My Cuban landlord Pablo Menéndez returns to California with his full Cuban band, featuring Octavio Rodríguez, for the first time since the dark ages of the Bush Administration. You can pay homage at:

Kuumbwa Jazz Center - Santa Cruz - TONIGHT - Monday, May 24

Yoshi's Oakland - Thursday, May 27

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Things are happening quickly now. Pupy y Los Que Son Son are already set up for 10 concerts that I know of and more and more keep being added. The most recent addition to the tour list is June 19, 2010 - Arlington, VA. - The Salsa Room Don't miss out on this historic first tour! Find a concert near you or you'll be kicking yourself later. If you know of a concert not on our list send me an e-mail .

UPDATE: I added two more dates, June 3 in Tampa at Whiskey North and June 5 at Aché in Miami. Stay tuned as the updates keep coming in.

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Leyder Chapman's Dos 4 y Los Míos is primarily a reguetón group but it's a reguetón group with live timba musicians, and several of the very best live timba musicians in the Bay Area, including Colin Douglas on drums and Jason Möen on piano. DJ Walt Digz is also in the band, so  if you're looking for an excuse to warm up to reguetón before it takes its rightful place beside Disco in the music history books, this is the gig.

Dos 4 y Los Míos - Yoshi's - San Francisco - Tuesday, May 18

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There is said to be a time for all things under Heaven and in Miami it is "A Time for Love". Artemiseño Arturo Sandoval was a founding member of Irakere, the group that originally brought us the concept of the bomba gear. After moving to the US he has played mainly classical music and jazz where he has excelled and been awarded 4 Grammys and 6 Billboard awards.

Arguably the best trumpet player in the world, he may primarily be known to laymen for his ability to hit impossibly high notes, but this is just the icing on the cake. Sandoval coaxes the richest tones from both his trumpet and flugelhorn. His playing covers a full emotional range from delicate and sensitive to frenzied passion.

The new album "A Time for Love" was released on May 11th and can be ordered from Amazon. I have only heard one song so far but the album is described as follows: "The album features classical compositions for orchestra and jazz trio by Grammy-winning arranger Jorge Calandrelli along with a sprinkling of American jazz standards by composers including Gershwin and Chaplin.  Also featured on the album are Chris Botti, Monica Mancini, Shelly Berg, and Kenny Barron. "

Here is a sample you can listen to and enjoy yourselves: Paven pour une infante defunte . It features guest artist trumpeter Chris Botti.

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