We're now getting close to catching up with the timbanado that hit the Bay Area last month: 5 HdP galleries and about 6 videos; selected Mayimbe shots, soundcheck photos from PMG in SF, and now Tom's PMG gallery from the mind-boggling Santa Cruz show. Still to come are the videos from this show.

PMG comes to the Mendocino Music Fest this coming Friday, July 26.

Everything else is just rumors - maybe Manolito, maybe Revé - keep your fingers crossed, and don't forget Issac in Boston for free on Thursday (see previous post).

Book news - Tirso Duarte is done and on sale at createspace and LPM. Now about 50% done with Beyond Salsa Bass, Vol. 2. Volume 1 ended with Arsenio, and Volume 2 begins with the most adventurous Arsenio survey yet - the cierres and diablos of almost 50 tracks - Arsenio, my friends, Arsenio - what can I say? Everything keeps coming back to the blind tresero from Bolondrón. Volume 2 will also cover Cachao, Dizzy & Chano, and the 1950s Puerto Rican roots of salsa: César Concepción, Cortijo, Ismael Rivera and the two Titos. Stay tuned!  

Late-breaking news! - timba.com contributor Pepe Martínez reports that Yosvel Bernal has joined Havana d'Primera! Yosvel, the nephew of Van Van's trombonist Mundo, played teclado and then piano with Paulito FG for close to 10 years before moving to Spain. He has a gorgeous voice and has been recording a lot of original R&B flavored tracks. He will apparently sing coro with HdP and help with material. [Kevin Moore]

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continue reading La Última

A real West Coast treat is in store for next Wednesday, November 26. This Thanksgiving Eve Concert is a Night of Afro-Cuban Jazz w/ Cuban Master Percussionist Calixto Oviedo & his Latin Train In a Tribute to the legendary pianist Bebo Valdés. The performance will feature some of Bebo’s hit songs as well as classic Afro-Cuban jazz standards and Oviedo’s original compositions. 

Tickets here = http://www.flavorus.com/event/Calixto-Oviedo-and-hisLatinTrain/271321

http://www.catalinajazzclub.com/
November 26 at 8:30 pm @ Catalina Jazz Club
6725 W. Sunset Blvd. Hollywood 90028 - Doors Open at 7:00 pm

Then in the Big Apple, we have a 3 night residency -- November 28, 29 & 30 -- with MAYITO RIVERA y la TEMATI-K at González y González, cuminating in a special live video recording with special guests Pepito Gómez, Willie Torres and Pedrito Martínez.

Gonzalez y Gonzalez - www.GyGnyc.com
192 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10012 - (Btwn. Houston & Bleecker St.)
Tel:(212) 473-7878

Tickets here =  www.facebook.com/gonzalezygonzalez/events

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continue reading Pa' Ponerte en Talla

The next three weeks are a great time for both Jazz and dance music in Chicago.

First up, tonight (Sunday, July 14) Hector Silveira brings some seriously good Salsa Cubana (the modern kind) to the 39th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival at the Dusable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place, Chicago. There is also other entertainment throughout the day, and this group hits at 7pm.   Hector fronts one of Chicago's best dance bands, but he also carefully rations his performances, so catch him while you can. 

Next, on Friday and Saturday, July 19-20, the 7th Chicago Latin Jazz Festival at the Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1359 N. Sacramento Av in Chicago brings Jane Bunnett, Hilario Duran and Candido Camero to perform together in trio on Friday and Bobby Sanabria's Quarteto Ache on Saturday. Hilario is a phenomenal Cuban pianist who is now based in Toronto; Candido, who is now 92 years old, is one of the giants of the music, and Jane, also based in Canada, began doing cooperative recordings with musicians in Cuba over two decades ago. New Yorker Bobby Sanabria just came off his 7th GRAMMY nomination.   For the complete schedule, click here. 

TImbalive to join Festival Cubano lineup:   Festival Cubano (August 2-4, Riis Park, Chicago) now has Timbalive on the bill for the final day in place of Manolin.   Buy your tickets now for a discount at Festival Cubano's website. 

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continue reading Sin Clave No Hay Na

Alfredo Rodriguez and Tiempo Libre both gave exceptional performances in Chicago last weekend.  


For more about the Aflredo Rodriguez concert, click HERE. 


For more about the Tiempo Libre performance, click HERE. 

We lost an important figure in modern Cuban music recently with the passing of guitarist Carlos Emilio Morales, a founding member of the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna and of Irakere.  The Instituto Cubano de la Música posted an excellent article about his life (in Spanish) on November 13 on their Facebook page, which you can visit here.  Rest in peace, Carlos, and thanks for all the great music that you left us. 

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continue reading Sin Clave No Hay Na