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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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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Maykel 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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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.

"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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