena Rodriguez formerly of the ballet Teatro America and  Whitney Hernandez. Director of the event "Fiesta a lo Grande" is DJ Isra . Get ready to get your reggaeton on!

For those of you not familiar with El Yoruba's solo work, here are a couple of soundcloud links to get you warmed up: La Diablita and Ya estoy en la calle . As you will hear, El Yoruba mixes reggaeton with a tasty dose of salsa, making for songs that appeal to a wide variety of dancers. Nos vemos en la pista!

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Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:05:16 +0000
November 2012 is Cuban Music Explosion Month The stars and planets have converged with coast to coast Cuban music concerts from A-list artists. The Havana D' Primera US Tour has gained momentum and the buzz is increasing interest in all the upcoming Timba shows. Read below for a Hurricane Sandy Update...

We begin the list with Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera and all their new shows...
Havana D'Primera US Tour 2012 - Cuban music news - Noticias de música cubana

For the full show list click here
UPADTE 2 Havana D' Primera will perform a (both nights - Nov 28 & 29) double-header (same night) at S.O.B.s with David Calzado y la Charagna Habanera! 
UPDATE !! Due to the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast the Havana D' Primera shows will be rescheduled to Wednesday, November 28th and Thursday, November 29th. More news as it becomes available. 
November 15, 2012 - Los Angeles, CA - Conga Room (now the first show of the tour)
November 16, 2012 - Portland, Oregon - The Conga Club
November 17, 2012 - Seattle, Washington - Club Sur
November 20, 2012 - Santa Cruz, CA - Don Quixote's International Music Hall
November 24, 2012 - San Francisco, CA - Yoshi's 8:00pm & 10:00pm
November 25, 2012 - Miami, FL. - The Place (new website for The Place here)For all Havana D' Primera US Tour 20122 tickets call toll free +1.888.584.3070


Charanga Habanera US Tour - Cuban Music News - Noticias de musica cubana

Next we have shows for David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera...
For the full show list click here
November 21, 2012 - Miami, FL. - La Covacha
November 28, 2012 - NYC - SOBs with Havana D'Primera (double-header)
November 29, 2012 - NYC - SOBs 
with Havana D'Primera (double-header)
November 30, 2012 - Washington, D.C. - Diamond Lounge
December 8, 2012 - Orlando, FL. - Centro Borinqueño
December 12, 2012 - Ft Lauderdale, FL. - Café Iguana
December 15, 2012 - Naples, FL. - Dimension Club
December 16, 2012 - Tampa, FL.- Whiskey Club
December 19, 2012 - Las Vegas, NV. - Hard Rock Café
December 22, 2012 - Miami, FL. - Aché


And also Gente De Zona....

Gente D Zona USA Fall Tour - Cuban Music News - Notocoas de musica cubana

For the full show list click here
November 3, 2012 - Miami, FL. - La Covacha
November 4, 2012 - Miami, FL. - Latin Grammy Street Party
November 7, 2012 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL. - Café Iguana
November 11, 2012 - Tampa, FL. - Whiskey North
November 17, 2012 - New Jersey - Shaunzen Park
December 7, 2012 - Miami, FL. - Mansion


And finally the upcoming Cuban music festival in Miami featuring Issac Delgado, Manolín el Médico, Tiempo Libre, Timbalive and now Mayito Rivera !!

Miami cuban music festival - Cuban Music News - noticias de music cubana

Miami cuban music festival - Cuban music news - Noticias de musica cubana

Click here to purchase tickets online
Wednesday, November 21 at the James L. Knight Center in Miami
For tickets call 305.209.0055

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Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:18:31 +0000
Hector Silveira Gets Chicago on its Feet

Hector Silveira and his Orchestra gave Chicago a much-needed Timba/Rumba/Son performance last Saturday.  For the concert review and photo gallery, click here

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Sun, 04 Nov 2012 17:23:17 +0000
Song of the Day - Conga Tour
New Van Van "Conga Tour"  featuring Mandy Cantero on lead vocals

I've decided to start sharing some of my favorite videos here at Timba.com, not just at Facebook. So let me start with El Tren, La Maquinaria, whatever you want to call them, Juan Formell & Los Van Van are back with an estreno 2012 and I am in love again! This song makes me crazy to hit the dance floor immediately!  It's another song with Mandy Cantero, the newest Van Van, on lead and despite the name it is not a conga. It is timba, baby, timba. Enjoy, and stay tuned for more of my favorite videos!

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Sun, 04 Nov 2012 13:48:00 +0000
MB y Salsa Mayor - "A toda máquina" Maykel Blanco

Tonight is the long awaited and slightly delayed anniversary party for Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor at Casa de la Música Galiano. The band's eight year anniversary passed in October, but the official party was pushed back until November. As they say, No hay mal que por bien no venga and in this case Maykel is combining the the anniversary party with promotion for the new CD "A toda máquina". If you have signed up for newsletters from their web page, you already know that the CD consist of 13 tracks, including "El songo de todos" with the participation of many of the most popular young singers in Cuba today: El Noro, Christian and Rey Alonso, Emilio Frias "El Niño ", Ailyn, as well as Salsa Mayor singers Yasser, Yordis and Alexis David. Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor continue to be one of the most popular young bands in Cuba and one of the bright spots on the timba horizon. The CD should be released by Planet Records in December making it the holiday gift of 2012 for all the timberos on your list!

Track List: 
Son estos
El artista soy yo
Tremenda pinta
Anda por la calle
Tú no eres mi amigo
El songo de todos
Bembé
Un kilo
Pa' que se te quite
Hazte la que no me ves
La figura

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Sat, 03 Nov 2012 08:34:25 +0000
Havana D'Primera en Miami - One night only! **LATEST UPDATES - 2 more shows added, new website for The Place, new ticket link
Click here to visit our HDP Tours page for the new show listings in Seattle & Portland.

Havana D' Primera en Miami @ The Place - November 25 2012 = Cuban Music News

BUY TICKETS ONLINE HERE
Domingo 25 de Noviembre 4pm de la tarde 
1ra Funcion. Para Reservaciones (786) 400-5191 o (888) 584-3070
Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera en Concierto Bailable
Sunday, November 25, 2012 at 4:00 PM

"The Place" - 833 South West 29Th Ave. - Miami, , Florida
Phone: (888) 584-3070


Domingo, 25 de Noviembre 2012 marca el debut y despedida de Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera en Miami. Este será el úlitmo concierto en los Estados Unidos y su debut en Miami. 

Para boletos llame al +1.888.584.3070
Pronto actualizamos este escrito con el enlace para compra de boletos en linea
THE PLACE - 833 SW 29nth Avenue, Miami FL 33139
Reservación 305-642-6994

The Miami debut and farewell US show of Alexander Abreu y Havana D' Primera will take place at THE PLACE in Miami = 833 SW 29nth Avenue, Miami FL 33139 = on Sunday, November 25, 2012.

Havana D Primera in Miami - One night only - Cuban music news - noticias de musica cubana

This post will be updated wth the ticket link a.s.a.p., in the meantime tickets can be purchased by calling toll-free +1.888.584.3070

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Wed, 31 Oct 2012 05:20:38 +0000
PABLO MILANÉS IN LIMA I had the privilege of seeing Pablo Milanés for the first time two weeks ago in Madrid. The concert report is pending but I want to make sure everybody knows that Pablo is still on tour and will perform this Wednesday, October 31 at Polideportivo de la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. This is truly a must-not-miss concert.

Pablo Milanés & Andrés Suárez - Madrid - Teatro Caser Calderón          Pablo Milanés in Madrid after the show with his opening act Andrés Suárez

In addition to the tour, Pablo is about to release a new CD that is going under the working title "Renacimiento". On this album he has continued incorporating Cuban traditional dance music, this time using rumba and changüí in his arrangements. His popularity with the younger generation of troveros has led to recent collaborations with artists such as Maná, Buena Fe and Andrés Suárez.

Pablo Milanés' musical career spans more than 50 years. From the very start he was a part of some of the most interesting and important developments in Cuban trova music, from his collaboration with Grupo de Experimentación Sonora de ICAIC (GESI) to his decisive roll as one of the founders of the Nueva Trova movement in Cuba and Latin America. While he has faced controversy at times for always speaking his mind, his fans deeply love him as you can see in the video below from the Madrid concert, which he closed with: "El breve espacio en que no está" . Stay tuned for the full concert report.

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Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:18:50 +0000
Chicago, Your Fix is Here Chicago, we were at Hector's rehearsal this afternoon.  Hector is originally from Camaguey, Cuba, and is now based in Chicago.  The band was blowing the doors off the rehearsal space today - this IS the real thing.  Miss this for any reason other than illness, work, out of town or death, and your license to publicly complain about any aspect of the local concert scene will be officially revoked. For more details, see our Report From Chicago section for October 28, 2012.

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Sun, 28 Oct 2012 19:54:29 +0000
The Difference Between Salsa and Timba Here's a timba trivia quiz from my upcoming book for non-musicians. The idea is to demonstrate a key difference between salsa and timba - the "song-specific" accompaniment. So, this track starts by playing a typical vamp four times through with the generic conga, piano and bass parts - then it segues into a timba version with a unique part for each of those three instruments. The idea is that you should be able to know what song it is just from listening to these three accompaniment parts.

So listen to the track by clicking here and then see if you can identify the song in the COMMENTS section.

Here are some preview pages on the new book .

And for Bay Areans, tickets for HdP are on sale now !   [Kevin Moore]

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Sun, 28 Oct 2012 02:31:21 +0000
Pepitín y su Q'mbachá Pepitín y su Q'mbachá

Many fans have been asking me where Pepitín went after leaving El Trabuco. He has formed his own septeto playing traditional Cuban son. Pepitín is best know to Timba.com readers as a lead singer with Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor and later with Manolito y Su Tabuco with whom he recorded the CDs "Anda y pégate" and "Trabuco 1 vez más", respectively. But he has also had his own following since gthe 2008 release of his solo CD "Estudiando" which was well-recieved both by fans of Cuban music as well as fans of salsa dura.

Pepitín is a stellar example of the young generation of soneros in Cuba, who represent continuity in the Cuban vocal and popular music tradition. The strength of son cubano is that it has a worldwide appeal that does not age or fade. Pepitín y su Q'mbachá have uploaded a demo to Youtube for your enjoyment.

Pepitín y su Q'mbachá - El hombre increíble

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Sat, 27 Oct 2012 14:58:52 +0000
FIESTA DEL TAMBOR - 2013 Havana Rhythm & Dance Festival 2013 (Fiesta del Tambor)

Percussionists and fans of Cuban music and dance, you are hereby notified in good time that the 2013 Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival will take place from March 5-10. You now have time to schedule your vacation and make your travel plans. No more excuses! this is a stellar even with a breathtaking combinations of performances, expositions, conferences, masters classes, dance, music as the prestigious International Percussion Competition. Competitors choose from various percussion genres and are rated on a clear set of criteria, which you will find elaborated in the official announcement of the festival. Prizes are given to the winners and there is even a youth category for budding musicians.

The official website hasn't been updated with the 2013 schedule and rules, but keep checking as that information should come soon. For information about hotels, transportation, credentials, etc., contact Cecilia Principe. Remember, 2013 is your year so don't miss this opportunity!

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Wed, 24 Oct 2012 14:04:25 +0000
From Louisville to Elgin, No rest for Timba.com's Chicago team.   We took in three bands in three cities, and all were worth it:

For Cosa Seria, an exciting band based in  Louisville, KY, click here

For Charangueo, Chicago's new Charanga ensemble, click here

For Tiempo Libre's appearance with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, click here

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Sun, 21 Oct 2012 20:51:24 +0000
Havana D' Primera and Changuito in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES HAPPENINGS! HAVANA d' PRIMERA, CHANGUITO, CURUYE's ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, ORQUESTA ARAGÓN, JANE BUNNETT, CHUCHO VALDÉS, DAFNIS PRIETO, JUAN de MARCOS & AFRO CUBAN ALL STARS ...read on...!

Read the full report from Curuyé (Kay Torres) here....

FINALLY in LOS ANGELES!  The CONGA ROOM has officially announced ALEXANDER ABREU & HAVANA d' PRIMERA for a THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15 performance! THE BUZZ IS ON! Tix are only $20 now, but I've been advised those prices may go up closer to show date! For tix: www.congaroom.com. (Knowing that they'll be up in the Bay later in the month, I'll bet some Southern Californians won't be able to resist traveling north on that long Thanksgiving weekend for another hit of this awesome band!) 

Havana D' Primera Conga Room                                                       

Cusito.Kati.ChanguitoAlso in town this month and next is 'CHANGUITO' JOSÉ LUIS QUINTANA, Cuba's legendary percussionist, and one of LOS VAN VAN's founding musicians. On SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24 he'll be featured with the AFRO CUBAN JAZZ PROJECT which includes former MARACA trumpet player JOSIEL PÉREZ, along with FERMÍN SIFONTES on keyboards, SAWA PÉREZ on bass, BRIAN DE LA FÉ on congas at VITELLO's JAZZ & SUPPER CLUB in the Studio City area of L.A. 

Plus 
ORQUESTA ARAGÓN, RHAPSODY CUBANA ALEXANDER ABREU & HAVANA d' PRIMERA DAFNIS PRIETO's PROVERB TRIO, JUAN de MARCOS &  the AFRO CUBAN ALL STARS 

Read the full report from Curuyé (Kay Torres) here....

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Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:39:12 +0000
Calixto Oviedo & La Maquinaria in Boulder Calixto Oviedo & La Maquinaría @ Boulder Theater

Is it coincidence or is there some greater plan at work? I will be arriving in Colorado on November 24th and it just so happens that on November 25th the Boulder Theater in my hometown of Boulder, Colorado will be hosting a concert by the timba band La Maquinaria featuring Calixto Oviedo ! Now who would have expected that Calixto and I who both live in Stockholm would also run into each other in Boulder of all places? It must be fate. It is a thrill to know I will finally be able to enjoy timba right there at home! See you at Boulder Theater on November 25th!

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Tue, 16 Oct 2012 05:22:09 +0000
Osvaldo Chacón Live Thank YouTube for making it possible for us to share in great musical moments like this performance of the classic "Te gusto o te caigo bien" by Osvaldo Chacón ! This was the title track from Bamboleo's first CD,  and it is a prefect example of what timba is all about. Chacón keeps it just as fresh today as it was in 1996. The video was filmed with a percussion-eye view from right behind the bassist, so it's a special  treat for rhythm section fans. I hope he can set up a European tour one of these days so I can catch him live! Or maybe I'll be making a 2013 timba trip to London...Enjoy!


Osvaldo Chacón sings his timba classic "Te gusto o te caigo bien"

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Sun, 14 Oct 2012 06:47:40 +0000
DESCEMER BUENO & FRIENDS IN MIAMI Descemer Bueno - "Bueno" CD cover Attention Cuban music fans: Descemer Bueno is celebrating the release of his new CD "Bueno" with the event of the season! The concert, titled Descemer Bueno & Friends, will take place at 8:00pm October 19th at the Dade County Auditorium . Why do I say it will be the event of the season? Check out the list of artists! In addition to Descemer you have Jorge Villamizar, Kelvis Ochoa, Buena Fe and Omar Hernández Jr. plus special guests Haila and Baby Lores. Get your tickets to Descemer Bueno & Friends now!

The guest list reflects the new album on which Descemer collaborated with many of Cuba's most popular and innovative young artists. The CD is a Caribbean mix of alternative rock, ballads, boleros, salsa and bachata. "Lloro por ti", which he recorded with Alaín Daniel, is the only salsa track.

Track list: You can purchase "Bueno" now at iTunes. 

Track  Artist
Tus Luces Sobre Mí  Descemer Bueno
Quisiera Volver  Descemer Bueno & Baby Lores
Siete Días  Descemer Bueno & Kelvis Ochoa
Ser de Sol  Descemer Bueno & Israel Rojas
Cuando Me Enamoro  Descemer Bueno & Haila
Lloro por Ti  Descemer Bueno & Alain Daniel
Ciego Amor  Descemer Bueno & Gema Corredera
Tú y Yo  Descemer Bueno
Arenas de Soledad  Descemer Bueno & X Alfonso
Por Tu Amor  Descemer Bueno & Omar Hernández

For your viewing and listening pleasure, here is the groundbreaking video "Ser de sol"  that Descemer filmed with Buena Fe this summer.


Descemer Bueno & Buena Fe "Ser de sol"

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Thu, 11 Oct 2012 10:56:20 +0000
Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor Maykel Blanco - on the set of the video for Bembé Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor filming video clip for "Bembé"

On October 10, 2004, Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor had their very first performance at Casa de la Música Galiano. Their debut album, "Recoge y vete", released in 2006 made the band an overnight success on the international timba scene. In the summer of 2007 the Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor did their first European tour and it was a resounding success with audiences going wild. By the time the band released its second studio album, "Anda y pégate", in 2008, even the hard-to-please Havana audience was convinced that this band was here to stay. They commemorate their eight years with another concert at Casa de la Música Galiano soon. It was scheduled for October 13th, but for reasons beyond their control this concert has been cancelled. Check their Facebook page to see when the new date will be for the anniversaryy celebration.

To date Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor have released three studio CD, one live CD and a live DVD. They are on the verge of releasing their fourth studio CD this fall, having just returned  to Havana from an intense three-week stay in Lima. Here is a little video look at then and now.

First European Tour 2007 - Tour Montage

European Summer Tour 2012 - "Bembé" featuring Yordis

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Wed, 10 Oct 2012 01:48:24 +0000
Tiempo Libre Returns To The Midwest

One of our favorite US-based bands, Tiempo Libre, returns to the Midwest on October 20th, 2012 at 8pm in Elgin, Illinois for a performance with the Elgin Symphony plus a separate TImba dance set by themselves.  It looks like this may be as close as they get to Chicago this fall, so catch them while you can!  Click here for their webpage for the event!

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Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:21:55 +0000
Habana D' Primera confirmed at SOBs in New York Hello HDP fans....great news...the visas have been signed and approved. Lehman Center cancelled the November 9nth show but it has been replaced with 2 shows at Sounds of Brazil (S.O.B.s) in New York !!!  

For the Thursday, November 8th show, doors open at 7:30pm and the show is at 9pm.  For the Friday, November 9nth show, doors open at 11pm and the show is at 12 midnight.  Do not get confused....there is a Happy Hour show listed on the SOBs website for that same Friday the 9nth, but that is from 5 to 8pm. The HDP show is at MIDNIGHT.

Havana D' Primera @ SOBs nightclub in New York - November 8 & 9 - Cuban Music News - Noticas de musica cubana

The Saturday, November 10nth show immediately follows the SOBs dates with the addition of TIRSO DUARTE. 

Sabado, Nov. 10, 2012 / 8PM -- Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 8:00 PM
Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera
Invitado especial Tirso Duarte
(ex-vocalista de Charanga Habanera y Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso)

Teatro Park de Union City, NJ -- 888-584-3070 -- www.Tuboleta.net
Park Theatre 
560 32th Street, Union City, NJ 07087
Phone: (888) 584-3070 -- Website: www.Tuboleta.net

 

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Mon, 08 Oct 2012 20:24:02 +0000
Arturo Sandoval and Septeto Nacional de Cuba The Chicago Metro area had two exciting events this past weekend:

For Bill Tilford's review and photos of Arturo Sandoval's concert at Viper Alley,    click here

For special guest photographer Joshua Bennett's wonderful photos of the Septeto Nacional de Cuba concert at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago,   click here

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Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:27:46 +0000
More Monterey Jazz Photos from Tom Eddie Palmieri and José Claussell on timbales - photo by Tom Ehrlich

Tom has a new gallery from the first night of the Monterey Jazz Fest featuring Eddie P., Grégoire Maret, Jack DeJohnette and others.

Rebeca Mauleón's Lecture Series got off to an amazing start with Danilo Lozano, Orestes Vilató, Jesús Díaz and Abe Gamroyan. Incredibly interesting stuff. It continues every Wed. in October.

Martin Cohen is really on a roll, releasing super-high quality videos of New York's growing community of world class Cuban musicians. Iván Llanes, who came with Maraca on drums, turns out to be a great singer as well.

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Sun, 07 Oct 2012 19:47:17 +0000
Orquesta Pomo Medley Orquesta Pomo medley from Gröna Lund

Stockholm Salsa Summer 2012 officially came to an end with a concert by Orquesta Pomo on September 22nd at the last salsa night at Stockholm's amusment park Gröna Lund. Despite the chilly, rainy weather the dancers showed up and the dancefloor was packed. The 13-man band continues to impress with Celia Ferrer and Cristian Guerra on lead vocals and Cristina Pomo and Alexander Saltell on coros. They are tight, well rehearsed and have tailored the show to dancers. Bandleader and pianist Jonas Pomo has written most of the songs, although they do include a couple of covers that are real crowd pleasers.

Orquesta Pomo has put together a 4 minute montage from the concert, and we share it with you for your viewing and listening pleasure. And just when you think it's over, don't close your browser yet because there is a little recording of just the horns from the soundcheck and it is smokin'! You don't want to miss it! For pictures from the concert as well as the latest info on what is happening with the band check out the Orquesta Pomo Facebook page.

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Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:29:44 +0000
Changuito Comes to LA! Legendary percussionist Jose Luis Quintana (aka "Changuito") will be in the Los Angeles, California area from October 6-12 for a combination of classes and performances. including a guest appearance with the Haakon Graf All-Stars at The Baked Potato on Thursday, October 11. For more information including the full schedule, visit the following:
1. In Facebook: Log in to visit the page for   Legendary Master Cuban Percussionist "Changuito" in Los Angeles!
2.  On the Web:   Lucumiyque.com

As of this posting, some of the classes have already been filled, and some extra sessions have been added. 
For those of you who are quite young, Changuito is, quite simply,  one of the most important figures in modern Cuban percussion - here's Michelle's short profile.

Reminder: Arturo Sandoval's US Tour begins Friday, October 5 at 8PM at the Viper Alley in Lincolnshire, Illinois.  This comes on the heels of his 5 recent Latin GRAMMY nominations, four of which are for Dear Diz (Every Day I Think Of You) and one for Tango Como Yo Te Siento.   The following video includes some comments about Dear Diz by Arturo as well as some audio samples from the recording.
Click Here For More Details about the Viper Alley Performance October 5
Click Here For The Complete Tour Schedule

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Wed, 03 Oct 2012 08:27:22 +0000
Mambo!

Wednesday, Oct. 3, 7:00 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco

Rebeca Mauleón has a genius for - among other things - translating Cuban music concepts into simple, entertaining English, so the Bay Area is fired up about her new lecture series on Cuban Music. The first lecture, on mambo, features guest artists Orestes Vilató, Jesús Díaz and others. Later courses will feature Jimmy Branly, El Negro Hernández and a whole cast of other big names. Hopefully the whole 5-lecture series will be filmed and released as a DVD. There will be a new lecture with different guests every Wednesday in October. See you there! [Kevin Moore]

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Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:42:15 +0000
Fotopalooza! Peter Maiden files this photo-report on the recent Center for Latin Studies conference with Bill Martínez, Raúl Fernández and others.

BOOK NEWS: Peter has also written an excellent book, Media Workers for Social Changeavailable in softcover, Kindle, iPad and Nook.

MORE BOOK NEWS: Robert Fernández is working on an instructional book on playing three batás with one player, and, along with Luca Brandoli, on the first transcription of the arará version of the Oru seco.

MORE BOOKS NEWS: My tome for dancers and non-musicians keeps growing. Should be done in less than  a month. (And yes, that's what I said last month and the month before that.)

Now, on to the latest galleries, both on the Pedrito Martínez Group. Peter Maiden photographed them at Yoshi's, and Tom Ehrlich at the Monterey Jazz . Tom's earlier Yoshi's gallery is here. [Kevin Moore]

Pedrito Martínez Group at Monterey Jazz Fest  - photo by Tom Ehrlich (click for gallery)

Pedrito Martínez Group at Yoshi's Oakland - photo by Peter Maiden (click for gallery)

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Mon, 01 Oct 2012 21:44:32 +0000
RIP Paquito Hechavarría A Special Article from Walfedo de Los Reyes, Sr.

In Memoriam: Paquito Hechavarría

This is a page of Paquito's life that I would like to share with all his friends and family. We date back to the early 50s, when Paco would show up at the Parisien in the Nacional Hotel in Habana and sit in with  my band after concluding his work with La Orquesta Riverside. 

This young talent at the time would blow me away. His immense talent and feel was amazing. He had the schooling of Pedro "Peruchín" Justiz, of course, sometimes referring to himself as the "White Peruchín". Paco was just that.

We kept on playing together in the Cuban jazz club and other recordings and events. When I did my recording for Gema Records in 1956, it was Paquito on piano who came in and started feeding us ideas together with Cachao, Jesus Caunedo, Los Papines, Luis Escalante. Incredible to watch - his coffee always on the piano, his cigarette with an Eversharp holder, the typical jazz pianist in a jazz bar!!

When we moved to the U.S. in the early 60s, Paco made his home in Miami, where he had great success recording with everyone there. He was the man - many CDs with his own group, and of course, the famous piano solo on Gloria Estefan's "Conga", that no one has come close to matching. 

He left many good friends like Nelson Padrón, Tany Gil and more. He touched everyone's heart. His love for his children Frankie Felix, and Jennifer was unmatched, and they were always in his conversations, and how proud he was of them. 

In the 80s, we did a project for Tany Gil that was called "WAL-PA-TA-CA" - this was Walfredo, Paquito, Tany, and Cachao...amazing group, which I will never forget. 

Paco had a great love for the sport of judo, which he learned from Cuban drummer Daniel Pérez, an alumnus of Luis Guardia, 8th Dan who teaches in Miami. His goal was always to throw me down with an harai-goshi movement. P.S. He never did. Paco had a green belt.

This incredible talent has passed on, but to all who knew him he will always be in our hearts. Rest in peace, Paco, we will never forget you.

WALFREDO DE LOS REYES

 

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Sun, 30 Sep 2012 17:22:17 +0000
Pedrito Martínez at Yoshi's, Part 2

This is such an amazing band! Here's Tom's galllery from Yoshi's - more photos coming from Monterey Jazz Festival soon.

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Sun, 30 Sep 2012 05:03:50 +0000
Arturo Sandoval's Fall 2012 US Tour

Arturo Sandoval, who first came to our notice as a key figure in Cuba's legendary Irakere and as the leader of his own combo in Cuba, has since had an even more remarkable career in the United States (and worldwide) with 6 Grammy Awards (17 nominations), 6 Billboard awards, 1 Emmy and numerous recordings,  television appearances and film work to his credit (along with a long and successful teaching career).    He is about to start a multi-city US  tour schedule  with some of his best work yet (in this writer's opinion).  His most recent recordings, Dear Diz (Every Day I Think Of You)  and Tango Como Yo Te Siento currently have 5 Latin Grammy nominations between them (4 for Dear Diz and 1 for Tango).  We haven't picked up Tango yet, but we've been listening to Dear Diz for hours. 

The first tour date we have is at the Viper Alley in Lincolnshire, Illinois, on Friday, October 5 at 8pm.   The club is a little north of the city of Chicago,  about 45 minutes from Chicago's loop and a little more than an hour from downtown Milwaukee.   This venue just opened in 2011, and we saw Arturo do a great show there last year.  We look forward to this week's appearance as well.

Dear Diz was a special recording for Arturo because Dizzy Gillespie was a key figure in his life and career.  We spoke with Arturo by telephone on Tuesday while he was in Miami working on a new film soundtrack and about to leave for a few days in Lebanon.  Unfortunately, the quality of the telephone connection was too poor for us to share audio here, but we will mention that he is very excited about Viper Alley performance and the rest of the upcoming tour, and he will be bringing his regular touring band including Zane Musa, the phenomenal saxophonist who also shined through in Dear Diz.   He also mentioned during our conversation that the Viper Alley performance will include some selections from Dear Diz but probably not from Tango because that second project used some key personnel that won't be on this tour.

In lieu of our sharing the poor audio from our own conversation, we are going to direct you to an interview Arturo did with Guy Raz for NPR's All Things Considered in May 2012.  He talks about his introduction to Dizzy Gillespie and what followed from that first meeting.

To go to the NPR website to hear Arturo on All Things Considered in May 2012, click here. 

Click here for the schedule for the rest of the Fall 2012 US Tour. 
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Sat, 29 Sep 2012 20:33:25 +0000
Tirso Duarte Invites You to Union City, New Jersey

Don't believe the naysayers. There is no raining on THIS parade. The visas are in place and We Want TIMBA! Now that we are waiting for official confirmation that Los Van Van is cancelled at the Lehman Center we are anxiously expecting Havana D' Primera and Tirso. To ease our concerns here's a new video salute by Tirso inviting us to the special concert with Alexander Abreu y Havana D' Primera. 

Para boletos oprima aquí = http://goo.gl/qxfNp = Click here for tickets

Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera en Concierto, Invitado Tirso Duarte 
Tirso Duarte , ex-vocalista de Charanga Habanera y Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso

Saturday / Sabado, Nov. 10, 2012 / 8PM
Park Theatre - 560 32th Street - Union City, NJ 07087

Havana D' Primera with Tirso Duarte - Park Theater, New Jersey - November 10, 2012If you live in New York and you want to purchase a hard copy ticket, please email Victoria-Hadar at  h_h_v [at] yahoo [dot] com

Victoria-Hadar is unique to the New York and New Jersey latin dance scene. She has specialized in Latin dancing for over 18 years and has learned to dance with top teachers in Europe and Cuba – including with the Cuban national dance company Ban Rra Rra. She currently teaches cuban dance classes in both NY and NJ.

Tirso Duarte el que se escucha en todas partes.
Vaya Tirso y Alexander los esperamos con mucha ansiedad !!

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Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:45:26 +0000
SEPTETO NACIONAL IGNACIO PINEIRO Septeto Nacional

Formed in 1927 by Ignacio Periero, Sepeto Nacional has been bringing Cuban son to international audiences for more than 85 years. In 2010 they released the CD "Sin rumba no hay son" to rave reviews. This is the genuine article so don't miss them! They are currently touring Mexico and will be playing in California, Minnesota, Arizona, Illinois and Virgina in October. Click here for the current list of dates and venues we have for the band.

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Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:02:19 +0000
2012 LATIN GRAMMY NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED Cuban music in the 2012 Latin Grammys! - Cuban music news - Noticias de musica cubanaCuban music in the 2012 Latin Grammys! -- Los Van Van secured a nomination in the "Best Contemporary Tropcial Album" category with their recent album "La Maquinaria". This was surprising for timba fans as that release was received with mixed results. It competed with plenty of strong material but the news is a welcome addition.   

Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval also scored various nominations. His Latin Jazz album "Dear Diz (Every Day I Think Of You)" is listed in the Album of the Year, Best Latin Jazz Album, and Best Engineered Album. 

Other nominees listed included..
- Best Traditional Tropical = Eliades Ochoa " Un Bolero Para Ti "
- Best Traditional Tropical = Miguel García " Guarachando "
- Best Salsa Album = Mambo Legends Orchestra " Watch Out - Ten Cuidado "
- Best Latin Jazz = Jerry González y El Comando de la Clave (self-titled)
* is Alaín Pérez on the record?
- Song Of The Year = Amaury Guitiérrez & Gian Marco " Invisible "
- Best Instrumental Album = Paquito D' Rivera & Berta Rojas " Rasgando Seda "
- Best Latin Jazz = Chuchito Valdés "Live In Chicago "
- Best Classical Contemporary Composition = Yalil Guerra & Elizabeth Rebozo " Seducción "

** Update - also nominated for Best Contemporary Tropical Album is Elaín (of the Cuban Timba All-Stars) with his album " Volando Alto - Made On The Road "

Good luck to all the nominees !!!!!! Buena suerte.

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Tue, 25 Sep 2012 16:22:28 +0000
Sneak Preview: Innovation by The Music Connection

This won't be released for a few more weeks yet, but Rafael Monteagudo, leader of The Music Connection, was kind enough to give us a sneak preview of the debut CD Innovation, which will soon join the ranks of the best new Latin Jazz releases to come out of New York (or anywhere else) this year.  To read our review in English, click here.

Esto no se será lanzado hasta que unas semanas más han pasado, pero Rafael Monteagudo, lider de The Music Connection, tuvo la amabilidad de darnos un preestreno de su debut CD Innovation, que pronto se unirá a las filas de los mejores estrenos de Latin Jazz desde Nueva York (o cualquier otro lugar) este año.   Para leer nuestra reseña en español haga clic aquí.

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Sun, 23 Sep 2012 14:42:58 +0000
Incredible! No time for a full post, but get to Monterey Jazz tonight at 8:00 tonight if you can !!!
This is an astounding group. Yoshi's was sold out and minds were blown.  [Kevin Moore]

Pedro Martinez Group - Yoshi's Oakland - Cuban Music News - Noticias de musica cubanaPhoto by Tom Ehrlich

Pedro Martinez Group - Yoshi's Oakland - Cuban Music News - Noticias de musica cubanaPhoto by Peter Maiden

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Fri, 21 Sep 2012 19:20:06 +0000
Pedrito Martínez Group Tonight!                                                                     photo by Tom Ehrllich

This is really the most exciting timba development ever to come out of the U.S. It's timba - all timba - but it's a timba conjunto - it's got all the fire and great songs and great piano tumbaos and gear changes of timba but only about half as loud - so you can hear all the nuances. The only metal percussion is the bongosero's hand bell. Pedrito plays congas and cajón (playing kick drum parts) and all four members singing brilliantly. They're at Yoshi's Oakland tonight and the Monterey Jazz Fest on Friday. if you're on a budget (who isn't) it's a mere $15 for the whole night at Yoshis. This is the one, people. Don't miss it. VIDEO HERE. [Kevin Moore]

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Thu, 20 Sep 2012 03:04:35 +0000
Maykel Blanco Update Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor

Maykel Blanco has recently started a Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor Band page at Facebook where fans can keep up with all the latest information on what Maykel y los Mayores are up to. Go in and dale like so you can get all the important updates! Maykel has also uploaded a sneak preview of the video for the hit "Bembe", sung by Yordis, to YouTube.

Currently Maykel, Yordis and Yasser are in Lima, Peru where they will spend the rest of the month performing concerts around the city. There was some problem with the tickets for the rest of the band so they will be performing the first few concerts wth Timcuba as the backing band. According to Maykel's latest post the rest of the band will be there for concerts starting this week.

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Sun, 16 Sep 2012 21:04:46 +0000
Reviews: Arturo Sandoval; Poncho Sanchez

Arturo Sandoval and Poncho Sanchez have both released tributes to Dizzy Gillespie during the past year.  Both are excellent recordings.  Arturo's recording is a spectacular Jazz album, and Poncho's recording is an excellent dance album.  To read our reviews of both in English, click here.

Note that Arturo will be performing at the Viper Alley in Lincolnshire, Illinois on Friday, October 5!

Arturo Sandoval y Poncho Sanchez han lanzado homenajes a Dizzy Gillespie durante el último año.  Ambos son grabaciones excelentes.  El proyecto de Arturo es un álbum de Jazz espectacular, y la grabación de Poncho es un disco bailable excelente.  Para leer las reseñas de ambos en español,  haga clic aquí.

¡Tenga en cuenta que Arturo se estará presentando en Viper Alley en Lincolnshire, Illinois el viernes, 5 de Octubre!

 

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Sun, 16 Sep 2012 15:50:58 +0000
Tom's Photos of Yoshi's 40th Anniversary John Santos and the legendary Orestes Vilató with the John Santos Sextet

Tom's latest gallery features Leyder Chapman's Dos 4, with Colin Douglas on drums and the John Santos Sextet with Orestes Vilató, Kenny Washington and John Calloway.

The incredible timba conjunto, The Pedrito Martínez Group, will be at Yoshi's Oakland on Thursday, Sept. 20th and at the Monterey Jazz Festival Sept. 21st.

Book News: If you're into Afro-Cuban folkloric music, Luca Brandoli's 11 books and 7 CDs are truly amazing. Each book/CD volume teaches you about 50 songs, first with a bell so you know exactly where "1" is and then with an exquisitely recorded batá ensemble. The singing is sublime and the educational method is a godsend. The perfect combination.

As for me, I'm still slaving away at my book for non-musicians. It keeps getting longer so I can't even predict when I'll be done.

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Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:02:04 +0000
Concert Report - Buena Fe @ Latinoamericando Buena Fe at the Latinoamericando Festival in Milan, Italy 2012

On 18 August 2012 I finally attended a concert by a band I have been following for 10 years. Buena Fe had their Italian debut at the Latinoamericando festival, Europe's most important festival for the popular music of Latin America. Buena Fe is arguably Cuba's premier pop-rock group and their following extends throughout Latin and North America and Europe. They have a devoted fan base, including myself, which continues to grow around the world despite Cuba's lack of industrial and economic machinery to promote their artists outside their borders.

I have written a concert report with a little behind-the-scenes info including photos and video. I know that like me, many timba fans are also fans of Buena Fe. And without knowing it, some of you have heard songs written by Buena Fe's director, composer and lead singer, Israel Rojas, who has written for Boni & Kelly and who composed the hit "Mi mujer y mi ex" for Pedrito Calvo.

For those of you who are hearing the name Buena Fe for the first time, I have also made an entire Buena Fe section with history, discography, a list of bandmembers, photos, videos and my concert report Part 1 and Part 2. Take a little time to get to know these guys. You'll be glad you did. There are also links to their very well-maintained internet sites so you can follow them closely yourself.

Buena Fe's music is a mix of trova-style intelligent, beautiful lyrics set to contemporary pop-rock arrangements and liberally infused with traditional Cuban and Caribbean genres in the best spirit of Cuban musical experimentation. They have remained at the top of the music and video charts for 11 years since releasing their first CD "Déjame entrar" in 2001. Their albums consistenly win at Cubadisco and their videos are always in the top lists. In 2008 they performed at Plaza de la Revoución for a crowd of 300 000 fans. This concert was captured on DVD/CD by filmmaker Ian Padrón and also won a Cubadisco award. It seems that whatever these two guajiros from Guantanamo touch turns to gold. So without further ado I turn you over to the concert report and the rest of the Buena Fe section.

You can keep up with everything the band is doing by checking these sites regularly.
buenafemusica.com 
BUENA FE (PAGINA OFICIAL) @ Facebook 
Israel Rojas @ Twitter 
BuenaFeMusica @ YouTube

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Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:54:09 +0000
News About Cuban Jazz in the US Chuchito Valdes, Jerry Gonzalez y El Comando de la Clave, Afro Cuban Jazz Project
Also:  Pacific Mambo Orchestra
(English/Español)

Laura Sosa , Director of DClivemusic.com and singer in the Washington DC area, interviewed pianist and bandleader Chuchito Valdes during his recent trip to Washington.   Thank you Laura for sharing this interview with us (in Spanish):

Laura Sosa , Director de DClivemusic.com y cantante en el área de Washington DC, se entrevistó con Chuchito Valdés , pianista y director de orquesta, durante su reciente viaje a Washingon.   Gracias Laura por compartir esta entrevista con nosotros (en español).   

El Comando de la Clave is a project featuring four musicians now working in Madrid:  Jerry González, Alaín Pérez, Kiki Ferrer and Javier Massó.   We saw them live recently at the Mayne Stage in Chicago.   Click here to see our pictures and review .   

El Comando de la Clave
es un proyecto con cuatro músicos que trabajan hoy en día en Madrid: Jerry González, Alain Pérez, Kiki Ferrer y Javier Massó,  Los vimos recientemente en el Mayne Stage en Chicago.  Haga clic aquí para ver nuestras fotos y reseña .

Years ago, when this writer was in Los Angeles, California for a while, he had the pleasure of seeing "Long John" Oliva's AC Timba Jazz Project at a club called the Baked Potato.  That band had amazing musicians and great potential, but Long John died prematurely before it could be fully realized.  Recently, a new incarnation of that project, the Afro Cuban Jazz Project , has appeared on the scene  in LA.. This new group also has a very impressive roster: Fermin Sifontes, Luis Eric Gonzalez, Sawa Perez, Jimmy Branly, Joel Nuñez, Joey De Leon, Alberto Tomayo and guest artist Josiel Perez .  We will be watching the progress of this new group with great interest.  Click here to see their Reverbnation page, which includes audio and video clips.

Hace años, cuando el escritor se encontraba en Los Angeles, California, por un rato, tuvo el pacer de ver el " Long John Oliva's AC Timba Jazz Project" en un club llamado The Baked Potato.   Ese grupo tenía músicos increíbles y un gran potencial, pero "Long John" murió prematuramente antes de que pudiera relizarse plenamente.    Recientemente, una nueva encarnación de ese proyecto, el Afro Cuban Jazz Project , Ha aparecido en la escena de LA. Este nuevo grupo también cunta con una lista muy impresionante:  Fermin Sifontes, Luis Eric González,  Jorge "Sawa" Pérez, Jimmy Branly, Joel Nuñez, Joey De León, Alberto Tamayo y artista invitado Josiel Pérez.   Estaremos viendo el progreso de este grupo con gran interés. Haga clic aquí para ver su página de Reverbnation, que incluye clips de audio y video.

The Mambo has returned for real.  A  new and exciting big band, the Pacific Mambo Orchestra , is establishing a presence in California, and it is just a matter of time before it receives much wider recognition as well.   Click here to read our review of their soon-to-be released debut CD in English. 

El Mambo ha vuelto de verdad.  Una gran orquesta nueva y emocionante, el Pacific Mambo Orchestra, está estableciendo una presencia en California, y es sólo una cuestión de tiempo antes de que reciba la atención más amplia también.  
Haga clic aquí para leer nuestra reseña de su anticipado CD, que será lanzado en Octubre, en ingles. 

Finally, we are listening - and listening - to a soon to be released recording by Rafael Monteagudo and The Music Connection called Innovation .  Whatever they are drinking in New York, we want a bottle of it, because this new Jazz recording is yet another truly excellent release from there.  We'll review it here very soon. 

Por último, estamos escuchando - y escuchando - a una grabación que pronto será lanzado por Rafael Monteagudo y The Music Connection llamado Innovation . Lo que sea que ellos están bebiendo en Nueva York, queremos una botella de la misma, porque esta grabación nueva Jazz es otro lanzamiento realmente excelente desde allí.  Vamos a reseñarlo aquí muy pronto.   

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Mon, 10 Sep 2012 14:53:07 +0000
MAYKEL BLANCO EN PERÚ Maykel Blanco

Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor will be performing in Lima, Peru from September 12 through September 30. We have updated their tours page with all the dates and times of the Peru tour September 2012. They have a busy schedule so check it out and find a date that works for you!

Yordis singing "Bembe"

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Sun, 09 Sep 2012 16:05:02 +0000
Tom's San José Jazz Gallery #4 This is the final gallery from the 2012 SJ Jazz. Next up for the Bay Area is Pedrito Martínez at Yoshi's Oakland on September 20th

Sukary Valverde, Félix Samuel, Erick Barbería of Team Bahía

Book News: Don Skoog's Bata Drumming: The Oru Seco isn't new, but I was just re-reading it and it's Incredibly good. The first half is genuinely poetic history of AfroCuban folkloric music and the second half is a meticulous transcription of the Oru Seco.

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Thu, 06 Sep 2012 04:24:37 +0000
Havana d'Primera's Pasaporte is out in Wide Release! Pasaporte

The long awaited second Havana d'Primera CD is on Amazon and iTunes all over the world. What are you waiting for?

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Mon, 03 Sep 2012 14:28:23 +0000
San José Jazz, Part III Wayne Henderson

The penultimate installment of Tom's SJ Jazz series has a long list of bands including The Jazz Crusaders, Mazacote, Avance and Kat Parra. More coming soon.

BOOK NEWS: Jon Griffin, author of Tres Cubano, has published a volume of his Cuban Masters Series on the great pianist Emilio Morales, of Opus 13, Paulito FG and NG La Banda.

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Sun, 02 Sep 2012 03:24:46 +0000
Concert Report - Manolito y su Trabuco Manolito y su TrabucoManolito y su Trabuco anno 2012

On August 16, 2012 I flew to Gothenburg on the west coast of Sweden to see Manolito y su Trabuco at the city's annual festival Kulturkalaset. This is the band that first got me to listen to timba, so the Trabuco has a special place in my heart. I had not seen the band since December 2007, so nearly five years had passed. The last concert I had seen was El Noro's second concert with El Trabuco after the departure of El Indio. Since then El Noro left for Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Pepitín entered, and then Pepitín left to be replaced by Iván Rodríguez. Also Miguelito "Pan con salsa" had left and been replaced by Andy Acosta. So it was with some excitement that I set up my new camera on my unipod ready to see what the latest version of the Trabuco had to offer. Click here to read the full concert report including five video clips!

Click here for a small gallery of photos from the concert.

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Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:23:35 +0000
Charles Flores Has Passed Away Charles FloresPhoto courtesy of Charles Flores homepage

It is with a heavy heart that we must report that Latin music has suffered another great loss with the passing of bassist Charles Flores. While he may be best known to timberos as the bassist for Issac in the early days, recording on the CDs "Con Ganas",  "El Chévere de la Salsa y el Caballero de Son" and "El año que viene" among others, he is best known to the world for his work as a jazz bassist, performing with artists such as Bobby Carcasses, Paquito D'Rivera, and Arturo Sandoval among many, many others. Charles joined the Michel Camilo Trio in 2002 with whom he won a Grammy in 2004.

Charles has lost his battle with cancer, leaving behind a world of saddened and stunned friends and musicians. The news is all over Facebook where his peers have commented that he was as great a human being as a musician. Timba.com offer our condolences to his loved ones, and what better way to honor him than with a little sample of his work. Rest In Peace Charles.


Michel Camilo, Chrles Flores & Dafnis Prieto

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Fri, 24 Aug 2012 17:34:00 +0000
Mayimbe Fall Tour Europe Barbaro Fines y Mayimbe Europe Fall 2012

Only six months after their first European tour, Barbaro Fines y Mayimbe will be back by popular demand for their second European tour , October 18-November 26! The band has been working on new songs, such as "Salsa y timba...que no hay más na'", a song about the music program Salsa y Timba. This tour will take them to Spain, Italy, France, Belgiim, Germany, Serbia and Martinique! So get ready for Barbaro Fines y Mayimbe: De La Habana a Perú y al mundo!

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Fri, 24 Aug 2012 05:18:48 +0000
Latin Jazz and the Latin Grammys This was an absolutely wonderful year for output from Latin Jazz artists globally, and for a time, when it appeared that Latin Jazz would no longer be recognized as a distinct category in the regular Grammy awards, recognition of a Latin Jazz recording in the Latin Grammys was about to assume even greater significance than it already has.   Even with the restoration of a distinct category in the regular Grammy awards, the Jazz community is looking at the Latin Grammys with a reinvigorated awareness of their importance.    Since we are, at our core, a Cuban music website, we aren't going to go into detail about the wonderful recordings that came out by Brasilian, Argentine or other artists this past year, but we will mention that there were several that are worthy of attention by any serious Jazz aficionado. 

The following are recordings released in this award cycle that we feel deserve serious consideration in the Latin Grammy process and were either made by Cubans based in Cuba or led by important Cuban-American artists:

I.  Cuban artists based in Cuba

ALUCINACIONES - Rolando Luna
EL PAÍS DE LAS MARAVILLAS - Harold Lopez-Nussa Trio
REENCUENTROS, LIVE AT THE GRAND THEATER OF HAVANA - Maraca & His Latin Jazz All Stars
SAX Y PIMIENTA - Habana Sax


All four of these are wonderful, and so far we have reviewed two of them here:

Click here for our review of El País de las Maravillas

Click here for our review of Reencuentros

II. Cuban-American artists as leaders

DEAR DIZ (EVERY DAY I THINK OF YOU) - Arturo Sandoval
LIVE IN CHICAGO - Chuchito Valdes
THE OTHER SIDE OF ME - Chuchito Valdes
NESAMAH - Hilario Bell
NEW CUBAN EXPRESS- Manuel Valera

Again, all wonderful recordings, so far we have reviewed New Cuban Express:

Click here for our review of New Cuban Express

There is so much great music here that we aren't going to attempt to anoint an individual favorite, but we will state that if technical virtuosity, personal composition by the artist AND breaking new ground were all considered equally important, New Cuban Express deserves an especially close look.   El Pais de las Maravillas and Reencuentros also stand out on both the performance and songwriting fronts.  All of the recordings mentioned above are beautiful.  

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We're mentioning this separately because the buzz is that it may be under consideration in multiple categories, but Angel d'Cuba, who performed with several groups including Mezcla in Cuba and now leads a group in Chicago under his own name, released his debut album Heritage during this cycle, and this recording deserves consideration as well. In the interests of full disclosure, we need to mention that Bill Tilford liked this eclectic world music project (which does include some Cuban tracks among its other offerings)  well enough to write liner notes for it.    
Read more about the recording here

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Thu, 23 Aug 2012 02:20:19 +0000
Early Latin Grammy Buzz for Cuban Music The first round of the 2012 Latin Grammys offers a variety of Cuban music for your consideration. These entries are posted for informational and consideration purposes only, as we believe it's important to highlight the steady inroads Cuban music is making into the industry amid plenty of market resistance. The one very key point to understand about the Grammys is that it is not driven by sales, only by the votes of its private, professional members. So no matter how many copies a record sold, if it gathers enough artistic accolades and merits, it is likely to be nominated. Here are the following first round entries to consider:

Best Salsa / Mejor Salsa
TIENE QUE SER MANOLÍN - Manolín "Él Médico dela Salsa"
TODO ES POSIBLE - Will Campa y su Orquesta
MALA - Haila María Monpié
RETRO - Marlow Rosado y la Riqueña (feat. Marlón Fernández)

Best Contemporary Tropical / Mejor Álbum Contemporaneo Tropical
LA MAQUINARIA - Juan Formell y los Van Van
ACABAÍTO DE NACER - David Calzado y Su Charanga Habanera 
MIS 22 AÑOS - José Luis Cortés y NG la Banda
SIEMPRE PUPY - Pupy y los que Son Son

Best Tradicional / Mejor Álbum Tradicional Tropical
UN BOLERO PARA TÍ - Eliades Ochoa
CUBANO SOY - Raúl Lara
DAYSI CELIA Y SU NOTA - Daysi Celia

Best Tropical Fusión / Mejor älbum de Fusión Trpical
TIMBA PA' TO EL MUNDO - Timbalive

**Full disclosure...
I personally mastered a few entries in consideration = http://latinmusicmastering.com
CUBANO SOY - Raúl Lara  
- Best Traditional (Mejor Álbum Tradicional) / Best Engineered (Mejor Ingeniería)
A TODO RITMO - Sergio Bonafonte
- Best Tropical Fusion  (Mejor Fusión Tropical) / Best Engineered (Mejor Ingeniería) 
THE PROJECT (DELUXE) - M.D. Machito Diferente
- Best Urban (Mejor Disco Urbano) / Best New Artist / Best Engineered (Mejor Ingeniería) 
RETRO - Marlow Rosado y la Riqueña
- Album of the Year / Best New Artist / Best Salsa / Best Engineered / Best Short Form Video

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Thu, 23 Aug 2012 02:19:54 +0000
More Tom Ehrlich Galleries Click here for two galleries on Bay Area favorites, Avance, and the Lula Washington Dance Theatre

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Wed, 22 Aug 2012 04:05:56 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Wil Campa Photos

Click here for the full gallery. Next up Seattle on the 24th. Click here for details.

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Sun, 19 Aug 2012 17:59:20 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Pacific Mambo Orchestra Fotos Click here for Tom's PMO gallery from Friday night as the SJ Jazz. Wil Campa photos still to come. In other Bay Area news, John Santos' lecture series on Puerto Rican music continues on Wednesday nights at MoAD and Jerry and Andy González will be at Herbst Theater on October 18th as part of the SF Jazz. Melón and Buika at the same venue on November 16th. Book News: nada ... it just keeps getting longer and longer.

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Sat, 18 Aug 2012 04:51:59 +0000
Two New Peter Maiden Galleries Peter has added two great new galleries from this weekend's San José Jazz Festival:

Wil Campa y su Gran Unión

Pacific Mambo Orchestra

 

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Mon, 13 Aug 2012 01:49:58 +0000
Wil Campa Rocks SJ Jazz

Photo by Peter Maiden - galleries from Peter and Tom Ehrlich are forthcoming. 

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Sat, 11 Aug 2012 04:55:44 +0000
Havana D Primera prepares for US Tour 2012 A new Cuban music festival has been announced in New York. E.E.G. presents the 1er Festival del Son, La Rumba y La Timba: the best of the Cuban music direct from Havana, Cuba. It features the official New York City debut of Alexander Abreu & Havana D' Primera. Also...
- from Irakere, Grammy Winner Oscar Valdes (with his jazz trio - first time on US soil since 1976)
- from Los Van Van, Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso and Pedrito Calvo
- the legendary " Los Papines " (rumba group) 
- Timba sensation Tirso Duarte with La Bolá (New York Timba group).

1er Festival Del Son, La Rumba & Timba -- Friday, November 09, 2012 at 8:00 PM
Lehman Center -- 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West
Bronx, NY 10468 -- Phone: (888) 584-3070
click here for tickets

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Thu, 09 Aug 2012 01:38:24 +0000
Issac Delgado Brings It To Chicago Issac Delgado's performance was the climax of Festival Cubano in Chicago, an event that helped prove that Chicagoans are becoming more openly Timba-friendly as they get to know the music better. Read all about it and see our photo gallery by clicking HERE. 

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Wed, 08 Aug 2012 11:07:08 +0000
Another Wil Campa Gallery from Tom

Click here for the full gallery. Wil Campa plays again on Friday at the SJ Jazz Festival.

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Mon, 06 Aug 2012 00:32:20 +0000
FELICIDADES FORMELL! Timba.com wants to join Cuban music fans and timberos around the world in wishing Juan Formell a very happy 70th birthday! It is hard to overestimate the importance of the role that Formell had in the development of modern Cuban popular dance music. To refresh your memory check our Los Van Van section, which contains an extensive discography as well as historical articles about Formell and his collaboration with fellow legends Changuito and César "Pupy" Pedroso. Here is a video look back at the early days with a 1974 performance of the changüí "El guararey de Pastora" followed by "La maquinaria" the title track from Van Van's 2011 CD. Felicidades Formell! We are looking forward to seeing what you do in the next 70 years!

Guararey de Pastora - 1974

La maquinaria - 2011

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Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:59:28 +0000
Bay Area Big Band Bonanza Afro-Cuban and tropical music styles are highly featured in the upcoming barrage of Bay Area big band performances, one that includes special concerts by and the Pacific Mambo Orchestra and Marlow Rosado y La Riqueña.

Pacific mambo Orcjestra - self-titled debut album - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubanaThe Pacific Mambo Orchestra is a (19) nineteen-piece Latin Salsa Big Band formed by trumpeter Steffen Kuehn and pianist Christian Tumalan (both experienced bandleaders in their own right), to bring back and build upon the great Latin big band sounds of the 1940s through 1960s. P.M.O. plays the music of Latin giants such as Machito, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz and many others, along with their own contemporary and original arrangements. The group’s instrumentation consists of 4 Trumpets, 4 Trombones, 5 Saxophones, Piano, Bass, Timbales, Congas, Bongos plus guest vocalists.

The Pacific Mambo Orchestra will be performing at the San José Jazz Festival, Friday, August 10 at 6:30pm, at the Kaiser Permanente Salsa Stage (click here for more details). For those that attend, there will be a special announcement from this Bay Area supergroup regarding their upcoming, self-titled debut album (click on the album cover to view it in a larger size).

The album is in progress and we've got the scoop on the track list and featured guests:
1) PMO Intro - 2) El Cantante - 3) Overjoyed - 4) La Ambición - 5) Cuando estoy Contigo - 6) Mr. 5.0 - 7) Bolero Cócomo - 8) Muévete Con Prisa - 9) Querer Como ayer - 10) Bolero Cócomo (Instrumental). Featured guests include Karl Perazzo, Willy Torres, Carlos Cascante, Kenny Washington, Ray Obiedo and Tommy Igoe. Latin Jazz collector's take note and stay tuned!

The next concert highlight takes place Wednesday, August 15, 8pm, at Yoshi's San Francisco, with Miami's hard-hittin salsa dura band Marlow Rosado y La Riqueña. In support of their new album, RETRO, the band and record are a new homaje to the classic salsa sounds of the 1970's. RETRO has been touted as a "major DJ alert" with it's "army of salsa greats and killer dance-club ready tracks that throw fireballs left and right" by the editors of Descarga.com. Click here for Bill Tilford's full CD Review of RETRO.

Marlow Rosado y la Riqueña - Wednesday, August 15 2012 - Yoshi's San Francisco - Salsa Dura & Latin JazzMarlow comments: "I think our industry suffers from very few releases from orchestras (bands as opposed to individual artists). I hope this album works up an appetite for the "roots style sounds" that that we are used to hearing. This production is full of energy, with modern sound production and new arrangements, but each songs is a theme that reflects the core of "salsa dura" (heavy sauce). This record is part Eddie Palmieri y la Perfecta, Papo Lucca and La Sonora Ponceña, Raphy Levitt and La Selecta, Willie Rosario and His Orchestra, Los Hermanos Lebron....and all the other great orchestras right through the years that delivered strong and original music. This new album carry the title "Retro" because it's a throw-back and homage to a decade that all salseros and salseras remembers with real nostalgia, and for the new enthusiasts of the genre, it's a great opportunity to explore the works of the masters that have been crowned as the pillars of our Latin sound. See you at Yoshi's (click here for tickets). 

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Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:32:40 +0000
New Timbalive Single: Estoy Como Que Loco

Timbalive, one of the best US-based Timba groups,  has just released a new single, Estoy Como Que Loco, which is available on I-Tunes. We listened to it earlier this week, and it's worth having.   As with many Timbalive numbers, it opens with some fusion passages  early on and then settles into a solid Timba groove for the rest of the song.  You can find it at
 http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/estoy-como-que-loco-single/id546686441

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Wed, 01 Aug 2012 07:32:53 +0000
Orquesta Pomo En Vivo Orquesta Pomo has uploaded some video clips from their June 30th concert at Kägelbanen in Stockholm. Check it out and see what all the fuss is about!

Mi nena - Cristian Guerra on lead vocals

Vuelve - Cecilia Ferrer on lead vocals

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Tue, 31 Jul 2012 10:59:54 +0000
Wil Campa Blows the Roof Off Yoshi's Yoshi and Wil despeloteándose

Wil Campa y su Gran Unión really tore it up at Yoshi's last weekend. Here's Tom Ehrlich's full gallery.  It was a combination of years of rehearsing together, excellent vocal and brass intonation and phrasing, really professional arrangements and ANDRÉS MIRANDA - a truly amazing conguero with a groove that you could drive a truck through. The band will be in and around the Bay Area until their performance at the SJ Jazz a week from Friday. Then it's on to the Conga Room in LA on the 11th, Seattle the 24th and NY's SOB's the 31st. If you're in the market to take a lesson from one of these monsters, drop me an email and I'll try to hook you up. The San José festival also features the Bay Area's own Team Bahía on Sunday. Book News: Any week now my book for non-musicians and complete beginners will be done, knock on wood. [Kevin Moore]

                                             The Man - Andrés "Negrón" Miranda

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Tue, 31 Jul 2012 02:56:11 +0000
Coming to Chicago: Issac Delgado Issac Delgado is scheduled to appear  in Chicago Illinois as the closing act on August 5, 2012 for the 3rd Annual Festival Cubano, which takes place Saturday, August 4 and Sunday, August 5. Issac has been around for a while, so those of you who know his work may be wondering what he sounds like these days.  Well, thanks to Michelle White, here's a taste from a live concert in Denmark earlier this year...

     
 and......

  
Now, as we said, this is a two-day festival chock full of a wide spectrum of talent from the traditional to the current. For complete information about the festival, visit the website at http://thecubanfestival.com/

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Sat, 28 Jul 2012 23:34:22 +0000
Wil Campa y su Gran Unión [UPDATE 2X] Saturday Updates: Yikes - this band is ridiculously tight - they make even the best Cuban bands sound unrehearsed. And you really have to see Negrón on congas. Back tonight for another two shows. Check for Tom's photos soon. [Kevin Moore]

Update 2: Dany Lozada at  Shango in Patterson NJ TONIGHT (862 600 1958): 

Original Post: Here they are at Stern Grove earlier this summer. Click here for tickets.

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Wed, 25 Jul 2012 19:47:38 +0000
Second Helping: Los Hermanos Arango Live at Berklee In February 2012, Los Hermanos Arango appeared live at the Berklee Performance Center in a killer concert that was streamed globally on Berklee's website.  For those of you who missed that as well as those who saw it but want a second helping, the Berklee Interdisciplanary Arts Institute's YouTube Channel later posted five video clips from that concert.   This one, El Barracon, is a must-see...

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Tue, 24 Jul 2012 23:35:04 +0000
Peter Maiden's Escovedo Family Photos

Click here for Peter's gallery and extensive concert report and history of one of the Bay Area's most famous musical families. 

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: Wil Campa y su Gran Unión at Yoshi's SF. See you there!

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Tue, 24 Jul 2012 17:22:17 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Tiempo Libre Photos

Tiempo LIbre played with the San Francisco Symphony Sunday in historic and picturesque Dolores Park. Surprisingly, their kilted killer bassist Tony "Tebelio" Fonte was replaced by Wilbur "Wilvi" Rodríguez (ex-Carlos Manuel, Ntaya). We're trying to find out if the change is permanent or temporary. Click here for the rest of Tom's photos

Wil Campa y su Gran Unión at Yoshi's SF Friday and Saturday. This is as tight a timba band as you'll ever hear, with almost no personnel changes for over 5 years, all members living and rehearsing in Havana and the mind-bogglingly great conguero Andrés "Negrón" Miranda, of Issac and Irakere fame. More on these shows soon.

Coming very soon: Peter Maiden's gallery/concert report on the recent Escovedo family reunion concert.

Book News: I'm getting close to finished Beyond Salsa Percussion, Volume 1: Latin Rhythms for Listeners, Dancers and Beginning Drummers. It's already over 200 pages with a long historical listening tour, so this should be a good one for people who don't play an instrument but want to get deeper into scene. [Kevin Moore]

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Tue, 24 Jul 2012 03:21:33 +0000
PREMIOS LUCAS OPENS WEB SITE Premios Lucas

Good news for Cuban music fans: Los Premios Lucas or Lucas Awards in inglés, has just launched a homepage! If you are not familiar with the Lucas Awards, they are Cuba's annual award show for music video. Founded in 1995 and held under various names during the early years before finally being named Lucas, the program presents the best in Cuban music video ranked on a weekly basis. Each year around November there is an award ceremony for the best videos of the year. Over time Lucas has grown from an awards show to a festival of Cuban music video. It is a true gala event including live concerts. The Lucasnómetro allows fans to comment on their favorite videos, making the awards a genuine reflection of the preferences of the Cuban people.

For those of us outside of Cuba, the only way to follow Cuban music video has been via Cubavision and YouTube, but with the launch of the new Lucas website, we can all easily keep up-to-date with the latest videos. Number 1 right now is Bailando by Yuly y Habana C, Buena Fe & Descemer Bueno are Best Debut with Ser de sol debuting at Number 8 and Havana D'Primera has had the Biggest Jump with Al final de la vida at Number 4. There is also a section where you can watch the winners from the 2011 Lucas awards. Go check it out!

Premios Lucas even has a facebook page that you can "Like" to keep track of important updates.

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Sat, 21 Jul 2012 17:49:57 +0000
Live Cuban Music News 2012 July 19 SALSA RUEDA FESTIVAL LAS VEGAS
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER for the 2012 SALSA RUEDA FESTIVAL LAS VEGAS
August 3-5 2012 -- Flamingo Hotel & Casino Las Vegas
888-373-9855

Be a part of the first annual Las Vegas Salsa Rueda Festival: The Party of the Year! Do not miss this unique event coming August 3-5, 2012 in Las Vegas, NV by the producers of the Salsa Rueda Festival in San Francisco.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE by Miami's EL PIKETE on Saturday August 4th

* All-star instruction with the best of Cuba, Europe, and the US!!   20 workshops to choose from in Cuban Salsa, Casino, Rueda de Casino, Son, Mambo, Folklore and more with some of the best instructors from the States, Europe and Cuba.   
* Performances by the Salsa Rueda Festival Vegas Instructors 
* Performances by U.S. and local dance companies
* Casino Jack & Jill Competitions Re-invented
* Social Rueda de Casino Competitions
* Guerilla Rueda on the Vegas Strip
 * No Last Call for Alcohol!
 * The best dance tunes from DJ Walt Digz and MV

2012 Salsa Rueda Festival Las Vegas - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubana


Happy to announce that our Italian correspondent CUBASOYYO, in collaboration with Corazón Timbero, present Alexander Abreu y Havana D' Primera in concert , Tuesday July 24 2012 at the Villa Caribe Resort - Via Ortale, snc, Spigno Saturnia (LT).

Havana D'Primera Italia - Cuban Music News - Noticias de m&uacute;sica cubana


On the California homefront, Los Angeles favorite, Andy García & Cineson singer and ex-Arte Mixto lead singer IRIS SANDRA with be debuting her new original project -- an intimate sextet -- in support of her latest album Dos Palabras at...

MAMBO's CAFÉ
1701 Victory Blvd. Glendale, CA 91201
Phone: 818 545-8613 Fax: 818 545-1149

F.Y.I. FIRST SHOW SOLD OUT! 
Happy to report a second show has been added for that same night. 

Iris Sandra @ Mambo's Café Los Angeles - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubana

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Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:31:51 +0000
Timba's New Outpost In The Midwest

Cuban music in the United States isn't limited to the cities on the coasts; In between a club (Coconut Beach) that has hired Charanga Habanera twice in two years along with actively pursuing other Timba bands and a locally-based band, Grupo Aché, which plays some Songo and TImba (including some Los Van Van covers) as well as the Salsa one might normally expect, Louisville Kentucky is emerging as an important  location for spreading awareness of Timba music in the central United States.   Read more about this and see concert photos of Grupo Aché  here. 

An important African source of Afrocuban music is what is now the country of Benin, and one of Benin's most important bands, Le Tout-Puissant Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, is currently on tour in North America.   We recently caught them in concert and asked the band some questions. Read the review and interview and see concert photos of the band here. 

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Sun, 15 Jul 2012 16:59:20 +0000
The New York Mega Timba Concert - Coda (para leer en español oprima aquí)
Story and photos by Bill Tilford, all rights reserved 

“What we have here is a failure to communicate…….”  

As I look at everything that has been happening in the Timba music  concert scene in the United States over the past two years, I am reminded of Aesop’s  fable about the little shepherd boy who cried “wolf”.  For those of you who are not familiar with that story, the short version is that a little shepherd boy falsely warned the villagers about a wolf attack on the sheep in order to bring them running out to the pasture.  After he did this twice, and the villagers came running both times only to learn that there really was no wolf, the villagers vowed to ignore him.  The third time that he cried out, there actually was a wolf, but the villagers ignored him because of the previous false alarms, and the flock of sheep was lost.   In a way, we are faced with a similar problem regarding potential audiences for large Timba concerts in the United States now. There is an atmosphere of understandable skepticism among many of the fans, and those of us who work professionally with the music whether as musicians, agents, promoters, managers, venue owners, writers, media figures etc., will need to put our heads together and try to figure out ways that we might be able to address that skepticism.    This problem was already present before the New York concert, which did at least end with a concert. There was also some collateral damage from this event - a lot of discussion in the industry about possible longer tours by individual bands associated with the concert failed to become actual tours.  

I have seen and heard comments in other places questioning whether some of the bands originally advertised for the May/June 2012 New York concert were ever really signed in the first place.  After examining all of the evidence available to me, it appears that even if all of the original bands had truly been signed and confirmed the number of tickets actually being sold   would still not have been enough to permit a concert of the size originally announced, and it still would probably have been economically necessary for the organizers to “downsize” the concert   ( although I don’t know the actual number of tickets sold, the change from the Armory to the Copacabana would not have been practical if thousands of people had already been buying tickets).   Under these circumstances, it is difficult for me to criticize the fact that a smaller concert was the finished product. However, the handling of the public communications aspects of that process was absolutely horrible.   

Since I am also a brass musician myself, I can tell you that since the same brass section was performing throughout the concert, it was probably a good thing that they didn’t play for six full hours – unless the song list was carefully paced to give them plenty of rest, hour six would not have been pleasant for the musicians or the audience.  But here again, there was a serious communications failure between the organizers and the ticket holders.....click here to continue reading.........  

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Fri, 13 Jul 2012 11:12:39 +0000
Great Timba Moments Summer 2012 Tour season is in full swing in Europe and in some countries they are experiencing summer, while here in Scandinavia only the calender indicates that the summer has arrived. It rarely reaches 70 degrees Fahrenheit and rains almost every day. Fortunately, one constant throughout Europe is the festival season and timba concerts. Each concert has a life of it's own; it is a unique moment in time, and thanks to French DJ extraordinaire Jack El Calvo and Pascualito & FiestaCubana.net, some of the great moments from the current tours by Pupy y Los Que Son Son and Elito Revé y su Charangón are now available at YouTube.

Let's start with Pupy since Los Que Son Son play tomorrow, July 14, at Fiesta in Rome! After getting off to a rough start Pupy is in full swing and rewarding fans for their patience with a new mambo titled Quién me está llamando . I'm not a mambo fan, but somehow Pupy always knows how to please me. Great song! Disfrútenlo!

Pupy y Los Que Son Son estrenando "Quién me está llmando" @ New Morning
video by Pascualito for FiestaCubana.net

And if we are talking about great moments in Timba 2012, check out the video that Jack El Calvo has uploaded: Tirso singing with Orquesta Revé! Need I say more? He has uploaded 3 videos of Revé with Tirso as well as his own video from the Pupy @ New Morning concert, so go to his YouTube channel to watch them all. Here is one example. Candela! Cuida'o que te quema!

Elito Revé y Su Charangon with improvisation by Tirso Duarte & Emilio @ Rignac
video by Jack El Calvo

Elito Revé y su Charangón will be in the Netherlands tomorrow and then heading to Finland for 3 days, 19, 20, 21, at the Pori Jazz Festival before returning to Cuba for a well-earned rest.

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Fri, 13 Jul 2012 10:10:36 +0000
BUENA FE & DESCEMER BUENO UPDATE: Buena Fe has announced that they will be back in the US again soon. Details will be released soon at BUENA FE (PAGINA OFICIAL)

Israel Rojas, Yoel martínez / Descemer Bueno @ the filming of "Ser de sol"Israel Rojas & Yoel Martínez of Buena Fe with Descemer Bueno
Photo courtesy of BUENA FE (PAGINA OFICIAL)

There are three categories of people when it comes to Buena Fe. There are those who are already fans, such as myself and a great number of timberos, hence I am stubbornly writing about them here at timba.com. Then there are those who recognize the name of the band and even recognize some of their songs but haven't put two and two together yet. For these people it is a revelation when they finally discover "Oh! That song is by Buena Fe!". And the third category is people who are just about to become Buena Fe fans, and some of you reading this post are in this category.

Buena Fe by Gabriel Davalos fotografoBuena Fe is arguably the most popular of the new generation of troveros. The band was founded as a duo in 1999, and has since grown to include six members and has recorded seven studio albums and released two live DVD/CD sets. Buena Fe also has the flexibility of being able to perform either as a duo or in the larger
     
Photo by Gabriel Davalos -fotógrafo-

format. Their music can be described as trova-fusion. The lyrics are poetry about contemporary Cuban life covering everything from social critique to some of the most gorgeous love songs I've ever heard. They are set to whatever type of music will best transmit the message, so the music varies from pop to rock to son-reggaeton to changüí-pop, to ballads and whatever else they decide to mix together. There is no question that this formula has been successful, taking the founders, Israel Rojas and Yoel Martínez, from Guantanamo to Havana, and from there to Latin America, Europe and the US, and building them a passionate fan base around the world.

Descemer Bueno is an amazingly versatile artist who has had a jazz band with Elmer Ferrer and Roberto Carcassés, was a member of Yerba Buena and co-writer of many of their hits, has worked as a composer, producer and arranger for artists such as Haydée Milanés, Yusa and Enrique Iglesias, as well as composing some of the songs for the soundtrack of "Havana Blues". Descemer released his solo album "Siete Rayo" in 2005 and the CD "Amor y Música" which he recorded with Kelvis Ochoa in 2008. For more of Descemer's music, check out his YouTube channel. He is currently working on another album, which is simply titled "Bueno" and is planned for release in 2012. Descemer is recording with a number of Cuban artists on the new CD, including Buena Fe, and that is what leads us back to the purpose of this post.

This is the first time that Israel and Descemer have worked together. The song they wrote is titled "Ser de sol" and is a beautiful bachata in the style of Juan Luis Guerra. This collaboration has given rise to the idea of doing an entire album together like they did with the CD "Extremistas Nobles" where Buena Fe and Frank Delgado collaborated. This is an excellent idea and I hope it comes to fruition!

Last Monday, 2 July 2012, Buena Fe uploaded the video clip for "Ser de sol" to their Facebook page and to YouTube. I think it is safe to say that it wasn't exactly what fans might have expected. The story was written by director Ian Padrón and isn't exactly the typical love triangle one might expect. I won't spoil the surprise by giving any more away, but there are other interesting elements to this video as well. For example, it seems to be a look at a sort of Yummie lifestyle (Young Urban Martianos), complete with a party on a boat and the consumption of sushi. Another somewhat shocking aspect was the drinking of Cristal beer from Bucanero glasses! Was this double product placement or an attempt to be fair and equal to both brands? ;)

I've said enough. Check out the video below, and I highly recommend that you go to Facebook and visit BUENA FE (PAGINA OFICIAL).  They are the only Cuban band I know of that has nearly daily updates on their page, including a lot of photos and videos. You will  also find live video of the first perfomance of "Ser de sol" as well as  "Making of Ser de sol" video. Click "Like" so you can keep up-to-date on all their activities. I don't think these guys ever take a day off. They are currently touring Granma, despite the cholera problem, and will then move on to Las Tunas. In August they will be back in Europe and I will finally get to see them live at Latinoamericando in Milan! Expect a concert report! Click here for a list of tour dates but keep in mind that your best bet for current info is BUENA FE (PAGINA OFICIAL). You can also visit their YouTube page.

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Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:28:04 +0000
TOUR UPDATE The summer tour of Pupy y Los Que Son Son was delayed due to paperwork issues that kept them from receiving their visas in time, but better late than never. They are now in Europe and will perform tonight in Paris at New Morning.

Pupy y los que son son - No te dejé por mala - El Noro on lead vocals

We have published a list of confirmed dates for Manolito y Su Trabuco who will be tourng in August. I am thrilled to see that they will be playing in Sweden and Gothenburg's annual Kulturkalaset in Kungstorget on August 16th. That is where I will be! They have more dates pending confirmation so check their Tours page again at the end of July. Manolito is currently working on the new CD "Sin Freno" but it won't be out in time for the tour.

Lázaro "Mayami" Díaz sings the title track from the coming CD "Sin Freno"
lyrics by Alexander Abreu

This year Kulturkalast is a gold mine for fans of Cuban music. X Alfonso will play there on August 17th. If you are en inveterate Timba Geek and don't know X Alfonso's work, he is known for intelligent, profound lyrics combined with a hiphop/soul/funk music, and his videos are always full of beautiful imagery. I'll just let his music and his moving lyrics speak for themselves. We have posted the confirmed dates for his tour which for now are focused on Northern Europe. But there is also more to come in X tour plans so stay tuned!

X Alfonso "De Corazón"

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Sun, 08 Jul 2012 12:39:49 +0000
Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor continue to demonstrate why they are one of the most popular acts in timba today with a concert in Rome on Friday. The European Tour is winding down so if you have a chance to catch a flight to Rome, don't hesitate. I've followed this band for five years now and they just keep getting hotter and hotter. The singer line-up is excellent and the band is tighter than ever. The final concert of the tour will be Saturday in Viareggio, and then the band returns to Cuba to finish their new CD. There's nothing like live video to bring it all home to you so enjoy the video from the Zouka Cuba festival in Laudun, France.


Yordi sings the new single "Bembe"

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Wed, 04 Jul 2012 15:40:22 +0000
Orquesta Pomo @Kägelbanan Tomorrow Orquesta Pomo

Good news timba fans! Sweden's youngest timba band is currently back in the studio working on their first album, and tomorrow CubanNight @ Kägelbanan at Södra Teatern in Stockholm will host the second show by Orquesta Pomo .

I caught their debut performance at Mosebacke on April 15, 2012 and was very impressed. Director, pianist and arranger Jonas Pomo has made a point of handpicking the musicians and then sticking to his guns, no matter the cost. The results speak for themselves. I filmed the April concert, but due to technical difficulties and aging equipment, I have not been able to download the video from the mini-DV cassette where it sits patiently waiting. DJs in Europe and South America have been less patient, and I have had repeated requests for audio or video from that show. Sorry guys...still nothing to share with you.

But in the meantime let me say that the band is very well-rehearsed and boasts a smokin' horn section. Carlos Pérez is currently in Cuba, but Peter Fredriksson and Niklas Viisanen are on trombone and the trumpet section consists of Yuliesky Gonzales, Oslen Ceballo, Johan Nordefeldt and Rickard Lindgren. At the April concert we were treated to solos by all of the horn players that left the audience cheering.

In addition to being beautiful and having a rich voice, lead singer Cecilia Ferrer is charismatic and professional. One thing I noticed was that there wasn't a lot of "muela". The performance was geared towards dancers with smooth transitions between songs. But I think the best way for you to get an idea of what the debut concert was like is to watch some video; this was recorded on an iPhone I believe. Enjoy!

"El Juego" - Orquesta Pomo @ Mosebacke 15 April 2012

You can keep up with the latest news about Orquesta Pomo at Facebook .
The line-up for tomorrow's concert is:
Jonas Pomo, piano
Cecilia Ferrer, lead vocals
Aksel Friberg, bass
Linus Svanberg, congas
Magnus Almqvist, drums & timbales
Jonas Landolsi, güiro
Cristian Guerra, vocals
Alex Saltell, vocals
Cristina Pomo, vocals
Yuliesky Gonzalez, trumpet
Oslen Ceballo, trumpet
Johan Nordefeldt, trumpet
Rickard Lindgren, trumpet

Peter Fredriksson, trombone
Nikolas Viisanen, trombone

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Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:22:41 +0000
Tale of 2 Reporters - New York City Timba Mega Concert click on the READ MORE links immediately following each segment to read the full stories
new** = leave your feedback here = 
https://www.timba.com/forums/9/topics/1401

Verse 3 - A Concert Against All Odds - by Bill Tilford

Story and photos by Bill Tilford, all rights reserved
(para leer en español oprima aquí)

When Saturday arrived, I knew that I wasn’t going to try to do the VIP “Meet & Greet” with the fans. For one thing, as a writer, I have learned over the years that it really is better for my own blood pressure to let the regular fans have their own time at those things. For another, I had no idea where and when it would be. (I later learned that it was in the Rooftop 760 section of the club complex.) 

I did want to see the sound check, and after some effort and assistance, I was able to get into the club around 5 PM.  (There was still no noticeable poster outside the entrance to the club. Did someone decide that the event was top secret?)  I saw a few microphones and an engineer who was eagerly awaiting musicians and instruments. No musicians, no disc jockey, no sound, no sound check, just an engineer and equipment eagerly awaiting something to happen. As 6 pm approached, things didn’t look much different. Since the show was supposed to start at 6, this was not a good thing. More time passed. No real crowd was coming in either. One of the club’s staff, a brave young fellow named Denis, finally decided that there really should be music one way or another. By his own account, he was not a disc jockey and knew nothing about Cuban music but did know how to operate almost all of the equipment in the club including the DJ equipment. Heroically, he began assembling a downloaded playlist in the booth so that the audience would at least have something to dance to until the bands came in.  By this time, there was no escaping the fact that this concert was going to start – sometime - without a sound check by the engineer standing near me.  Bad sound can ruin even the best bands and sometimes has when bands from Cuba have performed in the United States, so I began mentally preparing myself for an impending disaster.    

...Testing, zero, zero, zero...

As the crowd began trickling in, music began playing from the DJ booth.....click HERE to read Bill Tilford's full report on the New York Timba Mega Concert

 

De La Habana a New York Concert Review - by Rosy Estrada

June 16, 2012 - Despite a very late start, mass confusion about the VIP tickets, and technical sound difficulties, the only thing that saved De La Habana a New York from becoming a Mega disaster was the pleasure the audience drew from watching the pure raw energy pour out of the musicians.  Bamboleo, Pupy Pedroso, and Manolito delivered an engaging performance in a rare appearance of all three groups at the famed Copacabana in New York City.

As the Washington, D.C. Timba.com correspondent and organizer of Distrito Cubano, DC's only Cuban social group, it seemed quite logical for me to organize and encourage a group of Cuban music followers/friends from our nation's capitol to travel to NY to soak in some live Cuban music.  What I didn't know was how much the lack of communication from the concert's organizers would affect my overall enjoyment of the concert.  Having attended both very successful Cuban concerts from visiting artists and others not so well promoted in the DC area, I still haven't been able to properly discern the root causes of what seems to be developing into a pattern and practice of over-promising and underdelivering when it comes to U.S. timba concert peformances.

In our case, we ended up purchasing the VIP Meet and Greet tickets....click HERE to read Rosina Estada's full report on the New York Timba Mega Concert

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Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:16:00 +0000
Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor in Paris Tonight! Tonight Maykel Blanco & Salsa Mayor continue their outstanding Summer 2012 Tour with a show at the reknowned jazz club New Morning. Maykel has promised that the band will play their new hit "Bembé" from the upcoming album! If you're in Paris, don't miss the show! If you are somewhere else, check their tours page for the concert nearest you. And once again...a little taste of "Bembé"!

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Tue, 26 Jun 2012 08:14:42 +0000
Yoel Páez Percussion DVD Yoel Paez, Julio Montalvo, Rafa SulbaránYoel Páez with Julio Montalvo & Rafa Sulbarán
during the filming of his new DVD "El Arte de la Independencia 360º"

Yoel is known to timba fans as one of the top percussioninst in Timba. He was part of some of the most important groups of timba during their greatest moments: Paulo F.G. y Su Élite & Issac Delgado. Kevin explains Yoel's style in the following words; "In addition to being a virtuoso and a groove machine, the defining quality of his style is his musicality. He never plays a "rhythm pattern" for its own sake. Everything he plays seems directly linked to whatever is going on musically in the arrangement at that moment." For more about Yoel check out his musician page here at Timba.com.

Over the past 10 years Yoel has been playing with important bands in Spain, and has been busy giving Masters Classes all over Europe. But now he has filmed a DVD called "El Arte de la independencia 360º". He says that he and trombonist Julio Montalvo (Paulo F.G., Pachito Alonso, David Bisbal). Julio produced the DVD with him. 

Yoel says that the idea was to do something different from other products in the market. His DVD goes through more than 10 different types of sets. And the 360º is because the course was shot from many angles and with many instruments such as drums, batá, congas, bongos, timbales, cajon, djembe, etc. Here is a 15 minute video that Yoel has uplaoded to YouTube. For more info contact Yoel at facebook http://www.facebook.com/yoel.paezgonzalez

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Sun, 24 Jun 2012 15:54:49 +0000
The New York Mega Timba Concert, Verse 2 Verse 2 - The Road To The Concert 
(para leer este reporte en Español oprima aquí)

Story by Bill Tilford - All Rights Reserved

In the first verse, I mentioned that there was a lot of skepticism about the concert among potential ticket buyers from the very beginning, but the promised lineup was exciting enough that many people were prepared to attend from all over the country anyway. Unfortunately, many others  wanted to wait until they were absolutely certain that the concert was legitimate, and quite a few people asked me whether this concert was real, so I made it a point to learn as much as I could about the details, and I did my best to reassure them that to the best of knowledge, the concert was the real deal, and I was planning to attend personally.   

In the weeks before the the original May concert date, it became apparent that not all of the originally-promised bands were actually going to make the concert. A very important and serious mistake during this period was the failure of the organizers to redesign and effectively redistribute  all of  their materials when it become obvious that some of the groups and musicians would not be participating in the concert for various reasons. As the May 26 date approached, the organizers made the decision to postpone the concert until June 16 and change the venue from the gigantic Armory Arena  to the smaller Copacabana. This would have been the ideal moment for them to have effectively distributed  a fully-adjusted talent lineup as well. Many ticket holders, including my two colleagues, assumed the worst after the date change and chose not to reschedule for the June date. From the reports that I have received, the organizers did at least appear to have been forthright and effective with processing the refunds that were requested. They also offered a  free “VIP upgrade” to existing regular ticket holders (more about this later). Personally, I was determined to continue in spite of the astronomical fees for  changing  my flight and the equally horrible hotel room rates for a room close to the Copacabana.   

As the June 16th date approached, the organizers did publish some video from some of the performers confirming the new concert (unfortunately, one of the videos was by Mayito Rivera,  who did not actually appear at the concert due to another commitment on the new date), the New York FM radio station La Mega ran some ads, and Timba.com  (along with a few other websites) did its best to help get the word out about the concert. A couple of nights before the concert, many of the musicians were live on television in Miami.  This was favorably received, and it also had the benefit of proving that at least some of the musicians were actually in the country.  

I arrived in Manhattan the evening before the concert. I had booked a room in the Econolodge across the street from the Copacabana.  I did this in spite of the $200-plus per night rate (In some parts of the country, I think you can probably rent a floor for that)  and various  review website warnings that I would be paying for a space only slightly wider than the bed because (a) I wanted to stay as close as possible to the action, (b) the cheaper alternative, the New York Inn, had a lot of reviews that said “don’t go there”,  and (c) when I tried to go there anyway, they were supposedly all booked up. To my surprise, I had apparently booked the Econolodge version of the  Presidential Suite (or at least what they might offer deposed ex-Presidents from poor countries on the lam).   It was an actual room – the only room, in fact - on the top floor. This left me with some questions about how the reservation website magically steered me to this room while I was making reservations, but I also decided that it would just be too weird to go back downstairs and ask for one of those little shoeboxes that I had originally been threatened with by the hotel review websites.    

As I headed out for the evening, I walked by the Copacabana and noticed that there was no poster for tomorrow night’s concert outside of the club. I was later told that the event was not carried on the Copacabana website either. This probably did not help reassure the locals that everything was OK.   

Photo by Richard Williams (courtesy of Manuel Valera)

Manhattan is much better at Jazz than it is at Cuban music, so I went uptown and caught an absolutely wonderful set by Lenny White ’s quintet at a club called Smoke.  My real motive for doing this was that Manuel Valera and Tom Guarna were playing in this group, but the entire group including Lenny White, Wallace Roney, Victory Bailey, Manuel Valera and Tom Guarna  was excellent.  I had recently reviewed Manuel’s New Cuban Express and was curious to hear him in a more straight-ahead setting.  They did a wonderful tribute to Miles Davis’ Bitches’ Brew period, and Tom stretched out a lot more on guitar than he did on Manuel’s recording.   He will be worth watching in other projects that he gets involved with as well.   I also walked away from that performance with a new appreciation of just how much Miles’ music has influenced many members of the current generation of Cuban and other Latin Jazz musicians. 

...Pedrito, but not this time...

Later, I went over to Guantanamera, the 8th Avenue lair  of the Pedrito Martinez Group. Guantanamera is a very nice Cuban restaurant with very good food, but this is what it is; it is theoretically possible to dance in there, but there is no dance floor to speak of. Pedrito’s group wasn’t there that night,  and when I asked who was playing, I was told “We don’t know exactly who is playing, but it will be Cuban music.” Could this be some of Saturday’s musicians sneaking in to play for the night?  My hopes rose as I decided to stay and find out. As it turned out, the answer to that question was “no”, but there was a nice descarga by some local musicians that I will choose to call Grupo Incognito because they really didn’t want to be named either. (I saw this phenomenon in LA a few times years ago, so I am respecting their wishes.)   

As I went to bed that morning, I realized that things seemed awfully quiet for what was supposed to be the Timba concert of the decade.

CHORUS:   Even little things that look out of place can raise big suspicions. This is an important lesson for the future. 

Coming Next:  3rd Verse -  A Concert Against All Odds

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Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:19:31 +0000
Vissión Latina Trio

Click here for Peter's album review-photo gallery of VL Trio's new CD, Tradicionando.

VL Trio is the nucleus of the larger group, Vissión Latina, which has two CDs of its own. Follow the link for audio samples.

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Fri, 22 Jun 2012 03:00:03 +0000
The New York Mega Timba Concert - What Really Happened Story by Bill Tilford, All Rights Reserved 
(para leer en español,  haga clic aqui)

Photo by Bill Tilford, all rights reserved

For better and for worse, this concert comes on the heels of a few earlier failed attempts by other promoters in other cities.   But unlike those earlier fiascoes, this time a concert really did take place.  It wasn't exactly the concert that was originally advertised, but it was a concert, it had more stars in the room than we have seen together in the United States before, and it was  a lot better musically  than I expected it to be after everything else that went wrong before the concert even started.   I was able to watch a lot of this story unfold, and towards the end, I actually wandered into some of it in ways that I never planned to do. This is a story that needs to be told, and hopefully we can all learn some things from the experience.    Hopefully one of those lessons will NOT be "Don't hire Timba bands",  but we will all need to learn the other lessons to prevent that from happening.

1st Verse -  Was this really a good idea to begin with?

It was only a year before this that the even more-sprawling Fuego Cuban Music Festival evaporated in South Florida.   In Echo Park (Los Angeles), a planned May 2011 Cuban music festival was cancelled due to funding issues.  (The LA Cubafest that did happen later in July 2011 featured Cuban-American bands, and attendance failed to meet expectations.)
In the meantime, some other tours by single bands from the island like Los Van Van encountered various problems that shortened or in some cases cancelled all or parts of their tours.   The result of all of these earlier problems was a new and understandable level of skepticism on the part of ticket buyers and venue owners.   For many of these people, the New York concert sounded too good to be true even before any of the real problems actually started.   Based on what I was hearing from Timba fans during the months before the New York concert, I'm really not sure whether ticket sales would have met expectations even if the promotion had been much better than it was.   
Nevertheless, the announcement was made - New York would have a Mega Timba Concert at the Armory in May 2012 with an historic collection of bands from Cuba. How could my colleagues and I NOT be excited about this?  Three of us made preparations to go and cover the event.   I was a little concerned at the time that the ticket-purchase website said "From Havanna to New York Non-Stop Timba Concert", and the artists included Puppy & Los Que Son Son.   and I mentioned to some colleagues at the time that it would be nice if they would spell the English version of Havana correctly, even better would be to get Pupy's name right.    This didn't inspire a lot of confidence in the people administering the concert.   Still, we were hopeful.   
When you add the usual and customary visa issues and consider the fact that individual bands all have their own agendas, it was probably too ambitious to try to bring this many full bands together in one place at the same time.   I think it would have been better if the promoters had planned and promoted a unified All Stars concert from Day One.   This was what was finally delivered, it was an excellent musical product, and most of the bad will generated by the project could have been avoided if it had been advertised this way.  Even more important, it is this reporter's opinion that the next few Timba concerts in the US should probably keep it simple:  one band - maybe two - from Cuba, if more music is needed, pair it with some suitable US talent.  It will be a while before there is enough confidence to try to repeat a concert like this one.   

Chorus:   In my opinion, the organizers tried to accomplish too much with too many bands. It is difficult enough to do a successful event with multiple bands using purely US talent. Once you go international, it becomes even harder.  This isn't just a Cuba thing - even European musicians have visa problems, and there are reasons why multiple groups from there don't do US tours together.  A much simpler concert could still have been a great success if advertised properly.  

Coming Next :  2nd Verse - The Road To The Concert 

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Wed, 20 Jun 2012 18:09:11 +0000
NEW SINGLE BY MAYKEL BLANCO Y SALSA MAYOR 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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Wed, 20 Jun 2012 10:36:26 +0000
First Pics of the NYC Timba Mega Concert 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". 

New York Mega Timba Concert - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubanaCésar Pupy Pedroso and Pedrito Calvo take the stage

New York Mega Timba Concert - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubanaHanging out backstage with Manolito Simonet and friends

New York Mega Timba Concert - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubanaPupy and Pedrito playing some classic Van Van tunes

New York Mega Timba Concert - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubanaBamboleo's new front line-up (singers)  - Aliyn on the far right

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Mon, 18 Jun 2012 22:12:56 +0000
La Aplanandora de Cuba in Europe 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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Sat, 16 Jun 2012 15:24:13 +0000
Excellent Alain Pérez Interview with Jam Session Alain Pérez Interview - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubana

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.

Tiene que ser Manolín - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubana

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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Fri, 15 Jun 2012 14:55:40 +0000
Cuban Music News in Review 2012 June 18 Yes it's really happening this time - ALL RIGHT !! Hot off the twitter press....Team Cuba is in Miami and they will appera on the Alexis Valdés show tonight. Check oput his latest twitter posts below. Next stop is the NYC Timba Mega Concert...

Team Cuba in Miami - Cuban Music News in Review - Noticias de musica cubana

Latin Jazz category reinstated in the the Grammy Awards - Last year the Recording Academy consolidated categories, from 109 to 78, with Latin Jazz among the ones affected (though it remained in the Latin Grammys). Four latin jazz artists - Bobby Sanabria, Mark Levine, Ben Lapidus and Eugene Marlow - responded to the change by filing a class action lawsuit, which was later dismissed by the courts. Protests and online aggravation also ensued. It is this writer's opinion that inroads partly began when Mark Levine simply wrote a letter to the Academy stating his displeasure and actually returned his Grammy awards, proving that it's value is squarely in the eye of the beholding artists. Categories in Classical, R&B and Urban Contemporary music were also reinstated. Bottom line is that it's a victory to enjoy for all.

Cuban Music News in Review - Noticias de musica cubanaOrquesta La Bohemia takes a stab at timba - Switzerland's romantic salsa mainstayers release a timba track under the musical direction of Celia Cruz's conguero Luisito Aballe. On vocals is Josbel Rodríguez under the general direction of Cristian González. We welcome the change Cristian! Check out "Mujer del otro" on Radio Timba now.

Changuito Master Classes & Concerts in Spain
La Fundación Robert A. Paneque presentará en España un histórico taller, clase magistral y concierto de congas, timbales y batería con el legendario percusionista cubano José Luis Quintana Fuertes (Changuito), considerado hoy día el percusionista cubano más grande y más  influyente del mundo y el músico cubano más imitado de todos los tiempos, conocido mundialmente por ser el creador del songo, el ritmo que ha llevado a la cumbre a Los Van Van. Ha sido ganador de tres Premios Grammy en cuatro nominaciones. Se le conoce mundialmente como El Rey del Timbal.

Cuban Music News in Review - Noticias de musica cubana

Para más información oprima aquí o a la foto arriba para descragar la ficha técnica y toda fecha de la gira de Changuito en España. 

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Thu, 14 Jun 2012 21:53:26 +0000
Tom's Alain Pérez Photos Jerry González on timbales - Alain Pérez - photo by Tom Ehrlich

Last week's consolation prize for the postponed timba mega-concert was a scorching hot Alain Pérez performance at Zinc Bar with pianist Manuel Valera (see Bill Tilford's post below on Manuel's  new album), Robby Ameen on drums, and Fort Apache legend Jerry González on trumpet and percussion. Click here for Tom's full gallery.

Tom has video coming soon and Martin Cohen has already posted three great clips.

And if you missed it, I've recently published the second book-eBook-audio-video set for Alain - Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 7, and the corresponding Melón piano video. [Kevin Moore]

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Tue, 05 Jun 2012 05:40:55 +0000
New CD Release A few weeks ago, we mentioned that some really astounding Jazz recordings were coming out this year.  New Cuban Express is one of them, and it's a masterpiece.    If you dug GES, Emiliano Salvador, Irakere, Afrocuba etc. back in the day, this new project is the next step forward from those beginnings, and it will bowl you over.     (If you have no idea who those other groups are, you have been ignoring some of the best music in our solar system.)  This recording is about to hit the streets this week, but there is already a lot of buzz about it for good reason.  Read the review, which includes links to sound samples, here...

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Sun, 03 Jun 2012 17:15:46 +0000
TIMBA on commercial radio in New York OMG it's only a radio spot but it's a start!  New York's top latin music FM radio station is running a 30 second ad for the June 16 / Copacabana Timba Mega Concert in New York. Listen to it on RADIO TIMBA or click on the link below...

listen to the La Mega 97.9 Timba Mega Concert radio spot
Timba Concert radio promo on La Mega 97.9 New York


Also in the news in New York....
Benefit Concert for reknown bassist Rubén RodríguezBenefit concert for reknown bassist Rubén Rodríguez -- "bassist Rubén Rodríguez is in need of a touch from above. He's to undergo surgery to remove fluid from a partially collapsed lung. His situation is challenging to say the least. Let's keep this brother in our thoughts and prayers. There will be some fundraisers happening in the NYC area.  We LOVE you RUBEN!!" -- posted by fellow musician Ray Vega on Facebook

This benefit concert will take place Wednesday, June 6th at TIAN at the Riverbank. Enter Riverbank State Park @ 145th Street, New York City

Call (212) 234 1023 for tix.

Changüí Festival Begins in Guantanamo Province (Cuba) -- Featured at the event is Cuban bassist and composer Juan Formell, who took his first steps in music, in the orchestra of the late musician Elio Reve, precursor of the traditional rhythm that swept Cuba and the world. In addition to the expected concerts, the festival will celebrate the world's longest changüí with 40 Cuban groups that will make that music sound continuously for 24 hours, starting next June 2. Dancers will enjoy concerts of Juan Formell and Los Van Van, who will share the stage for the first time in that locality with the hosts of the event, the orchestra of Elito Revé.  source

7 Days in Havana film debuts at the Cannes Film Festival -- There's a new movie out bankrolled by Havana Club (the rum-makers) that features 7 distinct episodes. The first one, called "El Yuma", was directed by Benicio del Toro (a story about a dim tuorist that hooks up with a transvestite). While the movie was mostly panned (a not-so-glaring review), it has Alexander Abreu appearing as a chauffeur / musician in the second episode entitled "Jam Session". The participation of our favorite trumpeter and band leader cought our collective eye.  source

Excellent jazz history retrospective of another 7 days in Havana -- check out this great Havana report from jazz history buff Alex Ariff on behalf of WBGO 88.3 FM in New jersey. Great commentary and pictures with sound clips. Featured a look inside EGREM studios and an inside peek on a recording session with piano legen Frank Emilio Flynn.  check it out here

Frank Emilio Flynn recording session Havana - Cuban music news - Noticias de musica cubana

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Fri, 01 Jun 2012 20:28:17 +0000
Celia Cruz Wins Vote for Special Smithsonian Portrait Celia Cruz was the winner of the recent public vote for a special historical portrait to be exhibited by the Smithsonian.    The Smithsonian still seeks your comments about Celia Cruz and the project.   To read their announcement, click here...  

Celia Cruz fue la ganadora de la reciente votación del público para un retrato especial para ser exhibido en el museo.   El Smithsonian  sigue buscando  sus comentarios acerca de Celia Cruz y este proyecto.   Para leer su anuncio,  haga clic aquí...

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Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:22:19 +0000
La Habana del Norte Strikes Again! A big thank you to Lani Milstein for keeping us up-to-date on what is happening in Timba Canada! Here is her report on the recent concert with Pupy y Los Que Son Son featuring Mayito & Tania!

May 19th was a fantastic explosion of great timba in Toronto, thanks to cubaintoronto.com, Casineros Unidos and Lula Lounge’s Lulaworld Festival, who presented Pupy y los que son son at The Phoenix Concert Theatre. The evening began with rising star DJ Bernal, who spun the latest and greatest timba, and the show kicked off with a dance performance by Afrolatino Dance Company. This was followed by a very special performance for Yemaya, by Melissa Noventa, in honour of the late icon and friend to many in Cuban music, Billy Bryans, who we lost recently to cancer. Billy had been a co-producer of many Cuban concerts in Toronto, and was perhaps Canada's key proponent of Cuban music. He is greatly missed by all!

Pupy with Mayito in Toronto

Cesar “Pupy” Pedroso y los que son son blessed the Toronto crowd with an electrifying concert, adding a special twist: invited guests Mayito Rivera and Tania Pantoja. You can imagine how those vocal duels went, right? Electrifying de verdad! Mayito singing with Pupy sounded, well, just like Van Van. Pupy’s band was in top form and has such a youthful energy (Bombon is truly an animal.) The crowd was loving every minute and they played for almost 3 hours- right up until around 2:30am, when the soundman pulled the plug. Noise curfew! Oh, Canada…

No matter! The fun continues June 15th with Gente de Zona and their 12-piece band feat. El Micha and Yulien Oviedo, at the Opera House in Toronto. Presented by the Cubaneando festival, once again Toronto will prove itself as one of the greatest hotbeds of Cuban music in North America, as timberos, casineros and la farandula que tu conoces come out to break it down, Torontón style.

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Mon, 28 May 2012 16:38:47 +0000
Second Alain Book Released! - Beyond Salsa Bass Vol.7

Volume 7 of Beyond Salsa Bass is out in both hard-copy and eBook, with accompanying audio and video.  Volume 7 is the second installment of a 4-volume study of the style of Alain Pérez, one of the most talented bassists, composers and arrangers of modern Cuban music. The bass series follows the piano series exactly, covering the same songs, now from the perspective of the bassist. Both the notes and the percussive sounds that he uses to create his funky style. This volume features a 19 page bass transcription of "Por qué paró" (as made famous by Issac Delgado). There are corresponding audio and video products for each volume.

Volume 7 covers two of Delgado's greatest live timba arrangements: "Por qué paró" and "Luz viajera". The piano and bass parts are drawn from extended live performances at the legendary Palacio de la Salsa nightclub in the Hotel Riviera on the Malecón. This is the seventh book in a instructional series set to become the new standard for contemporary Latin bass styles.
154 pages (154 páginas) with 25 audio tracks (25 pistas).

Alain is playing tonight Thursday - 3 shows ($15 for the whole night) at Zinc Bar in NY.

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Thu, 24 May 2012 21:27:03 +0000
Rebeca Mauleón with Branly, Caro and Díaz

BREAKING NEWS: Rebeca Mauleón finds time to play a gig! She's usually too busy writing books and symphonies, making records, having kids - you know, minor stuff like that - but she'll be tearing it up Sunday at Yoshi's SF with three world-class percussionists - Jimmy Branly (ex-Issac, ex-NG, now plays with everyone in LA), Carlos Caro (ex-Paulito), and Jesús Díaz (leader of QBA). Click Continue Reading below for the poster.

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Thu, 24 May 2012 00:47:59 +0000
TIMBA CDs 2012 Klimax - Todo está bienKlimax - Todo está bienGood news for timba fans: 2012 looks to be a rich harvest of new CDs! This topic will be coming up again and again as the year progesses and more of the CDs become available! We will be back soon with more news about CDs by Bamboleo, Tumbao Habana, Charanga Latina, Elito Revé y su Charangón and many more to come!

We start of with the new release by Giraldo Piloto & Klímax: "Todo está bien". The album should be available online within about 24 hours! "Todo está bien" contains 11 tracks, several of which have already been dance-floor hits for some time now. This album is a must for DJs and connoisseurs alike!

1.  La abusadorcita
2.  La pelirroja
3.  Qué sería de mí
4.  La descarga
5.  Lola
6.  Black or white
7.  Regresa
8.  Todo está bien
9.  Quiero salir esta noche contigo
10. Hay que recordar
11. Homenaje a Michel Legrand

Another important release this year is the long-awaited second CD by Havana D'Primera entitled "Pasaporte". I don't know the release date, but Lionel from FiestaCubana.net has posted the following track list. It includes a number of songs that have been out for a while as singles as well as some new tracks.

1.  Pa' mi gente
2.  Plato de segunda mesa
3.  La figura
4.  Carita de pasaporte
5.  Se te olvidó quien soy
6.  Al final de la vida
7.  La celosa
8.  Donde estemos tú y yo
9.  Amor a la roca
10.  El que sabe está caya'o
11. Verdades que hablan

Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor are also in the studio, and Maykel reports that they are recording the metales now, so they should be moving on to mixing and mastering quite soon! The CD doesn't have a name yet and Maykel says he's fielding suggestions if anyone has ideas. It would be nice if they could have it ready in time for their summer tour (June 22-July 8), but that is probably just wishful thinking! Tracks include: Yordi - Sabrosa, La calle está caliente, Tres hermanos & El artistasoy yo; Yasser - La figura & something he says is for the girls who don't like to stay at home; Alexis - El Kilo, Tremenda pinta, Tú no eres mi amigo & Hazte.

Here is a little peek into the recording studio including interviews with Maykel, where he tells us that the band is developing some new percussion patterns in the song "Tú no eres mi amigo". This sounds very exciting! So check out the video and preparense que vienen Los Mayores otra vez!

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Wed, 23 May 2012 16:06:14 +0000
Alain Pérez Quintet Thursday at Zinc Bar More soon on the second Alain book, but in the meantime, if you're in NY, be sure to see Alain's Quintet at Zinc Bar Thursday, May 23.

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Wed, 23 May 2012 15:58:00 +0000
Cuban Music News in Review 2012 May 22 First, here's the latest on the NYC Mega Timba Concert ... today we recieved this message from the event organizers in New York:

Regarding the event " De La Habana a Nueva York " / "From Havana to New York Non Stop Music ", due to time limitations in obataining exit permits for the Cuban Artists, the Mega Timba Concert has been postponed to JUNE 16, 2012 ... Same Artists Line-up, Same Time, Same Place.

Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubana

New Date : Saturday, June 16th, 2012
Place: Copacabana Club
Address: 268 West 47Th St. New York, NY.
Time: 6:00 Pm to 12 Midnight. All Ages

All purchased tickets have been Upgraded to VIP Meet & Greet, no matter the purchased price.

We apologize for the inconvenience, for more information, please call 888-584-3070 or visit the official website hereThanks again for your support.


Our Perú correspondent Feri DJ reports on a news conference for a special concert -- featuring Alexander Abreu of Havana D'Primera -- now passed on Friday, May 18. taking place in a stylish convention center, Alexander was backed by a Lima-based group of Cuban and Peruvian musicians called "Havana Light". Alexander will be on a  solo  tour of Perú from May 16 to May 27. Two other Lima timba bands, N'Samble and Rumbavana, also performed. The event also marked the first performace in Perú for one of our favorites: La Combinación de la Habana (de Gerson Valdés). Pro soccer players who are also salsa and timba fanatics were on hand to help promote the show.....read more 

Alexander Abreau - Conferencia de Prensa en Perú - Concierto Mayo 18 - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubana

Also check out Radio Timba with some new freash tracks courtesy of Feri DJ as well...

1- CONGA TOUR by Los Van Van
2- FARANDULA TROPICAL by La Combinación de la Habana de Gerson Valdés
3- EL PAQUETE by Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe 


New York street to be named after Arsenio -  The “Father of Salsa Music” Arsenio Rodríguez may soon have a street named in his honor. A contingent of Bronx supporters are pushing to rename the intersection of Intervale Ave. and Dawson St. in Longwood after Rodriguez. source

Link to Pedrito Martínez Group's feature in the New Yorker is here ... "Martinez and his band have won over dozens of people the writer has taken to see him, despite common confessions to not liking jazz or not understanding Latin music. If anyone can move Afro-Cuban music into greater visibility, it’s Martinez. "  Way to go Pedrito!!

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Tue, 22 May 2012 04:41:43 +0000
Congratulations to the Winners of the Cubadisco 2012 Awards Para leer este artículo en español, haz click aquí

Cubadisco 2012 was officially dedicated to the guitar, but in some ways it was also the year of the retrospective.  Many of this year's nominees were recordings that looked back on the careers of the musicians.  It is also worth noting that based on the number of awards (14) that it was associated with, Colibri has emerged as a new powerhouse for Cuban recordings.  Bis Music was associated with at least 9 awards, and EGREM was associated with at least 7.  Several other labels were represented as well.  We mention this because some people still mistakenly believe that the Cuban recording industry is a monolith.  Here are some of the award results that will be of particular interest to Timba.com readers:  

Cubadisco 2012 - Cuban Music News - Noticias de m&uacute;sica cubana
CUBADISCO 2012 GRAND PRIZE:
   
Veinte Pianos, Música de Ernán López Nussa, various artists (Colibri).  Ernán has sometimes been underappreciated througout his career but had a very good year this time with 4 awards.  Veinte Pianos also won the awards for CD/DVD and Didactic Recording, and Ernán was recognized as Producer of the Year.  He is one of Bill Tilford's favorite Cuban Jazz artists. This is also Ernán's second Grand Prize - the first was in 2002 for his recording From Havana To Rio.

SPECIAL GRAND PRIZE:   Chucho's Steps, Chucho Valdés and the Afrocuban Messengers (Colibri). This is an excellent Jazz recording.  

SPECIAL AWARD: Mis 22 Años, NG La Banda (EGREM), 30 Años de Son 14,  Son 14 (EGREM),Sueños del pequeño Quin, Joaquín Betancourt (Colibri)

JAZZ:  Travesia, Iván Melón Lewis Quintet (Casa Limón).  (This actually won 2 awards. Timba.com's Kevin Moore has written a lot about Melón, who has also made major contributioins to the genre of Timba. 

TESTIMONIAL  and FOLKLORIC MUSIC : Las Estrellas del folclor, Los Hermanos Arango (Bis Music). Los Hermanos Arango made a great impression on listeners during their tour of the United States a few months ago. 

Cubadisco - Cuban Music News - Noticias de m&uacute;sica cubanaTROVA FUSION:   Pi 3.14, Buena Fe (EGREM).  Buena Fe is a favorite of our own Timbera Mayor. 

ARCHIVAL MUSIC:   Origenes, Eduardo Ramos y Grupo Experimentación Sonora del ICAIC (Colibri)

LATIN MUSIC:  Mala, Haila (Bis Music).  Haila's solo project is a dance album that incorporates several different genres of popular music.  

*****CURRENT POPULAR DANCE MUSIC*****   Acabaito de nacer,  David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera (EGREM).  This recording does not break new ground musically, but it is a solid dance album, and one of the selections, the fusion number La Suerte,  also had a very popular video. In the near future, we will review both this recording and the other nominees for this category in more detail.  

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Tue, 22 May 2012 04:15:52 +0000
Pachito Alonso y sus Kini Kini Timba.com wants to congratulate Pachito Alonso y Sus Kini Kini on their 30th Anniversary, which they are celebrating tonight at La Tropical. The party should be starting right about...now! Invitados include Adalberto Álvarez, Revé, Bamboleo and Salsa Mayor, among many others.

Over the past 30 years Pachito Alonso y sus Kini Kini has been one of the great schools for young Cuban musicians. Here are a few name that should be familiar to you: Robertón and Lele, Tirso Duarte, Orlando & Lázaro Mengual, Lázaro Valdés, Vania Borges, Rigoberto López, Carlos Álvarez, Amaury Pérez and Cristobal Verdecía,j juts to name a few not to mention Pachito's sons Christian and Rey.

For those of us not able to attend the concert tonight, let me leave you with the title track to their last album, "Pasarela", from 2011.

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Sun, 20 May 2012 15:37:50 +0000
New Havana D' Primera Photo Gallery Havana D'Primera - Yoshi's april 29, 2012 - Cuban Music - Música CubanaAlexander abreu of Havana D' Primera - All photos courtesy of CultuCuba
Click on the photos to visit the gallery

Patrick Hickey Photography - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubanaPatrick Hickey is a retired career technologist in the Silicon Valley, with a liberal arts background and a long-standing passion for photography. After over 30 years in high technology, he has taken a "time out" in order to enjoy life and not spend all day with Power Point presentations, budget wars and personnel tetras.

His introduction to shooting the Bay Area timba and performance dance scenes was a result of his daughter's casino performing group (Rueda con Ritmo), and the subsequent introduction to the various bands. He has very fond photographic memories of the late afternoon lighting at the famed Jelly's on the wharf in San Francisco, as the sun knifed through the windows and created an almost perfect place to enjoy timba.

Click here to read more about Patrick (bio and equipment list).

Havana D'Primera - Yoshi's april 29, 2012 - Cuban Music - Música Cubana

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Fri, 18 May 2012 10:00:34 +0000
Latin Grammy adds new Tropical Fusion Category (To read this article in English, click here )

¡Atención Músicos!  LARAS  (La Academia Latina de la Grabación) añade la Categoria  ”Mejor Album de Fusión Tropical”

En un comunicado de prensa 10 de Mayo 2012, LARAS anunció algunos cambios en las categorías de los premios Latin GRAMMY 2012.  De interés especial para los músicos que tocan la música progresiva es las nueva categoría “Mejor Álbum de Fusión Tropical”.  Veremos qué tipo de grupos y grabaciones serán reconocidas en esta nueva categoría, pero esto parece ser un cambio similar a lo que sugerimos en estas páginas en 2011 como una manera de ayudar a distinguir la formas más nuevas de la música en comparación de los estilos más antiguos la música tropical bailable.  

Animamos a los músicos que tocan la Timba , funk cubana y otras formas experimental o " mixta" música tropical de aprender tanto como sea posible acerca de esta nueva categoría , ya que esto puede ser un lugar más apropiado para presentar su grabación que la categoríaMejor Album Tropical Contemporáneo” .

                           Dos  ejemplos recientes de fusion tropical -  Palo! Interactivo

Timba.com saluda a LARAS para la expandir las categorías y expresa la esperanza de que ayudaría a proporcionar una oportunidad de mayor reconocimiento a los grupos que tocan la Timba, Fusión, Funk cubana etc. en los Estados Unidos, Cuba y más allá.

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Thu, 17 May 2012 14:42:28 +0000
Smithsonian Considers Celia Cruz For Special Portrait The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is having a special public vote to determine which of five historical figures should be the subject of a new special historical portrait.  One of the nominees is Celia Cruz.   The other nominees are Audie Murphy, Alice Paul, Samuel Morse and Frederick Douglass.   

El Museo Nacional Smithsonian de Historia Americana está haciendo una votación especial del público para determinar cuál de cinco figuras históricas deberiá ser objeto de un nuevo retrato histórico especial.   Uno de los nominados es Celia Cruz.  Los otros nominados son Audie Murphy, Alice Paul, Samuel Morse y Frederick Douglass. 

Photo from the Smithsonian's website.

Celia left an enormous body of work both in Cuba and later in the United States, and her style influenced generations of female Salsa vocalists.    

Voting is open until May 26
, and you can vote on your choice for this portrait on the National Museum of American History's web page by using this link: Frame an Iconic American

Celia dejó un enorme cuerpo de obras, tanto en Cuba y más tarde en los Estados Unidos, y su estilo influyó en generaciones de cantantes femeninas de la Salsa.  La votación está abierta hasta el 26 de Mayo, y usted puede votar en su elección para este retrato en la página de web del Museo Nacional de Historia Americana mediante el uso de este enlace: Frame an Iconic American

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Thu, 17 May 2012 09:01:52 +0000
Issac Delgado - El Supercubano on Tour Issac Delgado - Copenhagen May 25, 2012 The European summer tour season is off to an early start with Issac Delgado, Tirso Duarte, Pedrito Calvo Jr. and Septeto Nabori already on tour in May, among others! I was able to see Elito Revé y su Charangón on the Viking Line salsa cruise last month and will be catching the Supercubano himself, Issac Delgado, at the May 25th concert in Copenhagen. This will be the only concert in Scandinavia, by the way, so if you live in Sweden or Norway you should make a timba pilgrimage to see him! Doors open at 8:00pm and the pre-concert activities include my friend Salsani Salsa-dj spinning tunes and a salsa warm-up with Stine Ortvad and her Cuban Moves group at 9:00pm. The concert will be from 10:00pm-11:30pm and then the afterparties begin, first at Vesterbro Kulturhus and later at Club Mambo!
Advance tickets
are 280 DKK at the door they cost 330 DKK
For more information: www.cubakultur.dk

The remaining concerts of Issac's tour are posted on his tours page so check it out to find a concert near you.

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Wed, 16 May 2012 14:14:07 +0000
Aprietan los cubanos en Francia Currently #1 on Radio Timba ( http://timba.com.radio ) is a new, auto-biographical  track entitled "Lucharé".  If you listen, Tirso Duarte tells you...

"Sé que muchos se preguntan que me ha pasado, que si me he vuelto loco, que si estoy acabado, que si todavía estoy cantando y con quien ..... (I know many are wondering what happened to me, if I went crazy, if I'm finished, if I'm still singing and with who...)"

Well the answers are all laid out in this new release "Tirso Duarte y la Mecánica Loca" (Agorila).

New Tirso Duarte Release (with La Mecánica Loca) - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubana

Recorded in France and released by the French label Agorila, the album is a collaboration between Tirso and an award winning percussionist and band-leader Julien Garin

Click here to continue reading and review the full track list and musician listings....

Also from France and making the rounds on YouTube is a project from trumpeter / band-leader Alexander Batte called "Cuban Monsters". Based in Paris, their first single "La Rumba La Pongo Yo" features some excellent bass playing and mambos on this blend of traditional son / salsa that leads into a heavy timba coro-pregón. Enjoy! 

Alexander Batte and his Cuban Monsters - New Tirso Duarte Release (with La Mecánica Loca) - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubana

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Mon, 14 May 2012 01:08:26 +0000
Alain with Havana d'Primera!

It took a while but I finally got both halves of Alain playing bass with Havana d'Primera at their historic US debut. Check out at about 4:12 (and many other places!) after the video switches to the narrower iPhone clip. To me, the way Alain's is laying down the bomba is truly what timba is all about. The audio is not the greatest, but use your imagination - it was truly insane!

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Fri, 11 May 2012 22:13:17 +0000
ALL VISAS APPROVED FOR NYC TIMBA MEGA CONCERT !! ALL VISAS APPROVED for the Timba Mega Concert happening Memorial Day, Saturday May 26 in New York City. Live music begins at 6pm until 12am, and there is more dance music non-stop until 4am. Direct from Cuba, the following artists have their visas approved and are confirmed for the show (todas las visas aprobadas):

César Pupy Pedroso y los que Son Son 
Manolito y su Trabuco  
Lazarito Valdés y Bamboleo 
Alexander Abreu & Habana D' Primera
José Luís Cortés y NG la Banda
 
With Special Guests:
 Mario Mayito Rivera & Pedro Calvo (ex-Los Van Van)
Tania Pantoja & Vania Borges (Ex-Bamboleo) 

AHORA LA COSA SE PUSO BUENA
To purchase TICKETS click here or call 1-888-584-3070 
** 10% discount promo code = Timba.com **

NYC Timba Mega Concert - Cuban Music News - Noticias de m&uacute;sica cubana

NEW VENUE From Havana's Copa Room to the Copacabana club in NYC, a truly historic night. The newly renovated 8 million dollar facility with huge dance floor is located at:

Copacabana 268 West 47th St., Corner of 8th Ave, NY, NY 10036

All tickets already sold are valid, and no need to change them. The same conditions apply to the event. VIP Tickets will be located in front rows. Meets and greets will be available to VIP clients. 3 floors of food,  music and dance, from 6pm to 4 am. Non-stop music. Here are some pictures of this new club:

NYC Timba Mega Concert - Cuban Music News - Noticias de m&uacute;sica cubana

 

NYC Timba Mega Concert - Cuban Music News - Noticias de m&uacute;sica cubana

NYC Timba Mega Concert - Cuban Music News - Noticias de m&uacute;sica cubana

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Tue, 08 May 2012 21:11:37 +0000
Peter Maiden's Raíces Profundas Photos

Click here for Peter's full gallery of this extraordinary series of performances.

Coming to New York, May 26th - the mega concert with Pupy, Bamboleo et al.

Coming to Yoshi's SF, June 1 & 2 - Bamboleo!

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Mon, 07 May 2012 20:17:07 +0000
Raíces Profundas in SF Manley "Piri" López - photo by Peter Maiden

Peter Maiden was on hand to photograph Friday night's show and will post a full gallery in the coming days. There are still two more workshops and two more concerts this weekend. Of special interest is the presence of guarapachanguero extraordinaire Manley "Piri" López of Los Chinitos fame. Click "continue reading" for two other amazing preview shots.

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Sat, 05 May 2012 06:16:57 +0000
6th National Changüí Festival in Guantanamo Festival Nacional del Changüí Orquesta Revé @ Festival Nacional del Changüí 2007

The 6th National Changüí Festival in memory of Elio Revé Matos will take place in Guantanamo from May 30th - June 3rd. This year will include the participation of Orquesta Revé and Los Van Van. On the second night of the event Van Van will perform in Plaza Pedro Augustín Pérez, health permitting, Pastorita Yuani Sayús, the inspiration for the famous changüí "El guararey de Pastora", will dance changüí on stage with Van Van to the song she inspired.

If you will be unable to make a trip to Guantanamo for the festival, you can still see Orquesta Revé and Los Van Van together in concert on May 19th in Havana as they give Habaneros a small taste of the changüí festival.

This year will also see the 1st International Workshop on Changüí "el changüinaso" for national and international musicians who wish to update their knowledge of the instruments, dance and genre-related topics surrounding the most indigenous musical style from Guantanamo, Changüí. This pre-festival workshop takes place from May 27 - 30. To sign up for the workshop you must confirm your participation by May 15th. Contact the Centro Provincial de la Música “Luís Martínez Griñán” .
Director: Alexis Téllez Guerrero
Address: Los Maceo No 906 e/ Emilio Giro y Crombet
Telephones: (53) 021 - 32 2870 – 32 7590 – 32 9202
e-mail: cpm@gtmo.cult.cu
http://www.gtmo.cult.cu/instituciones/cpm

Let me leave you with a little taste from a changüí @ Casa de Pipi in Yateras December 2007 where Pipi shares stories about when he met Elio Revé Matos and what the old changüí used to be like.

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Sat, 05 May 2012 05:57:01 +0000
Gozando En Miami con la Charanga Habanera La Suerte (Live) - Charanga Habanera - Cuban Music Videos

Cuba's pop / timba supergroup la Charanga Habanera (led by David Calzado) perform Gozando En Miami and La Suerte at Yoshi's Jazz Club in San Francisco. The original release of Gozando on the album No Mires La Caratula is a collaboration with rapper El Chacal. La suerte appear son Acabaito De Nacer. Courtesy of Yoshi's & Blue Night Entertainment. Videography by Tom Erhlich of TIMBA.com.

Gozando En Miami - Charanga Habanera - Cuban Music Videos

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Wed, 02 May 2012 04:13:51 +0000
Peter Maiden's HdP Photos

Click here for Peter's amazing shots of Saturday night's show.

ATTENTION NEW YORK: Timbalive, currently the most exciting US-based timba band, will be at SOB's THIS FRIDAY. I've been so enthralled with HdP that I haven't been pushing this show, but I heard them at the SF SalsaRueda Fest and they're definitely the real deal - all recent original songs and arrangements, and as tight, distinctive and unique as a Cuban-based band - no easy feat to accomplish in the "timba graveyard" (Miami), where there are at least 100 world-class Cuban musicians and almost no gigs.

BAMBOLEO IN JUNE: Bamboleo, with a great new leader singer, Ailyn Dallera, is already booked for June 1 & 2 at Yoshi's SF, May 26 at the NY Mega Concert, and will probably also be in LA and other cities. 

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Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:37:30 +0000
Qué tiene Havana d'Primera? [Updated x 2] UPDATE 2: Sunday's second set was incredibly intense. Click here are Patrick Hickey's photos. Peter Maiden's gallery should be up later tonight. '

TIMBALIVE IN NEW YORK: This show is coming up Friday at SOB's.

photo by Peter Maiden

UPDATE: Saturday shows were great, and packed to the rafters. Final 3 hour show tonight at 7:00 is selling briskly. LINK FOR TICKETS

Review of Friday's Performance. 

Knowing I had two more nights at Yoshi's SF ahead of me, I just relaxed and let my first-ever Havana d'Primera concert wash over me. And I kept finding myself asking ... what is it about this band?

Maybe the better question is what Havana d'Primera isn't. It's not an "espectáculo" - it's not "de película" - it doesn't have a lot of choreography, gimmicks or bravura. It's a bunch of great musicians playing great songs and this one guy standing up there just singing his heart out.  Who else sings and plays with this kind of pure, unaffected, real emotion? Alexander Abreu radiates an overpowering sense of integrity ... of honesty ...  of poetry ... in his voice, in his facial expressions, in the way he moves, and God knows, in the way plays that trumpet. He played one gut-wrenching, soaring high note over a ballad accompanment that made want to scream - like that guy in the audience at Lincoln Center in 1964 when Miles Davis built the same kind of climax on that legendary version of Stella by Starlight. Actually he played quite a few notes like that. And just as important, he didn't play any notes that he didn't mean - that didn't start deep in his gut and end up deep in yours.

That's one thing about Havana d'Primera - their use of solos. Instead of the standard once-a-night descarga where everyone gets a solo over a traditional vamp and plays the obligatory hot licks and quotes from Stormy Weather, the solos in this band are key parts of the emotional arcs of the songs in which they appear.

... and then Alain Pérez sat in! He started out singing - improvising beautifully about the events of the night, instigating several coros that HdP's coristas nailed instantly in harmony.

Then he switched to bass and lit a raging fire under a band that had already been throbbing hot for several hours. It was torrid bomba the likes of which I haven't heard since ... well, since Alain with Issac's band in 1997. I managed to film the vocal and the first minute of so of the bass part before my camera screwed up on me. Maybe someone else got the rest. I'll post mine to youtube soon.

Another thrill for the Bay Area was the presence of local hero Carlos Caro, who's playing all six shows as HdP's regular bongosero didn't make the tour. Well, he's "local" to us because he's been here for 20 years, but in Cuba, Carlos, along with current HdP guitarist Rogelio Nápoles played in Opus 13, and was then a founding member of Paulito FG y su Élite, where Alexander later got his start. In many ways, HdP is the next step in that lineage of great bands. Almost everyone in the band played with one or more of Paulito, Issac, Manolín, Revé, Manolito and Klímax.  

Havana d'Primera's mission statement was to restore the power, dignity, musicianship and creativity of the late 90s - and they're doing that - but in the dark, riveting intensity of Alexander Abreu they've also added some very new - and very real - and deeply moving. [Kevin Moore]

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Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:31:15 +0000
Havana d'Primera Adds Sunday Show LATEST BREAKING NEWS: 

HdP arrives tomorrow and all systems go for the 5 San Francisco shows - their first shows ever in the United States. TICKETS HERE

All-night tickets for Friday and Saturday are sold out, but some tickets for individual shows remain.

Sunday show will be 3 hours of music for $45, starting at 7:00 p.m.

Alain Pérez will be with Paco de Lucia in Oakland on Friday and will tentatively be at Yoshi's during the second set.

Incredibly, no other cities seem to have booked HdP - what's up with that?

See you in SF!

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Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:28:53 +0000
CUBADISCO 2012 NOMINATIONS RELEASED According to a few sources including an announcement from ACN (Agencia Cubana de Noticias), the nominees for the Cubadisco 2012  awards are out  and include some Timba groups worth mentioning. For the Música Popular Bailable Actual (Current Popular Dance Music) category, the nominees include Acabaito de Nacer by David Calzado y Su Charanga Habanera, La Maquinaria by Juan Formell y Los Van Van, Todo Es Posible by Wil Campa y su Orquesta, Siempre Pupy by Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Al Fin by Mónika Mesa and La Timba Pa' To' El Mundo  by Miami's  own Timbalive.  
The awards program will take place Saturday, May 19 at the Teatro Karl Marx in Havana.   Some other nominees of interest include 30 Años de Son 14 (by  Son 14)  and Mis 22 Años (by NG La Banda) in the Premio Especial (Special Award) category, and a special nomination (Nominación Especial)  for Chucho's Steps by Chucho Valdés.
In the Música De Archivo category (of special interest to collectors), two of the five nominees include Ritmo Oriental's Colección Agrupaciones Bailables Orquesta Ritmo Oriental and a collection called Origenes.  Eduardo Ramos con el Grupo Experimentación Sonora (del ICAIC).
A number of interesting Jazz and Folkloric nominees also turn up on the list.  For a complete listing, see
Cubadisco 2012 Nominees
Congratulations to all of the nominees but especially to Timbalive for this tangible reminder that world-class Timba truly is a global phenomenon now including in the United States.  

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Sun, 22 Apr 2012 19:26:53 +0000
Rumbón for Billy Bryans Rumbon for Billy Bryans - Lula Lounge

I "met" Billy probably about 10 years ago. He is one of my Internet timba friends to whom I feel very close, although we have never met in person, and in recent years we have dropped out of touch. If you've been a follower of the world timba scene for the past several years, you are probably familiar with his blog, MisterBryans. For six years his blog was the absolute leading source of information on what was happening within Cuban music and dance in the rapidly-growing Canadian scene. He began traveling to Cuba back in the early 90s and has worked with musicians such as Telmary and Alberto Alberto.

But Billy's illustrious musical career began long before timba. He began working as a professional musician 40 years ago. He may be best known in Canada as the drummer of the Parachute Club. He has also worked as a promoter, DJ and publicist, not only in Cuban music but also with African and Brazilian music.

Five years ago Billy fought and won a bought with lung cancer. Sadly he is ill again. Now Canada's musical community is rallying behind the man who has given so much to them, and to the world, with a Rumbón for Billy Bryans this Thursday April 19 at Lula Lounge. Billy has worked closely with Lula Lounge over the years, DJing there quite often for Timba events. All funds from the event will go to help cover Billy's expenses. The rumbón will include a dance lesson, dance performances and a concert by Alex Cuba. For more information and to book a table see Lula's website.

And, Billy, on behalf of all of your friends around the world who can't be there on Thursday, I send you our love and our good vibes. Take care of yourself!

Billy on drums with Parachute Club - Rise up!

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Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:07:50 +0000
Film Review: Los 100 Sones Cubanos

This film is currently making the rounds of festivals in several cities including Chicago and New York.  Is it worth seeing?  Read our review here...

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Sat, 14 Apr 2012 07:38:31 +0000
Barcelona Guaguancó Festival 2012 The 3rd Annual International Guaguancó Festival will be held from June 22-24 in Barcelona, Spain. This year's festival is dedicated to Gregorio Hernández better known as "El Goyo", a legendary rumbero who passed away earlier this year.

The festival offers classes with live music for both students and teachers in a wide variety of Afro-Cuban dances such as: Yoruba dances, Rumba Guaguancó, Columbia, Yambú, Contemporary Afro, Congo: Makuta, Palo & Yuca, Timba, Afro-Rumba, Franco-Haitian, Abakuá, Arará, Rumba Casino, Folkloric songs, Rueda de Casino, Son and Cubatón.

There will also be dance performances and live music including the amazing line up of La Charanga Habanera Friday the 22nd and Tirso Duarte & La Mecánica Loca Sunday the 24th!

3ma Guaguancó festival internacional- Barcelona

Check out the Guaguancó Festival 2012 promotional video below.

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Fri, 13 Apr 2012 05:27:55 +0000
Charanga Tonight

Charanga packed Yoshi's on Monday and is back tonight for more madness. Click here for Tom's gallery. Many more photos coming soon. After SF, the band returns to Miami for several last shows.

And Havana d'Primera tickets, including the great new "all night pass" (both shows for a big discount), are already on sale (and going fast) at Yoshi's box office.

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Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:14:18 +0000
Havana D' Primera tickets on sale tonight!!! Yoshi's SF will begin selling HDP tix @ 6:30 tonight! Posting from cell phone. 
VISAS APPROVED!!

Alexander Abreu & Habana D' Primera

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Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:15:53 +0000
Charanga Habanera in SF photo by Tom Ehrlich

After thrilling packed houses in New Jersey, Louisville, Las Vegas and LA, la CH rolls in to the Bay Area tonight and tomorrow (Mon. & Tues) at Yoshi's SF. Click here for tickets and video. See you there!

Live Issac: Click CONTINUE READING for three mind-bogglingly great versions of Issac's classic Por qué paró, which will be studied in the most minute detail in Volume 7 of Beyond Salsa Bass. [Kevin Moore]

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Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:27:16 +0000
Today's Opinion: New Killer Jazz CD Release by Yosvany Terry

There are some very exciting and innovative  new Jazz recording projects about to hit the streets including a phenomenal project by Manuel Valera's New Cuban Express, and we'll be saying more about those  in the near future.  But right here, right now, Yosvany Terry is releasing one of them, Today's Opinion,  with special live sets on Tuesday April 10 and Wednesday, April 11 at the Jazz Standard   in NYC. The CD absolutely knocked our socks off - you can read the review here.  

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Sun, 08 Apr 2012 14:36:20 +0000
Sierra Maestra! Sierra Maestra played a packed house in Santa Cruz last night and will be in San Francisco tonight. Click continue reading for Tom Ehrlich's review and more photos.

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Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:03:41 +0000
IT'S INTERNATIONAL TIMBA MONTH! Ladies and Gentlemen this year, as every year, it is time for me to remind you that timba was "officially" born this month in 1989 with the formation of NG La Banda by Maestro José Luis Cortés on April 4. So today we celebrate that momentous event that eventually changed all of our lives. Thank you El Tosco for starting the timba trend!

How will you celebrate International Timba Month? In the US you should catch one of the remaining concerts by La Charanga Habanera . In Europe you can find Los Van Van and here in Scandinavia we have the Viking Line Cuba cruises with Elito Revé y Su Charangón, La Charanga Forever and Yumurí y Sus Hermanos. I plan to celebrate with a few timba cruises assuming I can get free from work which has been unusually busy for me this spring.

So let's all look back with a bit of nostalgia on the band that started it all: NG La Banda with one of my favorite songs, "La Bruja" from back in 1992.

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Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:16:41 +0000
ALEXANDER ABREU in "7 Days in Havana" The trailer of "7 Days in Havana" is now up at YouTube and I was thrilled to see the segment with Alexander Abreu! As far as I know this is his movie debut and he plays a taxi driver / musician. Felicidades de Timba.com Alexander!

The film has 7 directors who each took one day of the week. The segments in order of appearance are: El Yuma by Benicio Del Toro, Jam Session by Pablo Trapero, La tentación de Cecilia by Julio Médem, Diary of a Beginner by Elia Suleiman, Ritual byGaspar Noé, Dulce amargo by Juan Carlos Tabío and La fuente by Laurent Cantet.

I don't know when it will be at theaters but the trailer looks great, although the girl-on-girl dancing action is a bit unrealistic for Cuba. Anyway, check out the trailer. If you look closely you cna see some of the other musicians from Havana D'Primera as well. Look for the movie at a theater near you!

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Tue, 03 Apr 2012 07:35:20 +0000
Louisville Kentucky: Timba's New Beachhead in the Midwest

Louisville, Kentucky has always been a cultural hub for that region of the United States, and it now provides us with another link in the Timba concert chain.   David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera have helped break the ice for what we hope will be a series of events in the future.  
Click here to read all about it and see photos from the Charanga Habanera concert. 

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Sun, 01 Apr 2012 18:13:58 +0000
2012 Billboard Latin Music Conference & Awards 2012 Billboard Latin Music Conference & Awards                 use the LPM Promo Code LAPLS12 for a 20% discount off registration
http://www.billboardlatinconference.com/
Official Media Partner = Latin Pulse Music / Timba.com 

Registration: 212.493.4263 Conferences@Billboard.com
Sponsorship: 646.315.2961 Cebele.Marquez@Billboard.com
JW Marriott Marquis Reservations: Limited Discounts Available 888.717.8850 
(Use Group Code Billboard Latin Music)

PRESENTING SPONSOR = STATE FARM
CONFERENCE SPONSORS = PEPSI, 5GUM, NU LIFE ENTERTAINMENT, TELEMUNDO, MUN2, SPRINT, SENZARI, SESAC, AKELA FAMILY

Latest News about the 2012 Billboard Latin Music Conference & Awards:
- Daddy Yankee Confirmed for Being Social Panel 
- Regional Mexican leaders Gerardo Ortiz and 3Ball MTY share on their path to success - The Diva We Want to Know: Q&A With Jenni Rivera
- JUST ANNOUNCED!: Superstar Q&A with PITBULL

Cuban music WILL BE represented in a special promotional compilation CD that is only available inside all the conference bags given to each attandee. Sure to be the hippest Latin music sampler of the conference, this one-of-a-kind disc is made possible by Latin Music Mastering, a division of Latin Pulse Music. Click on the album cover below for more details and full track list.....

all colors CMYK - print ready - not optimized for computers screens (RGB)Latin Music Mastering - Compilación Promocional - 2012 Billboard Latin Music Conference & Awards

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Fri, 30 Mar 2012 05:22:43 +0000
Charanga Fever Hits the Heartland Louisville, Kentucky? Actually this part of the country has had a fairly strong Cuban music scene for quite a while. Bill Tilford will be on hand and has an interview lined up.

Next is The Conga Room in LA on April 5th, offering a special discount.

And then two nights at Yoshi's SF, Monday & Tuesday, April 9 and 10.

Coming on May 18th - Manolín at Steven's Steakhouse in LA.

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Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:32:03 +0000
Calixto Oviedo @ Berklee Percussion Festival Calixto Oviedo

Master Percussionist Calixto Oviedo will be back in Boston June 18-20 for the Berklee Percussion Festival. Calixto will be teaching Masters Classes as well as performing in a concert. This is an invaluable opportunity to learn directly from one of Cuba's most important modern percussionists! You can apply now on-line to attend the workshops.

If you're not able to attend the Berklee classes, check out the Beyond Salsa Percussion series. In this series Calixto teaches drums and timbales, both basic patterns and timba gears. You can choose from books, videos and audio files.

Calixto Oviedo: Beyond Salsa Percussion

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Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:12:44 +0000
Sierra Maestra Brings The Son To Chicago

Sierra Maestra gave two knockout performances at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago on March 24 2012, and the crowd came to dance.     Click here to read  about it and view photos of the concerts. 

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Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:55:20 +0000
Charanga Habanera Coming to Yoshi's SF photo by Peter Maiden

So far, the only dates scheduled for the Charanga Habanera tour are Monday and Tuesday, April 9th and 10th at Yoshi's SF, and Friday, March 30th in Louisville, KY, but shows in other cities are being arranged we'll update the tours page when LA, NY and Miami shows are confirmed.

Due to popular demand, Yoshi's is selling a special "all-night" ticket, enabling you to go to both shows for a reduced price. See you there!

Click Continue Reading for more photos.

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Fri, 23 Mar 2012 21:42:40 +0000
Free Download of Alain Pérez Tracks! Ayva Records, producers of Alain's 2005 album En el aire, have made several tracks available as free downloads. To get the free tracks you have to click the "GET IT NOW" button, not the picture itself. Check out the solo on the title track. That's Alain on two of the batás, by the way.

 

Click here for more Alain Pérez news.

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Fri, 23 Mar 2012 05:04:05 +0000
Charanga Habanera in the Midwest

Those of you within traveling distance of Louisville, KY can see Charanga Habanera on Friday, March 30 at the Coconut Beach Nightclub, now in a new location at 2787 South Floyd St., Louisville KY.   Advance tickets (cheaper than at the door) may be purchased at 
https://www.ticketriver.com/event/3218-charanga-habanera-2012-kentucky-tour

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Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:58:17 +0000
Timba and The United States, Part II La Timba y  Los Estados Unidos, Parte II: La Recepción Inicial de la Timba en los E.E.U.U
(Para leer este artículo en español oprima aquí)

          If musical merit was the only ingredient necessary for mass popularity  in the United States, Timba would have quickly  taken the country by storm the same way that the Mambo did years earlier.  However, that  is not enough, as many Jazz musicians have also learned the hard way over the years.   An infrastructure to support the music is  also required for any genre to reach large numbers of listeners, and that was not in place for Timba when its sounds first reached the United States. In order to fully understand the reasons for this, we first need to briefly revisit the three decades prior to Timba’s emergence as a distinct style.           

          In the 1960s, there was no significant ongoing cultural exchange between the United States and  Cuba.  This does not mean that there was no exchange of ideas of any sort -  musicians both here and there were listening to each other by various means, and radio enthusiasts such as this writer were keeping up with what was happening in Cuban music via shortwave stations such as Radio Habana Cuba, Radio Rebelde etc.  However, most of the general American public remained....click "continue reading" below for the full article

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Sun, 18 Mar 2012 15:29:30 +0000
Melón and Alain Videos Released! Another breakthrough for all timba pianists and bassists! The VIDEO portions of Beyond Salsa Piano and Beyond Salsa Bass (both for Volume 6) have been released. Beyond Salsa Piano 6-9 focuses on Iván "Melón" Lewis -a central player in one of the most important bands of the entire timba era, the Issac Delgado Group of 1995-1998. Beyond Salsa Piano is an instructional (eBook + audio + video), play-along history and anthology of the role of the piano in the Cuban rhythm section –from its first appearance to the present. Melón's 48 video clips were filmed with two cameras, one from the side and one overhead. For every tumbao, we provide three separate videos: a widescreen version of each camera angle and a split screen version combining the two.

Melón video clips - Beyond Salsa Piano Vol.6 - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubana

Click on the image above to check out the video and for more details on the Alain video clips.....

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Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:46:28 +0000
Cuban Music News in Review - 2012 Mar 13 UPDATE (a quick note from Issac Delgado): "Conocí a Alain Pérez cuando estudiaba guitarra en la Escuela Nacional de Arte en la Habana, Cuba, con sus prodigiosas manos con uñas largas para ejecutar... Me siento parte responsable y complice en su transición de la guitarra al bajo, el ha sido un aglutinador e inspiración para los músicos a su alrededor, su condición de arreglista, compositor y su talento lo han llevado a una condición natural de ser respetado y admirado como un “musico total”. He seguido y compartido su carrera como bajista, para mi es el más “ritmático” de los que he conocido. El bajo como instrumento en la música afro-cubana ha sido siempre “la columna vertebral” de una agrupación. Alain es capaz de sostener esa responsabilidad, sin embargo su capacidad rítmica le permite hacer figuraciones sincopadas en los lugares mas insólitos e inesperados de una obra musical, sin perder el sabor, la cadencia y sentido de la misma que imprime el bajo a nuestra música. Su paso por el flamenco ha madurado su forma y estilo musical, para mi modesta opinión: actualmente es “El Bajista Timbero” de Cuba, como referencia internacional." -- Issac Delgado

Beyond Salsa Bass featuring Alain Pérez - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubanaFinally ! The first book of the Beyond Salsa Bass series has been released. Volume 6 of Beyond Salsa Bass begins our 4-volume study of the style of Alain Pérez, one of the most talented bassists, composers and arrangers of modern Cuban music. The bass series follows the piano series exactly, covering the same songs, now from the perspective of the bassist.  hardcopy 

Both the notes and the percussive sounds that he uses to create his funky style. Each musical example is provided in 16th note notation, 8th note notion and bass tablature. There are corresponding audio and video products for each volume.

Click here for the full story and details....   

Beyond Salsa Bass featuring Alain Pérez - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubana

Eddie Palmieri 75th Birthday celebration show - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubanaHavana Live Music Listings are up - Click here to see the live music schedule for Havana.

Sierra Maestra upcoming US shows
- This classic son band has shows coming up in ...... click here for the full story and details

Eddie Palmieri 75th Birthday celebration show
is taking place at ....  click here for the full story and details

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Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:24:53 +0000
Happy International Women's Day! Today is International Women's Day, so here's a shout out to all of the women in the music, past and present, especially Orquesta Anacaona, Cuba's all-female band that is still going strong after 80 years with a new generation of performers:

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Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:38:39 +0000
Charanga Habanera in CA photo by Tom Ehrlich (full gallery here)

Charanga Habanera returns to Yoshi's SF on April 9th & 10th. More dates will be added here. It's not listed on the Yoshi's SF calendar as of this post, but has been confirmed. Come back later and click the link to reserve tickets. This is the third CH tour in the last year and a half. Things are looking up!

Meanwhile: The return of legendary timbalero Orestes Vilató to the John Santos Sextet continues at Yoshi's Oakland tonight after generating universal rave reviews Friday. He's Calixto Oviedo's favorite timbalero - that says a lot - but you simply have to see this guy in person. He plays the pailas like a Stradavarius - with indescribable finesse and swing. [Kevin Moore]

cuban music, musica cubana                                           photo by Tom Ehrlich (full gallery here)

Books and Videos Coming Wednesday:

Alain Pérez audio, eBook and hard-copy book for Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 6

Melón Lewis video for Beyond Salsa Piano, Vol. 6

Alain Pérez video Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 6

Timba in Chicago and the Midwest - check out Bill's slick new calendar.

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Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:35:52 +0000
More SF SalsaRueda Fotos from Tom

Covering the final dance competition and the Timbalive concert - click here for the full gallery.

Book News: First Alain Pérez Bass book coming very soon.

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Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:28:32 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's SF SalsaRueda Fest Photos Festival Directors Nick Van Eyck and Serena Wong with El Médico de la Salsa

The SF SalsaRueda Festival was really a great event - having 500+ great and enthusiastic dancers in the crowd really seemed to fire up the musicians. Here's Tom's gallery from Saturday - Part 2, covering Sunday, is still to come.

Rumor Central: As per DJ Melao, Arnaldo Jiménez (ex-Paulito, leader of la Cosmopólita) will be Los Van Van's new bassist.

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Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:38:06 +0000
Cuban Music News in Review 2012 Feb 24 ** Breaking News Update - Singer José Antonio Rodríguez González (Pepitin)
leaves Manolito y su Trabuco **

Cantante cubano Marlon Fernández - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubanaA 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 Molina deja a Los Van Van - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubanaPavel 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.

Peter Maiden's Maykel Blanco photo feature - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubana

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Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:57:11 +0000
Yoel Cuesta Joins Los Van Van Yoel Cuesta - new conguero Los Van Van Yoel Cuesta Fernández is the new conguero of Los Van Van upon the passing of Manolo. Timba fans know him from his work with Azúcar Negra and Adalberto Álvarez y su Son. In addition to being a stellar conguero, Manolo was a wonderful human being who contributed to the group with his kindness and his love. Yoel, in addition to being an excellent conguero, is also a genuinely nice person and thus a fitting choice to fill the huge space left by Manolo's death. We wish him the best as he steps into the shoes of one of Cuba's legendary percussionists.

We will soon see Yoelito with El Tren as Los Van Van begin their European Tour on March 1st. This will be the first European tour for Los Van Van since the departure of Mayito Rivera and the entrance of Mandy Cantero, and now the first international presentations with Yoelito on congas. Click here for the list of Van Van concert dates.

Below you can check out video of Los Van Van with Mandy singing Este amor que se muere - qué riiico!

Los Van Van with Mandy Cantero singing Este amor que se muere

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Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:11:32 +0000
Timbalive Percussion Solos! Coky García, Carlos Caro, Leo García (photo by Kevin Moore)

After backing up Manolín on Saturday, Timbalive closed out the massive and extraordinary SF Salsa Rueda Festival with two burning sets, highlighted by these percussion solos from Los García: Leo, the leader of the band, Coky, his older brother, who played with the original NG La Banda, back when they were called Nueva Generación, as well as Emiliano Salvador, Opus 13, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Mamborama, their cousin Miguelito, who just arrived, having been a founding member of Havana d'Primera, and guest artist Carlos Caro, the subject of the soon to be released Beyond Salsa Bongó, a former member of Opus 13 and Paulito FG. Enjoy!

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Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:43:07 +0000
Rest in Peace, Manolo

This is a really shocking and tragic development, which we delayed posting in the hope that it was only a rumor, but Manuel "Manolo" Labarrera, conguero of Los Van Van since 1980, has passed. He looked very young and very healthy when Tom took this video of him at Yoshi's SF last year.

Manolo "de la sonrisa amplia" (of the big grin) took over as Van Van's conguero for Joel Drigs, who played on only one album after the departure of founding conguero Raúl "El Yulo" Cárdenas, who, many years later, while a member of NG La Banda, himself died in a tragic car crash. By all accounts, Manolo was every bit as wonderful a person as a conguero and in the latter department he was legendary, playing a central role in the hellacious groove that resulted in Van Van's apodo, "el tren del Caribe" (the train). Manolo is survived by his son Rafael, who sang with Bamboleo and penned such classics at La tremenda and El protagonista. Rafael was residing in Perú when last we heard. R.I.P. Manolo - it will never be quite the same without you.

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Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:47:03 +0000
Peter Maiden's SF Salsa Rueda Fest Photos

Click here for Peter Maiden's photos from Saturday, featuring various dance clinics, and Manolín, el Médico de la Salsa, backed by Timbalive.

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Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:53:55 +0000
Los Hermanos Arango and Habana Sax in the US! Three phenomenal groups from Cuba are performing in the US in short order:

Los Hermanos Arango are at the Berklee Performance Center at 8:15 pm Eastern Time on Tuesday, February 21.  Can't get there?  No worries, the performance will be carried by a live video stream! Here is this link for the live stream::
http://goo.gl/Yyp9V

Next up:  Habana Sax, which is scheduled to perform in Miami at the Art of Freedom/La Cueva Azul, 1388 SW 8th St., Miami FL on Friday, 24 February and Saturday, 25 February.  Call the venue for performance times at (305)-857-9848.

Finally, Interactivo is scheduled for a concert in Miami Beach on Sunday, 1 April at 7PM  at the North Beach Band Shell (Collins and 73rd St., Miami Beach.).  For more details, click continue reading to see the official flyer or see the Fundarte announcement a http://goo.gl/xtZjJ

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Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:17:02 +0000
2012 Salsa Rueda Festival - Carlos Caro with Timbalive 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.

2012 Salsa Rueda festival

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Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:58:05 +0000
SF SalsaRueda Fest Continues Tonight It was a thrill to hear Manolín, with three solid new songs in a genuine timba style. Timbalive also played two originals, including a killer timba-guaguancó to get us ready for their full show tonight.

This must be one of the biggest Cuban dance gatherings in the world - it's now spilled over into the hotel next door and had well over 500 passionately enthusiastic dancers running at full speed trying to pack in as many of the overlapping events as possible.

Tom Ehrlich and Peter Maiden were snapping photos all night. Tom has a gallery up from Thursday, with more coming. Click "continue reading" for more shots from both.

photo by Peter Maiden

photo by Tom Ehrlich

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Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:57:00 +0000
SF Salsa Rueda Festival Begins Today Check out this lineup! Roberto Borrell, Susana Arenas and 27 other instructors. How does all that fit into just four days? 

And then there's the music. It's been at least five years since the West Coast has heard from Manolín, el Médico de la Salsa, the first band I ever saw in Cuba and the one that caused me to go permanently insane. Manolín plays Saturday night, backed by Timbalive, who blew everyone away last year. Their leader, Leo García, brother of Cokey García (ex-Opus 13), was the guy Van Van picked to sub for Samuel on their last tour. I guess that pretty much establishes his credentials. Timbalive has three great albums , the second of which, From Miami a La Habana,  features none other than Melón Lewis on piano.

On Sunday night, Timbalive plays their own show. Bay Area master sonero Fito Reinoso plays Saturday afternoon. Rumbaché, with their awe-inspiring arsenal of improvisable efectos, plays Friday night. You can hear Carlos Caro , the subject of the soon-to-be-released Beyond Salsa Bongó, on Thursday, which features Bomberas de la Bahía , The Bay Area Rumba All-Stars, and DJ Waltdigz, who also appears on Saturday. Look - I'm a musician so I hate the whole idea of DJs, but Walt is the exception that proves the rule. Every time I hear him, he plays about 20 great new songs that I, cloistered in my little studio writing books, should  know by heart by now. Recorded music may be killing live music, but at least with Walt you can die happy.

There are also no less than 36 dance performances from troupes who have come from as far away as Japan, Mexico City, Venezuela, Canada and the East Coast. See you there! [Kevin Moore]

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Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:02:43 +0000
TIRSO DUARTE IN EL YUMA PART II Tirso Duarte in New Jersey

Tirso Duarte "El Charanguero Mayor" and timbero de excelencia arrived in Miami on Monday and is preparing for his New York / New Jersey concerts, which begin on Friday February 17 with a concert at Chango in Astoria . He will perform at La casa de la timba in New Jersey on the 18th and the S.O.B.s date has now been confirmed for March 30 . Tirso has recently performed a number of concerts in Colombia where he had an overwhelming reception by his ecstatic fans, so much so that they sang every song from start to finish. Now his US fans can enjoy the energy of his live concerts during this, his first ever solo tour of the US! Keep checking Tirso's Tours page because we will update it as other concerts are confirmed during February/March.

To whet your appetite, here is a sample of what you can expect, filmed on August 5, 2011 at Teatro Jorge Isaacs in Cali, Colombia by Eventos Timpop. Con Tirso no hay casualidad!

Tirso Duarte - Dejala que corra - live in Colombia

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Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:55:44 +0000
Cachao's live record wins Best Tropical Album at the 54th Grammys Best Tropical Latin Album Grammy - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música LatinaGrammy 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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Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:23:46 +0000
Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor in Peru Maykel Blanco & Salsa Mayor arrived today in Peru where they will have 11 concerts. Thanks to Joseiito Tiimba, we have updated the Salsa Mayor tour page with all the concert dates in Lima. And we can also inform European fans that the summer tour will take place from June 21 to July 15. We will update the tours as soon as we have more info, so keep an eye out for concert dates near you!

Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor with Yordi - " Se acabo el amor"

But you don't have to wait until the summer to enjoy your timba en vivo! We have Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe on their first European Tour in March! We are still waiting for the final list of confirmed dates so check back with us.  Los Van Van are also touring Europe in March, starting with a couple of concerts in England before they move on to the Continent. Also in March - April, the Viking Line Cuba Cruises between Stockholm and Helsinki will take place featuring Elito Revé y su Charangón, Yumurí and Charanga Forever. There will also be a number of traditional groups as well as dance shows. So check out Viking Line and book yourself a cruise!

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Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:38:17 +0000
Arango in Boston (Updated) UPDATED: Two new shows added on 2-21 & 2-23 - click here for details.
 
Por Fin! Los Hermanos Arango are finally in the United States and will play at Berklee School of Music a week from today, Wednesday, Feb. 22.

There are also encouraging signs that they may play a show in Chicago.

Their visas are good until July so if you ideas for venues, please write in.

Click "continue reading La última" for a larger image of the poster.

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Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:26:05 +0000
New Cuban Music Videos & Updates - 2012, Feb 6 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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Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:47:56 +0000
2012 - The Year of the Bass Legendary NG La Banda bassist Feliciano Arango (winner of the timba.com readers' poll in that category) and his co-author, bassist Cherina Mastrantones, have finished their second book (first book here). This one has all the best NG tracks transcribed all the way through and joins Standing in the Shadows of Motown as one of the best bass books every written. I hope to join that list in about a month with a book on Alain Pérez, but more on that laterl  

As someone who has spent far too much time transcribing Cuban basslines, I'm knocked out by the choice of material and the quality of the notation to say nothing of the subject. I rank Arango among the four most creative and inspired tumbao creators - the other three being Humberto Perera, Pedro Pablo Gutiérrez and Alain Pérez. I've got Alain covered - with four books plus audio and video coming soon (also Melón video), and Rob Holland keeps threatening to write a book on Humberto, who's also covered in Roots of Timba. That leaves Pedro Pablo. We only have this. Hopefully Rebambaramba, or someone else, will bring Pedro on tour soon.

Meanwhile, Arango's current group, Los Hermanos Arango, will be "in residence" at Berklee School of Music for 10 days in late February and there are encouraging signs that they may play elsewhere (Chicago perhaps). Their visas are good until July, so if you have any suggested venues, please write in. [Kevin Moore]

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Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:17:33 +0000
Cuban Music News - In Brief - February 1 2012 **BREAKING NEWS - MICHEL MAZA UPDATE**
Michel Maza condemned to 25 years in prison in Lima, Perú
for armed robbery with a concealed weapon.

Recently Harper's Magazine writer Daniel Alarcón wrote a feature about Perú's Lurigancho prison. "All Politics Are Local". Excerpt here = http://harpers.org/archive/2012/01/hbc-90008428

Michel Maza arrested in Lima - The famous ex-Charanga Habanera singer Michel Maza was arrested in Lima, Perú for an alleged hold-up of a taxi driver. Money, a cellphone and a radio were taken with a concealed weapon, a serious charge in Perú that can carry a sentence of up to 25 years. Other charges allege drug use. There is talk that he will be deported to Cuba. source

Live in Havana - The Havana weekly listing is up. Would be great to hear about the new Sello LA, Monica y su Máquina, and Tania Pantojas line-ups. 

Papo Angarica y Son Yoruba - New track Juégala is currently #1 on RADIO TIMBA. The version of "El Jonrón" we have features Tania Pantoja (ex-Bamboleo) but the a new live Azucar Negra version can be heard here = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ_E1a6hTcI

New single from Miami: Xavier Mili's "Ya Sé Lo Que Tu Quieres" - Grandson of Los Záfiros creator Nestor Mili, Xavier Mili has made Miami his home working with local bands, most notably El Pikete, and on regional television Channel 41. Check out his new single here.

New Habana D' Primera Video Premier (Al fin de la vida) heats up London - One of London's original salsa dance events - El Rumbón Cubano - is featuring HDP's new video of "Al fin de la vida" on February 9nth. Dance teacher Kerry Ribchester directed the video. In related news, the video screening aslo includes Bamboleo’s "La Que Manda (Mujeres)" and Los Van Van’s "Me Mantengo", which was nominated for Music Video of the Year in Cuba's Lukas Awards. 

Upcoming Cuba y Puerto Rico projects...
1- Tres legend Francisco "Pancho" Amat to record album with Andy Montañez
- Cuban musician Francisco Amat, recognized as one of the most talented treseros in the world, plans to record in 2012 a CD with the Puerto Rican singer Andy Montañez. "It is a project we did together some time ago to reflect the musical relationship between the two countries. I expect to complete it before the end of the year", Amat told Prensa Latina. Amat also announced as part of his plans for 2012 the realization of a CD with the Cabildo del Son, a group he founded in the 1990s. source
2- Danny Rivera new documentary "La música es mi aliento" - Puerto Rican singer Danny Rivera and young Cuban instrumentalists make up the cast of documentary "La musica es mi aliento" (Music is my breath), dedicated to the Cuban singer Adriano Rodríguez and directed by local composer Edesio Alejandro. With this film, Rivera, who is also a guitarist and producer, will pay tribute to Adriano Rodriguez. Composer Edesio Alejandro is directing. source 
3- 20-time Latin Grammy winners Calle 13 filming a documentary in Cuba - Puerto Rican reggaetón duo Calle 13 is currently filming a documentary in Cuba, official media said Monday, citing band member René Pérez, a.k.a. "Residente." Pérez said that he traveled to Cuba on a motorboat and that it was "a great experience, a little dangerous but nice at the same time." The duo's new documentary is being directed by Puerto Rican filmmaker Lidy Paoli López. Residente and Visitante attended a concert offered by Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez last Thursday at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Havana.

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Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:45:54 +0000
Timba and The United States, Part I: The Globalization of Timba This is Part I of a series of articles about the status of Timba in the United States, covering both international and U.S.-based groups. para leer este artículo en español oprima aquí

(Photo by Tom Ehrlich)

     The genre called Timba, like Jazz, has been declared dead by some music critics more than once over the past several years.  Like Jazz, it is very much alive,  but our favorite tropical genre does face some of the same challenges for a variety of reasons.  These articles will examine those reasons in depth and discuss some possible ways that the community of musicians and supporters of the music might help address some of these.   We will be covering several topics over time, including the music press, radio, audience tastes, financial risks and other related issues.  
     The first thing that we need to do is point out that while  Timba was born in Cuba, and Cuba remains its epicenter, the genre has also  become a truly international  movement  for three reasons:  
Over the last couple of decades, it has developed an international fan base.   In addition to Cuba, Timba music is now (thanks to both recordings and extensive live tours) popular throughout several Latin American countries, much of Europe, parts of Asia and Africa, and it has a fan base in North America as well. 
Some Cuban musicians that play Timba reside all or part of the time in other countries, and they have introduced the music to both new musicians and new listeners.  
Musical groups that play Timba have been formed in several countries.   In some cases, these groups play very high-quality music  music of high caliber at a very sophisticated level.  Just a few of the  examples are Mayimbe in Peru; Calle Real, La Tremenda, Gilito y su Clave, La Jugada and  Soneros All Stars in  Sweden; Monica y su M.P. in France; Pan Con Timba and Doble Jugada  in the Netherlands;  Contrabando in Belgium; Grupo Danson in Denmark; Jose Torres y Salsa Tropical in Poland,  and El Zorro in Switzerland.   Within the United States, Tiempo Libre, Timbalive and the Pedrito Martinez group play Timba.  Some bands such as Rumbankete now play both Timba and Salsa.    
     What does all of this mean? For openers, after almost two decades, we can safely say that Timba is an established genre rather than a passing fad, and it has a truly global listening audience, as well as a truly global musical community that plays and enjoys the material.   These are important points to remember as we examine the status of Timba within the United States. 

Next:  Timba’s Initial Reception in the United States

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Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:15:29 +0000
HERMANOS ARANGOS @ BERKLEE Hermanos Arango @ Berklee

It's like the holidays all over again for bassists! Kevin is hard at work finishing the first book in the Beyond Salsa Bass series, and Feliciano Arango will be giving a clinic at the Berklee College of Music about the role of the bass in Cuban jazz/salsa/timba and his work with the group Los Hermanos Arango on February 22nd at 1:00pm. The night before the clinic, Los Hermanos Arango will perform (February 21st) at the Berklee Performance Center at 8:15pm.

Now as all timba fans know, there is no one better to talk about the role of the bass in contemporary Cuban music. But since there may be some readers who have recently discovered timba and who are not yet on a first name basis with all the major players, here is an excerpt from the announcement by the Bass Department, which is sponsoring the event as part of the Visiting Artists Series.

Feliciano Arango was born in the Guanabacoa section of Havana, Cuba where Yoruba, Abakua and other African traditions are preserved in their most authentic form in the Americas. He was mentored by seminal Cuban bassist Orlando 'Cachaito' Lopez and attended Escuela Nacional de Arte where he studied with the top musicians from around the island. Soon after graduating from ENA, Arango joined the group of legendary pianist/composer Emiliano Salvador who was a leading figure in Cuban jazz through the 1990s. After extensive touring and recording with Salvador, Arango went on to be the founding bassist for N.G. la Banda, whom he performed with for the next fifteen years. With N.G. la Banda, Arango developed a new style of Cuban dance music called 'timba'. He was responsible for leading Cuban bassists in a new approach to playing salsa that greatly enhanced the melodic, percussive sound of the bass. Since leaving N.G. la Banda, Arango has been the top call bassist for jazz, salsa, timba and other forms of Cuban music.

Feliciano Arango now leads Los Hermanos Arangos along with his two brothers Eugenio and Ignacio and sister Cristina. The Arangos are the only Cuban band to use completely unaltered Afrocuban ritual voice/hand drumming as the basis for a modern repertoire that integrates electric bass, keyboards, brass/winds (no drumset).

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Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:31:23 +0000
Cuban Music News - In Brief - January 21 2012 Havana weekly listings are up - Need a live music and performance schedule for Havana next week? Check it out in our new section = https://www.timba.com/encyclopedias/havana-live-music-listings

Music form the Cuba All Stars Festival in Perú - check some live tracks from the festival: Mandy Cantero with Los Van Van on Que Sorpresa and Alex Abreu y Habana D Primera with Cuando El Río Suena. Both on Radio Timba right now. 

Samuel Formell collaborates with Mexican guitar heroes Rodrigo y Gabriela - Ready to be released in the US this upcoming Tuesday, January 24th, Area 52 contains nine (9) of the duo's favorite songs from their own catalogue re-arranged and re-configured for a 13-piece Cuban orchestra comprised of some of Havana's finest young players, collectively known as C.U.B.A. This two-disc set includes a 30-minute 'making-of' documentary on DVD. Area 52 - New album Rodrigo y Gabriela with Samuell Formell of Los Van Van - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubana source

Area 52 was mixed by Rafa Sardina, one of the leading studio musicians in the Latin music world, and arranged by London-based pianist, composer and arranger Alex Wilson. Recording took place in the Miramar district of Havana, Cuba, at Abdala Studios, founded by the Cuban folk hero Silvio Rodriguez, as well as at Rodrigo & Gabriel's studio in Ixtapa, Mexico. Other players on the record include: bassist Carles Benavent (Paco De Lucia, Chick Corea, Miles Davis), drummer John Tempesta (The Cult, Testament, White Zombie), sitarist Anoushka Shankar and drummer Samuel Formell (Los Van Van)

Radio Timba has an excerpt (with spoilers) of Samuel's killer solo (listen to track #1) of the album's first cut, entitled "Santo Domingo". Check out Rodrigo y Gabriela's iste at = http://rodgab.com/

CubaAntwerpen (title song for the festival), new video from Grupo Contrabando - Hey shameless plug, but it's always It's a great feeling to see and hear a song you mastered. I worked with leader and trombonist Andrés Fernández on this and the video blew me away. Check it out:

Felipe Lamoglia & Urban Beats in Miami - Cuban Timba All Star (Tomasito Cruz version) and ex-NG La Banda saxofonist Felipe Magnolia will be playing his special brand of Afro-Cuban jazz in Miami Beach tomorrow. Fellow CTAS drummer Reinier Guerra is also on the bill. 

Legendary, classical-style, afro-cuban "salsa suite" to be performed with 40 musicians - Pianist Larry Harlow's magnum opus "La Raza Latina" will be performed Friday night at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami as part of the Jazz and Roots series, with the composer conducting the local Mario Ortiz All-stars Band and a stellar lineup of musicians that includes the 90-year-old Cuban percussionist Candido Camero and Grammy-award winner and violinist Federico Britos. This will be only the second production of the show, first performed Aug. 14, 2011 at New York's Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival, with Blades, now a Hollywood actor and former cultural minister of Panama, in the lead role. In Miami, Blades' part will be sung by vocalists Emo Luciano and Luisito Rosario. source

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Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:42:50 +0000
HAVANA RHYTHM AND DANCE FESTIVAL Fiesta del Tambor 2012

It's time again for the Fiest del Tambor. Here is the introduction to the call to the 11th edition:

The Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival (Fiesta del Tambor) was born and developed giving posthumous recognition to Guillermo Barreto, one of the greatest percussionists of all time throughout the Americas.  Due to his importance, the event has had 10 editions with the participation of guests of international fame, the support of several of the most important percussion companies around the world and Cuba, and participation by the most important Cuban musicians as well as the principle dance companies, which join in the festival demonstrating the unbreakable relationship between the drum and dance.
 
The festival is a natural showcase for all percussionists, and we also celebrate the International Percussion Competition. The competition is totally open to all ages and nationalities and permits us to further and to stimulate Cuban Percussion in some of the principle instruments which identify us and that we inherit with special acknowledgement from musicians such as Chano Pozo, Tata Güines, Ricardo “Papín“ Abreu, Miguel Angá, among many other  musicians that have passed away.
 
This year it will be celebrated from March 6 to 11, 2012. The festival is organized by the Center for the Promotion of Traditional Music “Ignacio Piñeiro”.

We maintain all of the activities that have been a cultural success for Cuba in the previous editions among which are: masters classes, dance music concerts and jazz concerts, performances by the principle folkloric groups of Cuba, visits to the national Schools of the Arts and intercultural visits by alumni and professors of universities and schools of various countries, conferences and classes in Cuban percussion organized in advance, among other surprises that we continue to add.
 
We expect more than 30 000 people to attend the planned activities at different venues including some of Havana’s principle theaters (Karl Marx, Amadeo Roldán, Mella). Other venues that will host the festival are: “El Palacio de la Rumba”, El “Salón Rosado de La Tropical”, de la EGREM’s “Casas de la Música”, La Casa de la Cultura de Plaza, Hotel Occidental Miramar, Hotel Habana Libre, among other locations.

Click here for more information, including instructions to apply to participate in the drum competition (in Spanish).

The Canadian organization KoSA is organizing their annual trip to the Fiesta del Tambor, which includes hotel, meals, conferences, classes and local transportation. For more information about partcipating via KoSA click here .

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Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:34:33 +0000
Los Van Van - La Maquinaría Tour Los Van Van - La Maquinaría

On March 1st Los Van Van begin their Winter 2012 Tour of Europe featuring songs from their latest CD, La Maquinaría and providing Europeans with our first live experience of Mandy Cantero with Van Van. Yes, there are already a number of Mandy with Van Van videos, but there is really nothing that can match the live-in-person experience. Van Van's month-long tour includes England, Belgium, France, the Nordic countries, and an extensive tour of Germany as well as dates in Switzerland and Luxembourg. Click here to find a concert near you.

If you happen to be in Germany you can also take advantage of the Cubanízate Festival de Salsa Cubana offer of a discount on Van Van tickets when you purchase your festival ticket. This is the second year for the Cubanízate Festival,  a Cuban dance congreso that is held in Nuremberg, and DJ Tomba has promised timba, timba and timba! Tomba tells us: "The deal is that if you order both tickets you save 10 Euros. Related to the concert ticket you pay 20 instead of 30 Euro. And you can choose One of the cities Van Van plays in Germany." Check out the Cubanízate Festival website for more information about how to take advantage of the festival/Van Van offer and for a complete list of classes and instructors.

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Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:56:54 +0000
Upgrade your salsa band to TIMBA! - No more excuses Upgrade your salsa band to TIMBA! The motherlode has finally arrived. It is now impossible to argue against this instructional behemoth. "Well I love it and I can play in that style, but of the band doesn't, so I can't do my thing .... We can't get charts for the songs we like ... The charts are always wrong and incomplete".  NO MORE EXCUSES. 365 pages and 465 audio tracks (753 MB) later, INCLUDING the full sheet music transcription for César Pupy Pedroso y los que Son Son's EL BUENA GENTE (2005 version w/ Pepito Gómez), Beyond Salsa for Ensemble is HERE  !

Immediately download the FREE, 46 page sample PDF
Beyond Salsa for Ensemble - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubana

             order the hard copy book              order the eBook & audio (sold separately)

Once you taste TIMBA you can ask for the salsa on the side. Beyond Salsa for Ensemble Volume 1 is now THE STANDARD for instruction of modern tropical dance music styles. This new series is designed to teach modern Cuban rhythm section techniques to college and high school bands, and working professional bands. Each volume contains extensive exercises that systemically teach each of timba's many rhythmic and formal innovations and each contains a full chart of an important timba hit, ready to play at concerts and gigs.

The most frequent question I've heard people ask about Cuban music is: "What's the difference between timba and salsa? "

There are many answers to this question, most of them having to do with lyrics, dancing, melody and chord progressions, but if we limit ourselves strictly to the percussion instruments and the rhythms played by the bass and piano, there are still many key differences and that's what these books are about.   read the full details >>>


BEYOND SALSA for ENSEMBLE Volume 1
COMPLETE AUDIO TRACK LIST (465 tracks - 753 MB)

4 piano training tumbaos in 2-3 & 3-2 fast & slow
2 traditional salsa marcha arriba in 2-3 & 3-2
2 piano & bass (tumbao) tracks for El BuenaGente
2 piano & bass (complete) tracks for El BuenaGente
10 coro harmony training tracks for El BuenaGente
24 marcha arriba training tracks fast & slow
70 efecto bongó tracks 2-3 & 3-2 fast & slow
70 efecto conga tracks 2-3 & 3-2 fast & slow
70 efecto timbales tracks 2-3 & 3-2 fast & slow
70 efecto drums tracks 2-3 & 3-2 fast & slow
70 efecto bass tracks 2-3 & 3-2 fast & slow
70 efecto no piano tracks 2-3 & 3-2 fast & slow

 

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Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:05:50 +0000
Cuban Music News In Brief Hot off the press...Incredible feel, insane groove, funky rumba....all of these descriptions come to mind when you experience Alaín Pérez play bass. Check out this video teaser for the upcoming Beyond Salsa Bass, a new instructional book & video by Kevin Moore & Alaín Pérez ( http://timba.com/bass ). Here Alaín demonstrates his unique bass movement and groove improvisation for the harmony of "No Me Mires", a song made popular by Issac Delgado.

Cubanos in New Jersey - Prudential Hall, New Jersey Performing Arts Center Chucho Valdés, Cuban pianist and composer, and the Afro-Cuban Messengers, plus the jazz pianist Hiromi and her Trio Project, featuring Anthony Jackson and Simon Phillips. Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. $29 to $80. Prudential Hall, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center Street. (888) 466-5722. njpac.org

Also Cuban-born saxophonist and clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera, winner of two 2011 Latin Grammys, performs at the Mayo Performing Arts Center on Friday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $37-$67. D’Rivera’s most recent release, Panamericana, won two 2011 Grammys, for “Best Latin Jazz Album” and “Best Classical Contemporary Compostion.” The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St., Morristown. For ticket information, call 973-539-8008 or visit mayoarts.org

Cuban Music Experience @ University of Colorado Denver - 7th Annual Cuban Music Experience featuring Latin-jazz greats Brian Lynch, John Benitez, Michael Spiro, and Jesús Díaz as well as the amazing 10 piece dance band Timbalive from Miami. February 15-17, 2012. Auraria Campus. source

Rumba master Gregorio Hernández passes away - Dancer, singer and master percussionist Gregorio Hernández Ríos ‘El Goyo’, one of the best known performers of Afro-Cuban rumba, died in Havana on Sunday, January 8th, 2012. He was 75 years old. The Cuban Ministry of Culture and the Union of Artists and Writers of Cuba (UNEAC) expressed their grief by citing Gregorio Hernandez’s achievements and his contribution to Cuban culture. Gregorio Hernández Ríos was born in Havana on November 17th, 1936. He was the founder of the Conjunto Folclórico Nacional, which researched and recovered Afro-Cuban music of Yoruba and Bantu origin. source

Yoani Sánchez on Huffington Post - Famous Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez is now contributing to the Huffington Post (her current article reflects on Cuban music). Her book Havana Real: One Woman Fights to Tell the Truth about Cuba Today is now available on Amazon. 

Timba in Pittsburgh? - The rumor mill has it that a sensational timba group is forming in Pittsburg, PA and they are looking for a keyboard player. Anyone have a phone number to call? Hint: look on Craigslist.

Tiempo Libre with Cincinnati Pops Orchestra - "La fiesta más grande" is scheduled for January 20-21. Check out the enthusiastic video here = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJy0HO_W0i0

New program allows legal visitation to Cuba - Our government now allows visitation to Cuba under a program called People to People Exchange. With permission from the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Office of Foreign Asset Control, it is possible for Americans to visit there legally. U.S. tourism is sanctioned under this program for either humanitarian or educational purposes. So, many organizations are abiding by the strictures and planning trips along the lines of religious mission trips, contemporary art and music trips, architectural trips and history. source

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Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:23:07 +0000
Beyond Salsa for Ensemble - Preview! Beyond Salsa for Ensemble -- all 350 pages and 464 audio files of it -- will be out later this week - click here for a preview with audio excerpts. Next up: Beyond Salsa Bass with Alain Pérez, then Beyond Salsa Bongó with Carlos Caro. Stay tuned. [Kevin Moore]

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Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:16:50 +0000
TIRSO DUARTE IN EL YUMA! Tirso Duarte @S.O.B.s

The New Year is off to an auspicious start! La Letra del Año has confirmed that the world will not end in 2012, and even more importantly, Tirso Duarte will be making his first NYC appearance on March 2nd at S.O.B.s! Ladies and gentlemen, timberas y timberos, this is truly a magnificent event so don't miss it, or you will never forgive yourself! We will get back to you ASAP with more US tour dates.

Tirso is an infinitely talented pianist, composer and arranger, and for the younger generation he is the new voice of timba. During his brilliant career he has written and arranged many of the hits of the post-break-up Charanga Habanera before moving on to NG La Banda and Pupy y Los Que Son Son, finally making his mark on Cuban music as a solo artist. As you can tell I am a huge fan myself. Here is a small taste from the Sons of Cuba DVD which many of you have already seen, but it merits watching over and over again...Manos pa'rriba la gente de la noche y la luna llena .

Tirso Duarte sings "La Luna"

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Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:17:53 +0000
Eddie Palmieri -- Photos by Tom Ehrlich

Eddie Palmieri tore it up at Yoshi's SF last month - here's Tom Ehrlich's extensive new gallery. Happy New Year to all!

Book News: I've been deep underwater working on Beyond Salsa for Ensemble, which will be about 350 pages long, with almost 500 audio files, 36 wild timba efectos (aka bloques) transcribed for the full rhythm section and a full note-for-note chart of a Pupy y los que Son Son song, ready for the gig. As soon as I get this done I'll be moving on to Beyond Salsa Bass, featuring one of the greatest figures of the entire timba era - Alain Pérez. [Kevin Moore]

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Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:52:57 +0000
HAPPY NEW YEAR! -- 2012 -- FELIZ AÑO NUEVO Feliz Año Nuevo & Happy New Year to all the timberos and timberas! To bring in the new year in style, Timba.com photographer Tom Ehrlich was in New York City grooving to the music of Arsenio Rodríguez with Andy González & Friends. Enjoy his first video....

** Click here to read the full article and view the full photo gallery **

Tom reports: "It's not always easy to find the hip Afro-Caribbean music events in New York City, but if you do its usually something special.  I was lucky to hear Andy González interviewed on the radio explaining that he and some friends were going to do a concert of Arseñio Rodríguez music at The Stone, a small non-profit club run by musician John Zorn in the Lower East Side of NYC the day after I was scheduled to arrive in NYC to visit family.  I knew I could not miss this one. "

 Tony Rosas and Andy

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Sun, 01 Jan 2012 09:04:29 +0000
TIMBALIVE: DEFINITELY BETTER THAN MEMOREX

There is nothing quite like Timba live,  and Timbalive is quite an experience too.   When they performed in  Chicago, their first appearance in the area,  they played  like they had something to prove, and they were able to do just that.  There are reasons why this group is able  to perform with the likes of Mayito Rivera and Manolin, and we heard those reasons here.    
Click here to continue reading our concert review and view the photos from the performance. 

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Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:46:06 +0000
Creole Choir Photos

The Creole Choir of Cuba or Grupo Vocal Desandann as they are called in Cuba, formed in 1994.  Their ancesters are from Haiti and the group is from Camagüey, Cuba.  The Creole Choir sing and dance to traditional Haitian music, using only drums, percussion instruments and beautiful lush vocal harmonies.  Their first US tour began in September, 2011.  I caught them in San Francisco on November 3, 2011 - click here for the full gallery. [Tom Ehrlich]

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Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:11:22 +0000
El Zorro @ Moods El Zorro is one of the most prolific timberos of Europe. With five CDs to his name, trombonist, composer, arranger and vocalist El Zorro has a rich repertoire to draw on. He has recorded with many of today's biggest names in Cuba such as Ángel Bonne, Sinsonte, Mayito Rivera, Arnaldo Jimenez, Ulises Benevides, Serio Noroña, Roberto Linares and Aisar Hernández to name a few. El Zorro y Su Clan recently put on a great show for their Swiss fans at the jazz club Moods, an important venue for both jazz and Latin music in Zürich. A 14+ minute video potpourri of the concert has been uploaded to YouTube. Check it out, pass it on and see if we can't get the venue owners to set up a nice summer tour across Europe for El Zorro y Su Clan.

El Zorro y Su Clan @ Moods

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Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:20:18 +0000
Pedrito Martinez Group In The Wild, Wild Midwest Up until now, we thought that the odds of our using the words "Timba", "dance band" , "explosive" and "quartet" in the same sentence were roughly equal to our chances of feeding a real live unicorn at the local zoo.  Well, two nights of the Pedrito Martinez Group in Milwaukee and Chicago have persuaded us that we might need to consider the possibility that those unicorns could be real after all.  This quartet really is  an explosive Timba dance band with added measures of killer funk bass and excellent Rumba chops.  They tore the roof off in Milwaukee and Chicago and lifted the crowds out of their seats both places.  What's more, they did it without the electronic toys that some bands use for cheating. 

(CLICK HERE TO READ ALL ABOUT IT AND CHECK OUT OUR PHOTOS )

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Sun, 04 Dec 2011 19:45:48 +0000
Cuban Music News In Brief Miami's old-guard Cuban exiles exert less influence -- "When you go to the airport and take one of these flights to Cuba, you realize the median age is no longer in their 60s or 70s." Popular Cuban musicians once greeted with bomb threats and boisterous demonstrations now pack venues in the city. After the concerts, the artists gather at the homes of relatives and old friends in South Florida. A decade ago, many of the musicians would defect. Now most return to Cuba. source

Young Cuban pianist makes jazz waves -- If you live in New York be sure to check out young Fabián Almazán. He's playing in heavywieght trumpeter and Spike Lee movie composer Terence Blanchard’s band, but hés also got his own jazz trio. Smoking. 9 and 10:30 p.m., Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia Street, Greenwich Village, (212) 989-9319, corneliastreetcafe.com; $15 cover, with a $10 minimum. With bassist Linda Oh and the drummer Henry Cole.

Gloria Estefan & Ricky Martin on Glee? -- rumor has it Ricky will play a Spanish teacher and Gloria will take on the role of a mom. "Glee" is the most popular music-focused television show in the U.S. source

Italy-based "Timba EN Talla" releases new CD "Pa'l Mundo" --  anyone know who these musicians are? Well-versed in jazz, these guys certainly have the chops. Bomba's galore. Here's a new video below....

Cachao's "The Last Mambo" nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album --  no question this master deserves another Grammy nod. It's a celebration of post-revolution Cuban music and tradition....descargas, danzones, cha cha cha,  El Cuarto De Tula featuring Issac Delgado, etc. However it begs the question: When will people get motivated to support more modern projects? Also related: hey salseros...the 1970's was 40 years ago.  

Cuban Festival in New Zealand -- yeah that's right. There'll be rumba and Cuban cha-cha as the world's top salsa dancers take to the floor in New Zealand during the next three days. Salsa on the Awa is hosting the third annual New Zealand Cuban Festival, which opens tonight. Salsa workshops today are open to the public (7pm-10.30pm) followed by a salsa dance party, and tomorrow workshops start from 9.30am and run to 5pm, with others on Sunday (9.30am-1pm).source

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Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:17:03 +0000
Video Clips Nominados a los Premios Lucas Orquesta femenina de Cuba - Ancaona - Premios Lucas 2011 - Video Clips cubanos - Cuban Music Videos - Cuban Music News - Noticias de m&uacute;sica cubana

Hoy nos llegan unas fotos de la orquesta femenina de Cuba -- Anacaona -- de su participación en los Premios Lucas 2011, este año presentado en el Teatro Karl Marx en la Habana. Gracias Ánika y Georgia.

Los Premios Lucas son premios otorgados en Cuba para los mejores video clip musicales. El premio surge por un programa de televisión que se comenzó a transmitir en Cuba alrededor del año 1995 el programa tuvo otros nombres como El patio de mi casa es... y Cáscara de mandarina pero finalmente pasó a llamarse simplemente Lucas y con él los Premios Lucas entregados a los mejores videos realizados en Cuba. En el año 2002 los premios amplían sus fronteras y pasan a ser Festival del videoclip cubano donde el evento ventral no son solo los premios en si, sino que viene acompañado de una serie de conciertos y presentaciones de las principales agrupaciones. A lo largo de los años, ha habido un incremento paulatino de la cantidad y calidad de los video clips presentados, lo cual ha sido un estímulo al desarrollo de los mismos. source


Los otros video nominados este año son: Si me besa tu boca (LEONI TORRES) - El cachito (KOLA LOKA) - Gente (RAUL PAZ) - Chupi-chupi (OSMANI GARCIA E INVITADOS) - A la my love (KOLA LOKA) - Llora si te duele (ANACAONA) - Pleistetion (BUENA FE) - Charanguero (CHARANGA HABANERA) - Mi televisor (MONEDA DURA ) y La suerte (CHARANGA HABANERA).

Orquesta femenina de Cuba - Ancaona - Premios Lucas 2011 - Video Clips cubanos - Cuban Music Videos - Cuban Music News - Noticias de m&uacute;sica cubana

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Tue, 29 Nov 2011 04:33:12 +0000
Calixto DVD Out As you know, we've had downloadable video files (also here) for the two volumes of Beyond Salsa Percussion for about a year. The downloadable .MOV files come with fancy video looping .XSC files, which we think are amazingly cool, and we were convinced that "DVD is dead" but apparently no one told the rest of the world about this, and, as they say, "the customer is always right", so here you have both Calixto volumes combined into one regular commercial DVD.

It also has some "raw footage extras" in the form of one extra solo and Calixto playing along with four NG La Banda classics (Santa Palabra, Picadillo de soya, Échale limón, and La bruja, with an excerpt from Murakami Mambo). These of course don't have the audio from NG track - all you hear is the drum parts. The downloadable videos are $10 each and the DVD, which contains both, plus the extras, is $25. In other video news, I now have footage, thanks to the indispensable Czech timbero Vasik, for Melón AND Alain Pérez, so Beyond Salsa Bass in all formats, and Melón's videos will be coming soon. Also working on Beyond Salsa for Ensemble, and the long-promised Beyond Salsa Bongó, featuring Carlos Caro should be out sometime in 2012. Here's some insane footage of Carlos soloing in my backyard (I wish my yard were as good as the solo!).

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Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:57:15 +0000
Calle Real in Japan - Isla de Salsa Festival Calle Real en Japón - Calle Real in Japan - by Patricio Sobrado - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubana

view the complete photo gallery here
fotos cortesía de Peter Cheyne y  Patricio Sobrado

In the first weeks of August 2011, Calle Real was invited to play in Japan on a tour named Vivela Salsa tour 2011 = http://www.vivela.jp/2011/info_en.html

Since I moved to Santiago, Chile in 2010, I had played with the band in Israel in April 2011, and now I looked forward to meet the boys again for a 10 days tour in Japan.

I had a vague idea of what Japan was! But mostly from movies and design, a modern high-tech society on top of a disciplined aged culture with a passion for rituals. It pretty much summed my impression of Japan before the tour.

Visiting Japan with Calle Real, it did not change my generalized view of Japan in its essence, but it made me view it from the inside and added soul and flesh to the picture already in place. But to be honest, Japan vastly exceeded my expectations!

Calle Real en Japón - Calle Real in Japan - by Patricio Sobrado - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubanaI had the wrong impression that the disciplined part of the culture would not let the Japanese people enjoy themselves unless very rigid conditions were fulfilled. And I was astonished by the vivid and joyful spirit of the salseros and timberos from Japan when partying, listening or actively receiving our music into their hearts, or when showing us appreciation as the dedicated fans they were.

I
 got enchanted by the details of the rituals in normal Japanese life. When waiting for the elevator as an example.

Everybody entering an elevator respectfully agrees with their eyes communication and body language who is going to enter first, the children, followed by the women and the man last of course, and if you are already are in the elevator, the entering people do nicely great you. This is different from many other cultures where entering the elevator is almost a race. read more...

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Sat, 26 Nov 2011 19:50:25 +0000
More Timba in Stockholm Jonas Pomo Once again I am amazed and confounded by the Cuba - Sweden connection. In a country where the entire population is only equivalent to New York City, we have now at least 8 timba bands that all produce original material at an international level. In addition there are a couple of groups that are currently doing timba covers and several son groups. I still don't know why Swedish musicians seem to be so attracted to timba, but why look a gift horse in the mouth? I just enjoy the fruits of their labors.

The newest timba group in Stockholm is so new it doesn't even have a name but it does have two original singles. Under the direction of 21-year old pianist Jonas Pomo and with the lovely Cecilia Ferrer on lead vocals, they are bringing timba fans a soulful timba. Jonas does the arrangements and he and Cecilia have worked on the lyrics together.

The first single “No Tiene Caso” is at Soundcloud now and will be released on iTunes and Spotify in early December. The second single, “Toco Fondo”, will be out in January.

I did a short interview with Jonas where he answered questions about his background, the singles and the sello of the band, which is currently just going under his name. Click here to read the interview.

Click here to listen to the single “No Tiene Caso”

Cecilia FerrerBandmembers: 
Jonas Pomo, piano & coros
Cecilia Ferrer, lead vocals
Pablo Cepeda, coros
Whitney Hernandez, coros
Linus Svanberg, congas
Magnus Almqvist, drums & timbales
Viktor Nyberg, bass
Simon Monserrat, güiro
Johan Nordfeldt, trumpet
Rickard Lindgren, trumpet
Peter Fredriksson, trombone
Lisa Bodelius, trombone
photo right: Cecilia Ferrer

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Sat, 26 Nov 2011 13:02:26 +0000
Vizcaíno's Masterpiece The superlatives keeping pouring in for master ENA percussionist Roberto Vizaíno's new book/double CD package, a combination of instructional material and non-educational art compositions for percussion. For more see our Chicago section.

Meanwhile, another percussion legend of la ENA, José Eladio, has now added a DVD for his recent book. I was so impressed with the quality of the DVD that I decided to make one from Calixto's videos, already available as downloads. The DVD version should be out in about a week.  Also check out my new books on Pupy and Clave[Kevin Moore]

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Fri, 25 Nov 2011 03:35:55 +0000
Lista oficial de los participantes del mega concierto Cuba All Star Las últimas noticias de Feri DJ desde Lima, Perú
sitio oficial de Cuba All Stars Perú = http://habanastars.com
oprima "saltar este paso" - press "skip this step"

Monster Timba Concert in Lima Perú - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubanaOfficial roster released !! 

"Cuba All Stars" se presentará en el Estadio de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos en el marco del  Cubaníssimo 2011, el sábado 17 de diciembre. 

Las entradas ya están a la venta en Teleticket de Supermercados Wong y Metro. Y ademas del descuento de pre venta se suma un descuento adicional del 20% si es que las entradas son compradas  con tarjeta de crédito Metro. 

Serán más de 40 músicos que se alternaran en escena e interpretarán los mejores temas que ellos ha popularizado, convirtiéndose realmente en una orquesta de lujo. A continuación esta es la nomina oficial  de los integrantes de "Cuba All Star" integrada por músicos cubanos de reconocida trayectoria.

Dirección Musical - Juan Formell / Adalberto Álvarez

Pianistas - Maykel Blanco - Lázaro Valdez (Bamboleo) - Roberto Cucurucho (Van Van) - Dorgeris Álvarez ( Orq Adalberto Álvarez) - Toni Rodríguez (Habana de Primera)

Tecladistas - Boris Luna  (Van Van) - Jusef Díaz ( Klimax) - Gretchem Reve  (Orq Reve) 

Bajistas - Yandy Martinez (Habana D' Primera) - Pavel Molina (Van Van)

Batería / Timbales - Samuel Formel (Van Van) - Giraldo Piloto (Klimax) - Rodnie Barreto (Habana D'Primera)

Guiro - Julio Noroña (Van Van )

Flautistas  - Jorge Leliebre (Van Van) - Jose Luis Cortes "El Tosco" (NG la Banda)

Congas - Guillermo del Toro ( Habana de Primera )

Bongó - Keisel Jimenez (Habana de Primera)

Trombonistas - Hugo Morejón (Van Van) - Amaury Pérez ( Habana de Primera) - Dheyane Rivera (Orq. Adalberto Álvarez )

Trompetistas - Orlando Vásquez (Habana de Primera) - Hyuni Martínez  (Habana de Primera) - Adán Gómez (Orq. Adalberto Álvarez)

Cantantes / Coros
Los Van Van  - Yenisel Valdez - Abdel Rasalp (Lele) - Roberto Guayacán Hernández (Roberton) - Mandy Cantero (el animal)
Orq. Adalberto Álvarez - Michael González - Walter Jusvir (Mantecado)
NG la Banda - Tony Calá
Maykel Blanco - Yordis Larrazabal (Maykel Blanco y su salsa Mayor ) - Yaser Ramos
Habana D' Primera  - Alexander Abreu
Grupo Klimax - Leonardo Garrido - Reiner Rojas - Noel Diaz
Bamboleo - Yuneisi Sastre - Ailyn Dallera - Ronnis López
Solistas - Emilio Frías "El Niño del Charangon" - Tania Pantoja (Ex bamboleo) - Leo Vera 



Also new this week from Los Van Van is "La Maquinaria". 

La Maquinaria - New album from Los Van Van - Cuban Music News - Noticias de música cubanaLa Maquinaria - Los Van Van
1. La maquinaria
2. Recíbeme
3. Qué tiene ese guajiro
4. Mis santos son ustedes
5. La bobería
6. Eso que anda
7. Control
8. Un año después
9. Yo no le temo a la vida
10. Final

Liner notes by Juan Formell himself and art by a renown Cuban artist KCHO (Alex Díaz). If Mayito does not return, then this album will mark his last official LVV record. Mayito sings on tracks 4 (Mis santos son ustedes) and 7 (Control). Be sure to listen to "Un año después", currently #1 here on Radio Timba. source
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Thu, 24 Nov 2011 07:33:13 +0000
New Album from NG La Banda - Mis 22 Años para leer este artículo en español oprima aquí

New album NG La Banda - Mis 22 años - Cuban Music News - Noticias de la música cubana

The new album by José Luis Cortés & NG. La Banda -- “Mis 22 años” --  a tribute to the 22 of existence for the project, one that was at the very forefront of the genre since the 90's, was recorded between February and June of last year at Egrem Studios in Havana. It's a 2 disco set. 

Listen to the song CALABAZA with Tirso Duarte on vocals now on Radio Timba

The album counts with more than 30 all-star guests -- Chucho Valdés, Juan Formell, Pedrito Calvo, Tirso Duarte, Tania Pantoja, Vania Borges, Elito Revé Lázarito Valdés,  Manolito Simonet, Lázaro Dagoberto González Jr., Rafaelito Lay, Mayito Rivera,  David Calzado, Adalberto Álvarez, Giraldo Piloto, Changuito, César Pupy Pedroso, Alain Daniel, Angelito Bonne, Ricardo Amaray, Cristian & Rey, Coco Freeman and Yeny Valdés.

New album NG La Banda - Mis 22 años - Cuban Music News - Noticias de la música cubana

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Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:34:54 +0000
Cuban Music News In Brief Los Van Van in Africa - The band is scheduled to perform in Luanda, Angola, for three shows on November 25, 26 and 27 as part of the celebrations of National Independence Day, November 11. Juan Formell and his team were welcomed by the Cuban ambassador to Angola, Pedro Ross, and other figures. Los Van Van created a musical style called "songo" and they are directly responsible for the emergence of our favorite genre (Timba). source

Kings of Salsa dance show - Cuban Music News - Notícias de música cubanaKings of Salsa dance & theater show - This collaboration between dancer Roclan Gonzalez Chavez of Cuban ballet fame and London producer Jon Lee is heating up the theater scene for those who enjoy live dance performances. The purely music and dance show (no dialogue) features all original music (anyone know who the composer is?) a company of nine dancers and the eight-member band Cuba Ashire plus two vocalists. source

Cuban born, Emmy & Grammy winning composer charged - Cuban born, Julliard School of Music graduate and Emmy & Grammy winning composer -- Fernando Rivas -- pleaded not guilty and was free on $300,000 bond for production, distribution and possession of child pornography in South Carolina. Mr. Rivas composed music for shows like Sesame Street, in which his songs featured singers Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan and Cyndi Lauper. source

Tiempo Libre has a new website - Now it's easier to find tour dates and news on TL. source

Japan-based Cuban percussionist debuts first solo album - Escuela Nacional de Arte graduate Juan Carlos López debuts his first-ever solo album -- called Dale Coco --  in a night of salsa grooves at club Crocodile in Harajuku, Japan. The album features a track with leading Japanese salsa outfit and Universal Music recording artists Salsa Swingoza. source

Latin Grammy wrap-up - Exiled Cuban singer-songwriter Amaury Gutiérrez won a Latin Grammy this past November 10 and dedicated his award to The Ladies in White movement. Other Cubans henored with Latin Grammy wins were Paquito D’Rivera and Lena Burke, as well as a posthumous award to Israel "Cachao" López.  source

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Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:20:08 +0000
Timba's Funk and Progressive Cousins A couple of weeks ago, we observed that the Latin GRAMMY awards didn't appear to being paying that much attention to Timba as a genre.  This is not so much a complaint about whom is getting recognized - there is some worthy music getting recognition - but rather that Timba doesn't seem to be registering on the radar.  For some reason, the regular GRAMMY awards have done a better job with this over the years with Los Van Van winning an award over a  decade ago and the nominations of Tiempo Libre more than once.  Unfortunately for many excellent bands around the world, the regular GRAMMY rules stipulate that the recording be a US release, and the genre is now a global one, so we still have a vacuum that needs to be addressed.

We observed that there is a case to be made for either creating a separate category for Timba (where does it really belong right now?  Salsa? Contemporary Tropical? Traditional Tropical? Urban?)  or combining it with some of its cousins for a new category.  Here are three bands - two from Cuba and one from the US - that don't quite fit the usual labels people try to apply to the music. 

First up is Sergio Valdes y Elevense, from Cuba, who were featured in some of the soundtrack of the recent film Juan de Los Muertos:

Next is Interactivo,  one of the best and musically diverse bands in Cuba that many Americans aren't familiar with:

Finally, from Miami,  Florida, here's a fairly new video from Palo! : 


So what is the point, you ask?   What do these have in common with each other or with Timba for that matter?  Two things:  1. This is all as "Latin" as it gets, but where does it all fit in the category structure of the Latin GRAMMY awards?  2. Like Timba, this  other music is underexposed in North American media markets. I'm not really sure that these bands belong in the same pot with Timba, but they are examples of an entire spectrum of the music that is intelligent, exciting, and relatively ignored compared to  more traditional and/or commercial recordings.  

The lack of media exposure is the more important issue of the two, and in the near future, we will begin an in-depth series on how Timba and other progressive Cuban music is received in the US,  how it is all treated by our media (especially radio), and how these things are all connected.    Stay tuned.  

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Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:42:18 +0000
Melón with David Murray David Murray is at Yoshi's this weekend (not with Melón), but here he is on youtube with Melón playing a killer solo on El bodeguero - Melón's solo begins at 7:30. Check it out, meng.

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Sat, 12 Nov 2011 01:24:04 +0000
Beyond Salsa Piano Vol. 11 Beyond Salsa Piano Volume 11 - Cesar Pupy Pedroso - Los Van Van - Los Que Son Son - Cuban Music NewsAs everyone knows, timba geeks are as superstitious as baseball players, so I'm releasing Volume 11 of Beyond Salsa Piano, the second on Pupy Pedroso, at 11:11 today, 11-11-11 (Nov. 11, 2011). The convergence of all those elevens was just too tempting. And if you're really a crazy numerologist, consider that PupyPedroso, BeyondSalsa, and TimbaDotCom each have eleven letters! Of course, "coincidence" also has eleven letters ...

But in ANY case, Volume 11 covers Pupy's work with Van Van in the mid-80s, during which time he wrote several of the songs Los Que Son Son now plays live, like El buenagente and Calla calla. For these, we include complete piano/bass charts of the modern versions he's playing now. So, the book (144 pages) and its companion audio product (94 tracks) will hopefully go live at 11:11 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, but there's a small chance that it will get delayed to 11:11 p.m. [Kevin Moore]

LINKS: Physical Book - eBook - Audio Files

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Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:26:51 +0000
Timba News In Review for November 10, 2011 Havana en Belgrado

¡Timba en Serbia! Ya tu sabes. Can't get tired of saying timba is an international phenomenon. This three day Cuban music & dance festival open with a performance tomorrow from Manolito y su Trabuco on November 11, 2011. World-class dancers and instructors are featured throughout.


Finally! Cool videos from Maykel Blanco's US tour are surfacing on youtube. Maykel's band was TIGHT and very well rehearsed. Here's a take on Esto está from New York's packed S.O.B's show. 


Word on the street (pun intended) is that Washington D.C. has a new timba band called TIMBA STREET. They will be playing in New York at the Kennedy Center on November 21rst. A dance floor will be installed. Dance instruction will be provided at 5 p.m. by Casineros. Part of Swing, Swing, Swing. Haven't heard anything yet of quality from Timba Street, mostly partial live segments in need of a tune up. 


And this from La Timbera Mayor Michelle White - If you need a serious recalibration, turn up the volume (the audio level is pretty low) on this excellent documentary on the roots of Timba and the famous Team Cuba. For a complete report on the Team Cuba concerts, musicians, etc. see https://www.timba.com/artists/show/teamcuba

This documentary includes concert clips and interviews with Juan Formell, José Luis Cortés, Adalberto Álvarez, Issac Delgado, Manolín El Médico de La Salsa, Paulo FG, David Calzado, Mayito Rivera, Ralph Mercado, Julio Montalvo and José Loyola.

Special thanks to the following people: Richard Ortega López, Kevin Moore, Gabriel Wilder, Curtis Lanoue, Orlando Fiol, Magnus Lindgren and to the people at SF for inspiring me to subtitle this video and make the information available to a wider public and maybe help answer the question "what is Timba?". If you're already a fan, this documentary is an important historical document. If you're not into timba, maybe it will at least give you an idea of why the rest of us are so crazy about it .

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Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:31:34 +0000
Understanding Clave and Clave Changes Understanding Clave - Beyond Salsa - Cuban Music NewsAfter years of listening to people argue and pull their hair out about clave, and pulling out a fair amount of my own in the process, I finally decided to clarify it once and for all. My premise is that it's impossible to understand this stuff by talking about it - you have to clap, dance and sing it until it's completely ingrained and THEN you'll be able to understand it and talk about it to others without losing your sanity.

With that in mind, there are three main sections. The beginning section - designed for non-musicians - simply teaches you how to clap and name the various clave patterns. The intermediate section uses dancing to clear up all the confusion about "2-3" and "3-2". It never tries to explain a concept until it's gotten you to memorize and become comfortable with a clapping-singing-dancing routine that you can use to relate the concept to.

Finally, the "advanced" section - for true masochists - explains "clave changes", including the really difficult ones like Sandunguera, Se acabó el querer, Todos vuelven and Llegó la música cubana.

There are also some really stunning clave photos by Tom Ehrlich throughout the 90 page book.

LINKS = PHYSICAL BOOK ($15)   -   eBOOK ($10)   -   AUDIO FILES (free)

Free Audio Files: With all the other Beyond Salsa books, the book and audio are separate products, but for this course, you have to have them both for it to make any sense, so the audio files are a free album download. If you are new to the LPM site be sure to check your spam folder so that you can click on the activation link, because you must either login or register to be able to download the free audio album. Let me know what you think! [Kevin Moore]

More book news: I'll be releasing the second Pupy book (Vol. 11) at 11:11 a.m. on 11/11/11 - more on that soon. Meanwhile, Curtis Lanoue's and José Eladio's excellent Afro-Cuban Percussion Workbook now has a companion DVD product which is so well-done that it's inspired me to add a DVD product for the Calixto Oviedo books. Also getting rave reviews is Roberto Vizcaíno's Método para la eseñanza de la Percusión Latina. Vizcaíno and Eladio taught side by side at la ENA (as did Pupy, actually) for many years and are among the most important Latin percussion players and teachers on the planet.

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Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:05:48 +0000
LA COLMENITA - Cuban Youth Theater Group

COWELL THEATRE, SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 29, 2011
TOM EHRLICH
reporting from San Francisco - view the full story & gallery here 
** Notice to the politically paranoid - this article contains this author's honest attempt
 at accurately reporting the background information and context for the story of the theater performance, any
 political biases or interpretations are your own. **

La Colmenita, a group of extremely talented actors/musicians (ages 5 to 15 years old) from Cuba performed in New York City, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco Bay Area.  I was fortunate to catch their last show in San Francisco.  La Colmenita is a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador.  Unicef is a branch of the United Nations which specializes in issues related to children.  While in New York, La Colmenita presented a special performance at the United Nations.

During their U.S. tour, they performed various plays which included Abracadabra, which was presented the night I attended.   Abracadabra is described as introducing Americans to the Cuban youth perspective on everything from the Beatles and well-loved fairy tales to the plight of the Cuban Five, a group of men who sacrificed their lives to protect the Cuban people from terrorism.  

The play is short skits which show interactions in classrooms between teachers and students, blending in musical interludes with the young actors singing, dancing and playing all instruments. The music was salsa and timba (mostly Adalberto Alvarez and Los Van Van songs).  These kids smoked (meaning they played at an extremely high and impressive level),  especially a young female drum set player who is ready to replace Samuel Formell any day now.   The show was a class act in every way - the acting and performing were top notch and the writing of the play and how it was put together were superb.

Abracadabra a sympathic protrayal of the Cuban 5.  In case you have not heard, the Cuban 5 are five Cubans who came to the United States and inflitrated some of the anti-Castro organizations in the Untied States which were planning and carrying out actions against Cuba, including attacks and bombings in an effort to topple the Cuban government.  

The Cuban 5's mission was to monitor these groups.....read the full story here. 

One of the youngest actors in La Colmenita is the grandson of the great Cuban band leader and composer, Adalberto Álvarez. What follows are some photos I took at the joy filled and emotional performance.

Back stage before performance - Kevin Lázaro Pérez Álvarez - grandson of Adalberto Álvarez

This young lady had some mean timba licks.

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Sun, 06 Nov 2011 01:11:17 +0000
A Timba Lover's Dream - Festival Cuba All Stars Oprima aquí para leér este artículo en español - We Love Timba de Feri Dj - Perú Report 

Pinch me I'm dreaming....our Perú connect Feri DJ reports on an upcoming concert event of historical proportions. For this great collaboration to happen, the Cuban music agencies held a meeting in Lima with local promoters discussing a hold on all timba tours -- a vision led by Juan Formell of Los Van Van. The lineup is so loaded that a really concentrated effort was needed to assure participation from all the band leaders. Are you READY FOR THIS....

The concert counts with the participation of up to 40 artists of top calibre, among them...

  • Juan Formell y Los Van Van (most of the band is coming)
  • Adalberto Álvarez, "El Caballero del Son", and his daughter Dorgeris (pianist)
  • drummer Giraldo Piloto, leader of Klimax 
  • Alexander Abreu (trumpet) director of Havana d' Primera
  • Maykel Blanco, director of Salsa Mayor.
  • singer Leo Vera  ex-Irakere & ex-Charanga Habanera, "Hombre casado" & "Mi estrella" 
  • singer Emilio Frías, "El Niño",  from Orquesta Revé
  • Lázaro Valdés,  pianist & director of Bamboleo
  • José Luis Cortés “El Tosco"  (flute) director of NG la Banda
  • singer of NG fame, Tony Calá 
  • ex-Bamboleo singer Tania Pantoja
  • among others...Can You Believe It!!

Here's the first official video of the event:

For tickets contact - Teleticket de Wong y Metro (http://www.teleticket.com.pe/ )
Facebook page = https://www.facebook.com/festivalcubanisimo

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Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:53:21 +0000
Cuban Music News - In Brief - November 1, 2011 Haila (ex-Bamboleo) has a new album and she will be performing this Friday at S.O.B.s in New York City. Bassist Danny Rojo of PornoSon fame will be directing a group of local heavyweights (anyone have the complete list?).   

Haila NYC 2011 - Cuban Music News

The official Los Van Van website is down = www.vanvandeformell.com = but after months of rumors that lead singer Mario "Mayito" Rivera left the iconic band (a press release was made on the Los Van Van website), no one has yet to report that they have seen them perform with the alleged new replacement Armando "Mandy" Cantero (formerly of Pupy y los que Son Son among others). Los Van Van performed in Mexico recently without Mayito but Mandy was not present, even though it was reported he was in Mexico at the time.  In related news Mayito has been singing with Monika (Mesa) y la Máquina Perfecta.  

Manolito y su Trabuco are in Hamburg, Germany today then covering Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Serbia and the Netherlands. Cuban music is truly international. Check out the tour page for all the official dates. 

Maykel Blanco's recent, independently produced US tour was well received and attended. The band was really TIGHT and executed consistently with tremendous energy. I really missed their recent hit "Un Kilo" which was not featured in any of the shows. I saw them in 2007 and this is by far the best group configuration, rhythm and horn sections. The pedal and bomba gears were in full, hard-hitting force. The singers delivered pure fun. Hoping they will be back next year for sure. Rumor has it Miami has 2 new singers and one smoking keyboard player. 

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Tue, 01 Nov 2011 06:17:10 +0000
EDITORIAL This year's 12th Annual Latin GRAMMY awards, to be telecast November 10th, 2011, included a number of worthy nominees from other parts of the Cuban music spectrum but once again ignored an entire genre, Timba, in the final list of nominees in spite of the production of some recordings worthy of consideration during the eligibility period.  Since the primary purpose of creating a distinct Latin GRAMMY Awards program was to allow for more in-depth recognition of the many subgenres of Latin music, we consider this omission unfortunate, and there is a case to be made for considering a new category in the future to remedy this perennial oversight.  Conventional Salsa admittedly has a much larger listening - and voting - constituency than Timba, and there are sufficient differences between the two styles to make it quite possible that Timba will never stand a chance of receiving the recognition that its best examples deserve as long as it is forced to compete with Salsa for the same award.  Again, the very reason for being of the Latin GRAMMY awards as a separate entity was to help rectify these kinds of issues in Latin music generally, and this writer wishes to publicly suggest that the Academy should examine the question of a new category.  Admittedly, domestic US output alone would not sustain an ongoing separate category, but international output probably would, and even if that proved not to be the case, putting Timba under a different umbrella with something such as "Progressive" and separating it from traditional Salsa would be the next right thing.  Timba is now a truly international genre with first-tier bands not just in Cuba but also the United States, Peru and Sweden just to name a few examples.  A band in Sweden, Calle Real, is even getting some exposure now in American television.  Furthermore, enough time - over two decades now - has passed that there is no longer any question that the genre has firmly established itself as more than just a passing fad.  
It may be too late for the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (LARAS) to recognize a Timba recording this year, but it's probably not too late for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) to do so in its Best Tropical Latin Album category for the regular GRAMMY awards. There are a few worthy possibilities for consideration that are true examples of Timba and were released within the United States during the eligibility year.  We are going to mention just two of those possibilities because of our own personal familiarity with them:

My Secret Radio by Tiempo Libre.  Tiempo Libre has been a bridesmaid a few times now but never the bride.  This new recording is at least as worthy of consideration as its predecessors, and we loved it enough that we even reviewed it earlier this year.  (Read a full CD review here.)

Vestido de Blanco by Havana Heavy Hitters.  This was released in the US for digital distribution before this writer began doing reviews of new recordings for Timba.com but within the eligibility window for the award. This unique all-star project includes many of the best musicians from the best of the bands from Cuba including (among many others) Michel Maza and Alexander Abreu, two of the most respected Timba artists on the island today.  (Read more about this recording and hear samples here.)  The combination of digital distribution only and release by an independent label admittedly makes for a dark horse candidate, but it deserves serious consideration for its musical merit alone. 
We could name a few other worthy candidates for consideration if we chose, the point is that there are recordings worthy of recognition in this eligibility cycle, and it would help promote the genre as a genre (one of the Academy's many missions, is it not?) if at least one Timba recording (or even two) found its way to at least an actual final five nomination this year.  It is our hope that the voting members of NARAS will examine the best of this year's output in the Timba genre as closely as it does the rest of the styles under the Tropical Latin umbrella.  If it truly does so, this writer is confident that at least one of the many fine recordings produced over the past year will prove to warrant consideration. 
We aren't going to put the case to NARAS for a separate Timba category for the simple reason that we acknowledge that domestic US output would probably not sustain a separate category over time. Longer-term, this is clearly a subject more properly tackled by LARAS, which has the ability to consider entries from across the globe.  Since many people belong to both academies, we hope that this essay provides some food for thought.  

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Sun, 23 Oct 2011 17:58:09 +0000
Dream Team puts timba in the 1st round of the 54th Grammy Awards English: Hoping to capitalize on the recent influx of Cuban bands performing in the U.S., the album Vestido de blanco by the Havana Heavy Hitters has made it to the first round ballot of the 54th Grammy Awards under Best Tropical Latin Album. Havana Heavy Hitters is a special musical project produced by drummer Michael Gerald and brothers Yosvel & Edduar Bernal Pina (Yosvel was the keyboardist and musical co-director for Paulito F.G. for almost a decade). Havana Heavy Hitters includes a truly all-star cast of some of the top and most world-renowned Cuban singers and instrumentalists of the contemporary tropical dance style (timba). It features members of Habana D' Primera (Alexander Abreu), Los Van Van (Hugo Morejón), Irakere (Michael Antes), Charanga Habanera (Michel Maza & Osmani Collado), Bamboleo (Rafael Paceiro), Klimax (Papiosco Torres), and Issac Delgado & Paulito F.G. (Roberto Cucurucho Rodríguez) among others. You can find full roster and album credits here

As you all know, Timba is completely under the radar as far as terrestrial US radio goes so your support is crucial to the movement. We would love it if all the fans could reach out to their Recording Academy member friends and ask them for their consideration. If you are not a member of the Grammys and don't know anyone who is just check it out to hear what all the buzz is about. The collective hope is that this helps build the momentum to get Alexander Abreu and Habana D'Primera and other Cuban artists their first tour of the US.

Vestido De Blanco by Havana Heavy Hitters - Cuban music - Best Tropical Latin - 54th Grammy Awards

Español: Con la esperanza de sacarle provecho al surgimiento de los conciertos de grupos musicales cubanos aquí en los EE.UU., el álbum Vestido de blanco de los Havana Heavy Hitters ha llegado a la primera ronda y papeleta de votación de los 54tos Premios Grammy bajo la categoría "Best Tropical Latin Album" (Mejor Disco Tropical Latino). Havana Heavy Hitters es un proyecto especial producido por hermanos Yosvel & Edduar Bernal Pina (fue el tecladista y co-director musical de Paulito FG por un tiempo) y el baterista Michael Gerald. La grabación incluye un reparto verdaderamente estelar de algunos de los mejores, y más conocidos mundialmente,

cantantes e instrumentistas cubanos del estilo bailable contemporaneo (timba). Cuenta con miembros de Habana D' Primera (Alexander Abreu), Los Van Van (Hugo Morejón), Irakere (Michael Antes), Charanga Habanera (Michel Maza & Osamni Collado), Bamboleo (Rafael Paceiro), Klimax (Papiosco Torres), and Issac Delgado & Paulito F.G. (Roberto Cucurucho Rodríguez) entre otros. Oprima aquí para la lista completa de participantes y créditos.

Como todos ustedes saben, la Timba como género está completamente bajo el radar de los medios emitivos de radio terrestre en los EE.UU., por lo tanto tu apoyo es crucial para el movimiento. Nos encantaría que todos los seguidores del género puedan hacerles llegar esta noticia sus amigos (y amigas) miembros de la Academia de Grabación y pedirles que por favor consideren este álbum para la nominación. Si no eres miembro de los Grammys y no conoces a nadie que sea sólo échale una oída al álbum para que sepas de qué se trata toda la buya. La esperanza colectiva es que esto ayude a crear el impulso para conseguir que Alexander Abreu and Habana D Primera y otros artistas cubanos puedan llegar de primera gira acá a los EE.UU.

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Fri, 21 Oct 2011 02:11:10 +0000
Two More Salsa Mayor Galleries Both from Café Cócomo in San Francisco - Tomorrow, Monday, is the lecture/demo at Mission Cultural Center at 7:00 and there will be another concert Wednesday night at House of Music in Oakland. Then The Reef on Thursday in Long Beach.

Click Here for Peter Maiden's Gallery

Click Here for Tom Ehrlich's Gallery

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Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:23:20 +0000
Tom's Salsa Mayor Photos Yordi Larrazabal

Click here for Tom's first gallery, from Moe's Alley in Santa Cruz. Still to come are galleries from both Tom and Peter Maiden from Café Cócomo in San Francisco.

Book News: The second Pupy Pedroso book is about a week or two away. It's the longest one yet and in the process of writing it, I came across so many clave changes that I decided to add an appendix explaining clave using dancing, singing and clapping exercises. For those who don't want the whole piano book I'm going to release the clave course as a special stand-alone product with a PDF and audio files for one low price. That should be coming out within a couple days. Stay tuned! [Kevin Moore]

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Sun, 16 Oct 2011 03:59:10 +0000
Bellingham Tonight photo by Peter Maiden

Last night produced another torrid show from Salsa Mayor - this time at SF Cócomo. We'll have scads of great photos from Peter Maiden and Tom Ehrlich soon. Those crazy enough to go to both shows reported that Aragón at Yoshi's Oakland was nearly sold out and had absolutely exquisite, tear-inducingly beautiful sound. No such claims were made about Cócomo's sound system, but Oakland's trickles of nostalgic tears were countered by a raging river of testoserone across the Bay. Aragón continues tonight and tomorrow. Meanwhile Salsa Mayor heads to Bellingham tonight and Seattle  Sunday, then back to SF Monday night for a clinic and a new show added Wednesday Night at Oakland's House of Music, and then on to The Reef  in Long Beach (Los Angeles) Thursday. (Click "continue reading" for 2 more photos). [Kevin Moore]

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Sat, 15 Oct 2011 17:40:46 +0000
Salsa Mayor en La Yuma! Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor at Moe's Alley - Santa Cruz - photo by Tom Ehrlich

Okay - these guys are really hot! This was one of the two bands I had never seen live so I'm still pretty bowled over, learning people's names, etc. Fortunately, Michelle White has built a truly EPIC Salsa Mayor section over the last few years - with monstrous quantities of lyrics, concert reports, video, photos et al., so check that out for details and I'll just give you my first impressions. 

So, yeah, really hot. The rhythm section is incredibly disciplined, well rehearsed, and just plain fierce - even by Havana standards. They have 14 members: bass, two keyboards, drums/timbales, congas, güiro, 2 trumpets, 2 bones, and 4 singers. All four singers are very strong and one guy is just off the hook - and as dancers, the whole band is the best to come through here - probably ever. They have this amazing, rippling, wave-like set of moves that they all do (even the bassist while he's playing). These guys have perfected every visual and musical detail and their rapid ascendance to the top tiers of the Havana scene now makes perfect sense. More veteran SM fans than I have also pointed out that this particular incarnation of the band is probably the best they've had. More photos coming soon. In the meantime, get your fix here ... and here ... or check out one of our six video interviews or twelve concert videos.

Bay Area: Tonight, Friday, at CócomoThere's some stiff competition, but to be honest, if you miss this band, you're going to be very sorry when your friends come to you drooling about it. The Cócomo show is unlikely to start before 10:00, so if you're rich (haha) you can probably catch Aragón's first show and not miss any of Salsa Mayor. Aragón also plays Saturday and Sunday. Salsa Mayor returns for a lecture at Mission Cultural Center on Oct. 17th.

Washington State: Tomorrow, Saturday in Bellingham's Blue Horse Gallery, and Sunday in Seattle at Club Sur.

Los Angeles: Thursday October 20 at The Reef in Long Beach.

Miami: Club Aché on Saturday, October 22.

more ticket links

Full tour, including five dates/cities in France in November. [Kevin Moore]

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Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:22:36 +0000
2011 Latin Festival - Copenhagen, Denmark The 2011 Latin Festival in Copenhagen will take place November 5th at Amager Bio. The bands this year are Manolito y Su Trabuco and El Micha . This event is highly recommended! The Trabuco is in top form right now with a selection of great new songs, so they are really worth seeing una vez más . The Trabuco concert is from 9:00pm-10.30pm. It will be followed by 30 minutes of dance shows and then El Micha will close the evening with a concert from 11:30pm-00:30. El Micha is hugely popular among reggaetoneros and has done a number of timbaton songs such as with Issac Delgado, La Charanga Habanera and Alain Daniel. You can get all the information at the Latin Festival website . Note that if you don't buy your ticket in advance they will only accept cash at the door!

Here is a little taste of something new by El Trabuco, a song written by Alexander Abreu and sung by Mayami that has Gabriel from Yemayá's verse raving! Check her blog for more estrenos direct from Havana. Now that she's back, she starting to upload.

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Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:57:25 +0000
10th Contest of Popular & Traditional Cuban Dance In just under a week the 10th Annual Contest of Popular and Traditional Cuban Dance and Rueda de Casino will take place in Parque Céspedes in Santiago de Cuba. While the contest name doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, it is a very accurate descriptor of the event. Couples who wish to compete must be acredited by the provincial commitee of UNEAC (Unión de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba). Competitions will be held in Danzòn, Son, Mambo, Cha Cha Chá, Pilón, Mozambique, Casino in couples and Rueda de Casino. Winners will be chosen in each category and an award will also be given to the couple that has the best overall command of Cuban dances. This will be the first year that a Children's Contest will be held for ages 5-15. The children's contest will take place the 15th and 16th of October. If you are going to be in Santiago don't miss this opportunity to see over 100 years of Cuban popular dances as interpeted by the best local dancers. The event will also include music performances by artists from Santiago de Cuba.

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Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:44:01 +0000
Tiempo Libre Photos from Santa Cruz

Tiempo Libre really tore it up in Santa Cruz last night! Ultra-agressive timba in the extreme. Pututi III is incredible and the whole club, even by Kuumbwa standards, was absolutely on fire. The bassist Tebelio was also insanely good tonight. Make it to the clinic on Saturday and the concert on Sunday if you can. It's not obvious from this photo, but from a straight-on view, the new trumpet player, (who was also the founding trumpet player), Raúl Rodríguez, is a dead ringer for Paul Shaffer.

Click here for Tom's gallery - more coming.

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Fri, 07 Oct 2011 03:50:55 +0000
Leonel Limonta - Salsa y Mucho Más Leonel Limonta Fans are eagerly awaiting the new Azúcar Negra CD "Se acabó el pescao" hoping it will be out in time for their holiday shopping. Limonta tells us that he will be able to give us a release date very shortly. He is leaving for Mexico at the end of this month and plans to take the CD with him. So if all goes as planned we may be able to buy it by the end of October! Stay tuned for more!

In the meantime, Limonta has released a demo CD titled "Salsa y mucho más". It is available at iTunes in Europe, Canada, USA, Japan and Mexico as well as Amazon and Emusic(usa). So while you wait for the new CD, you can get yourself a fix of Azúcar Negra.

Track List:
La mala de la película
Qué risa me da
Identidad
Así somos
Lo tuyo no tiene nombre
La pasamos bien
Amor por Internet
Mi barrio

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Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:55:43 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Pedrito & Santos Photos Last weekend at the incredible Yerba Buena free concert series, the John Santos Sextet opened for, and then sat in with, the Pedrito Martínez Group. Yerba Buena is trying to increase their Facebook friend list to help in their latest grant project - please follow the link and support this great free concert series.

            ***click here for full gallery***

Pedrito's group has a completely new and absolutely brilliant approach to timba! It's like a timba conjunto - congas, bongó, piano, bass, and for gigs like this one, they add Román Díaz playing 3 batás, and two  horns. The need for a kick drum is covered by the thumps of the electric bass and a large, miked cajón that Pedrito sits on as he plays congas.

Like Arsenio's or Chappottín's conjuntos, the only metal percussion is the bongosero's bell, so the overall volume level is much lower, allowing the nuances of the exquisite vocal harmonies and hand percussion to come through much more clearly, but without sacrificing any of the intensity. The music and arrangements are pure, creative, original timba - ALL timba - no smorgasbord of danzón, reguetón and chachachá filler tracks - every single song has gear changes, melodic cuerpos, great coros and mambos, funky, song-specific piano tumbaos, world-class lead vocals by Pedrito and Ariacne, and the best 3- and 4-part coros I've heard from any timba band.

Pedrito says they're going into the studio in October. Go see this band at Guantanamera if you're in New York and ask your local clubs to book them - this is the most excited I've been about a new timba band since HdP. [Kevin Moore]

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Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:10:17 +0000
Horns to Havana and Other Good Things Item I:  Horns to Havana

Jazztimes.com, the free online extension of Jazztimes magazine, is now carrying an interesting section dedicated to Cuba.  The most recent article by Lee Mergner about the Horns to Havana program, in which jazz artists from up here are going down to the island to donate instruments and do workshops, is an especially interesting read.  The link is http://jazztimes.com/sections/cuba/articles  But we mention this for another reason as well.  Those of you working with jazz groups should consider joining the online community if you haven't already done so.  It's another place with a focused jazz audience that you can talk about the group, any recordings etc.   As anyone involved with jazz these days knows, there's no such thing as too much promotion...

Item II:  Omar Sosa's Recordings Recognized

Earlier this year in the Report From Chicago section, we did a piece on Omar Sosa and a capsule review of three of his recent recordings, Afreecanos, Ceremony and Calma.  Since that time, Ceremony won an Echo, a prestigious European jazz award, and Calma has been nominated for a Latin Grammy in the Instrumental department. Congratulations Omar.  He's doing a short tour of the US in late October-early November, and we'll have those details soon.  Here's a short video about Ceremony...

....click here to read the full article with Maraca's interview >>

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Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:46:41 +0000
The Music of Calle Real on TV & Film Buenas noticas siempre saber que la timba se va integrando en el ámbito popular de los medios emitivos.

Les reporto que los temas "Princesa (Timba)" y "Esperanza" de Calle Real, dos canciones de su primer disco Con Fuerza, aparecerán respectivamente en una pelicula documental sobre la famosa escritora cubana Maité Vera, y en un programa en el canal Showtime de los EE.UU. llamado "Dexter". 

Podrán oír el tema Esperanza en el segundo episodio de la sexta temporada de Dexter (Episode 602) el Domingo, 9 de Octubre. En cuanto al documental de Maité Vera, la pelicula se llama Cuando éramos felices y no lo sabíamos, de la directora alemana Kristina Konrad. Para m;as información escríbele a Welt Film en Berlin.

 

 

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Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:46:25 +0000
Maykel Blanco - New DVD On the eve of their first US Tour , Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor are about to release their first official DVD! Titled "Soy lo que te hala", the DVD was filmed at Teatro Mella in Havana, and Maykel has released a little promo spot. Prepárense para la nueva máquina de Cuba and enjoy!

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Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:58:10 +0000
Peru's Orquesta Mayimbe Announces European Tour 2012 oprima aquí para ver el video de prensa y el reporte completo

En Exclusiva - Reportando Feri DJ desde Lima, Perú - Quién diría que en tan poco tiempo la orquesta dirigida por Bárbaro Fines Fortes lograría colarse tan profundamente en la popularidad, no sólo en el Perú, país que actualmente los alberga, sino también en otras latitudes mundiales, especialmente por el continente europeo. Esta travesía empezó para ser exactos un 29 de Mayo de 2010, hace poco más de un año en los barrios populares de este país al sur de América, fueron innumerables los percances acontecidos desde ese entonces, pero el esfuerzo y la perseverancia ven por fin rendir sus frutos.

Les continuo reportando al confirmar las ciudades exáctas en estos paises (nombres en inglés): France, Italia, Spain, Germany, Switzlerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal and Finland.

Primera gira europea de Bárbaro Fines y su Orquesta Mayimbe

La orquesta acaba de anunciar a través de su departamento de prensa su primera gira europea, haciendo hincapié en que la gira inicia y cierra en la “ciudad luz”, Paris. Aún hay fechas disponibles y otras por confirmar, de requerir algún mayor detalle acerca de las condiciones por show pueden dirigirse al correo mayimbe.europa2012@gmail.com .

La primera producción discográfica de la banda destaca por su original y genuino sonido, el mismo que ha logrado cautivar a públicos de todas partes del mundo, entre los éxitos más resaltantes de esta banda cubano y peruana están, “El Diablo”, “El Cuchi Cuchi”, “De La Habana a Perú” (título que da nombre a esta producción), “Intro del Mayimbe”, “La Fiera” y otros tantos mas; está producción puede ser adquirida a través de Latin Pulse Music, siguiendo el presente enlace http://www.latinpulsemusic.com/artists/show/182 , es una producción muy recomendable para los amantes del género musical cubano en general, dado que esta agrupación sienta su base sonora en la música popular, matizada a su vez por géneros como el songo y el son. Otro punto a resaltar es que la banda cuenta con apenas 4 integrantes cubanos en su formación, el resto son todos músicos peruanos, a los cuales Barbarito ha sabido imprimir la sonoridad que este buscaba para su banda.

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Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:51:44 +0000
Creole Choir Of Cuba Begins US Tour in Chicago The Creole Choir of Cuba
(The Creole Choir of Cuba - view the rest of the photos here)

     This mighty chorus of ten singers, dancers and percussionists from Camagüey is one of the most distinctive groups from Cuba that we've heard in years.  We saw their opening concert in Chicago, and you can read our full review here.   You don't speak Creole, you say?  They really are good enough that you  won't care.  The always-industrious Timbera Mayor has posted their tour schedule here.  Cuba's Creoles originally came from Haiti a couple of centuries back, both the language and the music are distinct, and this group represents and preserves an aspect of Cuba's cultural mosaic that most North Americans haven't been exposed to before.  Catch them if you can.  

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Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:33:55 +0000
Mayito & Pepito Los Van Van is currently rapping up their tour in the US . They play tonight in Miami at Aché. Here is a fantastic video of their concert at S.O.B.s in New York City where Mayito Rivera invited Pepito Gómez on stage during Qué sorpresa for a little improvisation. What a fantastic combination of voices! Pepito has never sounded better! Thanks to saborentarima.com for making this amazing moment available to all of those who couldn't attend the concert.

UPDATE : The Louisville, KY. concert seems to have been cancelled.

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Sat, 24 Sep 2011 19:56:42 +0000
2 New Shows Added for MAYKEL BLANCO MAYKEL BLANCO y su SALSA MAYOR - U.S.A. Tour 2011 Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor - U.S.A. Tour 2011 - Cuban Music
Direct from Cuba - Visas Approved
First Performance in the United States!
Los Angeles Flyer - Musician & Staff List

Current Tour Schedule:
Saturday October 8 - S.O.B's - New York City, New York
Thursday October 13 - Moe's Alley - Santa Cruz, California
Friday October 14 - Café Cócomo - San Francisco, California
Friday October 15 - Blue Horse Gallery - Bellingham, Washington
Friday October 16 - Club Sur - Seattle,  Washington
Monday October 17 - Mission Cultural Center (Lecture) - San Francisco, California
Thursday October 20 - The Reef - Los Angeles, California
Saturday October 22 - Aché Supper Club - Miami, Florida [Mike Lazarus]

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Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:54:38 +0000
Cuban Music Dominates Latin Grammy "Traditional Tropical" Category oprima aquí para leer este artículo en español

One quick glance at the 2011 Latin Grammy nominees in the TROPICAL category and you can see that, with the exception of Puerto Rico's famous bomba group "Esencia", the nominees are all Cuban music groups. Also interesting is that the genres are all "pre-revolution" (son, guaracha, guajira, descarga, bolero, etc), especially when you look at the nominees in the other 4 categories....

Best Salsa Album
Best Cumbia / Vallenato Album
Best Contemporary Tropical Album 
Best Tropical Song

Click here to see the offical list of all TROPICAL Latin Grammy 2011 nominees
http://latingrammy.com/nominados/6-tropical

Best Traditional Tropical AlbumTraditional Tropical Latin Grammy 2011 Nominees
Toda Una Vida (Cuban Masterworks)
Albita [Angels' Dawn Records]

El Son De Altura
Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son [Bis Music]

The Last Mambo
Cachao [Latinum/Eventus]

Con La Fuerza De Un Tren
Esencia [Esencia]

Oye Mi Son Santiaguero
Septeto Santiaguero [Picap]

Ok so the Cumbia / Vallenato category we can understand the lack of Cuban music groups, but if you look at the other categories outside of "Traditional", well, Timba is completely off of the radar. We see:

- Cuban music groups only appear in the traditional category (pre-revolution genres)
- Salsa is dominated by the PR / NY sound
- Timba does not appear anywhere, especially in the Contemporary Tropical category
Timba by definición is contemporary tropical music.

All politics aside, one simple reason for this is that for the most part, and full disclosure here as I am a voting & engineering memebe rof the Grammys / Latin Grammys / P& E Wing, the members who work on a musical project, as well as their extended professional circle and individual fan base, are the ones who most vote and spearhead the support for the nomination of an album oir song. In stark contrast to the Recording Academy Grammy Awards,  which focuses on products released in the U.S. (in the period of eligibility) and its members are located in the United States, this is NOT SO for the Latin Grammys. The Latin Recording Academy recognizes recordings released anywhere in the world with the only condition being that they were recorded in Spanish or Portuguese. This means that you can be a Latin Grammy member if you live OUTSIDE of the United States (and of couse meet the necessary professional requirements). So if you are like me, and you very well know that "Haciendo Historia" and "Cuando Suena el Río" by Alexander Abreu y Habana D'Primera is fully deserving of Latin Grammy album and song awards, as well as many TImba artists that are consistently overlooked, be aware that you can absolutely do something about it. Write them = http://latingrammy.com/en/pages/contact and/or join.

In other news, today I found an excellent tool for Promoters and Producer of Live TIMBA and Latin Music events (more timba please)....

BROWN PAPER TICKETS LAUNCHES SPANISH LANGUAGE TICKETING SERVICES

Brown Paper Tickets launches full Spanish language website.

Brown Paper Tickets announces the launch of new Spanish-language ticketing services and Spanish-language website (es.brownpapertickets.com). This launch marks the first time the company's full ticketing service suite has been offered in Spanish to event producers. In honor of National Hispanic Heritage month, the company is offering free English to Spanish translations of event descriptions for the first week of the new launch. Rather than simply publishing a translated website, Brown Paper Tickets has dedicated great resources to serve and support Spanish-speaking communities, estimated at over 45 million people strong in the US alone by the last census.
* Disclosure = I have no personal interest, connection or business arrangement with Brown Paper Tickets. It's just a way to sell tickets online in spanish. [Mike Lazarus]

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Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:29:52 +0000
New NG - SF Going Wild The new double NG La Banda CD is very interesting and should be widely available soon. It includes a blistering new version of my favorite NG song, Rap de Muerta.

Meanwhile, an explosion of concerts and clinics is about to hit the Bay Area, including Santa Cruz (home of timba.com's worldwide corporate headquarters).

In book news, I'm getting ever closer on the second Pupy book, about to start the first volume of Beyond Salsa Bass featuring Alain Pérez!, and about to release a stand-alone course on clave changes. And speaking of Pupy - watch for Siempre Pupy, which sounds fantastic and should be available soon. [Kevin Moore]

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Fri, 23 Sep 2011 06:37:14 +0000
Cuban Music Spotlight for Film & TV Producers Cuban Music Spotlight - Industry Mixer - Latin music for music supervisors, film directors & composers, video producers - Los AngelesA unique event for anyone with a professional interest in Latin music for audio and video production, clearances, original scores or broadcast.

7-10pm Sunday, September 25 
Bleicher/Golightly Gallery
1431 Ocean Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90401

Top-tier TV show music departments looking for Latin music will be invited, including Charlie’s Angels, Dexter, Burn Notice, The Glades, CSI: Miami, Bad Mom, The River and Apartment 23.  Plus, connect with a who’s who of Latin music publishers who control *synch and master rights* for everything from crucial alternative and mainstream Latin releases, to perennial classics like Tito Puente, Celia Cruz and Willie Colón.  

oprima aquí para boletos - BUY TICKETS - click here for tickets 
get a 20% discount by using latinpulsemedia as your discount code

Easy $5 lot parking on 2nd street Tickets and info: www.artofmusicla.com
For additional info, media passes and interviews contact:
Peter Petro / peter@mandevillestudios.com / 310.430.5096

The Art of Music is a groundbreaking series that presents criminally overlooked specialty music for film and TV -- giving music supervisors, film composers, film directors and other professionals a unique chance to explore niche music styles, learn about upcoming projects and forge new relationships in a collaborative environment.

Join us Sept. 25 for “Cuban B-sides” featuring Cuban masters Son Mayor performing changui (similar to the son that made Buena Vista Social Club famous, but with a more haunting, percolating texture). Orquesta Charangoa rounds out the night with their lively charanga -- unique with its earthy wooden flute and violins, yet extremely useful for all-purpose “Latin” score cues.

This event is a MUST for anyone with an interest in Latin music for audio and video production, clearances, original scores or broadcast.

Beyond the performances, all attendees get a copy of the Latin Music Resources handbook and a chance to win raffle prizes including a set of handcrafted Cuban bongos, a free mastering session from Michael Lazarus (Burn Notice, Little Girl Lost), two full album downloads from Timba.com, albums from Smithsonian Folkways renowned Latin collection, a copy of My Seductive Cuba (a newly released 328-page travel guide to Cuban arts and culture) and more. Handmade Cuban instruments will also be for sale at wholesale prices. 

For additional info, media passes and interviews contact:

Peter Petro / peter@mandevillestudios.com / 310.430.5096

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Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:55:44 +0000
This Year's Bamboleo Yemaya's Verse has a great concert report from Havana on the revamped Bamboleo which "resembles the band of yore", which for me is just what the doctor ordered! They're supposed to tour Europe in March. Still no rumors on La Yuma but hope springs eternal.

In book news, I'm almost done with the second Pupy Pedroso book and will move on to Alain Pérez and Beyond Salsa Bass after that. Also on the bass front, Cherina Mastrotones is working on her second book on Feliciano Arango, who should be making it to Boston sometime this year, knock on wood. [Kevin Moore]

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Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:39:48 +0000
Hermanos Arango Update Hermanos Arango rehearsal
Los Hermanos Arango rehearse in Guanabacoa photo by Patrick Bonnard

Although they were billed at a number of sites, including here, as performing at the Beantown Jazz Festival in Boston this month, Feliciano Arango informs us that due to a great enthusiasm for Los Hermanos Arango in Boston, their trip has been delayed in order to arrange a larger event. With any luck Los Hermanos Arango will be in the US for a full-fledged tour. If you happen to know any promoters in your area, drop them a line and tell them you want to see Los Hermanos Arango live in your city!

Photographer Patrick Bonnard visited the Arangos this spring and told us about how the collaboration between Los Hermanos Arango and Berklee came about. "Professor and saxophonist Neil Leonard brought his students to Cuba last December and visited the homes of Chucho Valdés and Los Hermanos Arango. They returned in May and gave a concert, this time together with Los Hermanos Arango in La Casa de Las Americas." The Vice-President of Berklee College was in attendance and invited Los Hermanos Arango to Boston, which culminated in the current discussions about bringing the band to El Yuma. Here is an article written by Frank-John Hadley in Downbeat magazine about the visit to Cuba.

Although it would have been great to see them this month in Boston, we can console ourselves with hopes of a larger tour  to come. Feliciano also informs us that Los Hermanos Arango will soon release a new DVD featuring a collaboration with the stars of Cuban folkloric music. For this recording they invited five founders of Conjunto Folklorico Nacional who range from 80 - 90 years old. This is the beginning of what they are calling the Guanabacoa Social Rumba, where they will be performing all of the Cuban folkloric genres with the greatest exponents of each genre. This sounds like an amazing and brilliant project and I can hardly wait to see the first fruits!

For a taste of their music check out the Los Hermanos Arango channel at YouTube. Here is a little teaser: a song for Oyá including a bass solo by Feliciano Arango winner of the Timba.com Best Timba Bassist Award. And if you are inspired to delve more deeply into the bass style of Feliciano Arango, check out the book "CUBAN TIMBA: A Contemporary Bass Technique" by Feliciano Arango and Cherina Mastrantones. It is available in both Spanish and English.

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Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:01:19 +0000
Cuba Antwerpen Indoor Festival - Now Accepting Submissions Cuba Antwerpen Indoor Festival -Arenberg Theater, Antwerpen, Belgium- Saturday, March 17, 2012 The Cuba Antwerpen Indoor Festival -a Cuban music festival hosted by the Arenberg Theater in Antwerpen, Belgium- will take place on Saturday, March 17, 2012.

Click here to listen to Radio Timba to check out the festival title track "Cuba Antwerpen" by Contrabando, saluting all their favorite timba djs and websites. 

Currently on the roster are:
1) Bárbara y el Vaivén Cubano
2) Contrabando featuring Jesús Alemañy (Cubanismo)
3) DJ Rubio, DJ Samurai & DJ Pepe

The festival is currently accepting submissions from Cuban music groups and urban music artists (cubatón, timbatón, reguesón). For more information please email your press kit to Andrés Fernández Ordóñez at afopaisa2 [at] hotmail [dot] com

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Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:12:02 +0000
Crece la anticipación para Maykel Blanco

Current Tour Schedule:
Thursday October 13 - Moe's Alley - Santa Cruz, California
Friday October 14 - Café Cócomo - San Francisco, California
Monday October 17 - Mission Cultural Center (Lecture) - San Francisco, California
Thursday October 20 - The Reef - Los Angeles, California
Friday October 21 - S.O.B's - New York City, New York
Saturday October 22 - Aché Supper Club - Miami, Florida

Listen to Maykel on RADIO TIMBA - Track #10 - "Un Kilo"
First Performance in the United States! - Direct from Cuba - Visas Approved
Musician / Staff List for the Maykel Blanco U.S. Tour 2011 

Instrument - Role Name
Piano, Director Maykel Blanco Cuevas
Singer Yasser Ramos Lorenzo
Singer Yordis Larrazabal Moya
Singer Michael Esteban Pérez Sotolongo
Singer Liuvan Alvarado Jiménez
Trumpet Ahmed Gonzáles Posada
Trombone Karel Medina Boliva
Trombone  Omar Álvarez Ramírez 
Trumpet Adolfo Jesús Sierra Rodríguez
Batería Jose Luis Matos Pies
Teclado Roy Alain Sainz Reyes
Congas Jaime Yusnier Cruz Bustillo
Bajo Alfonso Álvarez Espinosa
Guiro Alaín Miguel Reboredo Borges
Sonidista Alejandro Silva Fayat
Productor Ángel Luis Alayo Negret
Productor Anael Granado
Manager Mirtha Hilda Garcia Atienzar
US Tour Manager Manuel Suarez

First Performance in the United States!
Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor - U.S.A. Tour 2011 - Cuban Music

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Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:22:36 +0000
El Negro Estereofónico Explica el Término "Timba" José Luís Cortés, mejor conocido como "El Tosco", director y flautista de la agrupación musical NG La Banda, aquí explica el uso del término "timba" como una abreviación y manera práctica de expresar lo que es la "música popular contemporanea cubana", un nombre, como comenta el Tosco, "super estereofónico". Simplemente funciona, porque la timba abarca muchas influencias, específicamente usando influencias de diferentes géneros pero siempre con su sabor cubano. En esta interesante entrevista se comenta el rol de NG en la creación del nuevo género, entre otras importantes orquestas, y sobre el desarollo del tema "'Echale Limón", con influencia de la isla de Jamaica.   

También hoy, en mi visita a youtube investigando las recomendaciones de La Timbera Mayor, he tenido el placer de ver bailar a una pareja de Oakland, California que espera a Maykel Bkanco, disfrutando el tema "Anda y Pégate", que estrenará su primeros conciertos aquí en el Yuma en Octubre. Anda y Pégate tu también con la gira de Maykel que viene con su orquesta completa. Unsaludos fuerte a los peruanos de la bahía que son unos leales timberos y timberas!

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Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:08:15 +0000
My Seductive Cuba Imagine “Eat, Pray, Love” meets “Lonely Planet" and its all about Cuba, its people and culture. My Seductive Cuba is a great read and resource for those who have traveled, and who plan on visiting, Cuba. 

It's author, Chen Lizra, started traveling to Cuba in 2005 in order to train with the island’s best professional dancers.  Each year she finds more excuses to visit Cuba, discovering the culture from within and hanging out with her close friends. Chen grew up in Israel and later moved to Canada. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in marketing, which allowed her to turn her passion — Cuban dance and music — into an inspiring lifestyle for others through her company, Latidos Productions®. 

My Seductive Cuba - a unique travel guide by Chen LizraRegarding the development of her labor of love, Chen comments: "I’ve seen many people travel to Cuba and miss the best parts of this captivating culture. It’s not easy to enter a system that is so different than your own. Yet, Cuba offers something that no other country even comes close to. I’ve decided to write this book to help travelers get a smoother traveling experience as if your local best friend met you and showed you around. I want to intrigue those who spend time in resorts to venture out, and to help those who cannot travel get to know Cuba intimately, from the comfort of their own seat."

"The book is deeply personal with my own experiences in this fun loving culture, sharing stories of possessed people, seduction, scams and much more. And yet it is a practical travel guide. The book fuses history and politics with real-life experiences among the people of this often-visited but little-understood island – Cuba on the verge of historic change.

"I've always felt the need to make a difference in the world, and this is my way of doing it. What I want you to walk away with is reflecting on what is important in life. I will be truly happy if by the end of reading this book your heart will be moved. I love Cuba like home. I hope that this book will make you fall in love with it as I did."

For more info on My Seductive Cuba = My Seductive Cuba on Amazon.com
For more info about Chen = www.chenlizra.com

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Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:54:30 +0000
Por Fin!!

"Labor of Love" is a term that I'm somewhat familiar with, but this amazing book had been a labor of love in progress well before my first trip to Cuba in 1999. Afro-Cuban Percussion Workbook is written by my first timba guru, Curtis Lanoue, about one of the greatest and least-publicized percussion masters of Cuba, José Eladio. It covers all the main folkloric and popular rhythms thoroughly and systematically. Here's the link.

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Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:38:28 +0000
Bamboleo with Ailyn Almost exactly one month ago I posted about the beautiful and talented new Azúcar Negra singer, Ingrid Leyva, including a video of her singing the new hit Perrita fina . The response to that video has been overwhelmingly positive . So now let's take a look at what Lazarito is doing with Ailyn in Bamboleo. I very much like this new video of a song called La historia de mi prima . Ailyn looks and sounds great, as does the rest of the band! I'd say that Lazarito is going a little less callejero with Bamboleo's sound than he did during Tania's time. What do you think?

Bamboleo with Ailyn Dalleras singing La historia de mi prima

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Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:25:52 +0000
Charanga Havana All Stars Charanga Havana All Stars Charanga Havana All Stars prepare for US tour

The Charanga Havana All Stars are on their way to the US. The confirmed tours dates are all along the East Coast with concerts in Florida, Boston, New Jersey and New York. More dates are expected to be confirmed soon. Click here for the complete list of concerts and check back with us, because we will update as more concerts are confirmed.

The Havana All Stars are a traditional charanga with a playlist that includes son, guaracha, danzón, cha-cha-chá, changúí and even songo. They also have a dance couple with them, which adds an extra visual aspect to the show and is a great way to help the audience gain a better understanding of the connection between the music and the dances.

Bandmembers:
Julio Iznaga - Musical Director -Timbal
Julio Pulido - General Director
Alberto Alejandro Gonzalez - Congas
Angel Abreu - Güiro
Felix del Pilar ( Samy ) - Vocals
Gregorio Ernesto Laza - Vocals
Reineiro Proenza - Vocals
Angel Aristides Santos - Dancer
Yaimara Rodríguez - Dancer
Roxana de las Mercedes - Violin
Edel Lazaga - Violin
Rene Luis Herrera - Flute
Norberto Shand - Piano
Michel Armesto - Bass

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Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:56:54 +0000
New Tom Ehrlich Photos

Tom has posted some new photo collages to announce this weekend's San José Jazz Festival. See the Bay Area Report for more photos and more details.

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Tue, 09 Aug 2011 01:32:21 +0000
Manolito Working on Live CD Manolito y Su Trabuco by Patrick Bonnard Photo courtesy of Patrick Bonnard

2011 may be a bad year for the economy but it is turning out to be a great year for timba! At Festival Caliente in Rome, Ricardo Amaray announced that the band will be releasing a Live CD at the end of December. They played no fewer than five estrenos in Rome and they are all brilliant ! Esto es Trabuco! We have Manolito's masterful tumbaos, Miguelito "Pan con Salsa" with his teclado sabroso, Eutemio and Caldarón sweetening the mix with their strings, El Chino slapping and sliding on the electric bass during the bombas with the stellar percussion section pounding out an irresistible beat, the metales are tighter than ever with Robin Martinez, and both Robin and David Bencomo give extra power to the coros when they aren't playing. Ladies and gentlemen, this CD will be on every timbero's hoilday gift list!

So what are the estrenos? La cuenta no da - a reggaeton influenced song with Amaray on lead and the great hook ¿Dónde está la plata? ¿Dónde está el billete? , A la medida - a romantic son with Mayami on lead, and already a favorite of mine but it is not among the Rome videos, Callejero - fast-paced timba with Pepitín on lead, a guaranteed dance floor hit. There were three more estrenos that I don't know the names of performed in Rome, but I can at least tell you that they are all serious timba, lo que más te gusta .

Thanks to Benini Digital you can check them out yourselves at YouTube. Here is one to get you started, I'm going to hazard a guess and give it the working title Déjala . Enjoy!

  Amaray sings an estreno from the upcoming live CD @ Festival Caliente in Rome

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Sat, 06 Aug 2011 13:23:45 +0000
Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor in Cali Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor arrived in Cali two days ago to prepare for tonight's big show at Teatro Jorge Isaacs. Maykel Blanco and Tirso Duarte are friends, but tonight they face off in a mano a mano contest to please the dancers in Cali. Let's hope someone uploads video of this event for those of us not lucky enough to be there! Here is a short greeting (2 takes) that Maykel and the singers recorded for the fans.

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Fri, 05 Aug 2011 03:35:00 +0000
Issac in Madrid Tomorrow! Issac Delgado by Patrick Bonnard
Issac "El Supercubano" in France photo by Patrick Bonnard

On July 22, 2011 timberos around the world rejoiced at the release of a new timba single by Issac Delgado. The song, Salsa, Timba y Amor, was only available in Europe. Just one week later an entire CD, Supercubano, was released at iTunes in Europe and the US. The album is a mix of timba, salsa, cubatón, rumba and even one bachata. Issac collabrorated on the album with a number of artists such as Alain Pérez, Manolín El Médico de la Salsa, La India, El Micha, Baby Lores, Gente D'Zona, Baby Lores and Los Generales. If you're in Madrid tomorrow you can catch some of the new songs, as well as any number of classic Issac hits, at the concert at Florida Park.

Track list:
El negro vuelve a La Habana - with El Micha
Perdona
Salsa, timba y amor
Somos Cuba (Mira como vengo) - with Gente D'Zona
Que no se te olvide - with La India
Mienteme
Pa'l Bailador
Mala cabeza
Que no se te olvide (bachata version)
Somos Cuba (extended version) - Baby Lores, El Micha, Gente D'Zona, Manolín, Los Generales, Alain Perez

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Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:24:51 +0000
Los Van Van US Tour Delayed Hemos recibido una notificación de Fuego Entertainment que la gira de Los Van Van ha sido pospuesta por razones de immigración. La visa de Samuel Formell, percusionista del grupo e hijo del director Juán Formell, no ha sido procesada y el grupo no se siente cómodo sin su percusionista principal. Nos explican que las fechas serán postuestas para el mes siguiente de Septiembre.

Los Van Van US Tour postponed due to visa delays.

We received notice from Fuego Entertainment that the upcoming Los Van Van US Tour has been postponed due to a visa provessing delay. Other sources confirm the visa in question belongs to Samuel Formell, the drummer, timbalero and son of the band's director and founder Juán Formell. The group feels uncomfortable going forward without its main pecussionist so the dates have been postponed to September. We will report on any specific dates and venues as soon as we recieve these confirmations.

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Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:30:07 +0000
Los Van Van! LA-SF-NY

Los Van Van will be at the Conga Room in LA on Aug. 4, at Yoshi's Oakland Aug. 5-6-7, and at SOB's in NY on Aug. 10-11-12. Check here for tour updates. Don't miss this chance to see the world's greatest dance band up close with state-of-the-art sound in an intimate setting.

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Sun, 31 Jul 2011 20:10:45 +0000
Calle Real in Japan Calle Real

On June 11th I posted an interview with Calle Real where they mentioned that they had an upcoming tour of Japan in August. The dates and venues of the five-concert promotional tour have recently been released and I have updated the Calle Real tours page . Among other events the callejeros will be performing two days at the Isla de la Salsa festival in Fukuoka. Continue reading to see the promotional video that has been uploaded to YouTube for the tour...

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Fri, 29 Jul 2011 03:51:38 +0000
Afro-Cubism at Stern Grove Tom Ehrlich reporting for La Última

Eliades Ochoa had already hatched the idea for the Afro-Cubism project when the Buena Vista Social Club phenomenon swept him onto the world stage in 1997. Now, 15 years later, his original vision has finally been realized: master musicians from Cuba playing son with master musicians from the African country of Mali playing traditional Malian music. I was thrilled to photograph the historic collaboration on a magical afternoon of music at Stern Grove Park in San Francisco. Click here the full gallery. [Tom Ehrlich]

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Thu, 28 Jul 2011 07:09:29 +0000
Klímax Starts Peruvian Gigs Tonight! Giraldo Piloto & Klímax

Giraldo Piloto & Klímax begin a 5-concert visit in Lima tonight with concerts at Son D'Cuba and Persepolis. The full schedule for the Lima gigs can be found on the Klímax Tours page. The band is as popular as ever with the new hit "La Pelirroja". If you haven't heard it yet do yourself a favor and check it out on Timba.com radio . It has the classic Klímax sound with hardcore vocals by Noel Díaz who is also the song's composer. It is one of the top éxitos of Summer 2011!

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Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:08:02 +0000
PARA USTED: YOU TOO CAN SEE MARACA NOW!   All of the people who talked to us about seeing Maraca live during this current tour said some version of "That was great, we wanted more!"  Well, folks, more has come to your doorsteps -- on Monday, July 25th at 6PM Eastern, Maraca will be performing on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and this performance will be webcast live on the Kennedy Center's website.  If you are able to attend the performance live, admission is free, and if you can't attend in person, the webcast is free.  Opportunities like this don't come along very often, so enjoy it while it's there. 
CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO THE KENNEDY CENTER WEBSITE

The Kennedy Center folks  aren't going to win the "Most Eloquent Description of What A Musician Is Presenting" contest for their promo blurbs, but the fact that they stage these concerts and do these webcasts at all more than compensates for that.  AND, best of all, if you couldn't be there for the live stream, they archive performances on their website.  (Remember though, there's nothing like an in-person experience when you can do it...)

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Sun, 24 Jul 2011 19:24:57 +0000
Tirso Duarte vs. Maykel Blanco A unique event for Timberos is taking place in Cali, Colombia on August 5th. Two of the most popular representatives of the new generation of timberos will face off mano a mano at theater Jorge Isaacs:. Tirso Duarte and Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor. Cali has hosted Tirso before where he was met by screaming fans who knew every song by heart. This will be Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor's first concert in Colombia! So don't miss your chance to catch Tirso and Maykel at the same time! I'll let Tirso tell you about it himself.

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Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:57:55 +0000
Klímax - La Pelirroja I am really enjoying the new video/song La Pelirroja by Klímax. Noel Díaz sings lead vocals and there are moments while Noel is "rapping" where it has almost a Charanga Habanera "the second incarnation" feel to it. Noel is also the composer of the song and I must congratulate him on an excellent job. Interestingly, Piloto wrote a song called Pelirroja for the first incarnation of La Charanga Habanera. It was on the Hey You, Loca!   CD with Leo Vera on lead.

But this is not the same song. It's a completely new song with a masterful, classic Klímax arrangement.  The harmonies Piloto uses are unmistakable. I highly recommend this song to DJs!  Disfruten ahora a La Pelirroja ! (Currently #2 on RADIO TIMBA ). 

Klímax - La Pelirroja

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Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:11:24 +0000
SIERRA MAESTRA LAUNCHES U.S. TOUR IN CHICAGO       Sierra Maestra launched its 2011 United States Tour in Chicago with a rousing outdoor concert at Chicago's Millennium Park on Thursday, July 14 followed by a great indoor dance party at the Mayne Stage on Friday, July 15.  The Millennium Park concert had an opening set by Chicago's own Funkadesi,  which does a mix of bhangra, funk, reggae and the kitchen sink quite well.  They made a tasty appetizer to Sierra Maestra's main course of la musica Cubana.  Much dancing erupted, even in the seated area.  It's always fun to time how long  the city's "Please don't dance in the seats, there is space for that back in the park" requests actually remain effective when a band like Funkadesi or Sierra Maestra hits the stage.  Kudos to the city for bringing them here.

Sierra Maestra in Chicago - Cuban Music
Sierra Maestra 's followup at the Mayne Stage was a high-energy Cuban dance party with Son, Guaracha and  other rhythms that ended with a Conga line (we're saving  that Conga line  for a future post). Now then, there's really no substitute for catching a band like this live, so Timba.com's own Michelle White has posted their tour schedule here , but for those of you who live on another planet or just can't get to a live concert for some other reason, there is some relief available:
click here to read the full story about Sierra Maestra in Chicago and more concert photos

1.  Chicago's radio station WFMT (98.7 FM) is broadcasting its recording of  the Millennium Park concert on Friday July 22 at 11pm Central time, and they stream on the web!
2.  You can always buy (you should really do that anyway) their recent CD, Sonando Ya, which was nominated for a Latin Grammy last year and which we reviewed here a few posts ago.  
3.  We have posted a few photos from the Chicago concerts.  We also sat down with some of them for a fascinating video interview last Friday, and we'll be posting that in the future after we add in an English translation. For now, Click here for photos of Sierra Maestra's Chicago concerts

Item Two:  Maraca Tour Continues

Maraca Live in Chicago - Cuban Music

     We caught Maraca 's performances in Milwaukee and Chicago and can't say enough good things about the current incarnation of his 13-piece band from Havana.  In fact, we're going to help you see what the crowds thought:  We have a gallery from Chicago and Milwaukee (and Colorado thanks to Celine's help) that includes, in addition to the usual shots of the musicians,  some pictures with a "band's eye" view of the crowds.  This group is throwing down some serious dance music (including some killer Timba), and the crowds are responding accordingly. click here to read the full story about Maraca and for more photos from Colorado, Wisconsin and Illinois

Item Three:  ¡Que Palo, Palo!

Palo featuring Ed Calle - Cuban Music in Chicago

When the music is good enough, we have a special place in our heart for musicians and bands that defy labels if they really do have the music to go along with the posture.  Palo! is based in Miami, and its highly-talented members include Ed Calle, whose sax work alone is worth a listen, along with a vibrant singer, Leslie Cartaya, mad musical scientist Steve Roitstein (the leader), and two killer percussionists originally  from Cuba,  Philbert Armenteros and Raymer Olalde. Click here to read the full story and for more photos from Palo's recent Chicago concert.

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Sat, 16 Jul 2011 20:42:56 +0000
Soneros All Stars Release Single Yanesito & Soneros All Stars - La Habana Tiene Su Meneo It's finally out! Today was the official release of Soneros All Stars new single, the timba version of La Habana Tiene Su Meneo , featuring Lesmer Solenzar (Klímax, NG La Banda) on lead vocals. Yanesito has done something rather unusual with this song, he has recorded two versions of it. I'm not talking about the typical ballad version and a salsa version. He has recorded two dance versions: a hardcore, flaming timba single which has been released today, and a classy sonero version with El Indio, El Sinsonte and Pepitín on lead.

To find out what Yanesito had in mind with this dual-version song, I had a little talk with him in Stockholm. Click here to read the interview where he explains why he recorded the song in two versions as well as gives us some interesting behind-the-scenes gossip from the recording session at ICRT Studios in Havana. As of today you will find the Timba version of La Habana Tienen Su Meneo at iTunes, Spotify and other retailers. Enjoy the official video below.

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Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:51:28 +0000
Azúcar Negra Leonel Limonta & Azúcar Negra Leonel Limonta & Azúcar Negra are the talk of the town with their new singer line-up and the new CD Se acabó el pescao that will be released later this month. You have probably heard that when Tania Pantoja left Bamboleo for a solo career, Ailyn moved to Bamboleo. This left an opening for a new female singer, and I have been very curious about who Limonta would find to fill the spot.

The new leading lady of Azúcar Negra is 26-year-old Havana native, Ingrid Leyva Fuentes. Limonta found her singing with the small group Calle Cuba. She has a voice with a timbre that sounds like a mix of Tania and Ailyn and a tremendous stage presence. I might add that a number of men have pointed out that she is also quite attractive, which is always a plus in the world of show business.

Other new faces in the Azúcar Negra front line include Pavel "La Figura" who sings the title track from the upcoming album Se acabó el pescao. His voice is in top form and he remains one of Havana's most entertaining performers. El menor among the singers is 20-year-old Leisdel Gonzáles, the very good-looking nephew of none other than Manolín, El Médico de la Salsa. He has become Havana's new heartthrob and sings lead on the track La vida es . Rounding out the front line is Yurisan Hernández, lead singer on A mí La Habana .

Having finally seen the current lineup thanks to muchoswing.com and Cubavision, I am very pleased to say that they sound fantastic! The band has great energy, arrangements that call you to the dance floor and as always Limonta's lyrics are creative and intelligent, and the coros are infectious. Stay tuned for our full report on the CD, coming soon. In the meantime, here are a few words from Limonta himself and a look at Ingrid singing lead on "Perrita Fina", also known as "Sacúdate que tienes arena".

Dice Leonel Limonta a los fanes: "Como se acabó el pescao se acabó el abuso Azúcar Negra está dando que hablar con sus nuevos cantantes y nuevo CD , es el suceso de la Habana y toda Cuba."

Azúcar Negra "Perrita Fina"- cantante Ingrid Leyva

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Sun, 10 Jul 2011 10:35:06 +0000
Adalberto Álvarez on Tour Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son are on tour in Europe right now. Adalberto is this year's Cubadisco winner for Best Video for the Bailando en la Tropical clip. The CD El Son de Altura was also nominated for Best Dance Album.  Click here for the list of concert dates so you can bailar con Adalberto y su son.

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Thu, 07 Jul 2011 04:59:51 +0000
Singer & Pianist Glenda del E's Miami Debut Glenda del E - Miami Debut - Cuban MusicDaughter of reknown afro-cuban percussionist Mario Del Monte Jr, Glenda del Monte-Escalante -Glenda Del E- is a Cuban singer and pianist now based in Canada. Glenda makes her Miami debut this Saturday.  The performance will be a fusion of afro-cuban jazz, soul, r&b, funk and tropical rhythms. 

SATURDAY JULY 9 2011
9pm at the Van Dyke Café
846 Lincoln Road
Miami Beach, Florida, 33139
(305)-534-3600

Performing Musicians:
Glenda del E - piano
Mario del Monte Jr - drums
Mireya Escalante - vocals
Nestor del Prado - bass
Aaron Lebos - guitar
Mauricio del Monte - trumpet

Come check out this afro-cuban family affair

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Wed, 06 Jul 2011 02:31:26 +0000
Maraca in MN, WI, IL Hey Midwesterners - need a break from government shutdowns, union-busting and homicidal supreme court justices? Maraca's new timba band will be in MN, WI and IL on the 6th, 9th and 10th - then on to Indiana, Detroit and South Dakota before arriving at SOBs in NY. Here's the full tour schedule - Bill Tilford's review of the new CD/DVD - and Tom Ehrlich's extensive photo gallery from the SF leg of the tour.

If he used both hands it just wouldn't be fair.

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Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:47:41 +0000
REENCUENTROS by Maraca & His Latin Jazz All Stars In the United States, we sometimes get too fixated upon labels and boundaries when discussing music, partilcularly when it comes to Jazz and Classical; some Americans like to entertain the notion that the two disciplines rarely mix well, and consequently, when strings (other than solo violin) are incorporated into Jazz recordings here, the results are sometimes met with suspicion by casual listeners and critics alike who fear, rationally or not, that the session is a cynical attempt to crack the "easy listening" market.
     Cuban musicians aren't confronted with that issue, at least not to the same degree.  Even in the middle of the last century, Cachao, a key figure in the development of the Mambo as well as the art of the descarga, had a dual career as a classical bassist, and most if not all of the younger generation of Cuban jazz artists has been classically trained as well.  No sane listener would accuse the best of them of a failure to swing as a consequence of their familiarity with classical idioms.
     This brings us to Maraca's latest Jazz recording, Reencuentros , which was recorded live at the Grand Theater of Havana  with a specially-assembled, international all-star cast of jazz musicians including: ...read the full review here

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Sun, 03 Jul 2011 16:05:06 +0000
Pedrito Calvo Jr. Pedrito Calvo Jr. y Su Orquesta Pedrito Calvo Jr. & Su Orquesta

Pedrito Calvo Jr. has literally spent his life among Havana's musical elite. In addition to his academic music training, he has witnessed firsthand the life and work of one of Cuba's most poular and charismatic singers, his father Pedrito Calvo, ex-Van Van lead singer and now director of Pedrito Calvo y La Justicia. In 2009 after a 13-year career during which he shared the stage with musicians such as Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo, Pio Leyva, Los Van Van, Amadito Valdés and Barbarito Torres, PC Jr. formed his own orchestra, based in Italy. In 2 short years the band has released a number of singles as well as the album Mi Fiesta Latina . They have also performed in France, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, Mexico, Venezuela, Poland, Denmark, Austria and in Cuba. For more infomation about the band including photos and videos, check out the new Timba.com section for Pedrito Calvo Jr y Su Orquesta .

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Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:22:41 +0000
SIERRA MAESTRA BEGINS US TOUR IN CHICAGO JULY 14      Sierra Maestra has been around almost 35 years (a relatively young band compared to Aragon or Septeto Nacional, but they've been around long enough to know a thing or three) and is one of the keepers of the flame of traditional Son. They will be kicking off their US tour in Chicago on Thursday, July 14th at 6:30pm with an outdoor concert in Millennium Park followed by an indoor set on Friday,  July 15th at 9:00pm  at the Mayne Stage in Chicago. 

They were nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2010, and we'll be doing a review of their 2010 CD, Sonando Ya  in the near future. (Photo by Bart Madjeski supplied by City of Chicago)

          Michelle White has posted their tour schedule in the Giras/Tours   section, and we hope to be able to do a live interview with them once they hit town.

     We are also doing some serious listening to a sneak preview of Maraca's new jazz CD Reencuentros,  recorded recently  by Maraca and his Latin Jazz All Stars (and there really is an interesting collection of heavy hitters in the lineup).    We dig it, and in the near future, we'll be telling you all about why.    Stay tuned.  In fact, you should do that literally - Maraca also has a dance CD in the works, and we have a sneak preview of that as well, Preguntale A Mi Mujer , in Timba.com's Radio   section. Check it out, and if you can, catch them live on tour.     

          Kevin Moore turned us on to this review of Maraca's show at the Napa Valley Opera House:
Napa Valley Register review of Maraca

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Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:59:28 +0000
José Miguel en la Yuma! photo by Tom Ehlrich

Yikes - this guy is really amazing. His plane arrived just in time to get him there for the second set at Yoshi's SF, which began with a long exchange of solos between José and Maraca that electrified the crowd and the band. And he also sings in a soaring high tenor with great phrasing, intonation and stage presence - unbelievable. One more night at Yoshi's tonight - then a whole string of concerts across the US. See you there! There's another foto if you click "continue reading".

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Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:10:32 +0000
Maraca Photos

Click here for Tom Ehrlich's First Gallery (more coming soon) 

The airline lost their bags but even in street clothes Otra Visión brought down the house, with encores demanded for each set. It was a thrill to finally hear El Nene live - he has a soaring voice that reminds me of Kalunga, writes great songs, and is also an excellent improviser. In fact, every member of this band is a brilliant improviser, from ISA-graduate piano phenom Andy Rubal, to Irakere alumnus Alfred Thompson, to Maraca himself. Check timba.com radio for a new timba track recorded by the group only days before the tour for their upcoming CD, Suspendan los comentarios. Maraca also has a new all-star jazz CD/DVD coming for which we'll have a review and interview from Bill Tilford when the Maraca show hits Chicago.

Great New Photographer - The latest luminary to grace our Photography section is Bohdan Kiszczuk of BWK Photography. His pages are under construction but so far there are great galleries of Los Van Van, Klímax and Charanga Habanera in Montreal.

José Miguel Watch - José's visa came through and he'll be at the 2nd show tonight.

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Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:43:54 +0000
Exclusivo - Nuevo Sencillo de Soneros All Stars Nuevo sencillo de Soneros All Stars - La Habana Tiene Su Meneo

Julio 17 2011 marca la fecha del lanzamiento oficial de La Habana Tiene Su Meneo, el nuevo sencillo de Soneros All-Stars. Escúchalo aquí exclusivamente en Radio Timba . La composición, arreglo y producción del tema fue ejecutada por Jan Bogdan, el tresero, bajista y director del proyecto de música cubana basado en Suecia. 

Créditos y músicos participantes:
Role - Instrument Name
Baby Bass, Tres, Director Jan Bogdan "Yanesito
Piano Oldrich González
Percussion Calixto Oviedo
Trumpets Oslén Ceballo Brian
Trombone Christine Karlsson "Titti"
Lead Vocals Lésmer Solensar
Vocals Enrique Castellanos Cuesta
Vocals Pascual Matos Aguirre "El Sinsonte"
Recording Engineer Luis Guillermo "Gogo"
Recording Engineer Mijail Artiaga "Micha"
Mix Engineer Jan Bogdan
Pro Tools Assistant Kai Sandstrom
Production Assistant Marieal Moreno
Production Assistant Pascual Matos Aguirre
Mastering Engineer Michael Lázarus

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Thu, 16 Jun 2011 06:55:58 +0000
1er Festival de Salsa y Latin Jazz de Barcelon 1er Festival de Salsa y Latin Jazz de BarcelonaPrepárense para el Primer Festival de Salsa y Latín Jazz de Barcelona 2011. El festival tiene la ventaja de poder atraer a un publico autóctono amante del género (bailarines, melómanos , músicos) y a un público inmigrante, que siempre responde ante eventos que les acerquen a artistas referentes de la escena musical latina a nivel internacional.

Apertura de puertas 18:30H

PROGRAMA:
17H – La Sucursal S.A. (Salsa – Colombia – BCN)
20H – Chucho Valdés y A.C. Messengers (Cuba)
22H – Rubén Blades (Salsa – Panamá – NY)

El festival espera unas 5000 personas e incluye actividades y animaciones teatrales, muestras gastronómicas, una feria artesanal, encuentro de melómanos y DJs y venta de vinilos; todo al aire libre en pleno verano.

Abriendo el festival, el grupo La Sucursal S.A. presentará su nueva producción discográfica Sin Fronteras, y se destaca el tema "No Me Tumbas" aquí en Radio Timba.

La Combinación de la HabanaLa Sucursal S.A. - Sin Fronteras

Además encontrarán temas nuevos de La Combinacíon de La Habana (una colaboración con Tirso Duarte llamada "Ajústate el cinturón") y de Maraca, que nos trea su tema "Preguntale a mi mujer", del compositor y cantante Alexei "El Nene" Sánchez que estará en gira con Maraca.

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Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:21:08 +0000
Interview with Calle Real It's been 2 years since my last interview with Calle Real. At the time they were just about to release their second CD Me lo gané . This time we meet Kafry, Dony and Peter aka "El Señor Speedo" as well as Thomas. They talk about recent concerts, new songs and upcoming plans including a 5-stop promotional tour of Japan.

Interview with Calle Real by Michelle White, Stockholm 25-05-2011
English Subtitles

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Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:13:35 +0000
Exclusive New Maraca! click to hear Pregúntale a mi mujer
photo by Tom Ehrlich
Click for Maraca Tour Dates

Orlando "Maraca" Valle, ex-flautist of Irakere and, as the leader of Otra Vision, has chalked up a Grammy nomination, 5 Cubadisco awards and dozens of wildly successful tours.

With dual-residency in Cuba and Europe, Maraca was able to keep touring the US throughout the dismal 2000s by using all-star groups of expatriates, but the more enlightened post-Bush era has allowed him to return to his Havana roots and put together an actual working band of top Havana musicians that's been able to play gigs, rehearse, and develop unique original material.

Click "continue reading" below for a full list, but the two names that leap off the page are monster timbalero (and singer) José Miguel (ex-Irakere, ex-Issac, and the leader of Balanza), and Alexei "El Nené" Sánchez, who sang and wrote some of Revé's greatest hits of the 2000s, including No te doy más na' and La madrugada. El Nené wrote and sang several songs on Maraca's soon-to-be-released album, including this killer timba track, Pregúntale a mi mujer , an exclusive preview on timba.com. Nené packs more excitement into one syllable ("je!") than many singers can muster in a whole night.

The tour begins at the Napa Valley Opera House on Tuesday, June 14th . Then three nights at Yoshi's San Francisco (Wed-Fri) , then Seattle (21-22) , Boulder (24) , Salt Lake City (25) , Albuquerque (26) , Jazz Glenwood Springs (29) , Aspen (30, 7-1) , Minneapolis (7-6) , Madison (7-9), Chicago (7-10), Portland Indiana (7-14), Detroit (7-15), Sioux Falls (7-16) and Washington DC (7-25). 

IN OTHER NEWS: Team Bahía, with Carlos Caro and the incredible young singer Sulkary, will celebrate their first anniversary this Saturday in Oakland at Club Antón , and Ana Pérez and Luis Cancino of Los Muñequitos, along with Ana's son Sandy Pérez, of AfroCuba de Matanzas, will be giving classes in Santa Cruz on June 17, 18, 24 and 25. Click here for more details .

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Thu, 09 Jun 2011 03:56:20 +0000
Cubadisco 2011 - Reports Another Cubadisco has come and gone and thanks to Timba Photographer Patrick Bonnard , we have a first hand account of the 2011 ceremony. As always he has very generously shared some amazing and exclusive photos that capture the excitement of the moment. We will also be updating other sections of Patrick's gallery over the next few days. For now here is a taste from Cubadisco and Patrick's eyewitness report!

Elito Revé @ Cubadisco 2011 by Patrick Bonnard Elito Revé y Su Charagón @ Cubadisco 2011 - photo ©Patrick Bonnard used by permission

I was able to attend both the rehearsal and the Gala night of Cubadisco Awards at Karl Marx  Theater. 

Los Van Van opened the show and were performing live. The show was recorded in  the Karl Marx Theater in Havana (a second award ceremony was taking place simultaneously in Santiago, host of Cubadisco Fair this year) and broadcast on TV the next day. Manolito performed with his Trabuco. Elito Revé closed the show with a beautiful performance of dancers, Yemayá rising in the air (you must  already have seen that on youtube!). Elito won the award for the best album of  popular dance music, and the "Gran Premio", awarded for first time in Cubadisco history to a timba band.

Elito Revé played at La Tropical on Sunday the 22nd of May and the concert was filmed and recorded for a DVD. Then he lauched his national tour in Oriente before leaving for Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela. He'll be touring in Europe end of July and August.
-Patrick Bonnard

I can only agree with the Cubadisco decion to award these two prizes to Orquesta Revé for their latest CD ¿De qué estamos hablando? . They faced some tough competion from Adalberto Álvarez y su son (El son de altura ), Paulo FG (Sin etiqueta ), Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco (Trabuco una vez más ) and Bamboleo (¿Quién manda? ). However, ¿De qué estamos hablando? is a truly outstanding album, demonstrating Orquesta Revé standing firmly at the top of the first line. If you haven't heard it yet, click here for my review.

For those of us not fortunate enough to attend Cubadisco, here is the video that Patrick was referring to where we see the beautiful grand finale of Cubadisco 2011, with Clave y Guaguancó and the Cuban Televison Ballet performing Agua pa' Yemayá with Elito Revé y Su Charangón. Enjoy and stay tuned for more reports on Cubadisco 2011!

Revé perform Agua pa' Yemayá @ Cubadisco with Clave y Guaguancó & the TVC Ballet

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Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:29:56 +0000
Charanga Habanera in SF Photo Gallery CHARANGA HABANERA - ROCCAPULCO, SAN FRANCISCO - JUNE 3, 2011
PHOTOS BY TOM EHRLICH © 2011 - WITH PERMISSION BY FUEGO ENTERTAINMENT

click here to view the full gallery - oprima aquí para ver la galería completa

Charanga Habanera - SF June 2011

Charanga Habanera - SF June 2011

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Tue, 07 Jun 2011 04:02:14 +0000
Omara & Chucho Omara & ChuchoOmara Portuondo and Chucho Valdés are back together with their second album titled "Omara & Chucho". They continue their exploration of the emotive power of simplicity. They present a selection of tunes that bear personal meaning to them, and present these songs unadorned, naked. With the exception of Wynton Marsalis on "Esta Tarde Vi Llover" and Rossio Jimenez Blanco with backing vocals on "Huesito", the album is just Chucho's piano and Omara's voice. They are two people completely exposed, sharing an intimacy with their listeners. The music is primarily a mix of boleros, trova moving into fílin. This is not salsa, but music to be listened to as you sit drinking a glass of wine with your loved one a warm summer evening or a cold winter night in front of the fire.

Click here for the full review and a track listing.

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Sun, 05 Jun 2011 10:23:16 +0000
NG La Banda at SOBs NG La Bnada @ SOBsFollowing on the heels of the recent concert by La Charanga Habanera, El Tosco & NG La Banda will perform June 16th at SOBs in New York. You can already order your tickets on-line. Don't miss out on your chance to see the band that started it all! And if you're a reggaeton fan, SOBs will feature Gente D'Zona and El Chacál on June 11th!

The musical genre we now call Timba was created by NG La Banda, but as Cuban music expert Arturo "Marcané" Gómez points out, it was not created out of thin air. As our "Genealogy of Timba Family Tree" shows, Pachito Alonso and Gérman Velazco played with Orquesta Revé and he and José "El Greco" Crego, Carlos Averhoff, and José Munguía played in Irakere along with flautist and leader, José Luis "El Tosco" Cortés, who had previously written and played for Los Van Van.

NG La Banda - sIMPLEMENTE lO mEJOR NG La Banda amalgamated the innovations of the groups that came before it with many of its own to create a type of music that wasn't Son, Songo or Rumba - nor was it Rock, Jazz or Funk. It had ample amounts of each blended in, but its most potent component was something entirely new - something that was born in the streets and barrios of Havana in the late 1980's as the Berlin Wall crumbled. Cortés called it "Timba". illustrates, NG began as an all-star group which drew members from the most important pre-Timba bands.

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Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:58:20 +0000
Los Muñequitos de Matanzas HD Video Clips Finding it difficult to obtain instruments for his own use -partly because of restrictions then in place on imports of instruments (and everything else) from Cuba following the Cuban missile crisis of 1962- and unable to buy congas, bongos and similar instruments of the quality he saw other performers using, Martin Cohen began making his own. As his instruments became more popular, Martin founded his company Latin Percussion (LP), making it a world-reknown brand. Martin has been a music photographer since the 1950's and his Congahead.com webiste is the source of excellent music videos. TIMBA.com will be posting some of his favorite selections here. Thank you Martin. Click here to visit the new TIMBA.com Congahead Video page.

Los Muñequitos de Matanzas
Folkloric Cuban Music Videos - courtesy of Congahead

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Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:45:58 +0000
CH in CA!! Charanga Habanera will be back in the States for the third time since "the thaw". Kay has the full details on Thursday's show at the Conga Room (including discount tickets). The next night they fly to SF and Roccapulco for a show hosted by dancing phenoms Nick & Serena of SF Rueda Festival fame. We're waiting for more dates for Europe this summer.

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Wed, 01 Jun 2011 06:27:30 +0000
(Orlando Valle) Maraca USA Tour 2011 begins June 14 Maraca 2011 USA Tour(Orando Valle) Maraca's USA Tour officially begins June, 14, 2011 at the Napa Valley Opera House (8pm) in Napa, California.

Click here for his full 2011 USA Tour Schedule courtesy of TIMBA's Michelle White.

Straight from Cuba, Maraca's ensemble has been called “the most influential Afro-Cuban band of the emerging century” (Chicago Tribune) and “one of the hottest names in jazz” (LA Times). Maraca will have the Opera House moving to the authentic rhythms of salsa, mambo and cha cha cha, as well as creative Afro-Cuban jazz.

The band has been extended to 13 musicians, all coming from Cuba, with great addition as Jose-Miguel melendez (ex-Irakere), on vocals and solo percussion, and Alfred Thompson (ex-Irakere, Omara Portuondo and Ibrahim Ferrer) on tenor saxophone. The band will be playing a mix of their afro cuban jazz repertoire, danceable songs from their hits and songs from their new danceable CD which is being recorded in Havana now.

Participating Musicians & Staff:
Orlando “Maraca” Valle bandleader, flute, composer, arranger 
Josiel Pérez  trumpet 
Eduardo Martínez  trumpet 
Ariel Pérez  trombone 
Alfred Thompson  tenor saxophone 
Andrés Pérez  baritone saxophone 
Lester Ciarreta  vocal 
Alexei “El Nene” Sánchez  vocal 
José Miguel Meléndez  vocal, percussion 
Iván Llanes  drums, timbales 
Yosmel Montejo  bass 
Rafael Valiente  congas, background vocals 
Andy Rubal  piano 
Céline Chauveau  manager 

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Tue, 31 May 2011 12:35:11 +0000
BÁRBARO FINES Y SU ORQUESTA MAYIMBE Bárbaro Fines y su MayimbeOprima en la caratula para oír muestras de todos los temas
Click on the album cover to listen to oreviews for all tracks
Ahora disponible - Now available

Exploding onto the Cuban music scene in Lima, Perú, Bárbaro Fines y su Mayimbe deliver hard core timba that has reached international acclaim. An ex-Charanga Forever, Salsa Mayor, Banda Meteoro and Alaín Daniel pianist, Bárbarito delivers his original vision and sound with his first release..."De La Habana A Perú", also the title track of the record. La descarga incluye el librito complete del disco.

Here's a video salute to all their fans and a short "making of" this new record:

El grupo nace oficialmente como orquesta un 29 de Mayo del año 2010, previo a este lanzamiento oficial fueron aproximadamente 4 meses de constante ensayo hasta que Barbarito logro plasmar en la banda el sonido que él quería para la misma. Rápidamente el ensamble y el sonido del Mayimbe cautivaron al público, colocando así los temas de la orquesta en el hit parade nacional y calando fuertemente en la preferencia de los timberos peruanos. Cabe señalar que el común denominador de las orquestas del medio era hacer covers de las más importantes orquestas de música popular cubana del momento, otorgándole esto un merito especial al éxito de la orquesta Mayimbe.

DE LA HABANA A PERÚ - videoclip (cojones, este disco está en candela):

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Mon, 30 May 2011 15:52:53 +0000
Tremendos Estrenos - New tracks on Radio Timba Radio Timba - Mayo 25, 2011Today's Radio Timba playlist includes tracks we've received from Havana and Lima. Maykel Blanco sends us his new live track "Un Kilo" with Michelito on vocals. "Un Kilo" was recorded live at Casa De la Música Mirmar in Havana.

Hot from Lima are Elio Reve's "Jala Jala", which features the sons of Pachito Alonso, Cristian and Rey, on vocals, and the father and son duo of Pedrito Calvo Jr. and Perdro Calvo (ex-Van Van).  

"Timba Manía" is a track produced and recorded by Bárbaro Fines and his Mayimbe band for a televisión show. Mayimbe has really taken over the city by storm.

Use the SHARE button on the top left of the radio to send the TIMBA radio player to your firends.

Nuevo de Matimba en Radio Timba

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Wed, 25 May 2011 17:08:47 +0000
Sierra Maestra on Tour Sierra Maestra Sierra Maestra on tour now!

Tour season is upon us and we are starting to update the tour section for more and more groups, so keep a close eye on the tours section and send an e-mail if you know about any concerts we are missing. Currently Havana D'Primera are in Quebec where they will give two presentations,  Tiempo Libre is on tour in the US in support of their new release "My Secret Radio", and the defenders of son, Sierra Maestra are touring Europe. They will be stopping here in my hometown of Stockholm on May 7th. There is nothing as tasty as a good son, so check their full tour schedule to find a concert near you!

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Wed, 04 May 2011 13:44:56 +0000
Calixto Updates
photo by Tom Ehrlich

Calixto Oviedo's concert with the CSULA AfroCuban big band went very well. Calixto gave private and group lessons to the various student percussionists and played different instruments on different songs. He also played an electrifying percussion duet with conductor Robert Fernández. And to top it all off, he took the microphone on the last song and sang lead quite brilliantly - who knew? We'll have video in our new Clinics section soon.

Various LA illuminati were on hand, including George Balmaseda (singer of The Latin Giants of Jazz), pianists Gustavo Ramírez, Alberto Salas, Paul de Castro and Scott Oakley, leading drummer and Ritmologist Victor Barrientos, bassist/arranger/author Edgar Hernández (who will soon be opening an educational section in the timba.com escuelas section), Kay Torres of Curuye, and Gloria Herrera.

The May 2nd San Francisco clinic was cancelled, but now a new clinic and concert have been booked for May 7 with Edgardo Gambón and his group Candela. It's an all-day event called the Island Arts Festival, with the following schedule:

11:00 AM -1:00 PM: Percussion Workshop with Calixto and Edgardo  (drop-ins welcome)
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Special Family Percussion Workshop with Calixto and Edgardo (drop-ins welcome)
8:00 PM: Salsa Lesson
9:00 PM: Candela (Edgardo's full 9-piece band, with guest artist Calixto Oviedo)

Sliding scale $15-25, includes the workshops.
Free parking at the Paint Company nearby.

On May 9th Calixto returns to STOCKHOLM for several more clinics and gigs with the sizzling new timba band La Jugada. Meanwhile, another Afro-Cuban All Star percussionist, Pepe Espinosa (ex-Bamboleo, Azúcar Negra, Danny Lozada y su Timba Cubana, Klímax, Cubanismo etc.) has moved from Sweden to Miami.

Finally, Tom Ehrlich hits the road for two weeks in New York where he'll photograph Omar Sosa's concert and recording session, Los Muñequitos, and other events.

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Mon, 02 May 2011 05:15:35 +0000
Calixto Oviedo Concert Thurs at CSULA Calixto with the Afro-Cuban All Stars - Photo by Tom Ehrlich

***  click here for Tom's New Muñequitos Gallery   *** 

UPDATES: The LA clinic was great - we'll have video in our new CLINICS section soon. The concert is tomorrow, Thursday, at the Music Hall (near the Luckman Complex) at CSULA. It's free - 8:00 p.m.

Bay Area Clinic Cancelled - Sadly, there will be no Bay Area clinic or concert.

The first Calixto Oviedo clinic (Tuesday) and concert (Thursday) are in Los Angeles, at the CAL-STATE campus (full website here) and they are FREE (GRATIS). These are almost always FULL so get there EARLY because seating is limited.

TUESDAY, APRIL 26  Beyond Salsa Percussion Clinic
7pm @ the 150 Band Room at the Music Department Cal-State
Featuring Questions and Answer Session with Calixto Oviedo and Keivn Moore & the Cal-State LA Afro-Latin Ensemble.

THURSDAY, APRIL 28  Cal-State LA Afro-Latin Ensemble Concert featuring Calixto Oviedo
8pm @ the Music Hall at the Music Department Cal-State
Cal-State LA Afro-Latin Ensemble Concert featuring Calixto Oviedo
Also Los Jovenes del Son Septet (Cal-State LA Latin Combo)

Then Calixto returns to the Bay Area for the filming of an educational video for congamasterclass.com

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Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:20:48 +0000
New Tiempo Libre Available for Pre-Order click here to pre-order from amazon.com

Tiempo Libre's My Secret Radio is very hot, take-no-prisoners timba, laced with all sorts of great bloques, gear changes and slick arranging. The new member (2nd from the right, standing) is Pututi III, and he's an amazing drummer who lives up to the reputations of his two older brothers (who recorded all the classic Manolín records) and his cult legend father (who should be Pututi I, and everybody else should have one number added, but ...). Anyway, the album is mostly pure timba dura, with one clever Earth Wind & Fire cover (it works well in Spanish) and a guest appearance from Albita.

Here's the latest tour info. They're in Oregon now and will play Montana and New York.

This just in: TL was just confirmed for an October date at the SF Jazz Festival!

Note: Two other TL CDs can be bought at LPM.

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Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:19:15 +0000
Timba Percussion Clinics - April 23-26-28 OK timberos and timberas here's another great opportunity to be exposed to the inner mechanics of the music we love. On SATURDAY APRIL 23 there will be a Beyond Salsa Percussion clinic in Vancouver, Canada, at the Long & McQuade Drum Department located at 368 Terminal Avenue. The clinic features Jorge Luis "Papiosco" Torres & Calixto Oviedo, currently on tour with the Afro-Cuban All-Stars.  

Calixto Oviedo & Jorge Luis "Papiosco" Torres - Beyond Salsa Percussion

The clinics on the 26 & 28 of APRIL are in Los Angeles, at the CAL-STATE campus (full website here) and they are FREE (GRATIS). These are almost FULL so get there EARLY because seating is limited.

APRIL 26  Beyond Salsa Percussion Clinic
7pm @ the 150 Band Room at the Music Department Cal-State
Featuring Questions and Answer Session with Calixto Oviedo and Keivn Moore & the Cal-State LA Afro-Latin Ensemble.

APRIL 28  Beyond Salsa Percussion Clinic
8pm @ the Music Hall at the Music Department Cal-State
Cal-State LA Afro-Latin Ensemble Concert featuring Calixto Oviedo
Also Los Jovenes del Son Septet (Cal-State LA Altin Combo)

First come first server seating is limited for these FREE Los Angeles clinics. Shout out to Robert Fernández...send us a pic Robert. 

Cal State LA Afro-Latin Ensemble

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Sat, 16 Apr 2011 00:35:42 +0000
Buen Aniversario Giraldo Piloto & Klímax! Timberos around the world, take some time today to celebrate a tu manera with Giraldo Piloto and Klímax who are celebrating their 16th anniversary! Having just returned from a European tour there hasn't been time to plan the official celebration event; it will come soon and we will keep you updated. But for now the band is celebrating this morning with friends at Casa De la Música Miramar. Rumor has it there will be plenty of cake, ensalada y ron! I was congratulating Piloto this morning and he asked me to send a "saludo" to all the readers of Timba.com and says "Los queremos". Well Piloto, let me speak on behalf of all timberos and say we love you and your band too! Thank you for all the years of enjoyment you have brought us. We look forward to many more!

Klimax by Patrick Bonnard Klímax - Cannes 2010 - photo ©Patrick Bonnard, used by permission

Canadians will be happy to hear that Klímax will be performing there soon, June 3-5. All details will be posted as soon as we are fully updated.

  For now let me leave you with a video from the album "Solo tú y yo"
the hit "La Permuta" sung by Leo Garrido.

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Thu, 14 Apr 2011 10:46:21 +0000
Paulito & Yoshi Pa'l Piso!

Paulito and Yoshi herself burning up the dance floor at his recent Oakland tour. Click here for Tom Ehrlich's full gallery. [Kevin Moore]

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Sat, 09 Apr 2011 05:13:31 +0000
Calixto Oviedo Percussion Clinics Ok here we go.....the first dedicated timba drumming clinics in the country begin APRIL 6 & 7 in Seattle Washington. The instructor is master percussionist Calixto Oviedo, the drummer with the iconic band NG La Banda during the period that produced their greatest recordings, including Santa Palabra, Échale Limón, and El Trágico. For his full biography and discography click here

Master Percussionist Calixto OviedoAPRIL 6 - Beyond Salsa Percussion
Timba Drumming Clinic
Seattle Pacific University - http://www.spu.edu - 9:30 AM
3307 3rd Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119-1997
Phone: 206-281-2142 / Dan Adams Percussion Studies

APRIL 7 
Beyond Salsa Percussion
Timba Drumming Clinic
University of Washington 
http://www.music.washington.edu - 1:00 PM
1100 Ne Campus Parkway, Seattle, WA 98105
Phone: 206-543-121 / Richard Karpen Director


Calixto's clinics coincide with his performances with the AFRO-CUBAN ALL STARS tour. Seattle shows include April 5-6-7 at the JAZZ ALLEY (http://jazzalley.com). 

Jazz Alley - jazzalley [at] jazzalley [dot] com
2033 6th Avenue, Seattle WA 98121
Phone 206.441.9729

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Thu, 07 Apr 2011 06:09:54 +0000
Los Muñequitos Begin 16-City Tour with a Bang Monday's sold out show (over 1,000 people) was greeted with - and closed by -- the most thunderous, sincere and heartfelt ovation that I can recall hearing ... ever.


photo by Tom Ehrlich - click here to view more

The music, the dancing and the crowd were all amazing. Tonight was the formal show with one set of Afro-Cuban music and one of rumba. Tonight, Tuesday, will be a much more informal setting, at the Mission Language and Vocation Center with Los MdM's crack dancing troupe squaring off against the "the locals", who of course, in this town, include plenty of transplanted Cuban masters like Sandy Pérez, José Francisco Barroso and Rosita Villamil who played with major folkloric groups in Havana and Matanzas. Next stop is Savannah, Georgia, then Atlanta, then Florida and the buzz is that the three New York shows are already almost sold out. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL TOUR.

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Tue, 05 Apr 2011 03:51:13 +0000
Cuba & Puerto Rico Click here to listen to the new single by Pepito Gómez & José Lugo.
Oprima aquí para escuchar el nuevo sencillo. Mañana estrena en Puerto Rico.
 

José "Pepito" Gómez performs in New York Pepito performing to a full house in New York last week

They say that Cuba and Puerto Rico are "two wings of a bird" and the latest collaboration between Cuba and Puerto Rico is the new single "No me saques de tu vida" lyrics and music by José Gómez "Pepito", José Lugo & Juan José Hernández  "Juanchi". Pepito needs no introduction to timba fans. His brilliant tenor voice is unmistakable and his iconic interpretations have left an indelible mark on contemporary Cuban dance music. Also a composer, Pepito contributed the mega-hit "Un poquito al revés", including the coro that gave the name to the award-winning CD "Tranquilo que yo controlo" by Pupy y Los Que Son Son. Since his arrival in the US in 2008 Pepito has performed  to rave reviews and recorded with a number of artists, and he is now part of José Lugo's latest project in the Guasábara series as composer and lead vocalist on the single "No me saques de tu vida", which premiers on Puerto Rican radio tomorrow!

José Lugo is one of the most important Latin producers with many Grammy nominations and eight wins under his belt. Lugo produced, arranged and played piano on the single, and you will recognize his style with some interesting and unexpected harmonic changes and even a bit of a timba teaser at 3:30. Juanchi is the director of the group San Juan Habana. An ex-singer for Adalberto Álvarez, he is the composer of such hits as El Gran Combo's "Arroz con habichuela" and Gilberto Santa Rosa's "El conteo regresivo", as well as "Ella menea" by NG2. This is truly a stellar combination.

So how did Los Joséses begin this collaboration? Pepito tells us:
José Lugo and I met through Issac Delgado who referred him to me. José Lugo invited me to sing on a production that he was doing for Pablo Aubia, bassist and director of the group Batambo. Mr. Aubia is Argentinean and living in Geneva. I went to Puerto Rico and we met, and after that we stayed in contact and formed a good friendship. José Lugo had now finished the first production of his CD "Guasábara". It was a project with a big orchestra where singers such as Gilberto Santa Rosa, Cano Estremera, Víctor Manuel, Issac Delgado and Herman Olivera participated and it was nominated for an American Grammy. With the passage of time our friendship led us to work together. He proposed that I do two songs to start with for the project "Guasábara 2"  with a 7-musician format and the possibility of doing live performances. We recorded two songs, this one and another that is in the mixing process called "Si te quiere sola regresa" . The lyrics and music are mine, and the arrangement, production and piano are by José Lugo.

"No me saques de tu vida" was recorded in Puerto Rico at José Lugo's Guasábara Records and will be available at iTunes next week. These are the two first songs prepared for the CD Guasábara Combo.

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Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:22:34 +0000
Scraping Paint with Paolo FG Live (El Improvisador) Check out how Paulo FG handles this loving farandulera. When the bomba gear begins she decides that grabbing the mic stand is not enough, she's gotta "get some of that action".  Mayor tembleque ensues. When that is not enough she jumps on hoping for a ride, fully dangling from his neck. A water break is needed...and the stellar imprvisation begins...

(after Paulo grabs some air, and water......)
Las cubanas, con su gozadera
Se le puede dar un deo, se coje la mano entera
A esas cubanas, que son abusadoras
Tu no te ves muy dafne, y yo tengo mi señora

crowd: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

No me metas en compromiso, no me metas en eso
Que ya bastante tengo, que andan diciendo
Dicen que yo, por aquí, dicen que yo, por allá
Me cojen los paparazi y después, y me van a ripiar

Ahí está la gente de TIMBA, punto com
Y después dicen que Paulito es un puto, puto, puto, punto com
Y no puede ser, yo estoy tranquilo
Por que la cojen conmigo, si yo le dije a Michael pa' rriba

Pero lo que pasa es que la gente
No se da cuenta y quiere ponermela dura
Sobre todo cuando tu llegas, cuando estás pegao
Cuando eres figura, se te arriman por al lao y te rayan la pintura 

NEW CORO
Cuando estas pegao, cuando eres figura
Se te arriman por al lao, y te rayan la pintura

(When your hot on the charts, when you are a public figure
They rub up against you and scrape your paint)

HELL YEAH! Boooommmmbbbaaaaa. Te la comiste Paulo con ese coro.
Thank you delaa24 whoever you are for this great video. Aché pa' tí.

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Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:02:25 +0000
Documentary Film Tour - La Epoca La Época is a documentary about the music and dancing from the pre-Salsa period in the U.S. when the mambo, son, guaracha etc. were still distinct in the minds of the dancers as well as the musicians.  Since the Palladium ballroom in New York was an epicenter of the "Mambo Craze", there is a lot of coverage including historical footage of what happened there along with interviews with key musicians and dancers from the period.    This is touring multiple cities and includes a Q and A with the producer, Josué Joseph, some social dancing and some filming of dancers for footage for an upcoming film segment.

This is an opportunity to learn more about how la musica Cubana took parts of the U.S., especially New York, by storm.   We'll review the Chicago showing after it comes here.  Meanwhile, for more information, see the film's website at   http://laepocafilm.com/

In the future, Sin Clave No Hay Na will have interviews, reviews of CD releases, major concert reviews and other items of interest.  Stay tuned.

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Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:22:33 +0000
FREE Los Van Van Documentary / Road Movie April 1

Attention Timba Lovers in New York! A free screening of the Los Van Van concert documentary Eso Que Anda / Van Van Fever is happening on Friday, April 1rst, 6:00 pm at the Bronx Museum of the Arts (presented by Havana Film Festival New York). 

Cuban Ian Padrón follows Los Van Van, the most popular band in Cuba since 1969, during their last tour in Cuba attended by more than 1 million people and examines the band’s history and future plans. In addition, The Pedrito Martínez Project will be playing with an unique interpretation of Caribbean-tinged Afrobeat rhythms. So, cool Timba movie + live Cuban music....can't be beat on a Friday night in NYC! Please snd pics if you go.

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Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:30:54 +0000
Concert, Concerts, Concerts! Here in Europe Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor are in full swing with their Spring 2011 tour . Pedrito Calvo Jr. is also touring Europe now with concerts in Italy, France, Austria, Macedonia and Denmark.

In the US Paulo FG has just completed a series of concerts in San Francisco that have Kevin waxing lyrical. Hopefully he will post a full report later, but I will say that Paulo and his band were in top form and made quite an impression on the fans in California.

Calixto Oviedo also stopped by to see Paulo the other night. They played together in Adalberto's band lo those many years ago. Calixto is in the US now with Afro-Cuban All Stars for the North American leg of their spring tour . Calixto will also be holding some percussion clinics : April 6 and 7th in Seattle at Pacific Seattle University and Washington University, respectively and April 26 in LA, and April 28 at Cal State U in LA. If you can\t make those clinics, check out his books in the Beyond Salsa Percussion series.

And get ready for the summer tour season! It will be here before you know it.

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Tue, 22 Mar 2011 06:17:15 +0000
Paulito Tonight In the future we'll be reserving this space for global news, so please get into the habit of checking our new BAY AREA REPORT for local NoCal news. You can always see when it's been recently updated by looking under NEW STUFF-LO NUEVO to your right. We've been adding a lot of local sections lately. Bill Tilford's REPORT FROM CHICAGO has been especially active and contains information of interest to those outside of the Windy City as well.

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Fri, 18 Mar 2011 05:49:25 +0000
Más de Seis Semanas para terminar el libro papá ¿Buscas una transcripción completa del piano y bajo para el cuerpo y coro del tema clásico "Seis Semanas"? ¿O como aprender a tocar como el creador de tus montunos favoritos de Los Van Van? O la mejor biografía de César "Pupy" Pedroso con su discografía completa? Te puede tomar más de seis semanas pero el Sincronizador Central de la Timba te lo pone en bandeja de plata con Volumen 10 de MÁS ALLÁ DEL PIANO SALSERO. Descraga una muestra gratis aquí

César Pupy Pedroso explicando su diversa discografía.César Pupy Pedroso - Photo by Tom Ehrlich

The tenth volume in the Beyond Salsa Piano series focuses on César "Pupy" Pedroso, the founding pianist and one of the principal composers of Cuba's most popular band, Los Van Van, and now the leader of Los Que Son Son, the most successful new Cuban group of the 2000s. Doubling as a history and music appreciation course, the book contains extensive music notation examples of Pedroso's piano tumbaos, or "montunos", as well as transcriptions of solo and head arrangements. 

Illustrated in detail is Pupy Pedroso's trademark "contrary motion" montuno style, which, while very easy to execute produce much richer sounding harmonies than the standard salsa approach. The book also includes "sidebar" sections on the importance of rumba in salsa, rhythm section "gears", controlled improvisation and the evolution of bass tumbaos in Cuban music.

Bass tumbaos are included for each of the 54 piano transcriptions and some also include string section guajeos and second keyboard parts. Volume 10 also includes a detailed biography with rare photos from Pupy's private collection and information about his extensive musical family. The discgraphy section lists Pupy's work in two ways: by album, and by song, as many of his compositions were recorded by various artists.

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Wed, 16 Mar 2011 02:27:14 +0000
Beyond Salsa Piano: Pupy Pedroso UPDATE: eBook and audio now available

Sorry for the delay but the first Pupy Pedroso book is finally done! Getting the research and photos for Pupy's amazing musical childhood turned into a bit of a  ... errr ... "labor of love", but it was worth the extra time and I'm very happy with Volume 10 of Beyond Salsa Piano.  It's the first of four books on Pupy. I'm organizing them by the order in which the songs were originally composed, so while Vol. 10 covers the Los Van Van albums from 1979-1983, some of the songs were re-recorded by Van Van or Los Que Son Son later - for example, Seis semanas  is part of LQSS's live show and the version transcribed (which includes the cuerpo) is the current version. Another example is Con el bate de aluminio, where we compare the changes in Pupy's style from 1979 to 1998.


Finally, this is the first volume to include a fully transcribed solo - in this case La rumba no está completa. You can get the hard-copy book here, and the audio files and eBooks will be available soon and will be announced here, in Pa' ponerte en talla. NOTE: The eBook is only for PC - not for Mac.

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Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:45:08 +0000
2 HOT NEW RELEASES ON RADIO TIMBA Yanesito Por ahí viene la bomba. New from Europe comes LA HABANA TIENE SU MENEO ... Thank you Yanesito for this "in development version" (the finished official version will include the mambos) of the next big hit for Cuban dancers! On vocals we have El Indio (from Manolito y su Trabuco), Sinsonte (from Elio Revé), Pepitín (from Manolito y Su Trabuco) and Enriquito on coros. Also credited are Calixto Oviedo on percussion, Yanesito himself on bass and tres, and Oldrich Gonsález on piano. Tremendo meneo acere!

Also on RADIO TIMBA is a new song by Alexander Abreau and Habana D Primera. called Carita de Pasaporte . While a few versions of the song have been floating around on YouTube, like the clip here from our HDP resident expert Gabriell Wilder, the official studio version is different and more powerful (and don't include the spoilers, those are ours). Enjoy! 

Habana D Primera Foto: Lázaro Jesús Piña Portuondo

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Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:49:42 +0000
Three Big Bay Area Shows Things are heating up again in Northern California. 

Paulito FG returns for the first time since 2001, sporting a new album which can be auditioned here. The tracks sound quite good to me and Paulito live is always incredible. He'll be at Yoshi's Oakland on March 18, 19 and 20 .

Los Muñequitos de Matanzas
 will return to Mission High School Auditorium on April 4   for the first time since the 1990s.

Juan de Marcos and The Afro-Cuban All-Stars,
 with Calixto Oviedo on timbales, will return to Zellerbach on April 19th . The rest of the tour, including, New York, Nashville and Oregon, among others, can be found here .

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Tue, 08 Mar 2011 03:34:44 +0000
New Havana d'Primera Havana d'Primera's long-awaited new material is finally starting to come out. They've released two tracks - a "single", as it were - for digital download. They're called No me importa and Carita de pasaporte, and they're both fantastic. And folks - can we all agree that each fan should buy his or her own copy? It's only $2.80 for both tracks. We're all conditioned to send everything out to everyone we know and it's not realistic that we're going to change our habits at this late date, but let's think ahead a little. If HdP makes money on these tracks, more will follow. If there was ever a group to make a positive example of, this is the one, with a musician-friendly leader and lineup of some of the true class acts of the Havana scene. Remember that the catalyst for the timba explosion of the 1990s was the sudden financial opportunity brought about by the reaction to the fall of the Soviet Union. There's some kind of economic catalyst at play in almost every great musical era. If we all agree to buy our own copies of the best new timba, we can create our own. For a mere $2.80 you can do your part. I bought mine, Gabriel of Yemayá's Verse bought hers. If you buy yours, add your name in the comments to this post.

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Mon, 07 Mar 2011 05:36:20 +0000
Cuban Music News Update - Conference, Dance, New Release cuban music, musica cubanaFrom time to time I get an email from OMO ACHÉ CULTURAL ARTS and I'm always impressed in their level of activity. Led by Juan Carlos Blanco Riera, Omo Aché is a San Diego, California based organization dedicated to preserving, promoting and educating the general public about the richness of Cuban music, dance & culture.  Omo Ache’s performance group actively preserves the traditional dances, songs, music and stories of Cuba.   Omo Aché Afro-Cuban Dance & Music Co. offers audiences a journey through the evolution of Cuban culture, from its African roots to today's most popular urban expressions.  Performers of Omo Aché include Cuban and local artists dedicated to the ethnographic study of traditional Afro-Cuban cultural arts under the guidance of master folklorist and artistic director Juan Carlos Blanco Riera. Read more about OMO ACHÉ in our dance section...

2011 Billboard Latin Music Conference & AwardsThis year the Billboard Latin Music Conference and Awards is taking place April 26-27-28 in Miami Beach. The conference unites the most active market movers in the world of Latin music and entertainment - including the industry’s hottest artists, major record label execs, cutting-edge brand marketers, national radio programmers, world-renowned producers, and revolutionary digital music execs. Its the networking event of the year for this sector. Recognizing the most popular Latin music acts on the charts, the Billboard Latin Music Awards features top solo performers & Latin groups vying for top honors across all genres of Latin Music, produced and broadcast by Telemundo. 

In partnership with Billboard, TIMBA.com is extending a SPECIAL ARTIST ONLY RATE of $400 for all three days (conference & awards). Check the current rates here. Only latin music artists with at least one release (Latinpulsemusic.com, iTunes, CD Baby) can apply. For more info write to us at timba [at] timba [dot] com with *artist rate billboard* in the subject line.

En asociación con Billboard, TIMBA.com está ofreciendo una TARIFA ESPECIAL PARA ARTISTAS  de $400 para los tres días (conferencia y premios). Revisa los precios actuales aquí.  Solo artista con mínimo un lanzamiento (Latinpulsemusic.com, iTunes, CD Baby) pueden aplicar. Para más información escríbenos a timba [arroba] timba [punto] com con *tarifa especial de artista billboard* en el sujeto.

SBS Abel NamáSBS, agrupación formada por el cantante Abel Bosmenier (Abel Namá) y distinguidos por ventas de “SIGUE AL LÍDER” Acapulco (México) han obtenido disco de oro por las 75.000 copias vendidas, su experiencia tras estos años hacen que el cantante y compositor continúe su proyecto en solitario, como SBS Abel Namá, manteniendo su dinámica fusionando el Hip Hop ( Rap) con géneros cubanos, son, guaracha y cha cha cha -GUARACHANDO, su nueva propuesta discográfica. El Grupo S. B. S. de Hip Hop es oriundo de La Habana, Cuba; surgió en 1995 cuando un grupo de jóvenes con inquietudes musicales decidieron unirse en un proyecto singular que en poco tiempo fueron capaces de crear su sello identitario con un repertorio propio fusionando el Hip-Hop (Rap) con géneros cubanos como el Son, la Guaracha y el Cha Cha Cha. 

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Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:30:44 +0000
Classic NG Ladies and gentelmen, enjoy this great video of NG La Banda live in Japan, 1994. This clip shows their classic hit "Picadillo de soya" and Calixto Oviedo gives another masters lesson in drumming. Fuera de liga! So sit back (if you can keep yourself from dancing) and enjoy one of the great moments in Cuban music history!

NG La Banda - Picadillo de soya - Tokyo 31 July 1994 - Caribbean Heat Festival

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Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:51:09 +0000
10th Havana Drum Festival & Contest Fiesta Del Tambor

It is time again for Cuba's biggest percussion festival and competition in memory of the legendary Guillermo Barreto. This year's festival will take place from March 8 - 13. As always it is a huge project with events taking place across the city from morning to night. The percussion competition is open to Cubans and non-Cubans and there is no age limit for participants. Categories include drums, timbales, congas, bongo and batá. Winners may participate in one or two categories. The winner of each category will receive an instrument and special prizes will be awarded for the best woman and child participants. See the full details in Spanish.

In addition to six days of exciting competitions, there will be  symposiums and musical performances throughout the city. The Inauguration Gala will take place on March 8 from 8:30pm - 10.30pm at Teatro Mella where the 10th anniversary of the Grammy for "La Rumba Soy Yo" will be celebrated by Muñequitos de Matanzas, Conjunto Folkórico Nacional, Compañía JJ, Compañía de Roclan, Klímax Amadito Valdés and Luis Carbonell.

Throughout the week you can see the best percussionists in Cuba together on a single stage, jazz concerts, dance performances, documentaries and of course timba! The finals and award ceremony for the percussion competition will take place at Teatro Astral  on March 11th and feature artists ¨Jorge Reyes y sus Amigos¨ (Tribute to Barreto); with Changuito, Yaroldy Abreu, among others. There will also be a presentation of the DVD by Rodney Barreto and Oliver Valdés: Drums  La Habana¨.

Saturday the 12th from 10:00pm - 02:30am at Salón Rosado de La Tropical you can see Klimax, Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco, Yuly y Habana C, Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor. And the event will be closed on the Sunday the 13th at La Tropical with concerts by Carbe Girl, Alexander Abreu y Habana de Primera, Yoruba Andabo, Pupy y los que Son and guests Haila, Vania  and Tania Pantoja.

Click here for the complete festival schedule and all details about the competition (in Spanish).

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Sat, 26 Feb 2011 14:58:30 +0000
Interview with Alexander Abreu In January 2011 Cuba's hottest new band Havana D'Primera was in the studio working on their second CD. Gabriel Wilder and Martin Karakas stopped by to interview bandleader Alexander Abreu. The result was a facinating and candid look at how the band works and what they are trying to accomplish. Check it out and check out Yemayá's Verse for more Havana D'Primera photos, video and concert reports from her stay in Havana. The interview is in EnglishEspañol.

Click here for HDP Interview in English - Oprima aquí para la entrevista de HDP en Español

Havana D'Primera by Gabriel Wilder Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera at Casa de la Música Miramar
Photo courtesy of Gabriel Wilder

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Mon, 14 Feb 2011 04:08:19 +0000
Maykel Blanco & Salsa Mayor in Peru Maykel Blanco

Today Maykel Blanco & Salsa Mayor finish their short tour of Peru with a concert at Havana Latin Disco. The band has had a successful stay in Lima and fans are enjoying the powerful show, although the front line seems to only include Yasser and Yordi. Maykel & the band have a full schedule returning to Havana tomorrow where they have a Valentine's Day concert at Casa de la Música Galiano. The European Winter Tour 2011 begins on March 16 so stay tuned, because we will be posting the concert dates as soon as they are all confirmed. 

Update: Chico Timba Peru has uploaded some video from the concert on Friday. It always warms my heart to see the excitement and joy when fans get to see a band for the first time. The Peruanos love la nueva máquina de Cuba!

In the meantime Gabriel from Yemayá's Verse is recently returned from Havana and has provided us with this picture of the new singers, including Michel Pérez and Liuban who seem not to have gone to Lima.Check her blog for all kinds of photos, video and updates from Havana.

Salsa Mayor singers 2011Salsa Mayor Singers 2011 - photo courtesy of Gabriel Wilder

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Sun, 13 Feb 2011 09:40:50 +0000
The 2011 Salsa Rueda Festival Is 1 Week Away! http://salsaruedafestival.com - February 17-20 - San Francisco
REGISTER

This year the festival includes:
*   50 Intermediate and Advanced Workshops in Rueda, Casino, Son, Afro-Cuban Folkloric and more
*   4 nights of parties with 3 Live Timba Bands, 3 DJ's, Dance Performances, and social dancing.
*   A Beginners Track in a full ballroom with two hour classes with the same teacher.
*    Instructors Track. A seperate class for the teachers and the T.A.s in the Casino community. 
*   4-5 classes to choose from every hour. Beginners Track, 2 Int level ballrooms, 1 Advanced level
*   After-Party Space with DJ. Party till 5 in the morning!!
*   Private Lesson Area. Book with your favorite instructor

Say hello to Nick & Serena from Salsa Vale Todo and thank them for their support of Cuban music.

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Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:21:06 +0000
Pupy Pedroso Book Preview Volume 10 of Beyond Salsa Piano is almost done! It'll be the first on Pupy Pedroso and pick up his career with Van Van in 1979, when he began to write his first songs. 

We'll go chronologically through Van Van history, covering all the songs Pupy wrote, plus a selection of other classics with interesting piano tumbaos.

When we hit a song, like Hoy se cumplen seis semanas, that was re-recorded later, we cover both versions.

One difference this time is that bass tumbaos are included, so instead of having the audio file pan the right hand to the right and the left hand to the left, the entire piano is panned hard right while the bass is hard left, so you can practice along with the bass by turning your balance control all the way to the right.

There's also a full cuerpo arrangement, and a transcribed solo. 

Melón Clinics: Don't forget that Melón will be in Los Angeles starting Feb. 28th to give at least one clinic and will also be available for private lessons. Click here for more on the Melón books.

           photo by Tom Ehrlich

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Thu, 10 Feb 2011 08:02:28 +0000
More Classic Van Van Photos

Tom Ehrlich has posted another great gallery from Los Van Van's recent engagement at Yoshi's SF. Van Van in performance and backstage with Bay Area luminaries Carlos Aldama, Walfredo de los Reyes, John Calloway and Rebeca Mauleón.

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Tue, 08 Feb 2011 04:08:26 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Afro-Caribbean Percussionists Calendar At the request of some of his family members, our Timba.com photographer Tom Ehrlich developed a unique Afro-Caribbean Percussionists calendar that features some of his best shots. He only has a few left but if you are interested in this collectors item please email him at tjejazz [at] sbcglobal [dot] net. Featured are Bobby Allende, Anthony Carrillo, Pancho Quinto, Don Pancho Terry, Francisco Aguabella, Giovanni Hidalgo, Pedro Martínez, Sammy Figueroa, John Santos, Tito Puente and Yosvany Terry.

Afro-Caribbean Percussionists

Afro-Caribbean Percussionists Percusionistas Afro-Caribeños

Anthony Carrillo

Bobby Allende

Don Pancho Terry

Francisco Aguabella

Pancho quinto

Giovanni Hidalgo

Tito Puente

Pedro Martínez

John Santos

Yosvany Terry

Poncho Sánchez

Sammy Figueroa

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Sun, 06 Feb 2011 15:41:10 +0000
Time Magazine - "The Beat That Could Save Cuba" Video In 2008 musician and journalist Nathan Thornburgh returned to Havana where he had lived and played music with El Septeto Típico de la Habana some 9 years earlier. He published an article about his experiences, "The Sound of Change: Can Music Save Cuba? " in the November 26, 2008 issue of Time Magazine. He has now also published video from his trip at Time Video. It's a brief glimpse at what life is like for the majority of musicians in Cuba. Check it out and read his article for a more in-depth look at a musician's life in Cuba.

 

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Thu, 03 Feb 2011 04:13:50 +0000
Ultra Rare Van Van! CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO

Check this track out! This is apparently from a 45 from the very early 1970s. The earliest recording I'd ever heard of this was on the 1989 LP Crónicas, and of course LVV still uses it to close every set, but this may in fact be the missing link in the many conflicting stories about Van Van's name originally coming from a political slogan. If you have any information or insights about this track, please add them to the comments section and/or email me at kevin [at] timba [dot] com.

Pupy Pedroso Books

Meanwhile, I've been working around the clock on the Pupy Pedroso volumes of Beyond Salsa Piano. I'm going through the songs chronologically and finding myself amazed at how many classic tracks LVV pumped out in the 80s. They did an album a year for the entire decade. The CD compilations tend to have the same hits over and over: Sandunguera, La Titimanía, Qué palo, etc. These are great, but there are dozens of classics that are just as good that few people are familiar with.

Welcome to Bill Tilford and the Chicago Report

We have a new addition to our Reports Section, covering Chicago and its surrounding areas. It will be hosted by Bill Tilford, a fascinating and extremely knowledgeable Cuban music expert who has been researching for many years. While the section is about the Chicago scene, Bill's blogging will no doubt cover many subjects, past and present, which will be equally interesting to those of us who can't make it to the Windy City on a regular basis.

Melón and Calixto Clinics Coming

Melón will be in Los Angeles Feb. 28th, March 1st and March 2nd giving clinics, concerts and private lessons at Cal State LA and various other schools.  Calixto will be in LA in late April and also in SF, Seattle and Berklee. Stay tuned for more info.

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Sat, 29 Jan 2011 07:20:09 +0000
Pt. 1 of Tom's Photos of LVV at Yoshi's - 2010

Click here for the full gallery.

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Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:38:12 +0000
The Missing Links: Cuban Music, Rock, Soul and Jazz Why is it that so many North Americans and Europeans, raised on rock, soul and jazz -- in many cases unable to understand a word of Spanish -- become so utterly obsessed with Cuban music? The answer is that over the the last 500 years, Cuban music has provided a huge part of the underpinning of these, and most other English-language genres. As Ned Sublette points out, the ubiquitous rock anthem, Louie Louie, is based almost entirely on René Touzet's El loco cha cha; ragtime's basic rhythm cell is based on contradanza; and  the early R&B hits of Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino were based on Cuban basslines. It goes on and on - The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Brown, The Doors, even Irish rocker Van Morrison. Here's a link to a great Ned Sublette radio show with non-stop revelations over a perfectly-paced soundtrack. For more info, click here

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Sun, 23 Jan 2011 11:25:17 +0000
Habana de Primera in the Studio Gabriel of Yemayá's Verse has returned from nearly two months in the promised land and has a mountain of great posts, including this report on Havana d'Primera in the studio with Tony Rodríguez on piano.

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Sat, 22 Jan 2011 01:59:28 +0000
Dance Revolución on the Baltic 2010 was a sparse year for timba concerts here in Stockholm. But everything moves in cycles and 2011 is off to an amazing start thanks to the cruise line Viking Line. Last weekend they began a month of Cuban-themed cruises between Stockholm and Finland, which they are calling Dance Revolución. From January 16 through February 13 you can enjoy dancing by night to the following bands: Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son, Tumbao Habana, Charanga Forever, Yumurí y Sus Hermanos and Osdalgia, and shopping by day in cities such as Helsinki, Åbo and Mariehamn. This is the first time anyone has organised such a large Cuban event here in the Baltic region and it is a perfect excuse for you to look for a cheap flight on a discount airline to spend a long weekend dancing with us Nordic timba fans aboard one of these cruises. 

The advertisement at the website is in Swedish but I have posted the schedule below. You can book in English and German. Tell them Timba.com sent you. This is an opportunity you can't afford to miss!

Adalberto Álvarez y su Son
January 16 – 24,Cinderella (Stockholm–Mariehamn)
January 25 – 26, Gabriella (Stockholm–Helsinki)
January 27 – February 5, Cinderella (Stockholm–Mariehamn)
February 6 – 7, Gabriella (Stockholm–Helsinki)
February 8 – 9, Cinderella (Stockholm–Mariehamn)
February 11–13 Cinderella (Stockholm–Mariehamn)

Tumbao Habana
January 16 – 24, Gabriella (Stockholm–Helsinki)
January 25 – 26, Cinderella (Stockholm–Mariehamn)
January 27 – February 5, Gabriella (Stockholm–Helsinki)
February 8 – 13, Gabriella (Stockholm–Helsinki)

Yumurí y sus Hermanos
January 16 – February 13, Mariella (Stockholm–Helsinki)

Osdalgia
January 16 – February 13, Amorella (Stockholm–Åbo)

La Charanga Forever
January 16 – February 13, Isabella (Stockholm–Åbo)

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Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:12:05 +0000
Exclusive! New debut solo album by Iris Sandra Exclusive to Latinpulsemusic.com, Iris Sandra’s long anticipated solo debut album -Dos Palabras (Two Words)- features her stellar voice on six original tracks and recorded by some of the top musical talent in Los Angeles. The album showcases her wide ranging abilities as a singer and composer, surprising many with her soulful interpretation of music styles not commonly recorded in Spanish. A highly anticipated solo debut album. Download includes full liner notes and credits, as well as complete karaoke versions. 

Dos Palabras - Iri SandraAn accomplished singer and composer, Iris Sandra was a member of the award winning Havana based music group Arte Mixto (see video below), a project she joined after classical training at the National School of the Arts in Cuba. After relocating to the US, she recorded on (the late) Israel “Cachao” Lopez and Andy Garcia’s CD releases “Cuba Linda” and “Ahora Si”, the latter of which won 2 Grammy Awards. Her film credits include vocals on the soundtrack for “Original Sin” (starring Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie), and the motion picture “The Lost City”. In 2007 Irisandra appeared on the T.V. show ‘Cane’ performing the song “Veinte Años”. She is presently active with the internationally touring Cineson Allstars -led by Andy Garcia- and Rumbankete, Los Angeles’ premier Cuban dance music orchestra. 


Timba al Sur del Mundo - A todos los leyentes les quiero introducir a Erick Ceballos, ingeniero de acústica y sonido y nuevo reportero de Timba.com. Su reporte "Timba al Sur del Mundo" nos brinda noticias de la música cubana desde Santiago de Chile. Aquí un as fotos de Erick con Yeni de los Van Van y los tromboneros de la Orquesta TimbaLatina. Vaya Erick!

 


Los Van Van en el Conga Room - Emocionado y conmovido con la visita de la estelar orquesta, nuestro amigo corpulento David "Mango" González nos reporta desde Los Angeles sobre el concierto de Los Van Van hace unas semanas.....


Tuesday night's Van Van concert was amazing!
It had been almost eight years since I attended a Van Van Concert. Way too long. The band opened the show with "Arrasando" which in my opinion was one of the best tunes of the evening! The vibe was amazing inside the Conga Room as Van Van performed to a SOLD OUT crowd. (Although, I still feel strongly that the Van Van long awaited Los Angeles concert should of been at a much larger venue such as the Greek Theatre or the Hollywood Bowl). The people inside were of all ages and ethnicity's. I would also applaud the Conga Room for the exceptional sound that they provided. This is a major factor in the shows success. The sound quality can either hinder or enhance the overall experience of any concert goer.

Van Van performed many of their hits which included "Soy Todo", "Voy a publicar tu foto", "Después de todo" and "Me Mantengo." Although my favorite tune of the night was "El  toque del año" sung by "El Lele". Some of the band members looked a bit worn and tired, especially Robertón. He is definitely out of shape and just seemed out of it. The band closed the show with an encore performance of "Cabeza mala" which I personally don't really care for. I hear they have been closing with this same tune throughout their tour. This seems a bit disappointing and way too choreographed and rehearsed. Not much improvising which I think the fans would expect and appreciate from Van Van. Everyone in the audience at the end of their last song just before the "Cabeza mala" encore was requesting "Que Cosas tiene la vida" AKA: "Fuera de liga, but Robertón said no that they would play it on Wednesday night which I learned that they didn't. That is too bad. Nonethless, the event was great! Awesome performance although I definitely missed one of the most dynamic and beloved Van Van members -Pedrito Calvo. 

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Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:50:34 +0000
2010, a year of timba Timba photographer Patrick Bonnard has posted a photo retrospective of 2010, the year in timba at his site http://www.patrickbonnard.com. As 2010 draws to a  close and we look forward to the upcoming timba tours and events of 2011, take a few minutes to look back at the year that has passed. Patrick captured some powerful moments that will leave you feeling inspired and excited for the coming year.

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Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:39:29 +0000
Tours 2011 Updates I've been on vacation and off-line for a couple of weeks and have three more weeks to go before I'm back at my desk, but I the dates are beginning to come in for European tours 2011, so I wanted to post a  little update. A great match up will take place at the festival Bailar Cuba which will take place from March 4 - 6 in Orvault (Nantes), France. Lázaro Valdés & Bamboleo will perform the 4th and Leonel Limonta & Azúcar Negra the 5th. Now that's a serious match that you don't want to miss.

Bamboleo will also be performing at the New Year's Eve party in Mexico City at Mama Rumba de la Roma. You can get your tickets in advance for 200 pesos.

Other upcoming 2011 tours include Issac Delgado in Europe in February and July and Los Van Van in February/March. Stay tuned as we can give you the actual dates and look for more exciting tours in the US in 2011. Melao has info about plans in the works for Paulo FG y La Élite and Havana D'Primera as well as plans to set up a Cuban music festival in the US.

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Sun, 26 Dec 2010 21:12:05 +0000
Virtual Vacation in Havana Yemayá's Verse - currently being updated from Havana almost daily - is opinionated as hell, but she pulls no punches, and for giving you the ambience of being there, nothing comes close - unless of course you want to dig up one of Bill Wolfer's Hunter S. Thompson-calibre rants from the early 2000s. The takeaway? Watch out for a new Los Que Son Son singer named Dayán. And on a related opinionated subject, the San Francisco brain trust (myself included) have come to the unanimous conclusion that the hottest bass player we've seen in years is Pupy's Daymar Calvario.

And CUBAN WOODSTOCK? If this thing happens, I'll definitely be on a plane for Miami.

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Tue, 21 Dec 2010 03:27:44 +0000
Killin' It! Yeni Valdés has arrived. She's developed an effortless command over her powerful, perfectly in-tune voice and a personal charisma that knocked everyone out each of the 8 sets at Yoshi's. I got major chills on two separate occasions. 

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Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:55:43 +0000
LVV in LA! Juan Formell with Conga Room CEO Brad Gluckstein

Our LA correspondent, Kay Torres, who flew up for one of the SF shows, has logged her first Van Van report from LA. Van Van will play the famous Conga Room tonight, Tuesday and tomorrow, Wednesday.

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Tue, 14 Dec 2010 22:50:01 +0000
Drums Before Beauty First of all, being that the world only partially revolves around San Francisco, Los Van Van will be playing in LA on Tuesday and Wednesday at The Conga Room

Van Van demolished the Bay Area for 4 straight nights, and Tom Ehrlich  took time off from his still shots to capture two great videos. Geek that I am, I had to start with Manolo and Samuel, but the upcoming Yeni video is truly the bomb. Wait for it! jajajajaja

video courtesy of Fuego Entertainment

And speaking of Fuego Entertainment, the big rumor is ... wait for it again  ... CUBAN WOODSTOCK ... 21 Cuban bands from both sides of El Puente ... I know ... don't hold your breath, but if it actually happened it could be Team Cuba II. Hope springs eternal!

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Tue, 14 Dec 2010 03:03:10 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Van Van Fotos
photo by Tom Ehrlich with permission of Fuego Entertainment

Here's Tom's Gallery. Van Van was off the hook. See you tonight! 

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Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:53:11 +0000
Media Frenzy During Los Van Van's Arrival in Miami The newscast reports Los Van Van's new US tour. Once they cleared customs the reporters began questioning them about everything.....except music of course. All audio in spanish.

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Thu, 09 Dec 2010 12:51:35 +0000
Melón Plays La vida sin esperanza

y mañana ... LOS VAN VAN!

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Wed, 08 Dec 2010 21:23:38 +0000
Tom's Melón Fotos

Tom Ehrlich has posted a new photo gallery from Melón's recent solo concert and master class at Piedmont Piano Company.  Also, here's a video of a complete song from the same concert.

Van Van at Yoshi's SF tomorrow!
Click here's some photos on Los Van Van in Houston

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Wed, 08 Dec 2010 02:56:26 +0000
It's Finally Happening! Van Van just finished their first sold out show at SOBs. Tuesday is also sold out but there may still be tickets for Wednesday. Then four straight nights at Yoshi's SF.

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Tue, 07 Dec 2010 04:14:54 +0000
Pissed off about Van Van? Obama can't or won't control congress, but he is the absolute supreme executive when it comes to customs. This buck stops at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. If you want to see Van Van,

email: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

write: 
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

call: 202-456-1111

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Fri, 03 Dec 2010 03:31:02 +0000
Tremenda Intriga - Conga Room Postpones Los Van Van Ay ay ay what do we have to do to get some TIMBA? The saga continues with the kick-off date for the US tour postponed. The December 3rd date is still on their website so we guess that's still happening? Can anyone out there confirm this? Here's the official press release from the Conga Room in Los Angeles.....


Thursday, December 2nd date postponed
Los Van Van Visa for Band Leader Juan Formell Not Issued 

Due to the last minute failure of the US State Department to provide three Visas, including one to band leader Juan Formell, the kickoff night for the Los Van Van tour at the Conga Room, will be postponed. The anticipated makeup date for ticket buyers to tonight's concert is expected to Wednesday December 15th, which have been committed to the Conga Room as part of the U.S. tour. 

First US tour date for Los Van Van postponedThe Conga Room has always looked to support Cuban music and culture, and unfortunately we are at the mercy of politics in this case. 

For ticket holders, your ticket will be valid for the new concert date and we will notify you in the next few days with confirmation of the exact date. If you wish to get a refund of your ticket at this point, please contact Sasha Ortega at Sasha@CongaRoom.com. Please note that if you seek reimbursement for your ticket, we will not be able to guarantee you access to the new show and it will be on a first-come, first-serve basis, as the show is expected to sell out. 

Feel free to consult our website for further updates and we will attempt to notify you directly via email. The Conga Room will be open tonight and will feature a Cuban band and a DJ. We will offer you complimentary admission with proof of your ticket purchase. We apologize for the inconvenience and are deeply committed to presenting the US Los Van Van concert at the Conga Room. It promises to be an historic event. 

Abrazos,
The Conga Room 

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Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:24:32 +0000
Van Van with Pedrito! Mike Racette, producer/drummer of the highly recommended Havana Heavy Hitters was at Los Van Van's three hour concert in Toronto and reports that none other than the iconic Pedrito Calvo (Sandunguera, Que le den candela, El negro está cocinando etc.) was singing with the band. Meanwhile, Melao reports that the visas came through for la Yuma, so next up are LA, Houston, Austin, three nights at SOBs and then four nights at Yoshi's SF, then finally on to Tampa, Miami and Louisville. For the full tour click here[Kevin Moore]

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Mon, 29 Nov 2010 20:39:11 +0000
Del Afro-Jazz a la Salsa

On December 17th & 18th the dark Stockholm night will shine with a glittering, hot Havana-style dance extravaganza by the dance troupe Tropicana Stockholm. The show entitled "Del Afro-Jazz a la Salsa" gives the audience a taste of the broad spectrum of Cuban dance and music from the early Afro-Cuban roots right up to the salsa of today. Accompanying the dancers with live music is Richard Ortega y La Jugada, bringing the authenticity of a night in Havana. But that's not all! When the show ends an afterparty begins with a timba concert by La Jugada and a DJ after the concert. The show will take place at Teater Replica at Hantverkargatan 78 where an art expo will also be held in foyer. It begins at 7:00pm and ends at 2:00am. That's 7 hours of Cuban dance and music! Tickets are only 250 SEK, so give yourself and all the timberos/Cubanophiles you love an early Christmas present. Don't miss this celebration of Cuban culture! For more information see Tropicana Stockholm's facebook event .

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Mon, 29 Nov 2010 13:36:02 +0000
Por Fin! I've spent almost every waking moment since July on these six new products, but it was well worth the effort. Calixto Oviedo is truly amazing. In addition to the NG La Banda masterpieces we've all been listening to for years, his style is so all-encompassing that I was able to cover timba drums and timbales in a much more global way than I had hoped to at the beginning.

This project, as requested, is the approach used in the piano books, but for percussionists, but with one major enhancement. The piano books have audio, still don't have video - that will come in 2011, with Melón making the videos from the books, but with the percussion series, we did it the other way around. We started with three days of filming Calixto, with the Bay Area brain trust egging him on and requesting specific rhythms and approaches. We added several hours of interviews, and then I spent five months writing the books from the videos. The approach is to take a bona fide master of Cuban music and let him do thing, then break it down into bite-size pieces so that jazz and pop drummers can learn Latin, salsa drummers can learn timba, timba drummers can learn Calixto timba, and beginners (and non-drummer arrangers such as myself) can get a clearly-presented dose of "the big picture". As before there are hard-copy and eBook versions, fast and slow audio loops, and this time ... a wild video-looping component that's - if I say so myself - is amazingly cool. All of this is explained in the tutorials and Question & Answer sections of the home page, timba.com/percussion

VOL. 2 CALIXTO OVIEDO           •         VOL. 3 CALIXTO OVIEDO
BASIC RHYTHMS                                      TIMBA GEARS

                                

Purchase Bound Paperback Book           |           Purchase Bound Paperback Book

Purchase eBook                         |                         Purchase eBook

Purchase Audio Files                      |                      Purchase Audio Files

Purchase Video Files                     |                     Purchase Video Files

Download Free Promo                    |                    Download Free Promo

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Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:45:24 +0000
Timbeando con Gilito Gilito SELAM is starting off the holiday season with a major salsa party starring Gilito backed by a powerful band featuring Pepe Espinoza, Oldrich González, Evelio Galán, Ezequiel Nuñez, and Carlos Pérez among others. SELAM has also brought in Stockholm's great timba DJs, Soto-Mayor and N'Rike. The concert will take place at Kulturhuset on December 4th, yes on Changó's Day, so be sure to wear something red. Gilito has been busy all year performing with his own group and with Juan De Marcos' Afro-Cuban All Stars, and finally he is making a stop here in Stockholm. What better way to heat up a cold, dark Scandinavian night?

Here is a little taste of what you will get, "Timbeando" from Gilito's album "Al César lo que es del César". See you there!

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Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:47:13 +0000
Havana Heavy Hitters - Vestido De Blanco "Dressed In White" is the new album from an all-star timba project developed by drummer Michael Gerald and brothers Yosvel & Edduar Bernal. Exclusive to LPM & Timba.com, this record delivers exactly what it claims: killer timba from Havana's heaviest players.

While other genres and styles impose themselves on the current market, this HHH project arrives just in time to demonstrate the quality and grandeur of the way popular music was created in Cuba during its stellar days of the 1990s, a time for which many musicians -including myself- share strong feelings of nostalgia. -- Edduar Bernal Pina

Havana Heavy Hitters - Vestido De Blanco

Hoy en el 2010, nuevos géneros y estilos se imponen pero el proyecto Havana Heavy Hitters llega en el momento justo para demostrar al mundo la calidad y grandeza de una forma de hacer música popular en Cuba que por los años 90 tuvo su mayor esplendor y por la que muchos músicos en la actualidad, al igual que Yosvel y Edduar, sienten nostalgia. -- Edduar Bernal Pina

Havana Heavy Hitters Vestido De Blanco
Michel Maza cantante
Michael Antes cantante
Yosbel Bernal cantante, piano
Hugo Morejón trombón
Pedro Camacho piano
Michael Gerald batería y timbal
Osmani Collado sax y teclado
Alexander Abreau trompeta
Jannier Rodríguez cantante
Rafael Paceiro Monzón bajo
Jorge Papiosco Torres congas, bongó, campana
Roberto Cucurucho Rodríguez piano y teclado

>> Read the full story here - Lea el desarollo completo escrito por Edduar Bernal Pina

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Tue, 23 Nov 2010 06:59:33 +0000
Getting Ready for Calixto! I've been working around the clock since July when I spent 3 days filming Calixto Oviedo for a new series of books: Beyond Salsa Percussion. 

Many announcements coming in the next few days, but if you want to get yourself in the mood, today's big news is that LPM has finally added Simplemente lo mejor de NG La Banda. The title, for once, is dead-on accurate.

It has all the best masterpieces from the Calixto era including Santa palabra, Échale limón, La bruja, Picadillo de soya, etc. Audio excerpts are available for every track. Enjoy.

Beyond Salsa Percussion - Calixto Oviedo

The player will show in this paragraph

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Sun, 21 Nov 2010 03:53:53 +0000
Los Van Van moving forward with all US dates The highly anticipated Los Van Van US tour officially begins with a two night appearance at the Conga Room in Los Angeles, Thursday December 2nd and Friday December 3rd. They will make their way to Miami for their December 17 show via Texas, New York City, San Francisco and Tampa. Visit out tour page for the full schedule = http://timba.com/tours/los-van-van

A letter addressed to LVV manager Americo Miranda Ortiz has surfaced stating that the band was released from a previous exclusive agreement on May 28, 2010. Travel plans are moving ahead and the following full list is confirmed. Stay tuned for a concert report and photos from the opening night at the Conga Room.  

Los Van Van 2010 USA Tour Participants
Juan Formell Samuel Formell
Yaimara González Yenisel Valdés
Mario Rivera Roberto Hernández
Abdel Rasalps Juio Noroña
Américo Miranda Paloma Formell
Francisco Formell Marques Francisco Formell Cortina
Álvaro Collado Hugo Morejón
Pedro Fajardo Jorge Leliebre
Irving Frontela Pavel Molina
Roberto Carlos Rodríguez Boris Luna
Ernesto Nodarse Javier León
Manuel Labarrera Edmundo Pina

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Sat, 20 Nov 2010 16:34:02 +0000
Latin Festival - Copenhagen 2010 Prepárense bailadores y timberos! This Friday, November 12 - Sunday, November 14 Copenhagen will once again host the Latin Festival at Amager Bio. By day you can take part in dance workshops in Reggaeton, Salsa, Rueda, Rumba and Afro-Cuban Dance/Orishas. By night enjoy dance shows/competitions followed by first class music from:
Friday November 12: Egues y Su Cuban Beat and Pupy Los Que Son Son
Saturday November 13: La Empresa and Manolín "el Medico de la Salsa"

This festival is well worth making a timba trip. Pupy is simply not to be missed and this may well be the first time that Manolín has performed in Scandinavia, at least I think it's the first time since I got into timba back in 2003. So hitchhike if you have to but get yourself to Copnehagen this weekend! You can book your tickets in advance so you don't get left out in the cold. Just look at some of what you have to look forward to!

Pupy y los que son son - Calla Calla

Manolín - Somos lo que hay

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Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:36:40 +0000
Upcoming Los Van Van U.S. Concert Dates in Jeopardy A promoter and booking agent has filed suit against Cuba’s iconic band Los Van Van and its leader Juan Formell to stop a planned U.S. tour.

Los Van Van US tour dates in jeopardy.

Band manager Americo Mirando Ortiz also was named as a defendant in the breach of contract suit filed Oct. 21 in Miami federal court by NYK Productions. The lawsuit alleges NYK was the band’s booking agent when the musicians engaged another company, Fuego Entertainment, to book a U.S. tour, violating a February agreement making it the exclusive booking agent for Los Van Van. The band has scheduled dates in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City in December.

The 14-piece band won a Grammy in 2000 for its salsa-infused music that Formell calls "timba". The band has spurred demonstrations in Miami. About 400 Cuban-Americans protested the band’s concert at the Knight Center last February, saying it was an extension of Cuba’s communist government. --source Law.com / Daily Business Review

Hugo Cancio - Los Van Van US concert dates in jeopardy. Arie Kaduri - Los Van Van US concert dates in jeopardy.


NYK Productions is a Hallandale, Florida based production company led by Mr. Arie Kaduri (pictured right). Fuego Entertainment is a Miami based company led by Mr. Hugo Cancio (pictured left).

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Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:48:27 +0000
Tonight: Melón, a $170,000 Piano, and You

Tonight should be a very interesting night. Piedmont Piano Company holds only about 90 to 100 people, and has what may be the best piano currently available in the world, a 9-foot Fazioli concert grand. The concert is only $20 and the ticket is free if you buy the $170,000 piano. (Delivery is free!).

I'll be on hand with all 9 volumes of Beyond Salsa Piano, which you can have Melón personally autograph. There's also a discount for the full set, and a separate discount for the full set of Melón's volumes. Last but not least, I've completed two of the Calixto Oviedo Beyond Salsa Percussion volumes. They're not published just yet, but I've printed up mock copies of each for people to check out (and find typos if you can!) Tom Ehrlich will also be on hand and you might be able to convince him to take a shot of you with the maestro. Also a great opportunity to meet Bay Area luminaries such as Walfredo de los Reyes and other special guests.

Monday, Nov. 8 - 8:00 p.m.

Piedmont Piano Company 

call 510-547-8188 to reserve tickets

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Mon, 08 Nov 2010 04:29:59 +0000
Timbalive Tour Starts Tonight! Miami's hot Timbalive kick off their European Tour "From Miami to La Habana" with a concert in Rennes, France at the Aquí Cuba festival. the band will tour France, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Spain during a whirlwind 2-week tour. Click here for the full list of tour dates to find a concert near you, and enjoy a taste of Timbalive from their release party 2009 with the video below.

Timbalive at their Release Party for the CD "From Miami to La Habana"

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Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:54:00 +0000
Welcoming Berklee College of Music to Timba.com Berklee College of Music in Massachussetts has turned out some of the best young Latin musicians in the world and its focus on Latin music is growing at a steady clip.

Timba.com is thrilled to welcome reporter Allen Bush who will be hosting the Latin Music at Berklee College of Music report. His maiden post announces a concert on Nov. 18th by the legendary Larry Harlow. 

In other news, don't forget "An Intimate Evening with Melón Lewis" at Piedmont Piano Company in Oakland, Monday night at 8:00.

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Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:20:13 +0000
Melón - Upcoming Clinic/Concert & Free Book Addendum 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.

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Thu, 28 Oct 2010 03:17:02 +0000
Timba del Norte - Autumn 2010 I have been remiss in my updates so I'm going to do a little series about the happenings up here in Scandinavia as 2010 heads into the homestretch. I start today with Denmark because tomorrow WOMEX, the World Music Expo, kicks off in Copenhagen - Oct. 27-30. Grupo Danson will be there presenting music from their upcoming new album. They recently returned from a mini-tour of Norway where they performed in Trondheim and Oslo. Here is a little sampler.

Grupo Danson in Oslo 2010

Elito Revé y Su Charangón will be performing this Thursday Oct. 28th at Club Mambo and I am heartbroken that I can't make it to the concert. I'm crazy about their new CD "De qué estamos hablando" and dying to hear the new songs live. Be sure you don't suffer my fate. Find a concert near you!

Orquesta Revé en vivo "Agua pa' Yemayá"

As the Autumn moves on Copenhagen will host the Latinfestival with three days/nights of dance classes shows and live music with Jorge Egües y Su Cuban Beat, Pupy y Los Que Son Son, La Empresa and Manolín "El médico de la salsa" . This is another must-participate event. Personally I have never seen Manolín live so it is very exciting and Pupy is as always on my very short list of favorite bands .

And stay tuned for an update about what has been going on and what is to come here in Sweden!

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Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:37:29 +0000
Juan Kemell & La Barriada Back in Europe Juan Kemell & La Barriada - Havananza

Juan Kemell & La Barriada are back in Europe as of today and will kick their tour off this Friday at Cuba Café in Malmö, Sweden. On Saturday you can catch them at Musikens Hus in Gothenburg. Check all the dates in the Barriada tour section . And here's a little reminder of why you don't want to miss them.


Sigue con la rumba

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Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:09:47 +0000
Mamá Rumba Cumple 19 Años Este noviembre Mama Rumba Roma celebra su 19 aniversario. Durante estos 19 años Mama Rumba ha sido el hogar de la música cubana en México DF. El día 12 de noviembre se va a montar una fiesta grande con Los Van Van en Mama Rumba Plaza Loreto. ¡No lo pierdas! ¡Y a nombre de Timba.com enhorabuena Mama Rumba!

Después de este concierto empieza Van Van con su gira en Canadá y los EE.UU .

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Wed, 13 Oct 2010 04:29:01 +0000
9no. Gran Concurso Santiago de Cuba is playing host again to the Great Contest of Cuban Popular Dances and Ruedas de Casino this weekend, October 16-17 . Competitions will be held in danzón, son, casino, mambo, pilón. mozambique and rueda de casino. An award will also go to the best overall dance couple. This type of competition promotes the continuation of traditional Cuban popular dances among the youth.

The contest will be held from 7:00pm at Parque de Céspedes. After the competitions, local stars will also perform such as singers Yeline Lafargue and Leodalis Sánchez, the rumba group Oba Tuké, and the rueda groups Salseros de Calle - dir. Yanek Revilla and Rueda de Casino All Stars - dir. Jorge Luna. It may be of interest for those of you who have been following Cuban dance competitions to see that Yanek Revilla is now a judge for this competition!

Santiago de Cuba is hosting the event in tandem with UNEAC's Festival for the Felix B. Caignet Award and Cuban Culture Day. Also supporting the event are the Centro Provincial de Casas de Cultura and Direcciones Municipales y Provincial de Cultura and the Amigos del Danzòn y el Son. The contest provides a great reason for you to take a trip to Santiago this weekend to catch some top-notch, genuine Cuban dancing!

Just for fun, here's another look at Yanek's award winning rueda from A Bailar Casino

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Mon, 11 Oct 2010 04:52:32 +0000
Wynton Marsalis & The LJC Orchestra Performa in Havana A country known for groundbreaking jazz is getting a visit from one of America's leading trumpeters, who spent the weekend jamming with Cuban legends ahead of a concert series that will put musicians from the two Cold War enemies on stage together. The visit by Wynton Marsalis and his Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra kicks off a season of unprecedented cultural exchanges, with the American Ballet Theater scheduled to perform in Havana next month in honor of Cuban ballet legend Alicia Alonso. Marsalis wouldn't directly answer any political questions, preferring to stick to jazz topics. 

The Marsalis family includes patriarch Ellis, a pianist and educator, and his four sons: trumpeter Wynton, saxophonist Branford, trombonist Delfeayo and percussionist Jason.

Chucho Valdes said Marsalis' visit was an important moment for Cuba and its music. “It's the first time we've had a visit from a band of this quality with such important musicians,” he said. “It is a historic event.” -article by the Associated Press

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Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:47:45 +0000
De Qué Estamos Hablando Released! Orquesta Reve De que estamos hablando

Finally the long awaited new release by Elito Revé y Su Charangón is available on-line! We've seen some great CDs come out this year, but for me "De que estamos hablando" is so far in the lead as best CD of 2010. You really do not want to miss this CD. It has been a grueling and long wait, but in the end it is well worth it. So get yourself the CD today and start preparing for the upcoming European Fall Tour!

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Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:15:56 +0000
Quién manda? Bamboleo! Lazaro Valdés & Bamboleo Lázaro Valdés & Bamboleo

Lazarito Valdés and Bamboleo have been on tour in the US with shows in Florida, New York and Virginia. The exceptional combination of Lázaro's music, Ronnys' charisma and Tania's complete domination of the stage, backed up by a stellar group of musicians is not to be missed. Bamboleo has remained at the top of the hit parade since Lázaro founded the group in 1995 and is still the epitome of hardcore timba. You can catch them at their final engagement of the US tour at S.O.Bs in New York on October 9th. Do yourself a favor and don't miss this last chance to see the band live before they head back to Havana.

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Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:48:52 +0000
Revé - De Que Estamos Hablando Tour

Elito Revé y Su Charangón have had a busy year of touring. After the US tour in July they did a couple of shows together with Los Van Van in Peru. This Friday, October 1st they will play the Courthouse in Toronto, Ontario and on October 12 the Charangón starts it's Autumn European Tour with a concert at Back-up in Paris. New dates are still being added so keep checking the Revé Tours page to find your closest venue.

In preparation for the tour, a promotional video has been put together. This video is a little unusual because it focuses on dancers rather than being clips of the band. I really like the approach of focusing on the dance in order to promote the music. It is a fun video where you can see fans dancing casino and rueda to music by Orquesta Revé. The audio track was edited by timba photographer and DJ Tom Bauer. So check out the video below, and see if you can pick up some new moves. It will get you in the mood for a night of dancing with La Revé.

Promotional video for "De qué estamos hablando" tour

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Mon, 27 Sep 2010 06:38:44 +0000
Team Bahía Photos 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.

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Mon, 27 Sep 2010 06:13:22 +0000
Timba Tonight! Tanja Pantoja & Lázaro Valdés It's time for some Friday Night Timba!

Bamboleo is playing tonight at Dance Studio on 35th Ave. in Flushing, New York and in Paterson, New Jersey tomorrow . If you're in the area or can make it there in time (check your local plane and train schedules), don't miss your chance to see them live. Bamboleo has managed to survive the reggaeton scare comepletely unscathed. While attendance is down at many concerts in Cuba, Bamboleo's concerts are always sold out. So go and see what all of the fuss is about, with La Domadora herself, Tanja Pantoja and El Maestro Lazarito Valdés.

Los Van Van And if you find yourself a little closer to southwest than northeast stop by Mama Rumba at Plaza Loreto in Mexico City tonight to see Los Van Van. They played at the University of Veracruz in Xalapa last night and the tickets were being given away for free by the library! Tonight's show isn't free but Van Van is always worth paying for. El tren siempre se mantiene .

For more info about concerts and tours check out the Tours section. It is updated frequently. And if you know of concert dates that we are missing, send me an e-mail .

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Fri, 24 Sep 2010 06:00:57 +0000
Limpia Mi Son Limpia Mi Son by Soneros All Stars featuring Pedro Lugo "El Nene" Yanesito Bogdan "El Sonero" took a little trip to Havana in March 2010 and came back with a tan and a single, which is officially released internationally today. It is a new version of "Limpia mi son", composed by Christina Azcuy and arranged and produced by Yanesito. You may have heard the song on Christina's album, also recorded with Soneros All Stars, but you have never heard it sound like this!

I love this song! Yanesito's updated arrangement is pure dynamite, timba pura! If there are still any sceptics out there who think "you have to be Cuban" to write timba, this song will convince you otherwise. Yanesito "gets it". A stellar musician, he has mastered tres for son and changüí and now moved on to playing timba bass. I even heard Pedro Pablo himself complement Yanesito's bass playing. You can enjoy Yanesito's bass at the Soneros website .

Lead singer on "Limpia mi son" is "El Nene", Pedro Lugo. With the vocal power of a canon, El Nene delivers his guías as a consummate sonero. On coro we have Sinsonte (Revé) and Enrique Castellanos (Bamboleo). "Mi son tiene su tumbao, ven bailalo pega'o", "baila mi changüí, ay ven y gózalo" and that is exactly what you will do when you hear this song, bailar y gozar. Yanesito is giving us precisely what we want. Son con bomba y manana, "Limpia mi son" is available at iTunes, AmazonMP3, Spotify and ReverbNation. Check it out! And if this is any indication of what we can expect from his next complete CD...ay papá!

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Wed, 22 Sep 2010 08:10:07 +0000
El Zorro - Sin Compromiso El Zorro Sin Compromiso This is hardly a newsflash for the serious timbero, but Martin Lehrner, better known as "El Zorro", has released his 5th CD this time titled "Sin Compromiso". The name indicates that he made this album according to his own exacting standards and without compromise.

El Zorro must be the most prolific European timbero, although he might prefer to classify himself as simply "contemporary latin". In any case, I have finally had time to sit down and listen to the CD without distractions and am happy to tell you all that El Zorro continues to push the boundries. His arrangements venture outside the box with exciting fusions.

The album begins with a "guaguancó-funk" and songs range from ballads, to reggae, to mambo, to timbaton and timba-funk. The lyrics are a combination of his own as well as songs written by singer Roberto Pulido and collaborations between El Zorro and Roberto. El Zorro's  musical fusions are really powerful. For example the title track is listed as timba-funk and it is heavily funky. A very dancable tune, it even has a "Guitar Hero" moment. I expect that this album easily crosses over in clubs that play Latin as well as other genres. It has something for everyone.

El Zorro continues his collaboration with excellent musicians. In addition to Roberto, lead vocalists are El Zorro, Ángel Bonne,  Luis Fernando Borjas and Leonardo Columbie. The female coristas Yudelkis Lafuente Acea, Arlety Valdés Cana and Sarah “La Pescadora” Fischer give the CD a unique sound in this male-dominated genre. El Zorro himself plays trombone, sings coro and plays piano and keyboard on all but three of the songs. He is truly a complete musician.

"Sin Compromiso" was released by CME music last month and is also available at iTunes.  For El Zorro's own comments see his website .

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Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:32:39 +0000
Detalles del las presentaciones de Pablo Milanés Liam Producciones Artisticas reporta que el repertorio de Pablo Milanés en California estará enfocado en temas de su último disco" Regalo" (nominado al Grammy Latino y producido entéramente por Pablo) y también temas antiguos de él que indiscutiblemente, aunque no los toque, canciones que siempre le piden y más cuando ha estado tanto tiempo ausente...ejemplos:

Del cd Regalo:  Dos preguntas de un Dia,  El largo camino de Santiago, Matinal,  La libertad,  Diario de Mauricio.  ...Y de las populares:  Yolanda,  El breve espacio en que no está,  Para vivir,  Años,  Yo no te pido,  De que callada manera,  Yo pisaré las calles nuevamente,  Vengo Naciendo. 

Los distinguidos músicos del sexteto acompañando a Pablo son: 

Pablo Milanés Voz y guitarra
Miguel Núñez Director musical y pianista
Dagoberto González Violín y teclados
Germán Velazco Vientos
Luis Ángel Sánchez Bajo
Osmany Sánchez Batería
Eugenio Arango Percusión cubana

 

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Fri, 17 Sep 2010 19:08:16 +0000
Tom's Issac Photos 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.

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Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:31:16 +0000
Update! - Issac Delagdo & Septeto Nacional Ticket Giveaways TIMBA.com está regalando 4 pares de boletos para....
- el show de las 10pm de Issac Delgado con Freddy Cole en el Yoshi's Oakland (10 de Sept). 
- el show de las 10pm de Septeto Nacional en el Yoshi's San Francisco (15 de Septiembre). 

Escríbenos un saludos en la página de visitas. No te olvides incluír tu dirección de email. Los mensajes 20 al 24 y 30 al 34 recibirán los boletos. Un par de boletos por persona solamente.

TIMBA.com is giving away 4 pairs of tickets for....
- the 10pm Issac Delgado with Freddy Cole show at Yoshi's Oakland (tomorrow Septiember 10). 
- the 10pm  Septeto Nacional show at Yoshi's San Francisco (Septiembre 15). 

Post something in our guestbook. Don't forget to include your email address! The 20th through 24th and 30th through 34th messages will receive a pair of tickets. One pair per individual only.

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Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:20:11 +0000
Issac and Team Bahia this Weekend in Oakland

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. 

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Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:31:56 +0000
Alfredo Rodríguez CD Review

Click here for Tom Ehrlich's review of Alfredo Rodríguez' amazing new album Sounds of Space. 

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Sun, 05 Sep 2010 23:51:58 +0000
Adalberto's US Tour Dates Things are solidifying around the US tour of Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son which begins next week! We have published a number of concert dates and will update with more as soon as they are confirmed.

If you've never seen Adalberto live you are in for a treat. The music is perfectly suited to the dancer and the band sounds as good live as on CD. Plus you get the excitement of the interaction with the bandmembers. You will be surprised just how hardcore well-played son can be!  On my last visit to Cuba I went to see Adalberto every week. This band keeps you coming back for more.

They have a new CD, "El Son de Altura", on the way...any minute now it should be released. As usual it is on my must-buy list. Here s a little sample from the CD, the hit "El Melón".

Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son con su nuevo éxito "El Melon" del disco "El son de Altura"

 

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Sun, 05 Sep 2010 08:46:58 +0000
Peter Maiden's Charanga Habanera Photos Peter Maiden, whose photo for "Live in the USA"...

... resulted in one of the all-time classic timba album covers, has a new gallery from the group's  recent San Francisco tour.

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Sat, 28 Aug 2010 02:37:13 +0000
Unos saludos desde Suecia y España Yes his English is getting better! Here's a nice shout-out we got today from Melón (Iván Lewis).  His genius piano work on many of Issac's hits has been successfully deciphered by our resident expert Kevin Moore. The Beyond Salsa Piano book series has now grown to nine (9) volumes --the last four (4) focused exclusively on Iván's piano advanced piano concepts and executions. More surprises in store from Melón.

Iván "Melón" Lewis

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We also got a message from Calixto Oviedo that really blew us away....singer Lily Hernández tearing it up with La Jugada in Sweden. That's Calixto on drums & timbales. Is that La Timbara Mayor Michelle White with the black top and miniskirt taking video? Could be... That guiro is really cutting thorugh...excellent chambo all around. "El Congo Francisco" from the Soneros All Stars CD. "La Timba Soy Yo".  Believe it or not that is El Sonero himself from Soneros All Stars,  Janne "Yanesito" Bogdan tocándlo a lo cubano on bass. There is a highly anticipated percussion method from Kevin and Calixto in the works. Enjoy.

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Mon, 23 Aug 2010 04:28:01 +0000
Late Summer Timba in El Yuma As the summer winds to a close there are a few upcoming timba events that you should be aware of. La Charanga Habanera will be back at Yoshi's in San Francisco August 20-22. They will be doing the two-shows-a-day thing so you can see the boys six times in a row! And at the other end of the Cuban spectrum and on the opposite coast we have our first confirmed date for El Caballero del Son, Adalberto Álvarez. They will be playing September 16th at S.O.B.s in New York City. I hope we will soon be updating Adalberto's Tours page with many more concert dates in the US. So get out there and enjoy the final days of summer with La Charanga and Adalberto! And stay tuned for tour updates on Klímax in the US as well!

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Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:15:06 +0000
Calle Real at the Stockholm Kulturfestival Calle Real - Kafri, Tomas & Michel Kafri, Tomas & Michel

Calle Real performed last Thursday night, August 12, 2010 at the Stockholm Kulturfestival on the big stage at Gustav Adolfs Square. They put on a great show and the audience loved every minute of it even insisting on a encore, which isn't always possible witrh the tight schedule of a festival. Bandleader and tresero Patricio Sobrado is still in Chile so it was a little unusual to see them without him. As always Calle Real bridges the gap between Latino and mainstream music and I'm sure they made many new fans that night and probably opened up more hearts to timba as well. Click here to check out the full concert report including 3 videos.

Here is a sample video to get you started: "Me lo gané", the title track from their latest CD.

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Me lo gané

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Sun, 15 Aug 2010 14:18:09 +0000
Adalberto Update Adalberto Álvarez Que Suena el Son Well things took a little longer than planned but the US tour of Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son is now set to begin September 8th . It is good to know that even when the summer comes to an end there is still something wonderful to look forward to. Of course as the dates become available we will update the tour page. In the meantime the new CD is just about ready for release, and although I don't know the exact date, it should be before or at least coincide with the US tour. Word has it the CD is hot! Some of you have probably already heard "El Melon", which is a big hit in Havana along with "Bailando en la Tropical" of course. And for the gente of Oriente there is the song "Santiaguera". So prepárense for El Caballero del Son!

The track list for the new CD is:
1) Santiaguera
2) La Falta de Ortografía
3) Vete
4) El Melon
5) Quien será mi amor
6) La Tropical en la Habana
7) Canción para ti
8) No soy el mismo
9) Dos Mujeres
10) Entre la rumba y el son (with Rumbatá)
11) Bonus track: Concierto del Karl Marx

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Sat, 14 Aug 2010 11:56:16 +0000
Orquesta Aragón at Berkeley Orquesta Aragón at Berkley

Orquesta Aragón are celebrating their 70th anniversary with a concert at Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley this Friday August 13 at 8pm. The band is currently touring the US and has a number of To Be Determined concerts but this is the last confirmed date as far as I know so don't miss them! No they don't play timba but they swing, or as Gabriel of Yemayá's verse said "they rock".

Gabriel prepares for Van Van in Sydney

And speaking of Gabriel, her interview with Samuel Formell and Yeni Valdés has been published in the Sydney Morning Herald in preparation for the impending Los Van Van concert Sunday August 15 at the Opera House in Sydney.

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Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:42:48 +0000
Revé documentary - Danny Lozada - Habana d' Primera Here are some killer video clips of footage from Elio & Elito Revé's new documentary, an interview with Danny Lozada and a great live performance from Alexander Abreu & Habana d' Primera, courtesy of David (DJ Melao) and Duni's new blog El Puente. To access the new column click on blogs and then select EL PUENTE. Enjoy.

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Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:43:49 +0000
Juan Kemell & La Barriada I have finally published the band section for Juan Kemell & La Barriada. This is long overdue. I have seen this band live 3 times and every time I am struck by how fun the concerts are! They have a gift of really communicating with the audience, whether or not you understand Spanish.

Under the direction of trumpet player Juan Kemell, La  Barriada plays a mix of Cuban music as well as other Caribbean genres, and has a loyal following both in Cuba and throughout Latin America.La Barriada plays regular bi-weekly gigs in Havana, tours the provinces and tours Europe and Latin America regularly. Their last CD/DVD "Havananza" was one of the best albums of 2008.  If you are not yet familar with La Barriada check out the new section with video, interviews, concert reports and more.

 

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Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:40:09 +0000
Latino Night in Paris Patrick Bonnard is back with a report and photos from the July 13 concert a Le Zénith in Paris with Los Van Van and Oscar D'Leon. Here is an excerpt from his report.

  
Oscar D'Leon & Los Van Van photos © Patrick Bonnard used by permission

Le Zénith i s one of the main indoor locations for rock and pop gigs in Paris. As we all know, Elito Revé's participation for that long-awaited night was unfortunately cancelled. Expectations were still high and the fans had travelled to Paris from all across the country to be at these shows. Los Van Van opened at 20 p.m with "Arrasando". Show highlights included a thrilling performance of "Muevete" with participation of Juan Formell. Lele was loose and in infectious good spirits all night long, sh ining on "Me Mantengo". Yeni sang "Tu a Lo Tuyo , Yo a Lo Mio". Mayito certainly would have enjo yed to si ng more than a single "Si No Te Quieres Tú" but they wrapped up with the perfect show closer "Esto Te Pone La Cabeza Mala". Click here to read the full report and see the photos he sent us.

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Mon, 02 Aug 2010 06:30:47 +0000
Fotos Fotos Fotos
Michel Pérez with Pupy y Los Que Son Son - Yoshi's - Photo by Tom Ehrlich

Tom Ehrlich has added another gallery from Pupy y Los Que Son Son's recent Bay Area tour.

Coming soon - photos from Revé, Los Terry, and the Afro-Cuban All-Stars. You can also see a lot of photos by Tom and Gimena Berenguer in BSP 9.

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Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:58:28 +0000
Cantautor Pablo Milanes regresa a los EE.UU.

Pre-sale is today July 29 from 10am to 10pm only. Click here for tickets and use the code word "venue" to get first dibs on tickets. Pre-venta de los bolétos para Silvio es HOY de las 10am a las 10pm. Tienes que usar el código "venue " para completar tu pre-venta. 

Cuban singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Pablo Milanés Arias returns to the US after many years beginning with a show October 10, 2010 at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles. Pablo is considered one of the founders of the Cuban "nueva trova" (new troubadour movement) along with Silvio Rodríguez and Noel Nicola. He is a pianist and guitarist whose Brazilian-like melodies set him apart from the raw style of Silvio Rodríguez. 

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Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:18:41 +0000
Beyond Salsa Piano Volume 9 Beyond Salsa Piano Volume 9 by Kevin Moore - Volume 9 is the fourth of four volumes featuring note-for-note transcriptions of one of the greatest timba pianists, Iván "Melón" Lewis and featuring extensive analysis and multiple tumbaos for the hits "Catalina" (I-IV-V variations) and "Se te fué la mano", "Con la punta del pié", "La tématica", "La soga" and "La competencia". Volume 9 also includes the cuerpo (verse) piano parts for each song. Beyond Salsa Piano is an instructional (eBook + audio), play-along history and anthology of the role of the piano in the Cuban rhythm section –from its first appearance to the present. This is the ninth book in a instructional series set to become the new standard for contemporary Latin piano styles. 130 pages (130 páginas) with 120 audio tracks (120 pistas).

Beyond Salsa Piano - Volume 9 - Available Now!

Beyond Salsa Piano Volume 9 by Kevin MooreClick to download the sample pdf. Beyond Salsa Piano Volume 9 is the fourth of four volumes featuring note-for-note transcriptions of one of the greatest timba pianists, Iván "Melón" Lewis and featuring extensive analysis and multiple tumbaos for the hits "Catalina" (I-IV-V variations) and "Se te fué la mano", "Con la punta del pié", "La tématica", "La soga" and "La competencia". Volume 9 also includes the cuerpo (verse) piano parts for each song. Beyond Salsa Piano is an instructional (eBook + audio), play-along history and anthology of the role of the piano in the Cuban rhythm section –from its first appearance to the present. This is the ninth book in a instructional series set to become the new standard for contemporary Latin piano styles. 130 pages (130 páginas) with 120 audio tracks (120 pistas).

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Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:01:08 +0000
The Beast! Beyond Salsa Piano, Vol. 9hard-copy  --  eBook and audio files

At 130 pages, this is by far the most ambitious volume to date of the Beyond Salsa Piano series, almost twice as long as the other Melón volumes. It begins with the easiest Melón tumbao, Catalina, and simplifies it a step further with an introductory chapter on the time-honored I-IV-V-IV chord progression. But the gloves come off in Chapter 3. Since the series is chronological, this final volume contains Melón's most advanced work with Issac Delgado and goes on to cover the music he's recorded in Spain, including Me falta la Habana with Manolín and the amazing Movimiento from his 2010 CD Travesía.

There are also extensive chapters on Melón's playing on two Issac masterpieces which were only played live: La competencia (Hit Parade), and my all-time favorite piano tumbao, the legendary La temática.

The most dramatic difference between this volume and the eight that preceded it is the inclusion of cuerpos, mambos and transitions. On three songs, Se te fue la mano, Con la punta del pie, and La soga, we provide a full written part for everything Melón plays up to the improvisational open montuno section.

I'm already deeply embroiled in writing Volumes 10, 11 and 12 on Pupy Pedroso , and Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of Inside Cuban Percussion, featuring the amazing Calixto Oviedo . The long-awaited video product of Melón is still on the back burner, but the video has already been shot for Calixto - and it's amazing -- so the video will be part of the initial launch of the Calixto project. Drummers have been bugging me to do something like this ever since the first Tomás Cruz Conga Method came out in 2005. The wait will soon be over, guys, but start practicing your perididdles and 7-stroke rolls, because Calixto is going to rock your worlds!

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Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:58:33 +0000
Llegó lo que te hala Soy  Lo Que Te Hala - Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor start their summer European tour on this Friday July 30th in Rimini, Italy. We have published all the tour dates so check for a concert near you . The band will spend most of the tour in Italy but you can catch them at New Morning in Paris and the Antilliaanse Festival in Belgium.

They are performing many of the songs off their new hit album, "Soy lo que te hala". If you haven't bought it yet, you should. In the meantime I have posted a review in the Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor discography section. Here is a little quotation.

Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor are back with another hot timba album. Maykel is a prolific composer and the band has been churning out one CD every other year to their fans' delight. Maykel consistently composes solid, catchy lyrics and combines them with irresistible dancefloor-ready arrangements that make  Maykel’s songs favorites among DJs and dancers. Click here to read the full review .

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Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:58:11 +0000
The Yumaversity of Timba Expands!
photos by Sue Taylor (also studio, food, chauffeur services, moral support ...)

For all of you who have been asking for instructional material for musicians other than pianists and congueros, your prayers will soon be answered, with Calixto Oviedo playing the role of God. After three days of filming I have enough material for at least  three mind-bending volumes to launch the Inside Cuban Percussion series. We also planned the NG La Banda Reunion Tour (someone needs to tell El Tosco!).


Calixto with Carlos Caro and Jesús Díaz

It took about 10 seconds for word of Calixto's presence to reach every percussionist in the Bay Area and the filming was attended by such luminaries as Carlos Caro, Jesús Díaz and the legendary Walfredo de los Reyes, all of whom were as knocked out as I was. (Click "continue reading" for much more).

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Fri, 23 Jul 2010 07:10:45 +0000
Tour Updates for Orquesta Revé Elito Revé by Tom Bauer photo ©Tom Bauer used by permission

Elito y Su Charangón have two more concerts on their US tour before heading back to Cuba: Miami and Tampa. Don't miss your last chance to catch them live in the US! But the Charangón is not stopping long to rest, in September they have two very special concerts in Lima, Peru together with Los Van Van ! Then on October 1st they play in Toronto and in mid-October they begin the long-awaited European tour . Check here for the current list of 2010 concert dates for the Charangón and send me an e-mail if you know of any dates that are missing!

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Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:41:56 +0000
Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz Extravaganza with Yorgis Goiricelaya Yorgis CD Release @ The Place (Miami)Yorgis CD release party at The Place 833 SW 29 Avenue, Miami, Florida 33135

Se dará a cabo un concierto de lanzamiento del CD ELEGANCE de Yorgis Goiricelaya el jueves 22 de julio 2010, en la localidad de THE PLACE OF MIAMI. Se harán los principales temas en vivo del CD y a la vez se va a grabar disco y DVD en vivo donde van a participar selectos músicos cubanos de Miami, Costa Rica y New York. Issac Delgado estará participando y Luis Enrique (aún por confirmar), va a ser un evento el cual será promocionado por Radio WDNA jazz, y Canal 41 Miami, respectívamente días antes del concierto, y contando con el apoyo de ustedes 

Elegance es un proyecto sexteto de jazz latino con fusiones de música cubana y "world music". En la grabación participaron músicos como Isaac Delgado, Paquito D´Rivera, Osmany Paredes y muchos mas, grandes exponentes del género viviendo en USA. 

Bass / Director: Yorgis Goiricleaya
Piano: Osmany Paredes, Liván Mesa  -- Drums: Hilario Bell
Conga: Robert Vilera, Ramses Araya  --  Trompeta: Cheito Quiñones
Sax: Aldo Salvent  --  Trombon: William Paredes

Invitados: Voz: Issac Delgado -- Voz y percusion: Luis Enrique (por confirmar)

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Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:17:02 +0000
Afro-Cuban All-Stars in Wine Country

ACAS had a capacity crowd of North Coast Yuppies dancing their asses off. This concludes their short 12-stop tour. More soon, and more photos from Tom Ehrlich coming.

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Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:14:35 +0000
Feliz Cumpleaños Aisar! Aisar Hernández celebrates his birthday today!

Congratulations Aisar from everyone at Timba.com!

Tonight is a unique opportunity for Cuban music fans to see what is  in my opinion the most hardcore of all the bands today: Elito Revé y Su Charangón and to celebrate the birthday of one of the most talented young musicians in Cuba today: Aisar Hernández, bassist and musical director of the Charangón. His brilliant arrangements and amazing bass style are a huge asset to the band. Like Elio Revé Matos, Elito Revé has a rare talent for finding the best and the brightest musicians and forming them into the monsters of Cuban music.

So here is my recommendation to the people of New York and anyone who lives close enough. Take a plane, a train, an automobile or even a bike to SOBs tonight. The concert will blow your mind and afterwards you can buy Aisar a drink and wish him well on his birthday...and no, I don't know how old he is. Oh, and someone send me a better picture of Aisar for his page at Timba.com please.

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Sat, 17 Jul 2010 07:41:35 +0000
Revé at SOBs Saturday Night
photo by Tom Ehrlich

One of the classic lineups for one of the classic bands of all time, one night only in New York City. It's rare that for any band -- even Revé over it's 55 year history -- to achieve the level of chemistry that the current incarnation of el Charangón has achieved. It's truly hitting on all cylinders. If you miss this you'll be kicking yourself for years. They're doing at least 5 songs from the new album, De qué estamos hablando, which is easily among the best of the 2000s thus far and a brilliant cross-section of the very best of the previous two albums and the previous 5 decades.

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Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:44:57 +0000
Aragón in Berkeley CA - Aug. 13 Aragón is next up in 2010's string of historic performances.

I've created a special section for tour news .

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Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:57:23 +0000
Despiértate Nueva York!
photo by Peter Maiden - by permission from Fuego Entertainment

Here's Peter Maiden's gallery from the first SF show - more coming from Tom Ehrlich in due time.

This Saturday, July 17th, Revé takes their unbelievably great show to SOB's.

The songs from the new album, De que estamos hablando are instant classics and had San Francisco singing along on the first hearing. With his third classic masterpiece in succession (Se sigue comentando, Fresquecito, De que estamos hablando), Elito Revé has proven once and for all that he's inherited his father's genius for putting together historically great groups. This current incarnation of the band can stand up beside any of its illustrious predecessors - one of the best rhythms sections ever, possibly the best horn section ever, and four great singers who work perfectly together, while presenting four very different and compelling personalities. All perfectly in sync with a genius musical director in the person of Aisar Hernández. Don't miss the chance to hear this group.

And hey, New York - I'm talkin' to you! Get off your butts. San Francisco sold out three nights straight - you should be able to sell out one on a Saturday night, eh? It's no wonder the Giants and Dodgers moved out here.

After New York, it's on to Miami and Tampa .

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Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:05:09 +0000
Plena Libre Tonight in Santa Cruz Don't Miss tonight, Monday, July 12th, at KUUMBWA JAZZ CENTER in Santa Cruz.

07/12/2010 Mon  Santa Cruz, CA Kuumbwa Jazz Club
07/14/2010 Wed  Oakland, CA Yoshis Jazz Club
07/16/2010 Fri  Winston, OR Riverbend Park
07/17/2010 Sat  Los Angeles, CA MacArthur Park 
07/23/2010 Fri  Lowell, MA Lowell Folk Festival
07/24/2010 Sat  Providence, RI Sound Sessions Festival
07/25/2010 Sun  Lowell, MA Lowell Folk Festival
07/28/2010 Wed  New York, NY River to River Festival, Wagner Park
07/29/2010 Thu  Huntington, NY Huntington Summer Arts Festival
08/01/2010 Sun  Rochester, NY NY Puerto Rican Parade Fest

Plena Libre Summer Tour 2010

The masters of Puerto Rican plena, Plena Libre will be touring the United States in July and August of 2010. Captivating and moving audiences over the course of a fifteen-year, thirteen-album career, this fine-tuned 12-piece Puerto Rican-based ensemble of virtuoso musicians has only gotten better with age, as evidenced by their four recent Grammy nominations. And now, for the 2010-2011 touring season, Plena Libre has created an all-new exciting repertoire along with new choreography and compelling new stories told from the stage between songs. Plena Al Salsero - Plena Libre

Unlike salsa bands, who usually only have two singers, Plena Libre features five vocalists singing in lush three and four part harmonies; a musical representation of a traditional community gathering. Further giving their live performances a memorable standout quality, occasionally, the entire band will vocalize the percussion parts of the plena, creating an a cappella polyphonic polyrhythm. These artistic choices drive home the core of the tradition in an aesthetic that appeals to broad audiences and aficionados alike.

Along with providing exhilarating entertainment, Plena Libre-which has performed in fifteen countries, from Morocco to Malaysia-has a deep commitment to educating their audiences about the traditional culture of Puerto Rico. Since the founding of the group, the ensemble has offered three levels of workshops tailored to the needs of particular demographics. For young audiences, the band has conducted hands-on demonstrations, taking an interactive approach to helping kids play Caribbean rhythms and learn various dance steps.

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Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:10:47 +0000
Klímax by Patrick Bonnard Giraldo Piloto in Cannes - Photo ©Patrick Bonnard

While Elito Revé y Su Charangón are blowing minds in the US, the European Tour Season is also underway. Pepitín sent us a message yesterday saying that the Trabuco was back in Europe. Check here for Manolito's complete list of tour dates. And Giraldo Piloto & Klímax are already touring, but you still have time to catch them at Festival Bayamo in Seyne-sur-Mer on July 18 and Latinoamericando in Milan on July 19th.

Patrick Bonnard saw them in Cannes on July 2nd and has shared some of his outstanding photos with us. He promises a full report later but in brief he said:
I send you photos of Klimax 1st european show in Cannes at "Palais du Festival", you know where the movie stars...:) It's been 13 years since they had a concert here in France. The show was explosive, one of the best of this year. i'll try to send you later a little report...photos from Paris concert to follow. Elpidio Chapottin and German Velazco are joining the whole tour. Maraca was in the audience in Paris as they rehearse here for their Monterey All Stars project (Rotterdam 11th of July concert). Try to catch Klimax if you can, they sound wonderful.

Take Patrick's advice and don't miss this chance to see Klímax. Click here to see the Cannes photogallery.

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Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:47:25 +0000
Off the Hook
(photos by Peter Maiden - photo permission courtesy of Fuego Entertainment)

Click Continue Reading Below for More Photos by Peter Maiden

Where has THIS band been all my life? I waited a long to finally hear them (a whole lot of people in the crowd said those exact words), and it was well worth it. Everyone was in heaven.

They're back tonight Saturday (8:00 and 10:00) and tomorrow Sunday (matinee at 5:00, 2nd show at 7:00) Yoshi's San Francisco. Don't even THINK about missing this people. The second Friday show sold out, so don't wait too long.

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Sat, 10 Jul 2010 06:17:37 +0000
Elito Revé y su Charagón TONIGHT in SF Ya No Te Doy Más Na - Orquesta Revé (El Nene) - video: Michelle White

We'll never know how Elio Revé would have responded to the timba revolution of the late 90s because his live was cut tragically short by a car crash. The band was taken over by his son Elito, who inherited both his father's gruff voice and his astounding ear for talent. Elito is a graduate of the music schools but also owes much of his musical education to his father. He began at the age of 20 as pianist for the charangón and also worked as arranger for many of the band's hit songs. Elito has employed many extraordinary singers, such as El Gallo, Lele Rasalps and El Nene, and several brilliant musical directors, but none greater than the present one, bassist Aisar Hernández, whose work on Fresquecito made it one of the best ten albums of the 2000s.

See you at Yoshi's tonight.

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Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:50:11 +0000
New afro-cuban and salsa release by Vissión Latina Vission Latina - Sonando Como Un Cañon

Vissión Latina's new album "Sonando Como Un Cañon" (thundering like a canon) highlights the talents of the Bay Area's top Salsa and Afro-Cuban talent, among them vocalists Félix Samuel and Eduardo Herrera, and blind percussionist Julio Pérez. 

Vission Latina - Sonando Como Un CañonFounded by CARLOS CARO (percussion - born in Guanajay, in the Havana province of Cuba), SAUL SIERRA (bass - born in Mexico City) and MARCO DIAZ (trumpet, piano - a San Francisco native), and known as the top rhythm section in the Bay Area, VISSIÓN LATINA is a unique musical project that features the trio's original compositions.

VL has backed up top artists like Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez, Jimmy Bosch, Israel Cachao López, Herman Olivera, Nino Segarra, Anthony Cruz, Ska Cubano, Bobi Céspedes, John Santos, QBA, Candela, Tito Nieves, and Eddie Santiago. Be sure to catch VL at their upcoming CD release concert party.

Vission Latina - Sonando Como Un Cañon

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Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:27:42 +0000
Melón Video and new CD

Here's a great video clip from Spain . There's footage of Melón's group, of Melón with Buika, and an interview where he talks about the new CD, which can be bought, with a bonus DVD, here

Meanwhile, my fourth and final book on Melón, Volume 9 of Beyond Salsa Piano is at 125 pages and growing, promising to be the mother of all timba piano books. In addition to the usual tumbaos, it will also include extensive transcriptions of the rest of the arrangements. Stay tuned. I hope to go live with it in about a week. It will have La temática, La competencia, Se te fue la mano, Pa' que te salves, Por la naturaleza, Tú tranquilo, Movimiento, Me falta La Habana, Catalina, and a special study of Melón's approach to the good old I-IV-V-IV progression.

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Thu, 08 Jul 2010 03:04:42 +0000
Adalberto Álvarez US Tour The floodgates have opened and the tours just keep coming. The latest news is that the visas have been approved for Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son and they plan to tour  the US already in July! As soon as we have the concert dates we'll let you know. El Caballero del Son is also about to release a new CD, "El Son de Altura", which has 10 tracks as well as a bonus live track. A single, "Vete", has already been released.

Adalberto Alvarez y Su Son But that's not all! Adalberto is celebrating 35 years with a DVD/CD set called "Que suena el son" that was just released on July 1st. The CD contains 15 songs including collaborations with a number of guest artists such as Omara Portuondo, Frank Fernandez and María Victoria, Orquesta Aragón and Grupo Rumbatá. The DVD includes a concert in Karl Marx Theatre, the documentary "Son para un sonero", a photo gallery, sheet music for Adalberto's songs (a treasure trove for musicians) and even a karaoke of Adalberto's hits for your Cuban parties and much more!

Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son will be touring Europe in November, so have a little patience if you live here in Europe. Buy the DVD and the new CD when it is released and that should tide you over until the band arrives.

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Tue, 06 Jul 2010 06:45:57 +0000
Pupy en la Yuma - Yemayá en la Isla

Tom's photos of Pupy y Los Que Son Son in San Francisco are up. You can also see his photos from Cócomo here. The Oakland photos are still coming.

Meanwhile, Gabriel of Yemayá's Verse is going wild on the island, with many posts since the last time I linked to her site.

And of course, don't forget REVÉ AT YOSHI'S all weekend.

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Tue, 06 Jul 2010 01:50:04 +0000
Llega La Nueva Explosión Elito Reve y su Charangon

Get ready for the New Explosion! Elito Reve arrives in the US on Sunday followed by su Charangón on Thursday July 8th. The band will hold its first concert on July 9. And all you charangoneros will be thrilled to hear that the tour will be extended to one month! This information comes directly from Elito Revé himself! We are obviously lacking most of the concert dates so send me an e-mail with any missing dates you know about and I will update their tour page.

The band is in the process of releasing their new CD "¿De que estamos hablando?". I have heard the entire CD and it is likely to be the best of 2010. The band is already performing several of the songs live. For the latest scoop on what you can expect in concert see Gabriel's post at Yemayá's Verse about her carnaval trip with the Charangón.

The charangón has a few new members since I saw them last. Among the singers we now have Emilio who you know from Tumbao Habana and Suzel who was with Sello L.A. Additionally there is now a full-time keyboardist, Gretchen Revé. On the new album Emilio sings lead om "Niña relájate", "La Nueva Explosión", "A Matanzas" (a tasty guaguancó), and the hit "Agua pa' Yemayá". Suzel sings lead on the son montuno remake of "Ya sé bailar, ya sé cantar". Sinsonte interprets the funny song "Open the door" and there is a real changüí with invitados Pipi de Yateras y sus Estrellas Campesinas, Chucho Valdés and Cotó. The rest of the album is expertly handled by veteran vocalist Dagoberto. You have a lot to look forward to at the upcoming US concerts. For Cuban music fans and salseros this is another must not miss tour! 

¿De que estamos hablando? Ya tú verás!!

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Sat, 03 Jul 2010 12:16:39 +0000
Team Bahía Video killed the radio star.

MP3s killed the CD.

DJs killed live music.

But then again, there's DJ Walt Digz - the DJ musicians love because he always plays the tracks they didn't even know they needed to hear yet ... the DJ who's put together a LIVE, real, timba band with the very cream of the cream of the real musicians of the Bay Area scene - Carlos Caro, Colin Douglas, Marco Díaz, Ayla Dávila, Jason Möen, Erick Barbería, Orlando Torriente ... the list goes on ... the best person in every chair. We'll have a section for them soon, but their first big show is this Saturday, at Jelly's, Saturday, July 3rd.

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Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:02:08 +0000
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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Tue, 29 Jun 2010 03:48:40 +0000
Melón CD Release Concert Tonight 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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Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:34:24 +0000
Soy Lo Que Te Hala Soy Lo Que Te Hala - Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor

If you are a Facebook user you know that the word has been out since Mirco's post yesterday, Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor's latest album, "Soy lo que te hala", has been released at iTunes and the hardcopy is at latinmusicstore and will certainly hit other on-line stores soon. I am a hardcopy fan myself  and decided to wait for the CD to appear at local stores, but after previewing the songs at iTunes, I couldn't resist buying it. I'll pick up the hardcopy later but I just had to have the songs now !

This album is packed with hits! The songs you have probably already heard if your local DJ is up-to-date are "Que tu crees?", "Se acabó el amor", "Pa' cualquiera", "La cara de salir pa' andar" and "Soy lo que te hala". If you caught them on their March tour of Europe or back in Havana you have also heard several other songs from the new album. A full review will be coming shortly. In the meatime here's the short review: great album, dancers will love it, you should buy it.

Track list:
title lead singer
Que Tú Crees? (A La Ñaqui)
Pavel “La Figura”
Se Acabo’ El Amor (Ya Tú No Estás En El Bombo) Yordi Larrazaba
Arriba De Lo Mal Hecho Yordi Larrazaba
Pari Parara Yasser Ramos
Publícalo Yordi Larrazaba
Reposa Yasser Ramos
Pa’ Cualquiera Yordi Larrazaba
La Cara De Salir Pa’ Andar Pavel “La Figura”
Pacotillera Pavel “La Figura”
Soy Lo Que Te Hala Yasser Ramos

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Wed, 23 Jun 2010 06:37:08 +0000
Atención España! 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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Wed, 23 Jun 2010 05:17:28 +0000
Pupy in Washington DC Tonight 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

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Sat, 19 Jun 2010 16:37:48 +0000
Last Chance to See Pupy in California
photos by Tom Ehrlich

It gets hotter every night. I've seen every Bay Area show and will definitely be at Yoshi's Oakland for the grand climax tonight. Los Que Son Son has always had one of the most torrid grooves of any timba band but their new style is a quantum leap forward, featuring the pedales and bombas of bassist Daymar Calvario ("the cavalry is coming!"), Miguelito Escuriola, Duniesky Barreto and founding member Bombón Reyes, who of course also played in the legendary 2000 Issac band.

When the bass starts to pedal, slide or thump, the energy level simply goes through the roof and it happens repeatedly on every song. In my geeky opinion, this is the factor that was missing in both Pupy and Van Van - they made up for it with a relentless basic groove and masterpiece songs, but adding the "gear" factor is the pièce de resistance.

Percussion solos are a regular part of the show and Pupy's solo on La bomba soy yo  has brought the house down nightly. There was even a baby bass solo one night in SF. Many Bay stars have sat in, highlighted by Fito Reinoso, Rebeca Mauleón, John Santos and Carol Steele. Members of the Terry family are supposedly still in town and we're hoping for a last-minute guest appearance from the world's greatest chékere player.

See you tonight! Next tour stops are Washington DC and Boston. The band returns to Havana on July 2.

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Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:41:16 +0000
Septeto Santiaguero Septeto Santiaguero kick off a summer tour of Europe on July 3 in Valencia, Spain. The tour will last 6 weeks and will take the group to 7 countries throughout Europe. Septeto Santiaguero is an excellent example that son is alive and well in Cuba. The release of their new CD,  "Oye mi son santiaguero", will coincide with the summer tour. The CD features some special guests such as Ricardito and Reinaldo Creagh, former members of the legendary Vieja Trova Santiaguera. In preparation for the upcoming CD release, they have published the first video single at YouTube, "Esa niña, qué cintura!". Check it out below and catch them on their tour this summer .  And cuida'o ! There is a sort of an updated Marilyn Monroe skirt flying up scene in the video...only with a very short skirt.

Septeto Santiaguero with "Esa niña, qué cintura!"

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Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:42:16 +0000
Sweden's Limpia Timpanos Delivers Cuban Hip Hop new release by Limpia Timpanos - Yaimir Jiménez Pititclick here to listen to samples

Pitit's (aka Limpia Timpanos) new album CONFRONTACIÓN draws from his artistic experience to deliver a hard hitting Latino hip hop album. Intended to reach a more commercial audience, the record embeds deep lyrics with the driving beats and arrangements from producers Jhon Po and Jean DC.

Yaimir Jiménez aka "PITIT" aka "LIMPIA TIMPANOS" was born and raised in Havana, Cuba. Now living in Sweden, Limpiatimpanos is known for his work in the 2004 release Seres Humanos with the group Alianza, a unique mixture of Latin Hip Hop, Caribbean rhythms and traditional Cuban music. Before forming ALIANZA and creating the album 'Seres Humanos', PITIT was the director of the hip hop group Grandes Ligas and he also participated in two of the most highly regarded Hip Hop projects in Cuba: Cuban Hip Hop All-Stars and Cuban Rap Ligas (Delabel Editions, France).

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Thu, 17 Jun 2010 05:49:35 +0000
Pupy.....So HOT! Mike's WiFi works at Yoshi's - currently halfway through La bomba soy yo. Blazing hot. Rebeca Mauleón sat in during the first set and tore it up. Percussionists and bassist soloing. Life is good!

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Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:56:16 +0000
Pupy Tonight! ... and all this week at Yoshi's SF and Yoshi's Oakland.


photos by Tom Ehrlich

MORE PHOTOS JUST ADDED

Saturday's Cócomo show was sublime. I could watch this rhythm section night after night -- in fact, that's exactly what I intend to do and six nights won't be nearly enough to satisfy me. Their approach, originally architected by Changuito himself, is unlike any other timba band. Along with güirero Julito Noroña (the son of Van Van founder Julio Noroña) the timbalero, Miguelito Escuriola holds down the fort by covering both bell parts, as Samuell or Riverón would do, while also working in the jamblock, freeing the magnificent drummer/arranger Bombón Reyes to orchestrate the arrangement with his inimitable left-handed combination of kick, snare, hihat and toms. Bay Area fans will remember conguero Duniesky Barreto from Bamboleo's many tours in the late 90s. Pupy uses a lot more gears than he used to, giving Duniesky a lot of space to shine. This band's groove grabs ahold of you and won't let go, and Pupy's songs are all timeless classics, from 1970s Van Van masterpieces to fresh-out-of-the-oven estrenos from the upcoming album.

The concert kept building and building to an extraordinary climax on a new arrangement of Pupy's Van Van classic, Ni bombones ni caramelos. Bay Area sonero Fito Reinoso sat in and delivered one of the most inspired vocal performances I've ever heard. Fito can always be counted on to rise to the occasion with his Cándido Fabré-inspired improvisations, but this time he really outdid himself. Seconds after he took the mike, the energy level, already high, went off the scale. Pupy himself was grinning from ear to ear and shaking his head. The standard Cándido approach is to find a catchy melodic phrase and repeat it with minor variations, improvising words to fit the occasion, but Fito transcended this completely, fluidly responding to the band's every accent and changing rhythm and melody as well as words in myriad brilliant and completely spontaneous ways. When the rhythm section locked into an extended bomba behind him the groove was almost unbearable. Next, they seamlessly broke way down to a short 3-part coro with minimal accompaniment and Fito slid right into it, keeping the same rhythmic intensity at a fraction of the volume.

It's been a long, painful decade of musical drought, but the floodgates have opened and it's catch-up time for the city by the bay. Wherever you're reading this from, catch a boat, plane or train and get yourself out here.

NY Times Review   --  Central Park Video Clip

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Mon, 14 Jun 2010 05:32:03 +0000
Pupy & Los Que Son Son Tour Underway Pupy y Los Que Son Son in Arlingon, VA

Pupy & Los Que Son Son are just at the beginning of their US tour . They have already played in Florida and at Summer Stage in New York, and you can catch them again on the East Coast tonight at S.O.B.s before they head out for 12 concerts in California . If you can't make tonight's concert, don't worry they will be back east again with a concert the 19th at the Salsa Room in Arlington, VA. , back at S.O.B.s on the 20th and the final concert is Boston on the 22nd. I tell you quite seriously, you don't want to let this opportunity pass you by, so find a way to make it to at least one of the concerts on this historic first tour! Click here for a full list of remaining gigs.

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Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:03:51 +0000
Llegó Yemayá It's time for our annual month of Gabriel-envy. A few hours after touching down at José Martí International Airport, the intrepid timbera blogger stumbled into a Havana d'Primera concert without even trying ... sigh ...

For La Unteresita's exploits in greater detail, check Yemayá's Verse daily for the next month or so - it's the next best thing to being there.

Actually -- and I have to pinch myself as I type this -- this time,  the next best thing to being there just might be ... gasp ... being in San Francisco! We Have:

June 12 - Los Terry at Yerba Buena (free!) 
June 12 - Silvio Rodríguez at the Paramount in Oakland
June 12 - Pupy y Los Que Son Son at Cócomo in SF

(and yes ... Tom Ehrlich plans to be at all 3 ... I'm skipping "Cuba's Bob Dylan" (don't worry - I'll listen to Blonde on Blonde to console myself).

June 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 - Pupy y Los Que Son Son at each Yoshi's venue.

July 9, 10, 11 - Elito Revé, por fin!

And last but not least, in book news, we're planning another series - "Inside Cuban Percussion" - with the first featured artist being none other than Calixto Oviedo. Stay tuned.

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Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:04 +0000
Orquesta ANACAONA en Aruba el 12 de Junio Orquesta Anacaona en Aruba Junio 12El 12 de Junio se presentara en un festival de jazz en la isla de Aruba, la más exitosa orquesta femenina de Cuba: la orquesta ANACAONA.

Oprima aquí para descarga el dossier completo de la orquesta ANACAONA.

Un saludo y abrazo a Ánika Vila  por mantenernos al tanto con toda esta información.

Originalmente fundada el 19 de Febrero de 1932 por Concepción Castro Zaldarriaga y sus hermanas, la orquesta ANACAONA sigue siendo la mejor y primera orquesta femenina de Cuba. A partir de la jubilación de las hermanas Castro en Diciembre de 1987, asume la dirección de la orquesta Georgia Aguirre, quien junto a su hermana y otras jóvenes también egresadas de las escuelas de música, continúan la labor iniciada por las fundadoras consolidando un estilo que combina la tradición con la modernidad, para conservar y engrandecer la historia de la orquesta, que ya cuenta con más de medio siglo de trabajo ininterrumpido en el panorama musical cubano e internacional. En Cuba Anacaona se presenta en los principales escenarios de la música popular bailable, eventos culturales, giras nacionales, festivales y programas de la Radio y la Televisión.

En la actualidad, está integrada por trece mujeres que cultivan la música popular cubana, fusionando los ritmos más tradicionales con la sonoridad contemporánea. Conocidas también como “Las Mulatísimas del Sabor”, han logrado un sello que las distingue y son apreciadas tanto por la crítica como por los bailadores de toda Cuba y de diversos países del mundo.

Internacionalmente han viajado por más de 20 países de Europa, Asia, África, América y el Caribe actuando en importantes festivales y múltiples escenarios entre los que más se destacan: La gira por 34 ciudades de la República Popular China; su participación en la obra teatral “El Burgués Tropical” bajo la dirección de Gerome Sabarí, inspirada en el clásico de Molière, “El Burgués Gentilhombre”; la gira realizada en agosto de 1999 por algunas ciudades de los Estados Unidos en la que también sostuvieron un encuentro muy emotivo con Graciela Pérez, cantante y fundadora de Anacaona y el show “Sabor de la Habana” que abrió la temporada de espectáculos cubanos en el Cabaret del Gran Casino Montecarlo del Principado de Mónaco.

Georgia Aguirre González Bajo, Coros y Dirección
Dora Aguirre González Cantante y saxofonista
Bárbara A. Zamora Vargas Cantante
Yoanna Alvarez Peña Cantante
Yanet C. Rodríguez Boza Cantante
Ana Maria Vila Martínez (Anika) Piano y Teclado
Yissy García Calzadilla Batería, Timbal y Bongo
Ursula Madelainne Gómez Matos Tumbadoras
Yarima Blanco Ramos Guitarras, Tres y Coro
Vivian Jiménez Valdez Flauta y percusión
Martha I. Torres González Trompeta
Massiel Milán Pérez Saxo Alto
Dayamí Acosta Rodríguez Trombón y Coros

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Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:18:13 +0000
Press Release from Musicalia You may have noticed that the dates for Elito Revé y Su Charangón in the US conflict with the dates that were previously reported for the Euroepan Summer 2010 Tour. The agency Musicalia has sent out a press release to explain the cancelation and information about the next European Tour.

"The Cuban Agency Musicalia reports that the orchestra Elito Revè y su Charangón  will not make Summer Tour 2010 scheduled for Europe because it canceled the contract for breach, with the company that represented him in that continent. The next tour to Europe was made in the month of October-November 2010, with the launch of his new album De que estamos hablando ".

Our loss is the US fans' gain. But at least we know that the Charangón will be back in Europe this fall following the release of the new album which is hot, hot,hot!

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Thu, 03 Jun 2010 05:16:12 +0000
Presenting PlazaCUBA - Music & Dance Collaboration Happy to announce we've added Alisa Froman and PlazaCUBA to our schools page. The following free Cuban music video clips were made available to us courtesy of PlazaCUBA, a humanitarian-based arts organization that specializes in travel to Cuba and Cuban music, dance, art and cultural exchange. These video clips have a total playing time = 11:58 mm:ss. This FREE DOWNLOAD includes 2 QUICKTIME VIDEO FILES - one of the Camagüey folkloric group RUMBATÁ performing a song titled "Que Mal Te Portaste" and the other is a concert at la E.N.A. (National School of the Arts) by world famous timba group Pupy y los que Son Son.

Here are the trailers for the full song videos (aquí les va las muestras de los video clips de las canciones completas).

 click here to visit the free download page Download free PlazaCUBA videos

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Tickets to Pupy's first show in San Francisco available here. Handheld recording will be allowed at this show! Oprima aquí para boletos para Pupy en San Francisco. Se permitirán grabadoras de mano en este show.

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Download free PlazaCUBA videos  oprima aquí para visitar la página de la descarga gratis

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Fri, 28 May 2010 19:01:59 +0000
Mezcla in the Bay Area

My Cuban landlord Pablo Menéndez returns to California with his full Cuban band, featuring Octavio Rodríguez, for the first time since the dark ages of the Bush Administration. You can pay homage at:

Kuumbwa Jazz Center - Santa Cruz - TONIGHT - Monday, May 24

Yoshi's Oakland - Thursday, May 27

Click "Continue Reading La Última" for more photos by Tom Ehrlich

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Mon, 24 May 2010 02:16:39 +0000
Tours Things are happening quickly right now and there are new dates being added almost daily, so I recommend that you keep checking the tour pages for Manolito y Su Trabuco and Pupy y Los Que Son Son because all the dates we have are listed there. I know there are still dates more concert dates on the way as soon as they are confirmed. The most recent additions are:

Manolito in ArlingtonPupy y Los Que Son Son 
June 20, 2010 - New York City, NY - S.O.B.s 
June 22, 2010 - Boston, MA. - Wilbur Theater

Manolito y Su Trabuco
 
May 29, 2010 - Arlington, VA - Yorktown Bistro

We are also beginning to get in tour dates for Europe Summer 2010 so start checking the Tours Section to plan your summer vacation.

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Sun, 23 May 2010 04:18:38 +0000
Learn To Play Timba in Toronto, Canada Cuban Percussion School - Mario "Mayiot"Del Monte - Toronto, CanadaA very talented musical family in Toronto, Canada offers Cuban music instruction for both adults and children. The CUBAN PERCUSSION SCHOOL is located at 11 Weston Road, Toronto, Canada M6N 5H2. To reach them, call +1.416.554.9276, or email mayitodelmonte [at] rogers [dot] com.

Led by Mario "Mayito" del Monte, the school provides private and group lessons a swell as workshops with Jose Luis "Changuito Quintana", Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez and Amadito Valdés (of Buenavista Social Club fame). Mayito began playing professionally as a trumpet player to please his father, Mario del Monte, the director and trumpet lead of la Orquesta Riverside. Later Mayito has played percussion alongside some of the greatest Latin musicians of the century….Ignacio Berroa, Alex Acuña, Miguel Angá, Oscar de León and joined the puertorican superstar José Feliciano on many of his recordings and tours. Mayito also led his own group, Latin Street, and has traveled internationally hosting percussion clinics. His many other performance credits include NG la Banda, Issac Delgado, Anga, Conjunto Roberto Faz, Changuito, la Orquesta Riverside, the Tropicana Cabaret Oruqestra and Los Barba. His daughter, known artistically as Glenda del E, is an accomplished pianist and composer.

Update = Silvio has secured his visa and his shows are highly anticipated. Here's a new video:

Update = this Combinación de la Habana video is TIGHT. Un abrazo para Gersón y compañía.... están echando candela. Quémala.

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Thu, 20 May 2010 07:41:28 +0000
Pupy's Tour Things are happening quickly now. Pupy y Los Que Son Son are already set up for 10 concerts that I know of and more and more keep being added. The most recent addition to the tour list is June 19, 2010 - Arlington, VA. - The Salsa Room Don't miss out on this historic first tour! Find a concert near you or you'll be kicking yourself later. If you know of a concert not on our list send me an e-mail .

Pupy y Los Que Son Son in Arlington VA

UPDATE: I added two more dates, June 3 in Tampa at Whiskey North and June 5 at Aché in Miami. Stay tuned as the updates keep coming in.

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Tue, 18 May 2010 15:40:00 +0000
Tom Ehrlich's Manolito Fotos

Manolito y su Trabuco will be in New York at SOBs on Thursday (May 20) and in Chicago at 6:00 p.m. at Park West on Friday (May 21). Support Timba in La Yuma!

And click here for Tom Ehrlich's gallery from last week's show in San Francisco.

Meanwhile, the Pupy Pedroso tour is looking solid, with:

June 11 - Los Angeles - Sportsmen's Lodge
June 12 - San Francisco - Cócomo
June 14 & 15 - San Francisco - Yoshi's
June 16, 17, & 18 - Oakland - Yoshi's

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Mon, 17 May 2010 20:52:54 +0000
Winners Cubadisco 2010 Arrasando by Los Van Van Another Cubadisco has come and gone and the big winners in the categories of greatest interest to Timba fans were Juan Formell & Los Van Van and  Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera. The list of nominees was impressive. In addition to Van Van and Havana D'Primera were La Charanga Habanera for "No mires la carátula", Arnaldo y su Talismán for "Mango" and Sixto Llorentes' debut solo album "Lo que sucede conviene"  Son del Indio. Still, I knew Van Van would win. The smooth production of "Arrasando" was bound to catch the judges' ears.  Indeed "Arrasando"  also won for Best Recording.

The Traditional Music category was won by Pancho Amat y su Cabildo del Son for "Yo traigo un son", also a double-winner taking the Anthology category.

Closest to my own heart is the winner of the Ópera Prima category (first work). Havana D'Primera's "Haciendo Historia" was my personal favorite from 2009 so I am happy that the judges saw fit to award Los Primeros with the Best First Work award. The band has taken Havana and now the world by storm with their combination of poetic lyrics and serious timba. And on stage there is no harder working singer than Alexander Abreu who gives everything at each performance as if it were his last.

In honor of their award, Patrick Bonnard has shared a few of his pictures from the "Haciendo Historia" tour 2009/2010. Click here or on the picture below to see more.  The complete gallery is at Patrick's website .

Alexander Abreu by Patrick Bonnard Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera - winners Ópera Prima Cubadisco 2010
Photo ©Patrick Bonnard
used by permission

Congratulations to all the Cubadisco winners and hasta la próxima .

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Mon, 17 May 2010 08:39:14 +0000
A Time for Love A time for love - Arturo Sandoval There is said to be a time for all things under Heaven and in Miami it is "A Time for Love". Artemiseño Arturo Sandoval was a founding member of Irakere, the group that originally brought us the concept of the bomba gear. After moving to the US he has played mainly classical music and jazz where he has excelled and been awarded 4 Grammys and 6 Billboard awards.

Arguably the best trumpet player in the world, he may primarily be known to laymen for his ability to hit impossibly high notes, but this is just the icing on the cake. Sandoval coaxes the richest tones from both his trumpet and flugelhorn. His playing covers a full emotional range from delicate and sensitive to frenzied passion.

The new album "A Time for Love" was released on May 11th and can be ordered from Amazon. I have only heard one song so far but the album is described as follows: "The album features classical compositions for orchestra and jazz trio by Grammy-winning arranger Jorge Calandrelli along with a sprinkling of American jazz standards by composers including Gershwin and Chaplin.  Also featured on the album are Chris Botti, Monica Mancini, Shelly Berg, and Kenny Barron. "

Here is a sample you can listen to and enjoy yourselves: Paven pour une infante defunte . It features guest artist trumpeter Chris Botti.

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Sun, 16 May 2010 08:47:47 +0000
Dos 4 y Los Míos - Tuesday at Yoshi's Leyder Chapman's Dos 4 y Los Míos is primarily a reguetón group but it's a reguetón group with live timba musicians, and several of the very best live timba musicians in the Bay Area, including Colin Douglas on drums and Jason Möen on piano. DJ Walt Digz is also in the band, so  if you're looking for an excuse to warm up to reguetón before it takes its rightful place beside Disco in the music history books, this is the gig.

Dos 4 y Los Míos - Yoshi's - San Francisco - Tuesday, May 18

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Sat, 15 May 2010 23:54:43 +0000
The Peter Maiden "Manolito" Photo Gallery is up! Click here to visit the photo gallery  -  Oprima aquí para ver las fotos

Manolito y su Trabuco @ Café Cócomo in San Francisco

On February 26, 1993, after spending at least six years as musical director of Maravilla de Florida, pianist Manolito Simonet departed along with most of the group's members, added a horn section, synthesizer and kick drum, and started playing timba under the name Manolito y su Trabuco.

El Trabuco is one of the largest timba bands - a "super-charangón" if you will - with violin, cello, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, flute, and synthesizer in addition to the standard piano, bass, drums, congas and güiro.

Manolito is one of Cuba's most meticulous and prolific arrangers, making excellent use of the vast timbral resources at his disposal and frequently finding time to produce side projects such as his recent Tributo a Lilí Martínez. As of 2009, the group has released 8 studio albums, toured the world countless times, and risen to the top tier of the Havana club scene.

El Trabuco other main composer is singer Ricardo Amaray whose R&B influences are perfectly balanced by Simonet's encylopedic mastery of all the traditional forms of Cuban music.

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Fri, 14 May 2010 02:45:38 +0000
PUPY y los que Son Son confirmed for LA & SF Even though Los Van Van has been postponed you will get your major fix with César "Pupy" Pedroso's powerhouse band "Los Que Son Son". Pupy will play the same venues Albert Torres hooked up for Manolito: the Sportmen's Lodge in Los Angeles and Café Cócomo in San Francisco. Click on the venue text for links to the ticket pages or call 310-445-9705.

Pupy will blow you away....read a concert report from Michelle La Timbera Mayor....click here.

Pupy y los que Son Son tix Los AngelesPupy y los que Son Son tix San Francisco

César "Pupy" Pedroso (aka, "Pupi Pedroso") is one of the key figures not only in Timba, but in the last 40 years of Cuban pop music. As well as being one Cuba's best and most prolific composers, he played a seminal role in revolutionizing the art of salsa piano playing.

He started with Orquesta Revé and then became a founding member of Los Van Van. In the summer of 2001, he left to form his own group, "Pupy y Los Que Son Son", which has now released four of the best CD's of the decade.  

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Thu, 13 May 2010 06:03:45 +0000
Manolito Fotos - Maraca Video - News Tom Ehrlich's Foto del Día gallery is up and full galleries are on their way from both Tom and Peter Maiden. You can hear Manolito in Miami on the 14th (this Friday at Kaffé Kristal) and on the 20th at SOB's in NYC. There have also been unconfirmed rumors about shows in Chicago and conceivably Detroit.

Also, Pupy Pedroso has apparently cleared the visa hurdle and will follow Manolito's pattern of back to back shows in LA (June 11 - Sportsmen's Lodge) and SF (June 12 - Café Cócomo).

Meanwhile, Maraca has put together what may be his most aggressively timbafied band to date with El Nene on vocals and a great new pianist named Andy Rubal. Check it out:

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Wed, 12 May 2010 00:50:36 +0000
Francisco Aguabella que en paz descanse Latin percussionist Francisco Aguabella

A true percussion master and music celebrity Francisco Aguabella passed away yesterday in Los Angeles after a battle with cancer. Aguabella emigrated from Cuba in the 1950's and played with jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie and Tito Puente. Later he broke into celebrity status by playing with Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Paul Simon, Santana and the Doors. 

From his distinct, clear, sharp tone to his enigmatic, quinto-driven phrasing, Francisco, though a staple of the New York scene for many decades, never left Havana. Producer Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez, a Latin jazz headliner himself, managed to capture the raw, no-frills energy of Aguabella's style on Francisco's album H2O beautifully. Sonically, the record has the closeness and intensity of first-row seats in a small, smoky club. 

Francisco is a recipient of awards such as the National Heritage Fellowship of the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and received a fellowship for the Durfee Foundation. Rest in peace.

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Tue, 11 May 2010 13:07:49 +0000
ATTENTION LOS ANGELES - Silvio Rodríguez Ticket Pre-Sales A special announcement for Cuban music lovers in Los Angeles! Get first dibs at tickets for Silvio Rodríguez at the Gibson Amphitheater June 17 BEFORE they open sales to the general public. Un boletín especial para los amantes de la música cubana de Los Angeles. Esta es una oportunidad de comparar boletoes para el concierto de Silvio Rodríguez ANTES de que se ofrezcan a la venta al público general. The Gibson Amphitheater is located at CityWalk in Universal City, CA. Doors open at 8pm.

Click here. Online only ticket pre-sales available now. Oprima aquí. 
for more info call - 408.241.0000 - llame para más información

IMPORTANT = When you get to the special ticketmaster page use the word "tango" in the left hand box titled TANGO PRESALE. Cuando veas la página especial de ticketmaster pones la palabra "tango" en la cajita (a mano izquierda) que dice TANGO PRESALE. 

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Mon, 10 May 2010 18:20:54 +0000
Manolito in SF photo by Peter Maiden

Manolito y su Trabuco at Cócomo was the most fun I've had since 2001. Click CONTINUE READING LA ÚLTIMA for my review, more photos, news, and - most importantly - to add your own reviews in the comments section.

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Sun, 09 May 2010 16:41:57 +0000
Manolito revuelca a Los Angeles con tremendo bandón de 15 músicos El pianista y director Manolito Simonet arrasando en Los Angeles con su tremenda orquesta "El Trabuco" de quince (15) músicos: un violín, una fluata, un chelo, un sintetizador, dos trompetas, dos trombones, guiro, piano, bajo, batería y tres cantantes. Entre los canatantes principales están Ricardo Amaray, El Noro y Lázaro "Mayami" Alejandro Díaz.

Esta noche en el Café Cócomo de San Francisco hay boletos disponibles en la puerta.

MANOLITO Y SU TRABUCO - EN VIVO - DIRECTO DE CUBA
Mayo 8 2010 - Puertas abren a las 8pm
Café Cócomo - (415) 824-6910
@ Mariposa and 19th St., near hwy 280
650 Indiana St., San Francisco, CA 94107

Manolito y su Trabuco en Los Angeles

Manolito y su Trabuco en Los Angeles

Manolito y su Trabuco en Los Angeles

Fotos por David González reportando desde Los Angeles

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Sat, 08 May 2010 21:53:00 +0000
MANOLITO y SU TRABUCO ACABÓ EN LOS ANGELES! May 8, 2010 3:43 AM:  MANOLITO y SU TRABUCO ACABÓ EN LOS ANGELES! SAN FRANCISCO YOU'RE IN FOR A TREAT!  Just came back from the Sportsmen's Lodge that was filled to capacity tonight for the TRABUCO's first concert on their U.S. Tour 2010!  Before hitting the sack I wanted to let you know that it was a great night in L.A. and the concert-goers were thrilled with the group's energy and musicianship....... click here to read more from Kay Torres "Curuyé in LA"

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Sat, 08 May 2010 14:44:28 +0000
Pupy y los que Son Son to replace Los Van Van Yesterday morning TIMBA.com received this official press release notifying us that the Los Van Van tour has been postponed. We then waited 24 hours in order to confirm that some of the Los Van Van dates will be played by, ironically enough, ex-Van Van pianist César "Pupy" Pedroso and his orchestra Los Que Son Son. Please call your venues to confirm if your tickets are still valid. Again, Pupy y los que Son Son to replace Los Van Van at Yoshi's SF and possibly other show dates.

Yoshi's SF also reports that Elio Revé and his Orquesta Revé is slated to perform at Yoshi's SF July 29 through August 1.


Press Release from Monterey International - Thu, May 6, 2010 at 11:06 AM

LOS VAN VAN TOUR POSTPONED 

The coordinators of the tour of Los Van Van regret to announce that, due to an unresolved business matter between the group and a third party and circumstances beyond their control, the U.S. tour of Los Van Van must be postponed.  This decision had nothing to do with U.S.-Cuba relations or any visa issues. Their I-129 visa petitions were approved.  

We hope to bring Los Van Van to the United States soon after resolution of the factors that prevented us from realizing this tour at this time.  

For more information, please call Bill Martinez, (415) 974-6485, bill@billmartinez.com 

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Fri, 07 May 2010 13:20:32 +0000
Havana D'Primera viene a sofocarte I know it has been more than 1 month since the concert and I have to apologize for my tardiness, but better late than never. I have finally posted my report from the Havana D'Primera concert in Stockholm March 25th. As could be expected the concert hall was full with a  mix of world music fans, timberos and salseros. There were representatives from all the local timba bands as well as dancers such as Chiqui Dixon. I met three Colombians who were visiting from Rome and came to the concert as well as a woman from Puerto Rico. I suspect she didn't come all the way to Sweden just to see Havana D'Primera, but you never know...Click here to read the report including 3 video clips from the concert.

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Mon, 03 May 2010 10:33:28 +0000
Last Chance to Buy Manolito Tickets Online Avoid missing out on these great concerts. Online ticket sales end Tuesday, MAY 4. 

Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco replace La Charanga Habanera on their USA tour May 7 @ Sportsmen's Lounge in Los Angeles and May 8 at Café Cócomo in San Francisco. These concerts are presented by Albert Torres and he confirms that Manolito is already here in the USA (but we already knew that as reported by La Timbera Mayor Michelle White). All other concerts by this artist announced in SF by other venues have been cancelled. All tickets purchased for the Charanga Habanera concerts will be honored. 

For May 7 tickets at The Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City (Los Angeles) click HERE.
For directions call 818-755-5000 or for ticket info call 310-445-9705.

For May 8 tickets at Café Cócomo in San Francisco click HERE.
For directions call 415-305-9265 or for ticket info call 310-445-9705.

Manolito y su Trabuco USA West Coast Tour


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Mon, 03 May 2010 03:03:47 +0000
Manolito in Da House! Manolito Simonet by Cristian MuñozPhoto courtsey of Cristian Muñoz

Great news from, Miami. Manolito y Su Trabuco have arrived in the US. With all the changes to the concert schedule I only know of 3 concerts. The first two are May 7 & 8 in LA and San Francisco, respectively and the third is May 14 in Miami. I hope they set up a few more because the people of the United States have a right to More Trabuco! If you know about any concert that is missing from out list please send me an e-mail.

Update: Make that 4 concerts. I found one for May 20th at SOBs. But according to Mirco's information at TimbaPorSiempre, Manolito said that they will be playing in 14 states, so we must be missing a lot of dates!

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Sat, 01 May 2010 05:28:30 +0000
Silvio Rodríguez to play Carnegie Hall in New York Sivio Rodríguez Carnegie Hall June 4A leader of the "nueva trova" movement, Cuban folk singer Silvio Rodríguez Domínguez will perform at the Stern Auditorium (Perelman Stage) in Carnegie Hall in New York City on Friday, June 4, 2010 at 8 PM. 

He is considered Cuba's best known folk artist and known for his highly eloquent and symbolic lyrics. Many of his songs have become classics in Latin American music, such as Ojalá (video here), Playa Girón, Unicornio and La maza. His lyrics are notably introspective. His songs combine romanticism, love (even eroticism), revolutionary politics, and idealism. He has released nearly 20 albums. --source: wikipedia



Presentado por Fuego Entertainment en colaboración con CBDG. For tickets go to www.carnegiehall.org  or call 212-247-7800.


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Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:32:17 +0000
Meanwhile on the European Concert Scene Things seem pretty turbulent on the US timba tours scene for the moemnt, or at least over no the west coast. The Miami - New York side might be a little calmer. For the time being I'm not even sure what to update and not update in the Tours section for the US tours, so I'm doing nothing. But for those of us here in Europe, things are moving forward more or less as usual. Here's is what seems to be planned so far...with disclaimer for possible changes (there are always changes) in Europe.

If you're having trouble seeing La Charanga Habanera in California, take a summer vacation to Europe and catch them July 13 -  August 8. Havana D'Primera will be back in Europe from May 29 -  June 29th and they already seem to be scheduled for a concert  at the Musicport Festival in England in October, so I guess they'll be back in the fall. Giraldo Piloto & Klímax will be here from  July 6 - August 7. Monika Mesa will be touring with her Maquina Perfecta from June 27 - August 29. Reggeaton fans can see Los Cuatro (Los salvajes)  during July 22 - August 29th. Stay tuned for more updates as they become available.

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Thu, 29 Apr 2010 08:43:13 +0000
Latest California Shakeups It's really frustrating to be a timba fan in California ...

Here's the latest:

1) No Charanga Habanera - May 7 in LA (Sportsmen's Lodge) and May 8 in SF (Cócomo) are both cancelled.

2) Manolito y su Trabuco - who have their visas in hand will play BOTH of those gigs. If you have tickets, you can either use them to see Trabuco or get a refund at the point of purchase.

3) Yoshi's has cancelled Manolito for May 5 and May 6

On a more positive note I strongly agree with Michelle on those Revé tracks - the rhythm section sounds measurably hotter than Fresquecito, which was easily one of the best albums of the 2000s.

Also, the Ned Sublette Lecture at MoAD in SF is still on for Thursday night, April 29.

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Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:41:42 +0000
The New Revé Elito Revé by Cristian MunozWow! I just got my first listen to the title track from the new CD "De que estamos hablando". Now you all know that I'm a big Revé fan, and I am always confident that they will release quality songs. I knew the CD would be good, but this is blowing me away! So far I've only heard part of Chichi and the full tracks of the remake of "La boda en bicicleta", "Agua pa' Yemayá" and "De que estamos hablando", but I tell you my fellow charangoneros, this is hard core timba as only changüí can be.

I still haven't figured out what it is that gives changüí that extra kick, but I tell you this is absolutely impossible to resist. I was going to say that you'd have to be dead not to dance to these songs, but to be honest I'm pretty sure this will even get los muertos on their feet. I'm not exaggerating! This CD cannot get into my CD player soon enough!



Elito Revé photo Cristian Muñoz

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Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:39:59 +0000
Maraca Update We have updated Orlando "Maraca" Valle's tour section. As usual Maraca's schedule is rapidly filling up so if you want to book you should get in touch with Celine soon. Fans, take a look at the schedule and find a concert near you.

Maraca by Tom Ehrlich

The band has some exciting additions this year. While young soneros seem to be an endangered species, Maraca has added both Alexei Sánchez "El Nene", and Lester Ciarreta to the group. You know Alexei "El Nene" from Azúcar Negra and Elito Revé, where he both composed and sang several of the hits on the "Se sigue comentando" CD. When El Nene left Azúcar Negra it was actually Lester Ciarretta who filled his place, moving over from Salsa Mayor. Well now both these young sonero/timberos are together in one band under the leadership of one of the most sucessful young bandleaders in Cuba today. French DJ Jack El Calvo informs us that Maraca even has other new musicians including a new trumpet player, from Klímax. Stay tuned for video of the new Maraca line-up!

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Sat, 24 Apr 2010 17:30:39 +0000
Two More Van Van Shows in CA Yoshi's Oakland - Friday, June 18    ***  June 19-20 Sierra Nevada World Music Festival

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Thu, 22 Apr 2010 01:39:57 +0000
Welcome CMP! New to our Schools/Escuela section is Don Skoog's Contemporary Music Project. Don, a top Chicago percussionist, was a veteran of the Cuban music scene before timba.com came along. In fact, Don was one of the tour guides  on the fateful two-week Caribbean Music & Dance trip that led directly -- and immediately -- to the loss of my sanity and the founding of this website.

For some reason, a lot of books which having been being written for decades are all coming out at once this year and "Batá Drumming" is one of the absolute highlights. It's a gorgeous, glossy, hardcover coffee table book with color photos and a meticulous history of batá drumming ... and then the real fun begins with a beautiful and detailed transcription of the Oru Seco. It's easy to read, very methodical, and best of all, Don takes on the toughest aspect of the batá subject -- the extreme differences between the many styles of batá drumming in Cuba. Instead of beating his head against the wall in frustration, he embraces the differences and sets out to explain just how it turned out this way and how they all stem, ultimately, from a common source. As comprehensive as the 202 page masterpiece is, it's only the beginning of what Skoog has planned, and batá is only one aspect of his school's activities. They also take students on regular trips to Mexico to study with Havana masters such as Roberto Vizcaíno.

As with all of our sections, you can see when CMP has been updated by looking under "New Stuff/Lo Nuevo" to the right of the post, or you can access the site directly by typing timba.com/schools/cmp.

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Thu, 22 Apr 2010 01:31:15 +0000
Welcome Curuyé in LA Welcome to Kay Torres of Curuyé in LA! Curuyé in LA can be found under Reports above, or better yet, just look under New Stuff/Lo Nuevo, directly to the right. Whenever there's an update to any of our reports it will show up there. You can also simply type timba.com/reports/la into any browser for the latest Cuban events in SoCal.

The LA scene is really picking up, with Charanga Habanera, Van Van, Rumbanquete, and others scheduled in the next couple months.

Our goal is to eventually have a section like this for every city, so it's a great step forward to finally have Los Angeles covered.

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Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:25:59 +0000
California Concert Status Report With the usual caveats, here's the current prognosis for timba in California:

DATES BAND VENUE STATUS
April 23 Film Screening
Charanga Habanera
link almost
certain
May 5-6 Manolito y su Trabuco
Yoshi's SF looks good
I have tickets
May 7 Charanga Habanera Sportsmen's Lodge they say
it's on
May 8 Charanga Habanera Café Cócomo only ad I've
found

June 14-15 Los Van Van Yoshi's SF looks good
I have tickets
June 16-17 Los Van Van Yoshi's Oakland looks good
I have tickets

More Dates

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Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:10:34 +0000
Controversial video of ex-Manolito singer Rosendo "El Gallo" Díaz surfaces Disclaimer : TIMBA.com does not endorse any religious views whatsoever, we are only reporting what Mr. Díaz has himself narrated in this video.

In this controversial 8 minute video narrated by Rosendo "El Gallo" Díaz himself, this ex-Manolito y su Trabuco & Orquesta Revé lead vocalist describes the loss of his voice, all the unsuccesful treatments performed by IFA Yoruba priests that followed, and his full recuperation triggered by his new religious beliefs. 

The player will show in this paragraph

Press play then pause to allow for the video to load.
Oprima aquí para leer el reportaje en español. 

El Gallo is also in the news with a new release by Proyecto Sonidos de Júbilo -a Timba and Son collective. Rosendo, along with vocalist Andy Marcos of Monte de Sión, deliver very powerful vocal performances on this new album. Led by trumpeter David Eduardo Ríos, Sonidos de Júbilo is a unique musical project that unites the forces of sacred music and contemporary Cuban dance music (Timba). Sonidos de Júbilo has incorporated traditional Spanish Baptist hymns and orchestrated them with a modern big band tropical sound. Along with Rosendo and Andy, the album features performances by Cuban musicians Alberto Salas (piano) and Yuri Pérez (saxophone). This digital release also includes two (2) Rosendo "El Gallo" Díaz music videos. Total playing time = 36:16 mm:ss.

Proyecto Sonidos de Júbilo

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Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:32:11 +0000
Tour Updates I have updated the tours section with more dates for Tirso Duarte and El Indio who are currently touring Europe. Among other dates, they will be playing at the SalsaMistad Festival in Paris on May 22nd. On May 21st Donald Flores will provide the dance music for the party.

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Fri, 16 Apr 2010 05:56:55 +0000
CORRECTION: Alll right - this is getting really ridiculous, but I do have some tentative good news for a change. It turns out that only the San Francisco parts of the Revé and Charanga Habana tours have been cancelled/

Currently Confirmed Charanga Habanera dates

Currently Confirmed Revé dates

ADDITIONALLY:

Sportsmen's Lodge in Los Angeles is advertising Charanga Habanera for May 7

From this point I will only report concerts in the United States as being "advertised".

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Mon, 05 Apr 2010 02:26:33 +0000
International Timba Month 2010! Timberos around the world, it's time again for us to spend a month celebrating some important Timba anniversaries. First up is the anniversary of NG La Banda on April 4. Formed in 1988 they took the base built by Irakere and developed much of what are the standard features of timba as we know it today. If you are new to timba do youself a favor and check it some classic NG La Banda. It is timeless!

NG La Banda - Santa Palabra complete with choreography

Next up is Azúcar Negra which will celebrate 12 years on April 8th. Leonel Limonta is unquestionably one of the great composers of the timba era having penned some of the best songs ever written from a woman's point of view. Here are a few of my personal favorites: Andar andando, Se acabó la rabia, Yo no me parezco a nadie, Vengo de estreno, Con un canto en el pecho, Te traicionó el subconciente...well I could go on but just take my word for it and go buy one or two of their CDs. They will be back in the US in June for their first tour in 10 years!

La Palabra from Toque Natural

Also celebrating an anniversary in April is Klímax under the direction of Giraldo Piloto winner of the Best Timba Drummer Award and director of the annual Fiesta del Tambor which just took place in March.  The arrangements are a thing of beauty on so many levels. People often talk about their complexity but don't let that scare you off. They are highly danceable tunes, and Piloto is one of few who has been able to successfully and tastefully inject reggaeton into his timba arrangements, in my opinion.

Classic Klímax - Consejo a una amiga

So how to best celebrate International Timba Month (ITM)? In Copenhagen tonight the fans are celebrating with a concert by Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor. They played here in Stockholm last night on ITM-eve and we got to hear 5 of the songs that will be on the new album "Esta que te hala". They are all great so get ready for another dose of Los Mayores. In Toronto you can celebrate ITM with La Charanga Habanera and El Chacal on April 10th. In the US Orquesta Revé will be touring giving many Yumas their first look at this band en vivo! Havana D'Primera continue amazing the European audiences in April but will even make it over to Mexico before ITM comes to an end for two concerts at Mama Rumba in Mexico City. Poland will celebrate with two major Cuban festivals the final weekend of April.

If you don't have any concerts of congresos nearby and can't afford to take a timba trip, why not just invite a handful of casineros over to dance and celebrate this fantastic music.

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Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:53:14 +0000
Muñequitos de Matanzas Rumba fans, we got a couple of last minute concert dates for Muñequitos de Matanzas. Tomorrow they play in Poznan, Poland and on Sunday they will be in Berlin. Click here for the tour schedule and please send me an e-mail if you know of any other dates we are missing.

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Sat, 27 Mar 2010 17:17:49 +0000
Havana D'Primera at Mama Rumba Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera

Alexander Abreu & Havana D'Primera continue blowing the minds of their European fans. Last night was their first ever concert in Sweden and as always they gave 110% playing non-stop for over two hours. Tonight they play in Copenhagen before returning to France and Italy to complete their European tour. But they won't be getting much rest. They will play two shows in Mexico City on April 23 and 24th at Mama Rumba. Don't miss them!

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Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:38:52 +0000
Poland's Timba Spring Well in the Spring it never rains but it pours and this is definitely the case in Poland. I know that for timberos in Poland it sometimes seems like an uphill battle spreading the good news of timba and casino, but their hard work is bearing fruit. This Spring there are two Cuban dance congresses including live timba bands. Unfortunately they happen to take place the same weekend! Now that's just not fair! Cubamemucho will be in Warsaw from Friday April 30 - Sunday May 2, while Krokow hosts the Festival Cubana from Friday April 30 - Monday May 3. While I am thrilled to see that Poland is host to two major Cuban congresos, my heart goes out to the timberos who have to choose which event they will attend. And imagine this, Yanek will be at the Cuban Festival while Diana goes to Cubamemucho and both congresos will have an El Indio singing.

Sixto Llorente El Indio

Sixto Llorente El Indio                                                                                               Angá El Indio

Fortunately which ever event you decide to attend you will be getting excellent dance instructors and great music. In Warsaw you get Angá better known as El Indio from Orquesta Revé and Rei Ceballo & Calle Sol on April 30th, Calle Real on May 1 and a rumba party on May 2. In Krakow you get Tirso Duarte and Sixto Llorente El Indio on April 30, Pedrito Calvo Jr. & Leo D on May 1, and José Torres y Salsa Tropical and Calle Real on May 3.

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Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:34:45 +0000
Havana D'Primera - El palo más duro Finally the people of Sweden will get to experience the ecstasy that comes from seeing Havana D'Primera live. I have always loved their music, but I remember when Gabriel from Yemaya's Verse first saw them in Havana and went wild, raving like a lunatic about how great they are. I mean, sure I knew that this collection of musicians must be great, but still...she seemed to be a little overly dramatic.

Then it happened. I saw them live in Copenhagen in 2009 and I became a believer too. There is something special that happens at a Havana D'Primera concert. Alexander connects with his audience in a way that has to be experienced to be understood. And this Thursday March 25th, in a concert at Södra Teaterns Kägelbanan, Sweden will finally understand too. Check their tour schedule for the nearest concert. It will make a believer of you.

Estreno...El palo más duro

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Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:19:48 +0000
Van Van in Stuttgart Timba photographer Tom Bauer has shared some more excellent photos with us, this time from Los Van Van in Stuttgart, 7 March 2010. In fact there are 65 pictures from the concert, so I decided to do something a little different. I created a main page with a variety of pictures from the evening and then subpages for the singers and musician sections. If you aren't familiar yet with the new subpage feature, when you go to the main page you will see a Table of Contents to the right of the center frame. You can use this to jump directly to any of the subpages or you can use the Previous/Next buttons at the bottom of each page to navigate between subpages.

Tom was at both the Stuttgart and the Erlangen concerts and says that they did the standard Arrasando Tour playlist, opening with "Arrasando" and closing with "Te pone la cabeza mala". Both concerts were attended by over 800 people. Juan Formell is not on this tour, but bassist Pavel Molina does an excellent job. I just have to say that I love the dress that Yeni wore in Stuttgart!

And before I give you the link to the first set of Stuttgart pictures I thought we'd play a little game: Name That Van Vanero! using three pictures from Tom's collection. It shouldn't be too challenging for Van Van fans, but try to answer who's who before looking at the picture gallery.


Whose feet?                                Whose hands?                          Whose hands?

When you have answered the questions you can go check out the Van Van in Stuttgart picture gallery and see if you got the answer right.

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Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:55:46 +0000
Pepito in Oakland - Friday Night Pupy alumnus Pepito Gómez makes his third trip to the Bay Area tomorrow (Friday) night at Club Antón, right around the corner from Yoshi's in Oakland's Jack London Square district.

Pepito not only sang with Pupy, but wrote some of his best songs, including Un poquito al revés, containing the title coro of Pupy's epic Tranquilo que yo controlo, one of the best albums of recent years. As always, the lovely and talented Ariacne Trujillo will be the pianist and musical director and  this time the rhythm section will consist of Bay Area monsters Carlos Caro and Jesús Díaz. Between sets, it will be Walt Digz, a fabulous timba DJ who always embarrasses me by playing some absolutely brilliant track that I haven't heard, forcing me to sheepishly ask what it is. Let's try to sell this thing out so we can keep shows like this coming! Click here for advance tickets.

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Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:22:39 +0000
First Rumbankete Widescreen Video Rumbankete "Viene" - Widescreen Cuban Music Video

Click here to see the widescreen video - Oprima aquí para ver el video (alta resolución)

RUMBANKETE @ Yoshi's Oakland - Open Dance Floor - Thursday, February 11 2010 
13-piece All Star contemporary Cuban music (Timba) orchestra from Los Angeles
Presenting Sponsor: CUBAVERA® (a subsidiary of Perry Ellis International)
Associate Sponsor: e.K. Clothing (salsa dresses & dancewear) 

Led by master trombonist & arranger Denis Jirón RUMBANKETE reigns supreme in the greater Los Angeles area. This new group is the only musical force currently performing contemporary Cuban dance music (timba). The band plays in various formats but prefers to perform with its full 14 piece line-up. Its front line includes singers Gonzálo "Chalo" Chomat (ex Conexión Salsera) and Iris Sandra Cepeda (ex Arte Mixto), both consummate musicians from Cuba who have made LA their home.

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Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:44:35 +0000
Chichi Prefers a Mitsubishi I assume that everyone follows Mirco's TimbaPorSiempre blog, but if you are new to timba, maybe you haven't discovered it yet. Mirco has great contacts for getting the latest music. Of course he has  a couple of clips to give you an idea of what the new Revé CD "De Qué Estamos Hablando" will be like. He also posted the complete track listing for the new CD. So click here if you haven't had a chance to sample the new Revé songs. And let me tell you right now, if you drive a Chevrolet, you don't stand much of a chance with Chichi.

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Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:41:02 +0000
Done! The first 8 volumes, already available in eBook and digital, and now also online in hard-copy.

Click Here for Hard-copy of V5
Click Here for Hard-copy of V8
Click Here for a master list with all links to all volumes

That's it for a while - I'm going to work on the Beyond Salsa Percussion series and go see some timba concerts!! Volume 9 on Melón will come later this year and be followed by volumes on many other great timba pianists.

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Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:04:59 +0000
New Los Van Van U.S.A. Tour Dates Los Van Van USA Tour

USA Timberos & Timberas alert! Preparense que viene Van Van. Mi gente aquí les presento las primeras fechas de la giras del verano:

June 6  - Sun - NEW YORK - Summerstage
June 7 - Mon - NEW YORK - S.O.B's

June 9 - Wed - DENVER - venue TBD* (check for upadates)

June 11 - Fri - ALBUQUERQUE - Alburquerque Museum Amphitheater

June 12 - Sat - LOS ANGELES - Hollywood Bowl

June 13 - Sun - SAN DIEGO - Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay

June 14 - Mon - SAN FRANCISCO - Yoshi's
June 15 - Tues - SAN FRANCISCO - Yoshi's

June 16 - Wed - OAKLAND - Yoshi's
June 17 - Thurs - OAKLAND - Yoshi's

June 19 - Sat - BOONVILLE - California Sierra Nevada World Music Festival

*the Yoshi's SF dates replace the Stern Grove show. LVV will not play Stern Grove.

*for promoter inquiries please contact Mr. Paul Goldman of Monterey International

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Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:50:19 +0000
Mi amiga Chichi Elito Revé in Stockholm by Karim Ryde Elito Revé y Su Charangón have finished their new album, "De qué estamos hablando" and are promoting the first single. It is a number written and sung by Dagoberto Vazquez called "Mi amiga Chichi" and features Kola Loca as well.

Amazingly the new CD is rumored to surpass their last album "Fresquecito", winner of Best Dance Music CD for 2008 at CubaDisco and Best CD of 2007 at FiestaCubana.net, and I tell you it also won my heart as best CD of the year. So hold on to your hats or whatever you have to hold on to and get ready que La Revé está en la calle otra vez!

And yes, they are still planning a tour of the US at the end of April so stay tuned for the details as they become available.


Elito Revé courtesy of Karim Ryde

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Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:48:25 +0000
No Idea What This Is

If you know the story behind this, please tell us in the Comments section. Si sabes la historia de este video, explícanosla en la sección de comentarios, ok?

Thanks to "Mr. Elana" for the link.

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Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:56:23 +0000
Contrabando Concert Report Contrabando celebrate their new CD with champagneContrabando celebrate the release of "Abriendo Caminos" with champagne

I have finally overcome my technical difficulties and can share with you all the experience of attending the Contrabando release concert for "Abriendo Caminos". It was really a very elaborate event with several different segments culminating in the concert itself. The band was not stingy. They played every song from the new album, with the exception of the bachata version of "Siempre tú". You can already listen to the song "Mentiras" in our Timba.com Radio. I have also included a little live video in the report as well as a post-concert video of the goings-on in the dressing room after the concert. Click here to check it out and get to know the band a little better. Non-Spanish speakers will be happy that I have gone hi-tech and started adding subtitles to the interviews. If you haven't already seen the interview with bandleader "El Paísa" I recommend you take a few minutes to watch it. You will get an idea of what Contraabndo is about. And check out the entire Contrabando section as well.

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Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:41:37 +0000
Adalberto Álvarez Update Adalberto Álvarez by David DoogueMore good new for fans. Adalberto Álvarez is going into the studio on March 15th to begin recording his new CD. I don't know what it will be called, but a CD by Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son is guaranteed to be a must-buy. Adalberto is also working on plans for a US tour. Things aren't confirmed yet, but the current plan is to tour the US before they begin their summer tour of Europe. Stay tuned and we will keep you updated.

Adalberto Álvarez
photo courtsey of David Doogue

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Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:31:14 +0000
Third Melón Book Goes Live Beyond Salsa Piano - The Cuban Timba Piano Revolution - by Kevin Moore - Vol. 8Continuing our survey of one of the great Cuban pianists, Beyond Salsa Piano Volume 8 moves on to Deja que Roberto te toque, Brindando con el alma, and La chica del sol.

The first two go deeper than ever into the  ways that Melón is able to create continuous variations on the same tumbao, while the section on La chica leads to an interesting discussion of salsa versus timba versus Latin jazz.

At this point, the first eight volumes are all available digitally and only Volumes 5 and 8 are straggling behind in hard-copy form. Volume 9 is in the works but before completing that I'm going to start working on Beyond Salsa Percussion.

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Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:42:49 +0000
Second Melón Book Goes Live Beyond Salsa Piano - The Cuban Timba Piano Revolution - by Kevin Moore - Vol. 8Volume 7 of Beyond Salsa Piano analyzes Melón's tumbaos and general style on Por qué paró and Luz viajera, and also includes rhythm play-along tracks.

Meanwhile, Volume 6, whose eBook and audio files have been online for several days, is now also available in hard-copy.

Volume 5 is still only digital. The hard-copy version will go online Wednesday.

Volume 8 is coming very soon.

Meanwhile, I'm shifting my focus to Beyond Salsa Percussion. Stay tuned!

And don't forget - although Pupy has been postponed, his ex-cantante/ex-compositor Pepito Gómez is a definite go for Friday, March 19th at Club Antón in Berkeley (around the corner from Yoshi's).

QUESTION: Have you tried to log in to timba.com to comment and given up in frustration? If so, please email us and let us know.

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Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:12:47 +0000
Pupy in SF CANCELLED Damn ... visas didn't come through in time.

I'm thinking of changing the theme song of La última:

OLD SONG

NEW SONG

There's a "Plan B" in the works, but no dates yet.

Actually ... that's a pretty slick keyboard tumbao, eh?

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Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:40:54 +0000
March in Stockholm Noon at the square by my office in StockholmStockholm is the capital of Sweden. Located at the 59th parallel, just shy of the polar circle it is a city where the days are short in the winter and seem neverending in the summer. Stockholm City is home to almost
830 000 people and the greater metro area houses 2 million. I have to ask myself how did this rather medium sized city tucked away in the remote reaches of northern Europe develop such a thriving Cuban cultural life? We have our ups and downs, but there are always a core goup of Cubans and Swedish Cuban music & dance fans that are working behind the scenes to maintian the club life and the concert life. How is this reflected, you ask? Well take a look at the Cuban dance/music related activities we have going on in March. The list below does not even include the Saturday timba parties at El Benny, the Sunday matinee at Cumbé or Mi Salsa! You will see why I am so spoiled that I can say "if a DJ doesn't play music to my liking I won't come back". I have so much to choose from!

Calendario de Marzo
3/5 Liga Habanera & Dance show & Workshop by Tropicana Stockholm - Club Guantanamera
3/7 Ladies Afro-Cuban dance day (in honor of International Women's Day) - Cumbé
3/12 El Médico de rap Cubaton & Reggaeton + Robertico "Galán" & "Moreno" - Club Guantanamera
3/12 Calle Real at Fasching
3/13 Gilito y Su Clave at Mosebacke by Cuba Nocturna
3/19 DANCE SHOW: Saúl Perez & Diasmanin Silva 22.30 La Rueda de Casino - Club Guantanamera
3/25 Havana D'Primera at Kägelbanan by SELAM
3/26 Raices Afro-Cuban dance & music show - Club Guantanamera
3/31 Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor at Kolingsborg (Slussen)

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Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:23:38 +0000
Mark Levine in Santa Cruz Tonight Mark Levine is one of the most melodic and creative Latin/Brazilian jazz artists in the world. Tonight he's on the Brazilian side, playing a tribute to Moaciar Santos at Kuumbwa Jazz Center. See you there!

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Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:41:26 +0000
First Melón Volume Goes Live! Beyond Salsa Piano - The Cuban Timba Piano Revolution - by Kevin Moore - Vol. 6Volume 6 of Beyond Salsa Piano is the first of four volumes on Iván "Melón" Lewis, the cult-legend timba hero who played piano with Issac Delgado in late-90s.

Volume 6 includes extensive analyses of all the tumbaos of No me mires a los ojos and La vida sin esperanza, along with Melón's history and discography, and a general analysis of his style and the style of the amazing 1997 incarnation of Issac Delgado's band, with Alain Pérez on bass and Pepe Rivero on teclado.

Click here for the eBook and audio files.

Click here for the hard-copy book.

Click here for downloadable preview files. (There are more here.)

Special Note to buyers of Volume 5 - Introduction to Timba: If you didn't receive an email, please check your spam filter. Reader Keith Johnson found a couple nasty errors and provided a very valuable enhancement. All have been integrated into Revision 1.1 and you can update both audio and eBook for free.

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Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:39:46 +0000
PUPY IN SF That's all I know - stay tuned for more details. YOSHI'S WEBSITE

Also, Volume 5 is live.

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Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:48:09 +0000
El Zorro & Angel Bonne Live El Zorro featuring Ángel Bonne

El Zorro has posted a couple of high quality videos from the Aquí Cuba Festival. El Zorro is aguably the most prolific of the European timberos and has produced a stready stream of projects working with many of Cuba's biggest stars. If you are a big Ángel Bonne fan like myself, you will be excited to see these songs performed live. I have added a Video page for El Zorro to timba.com, but the full selection of videos is found at his homepage. Enjoy!

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Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:28:42 +0000
Volume 5 - Timba - Now Available March 1, 2010 Beyond Salsa Piano - The Cuban Timba Piano Revolution Volume 5 - by Kevin MooreThis is the behemoth - the longest of the series - a summary of 11 years of timba obsession.

2010-03-01 Update!
Volume 5 audio and eBook is now available on Lainpulsemusic.com.

Chapter 1: What is Timba?
- well, you guys already know that answer.

Chapter 2: History and Listening Tour
- this picks up where the online book, The Roots of Timba, left off: with Revé's Suave suave, Van Van's Aquí el que baila gana, and of course NG La Banda's En la calle. It tells the stories of all the major bands, highlighting the best material.

Chapter 3: Ten Timba Piano Innovations - here, we isolate the ten important ways that timba piano differs from its predecessors.

Chapter 4: Estudios - these are 32 tumbaos, all on the same chord progression, created to demonstrate the innovations in various combinations.

Chapter 5: Timba Gears - at last, the explanation of why you can learn Paulito's gear system and still be confused about Charanga Habanera - it's the "general theory of timba gears", explaining how everything fits together into one nice, logical, and endlessly creative and flexible combinación perfecta!

Then, after the FAQ and Glossary, we get to the craziest part, the Timba Harmony Appendix, which takes hundreds of timba coros and analyzes their chord progressions in Roman numerals.

After this ... the deluge ... note-for-note Melón transcriptions in large quantities in Volumes 6, 7, 8 and 9. I haven't actually written Volume 9, I have to admit, but 6, 7 and 8 are done and will be out soon, and if anyone can play all the tumbaos in those 3 before I finish Volume 9, you'll be ready for the big time.

Finally - get ready for Beyond Salsa Percussion - that's all I'll say about that for now, but expect something in first half of 2010 (knock on wood).

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Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:11:28 +0000
Official Photos for the Rumbankete Feb 11 Show RUMBANKETE @ Yoshi's Oakland - Open Dance Floor - Thursday, February 11 2010 
13-piece All Star contemporary Cuban music (Timba) orchestra from Los Angeles
Presenting Sponsor: CUBAVERA® (a subsidiary of Perry Ellis International)
Associate Sponsor: e.K. Clothing (salsa dresses & dancewear) 
Event Produced by Michael Lazarus

Click here for the high resolution gallery - Oprima aquí para ver fotos en alta resolución

 Rumbankete Feb 11 - Official PhotosRumbankete takes a bow after a great show at Yoshi's Oakland !

 Rumbankete Feb 11 - Official PhotosRumbankete looking good at Yoshi's Oakland !

 Rumbankete Feb 11 - Official PhotosChalo la pone buena  -  dirige Denis Jirón

 Rumbankete Feb 11 - Official PhotosIntroducing the band for the second set

 Rumbankete Feb 11 - Official Photosmuchas gracias e.K. Clothing!

 Rumbankete Feb 11 - Official Photosmuchas gracias C - U - B - A - V - E - R - A !

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Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:50:36 +0000
Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor New CD Maykel Blanco 5th Anniversary I love being the bearer of good news and here is something that will make you happy. Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor are finishing up the recording of their next CD. You have no doubt already heard the single "Pa' cualquiera', which was Yordi's first song after his return to the group. Maykel continues his collaboration with Planet Records, and Bis Music will handle the distribution in Cuba. The CD will contain 11 songs and the band will begin promoting one of the new numbers before they leave for the tour, so that's pretty much now.

Maykel Blanco at the 5th anniversary party of Salsa Mayor

The album won't be released until after they get back from their tour. Currently they are planning on an  April release. So by the time the summer tours begin the fans should all be familiar with the new material. The lucky Cuban audiences are already enjoying the new songs and judging from Mirco's reports about the popularity of the Salsa Mayor concerts in Havana, they are hits. Fortunately Salsa Mayor kick off their March tour of Europe on the 17th in fair Verona, Italy so we don't have to wait for too long to hear the new songs. And the singer line-up has got to be one of the most charismatic around with Pavel "La Figura", Yordi and Yasser. This is going to be a very exciting tour that you don't want to miss!

Yordi / Pavel at the 5th anniversary concert of Salsa MayorPavel "La Figura" and Yordi at the 5th anniversary concert

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Sat, 27 Feb 2010 11:05:42 +0000
Saturday - Free Percussion Clinic with John Santos If you're in the Bay Area, this is a rare opportunity. A free clinic with the great John Santos and Raúl Rekow. We can thank drum manufacturers, LP, Remo and Sabian for making this free to the public.

Saturday, February 27th, 2010 from 4:30 to 6:00 PM
The Jazz School - 2087 Addison Street - Berkeley, CA 94704
FREE
www.jazzschool.com - (510) 845-5373

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Sat, 27 Feb 2010 02:59:10 +0000
2010 European Tours A few people caught my error in my last post where I said that Orquesta Revé would be at Cubamemucho. In fact the band changed their European tour due to their imminent plans for touring the US in the spring (we will post the US tour dates as soon as they are confirmed). Instead Elito and the Charangón will be in Europe for the regular summer tour season. They are already confirmed for a mega-concert on July 13 at Zenith in Paris. How is this for a blockbuster line-up: Oscar D'Leon, Los Van Van and Orquesta Revé all in one night! That's the kind of concert that is worth taking a mini-vacation for.

Thanks to everyone who wrote to me about the error. If you have information about tour dates that we are missing please send me an e-mail. Or if you register here at timba.com you can make comments directly in the blogs as well as participate in the Timba.com Forum and make comments in the Guestbook.

Maykel Blanco y Salsa MayorAs for the final line-up for Cubamemucho Munich it is: March 18 - Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, March 19th - Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor, March 20 - Havana D'Primera, March 21 - Los Van Van. Stay tuned for more tour updates as the summer tour season bookings get underway as well as more tours of the US are confirmed.



                                                                                            Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor
                                                                                        are on their way to a city near you!

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Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:55:07 +0000
Cuban Classics Redefined The Oakland Symphony will give the premiere performance of Rebeca Mauleón's first Symphony, Suite Afro-Cubano tomorrow, Friday. She was one of four composers selected from 160 nominees for a grant to write the piece, which has four movements:

I. Aboriginal Sunrise (imagine Taínos gathering at sunrise to play flutes and drums)

II. Espíritu Gitano (a juerga flamenca -- like a Spanish rumba)

III. Ancestral Voyage (a toque for Yemayá with echoes of modern jazz)

IV. Danzón-Mambo
(Cuba meets Leonard Bernstein meets Pérez Prado)

For tickets and more info, click here

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Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:33:40 +0000
Europe 2010 Kicks Off Photo courtesy of Cristian MuñozAlexander Abreu & Havana D'PrimeraAlexander is amazingly charismatic on stage as witnessed by this audience. Don't miss Havana D'Primera as they return to Europe this March.

The 2010 tour season is underway here in Europe with Alexander Acosta currently on tour and Tumbao Habana's upcoming French concert dates this weekend. Also starting this weekend is Los Van Van's traditional winter tour, which begins with concerts in Helsinki and Copenhagen terminating in Spain in March before they return to the US for a longer tour in June. Also touring in March is Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor. We have just updated their tour page with additional dates today. Havana D'Primera will be returning to Europe for the second time and will finally play in my hometown of Stockholm on March 25th. In April Monica Mesa will be doing a promotional tour with her band Maquina Perfecta under the musical direction of Joel Dominguez. Orquesta Revé is also expected to tour in March and April just as they complete the mixing of their new CD "De que estamos hablando", but currently the only date we have for them is March 21 at Cubamemucho in Munich. And finally El Indio and Tirsio Duarte will be in Europe from March through May so keep a lookout for their concerts. Right now all we know about is the festival in Dampierre - Nevoy, France on March 12-13. If you know of any tours we have missed send me an e-mail.

And in the US this spring there are a number of exciting tours planned as the floodgates open. While we wait for the confirmed dates to be released we can at least tell you that Alaín Daniel has announced a US tour at his Facebook site, so all you Mikis get ready.

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Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:43:05 +0000
Subiendo Subiendo Subiendo! UPDATE: Tom's new Issac Gallery is Up

This is like watching the actual ballet performance of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring  after hearing the music alone for years. Rueda con Ritmo have started with Issac's December 1997 El Palacio version of La vida sin esperanza -- in my humble opinion the greatest  single live timba performance of all time --  carefully edited it down to 5 minutes and choreographed an elaborate rueda routine that does justice to all the incredible gear changes.

Behold!

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Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:24:38 +0000
Contrabando - Interview with El Paísa On February 6, 2010 I attended the release concert for Contrabando's second CD, "Abriendo Caminos". Located in Belguim, Contrabando is dedicated to spreading Cuban music and culture in Europe with a repertoire of original songs and arrangements that range from son to timba to fusion of Cuban rhythms with other Caribbean genres. The band has been working hard and paid their dues and have developed a steady following. The release concert was a celebration of the completion of this project and the beginning of the next stage in the band's development. The full concert report including video clips will follow soon. In the meantime here is a short interview with director and trombonist Andrés Fernández "El Paísa" with English subtitles!

Since the first decade of the new century is coming to a close, I decided it was time to go high-tech. I bought a program that easily adds subtitles to videos. So now both Spanish and English speaking fans will be able to enjoy the interviews! Click here or on the image above to watch the video. And stay tuned for the complete concert report.

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Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:07:31 +0000
First set of LOS VAN VAN USA Dates Confirmed Los Van Van USA Tour

USA Timberos & Timberas alert! Preparense que viene Van Van. Mi gente aquí les presento las primeras fechas de la giras del verano:

June 6 & 7 - NEW YORK - venue TBD* (check for upadates)

June 9 - DENVER - venue TBD* (check for upadates)

June 10 & 11 - ALBUQUERQUE / LAS VEGAS - venue TBD* (check for upadates)

June 12 - LOS ANGELES - Hollywood Bowl

June 13 - SAN DIEGO - Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay

June 19 - BOONVILLE - California Sierra Nevada World Music Festival

June 20 - SAN FRANCISCO - Stern Grove Park

*for promoter inquiries please contact Mr. Paul Goldman of Monterey International

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Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:27:57 +0000
First Batch of RUMBANKETE Soundcheck Photos & Video RUMBANKETE @ Yoshi's Oakland - Open Dance Floor - Thursday, February 11 2010 
13-piece All Star contemporary Cuban music (Timba) orchestra from Los Angeles
Presenting Sponsor: CUBAVERA® (a subsidiary of Perry Ellis International)
Associate Sponsor: e.K. Clothing (salsa dresses & dancewear) 

The player will show in this paragraph

Click here to see all the soundcheck VIDEOS
 Oprima aquí para ver los VIDEOS del soundcheck

February 11, 2010 - RUMBANKETE - Sound Check - Yoshi's Oakland
Denis Jirón & Rumbankete

Presenting Sponsor CUBAVERA.com
Cubavera.com


Associate Sponsor e.K. Clothing
e.K Clothing

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Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:23:07 +0000
Alexander Acosta at Fiesta Latina Alexander Acosta

Tom Bauer was present for the annual Fiesta Latina at Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich. This year's concert was held by Alexander Acosta y La Nueva Propuesta, and Tom has sent us a selection of his excellent photos. Click here or on the photo above to see all of the pictures.

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Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:08:27 +0000
Fiesta del Tambor 2010 Fiesta Del TamborFrom March 9th - 14th the eyes of the Latin percussion world will be turned to Havana as it plays host to many of the premier Latin percussionists from Cuba and around the world as well as talent from the new generation of aspiring percussionists. It is time again for the Fiesta Del Tambor in memory of Guillermo Barreto. This year the festival will honor the recently deceased Ricardo “Papín” Abreu, founder of “Los Papines”,  Jesús Alfonso Miró musical  director of “Muñequitos de Matanzas”,  as well as Roberto García, the great Cuban bongocero. On Sunday the 14th there will be a tribute to changüí and to Elio Revé Matos at La Tropical.

The Fiesta del Tambor is a multifaceted event. Each day from 9:00am to 4:00pm at Palacio de la Rumba percussionists compete in the international Drum Festival Contest. Winners receive new instruments within their area of specialty. The contest is open to both Cuban and non-Cuban musicians. There is also a prize for best female interpretation and best child's interpretation. Masters classes and conferences are held as well.

Closest to my own heart, every day there is a selection of great concerts to choose from. Here are some of the groups you can see if you are in Havana at this time: Klímax celebrating their 15th anniversary, Yoruba Andabo celebrating their 25th anniversary, Rumbatá de Camaguey, Conjunto Folklórico Nacional, Maraca y Otra Visión, Muñequitos de Matanzas, Pupy y los que Son Son, Elito Revé y Su Charangón, Lázaro Valdés y Bamboleo, Manolito Simonet, Los Papines, Rumberos de Cuba, Pachito Alonso y sus Kini Kini, Maykel Blanco, Addaché de Matanzas and Habana C. For the complete program of the 2010 Fiesta del Tambor and instruction for registration in the contest click here.

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Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:17:38 +0000
LPM / TIMBA to Sponsor Billboard Latin Music Conference & Awards click on this banner to register and for more info
2010 Billboard Latin Music Conference & Awards
April 26-29 2010 | Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza, Puerto Rico

Latin Pulse Music, the parent company of TIMBA.com, is participating as a media sponsor in the 2010 Billboard Latin Music Conference & Awards. The event -hosted at the Hotel Conrad Condado Plaza in San Juan, Puerto Rico- will take place April 26 through the 29nth. This industry conference culminates with the Billboard Latin Music Awards ceremony, which will be broadcasted on Telemundo. It features four days of programming including Educational Panel Discussions (guided by Billboard’s Leila Cobo), Superstar Q&A sessions, Artist Showcases, Networking Events and The Billboard Bash, a separate celebration highlighted by performances by Billboard Latin Music Award Finalists. Be sure to stop by our table to say hi. Nos vemos en la isla del encanto....Puerto Rico!

The Billboard Latin Music Conference - the single most important Latin music industry event in the world -unites today's top industry executives to do business, discuss hot button topics and celebrate Latin music.

Use Promo Code: LPM & SAVE $200! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!
Contact Lisa Kastner at 646-654-4643 or LKastner@billboard.com

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Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:35:36 +0000
Tumbao Habana Tour Changes! Tumbao Habana Mambo Duro

Pascualito Cabreras posted today at Facebook that due to factors beyond their control, Tumbao Habana is not on the tour with Alexander Acosta. They will still be performing two concerts in France: February 27 at Salle Victoire 2 in Montpellier and February 28 at New Morning in Paris. If other concerts are scheduled during their stay in Europe, we will post the information at Timba.com so keep checking with us. For more details see Tumbao Habana's Facebook page.

I tried to contact Alexander Acosta's manager, but they are on the road returning from a concert in Munich and I have not recieved an answer. However, I have been told by  a person who attended the Bayerischer Hof concert last night, that Alexander is performing with musicians from Italy and as far as I know, the remaining concert dates for his tour are unaffected.

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Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:18:36 +0000
Pepito Gómez at Iguanas Tonight! Pepito Gomez by Tom Ehrlich

If you're in the New York area don't miss tonight's double feature at Iguana's with Pepito Gómez, who needs no introduction to timberos, and Grupo Irek. This evening's performance will include special guest drummer Mauricio Herrera who played with top groups in Cuba including Paulo FG.

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Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:52:50 +0000
3 Bay Area Shows Four great Bay Area shows Tom and I will cover in the next week:

Tonight - Thursday: Rumbankete at Yoshi's Oakland

Saturday - Sandy Pérez, Michael Spiro, Lázaro Galarraga at Dance Mission Theater

Friday the 19th: Issac Delgado at Bimbo's 365 Club

Friday, Feb. 26 -- Premiere of Rebeca Mauleón's symphonic debut: Suite Afro-Cubano.

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Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:48:51 +0000
Beyond Salsa Piano Vol. 4 Hard Copy Available Beyond Salsa Piano - The Cuban Timba Piano Revolution - by Kevin Moore - Vol. 4Volume 4 is now available in hard-copy on CreateSpace.

Audio files and eBook at LPM.

Click here for more details -- Vol. 5 coming next week!

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Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:34:39 +0000
New Soneros All Stars Single Underway Jan Bogdan, Sinsonte & Cristina AzcuyJan "Yanesito" Bogdan is off to Havana for a quick trip and while in Havana you might as well record something, right? Yanesito will be bringing us a new version of a Cristina Azcuy song, "Limpia mi son", with the talented young sonero El Nene on lead vocals. Coros will be sung by Sinsonte of Orquesta Revé and Enrique from Bamboleo. The plan is to have Alexander Abreu record the trumpet parts, assuming they can fit it in with his tour schedule. Yanesito himself plays bass and tres on the song and Oldrich Gonzáles is on piano.

El Sinsonte, Yanesito & Cristina Azcuy in Havana
The recording will take place at ICRT (International Cuban Radio & Television) in Vedado. When the mixing and mastering are done, the single will be released at iTunes. The exact release date is in the hands of iTunes, but it should be out sometime in the spring of 2010.  We will keep you posted of course.

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:28:46 +0000
Volume 4 Goes Live on LPM Beyond Salsa Piano - The Cuban Timba Piano Revolution - by Kevin Moore - Vol. 4 The audio files and eBook for Beyond Salsa Piano, Volume 4 are now available on LatinPulseMusic.com. For those who prefer hard-copy, those will go live in about a week, but remember that the audio files can only be bought at LPM.

This finally completes the "roots of timba" phase of the piano project. Volume 4 is all about the 1980s: Rumbavana, Adalberto, Son 14, Los Maravillas (with the early work of Manolito Simonet), Aliamén, and of course Elio Revé y su Charangón. There's even a section on Los Karachi for true 1980s connoisseurs. The 80s were a wild time and it's very interesting to study the transition from the songo era and the birth pangs of the timba revolution. It's also cool to see what timba favorites like El Indio, El Tosco, Tony Calá, Manolito, and Calixto Oviedo were up in their formative years. The coro ya yo tenía mi tumbao pega'o has taken on much greater meaning for me!

It's been an extremely interesting process, but I'm definitely ready to return to Volume 5: Introduction to Timba, which is 90% done and will hopefully go live in a week or two.

Click here for some previews of Volume 4.

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Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:49:35 +0000
Ya tenía su tumbao pega'o That's right - Issac Delgado in 1983, looking different but sounding remarkably similar.

He wasn't kidding with that coro:

"es
o no es de ahora - ya yo tenía mi tumbao pega'o"

click "continue reading" for the full video.

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Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:31:18 +0000
Nuevo Álbum de Contrabando ahora disponible Abriendo Caminos - Contrabandooprima aquí para oir pistas - click here to listen to previews

Dirigido por el ex-Pupy y los que Son Son trombonista Andrés "El Paisa" Fernández Ordoñez, esta orquesta de Bélgica realiza su segundo disco. Creativos arreglos con buena marcha destacan los temas originales del joven grupo. Invitados especiales José "Pepito" Gómez (tema 4) y Marc Bishoff (temas 6 y 8). La producción es el resultado de la busqueda de nuevos caminos e interpretaciones de la música popular cubana. Con un repertorio propio han logrado fusionar con gran elegancia la timba con la bachata, salsa, jazz, bomba pertorriqueña y otros ritmos latinos. La descarga de este álbum incluye el librito completo del CD (full CD booklet pdf included). MUY RECOMMENDADO.

Abriendo Caminos - ContrabandoDirected by the ex-Pupy y los que Son Son trombonist Andrés "El Paisa" Fernández Ordoñez, this Belguim based orchestra presents its second release. Creative arrangements mark the great original compositions and tight performance. Special guests include singer José "Pepito" Gómez (track 4) and pianist Marc Bishoff (tracks 6 & 8). The production is a result of the quest for new interpretations of popular Cuban music. Its success lies on the successful mix of Afro-Cuban traditions with bachata, salsa, jazz, puertorican bomba and other caribbean rhythms. Highly Recommended.

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Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:25:23 +0000
¡DE QUE ESTAMOS HABLANDO! Elito Revé in FranceMore information is coming in on the new CD that Orquesta Revé has just finished recording, which I reported on ealier today. The album will be named
"¡DE QUE ESTAMOS HABLANDO!".
Fans will immediately recognize this as one of Elito's battle cries. If you are new to Cuban music I would encourage you to sift through all the information in our Orquesta Revé section. Elio Revé y Su Charangón has been one of the most important bands in the development of modern Cuban salsa since its establishment in 1956.

Elito Revé on the Paris Metro - Photo courtesy of Patrick Bonnard

The title song was written and arranged by Pachi and Andy, the pianist and timbalero respectively. They did other arrangements on the album as well. Aisar Hernández, bassist and musical director, also contributed songs and arrangements, and Elito himself wrote two of the songs on album. All in all there are 12 songs including a rumba as well as a traditional changüí performed by Pipi y sus Estrellas Campesinas. I have a particular fondness for Pipi having spent time at a real changüí party at Casa de Pipi in Yateras.

As for the new charangonera, 26-year old Susel "La China", she is the most recent addition to the band having been with Sello LA previously. Although she's not well known...yet...she sings well and has good technique. I am looking forward to seeing this new addition to the group. As I mentioned in the previous report, "La China" sings "Ya sé cantar, ya sé bailar", a song that was recorded by Elio Revé Matos, probably in the 70s according to our discography. It has been given new life by a Pachi/Andy arrangement.

The more I hear about this CD the more excited I get! So ya'll better get ready over there in El Yuma!

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Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:45:58 +0000
Elito Revé y Su Charangón Elito RevéWe have some very exciting news Timba fans! Elito Revé tells us that they have finished recording their new CD and are now in the mixing stage. I can't say when the CD will hit the streets but let's hope it's soon. Revé's previous CD, "Fresquecito" was unquestionably the best CD of 2007 and won awards for Best Album both in France in 2007 and at Cubadisco 2008. I expect the new CD by Orquesta Revé to be another winner.

The CD has an impressive list of illustrious guest artists such as Chucho Valdés, Pancho Amat and the güajiro Mirabal. And a particular favorite of mine is also on the album: Estrellas Campesinas the changüí group under the direction of Pipi from Yateras, Guantanamo . Of course the regular Revé singers recorded as well, Dagoberto, el Sinsonte, Emilo (El Niño) and Susel (La China). Susel sings "Ya sé cantar, ya sé bailar". I've never heard Revé with a female singer, so it will be interesting to hear the results.

Elito Revé - photo courtesy of Cristian Muñoz

And in equally exciting new Elito tells us that the April tour of the US is confirmed with a number of dates in Miami and New York. I hope someone will  bring them out to the west coast as well. I know California is dying to see them live! Uy uy uy que veo!

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Fri, 05 Feb 2010 04:08:42 +0000
Afro-Descendant Percussion Symposium @ Williams College in Boston REGISTER HERE  -   WEBSITE (MORE INFO)  -  call +1.413.597.3340  -  Official Flyer

Come and join us as we explore and network percussive traditions from the African Diaspora with some of most experienced artists and performers in the U.S. 
Contact: Berta P. Jottar = berta.p.jottar [at] williams [dot] edu 

New MeaningsAfro-Descendant Percussion Practice - A Symposium
Williams College + Mass MoCA | February 12-14, 2010

New Meanings: Afro-Descendant Percussion Practices, explores the impact and direction of musical developments in the African Diaspora.  Through interactive workshops, panels, lecture-demonstrations, video and concerts, the symposium will examine the contemporary interconnectivity that exists between percussion practices from West Africa, the Caribbean and the U.S. Guest lecturers and artists include: Pedrito Martinez, Roman Diaz, M’bemba Bangoura, Ilu Aye, Café da Silva, Tyshawn Sorey, Mike Wimberly, Barbara Browning, Sonny Allen, Frisner Augustine, Atiba Rorie, Berta Jottar, Bashir Shakur, and more!!

Student Registration $35
Early Registration $75  (before Jan. 29)
Late Registration $85  (before Feb. 12)
Door Registration $100 

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Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:35:26 +0000
Team Cuba Reunion! Issac y Manolín con Los Van Van en la Yuma

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Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:02:12 +0000
Beyond Salsa Piano Vol. 3 Available in Hard-Copy Beyond Salsa Piano - The Cuban Timba Piano Revolution - by Kevin Moore - Vol. 3Volume 3 of the Beyond Salsa Piano series is now available in Hard-Copy at CreateSpace.com.

Another milestone! Full details on the status page.

Volume 4 in eBook will be out within a week.

The revised version of Vol. 1, by the way, is already available in eBook form and its hard-copy version will go back online Wednesday.

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Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:33:28 +0000
"RECETA PERFECTA" - New Release by HAVANA NRG! After three long awaited years the Dallas, Texas based band Havana NRG (New Rhythm Generation) returns to the recording world with the sophomore release of “Receta Perfecta”.

click here to listen to sample tracks

This December 2009 CD release coincided with their celebration in Dallas at Cirque Night Club (6-9pm) where close to 600 patrons, fans & media will unite to taste the savory recipe that this hot young band cooks up before continuing their hectic tour schedule. It also marks the radio debut of the CD and as ‘defenders of the music realm’ we ask that you support Havana NRG! Cuban Orchestra this weekend by playing the opening track, “DIME SI TE VAS”, as the official launch of the CD.

Receta Perfecta made our friend Tijana Ilich's well read Latin music blog on About.com Top Ten Salsa and Timba Albums of 2009. Tijana reports: 

"Listening to lots of the timba albums that came out this year, I was disappointed with perennial favorites Charanga Habanera and even the new Los Van Van. Surprisingly, I loved Receta Perfecta by Havana NRG. Why surprising? Havana NRG is a young timba band from Texas -- not exactly the place you expect to hear a lot of timba. But this group of young, mostly Cuban expatriates makes the genre oh-so-approachable with infectious melodies and boundless energy. The album's timba tunes are clear and crisp. They also mix-it-up with other tropical rhythms, which adds to a well thought out album. The 'NRG' stands for 'New Rhythm Generation' and seems to be the prescription for putting new life to a genre that's rumored to be on life support."

Way to go Mariela, Maiquel and crew! Thank you for your continuing support of independent artists and their projects and the preservation of our music. If we do not do it ‘commercial’ radio certainly won’t!

Havana NRG!

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Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:57:01 +0000
Volume 3 of Beyond Salsa Piano Live on LPM Beyond Salsa Piano - The Cuban Timba Piano Revolution - by Kevin Moore - Vol. 3Volume 3 is now available in eBook and audio formats at LPM.

This one picks up the story after the Cuban Revolution. While 1950s Cuban music was thriving in New York as  "salsa", the Cubans on the island continued to evolve in a variety of eclectic directions.

Volumes 3 and 4 can be thought of as companions to timba.com's free online book The Roots of Timba, covering the same period from the pianist's point of view and paying special attention to Los Van Van, Ritmo Oriental, Irakere, Aragón, Los Maravillas de Florida, Orquesta 440, Opus 13, and Nueva Generación, the predecessor to NG La Banda.

Volume 3 also covers pilón, mozambique, and extensive appendix on Afro-Cuban folkloric rhythms

All told there are 106 audio files covering a wide range of tumbaos and exercises for feeling folkloric rhythms correctly.

Click here for a quick preview - and here to download the eBook and audio.

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Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:19:25 +0000
Sponsors Announced for RUMBANKETE Feb 11 Show! RUMBANKETE @ Yoshi's Oakland - Open Dance Floor - Thursday, February 11 2010 
14-piece All Star contemporary Cuban music (Timba) orchestra from Los Angeles

Many heartfelt thanks from TIMBA.com & Rumbankete to CUBAVERA and e.K. Clothing for their financial support. Participation from Cubavera, as the presenting sponsor, and e.K. Clothing as the associate sponsor allows contemporary Cuban big band music to thrive and deliver its cultural contribution to the community at large.

PRESENTING SPONSOR
CUBAVERA - Presenting Sponsorshop online for CUBAVERA guayaberas, jackets, suits, pants & hats
Cubavera is a division of Perry Ellis International

Building on the success of Perry Ellis International, George and Oscar Feldenkreis decided to capitalize on the growth, potential, and appeal of Latin culture by expanding into a full lifestyle brand, and in 2000 launched CUBAVERA. Since its inception the Cubavera brand has transformed the ideals, joy and "sabor" of Latin culture into apparel. Taking authentic fundamentals from the traditional guayabera, the brand couples innovative fabrics and design for a new twist on a traditional staple. The line has developed from its signature shirts into a collection offering a variety of suit separates, shirts, jackets, pants and shorts.

ASSOCIATE SPONSOR
e.K. Clothing - Salsa Dresses & Shoesshop online for salsa dresses, dancewear, dance shows & dance accessories 

e.K. Clothing is a Los Angeles based store devoted exclusively to offering REASONABLY PRICED social dancewear. Because we specialize in Latin dancewear, our styles are very popular with Salsa, Tango and Ballroom dancers looking for social dance outfits or practice wear. However, the wearability and fit of our styles make e.K. Clothing even more practical when looking for night clubwear, party attire and cocktail dresses. 

Click on the continue reading link below to get the full story...

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Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:05:14 +0000
Review - Animals of Cuban Music Animals of Cuban MusicI am still way behind on my projects due to my five-week vacation, but I have finally published my review of "Animals of Cuban Music: salsa vs reggaeton", Jen Paz's second documentary in her contemporary Cuban music series. The DVD has been out since fall 2009 and really should have been on the gift list of all fans of Cuban music, no matter whether you like timba or reggeaton. For me the documentary is not about trying to convince anyone that one is better than the other or to make fans out of anyone. It is just an honest, unadorned look at what is really happening in Havana today. It also happens to be full of excellent concert footage from both timba and reggaeton concerts.  It is a must-see film for anyone who wants to keep up with the Cuban music scene of today. To read the full review click here.

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Sun, 24 Jan 2010 14:55:27 +0000
Alfredo Rodríguez at Yoshi's Tuesday January 26th - Yoshi's San Francisco

Unfortunately the great master pianist many of us were lucky enough to see with Cubanismo has not come back from the dead, but the young and very much alive Alfredo Rodríguez is well worthy of his famous name. Tom saw him at the 2009 Monterery Jazz Festival and was completely blown away. Next Tuesday.

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Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:12:04 +0000
Nuevo Lanzamiento de Moise González El músico y compositor Moise González se encuentra actualmente ultimando los detalles para lo que será el lanzamiento de su nuevo trabajo discográfico “Relatos” que verá la luz el día 1 de abril de 2010. Para este lanzamiento ha querido utilizar como sencillo “De Canarias a La Habana”, una canción que, según palabras de Moise “compuse dejándome llevar por las sensaciones que comparten mi corazón entre Canarias y Cuba, mi segunda casa”.

Relaros -  Moise González

Para esta producción se ha movido hasta Miami para grabar con una selección impecable de músicos: Ángel Arce (pututi II), Edward Magariaga, Robert Vilera, Alexis Arce (pututi I), Yanko, Tony Pérez y Alberto Barros, entre otros.

Esperamos ansiosos este nuevo disco del amigo MOise. Hasta entonces podemos ir disfrutando con este tema promocional que está disponible en su web oficial. Para ver videos de Moise oprima aquí.

Más información: www.moise.es

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Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:07:51 +0000
Vol. 2 Hard-Copy Goes Live Beyond Salsa Piano, Vol. 2Beyond Salsa Piano, Vol. 2 is now available in hard-copy at createspace.com.

The audio files and eBook can be purchased at LatinPulseMusic.com.

For notation and audio previews of this and other volumes, click here.

Volume 2 covers the earliest piano tumbaos of Arcaño, Cachao & Co. and continues through the Golden Age of Beny Moré, Celia Cruz, Orquesta Aragón, Conjunto Modelo, et al.

Volume 3 should go live on LPM this weekend and live in hard-copy in a week or two.

Inspired by the recent surge in Cuban tours, I've also made quite a bit of progress lately on the first three Melón volumes - V6, V7 and V8.

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Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:05:15 +0000
Azúcar Negra Planning March in Miami Leonel Limonta tells us that the band is planning to be in Miami in March but they are still waiting for a  concrete date. When the first concert is confirmed we will post the information here. In a piece of Timba.com trivia, Azúcar Negra has a long history with Timba.com and it was largely because of the Azúcar Negra US Tour of 2000 that Timba.com developed from being an odd assortment of audio samples scraped together by Kevin into what we are today. Even as Timba.com has developed over the years, so has Azúcar Negra been through several changes having had  important female vocalists such as Haila Mompie, Monica Mesa, Tanya Pantoja, Biunaikis Marquetti and the current leading lady the lovely Ailyn Dalleras.

Ailyn was only 17 when she joined the band and 19 when she shouldered the role of lead female vocalist. She has always had a beautiful voice but with the years she has also developed a professionalism and a charismatic stage presence. Now at the ripe old age of 23 she will be hitting "El Yuma" for the first time. But Ailyn isn't the only singer. The ladies will enjoy Dayan, ex-Charanga Forever, who has a great voice and is an excellent dancer. He adds a shot of testosterone-loaded energy to the band. Speaking of Ailyn and Dayan, Gabriel from Yemayá's Verse in her 2009 Havana Report said: "Limonta must have two of the most charismatic singers in Havana in those two", and Gabriel is one of the most hard-to-impress people I know, so don't miss it when Azúcar Negra hits the States.

Azúcar Negra - "Con un canto en el pecho"
from the CD "Exceso de equipaje"

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Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:14:52 +0000
Lily y Su Sonora Clásica Lily y Su Sonora Clásica gave their début concert 18 January at Mosebacke in Stockholm. Lily Hernández is fast becoming one of the most sought-after lead singers in Europe, having performed with a variety of bands throughout Europe and in the United States. She is a versatile singer who is at home singing jazz, timba, salsa or son. For examples of her work you can see La Recompensa, Latin Train, Didara Band, La Liga Habanera, Richard Ortega y La Jugada, Latin Jazz Ensemble (USA 2006), and El Mena y Su Eyeife Band (Italy).

But now Lily has taken a step out on her own forming her own group, Lily y Su Sonora Clásica. Having her own orchestra allows Lily to express her passion for son but with a modern take or as she puts it: "traditional son with the energy of timba". The band is a septeto with an impressive list of musicians: Lily Hernández, Calixto Oviedo, Pepe Espinosa, Oldrich Gonzalez, Ramon Rodriguez, Oslen Ceballo, and with Yarién Oviedo and Whitney Hernández on vocals. You can check out a fan video from the first performance below.

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Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:37:40 +0000
Pepítin con El Trabuco Pepitín with Salsa Mayor in FranceThe one constant on the Havana music scene is change. José Antonio "Pepitín" Rodríguez has recently joined Manolito y Su Trabuco replacing his ex-bandmate from Salsa Mayor, El Noro, who recently left the Trabuco for Pupy y Los Que Son Son. Pepitín makes a good addition to the Trabuco, which is known for being one of the timba bands that keeps closely to son. Since the departure of El Indio, the band hasn't really had a sonero style singer. The addition of Pepitín restores the original balance of voices: sonero (Pepitín), R&B (Amaray) and rap (Lázaro)

Maykel Blanco "discovered" Pepitín singing traditional son in a bar in Old Havana. Pepitín has also performed on Cuban television with Jóvenes Clásicos del Son, and in our last Pepitín update, we reported that he has been working on some demos of traditional music. Word from Havana is that the audience is happy with Pepitín's addition to the band. I am looking forward to seeing him on the Trabuco's next European tour!

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Sun, 17 Jan 2010 11:13:03 +0000
José Torres y Salsa Tropical Add Juanky to Roster Juan Carlos HechavarriaJosé Torres y Salsa Tropical have scored a major coup. They have added ex-Klímax singer Juan Carlos "Juanky" Hechavarría to their line-up. Juanky is one of few young singers today with the ability to sing like a true sonero. He's also in touch with the youth culture as witnessed by the recent Klímax repertoire. His addtion brings a shot of fresh Havana energy to this already established band.

Since their formation in April 2000, Salsa Tropical, based in Wroclow, has built-up their name in Europe having performed at congresos in Germany and Poland  as well as on many Polish television programs. In addition bandleader José Torres is commited to Cuban music and  organized Poland's first salsa congress, which has now become the annual Torres Salsa Carnival. He has brought artists such as Manolito y Su Trabuco and Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor to Polish fans.

José Torres y Salsa TropicalJosé comes from a musical family. His cousin Alina Torres is well-known as a composer of hits for groups such as  La Charanga Habanera, Los Van Van and Pupy y Los Que Son Son. His son is the band's drummer and recently Salsa Tropical has expanded it's repertoire with new songs written by yet another Torres, 18-year old Fernando Torres of La Habana. The catchy and danceable tunes "Dándole la vuelta al mundo" and "Tiki Tiki" were both written by this talented young composer who happens to be José's nephew.

José Torres y Salsa Tropical are in the process of recording their new material. The instruments are finished and now the vocal tracks, mix and master remain. But you don't have to wait, you can already listen to a good live recording of "Dándole la vuelta al mundo" with Juanky on Timba.com radio. And below is a video of the live performace. Stay tuned because we will soon be adding "Tiki Tiki" to the radio as well. Click on the link below that says "Continue reading" for a video of "Dándole la vuelta" al mundo and the list of bandmembers.

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Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:17:12 +0000
LA BOLÁ RECRUITS EX-NG LA BANDA SINGER La Bolá with new singer GerarditoOur friend, conguero and La Bolá leader Aryam Vazquez reports that the group has recruited "Gerardito", an ex-NG La Banda vocalist. The new singer will debut with the band on Saturday, January 23 at DROM -85 Ave. A (between 5th and 6th streets) in New York City. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

La Bolá is gaining force world-wide after their debut release SIN COMENTARIOS, which has been picked up for radio airplay in Paris, France.

Schooled in the top Havana conservatories and music schools in the US, La Bolá encompasses some of the most in demand and successful musicians in NYC, all whom enjoying thriving careers in Latin music performing, touring and recording with such artists as Celia Cruz, Marc Anthony, Miles Peña, Michael Stuart, Alfredo de la Fe and many more. 

BOBI CESPEDES WORKSHOP 2010 SERIES

Bobi CespedesChékere Making & Playing

with Bobi Céspedes
Join us: January 9th, 16th, 23rd, and February 20th
From 1pm to 3pm
(Chekeré Playing starts April 3rd)
For registration and location of classes information please call 510-290-8551 - Oakland, California

Registrations open January 4th 2010.
1. Chekeré Making starts January 9th, 1 to 3pm
2. Orisha Song Class starts January 10th 1 to 3pm
3. El Igbodu February 22nd through 26th  7to 9pm
4. Chekeré Playing starts April 3rd

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Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:11:02 +0000
Goodbye to Nino Olivares Nino Olvidares Michelle White in ParisI was recently on a five-week vacation in El Yuma and during that time I fell out of touch with what was happening in the world. When I got back from vacation I found an e-mail from Ben Lapidus informing me that Nino Olivares, the marimbulero of Changüí de Guantánamo, passed away on January 4th, 2010 at age 90. I first met Nino at the National Changüí Festival in Guantánamo in December of 2007. He was 87 years old but playing the marimbula with a great strength in his hands and arms. He had a habit of singing along with the
Nino & I in Paris - He liked his rum
rhythm of the marimbula or with the coros as he played, supplimenting his plucking of the marimbula keys with occasional strikes on the wooden case, which served both as his stool and as a cajón. I later met him again in Paris in September 2008 where I asked him to tell me a little about how he started playing marimbula.  I don't claim that I knew Nino well, but he made quite an impression on me and so I want to do something to honor his memory and the contribution he made to Cuban music during his 49 years with Changüí de Guantánamo. Click here for his musician's page where you will find a transcription of the interview, a link to the interview and a short video clip of Nino at a changüí in Casa de Pipi in Yateras. Chao Nino, te extrañamos.

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Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:12:21 +0000
S.F. SALSA RUEDA FESTIVAL - February 18-21, 2010

Among the 800+ attendees of the Dec. 22 Charanga Habanera show in San Francisco were Nick & Serena of SalsaValeTodo, happily reporting that registration is almost full for their upcoming and 2nd Annual SALSA RUEDA FESTIVAL at the Hotel Whitcomb. 

This year they will be offering over 40 workshops in Cuban-style salsa, Rueda de Casino, Rumba, Afro-Cuban Folkloric, Son, Cha Cha Cha, Danzon, Salsa Suelta, Cuban Styling for Ladies, Cuban Cabaret and Mambo, and Music appreciation and listening classes. Beginning dancers will have the unique opportunity of extensive study in a Beginner's Track devoted to giving new dancers the basics and introducing other dancer's to Cuban dance. 

SF Salsa Rueda Festival

The festival will also host special guest, Roberto Borrell who will teach danzon, son, cha cha cha and present his multi-media demonstration and lecture on "Timba: Dancing Though Time".  Four nights of parties will include performances and three live Timba bands.

Enjoy dancing with casineros from around the world!!

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Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:05:48 +0000
LOS VAN VAN TO CELEBRATE JOSÉ MARTÍ'S BIRTHDAY IN KEY WEST Los Van Van - Key West - Jan 28 2010Get ready for this upcoming show. Kicking off their US tour, Los Van Van, celebrates José Martí's January 28th birthday with a special peformance at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in Key West, Florida. The band is also celebrating its 40th anniversary. 

Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door. Gates open at 7pm for this three hour concert event. Martí was in Key West during the late 1890's to deliver a speech in support of Cuba's independence movement. 

Los Van Van - Key West - Jan 28 2010

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Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:13:45 +0000
Massive Quake in Haiti The Richter scale is logarithmic, so while the 6.5 in Eureka knocked out David Peñalosa's power for a couple hours, the 7.0 in Haiti was truly devastating. Please help if you can.

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Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:28:11 +0000
LOS VAN VAN FEATURED ON GIANT BILLBOARDS IN MIAMI Los Van Van - Miami Concert - James L. Knight Center - Jan 31

It was twenty years ago today...Juan Formell taught the band to play. Actually forty, and as far as Miami is concerned, its more like ten years since Los Van Van's last appearance. At that time the show was cancelled due to the protests that rang clear -there is an understanding between the Cubans who lost everything and have suffered in exile. In response to this, another message has also continued to ring true. Los Van Van is a group of artists that herald a lasting musical movement, used by many to get in touch with their culture and shun the political spin. Inside of that tension many wish they could enjoy the music more openly and that some of the barriers can be brought down.   

This picture is the present. One that would have been impossible just two years ago. Take a good look at it. Corporate America is behind it. Maybe you should be too?

Many thanks to Eli Silva for this outstanding photograph. An ex-trumpet player based in the Miami area, Eli writes music reports and has an extensive photo gallery here on TIMBA.com. To solicit his professional photography services you can contact him at photographybyeli [at] aol [dot] com. Te botaste con esta foto Eli.

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Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:06:01 +0000
3000 STRONG FOR BAMBOLEO @ LA TROPICAL Our friend in Havana Chucho El Rey de la Salsa reports that BAMBOLEO's first concert of the year was attended by 3000+ fans, mostly 18-30 year olds and very well dressed beautiful ladies.  In his opinion the outdoor venue La Tropical is the "thermometer" by which the popularity of the Cuban music scene, and its reception in the world, is measured -if you can pack La Tropical you can pack any venue. 

He also reports that, after many years, master percussionist from Puerto Rico Giovanni Hidalgo is set to perform in Cuba along woth Orlando "Maraca" Valle and other music greats. He states that because Giovanni has a very special set of hands he is well regarded and respected by many percussionists in Cuba. 

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Mon, 11 Jan 2010 06:02:36 +0000
Tumbao Habana New CD Mambo duroTumbao Habana's long-awaited CD, Mambo duro, is finally available to the general public. The CD was supposed to be released in the summer of 2009 but was delayed. It was available this fall in France but it wasn't until December that it came out in the rest of the world. We will have a full CD review soon but for the moment I will say that it has some killer tracks on it such as my personal favorite "Padrino", the title track "Mambo duro" and a new version of the beautiful anthem "A la familia cubana", this time as a duet with guest singer Alexander Abreu. 

As with past CDs, bandleader Pascualito Cabrejas has put together an album with a mix of music styles ranging from timba to son to bachata to ballad, which makes this a CD you can take with you to "latin" parties since it has a little something for everyone. Stay tuned for the full review. in the meantime here is the track list.

Track list: 
Y tu quisieras saber 
Padrino 
A la familia cubana (with Alexander Abreu) 
No hay como mi son (son)
No me conformo (bachata)
Ella no tiene na' 
Candela 
Mambo duro 
Devuelveme la vida (ballad)
No te rompas la cabeza 
De que lado esta la luna 
La nena

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Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:32:57 +0000
SOBs Adds 2nd Charanga Show Saturday The first show is SOLD OUT so a second show has been added for Charanga Habanera at SOBs Saturday night. Click here for tickets.

SOB's website show another band playing an earlier show at 8pm but the CH show (at 1:00 a.m.) is definitely happening. Get your ticket now or you'll be llorando en Nueva York!

Tiempo Libre plays SOBs later this month, on Friday, January 22.

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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:18:10 +0000
Pellejo Seco at Yoshi's Tuesday Bay Area son band Pellejo Seco has a new album, La idea, and will be playing tracks from it at Yoshi's in Oakland next Tuesday, January 12. The new album includes a special session recorded with members of Septeto Nacional last month.

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Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:02:18 +0000
Beyond Salsa Piano Volume 2 Goes Live! The audio and digital download versions of the second volume of Beyond Salsa Piano are now available on LPM.

For a preview of the contents, including audio and notation examples, click here. This one covers the emergence of the piano in Cuba, including the music of Arcaño, Cachao, Beny Moré, Celia Cruz, Aragón, et al. It ends with the Cuban Revolution. Volumes 3 and 4 will get us from that revolution to the timba revolution.

Meanwhile, as many of you know, I've appointed myself guinea pig for Amazon's brave new world of on-demand publishing, and they're torturing the guinea pig! Imagine my shock after days of proofing Volume 2 when I tried to upload it and discovered that they had discontinued the page size they'd told me to use in the first place! I'll spare you the gory details, but here's the short version. Volume 1 is still available here, for $15 in full color. However, it will very soon disappear and be unavailable in hard-copy for a couple weeks, and when it comes back, it will be $20 and the interior will be black and white. It will also be slightly smaller in dimensions. So if you want the soon-to-be-ophaned color version, get it now, but be warned that it will be replaced and the new one will be the same size as the rest of the series. So if you want your collection to match, wait a few weeks, but if you want color, for $5 less, this is the last chance. It's too bad, because the color interior was going to be great for the timba volumes, but their rapidly changing policies made it impossible. The LPM digital versions will continue to be in color however.

Sorry to keep changing my strategy, but somebody has to figure out how this stuff works, and when you self-publish your book, you'll know exactly where to come for advice! Thanks to all for your extreme patience and don't worry - the timba stuff is really coming soon. The next four volumes are essentially done except for the formatting and proofreading. And the free online version has some Melón and other crazy timba to keep your fingers busy.

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Sun, 03 Jan 2010 05:38:00 +0000
Issac Coming to SF in February As part of the SF Jazz Festival Issac Delgado will be at Bimbo’s 365 Club on February 19, 8PM & 10:30PM.

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Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:18:02 +0000
IT'S OFICIAL - PAULO FG RELEASES NEW ALBUM Chucho el Rey de la Salsa reports from Havana that at a special concert yesteday, a free event that took place at the at the Tribuna Anti-Imperialista in El Malecón, Paulo FG launched a new album after a 5 year hiatus. The production features the hit "Mami Te Fuiste Pa' La Yuma" (my hottie split to the USA). Stay tuned for more info. 

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Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:59:17 +0000
Pepitín in the studio Pepitin
Pepitín in France

José Antonio Rodríguez González, better known to timba fans as Pepitín, is back in the studio after leaving Salsa Mayor. He is not cutting a new timba CD, but rather recording some traditional style songs that will be released when the mix is finished.

The musicians are:
Cesar 'El Lento' - tres
San Miguel - guitar
Ernesto Palmas (director of los clasicos del son) - bass
Rolando Salgado 'el niño mentira' - percussion
Robby (Manolito y Su Trabuco) - trumpet

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Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:50:46 +0000
QBA Tonight - CH Tomorrow in Miami Late-breaking news:

QBA at Moe's Alley in Santa Cruz tonight, Jan. 1st.

Charanga Habanera at Club 90 Degrees in Miami tomorrow, Jan. 2nd.

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Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:46:38 +0000
CONCIERTOS DE LOS VAN VAN EN PUERTO RICO Y FLORIDA

Nuestro amigo Américo Miranda nos informa que Los Van Van tienen los siguientes conciertos confirmados: el 28 de Enero en Key West, Florida (sitio exacto indeterminado), el 31 de Enero en el James L. Knight Center en Miami, y el 4 de Febrero en Puerto Rico en el Coliseo José Miguel Agrelot de la ciudad de Hato Rey (area metropolitana de San Juan).

Para más información presionen en los siguientes enlaces:
Key West Commerce - James L. Knight Center  -  Coliseo José Miguel Agrelot

Los Van VanMayito Rivera de Los Van Van  --  foto cortesía de Tom Bauer

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Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:09:59 +0000
Tom's Charanga Fotos

Click here for Tom Ehrlich's gallery of photos from the Dec. 22 San Francisco Show and don't forget about today's show at Rancho Gaspar!

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Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:04:00 +0000
The Charanga Show Moves East Saturday, Dec. 26 Dolce, Miami Sunday, Dec. 27 Rancho Gaspar, Miami Friday, Jan. 8 SOBs, New York

If you can only catch one, Rancho Gaspar, (the outdoor venue that was the scene of Manolín's El puente concert), is one of my favorite venues of all-time.

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Sat, 26 Dec 2009 02:47:29 +0000
The Next Generation Carlos Caro accompanies his 11-year old daughter Odalys in a traditional contradanza.

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Sat, 26 Dec 2009 02:24:13 +0000
CHARANGA HABANERA REPARTE LA GOZADERA EN SAN FRANCISCO Todo el mundo con la mano pa'rriba

As the premiere of AVATAR 3D courses through the hi-tech veins of the Bay Area, there were other accounts on an intense visual spectacle. After 9 years very long years, David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera delivers its now signature timbatón -timba con reguetón- concert to 800+ in attendance in San Fransisco on Tuesday night just past. More pictures and analysis to follow from Tom Ehrlich and Kevin Moore, but here are some quick juicy bits so you can get a taste of what you missed...click on the images to check out the video clips. Read the FULL REPORT, including the famous "despelotera" challenge by clicking on the continue reading link below...

Charanga Habanera en San Francisco

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Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:01:21 +0000
Boots on the Ground! David Calzado SF Airport(photo courtesy of Sue Taylor)

Irrefutable evidence above - Charanga Habanera has made it safely to the Bay Area - the concert is on - go get your tickets - show up early because Sandy Pérez y su Lade with Erick Barbería  is opening with a rumba show.

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Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:14:31 +0000
DC's Message for the Bay Area (courtesy David Figueroa)

click here for tickets and join the celebration!

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Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:06:25 +0000
Calzado in the House - Concert Tomorrow David Calzado en los EE.UU.(photo courtesy David Figueroa)

This, my friends, is a picture of David Calzado at Miami International Airport, taken today!

Tomorrow night, Tuesday, Dec. 22nd, Charanga Habanera finally returns to the Bay Area after 9 long and extremely painful years. Click here for tickets and join the celebration!

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Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:18:27 +0000
Tiempo Libre's Latest Grammy I think it would be bigger news if Tiempo Libre DIDN'T get a Grammy nomination. These guys are relentless. On the heels of playing The Tonight Show and Dancing With The Stars, Tiempo Libre has gotten it's THIRD Grammy nomination for Bach in Havana. Methinks this is going to be a good year for Cuban music folks. Check the Tiempo Libre News Page for more details.

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Sun, 20 Dec 2009 04:48:20 +0000
LA TIMBA CONTRA EL REGUETÓN Chucho El Rey de la Salsa nos reporta que hoy domingo en la Habana se realizará un concierto especial llamado "La Timba Contra el Reguetón", en el cual la agrupación HABANA D' PRIMERA  -con invitado muy especial Iván "Melón" González en el piano-  es la banda de plante. El concierto celebra el 50ta aniversario de la cultura cubana. Al igual que Habana D' Primera los siguientes artistas participarán en este concierto de hoy:

REGUETÓN TIMBA
Gente de Zona Habana D' Primera (con Melón)
El Chacal Tania Pantoja
Beby Loret Alain Daniel
Kola Loca Leo Vera
El Micha Tirso Duarte
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Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:36:34 +0000
CHARANGA HABANERA ON CNN!

See you in San Francisco Tuesday Night!

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Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:20:39 +0000
Gozando en la Bahia ¿y tú?

Hard to believe it - after almost a decade (last show was November 2000), Charanga Habanera returns to the Bay Area on Tuesday. Click here for more info.

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Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:31:36 +0000
Celebrando el Día de San Lázaro Babalú Ayé Albita @ SOBs NYC - Día de San LázaroToday, December 17th, the incomparable Albita performs at S.O.B.s (Sounds of Brazil) concert club in NYC to celebrate Día de San Lázaro. Albita honors her Afro-Cuban roots with a show on the day of this Orisha deity also known as Babalú Ayé. Albita acknowledges the influence  of San Lázaro by the Cuban people. The Grammy-Award winner is commonly known as the Cuban Songstress from Havana, has moved the world with her music. Since her arrival in Miami in 1993, Albita has taken the US & Latin American world by storm with her spectacular and authentic performances of contagious Cuban music. TIMBA.com would appreciate if someone could comment on the musicians playing with Albita today.

Chalo Cjomat & La PalabraThe Nokia Center in Los Angeles hosts the new Conga Room where Chalo Chomat will be performing with La Palabra for their new CD release today the 17nth, Día de San Lázaro. Doors open for this CD release party at 8pm and admission is FREE. Along with Chalo, powerhouse Cuban vocalist Iris Cepeda will be appearing at the Conga Room on Saturday December 19nth with hard-core TIMBA big band Rumbankete, led by monster trombonist Denis Jiron

Rumbankete director & trombonist Denis Jiron

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Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:16:49 +0000
Melón con Havana d'Primera
Iván Habana d'Primera

Monster pianist Iván González "Melón" (on vacation in Havana) sat in with Havana d'Primera last night at Casa de Música and reports that the band is on fire. What a combination!

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Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:53:24 +0000
NUEVA PISTA - EL TOSCO y NG LA BANDA Nuestro amigo el timbero canadiense Billy Bryans y sus comapdres de SomosDeBarrio y Havana Productions anuncian esta pista nueva de El Tosco y NG La Banda: Con Que Tu Cuentas! Lanza a RADIO TIMBA para escucharla. 

También les ofrecemos este video de NG con muy buen sonido grabado en Japón en el 1992. Incluye el equipo clásico de Feliciano Arango (bajo), Calixto Oviedo (batería), Humberto Sosa (congas), Ignacio (piano) Miguelito Pan con Salsa (teclado), Mena (cantante), Tony Calá (cantante) entres otros. Para ver los videos de NG haz click aquí. Chequeate la versión rusa del bailecito Azucar. Ataca Chicho!

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Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:35:59 +0000
Afro-Cuban & Latin Jazz - Upcoming Concert Dates Two time Grammy nominee Sammy Figueroa will be showcasing at the APAP convention on Friday 1/08/2009 at 12Midnight at Iridium Jazz Club in New York City.  Sammy wil be presenting his Cal Tjader inspired group called "Sally's Tomato."  Sammy played in a gala event at Arscht Center for Performing Arts in Miami on 12/04 in a concert produced by Larry Rosen titled "Jazz Roots - An Evening with Dave Grusin."  The concert also featured Jon Secada, Patti Austin, Gary Burton, Arturo Sandoval and Nestor Torres.

 Chuchito Valdés   Sammy Figueroa


Latin Grammy nominated master Cuban pianist Chuchito Valdes, has been tearing it up at festivals all summer including the Detroit Jazz Festival, Lancaster Music Series, Oakville Jazz Fest, Daytona Beach International Festival and the Pensacola Jazz Festival.  He just completed a 3 day engagement at Latino Arts in Milwaukee where he conducted a number of clinics and a sold out grand performance to rave reviews. Chuchito was featured in a 3-disc CD with his father Chucho and his grandfather Bebo on "Dinastia Valdes" released by Sony this past April.

Click on "continue reading" below for video and tour dates...

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Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:09:03 +0000
Hard Copy of Volume 1 Now Available Beyond Salsa Piano - The Cuban Timba Piano Revolution - by Kevin Moore - Vol. 1The first volume of my Beyond Salsa Piano series is now also available as a full color paperback book on amazon.com! Note that this is the book only. The audio files are only available at LPM, which also sells a digital-only version of the book for a reduced price.

I've updated the new status page accordingly.

Volume 2 will be available in digital format before Christmas and hard-copy in January (I hope - amazon is changing to a better system and I'm waiting for that before uploading more volumes).

In the meantime, here's the online version, which includes audio and notation for excerpts from the first 6 volumes.

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Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:19:51 +0000
Huge QBA Show in Oakland Tonight!

Jesús Díaz y su QBA will be at Sweet's Ballroom tonight for the first what what will hopefully be a steady string of Cuban music concerts at this classic (and massive) venue in downtown Oakland. The next event will be a rumba party with Sandy Pérez, Jesús Díaz and Erick Barbería Sunday night, from 7:00-11:00.

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Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:22:09 +0000
Tirso Duarte in Colombia Tirso DuarteSpeaking of Charangueros, Tirso Duarte will begin his first tour of Colombia with a concert in Santander de Quilichao on December 24th, a great way to celebrate Christmas Eve.! Tirso & Proyecto K Libre will have 6 concerts in Colombia during the holiday season, culminating in a New Year's Day concert in Robles. Check Tirso's tour page for the complete list of concerts. And thanks to salsaproducciones for posting information about the tour in the Timba.com Forum.

Meanwhile in Havana Tirso is performing at Café Cantante today in a special concert with Pachito Alonso y Sus Kini Kini and Manolito y Su Trabuco. It breaks my heart to miss it!

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Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:22:01 +0000
Beyond Salsa Piano - First Releases! Beyond Salsa Piano - The Cuban Timba Piano Revolution - by Kevin Moore - Vol. 1It's so much more fun to write them than to proofread them ....

In any case, the eBook and audio files for Volume 1 can now be purchased at LPM. I've also added a new status page, where you can keep tabs on the projected release dates for the other volumes and related products. The physical book version has been approved and will appear on amazon in about a week or so.

And of course, the "online book" is already on timba.com, with one or two complete tumbaos - with audio - from each of the first 6 volumes.

To clear up any confusion, here's how it works: for each volume in the series there are actually FOUR different "products". Click "continue reading" below for the details.

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Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:50:17 +0000
Lo que va a partir el Yuma La Charanga Habanera has passed through several distinct incarnations in its 21-year existence starting as a traditional charanga in 1988, transforming into one of the most influential timba bands of the 1990s and changing with the times into a timbaton/timpop band in the past couple of years. Each epoch has had it's own character and made the questions "which is your favorite version of La Charanga Habanera?" a favorite topic among timberos. If you are new to timba, check out the History articles about the Charanga Habanera.

La Charanga Habanera - Stockholm, Sweden 28 November 2009

What is undisputeable is that under director David Calzado’s guiding hand, the band has remained at the top of the Cuban charts since 1992, adapting to the recent reggaeton explosion in Cuba by successfully integrating reggaeton into their music and collaborating with some of the most popular reggaeton bands such as Eddy-K, Gente D’Zona and Baby Lores & El Chacal. With the approaching “new premier” of the Charanga Habanera in the US, I think it is timely to share my concert report from Stockholm, November 28, 2009. Click here to read the full concert report including video.

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Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:49:47 +0000
NUEVO BOLETÍN DE LA CHARANGA HABANERA Sobre las fechas y temas de la gira - El Sr. Alejandro Otero nos informa que:

"Tenemos varias giras ya para el próximo año de inmediato -Canada para principios de año,  Peru desde el 25 de febrero al 21 de marzo está confirmado, el sudeste mexicano , por supuesto la gira veraniega de Europa y  de ser posible repetir los EE.UU."

"Para esta gira de EEUU el repertorio sería por supuesto temas del último CD 'La caratula' que contiene varios éxitos como 'Gozando en la Habana' y 'La Caratula'. Además se toman temas mas viejos como 'Pa'que se entere la habana' , 'El Temba', 'Soy Cubano soy Popular' y 'El ciclón de la Habana'. 

Los integrantes actuales son:

David Calzado Director Juan M. Chavez Trompeta
Aned Mota Cantante Osmany Collado Saxo
Lázaro Maya Cantante Randy Martínez Paila
Junio Pedraza Cantante Lázaro Mengual Bongoes
Heikel Valdez Cantante Orlando Mengual Congas
Dantes Cardoso Cantante Helder Rojas Piano
Junior Romero Trompeta Ernesto Mazar Bass
Carmelo Andre Trompeta    


Gracias por mantenernos al día Sr. Otero.

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Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:48:02 +0000
Hablando con Lachy & Heikel For those of you who haven't kept yourselves up-to-date on the comings and goings in La Charanga Habanera, it's time for a few introductions before El Ciclón de La Habana hits the US. The band now has a five-singer line-up. The veterans are Aned Mota "El Charanguero Gozador" and Dantes Cardosa "El Ricky Ricón". The newest singers have already been with the band for over a year, but since the band hasn't been to El Yuma since 2001 they may still be new faces to you.

La Charanga HabaneraJunior, Heikel, Dantes, Lachy & Aned

Last Saturday, November 28th I took the opportunity to talk with Lachy and Heikel so they could introduce themselves to the readers of Timba.com. Junior was on the move most of the time so I didn't get a chance to talk to him, but you should know him from the very popular song "Mentirosa".

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Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:40:52 +0000
Somebody Slap Me I'm starting to believe this is actually going to happen. I'll let you know when and if there are actual boots on the ground, but it's gotten as far as this cool site that counts down the days and hours:

Charanga Habanera in SF Countdown Site

Do I hear the distant rumblings of floodgates opening?

Of course, readers in Canada, Perú and Europe, must be rolling around laughing as they watch us poor yumas flailing around in agony and anticipation.

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Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:16:06 +0000
CHARANGA HABANERA EN MIAMI - DEC 26 2009 Update December 4, 2009: En comunicación directa, Danny me informa que recién llegado a Estados Unidos de México el nos visita para cumplir su gira y presentarse en varias ciudades incluyendo a Tampa, Nueva York, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco y Los Angeles. Pero el nunca ha sido invitado por David Calzado o por otra orquesta de Cuba a compartir escenario. Danny se siente muy contento de que se estén abriendo las puertas para todas estas grandes orquestas cubanas. Y que para el es un placer como espectador disfruntar de todos los conciertos que puedan surgir aca en los Estados Unidos. Danny comenta: "Agradezco mucho que el público desea una unión con la Charanga Habanera y que en la ocasión que me inviten oficialmente yo estoy dispuesto a participar."  

Charanga Habanera in Miamiclick on the image above to see the full official flyer

Further fueling the news that Cuban bands will begin a new US invasion, this new flyer has surfaced presenting David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera in Miami on Saturday December 26 2009. We know that Danny Lozada is back in the US after his concert at Yoshi's Oakland and rumors are flying that he will sing with La Charanga in Miami. Danny que nos comentas de tu polémica? Anyone with further info on this please write us. The venue is called Dolce Miami, located at 1501 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. For tickets please visit www.charangahabaneramiami.com.

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Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:59:27 +0000
"El Son" New Single from Donaldo Flores Donaldo Flores

France based, Cuban singer Donaldo Flores has released a new single -simply called "El Son" (listen to it here on RADIO TIMBA)- in anticipation of the release of his third album. Born in Matanzas, Donaldo's musical career started taking off when he joined la Orquesta Yaguarimu. Moving to Havana he worked with Orland "Maraca"Valle and then replaced Aramis Galindo in Adalberto Álvarez' group.  In 2003 he recorded his first album "El Solitario" and moved to Bordeaux. He is also known as the host of a radio progrma called "Llegó La Música Cubana" on FM 90.1 French radio. His European performances include participation with la Orqeusta Gali and the London based group "Ska Cubano". 

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Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:22:39 +0000
Entrevista con Aned Mota Aned Mota - Charanga HabaneraOn November 28th I saw La Charanga Habanera for the first time in three years. As always I had a great time. This was a major event put on by Cuba Nocturna with an opening show of rumba by Grupo Raices, reggaeton by Robertico "El Galán" and one of the newest acts in the hiphop/reggaeton scene La Nueva Union with Frank Belicer and Yarién Oviedo. I will get back to this in the full concert report. But let me begin with some of the pre-show interviews with the charangueros, starting with Aned Mota. The interveiw is in Spanish and in video format. Click here to go to the interview.

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Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:12:26 +0000
El Noro Joins Los Que Son Son El NoroLike me you have probably been anxiously awaiting the news of where El Noro would turn up after his departure from El Trabuco. Well word from Havana is that he is the latest member of Los Que Son Son. I know that for some time Pupy has been wanting to add a 4th singer to the line-up and El Noro was the lucky guy who got the spot.

Pupy y Los Que Son Son played this weekend at the Encuentro De Bailadores in Havana with the four-man front line: Michel Pérez, Norberto Gómez, Rusdel Nuñez and El Noro. I don't know yet what songs El Noro is singing but I am looking forward to seeing this combination of what is one of the strongest line-ups of the young generation of singers in Havana today.

And speaking of hot young singers in Havana, I just saw the Charanga Habanera last night for the first time since 2006 and I had a great time! Report with video coming very soon so stay tuned...

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Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:56:30 +0000
Charanga Habanera in SF - Dec. 22 I've been bitten by Charanga rumors before, but it looks the visas have come through, and, if so, the indefatigable Shabi has managed to get them to extend to tour to the West Coast. No ticket links yet, but the venue is Café Cócomo. Stay tuned! The last gig CH played in the US was this one in Dec. 2000, exactly 9 years ago.

Check back or check Cócomo's site for updates. There's a plan to add a second show the next night if the first one sells out.

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Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:06:26 +0000
Tom's Danny Lozada Photos - pt. 1 Click here. Check back later for concert photos.

The first gallery is from the extremely educational rehearsal sessions, where the differences between the Cuban and American approaches was quite apparent.

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Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:33:16 +0000
Tom's Danny Lozada Photos, Pt. 2 Moving on the the concert itself, click here for the gallery. Danny had the huge  crowd dancing in perfect synchronicity.

At one point, Danny mentioned the idea of a reunion tour with Sombrilla, Juan Carlos González and Michel Maza. That would be quite a feat!

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Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:56:37 +0000
Tom's Septeto Nacional Fotos Click here. Check back later for Lozada photos and more of Septeto Nacional.

Septeto Nacional, the premier Cuban son band in the world today, performed at Yoshi's San Francisco to sold out crowds from November 23, 2009 thru November 26, 2009.  This current US tour of Septeto, which included performances in New York City, Miami and San Francisco was the first time since 1933 that they performed in the US. 

Septeto Nacional

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Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:43:39 +0000
Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor Maykel Blanco Fans of Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor have probably heard about the new video clip for "Pa' cualquiera" the new mega-hit sung by Yordi Larrazaba. Unfortunately problems with the internet connection have prevented it from being uploaded to the Salsa Mayor hompage. Hopefully it will be up soon. If not, keep an eye on muchoswing.com. It may just show up there one of these days.

For the curious, after Pepitín's departure from the band his songs have been distributed among Yordi, Pavel and Yasser. I guess we'll soon see who is singing what because...I know that fans are eagerly awaiting the next tour and I'm happy to report that Los Mayores will be back in Europe for a spring tour in March/April 2010. Of course we will update their tours page as the confirmed dates become available so stay tuned...

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Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:07:35 +0000
Danny Lozada & Septeto Nacional Thanksgiving Shows FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Cuban Music in the Bay Area

Danny Lozada 8 and 10 pm shows at Yoshi's Oakland November 25, are a dream come true for timba fans hungry for the fast, intricate music he composes and performs. This is his first Bay Area appearance since 2007. Danny arrives Sunday night, 11/22, for a guest appearance at Jelly’s with Fito Reinoso.

Then Wednesd
Danny Lozada Yoshi's Oaklanday, 11/25, he’ll light up Yoshi’s Oakland with two shows. Danny’s performance and band leading abilities are amazing and seeing him at this world-famous venue – with an open dance floor and the best sound system anywhere – will be extraordinary.

Septeto Nacional
His 11-piece band of great timba musicians will begin full force at 8 pm, and by the 10 pm show there may be some surprises. 

Hearings this week in Washington, D.C. on lifting the embargo, along with sold out Septeto Nacional shows on the East Coast – have added to the buzz across the U.S. that Cuban music is back full force. Support these internationally recognized musicians and our Bay Area musicians as well.

Both shows are expected to sell out - advance ticket purchase is recommended (click here to buy).

 

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Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:45:21 +0000
Yosvany Terry Fotos Tom has posted two new galleries from Yosvany's recent Bay Area Tour of the Museum of the African Diaspora and Yerba Buena Gardens.

There's also a possibility that the family patriarch Eladio "Poncho" Terry, of Maravillas de Florida fame, may be travelling north for Yunior's wedding, and that we might get a Terry family reunion concert. Keep your fingers crossed!

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Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:59:22 +0000
HAS THE NEW TIMBA WAVE BEGUN? Ah hello out there? Reportedly Los Van Van has confirmed that they are playing in the next Playboy Jazz Festival! And these 2 flyers for upcoming Diakara and Pupy y los que Son Son shows at S.O.B.s (in New York City) have surfaced. What is going on? As far as we know Pupy is in Italy during that time. Let's hope that there is a coming wave of TIMBA concerts. 

Pupy at SOBs??Diakara at SOBs??

Please help us figure out if any of this is true or just BS. Click here to follow our forum thread on the coming wave of Cuban music. Bring those bands over already people.

Promoters send us your dates to giras [arroba] timba [punto] com

Click on the "continue reading" link below to see a larger version of these mysterious flyers....

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Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:44:45 +0000
Timba Thanksgiving Week All sorts of stuff is happening on both coasts next week, including two big shows on Thanksgiving Day.

First - the most exciting show in years from my perspective: On Wednesday, the night before Thanksgiving, Danny Lozada will be at Yoshi's for two shows with a truly killer band and Septeto Nacional sitting in at the 10:00 show. His set list includes 4 songs from Tremendo delirio, 3 from Tanto le pedí and three strong newer originals, including La Habana a revés. Danny will also be sitting in at Jelly's with Ritmo y Armonía on Sunday evening.

Septeto Nacional has been selling out shows in New York and will be at Yoshi's San Francisco on Thanksgiving night and the three nights before that. On Wednesday, they play an 8:00 show and then zip across the bridge to join Danny's late show.

Meanwhile, in Miami, Tiempo Libre will be at Broward Center's Amaturo Theater in Fort Lauderdale.

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Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:47:48 +0000
New Stuff! Here's the coolest feature of the new timba.com. If you look down and to the right, you'll see the "New Stuff" section (o "Lo nuevo" si estás en español).

Whenever anybody changes a page anywhere on timba.com it shows up here, so all you have to do is type www.timba.com, look in this box and you'll immediately know if anyone has added a tour date, an album review, a video, a photo gallery, a new club, a new music teacher, a new dance school, etc. Pretty cool, eh? You can also just click on the link to go to the newly edited page. You can also click "Next" to go back as far as you want through the additions of recent weeks.

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Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:48:43 +0000
The New Language Buttons We now have two types of language buttons. The global button is located in the upper right hand corner of every page:

These buttons change the menus and other global text and also store the preference so that when a page is available in both languages, it displays in the one you've chosen. Of course, if an article is only available in one language, it always appears.

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Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:12:28 +0000
David Calzado Tweets You can now follow David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera at Twitter. I don't know how often we can expect tweets but at least while they are on tour they should be able to update often. Click here to read the tweets and add yourself as a follower.

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Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:29:33 +0000
Tour Updates - Los Van Van We have updated the Los Van Van 2010 tours with a couple more dates: February 27, at Vega in Copenhagen, Denmark and March 28th in Madrid, Spain. The tour will begin in late February and go through the end of March. Keep checking the Tours section for more information as more dates are confirmed.

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Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:08:25 +0000
QBA with Carlos Caro Tonight At Moe's Alley. See you there.

UPDATE: They were on fire! Like a band from Cuba, the years of rehearsing and arranging have resulted in an overwhelming arsenal of gears and bloques. Murray Low has got that crazy Rolando Luna finger action going and I don't think I've heard any Cuban drummer play the snare drum more creatively than Carlos Caro who was completely off the hook tonight. Look for a photo gallery and maybe even a bit of video from Tom. His fancy new still camera actually takes better video than most dedicated videocams. Also, mark down Dec. 11 at Sweet's Ballroom in Oakland. Jesús didn't give too many details, but it sounds like a major event. This could be a great new Bay Area venue.

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Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:29:00 +0000
Entrevista con Juan Kemell Juan KemellJuan Kemell y La Barriada performed here in Stockholm last Sunday as part of SELAM's African Festival. I took the opportunity to sit down with Juan Kemell before the show and talk about the tour, the last CD "Havananza" and the band's philosophy which is about simply making people happy.

The interview is in WMV format and in Spanish. Click here to watch the interview and stay tuned for the full concert report coming soon...

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Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:14:10 +0000
Septeto Nacional de Cuba - In Concert in the US Septeto Nacional en MiamiFor reservations call 305.541.2631 - Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro are paragon interpreters of son, Cuba's national music genre par excellence. Decades before the Buena Vista Social Club, the septet performed the compositions of its namesake, transforming them into international standards of the son tradition. Septeto Nacional, was formed in 1927 by the first superstar of Cuban son, Ignacio Piñeiro. Born and raised in the working class Havana neighborhood of Pueblo Nuevo, Piñeiro epitomized the urban sonero. He started out as a brilliant rumbero, and he was a well-known akpón or lead vocalist of the santería chant tradition......

 

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Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:13:54 +0000
The New TOC Feature Among the complaints about the old timba.com were the difficulty of finding things and the huge pages that required so much scrolling. To address this, we've added the new INDICE-TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURE. When an article is long, it sprouts a Table of Contents to the right, so you can quickly find your way around. For example, here's the TOC from Tom Ehrlich's massive new exhibit on the Latin Side of the San José Jazz Festival:

Click on "continue reading for more on this.

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Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:37:21 +0000
Issac Tonight in Boston UPDATE: Poster added - click "continue reading" below.

Issac will be singing tonight, Thursday, Nov. 12, at 8:15 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston.

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Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:55:34 +0000
More Pepito Photos

Another "Fotos del Día" gallery from Tom Ehrlich

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Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:33:22 +0000
Our First Comment! Tiempo Libre 11/13 Thanks to our first ever blog comment, we can report that Tiempo Libre will be in LIvermore on the 13th of November - click here for more info.

If you check out the post just below this one, note the "comments" link:

If you click on the "2 comments" link - you can join in the discussion.

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Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:30:17 +0000
Bay Area Update Over 200 for Pepito's great Yoshi's show. Next up: QBA at Moe's on Saturday. Jesús Díaz was at Yoshi's and promising a huge show at a large Oakland venue in December - stay tuned for more on that. Finally, don't forget Danny Lozada at Yoshi's the night before Thanksgiving.

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Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:07:23 +0000
Pepito at Yoshi's Tonight

Tom Ehrlich and I attended the rehearsal for Tuesday night's show (dance floor open) at Yoshi's, Oakland. Click "continue reading La última" for more. Tom's photos are here.

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Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:57:13 +0000
World Premier Album Release! Sin Comentarios - La BoláDebut release from NYC's timba frontrunners "La Bolá" offers the talents of conguero Aryam Vazquez along with pianist, musical director, lead vocalist and composer Ariacne Trujillo. Guest stars include José “Pepito” Gómez on lead vocals (tracks 2, 5, 10) and Pedro Domech on coros. Click on the album cover to listen to samples. The version we offer on LPM has been digitally enhanced and is different form the original release.

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Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:55:52 +0000
Vintage NG La Banda If you check the Timbera Archives you'll see that my first post of 2009 was the exciting news that NG La Banda was back into serious timba in a big way with the song "Lucha luchador". They have followed up with the recent release "La quinta avenida" sung by Lesmer Solenzar, another song that will please timberos who appreciate the sound of the 1990s. So what better way to open my first post at the new, improved Timba.com than with some of that vintage 1990s NG that remains the classic example of what timba is all about.

NG La Banda
Tony Calá & El Tosco

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Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:54:02 +0000