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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jueves, 15 enero 2015, 01:57 am

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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domingo, 11 enero 2015, 02:06 am

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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domingo, 04 enero 2015, 11:28 am

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.