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Reviews

Type Artist Product Date Author
CD Zona Franka Zonafrankacoversmall Se llama sabroso (Ocho Music Group) 2021.03.07

ENGLISH: In a guest review by Mildred Gloria Aguilar Díaz written for Radio Cadena Habana and republished here, a look at a style called Changüi con flow by Zona Franka. A tasty mixture of traditional and urban Cuban music.
ESPAÑOL: En una reseña escrita por Mildred Gloria Aguilar Díaz para Radio Cadena Habana y republicada aquí, una mirada a un estilo llamado Changüi con flow de Zona Franka. Una sabrosa mezcla de música cubana tradicional y urbana.

07/25/2021 Mildred Gloria Aguilar Diáz
CD Kiki Valera Kiki_valera_vivencias_en_clave_cubanasmall Vivencias en clave cubana (featuring Coco Freeman)

ENGLISH: VIVENCIAS EN CLAVE CUBANA is the exciting debut solo album of Kiki Valera, cuatrista of one of Cuba's most distinguished families of soneros, the Familia Valera Miranda. The album also features Coco Freeman whose resume includes lead vocalist for NG La Banda and Adalberto Álvarez y su Son."

ESPAÑOL: VIVENCIAS EN CLAVE CUBANA es el emocionante álbum debut en solitario de Kiki Valera, cuatrista de una de las familias de soneros más distinguidas de Cuba, la Familia Valera Miranda. El álbum también presenta a Coco Freeman, cuyo currículum incluye voz líder con NG La Banda y Adalberto Álvarez y su Son.

10/18/2019 Tom Ehrlich
CD Charanga Habanera Ch_td_front Tremendo Delirio - (Inspector de la Salsa) - Released 1997

By 1997, the Timba scene in Havana had reached the flash point. The innovations of NG La Banda and Charanga Habanera had been embraced and assimilated by a new generation of musicians and an exciting array of new groups had emerged... In the heady days of 1997, Timba was surging forward with dizzying momentum, and in the eye of that storm, in an atmosphere of tremendo delirio, the original Charanga Habanera released their eagerly-anticipated fourth album. Neither they nor anyone else would have dreamed that it would also be their last.

05/28/2002 Kevin Moore
CD Charanga Habanera 00_cover Pa' que se entere La Habana - (Inspector de la Salsa) - Released 1995

By 1995 Charanga Habanera and their second album, Hey You Loca, had become a major sensation in Havana. Their concerts were packed with young "Charangueros" who danced and dressed as they did and knew all of their songs, each of which became, in rapid succession, a huge radio hit. With the band's popularity reaching "mania" proportions....

07/28/2002 Kevin Moore
CD Manolín, El Médico de la Salsa Puente_cover El Puente - (Ciocan Music) - Released 2002

Given the amount of water that's passed under "the bridge" for the amusingly enigmatic character known as "El Médico de la Salsa", it's no wonder that the historic release of "El puente" has rekindled the many controversies swirling around the current state of music and politics in Cuba and the United States. Fortunately, "El puente" also has the power to make us forget such annoyances and remember why we're drawn to this music in this first place. This live double CD captures the torrid adrenaline rush of the live Timba experience as no commercial recording ever has...

09/28/2002 Kevin Moore
CD Rafael Rosa Rrcoverblog Rafael Rosa - Portrait

Rafael Rosa is a Puerto Rico-born, New York residing guitarist who has been making a name for himself since arriving in NYC in 2011. His debut album “Portrait” consists entirely of original material and was produced by Rosa along with legendary bassist John Benítez. His line-up of musicians includes a nucleus of Rosa, Edmar Colón, Dan Martínez, Joel Mateo and Carlos Homs with special guests John Benítez, Kenny Werner, Jean-Michel Pilc, Michael Rodríguez, Melanie Lozano, Carlos Maldonado and Milton Barreto.

04/18/2014 Ian Stewart
CD Los Hermanos Colón Los Hermanos Colón Jpeg Sabor 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.

06/13/2014 Ian Stewart
CD Rolando Morales-Matos Jpeg Rolando Morales-Matos and Forward

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.

06/16/2014 Ian Stewart
CD Gerardo Contino Jpeg Somos Latinos

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.

06/16/2014 Ian Stewart
CD Manhattan School of Music Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra Qvhs Que Viva Harlem

Bobby Sanabria and the Manhattan School of Music Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra hit it out of the park again with Que Viva Harlem, a relentlessly swinging tribute to New York's Golden Age.

06/08/2015 Ian Stewart
CD Michael Eckroth Piano_and_rhythm Piano & Rhythm

Highly accomplished and acclaimed pianist Michael Eckroth offers up his most recent recording as a leader entitled Piano & Rhythm. Both a "nod to the piano masters of the past as well as a showcase for Eckroth’s own identity as a composer", this is an exquisitely recorded and performed album from top to bottom.

03/16/2016 Ian Stewart
CD Azucar Negra Azucarnegra Andar Andando - (Bis Music) - Released 2000

With the release of “Andar Andando”, Azucar Negra has produced a timba classic for the new millennium. The dynamic duo of writer-arranger, Leonel Limonta and vocalist Haila Mompie (both founders of another powerhouse group, Bamboleo), have come up with a delicious blend of rhythms that will grab hold of both dancer and listener alike...

01/15/2001 Carlos Suarez
CD Roman Filiu Musaesmall Musae - (Dafnison Music) Released 2012.09.04

Roman Filiu is part of the colony of cutting-edge Cuban Jazz artists who settled in New York. This straight-ahead Jazz project won the prize for Jazz in Cubadisco 2013.

05/23/2013 Bill Tilford
CD Carlos Miyares Miyaressmall Chucho Valdés presenta a Carlos Miyares - (BIS) Released 2012

Nominated for a Cubadisco for Cuban Jazz in 2013, this recording is deep and beautiful. Saxophonist Carlos Miyares' style has been described as post-Coltrane by some reviewers.

05/13/2013 Bill Tilford
CD Klimax Todoestabiensmall Todo está bien - (Colibri) Released 2012

Nominated for a Cubadisco award in the Popular Dance Music category in 2013. In a different year when it would not have been competing with Pasaporte, it might have had an excellent chance of winning, musically speaking.

05/01/2013 Bill Tilford
CD Cuban Salsa All Stars Tumbabailasmall Tumbao pal bailador - (Cubamusic) Released 2012

A "Cuban Salsa All Star" project with a massive cast of musicians including Betty y su Proyecto Tiempo, Lesmer Solenzar, Laritza Bacallao, Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor, Alexander Abreu, Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco, El Indio, Tania Pantoja and Pedrito Calvo.

05/10/2013 Bill Tilford
CD Alfredo Chacon Magicplacecoversmall Magic Place - (Independent Release) Released 2011

Fans of Weather Report and Grupo Afrocuba will enjoy this eclectic recording, which was nominated for a Cubadisco award in Jazz in 2013. Although Alfredo Chacon is a vibraphonist, this is more than just a vibraphone album.

05/22/2013 Bill Tilford
CD/DVD Manolin El Medico de la Salsa Tiene-que-ser-manolinsmall Tiene Que Ser Manolin - (Xplosion Entertainment) Released 2012

Manolin does a little bit of everything here, and different tracks may appeal to different listeners.

03/24/2013 Bill Tilford
CD Timbalive Timbalivecdsmall La Timba pa' to' el Mundo - (Latin Power Enterprises) Released 2011

This recording was nominated for a Cubadisco award in 2012 in the Popular Dance Music category, a rare distinction for a dance band based in the United States.

12/06/2011 Bill Tilford
CD Manuel Valera Nce_coversmall New Cuban Express - (Mavo Records) Released 2012

This album was nominated for a GRAMMY in the Latin Jazz category in 2012 and is one of the most exciting and inventive recordings of Latin Jazz in many years.

06/03/2012 Bill Tilford
CD Chucho Valdés Border-freecoversmall Border-Free - (Jazz Village) Released 2013.07.09

The back story to the cover art started some interesting conversations within the Latin Jazz community, but nobody can reasonably deny that Chucho's new release is musically intense. Released in Cuba under Colibrí label with the title Sin Fronteras, this was nominated for a GRAMMY (Latin Jazz) and a Cubadisco (Jazz Cubano)

05/27/2013 Bill Tilford
CD Septeto Santiaguero Septsantsmall Vamos pa' la fiesta - (Picap) Released 2012

This recording by one of Cuba's best son bands features an impressive international collection of guest singers and was awarded a Cubadisco award in Traditional Tropical Music in 2013.

05/19/2013 Bill Tilford
CD Havana d'Primera Pasaportewebfront3small Pasaporte - (Colibri) Released 2012

Winner of the Cubadisco award for Popular Dance Music in 2013, Pasaporte is Timba (or Cuban Salsa if you prefer) at its very best.

05/19/2013 Bill Tilford
CD/DVD Maraca & His Latin Jazz All Stars Rencuentroswebsitesmall Reencuentros - (Independent Release 2011, EGREM 2012) Initial Release 2011

This Cuban Jazz recording by Maraca and a cast of supporting all stars received critical acclaim internationally including a glowing review by Downbeat in the United States.

01/09/2012 Bill Tilford
CD/DVD Ernan López-Nussa Lopeznussa__1_small Pas de Trois - (Colibri) Released 2009

This beautiful trio recording has Ernán at the grand piano and incorporates elements from much of the history of Cuban and US popular music and Jazz as well as his classical training. For those who only know of Ernán from his work with Afro-Cuban groups, this shows a different side of his talents.

09/01/2011 Bill Tilford
CD Concha Buika Buika_lanoche__coversmall La Noche Más Larga - (Warner Music Latina) Released 2013.06.04

Buika continues her streak of emotionally powerful recordings with a cast that includes Cuban musicians Alaín Pérez, Iván Melón Lewis and Pedrito Martinez.

05/31/2013 Bill Tilford
CD Harold López-Nussa Nussa3small El País de las Maravillas - (World Village) Released 2011

Harold López-Nussa may not be as famous as uncle Érnan yet, but if he keeps putting out recordings like his one, that will change in time.

03/11/2011 Bill Tilford
Concert Various Artists Fcblogmainweb1small Third Annual Festival Cubano in Chicago Illinois August 4-5 2012

The third edition of Chicago's new Cuban cultural festival shows continued progress and improvement, and there are opportunities for even more.

08/08/2012 Bill Tilford
CD Marlow Rosado Marlowwebsmall Retro - (Pink Chaos) Released 2012

A tribute to the North American Salsa of the 70's that was played by groups like Eddie Palmieri's band, Retro won the GRAMMY for Best Tropical Latin Album in 2013.

08/11/2012 Bill Tilford
CD Pacific Mambo Orchestra Pacificmamboorchestra-1small Pacific Mambo Orchestra - (Independent Release) Released 2012

Well-done big band Mambo from a rising band based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Firmly based in tradition but with some modern touches as well.

09/09/2012 Bill Tilford
CD Alfredo De La Fe Sinlimitessmall Sin Limites - (No Borders Entertainment) Released 2013.04.29

Alfredo de la Fe's new collaborative release with Rodry-Go mixes Charanga with multiple other styles and manages for the most part to do so successfully.

08/25/2013 Bill Tilford
CD Tiempo Libre Tiempo_libre_cv_final_480small My Secret Radio - (Sony Masterworks) Released 2011

Tiempo Libre returns to its dance music roots with a mixture of Timba and some of the North American Soul, Jazz and other dance music styles that the members listened to while still living on the island.

06/02/2012 Bill Tilford
CD Los Van Van La_maquinaria___los_van_van La Maquinaria - (EGREM) Released 2011

A combination of new takes on older Los Van Van songs and some new material, this recording was nominated for a Latin GRAMMY in 2012.

11/19/2012 Bill Tilford
CD Rumbankete Rumbanketesmall Que No Pare La Fiesta - (Independent Release) Released 2011

Shhh, don't tell anybody, but this "Progressive Salsa" band in LA plays some very good Songo and Timba too. We wouldn't want some of the "I don't like Timba" people currently dancing to this to freak out...

10/16/2011 Bill Tilford
CD Charanga Habanera Charangalight2_100 Charanga Light 2 - (Blue Night Entertainment) Released 2013.05.15

The album shows that musicians in Cuba can perform other styles quite effectively and regular fans of CH should not despair.

06/06/2013 Bill Tilford
CD Tito Puente Quatrosmall Quatro: The Definitive Collection - (Sony Music Latin) Released 2012

Tito Puente, while not Cuban himself, always made it perfectly clear that the music that he played was of Cuban origins. This 5-CD retrospective includes some of the best of his more Jazz-oriented work along with some of his greatest dance hits.

06/16/2013 Bill Tilford
CD Angel d'Cuba Angelcdweb Heritage - (Independent Release) Released 2012.03.28

Angel d'Cuba sang with a few groups including Mezcla back in Cuba. This is his debut solo album in the United States featuring mostly his own compositions and an eclectic variety of styles including a Funk Mozambique version of Can't Hide Love.

03/25/2012 Bill Tilford
CD Omar Sosa Covereggunwebsmall Eggun - (OTA Records) Released 2013.02.01

An ingenious Afro-Cuban tribute to, but NOT a cover of, Miles Davis' Kind of Blue. Miles was here, but this recording is very much Omar's.

03/02/2013 Bill Tilford
Film Edesio Alejandro 100sonescubanossmall Los 100 Sones Cubanos (2010) Directed by Edesio Alejandro & Rubén Consuegra

This film does not attempt to be a comprehensive history of the Son but does include some interesting historical information as well as some entertaining and sometimes unusual live performances,

04/14/2012 Bill Tilford
CD Sierra Maestra Sonandoyajpegsmall Sonando Ya - (World Village) Released 2010

This recording by one of Cuba's most prominent Son bands was nominated for a Latin GRAMMY in 2010 and includes a nice mix of different tempos.

01/12/2012 Bill Tilford