This year's 12th Annual Latin GRAMMY awards, to be telecast November 10th, 2011, included a number of worthy nominees from other parts of the Cuban music spectrum but once again ignored an entire genre, Timba, in the final list of nominees in spite of the production of some recordings worthy of consideration during the eligibility period.  Since the primary purpose of creating a distinct Latin GRAMMY Awards program was to allow for more in-depth recognition of the many subgenres of Latin music, we consider this omission unfortunate, and there is a case to be made for considering a new category in the future to remedy this perennial oversight.  Conventional Salsa admittedly has a much larger listening - and voting - constituency than Timba, and there are sufficient differences between the two styles to make it quite possible that Timba will never stand a chance of receiving the recognition that its best examples deserve as long as it is forced to compete with Salsa for the same award.  Again, the very reason for being of the Latin GRAMMY awards as a separate entity was to help rectify these kinds of issues in Latin music generally, and this writer wishes to publicly suggest that the Academy should examine the question of a new category.  Admittedly, domestic US output alone would not sustain an ongoing separate category, but international output probably would, and even if that proved not to be the case, putting Timba under a different umbrella with something such as "Progressive" and separating it from traditional Salsa would be the next right thing.  Timba is now a truly international genre with first-tier bands not just in Cuba but also the United States, Peru and Sweden just to name a few examples.  A band in Sweden, Calle Real, is even getting some exposure now in American television.  Furthermore, enough time - over two decades now - has passed that there is no longer any question that the genre has firmly established itself as more than just a passing fad.  
It may be too late for the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (LARAS) to recognize a Timba recording this year, but it's probably not too late for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) to do so in its Best Tropical Latin Album category for the regular GRAMMY awards. There are a few worthy possibilities for consideration that are true examples of Timba and were released within the United States during the eligibility year.  We are going to mention just two of those possibilities because of our own personal familiarity with them:

My Secret Radio by Tiempo Libre.  Tiempo Libre has been a bridesmaid a few times now but never the bride.  This new recording is at least as worthy of consideration as its predecessors, and we loved it enough that we even reviewed it earlier this year.  (Read a full CD review here.)

Vestido de Blanco by Havana Heavy Hitters.  This was released in the US for digital distribution before this writer began doing reviews of new recordings for Timba.com but within the eligibility window for the award. This unique all-star project includes many of the best musicians from the best of the bands from Cuba including (among many others) Michel Maza and Alexander Abreu, two of the most respected Timba artists on the island today.  (Read more about this recording and hear samples here.)  The combination of digital distribution only and release by an independent label admittedly makes for a dark horse candidate, but it deserves serious consideration for its musical merit alone. 
We could name a few other worthy candidates for consideration if we chose, the point is that there are recordings worthy of recognition in this eligibility cycle, and it would help promote the genre as a genre (one of the Academy's many missions, is it not?) if at least one Timba recording (or even two) found its way to at least an actual final five nomination this year.  It is our hope that the voting members of NARAS will examine the best of this year's output in the Timba genre as closely as it does the rest of the styles under the Tropical Latin umbrella.  If it truly does so, this writer is confident that at least one of the many fine recordings produced over the past year will prove to warrant consideration. 
We aren't going to put the case to NARAS for a separate Timba category for the simple reason that we acknowledge that domestic US output would probably not sustain a separate category over time. Longer-term, this is clearly a subject more properly tackled by LARAS, which has the ability to consider entries from across the globe.  Since many people belong to both academies, we hope that this essay provides some food for thought.  

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Yesterday morning TIMBA.com received this official press release notifying us that the Los Van Van tour has been postponed. We then waited 24 hours in order to confirm that some of the Los Van Van dates will be played by, ironically enough, ex-Van Van pianist César "Pupy" Pedroso and his orchestra Los Que Son Son. Please call your venues to confirm if your tickets are still valid. Again, Pupy y los que Son Son to replace Los Van Van at Yoshi's SF and possibly other show dates.

Yoshi's SF also reports that Elio Revé and his Orquesta Revé is slated to perform at Yoshi's SF July 29 through August 1.

Press Release from Monterey International - Thu, May 6, 2010 at 11:06 AM

LOS VAN VAN TOUR POSTPONED 

The coordinators of the tour of Los Van Van regret to announce that, due to an unresolved business matter between the group and a third party and circumstances beyond their control, the U.S. tour of Los Van Van must be postponed.  This decision had nothing to do with U.S.-Cuba relations or any visa issues. Their I-129 visa petitions were approved.  

We hope to bring Los Van Van to the United States soon after resolution of the factors that prevented us from realizing this tour at this time.  

For more information, please call Bill Martinez, (415) 974-6485, bill@billmartinez.com 

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Haila (ex-Bamboleo) has a new album and she will be performing this Friday at S.O.B.s in New York City. Bassist Danny Rojo of PornoSon fame will be directing a group of local heavyweights (anyone have the complete list?).   

The official Los Van Van website is down = www.vanvandeformell.com = but after months of rumors that lead singer Mario "Mayito" Rivera left the iconic band (a press release was made on the Los Van Van website), no one has yet to report that they have seen them perform with the alleged new replacement Armando "Mandy" Cantero (formerly of Pupy y los que Son Son among others). Los Van Van performed in Mexico recently without Mayito but Mandy was not present, even though it was reported he was in Mexico at the time.  In related news Mayito has been singing with Monika (Mesa) y la Máquina Perfecta.  

Manolito y su Trabuco are in Hamburg, Germany today then covering Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Serbia and the Netherlands. Cuban music is truly international. Check out the tour page for all the official dates. 

Maykel Blanco's recent, independently produced US tour was well received and attended. The band was really TIGHT and executed consistently with tremendous energy. I really missed their recent hit "Un Kilo" which was not featured in any of the shows. I saw them in 2007 and this is by far the best group configuration, rhythm and horn sections. The pedal and bomba gears were in full, hard-hitting force. The singers delivered pure fun. Hoping they will be back next year for sure. Rumor has it Miami has 2 new singers and one smoking keyboard player. 

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May 8, 2010 3:43 AM:  MANOLITO y SU TRABUCO ACABÓ EN LOS ANGELES! SAN FRANCISCO YOU'RE IN FOR A TREAT!  Just came back from the Sportsmen's Lodge that was filled to capacity tonight for the TRABUCO's first concert on their U.S. Tour 2010!  Before hitting the sack I wanted to let you know that it was a great night in L.A. and the concert-goers were thrilled with the group's energy and musicianship....... click here to read more from Kay Torres "Curuyé in LA"

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