Music organization PLAYING FOR CHANGE brings us this Cuban classic... "Guantanamera". PFC started the song with Carlos Varela in Havana and it features over 75 Cuban musicians around the world, from Havana and Santiago to Miami, Barcelona and Tokyo. They recorded and produced this track with Jackson Browne, who explains that “traveling with Playing For Change across Cuba was one of the most rewarding and inspiring musical experiences of my life.”

Aymee Nuviola (vocals)  --  Equis Alfonso (vocals) -- Eva Griñán (vocals) --  Carlos Varela (vocals/guitar) -- Diana Fuentes (vocals) --  Grupo Síntesis (vocals) --  Luis Bofill (vocals/guiro) -- Reinaldo Elosegui (vocals) --  Candi Sosa (vocals/maracas) --  Manuel Galbán (guitar) --  Gabino Jardines (guitar) --  Alexander “Pupi” Carriera (conga) --  Miami Cuban Horns (Braily Ramos: trombone, Carlos Puig, trumpet, Felipe Lamoglia: saxophone) -- Camerata Romeu (strings conducted by Zenaida Romeu Diogenes) -- Manfarrol Medrano (marímbula) --  Gastón Joya (upright bass) --  Ernán López-Nussa (piano) -- Joel Peña (tres) --  La Conga de San Agustín (La Pasión) --  Luis Conte (bongos) --  Luis Valle (trumpet) --   Michelle Fragoso (piano) -- Papa Orbe Ortiz (bass) --  Sergio Cardona Veranes (guitar) --  Rigoberto López (bass)

Playing for Change is a multimedia music project, created by the American producer and sound engineer Mark Johnson with his Timeless Media Group, that seeks to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. Playing For Change also created a separate non-profit organization called the Playing For Change Foundation, which builds music schools for children around the world.

"Guantanamera" is a track from the album “PFC3 Songs Around The World”, which features 185 musicians from 31 countries, including performances from Keith Richards, Sara Bareilles, Taj Mahal, Toots Hibbert from Toots & The Maytals, Los Lobos, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Keb’ Mo’, and Andres Calamaro, in addition to a song produced by Jackson Browne. Here is the cover and link...

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ENGLISH: Stellar Cuban pianist and composer Harold López-Nussa is now on tour in the United States and will be performing in Evanston, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) on Monday, September 29 at 7:30pm at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Avenue, Evanston.  He will be in trio with bassist Gaston Joya and his brother, drummer Ruy Adrian López Nussa. You can read all the details on SPACE's web page for the event. This is a don't miss event for fans of the new Jazz in Cuba. 
Read our review of the album New Day  here. 
See the rest of the tour here.



ESPAÑOL:  Estelar pianista/compositor cubano Harold López-Nussa se encuentra de gira en los Estados Unidos, y él se presentará en Evanston, Illinois (un suburbio de Chicago) el lunes, 29 de Septiembre a las 7:30pm en SPACE, 1245 Chicago Avenue, Evanston.  Él estará en trío con el bajista Gastón Joya y su hermano, el baterista Ruy Adrián López-Nussa.  Puede leer todos los detalles en la página web de SPACE para el evento.  Esto es un "no se lo pierda" evento para los fans del nuevo Jazz en Cuba. 
Lea nuestra reseña del álbum  New Day  aquí.  Vea el resto de la gira aquí. 

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The 14th World Music Expo - WOMEX, will take place from October 22-26 in the beautiful, historic city of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Last year Los Van Van was given the Artist Award at WOMEX 13. This year Mayito Rivera & The Sons of Cuba have been selected as part of the Artist Showcase. They will perform on October 23rd. Click here to purchase your tickets for the October 23rd showcase.

For those of you unfamiliar with WOMEX, it is a world music trade fair where artists, promoters and labels can meet and network. It also includes showcase performances each night open to visitors, as well as awards for excellence presented at events only open to attendees. 

Mayito's selection for the WOMEX showcase is an affirmation of his recent solo work as represented by the album "Invéntate una historia". All arrangements and lyrics on the new album are by Mayito. With this album he is mixing Cuban music with a broader range of world musical traditions. Check out the electronic press kit below to hear more about Mayito's latest project from the man himself. And if you can't make WOMEX, you can still catch Mayito performing with Soneros de Verdad tomorrow, September 25th in Brussels at Moliere, Friday the 26th in Utrecht at Rasa and Saturday the 27th in The Hague at Korzo. 

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(Image Source: Facebook Page of Descemer Bueno)

ENGLISH:  On Wednesday, September 24, the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences® (LARAS) announced the nominations for the 15th Annual Latin GRAMMY® Awards.  For followers of Cuban music, this year is less exciting than last, which included the Lifetime Achievement Award for Juan Formell and more Cuban nominees.  Still, there are some interesting highlights. You can read Bill Tilford's perspectives about this year's nominations here. 

ESPAÑOL:  El miércoles, 24 de septiembre, La Academia Latina de la Grabacion® (LARAS) anunció las nominaciones a la 15a Entrega Anual del Latin GRAMMY®.  Para los seguidores de la música cubana, este año parece menos emocionante que el anterior, que incluyó el Premio a la Excelencia Musical para Juan Formell y más nominados cubanos.  Sin embargo, hay algunos interesantes aspectos destacados.  Puede leer las perspectivas de Bill Tilford sobre las nominaciones actuales aquí

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