We just finished listening to Omar Sosa's new release, EggÅ«n, and it blew us away.   We'll be reviewing it in detail in a few days, but meanwhile, there is a YouTube video that is more informative than the usual promo clip, and it is worth checking out: 

In December 2012, The CMQ Big Band  did some beautifully-orchestrated tributes to Beny Moré featuring Alain Pérez on vocals.   Love the sax section in this band too.  Here's a taste:

                                                                                                                                                                                Last but not least:  After an absence from most of the United States of more than a decade, Ernán López-Nussa is planning a tour here later in 2013.  This will be a reunion tour with two former bandmates, drummer Jimmy Branly and bassist Sawa Perez. In 2011, these three played together for a couple of sessions in Wisconsin and Iowa, and the chemistry and music were great. Ernán won four Cubadiso awards for Veinte Pianos in 2012. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.   

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continue reading Sin Clave No Hay Na

It is always good news when a new timba band is born. First we had an explosion of timba bands in Stockholm and now my homestate Colorado has it's first timba band, "La Maquinaria". I have blogged about their upcoming concert February 10 at Fox Theater in Boulder, but like you I didn't know much about the band. So I got in touch with Calixto Oviedo and Armando Santoyo to get a little music sample and to find out about what inspired Armando to put together a timba band in the middle of cowboy country. 

**Update - La Maquinaria on the Fox Theater website + ticket link here...
http://www.foxtheatre.com/2013/02/10/0730PM/La-Maquinaria-Cubana
Call (303) 443-3399

The video above is a sample song that Calixto sent me, although Armando says the band has not yet recorded any demos. Instead they will make a professional quality DVD of the Boulder concert.  After hearing the demo and  interviewing Armando I am very excited about this new group! To read more about the origins of the band, their mission statement, the band members and how they began their collaboration with Calixto and Pepito, click here.

Booking for La Maquinaria Cubana
lamaquinariacubana@aol.com
Contact: Mandy Sant
1-303-475-7894

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continue reading Timbera Mayor

On February 2nd Septeto Santiaguero will celebrate their 18th anniversary with a concert at noon at the legendary Salón de los Grandes de la Casa de la Trova in Santiago de Cuba. The band's latest CD, "Vamos pa' la fiesta", was selected as one of the best albums of World Music in 2012 by About.com (owned by The New York Times). And the Septeto's new CD was listed among the best salsa and latin jazz CDs of 2012 by the prestigious sites Descarga.com online music sales, ElWatusi.com, Brazil Salsa, Latin Beat Magazine, the Colombian radio station Javeriana Estereo, American stations KPFA 94.1 (Berkeley) and WMNF 88.5 FM (Tampa) and the French newspaper Le Monde, through the blog Mundo Latino. The album includes collaboration with internationally reknowned artists Rubén Blades (and his alter ego Medoro Madera), José Alberto “El Canario”, Cheo Feliciano and Edwin Colón Zayas, Jimmy Bosch and Luisito Quintero. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the heart of Cuban music and the soul of timba, guaranteed to get you dancing!  If you haven't heard "Vamos pa' la fiesta" yet, click here to check it out at Spotify. 

Septeto Santiguero will take their rico son to Mexico with concerts the 14th in Salón Los Ángeles in Mexico City, the 15th in Cuernavaca and the 16th in Veracruz. Don' t miss your chance to party with Septeto Santiaguero! Check out the first video from the album, "Esa familia a mí no me conviene"!

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continue reading Timbera Mayor

Click here for Rosy's fascinating article/interview with the supremely talented Mr. Martínez.

Coming tomorrow: Yunior's Terry's new CD, Manolín in SF, book news and much more. [Kevin Moore]

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continue reading La Última