Sierra Maestra launched its 2011 United States Tour in Chicago with a rousing outdoor concert at Chicago's Millennium Park on Thursday, July 14 followed by a great indoor dance party at the Mayne Stage on Friday, July 15.  The Millennium Park concert had an opening set by Chicago's own Funkadesi,  which does a mix of bhangra, funk, reggae and the kitchen sink quite well.  They made a tasty appetizer to Sierra Maestra's main course of la musica Cubana.  Much dancing erupted, even in the seated area.  It's always fun to time how long  the city's "Please don't dance in the seats, there is space for that back in the park" requests actually remain effective when a band like Funkadesi or Sierra Maestra hits the stage.  Kudos to the city for bringing them here.

Sierra Maestra 's followup at the Mayne Stage was a high-energy Cuban dance party with Son, Guaracha and  other rhythms that ended with a Conga line (we're saving  that Conga line  for a future post). Now then, there's really no substitute for catching a band like this live, so Timba.com's own Michelle White has posted their tour schedule here , but for those of you who live on another planet or just can't get to a live concert for some other reason, there is some relief available:
click here to read the full story about Sierra Maestra in Chicago and more concert photos

1.  Chicago's radio station WFMT (98.7 FM) is broadcasting its recording of  the Millennium Park concert on Friday July 22 at 11pm Central time, and they stream on the web!
2.  You can always buy (you should really do that anyway) their recent CD, Sonando Ya, which was nominated for a Latin Grammy last year and which we reviewed here a few posts ago.  
3.  We have posted a few photos from the Chicago concerts.  We also sat down with some of them for a fascinating video interview last Friday, and we'll be posting that in the future after we add in an English translation. For now, Click here for photos of Sierra Maestra's Chicago concerts

Item Two:  Maraca Tour Continues

     We caught Maraca 's performances in Milwaukee and Chicago and can't say enough good things about the current incarnation of his 13-piece band from Havana.  In fact, we're going to help you see what the crowds thought:  We have a gallery from Chicago and Milwaukee (and Colorado thanks to Celine's help) that includes, in addition to the usual shots of the musicians,  some pictures with a "band's eye" view of the crowds.  This group is throwing down some serious dance music (including some killer Timba), and the crowds are responding accordingly. click here to read the full story about Maraca and for more photos from Colorado, Wisconsin and Illinois

Item Three:  ¡Que Palo, Palo!

When the music is good enough, we have a special place in our heart for musicians and bands that defy labels if they really do have the music to go along with the posture.  Palo! is based in Miami, and its highly-talented members include Ed Calle, whose sax work alone is worth a listen, along with a vibrant singer, Leslie Cartaya, mad musical scientist Steve Roitstein (the leader), and two killer percussionists originally  from Cuba,  Philbert Armenteros and Raymer Olalde. Click here to read the full story and for more photos from Palo's recent Chicago concert.

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continue reading Sin Clave No Hay Na

Photo courtesy of Cristian MuñozAlexander is amazingly charismatic on stage as witnessed by this audience. Don't miss Havana D'Primera as they return to Europe this March.

The 2010 tour season is underway here in Europe with Alexander Acosta currently on tour and Tumbao Habana's upcoming French concert dates this weekend. Also starting this weekend is Los Van Van's traditional winter tour, which begins with concerts in Helsinki and Copenhagen terminating in Spain in March before they return to the US for a longer tour in June. Also touring in March is Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor. We have just updated their tour page with additional dates today. Havana D'Primera will be returning to Europe for the second time and will finally play in my hometown of Stockholm on March 25th. In April Monica Mesa will be doing a promotional tour with her band Maquina Perfecta under the musical direction of Joel Dominguez. Orquesta Revé is also expected to tour in March and April just as they complete the mixing of their new CD "De que estamos hablando", but currently the only date we have for them is March 21 at Cubamemucho in Munich. And finally El Indio and Tirsio Duarte will be in Europe from March through May so keep a lookout for their concerts. Right now all we know about is the festival in Dampierre - Nevoy, France on March 12-13. If you know of any tours we have missed send me an e-mail.

And in the US this spring there are a number of exciting tours planned as the floodgates open. While we wait for the confirmed dates to be released we can at least tell you that Alaín Daniel has announced a US tour at his Facebook site, so all you Mikis get ready.

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continue reading Timbera Mayor

I am really enjoying the new video/song La Pelirroja by Klímax. Noel Díaz sings lead vocals and there are moments while Noel is "rapping" where it has almost a Charanga Habanera "the second incarnation" feel to it. Noel is also the composer of the song and I must congratulate him on an excellent job. Interestingly, Piloto wrote a song called Pelirroja for the first incarnation of La Charanga Habanera. It was on the Hey You, Loca!   CD with Leo Vera on lead.

But this is not the same song. It's a completely new song with a masterful, classic Klímax arrangement.  The harmonies Piloto uses are unmistakable. I highly recommend this song to DJs!  Disfruten ahora a La Pelirroja ! (Currently #2 on RADIO TIMBA ). 

Klímax - La Pelirroja

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The Oakland Symphony will give the premiere performance of Rebeca Mauleón's first Symphony, Suite Afro-Cubano tomorrow, Friday. She was one of four composers selected from 160 nominees for a grant to write the piece, which has four movements:

I. Aboriginal Sunrise (imagine Taínos gathering at sunrise to play flutes and drums)

II. Espíritu Gitano (a juerga flamenca -- like a Spanish rumba)

III. Ancestral Voyage (a toque for Yemayá with echoes of modern jazz)

IV. Danzón-Mambo (Cuba meets Leonard Bernstein meets Pérez Prado)

For tickets and more info, click here

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