Reviews
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z All
Type | Artist | Product | Date | Author |
---|---|---|---|---|
CD | Zona Franka |
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.
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07/25/2021 | Mildred Gloria Aguilar Diáz |
CD | Kiki Valera |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 & 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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 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 |
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 |
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-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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 - (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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |