"#Latino" is the fourth album released by Simon Monserrat & Djeli and their second release of 2017, the first being "#Afro", which dropped in July of this year. The title pretty much sums up the album. It is a trip through the Carribean with stops in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and Colombia.

Some of the songs are served straight up such as "Oye mi songo" - self-explanitory - and "Mofongo" - a tasty son montuno - while "La rumba que traigo yo" and "Sabiduria antigua" are fusions, the former Cuban rumba with flamenco the latter a very modern cumbia-fusion with rap by MC Rico Pabon. "Suena tu tambo" is a classic descarga which features solos by Richard Ortega (piano), Monserrat (percussion) and Mats Hermansson (trombone) that allow the musicians to show their chops. "Latibonito" is an Afro-Haitian track, something new to me. A much slower song with vocals by Roger Chatelain, it has a melancholy quality with beautiful solos on violin and flute and almost feels like a slow cha-cha-chá as it progresses. "El Quitipla" picks up the pace again with a fusion of Afro-Venezuelan music and lead vocals in Portuguese from Brazilian Simone Moreno.

Monserrat performs most of the percussion on the album and also flute on "Sabiduria antigua". He has collaborated on the album with musicians such as Puerto Rican Jerry Medina, Colombian Roger Martinez and Cuban trumpet player Yuliesky Gonzalez. Monserrat is based in Sweden and the album features many well-known names from the Swedish timba scene such as Thomas Eby, Richard Ortega, Oldrich Gonzalez, and Raciel Garces Espinoso. See the track list below for more information on particiating musicians. I also want to mention Erik Steen who plays a mean flamenco guitar and Santiago Jimenez on violin.

I recommend that you check "#Latino" out at Spotify. It is available for purchase at the usual digital retailers and streaming sites such as iTunes and Amazon. 

Track list:
1. Oye mi songo ft Jerry Medina, Moncho, Thomas Eby
2. Mofongo ft Yuliesky Gonzalez, Oldrich Gonzalez, Roger Martinez
3. La rumba que traigo yo ft Raciel Garces Espinosa, Angeles Gomez, Erik Steen
4. Sabiduria antigua ft MC Rico Pabón, Marina Johansson
5. Suena mi tambo ft Richard Ortega, Raciel Garces Espinosa, Mats Hermansson
6. Latibonito ft Roger Chatelain, Santiago Jimenez, Martin Pålsson
7. El Quitipla ft Simone Moreno, Dekula Kahanga
8. Oye mi songo ft Jerry Medina, Moncho, Thomas Eby (bonus track)

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Adalberto Álvarez "El Caballero del Son"

ENGLISH: Music is in mourning today with the loss of Adalberto Álvarez, who passed away from complications due to COVID-19. During his 46-year career Adalberto was a leader in defending Cuban son, having an immense infuence not only at home but also in the international music scene. Following the news of his hospitalization, there was an outpouring of love on social media from Cuban and international artists as well as fans wishing him a speedy recovery, and a worldwide prayer chain for his health. Today there has been an outpouring of grief and shock at his passing. Although he is no longer with us physically, his legacy will be with us always. When we have had time to post a more fitting tribut, we will. For now we at Timba.com extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the Cuban people. 

Below we have embedded the video from the celebration of Adalberto's 45 years as an artist. There is no greater memorial than his own music.

ESPAÑOL: La música está de luto hoy por la pérdida de Adalberto Álvarez, quien falleció por complicaciones a causa del COVID-19. Durante sus 46 años de carrera, Adalberto fue un líder en la defensa del son cubano, teniendo una inmensa influencia no solo en Cuba sino también en la escena musical internacional. Tras la noticia de su hospitalización, hubo una efusión de amor en las redes sociales de artistas cubanos e internacionales, así como de fanáticos que le deseaban una pronta recuperación y una cadena de oración mundial por su salud. Hoy ha habido un torrente de dolor y conmoción por su fallecimiento. Aunque ya no está físicamente con nosotros, su legado siempre quedará con nosotros. Cuando hayamos tenido tiempo de publicar un tributo más apropiado, lo haremos. Por ahora desde Timba.com hacemos llegar nuestro más sentido pésame a su familia, amigos, colegas y al pueblo cubano.

A continuación incluimos el video de la celebración de los 45 años de Adalberto como artista. No hay mayor memorial que su propia música. 

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ENGLISH: Ian Ignacio Herrera López, better known as "Nachito Jr.", has distinguished himself in recent years as one of the young generation of Cuban musicians who are defending the legacy of Cuban dance music. Nachito Jr. comes from a family of renowned musicians named Ignacio, which can lead to some confusion. His father, Ignacio Herrera, played trombone with Orquesta Revé, Los Reyes 73 and Ritmo Oriental while his brother, pianist Ignacio Herrera "Nachito", who currently resides in the US, was a member of Cubanismo for several years before settling in the US. It may seem that Nachito Jr. was always destined to play piano, but the truth is...well, I'll let you read it in his own words in the interview.

Nachito Jr. has worked with a number of timba groups as well as with Roberto Faz, where he had the opportunity to perform with Omara Portuondo. He has been both pianist and musical director for Habana City, Bakuleye, El Noro y 1ra Clase and currently with Yasser Ramos y Su Orquesta. Nachito Jr. also works on arrangements for other artists and is interested in all types of music. On December 23rd there will be a release concert for an album with arrangements by Nachito Jr. for the reggaetonero G Rowell. 

Click here to read the interview with Nachito Jr.

ESPAÑOL: Ian Ignacio Herrera López, mejor conocido como "Nachito Jr.", se ha distinguido en los últimos años como una de las jóvenes músicos cubanos que defienden el legado de la música de baile cubana. Nachito Jr. proviene de una familia de renombrados músicos llamado Ignacio, lo que puede generar cierta confusión. Su padre, Ignacio Herrera, tocó con Orquesta Revé, Los Reyes 73 y Ritmo Oriental, mientras que su hermano, el pianista Ignacio Herrera "Nachito", que actualmente reside en los EE. UU., fue miembro de Cubanismo durante varios años antes de establecerse en los EE. UU. Puede parecer que Nachito Jr. siempre estuvo destinado a tocar el piano, pero la verdad es ... bueno, te dejaré leerlo con sus propias palabras en la entrevista.

Nachito Jr. ha trabajado con varios grupos de timba, así como con Roberto Faz, donde tuvo la oportunidad de actuar con Omara Portuondo. Ha sido pianista y director musical de Habana City, Bakuleye, El Noro y 1ra Clase y actualmente con Yasser Ramos y Su Orquesta. Nachito Jr. también trabaja arreglos para otros artistas y está interesado en todo tipo de música. El 23 de diciembre habrá un concierto de lanzamiento para un álbum con arreglos de Nachito Jr. para el reggaetonero G Rowell.

Haga clic aquí para leer la entrevista con Nachito Jr.

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ENGLISH: Calixto Oviedo is returning to Europe for a tour with his Cuban Jazz Train during March and April. We have updated his tours page and will continue updating as more information becomes available. Calixto is busy in the US as well and will be performing with his Cuban Jazz Train in Hollywood at Catalina Jazz Club on January 18th and at Yoshi's in Oakland with his Afro-Cuban Jazz group. You can keep up with Calixto by visiting his official website and his following his Facebook page.

ESPAÑOL: Calixto Oviedo regresa a Europa para una gira con su Cuban Jazz Train durante marzo y abril. Hemos actualizado su página de giras y continuaremos actualizando a medida que haya más información disponible. Calixto también está trabajando mucho en los Estados Unidos y actuará con su Cuban Jazz Train en Hollywood en Catalina Jazz Club el 18 de enero y en Yoshi's en Oakland con su grupo de Jazz Afrocubano. Puede mantenerse al día con Calixto visitando su sitio web oficial y siguiendo su página de Facebook.

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