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. 

leave a comment

continue reading Sin Clave No Hay Na

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

leave a comment

continue reading Sin Clave No Hay Na

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. 

leave a comment

continue reading Sin Clave No Hay Na

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 . 

leave a comment

continue reading Sin Clave No Hay Na