A new Beyond Salsa mini-documentary and two musical treasures. The documentary is on Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 2: Arsenio, Cachao and The Golden Age of the 50s, but especially about Arsenio Rodríguez, the mid-century musical visionary whom I call "the first timbero". 

The second link is for a brand new demo from the most exciting lineup El Pikete has put together, featuring the great Reinier Guerra on drums and many other top Miami players.

Click here for El Pikete: Mi detalle.

Finally, we have two never-released-on-CD Arsenio tracks from his absolute prime.

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ENGLISH: Tonight at Mojitos in Miami, La Charanga Habanera begin their North American tour with four concerts in the US and three in Canada. On the 12th they will perform at Havana 1957, and David has announced that for this concert they will focus on their "classic" repertoire, i.e. the timba Charanga we all loved back in the late 90s early 2000s. Click here to read David's statement at the Charanga Habanera offical Facebook page.

ESPAÑOL: Esta noche en Mojitos en Miami, La Charanga Habanera comienza su gira norteamericana con cuatro conciertos en los Estados Unidos y tres en Canadá. El 12 se presentarán en La Habana en 1957, y David ha anunciado que para este concierto se enfocará en su repertorio "clásico", es decir, la Charanga timbera a la que todos amábamos a fines de los años 90 a principios de los años 2000. Haga clic aquí para leer la declaración de David en la página oficial de Charanga Habanera en Facebook.

August   2, 2017 - Miami, FL. - Mojitos
August 12, 2017 - Miami, FL. - Havana 1957
August 13, 2017 - Chicago, IL. - Festival Cubano
August 25, 2017 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Phoenix Concert Theater
August 26, 2017 - Montreal, Quebec, Canada - Club Soda
August 27, 2017 - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - Commadore Ballroom

ENGLISH: This Saturday Qban Fest comes to North America celebrating the 15th anniversary  of Pupy y Los Que Son Son with two concerts featuring and guests Tania Pantoja, Pedrito Calvo, Mayito Rivera and Pepito Gómez. This is a must-see if you are in the vicinity of Washington D.C.  or New York City. The San Francisco concert has been postponed and the promoter has informed fans via Facebook that they are rescheduling and will announce dates for Los Angeles and San Francisco, so check their tours page regularly to keep updated.

ESPAÑOL: Este sábado Qban Fest llega a Norteamérica celebrando el 15o aniversario de Pupy y Los Que Son Son con dos conciertos presentando invitados Tania Pantoja, Pedrito Calvo, Mayito Rivera y Pepito Gómez. Este es un evento obligado si estás en las inmediaciones de Washington D.C. o la ciudad de Nueva York. El concierto de San Francisco ha sido pospuesto y el promotor ha informado a los aficionados a través de Facebook que están reprogramando y anunciará fechas para Los Ángeles y San Francisco, así que compruebe su página de tours con regularidad para mantenerse actualizado.

August 5, 2017 - Washington DC - Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club 
August 6, 2017 - New York City, NY - Highline Ballroom

ENGLISH: Formell & Los Van Van also begin their US tour on August 5th at the Latin Festival Por+ Música Miami also fetauring La India, Adalberto Álvarez & Su Son, Laritza Bacallao, Los 4 and Carlos Manuel. The tour will includes New York, Florida, California, Oregan, Washington and Puerto Rico. US audiences will get their first live look at the band with Vanessa Formell filling the rol of female vocalist. Click here for the list of concert dates.

ESPAÑOL: Formell & Los Van Van también comienzan su gira por Estados Unidos el 5 de agosto en el Latin Festival Por + Música Miami, también con La India, Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son, Laritza Bacallao, Los 4 y Carlos Manuel. El tour incluirá Nueva York, Florida, California, Oregan, Washington y Puerto Rico. El público estadounidense obtendrá su prime vistazo en vivo de Vanessa Formell llenando el rol de vocalista femenina de Van Van. Haga clic aquí para ver la lista de conciertos.

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Master percussionist Calixto Oviedo is back with his second Latin Jazz album, due for release very soon. We have heard four of the songs that he has uploaded to his YouTube channel. Below you will find a short teaser with clips of some of the tracks that will be on the album. We have recieved this preliminary review from Miriam Dotls who has had the pleasure of hearing more than we have.

"Calixto Oviedo is finishing his second Latin Jazz production  with his band The Cuban Jazz Train. This new band, which is emerging in L.A. as the flag of Latin Jazz in California and one of the most noted in the USA these days, will present compositions by Yosmel Montejo (bassist), Joel Nunez (sax) Yasser Morejón (one of the great Cuban bassists who resides in Denmark), Calixto Oviedo as well as some classics of Latin Jazz. "Como Suena" is the name of a composition by Yosmel Montejo that also lends its name to the CD. Soon,  in late May, we will be enjoying The Cuban Jazz Train.

The musicians are Montejo Yosmel - bass, Joel Nunez - piano, Nathanael Molina and Alex Rivas -piano, Christian Moraga - congas, Lily D Oviedo - vocals and one of the great Cuban trumpeters of the moment guest star Josiel Perez on flugelhorn. It will for sure be an album that everyone will enjoy, and from now on with what little I have heard you can say Como Suena!" - Miriam Dotls

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Here's Tom Ehrlich's gallery and report from the recent Bay Area performance of Jane Bunnett & Maqueque.

Here's the rest of the tour, including Richmond, NY, Ontario and British Columbia.

Other news: Pupy cancelled in the Bay Area due to visas, but the rest of the tour looks good; SJ Jazz (Aug 11-14) is packed with great Latin acts (Pedrito Martínez, Calixto Oviedo, Daymé Arocena, Carlitos Medrano, Conjunto Karabalí, Oscar Hernández Quartet, Jimmy Bosch, Pacific Mambo, Brian Andres, Manny Martínez, and others - plus George Clinton and Maceo Parker - much more on this soon; Tom's Arango photos also coming soon).

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