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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domingo, 06 octubre 2013, 03:24 pm

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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miércoles, 25 septiembre 2013, 11:02 am

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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miércoles, 18 septiembre 2013, 05:13 pm

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...