Omara Portuondo and Chucho Valdés are back together with their second album titled "Omara & Chucho". They continue their exploration of the emotive power of simplicity. They present a selection of tunes that bear personal meaning to them, and present these songs unadorned, naked. With the exception of Wynton Marsalis on "Esta Tarde Vi Llover" and Rossio Jimenez Blanco with backing vocals on "Huesito", the album is just Chucho's piano and Omara's voice. They are two people completely exposed, sharing an intimacy with their listeners. The music is primarily a mix of boleros, trova moving into fílin. This is not salsa, but music to be listened to as you sit drinking a glass of wine with your loved one a warm summer evening or a cold winter night in front of the fire.

Click here for the full review and a track listing.

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We have some very exciting news Timba fans! Elito Revé tells us that they have finished recording their new CD and are now in the mixing stage. I can't say when the CD will hit the streets but let's hope it's soon. Revé's previous CD, "Fresquecito" was unquestionably the best CD of 2007 and won awards for Best Album both in France in 2007 and at Cubadisco 2008. I expect the new CD by Orquesta Revé to be another winner.

The CD has an impressive list of illustrious guest artists such as Chucho Valdés, Pancho Amat and the güajiro Mirabal. And a particular favorite of mine is also on the album: Estrellas Campesinas the changüí group under the direction of Pipi from Yateras, Guantanamo . Of course the regular Revé singers recorded as well, Dagoberto, el Sinsonte, Emilo (El Niño) and Susel (La China). Susel sings "Ya sé cantar, ya sé bailar". I've never heard Revé with a female singer, so it will be interesting to hear the results.

Elito Revé - photo courtesy of Cristian Muñoz

And in equally exciting new Elito tells us that the April tour of the US is confirmed with a number of dates in Miami and New York. I hope someone will  bring them out to the west coast as well. I know California is dying to see them live! Uy uy uy que veo!

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Another Cubadisco has come and gone and thanks to Timba Photographer Patrick Bonnard , we have a first hand account of the 2011 ceremony. As always he has very generously shared some amazing and exclusive photos that capture the excitement of the moment. We will also be updating other sections of Patrick's gallery over the next few days. For now here is a taste from Cubadisco and Patrick's eyewitness report!

Elito Revé y Su Charagón @ Cubadisco 2011 - photo ©Patrick Bonnard used by permission

I was able to attend both the rehearsal and the Gala night of Cubadisco Awards at Karl Marx  Theater. 

Los Van Van opened the show and were performing live. The show was recorded in  the Karl Marx Theater in Havana (a second award ceremony was taking place simultaneously in Santiago, host of Cubadisco Fair this year) and broadcast on TV the next day. Manolito performed with his Trabuco. Elito Revé closed the show with a beautiful performance of dancers, Yemayá rising in the air (you must  already have seen that on youtube!). Elito won the award for the best album of  popular dance music, and the "Gran Premio", awarded for first time in Cubadisco history to a timba band.

Elito Revé played at La Tropical on Sunday the 22nd of May and the concert was filmed and recorded for a DVD. Then he lauched his national tour in Oriente before leaving for Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela. He'll be touring in Europe end of July and August.
-Patrick Bonnard

I can only agree with the Cubadisco decion to award these two prizes to Orquesta Revé for their latest CD ¿De qué estamos hablando? . They faced some tough competion from Adalberto Álvarez y su son (El son de altura ), Paulo FG (Sin etiqueta ), Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco (Trabuco una vez más ) and Bamboleo (¿Quién manda? ). However, ¿De qué estamos hablando? is a truly outstanding album, demonstrating Orquesta Revé standing firmly at the top of the first line. If you haven't heard it yet, click here for my review.

For those of us not fortunate enough to attend Cubadisco, here is the video that Patrick was referring to where we see the beautiful grand finale of Cubadisco 2011, with Clave y Guaguancó and the Cuban Televison Ballet performing Agua pa' Yemayá with Elito Revé y Su Charangón. Enjoy and stay tuned for more reports on Cubadisco 2011!

Revé perform Agua pa' Yemayá @ Cubadisco with Clave y Guaguancó & the TVC Ballet

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More information is coming in on the new CD that Orquesta Revé has just finished recording, which I reported on ealier today. The album will be named
"¡DE QUE ESTAMOS HABLANDO!". Fans will immediately recognize this as one of Elito's battle cries. If you are new to Cuban music I would encourage you to sift through all the information in our Orquesta Revé section. Elio Revé y Su Charangón has been one of the most important bands in the development of modern Cuban salsa since its establishment in 1956.

Elito Revé on the Paris Metro - Photo courtesy of Patrick Bonnard

The title song was written and arranged by Pachi and Andy, the pianist and timbalero respectively. They did other arrangements on the album as well. Aisar Hernández, bassist and musical director, also contributed songs and arrangements, and Elito himself wrote two of the songs on album. All in all there are 12 songs including a rumba as well as a traditional changüí performed by Pipi y sus Estrellas Campesinas. I have a particular fondness for Pipi having spent time at a real changüí party at Casa de Pipi in Yateras.

As for the new charangonera, 26-year old Susel "La China", she is the most recent addition to the band having been with Sello LA previously. Although she's not well known...yet...she sings well and has good technique. I am looking forward to seeing this new addition to the group. As I mentioned in the previous report, "La China" sings "Ya sé cantar, ya sé bailar", a song that was recorded by Elio Revé Matos, probably in the 70s according to our discography. It has been given new life by a Pachi/Andy arrangement.

The more I hear about this CD the more excited I get! So ya'll better get ready over there in El Yuma!

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