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Reviews

Type Artist Product Date Author
CD Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco Manolito_portada_sin_frenosmall Sin Freno - (Bis Music) Released 2013

Those of you who have been mourning the fact that the 80s and 90s are over can stop now. Sin Freno is a knock-you-flat-on-your-arse Timba recording (with one stray concession to the bachateros) that easily holds its own with anything we old-timers remember from our own versions of the "Golden Age".

05/01/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Paulo FG y su Élite Abrequevoysmall Abre que voy - (EGREM) - Released 2013

Paulo FG returns with a mix of genres including Timba, Salsa and a Bachata and Regueton track, all performed well. Nominated for a Cubadisco in the Música Popular Bailable category.

05/01/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Adalberto Alvarez y Su Son Aarerspetosmall Respeto pa los mayores - (Bis Music) Released 2013

The style may be retro, and the lyrics may invoke tradition, but there's nothing old about the energy level. This is Adalberto's hardest-hitting album in decades. Take the energy from Son 14, augment the brass section, crank things up a couple of notches, and you're headed in the right direction.

04/30/2014 Bill Tilford
CD JG Jgcovelarger Empezar de cero - (EGREM) -Released 2011

This is the well-done debut Timba recording by a former member of Gente de Zona and includes some heavyweights like Alexander Abreu and Amaury Pérez in the brass section.

04/22/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Los Cubanos Cubopsmall Cu-Bop - (EGREM) Released 2012

This extraordinary album is what the title says it is, and possibly the best recording of it ever made anywhere. Recorded in the EGREM studios and originally manufactured and distributed by a Japanese label, now available in Cuba as an EGREM CD. Nominated for a Cubadisco in 2013 (Vocal-Instrumental Music), it deserves to win something, somewhere.

04/21/2014 Bill Tilford
Concert Orquesta Aragon Aragonsmalltimba Orquesta Aragon in Chicago 2014

Orquesta Aragón returned to Chicago after an absence of more than a decade for two shows at the Mayne Stage in Chicago. The venue was full and enthusiastic for their swinging performances.

04/20/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Pupy & Los Que Son Son Sin_limite_small Sin Líimite - (EGREM) Released 2013

Sin Límite, his latest release on EGREM, is one of Pupy's most innovative albums, full of stylistic twists and turns that you wouldn't normally expect in a recording that still contains some great timba.

04/20/2014 Bill Tilford
DVD Pupy & Los Que Son Son Pupyexitos Éxitos - (EGREM) Released 2012

Nominated in the Compilation category in Cubadisco 2013, this DVD contains 30 slamming Timba MP3s of some of Pupy's best material along with a 25-minute documentary.

04/20/2014 Bill Tilford
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
Film Various Artists Miamibohemesmall Miami Boheme: An American Musical Journey (Rolling Pin Music) Released 2014

Miami Boheme is an hour-long PBS documentary (also available on DVD) that chronicles Miami's current Latin Fusion music scene. It includes excellent concert footage and video clips by several groups including Palo! and Spam Allstars.

04/13/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Palo! Palolive_snall Palo! Live (Rolling Pin Music) Released 2014

This is a recording of a phenomenal concert by Palo! at the now-shuttered PAX Miami. Some video clips of this performance also appear in the PBS documentary Miami Boheme. Powerful vocals by Leslie Cartaya, serious Afro Cuban Funk beats, and Ed Calle goes insane on tenor sax.

04/13/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Alex Bia Renacercovesmall Renacer (Independent Release) Released 2014

This debut CD by Cuban-born singer-songwriter-keyboardist Alex Bia includes an explosive opening track with special guest Tirso Duarte. It isn't a Timba album (except for the first track), but the other styles that it contains (Salsa, Latin Pop/R & B) are solid.

04/13/2014 Bill Tilford
CD William Roblejo William_roblejo Dreaming (Colibrí) Released 2012

This swinging album by William Roblejo is relatively unique for Cuba - a Jazz violin soloist carrying the entire recording with a variety of stylistic influences. Deservedly nominated in three categories in Cubadisco 2013.

04/05/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Qva Libre Viva-qva-libresmall Viva Qva Libre (Bis Music) Released 2011

Qva Libre is one of Cuba's best alternative bands and will especially appeal to fans of groups like Interactivo. Viva Cuba Libre is their second album, which won Cubadisco (fusion) and Cuerda Viva awards in 2011.

04/05/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Juan Carlos Marín Trombondesantaamalia El Trombón de Santa Amalia - (Cinquillo/Colibri) Released 2012

This 2013 nominee for a Cubadisco award in the Jazz Cubano category showcases Juan Carlos Marín, who may now be Cuba's best Jazz trombonist, along with an excellent ensemble performing some modern Jazz and Jazz Fusion material. It is also yet another entry in Colibri's "The Young Jazz Spirit" series, which so far has consistently proven to be excellent.

04/02/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Pedro Luis Ferrer Pedroluisferrer_albumcovesmallr Final (Escondida Music) Released 2014.03.25

Final almost certainly is not Pedro Luis Ferrer's final album, but it is a great album to put on during a quiet weekend morning with a loved one.

04/01/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Gema Corredera Derremando_luzsmall Derramando Luz (GC Music LLC) Released 2013.01.11

This beautiful and unique album is a rarity: a modern Filin recording released in the United States. It features stellar vocalist Gema Corredera with many of New York's Cuban Jazz elite. It was nominated for a Cubadisco award (Contemporary Song) in 2013.

04/01/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Various Artists Small938_coleccion_aÑejo_carta_de_oropeque Añejo carta de oro - 100 joyas de la música cubana (Bis Music) released 2013

This excellent 6-CD, 100-song set focuses on traditional music from as far back as María Teresa Vera to modern artists such as Mayito Rivero covering classic songs. It includes a few groups that you may have read about but never actually heard.

03/30/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Various Artists Small5leyendasdecuba 5 Leyendas de Cuba (EGREM) Released 2008

This 5-CD set covers the careers of Eliades Ochoa, Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo and Rubén González in a broader context than their work associated with the Buena Vista Social Club using EGREM's recordings of them.

03/30/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Various Artists 15anossmall 15 años locos por la música (Bis Music) Released 2008

This 4-CD-set is hands down one of the best collections of various artists to emerge from Cuba in the last two decades. It is loaded with Cubadisco winners and even includes genres like classical that seldom show up in packages of this tupe.

03/30/2014 Bill TIlford
CD Los Van Van Formellmaniasmall La Formell Manía (Bis Music) Released 2013

The 3 CD-set is one of the very best of the numerous Los Van Van compilations. Excellent song choices, ditto continuity, ditto production values.

03/30/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Soneros All Stars Sonerosallstars_lolo-small Lolo - (Soneros Records) Released 2014.03.26

Yanesito has hit this one out of the ballpark!
‘Lolo’ is 30 minutes of scorching dance music, impossible to resist and a must have for DJs

03/25/2014 Michelle White
CD Liuba María Hevia 937-liuba-ma-hevia-coleccion-30-anos Colección 30 años (Bis Music) Released 2013

This is an intriguing 8-CD box set covering 30 years of recordings by one of Cuba's best representatives of the Nueva Trova movement, Liuba María Hevia. It won a Special Prize in Cubadisco 2014.

03/23/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Various Artists 45-de-lujocoversmall 45 D' LUJO (EGREM) Released 2009

This special collection of 10 CDs (192 songs) was issued in 2009 in honor of EGREM's 45th Anniversary and includes selections from the years 1961-2009.

03/23/2014 Bill Tilford
CD/DVD Various Artists Veinte-pianossmall Veinte Pianos - (Cinquillo/Colibri) Released 2011

Winner of the Grand Prize in Cubadisco 2012, this unique project features the music of Ernán López-Nussa in a way that also showcases the talent of some of Cuba's young generation of new pianists. The product also includes sheet music, a documentary, videos and a photo gallery with more than 3 hours of active content.

01/19/2014 Bill Tilford
DVD Juan Formell y Los Van Van Vanvan40lsmalljpg Van Van 40 - (Unicornio) Released 2012

This DVD, which was nominated for a Cubadisco in 2013 in the live recording category, includes a 2006 40th Anniversary concert, extra footage of interviews and conversations, English subtitles in the spoken parts of the film, and some video and photo footage of the beginnings of Los Van Van.

01/16/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Voces D'Aida Voces_d_aidalsmall Voces D'Aida - (EGREM) Released 2009

This 4-CD anthology of the legendary quartet plus subsequent solo recordings by its members won Cubadisco awards in Música de Archivo and Liner Notes, has wonderful music, excellent new digital audio and, best of all, it includes a well-done booklet in both Spanish and English along with the CDs.

01/15/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Omar Sosa Cover_senses Senses - (Ota Records) Released 2014.01.14

Omar Sosa's sixth solo piano CD is one of his most meditative, uses a concert grand piano and may also be of interest to Classical music listeners who are unfamiliar with his work.

01/11/2014 Bill Tilford
CD David Calzado & Charanga Habanera Charanga_habanera_-_se_sufre_pero_se_goza_frontsmall Se Sufre Pero Se Goza - (EGREM) Released 2013.11.09

Charanga Habanera returns with a rousing Timba album that should appeal to its original fan base.

01/11/2014 Bill Tilford
CD/DVD Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro Habanatienesuson_septetoignaciopineiro__1_small La Habana Tiene Su Son - (Bis) Released 2012

This distinctive CD/DVD set includes both live and studio recordings of the Septeto, an interview with musicologist Helio Orovio and liner notes that make this both an excellent musical production and a valuable historical document. Nominated in both the Latin GRAMMY awards and Cubadisco 2013.

01/10/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Alejandro Falcon Claroscurosmall Claroscuro - (Cinquillo/Colibri) Released 2012

This 2013 Cubadisco winner in the Ópera Prima category (similar to Best New Artist in other countries) combines a variety of influences from Cuban music, Jazz and Funk. It's a Cuban Jazz album, but there are some Funk moments that will knock your socks off too.

01/10/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Eliades Ochoa Ochoa__1_small Lo Mas Reciente de Eliades Ochoa - (EGREM) Released 2012

This trilogy is a great way to get a Latin GRAMMY winner and a Cubadisco (Cuba's most prestigious music awards) nominee in one package with a bonus of an additional collection of nice instrumentals.

01/09/2014 Bill Tilford
DVD Pablo Menéndez Mezclagraphicsmall Todos Estrellas del Jazz Cubano - (Cinquillo/Colibri) Released 2013

If you think you know everything there is to know about Pablo Menéndez from his past recordings with Mezcla, think again - this intense Jazz DVD not only shows sides of him that you may not know, but it will radically change your perceptions of the current Jazz scene in Cuba as well.

01/08/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Ernesto Vega Evega3small Venir al Mundo - (Cinquillo/Colibri) Released 2008

There is so much excellent Jazz coming out of Cuba now that it would be foolhardy to attempt to rank the best albums. That being said, this one belongs somewhere in the top ten for the past decade. This writer considers it a must-have due to the innovative compositions as well as the performance quality.

01/08/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Miriam Ramos Cancioncub1small La Canción Cubana - (Cinquillo/Colibri) Released 2012

This remarkable trilogy, a multiple award winner (including the Grand Prize) in Cubadisco 2013 and a Latin GRAMMY nominee the same year, spans eight decades of the Cuban songbook and illuminates the material in beautiful ways.

01/07/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Jorge Luis Torres Ancestral Ancestral - (Iroko) Released 2013

This new Latin Jazz project by Toronto-based Cuban percussionist Jorge Luis Torres "Papiosco" will especially appeal to percussionists and fans of other groups like Bongo-Logic and Shades of Jade that make extensive use of violin and flute in their Jazz arrangements.

01/06/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Orlando Valle "Maraca" Suspendansmall ¡Suspendan Los Comentarios! - (Independent) Released 2013

Maraca apparently read the memo from that portion of his fans that wanted a front-to-back dance album. Here it is, and it is his best dance music recording to date, although it is musically intelligent enough to keep his Jazz fans engaged as well.

01/06/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Orlando Valle "Maraca" Todoonadasmaller Todo o Nada - (Independent) Released 2013

Maraca got the need to do dance material out of his system with another recording released at roughly the same time, "¡Suspendan Los Comentarios!". "Todo o Nada" is as seriously focused on Jazz (including some straight ahead as well as Latin) as the other recording is on dance music.

01/06/2014 Bill Tilford
CD Harold López-Nussa Harold_lopez_nussa_new_day_small New Day - (Jazz Village) - Released 2013.10.08

Harold López-Nussa's newest album, New Day, brings more beautiful songwriting and virtuosic performing from this rising young member of the illustrious López-Nussa family.

11/06/2013 Bill TIlford
CD Appalatin Appalatinsmall Waterside (Self-Produced) - Released 2013.05.31

Appalatin's "Waterside" is an unusual and pleasant blend of Andean, Appalachian, "Roots" music, Cumbia, Caribbean - think of a Western-Hemisphere acoustic jam session where nobody asked you where you were from or what that instrument you were carrying is called.

11/06/2013 Bill Tilford