Alain with Havana d&#39;Primera!

It took a while but I finally got both halves of Alain playing bass with Havana d'Primera at their historic US debut. Check out at about 4:12 (and many other places!) after the video switches to the narrower iPhone clip. To me, the way Alain's is laying down the bomba is truly what timba is all about. The audio is not the greatest, but use your imagination - it was truly insane!

Monday, 07 May 2012, 12:17 PM

Click here for Peter's full gallery of this extraordinary series of performances.

Coming to New York, May 26th - the mega concert with Pupy, Bamboleo et al.

Coming to Yoshi's SF, June 1 & 2 - Bamboleo!

Friday, 04 May 2012, 10:16 PM

Manley "Piri" López - photo by Peter Maiden

Peter Maiden was on hand to photograph Friday night's show and will post a full gallery in the coming days. There are still two more workshops and two more concerts this weekend. Of special interest is the presence of guarapachanguero extraordinaire Manley "Piri" López of Los Chinitos fame. Click "continue reading" for two other amazing preview shots.

Monday, 30 April 2012, 12:37 PM

Click here for Peter's amazing shots of Saturday night's show.

ATTENTION NEW YORK: Timbalive, currently the most exciting US-based timba band, will be at SOB's THIS FRIDAY. I've been so enthralled with HdP that I haven't been pushing this show, but I heard them at the SF SalsaRueda Fest and they're definitely the real deal - all recent original songs and arrangements, and as tight, distinctive and unique as a Cuban-based band - no easy feat to accomplish in the "timba graveyard" (Miami), where there are at least 100 world-class Cuban musicians and almost no gigs.

BAMBOLEO IN JUNE: Bamboleo, with a great new leader singer, Ailyn Dallera, is already booked for June 1 & 2 at Yoshi's SF, May 26 at the NY Mega Concert, and will probably also be in LA and other cities.