As most cubanophiles know, Conan O'Brien recently recorded an episode in Cuba that will air on March 4th. Among other things he joined in a rueda at the popular dance club 1830. He definitely has a style all his own. Here are some spots from his web site. Below is a tourist video of Conan's dance stylings, which we can see in full on Wednesday. I especially like the "jumping jacks" move. Other current visiters to Cuba include Paris Hilton and Naomi Campbell.

leave a comment

continue reading Timbera Mayor

The second annual Festival de la Salsa in Havana, Cuba starts today. It is a week-long event with dance workshops, music workshops, shows and of course great parties with Havana's hottest new bands and favorite veteran bands as well as Cuban and international timba DJs. It also includes unique events such as a trip to Las Terrazas outside Havana with singer Norisley "El Noro" Valladares. The events take place at Hotel Comodoro and Parque Metropolitano. How's this for a concert line-up?

If you're like me and were not able to make it this year, mark your calendar now so you can go next year. It will be back again in February 2018!

leave a comment

continue reading Timbera Mayor

YISSY GARCIA AND BANDANCHA US TOUR
This is another of the new wave of modern Cuban music groups that are mixing Cuban music, Funk, Jazz Hip Hop and other genres successfully.  Yissy's group is also interesting for other reasons - their next album will be crowdfunded, and this may open the door for more of this activity by Cuban artists if all goes well.  They just finished in New York, will be in Knoxville, then off to DC, then Miami.   Here's a taste of recent New York concert from Yissy's You Tube channel:

GLOBAL CUBA FEST COMES TO MIAMI
March 7, 13, 14; April 11, 2015
Miami Dade County Auditorium and The Light Box at Goldman Warehouse
Opening night, March 7, features a marathon of some of Cuba's superb young pianists (Harold López-Nussa, Aldo López-Gavilán and Jorge Luis Pacheco) followed by Volcán with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Horacio El Negro Hernandez, Giovanny Hidalgo and Armando Goia.   A Latin Fusion group from Switzerland, Lariba, closes the show.   This should be an explosive evening.  Yissy comes in on March 13-14, and Omar Sosa comes in on April 11.  For complete details, visit the Fundarte website here. 

The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage in Washington DC will have the Harold López-Nussa, Aldo López-Gavilán and Jorge Luis Pacheco part of the program on March 8. 

We recently mentioned Septeto Santiaguero's forthcoming release, No Quiero Llanto - Tributo a Los Compadres.   Word has it that the Septeto will be premiering a video at Billboard Latin on April 28 followed by official release on May 12.  Stay tuned. 

Finally, Chicago musician/bandleader Lise Gilly went to Jazz Plaza 2014 in Havana with several other musicians including Andrea Brachfeld.  Lise was kind enough to write about her trip, and you can read her impressions of Jazz Plaza here. 

leave a comment

continue reading Sin Clave No Hay Na

ENGLISH:  Congratulations to Chucho Valdés and the rest of the team involved in Tribute to irakere (Live in Marciac), which was awarded the GRAMMY®  for Latin Jazz this month.   It is a stellar recording, and you can read our review in English here. 
ESPAÑOL:  Felicidades a Chucho Valdés y a todo el equipo involucrado en Tribute to Irakere (Live in Marciac) , que fue galardonado con el GRAMMY® en Jazz Latino este mes.   Es una grabación estelar, y nuestra reseña en español está disponible aquí


CUBADISCO 2017 IS ANNOUNCED / CUBADISCO 2017 SE ANUNCIA 

ENGLISH:   The 2017 Cubadisco Awards will take place May 2017 (approx May 13-21 with some events outside this time period).  This year's theme will be Nueva Trova.  We will have many more details in the weeks to come.  You can read a translation of the convocation here. 
ESPAÑOL:  Los Premios Cubadisco 2017 tendrán lugar el mayo de 2017 (approx 13-21 de mayo con eventos adicionales fuera de esas fechas).  Vamos a compartir mucho más información en las semanas que vienen.   La convocatoria está disponible aquí. 



ENGLISH:  Happy 85th Anniversary to Orquesta Anacaona, Cuba's premier all-female dance band! Their musical style has evolved with the times, but they are still going strong with a new generation of performers.   May they have 85 more!
ESPAÑOL:  Feliz 85º Aniversario a la Orquesta Anacaona , la banda de baile femenina más importante en Cuba. Su estilo musical ha evolucionado con los tiempos, pero siguen siendo fuertes con una nueva generación de artistas. Que tengan 85 más!
Para leer más sobre la orquesta, tenemos una sección dedicada a ella aquí

leave a comment

continue reading Sin Clave No Hay Na