Master percussionist Calixto Oviedo is back with his second Latin Jazz album, due for release very soon. We have heard four of the songs that he has uploaded to his YouTube channel. Below you will find a short teaser with clips of some of the tracks that will be on the album. We have recieved this preliminary review from Miriam Dotls who has had the pleasure of hearing more than we have.

"Calixto Oviedo is finishing his second Latin Jazz production  with his band The Cuban Jazz Train. This new band, which is emerging in L.A. as the flag of Latin Jazz in California and one of the most noted in the USA these days, will present compositions by Yosmel Montejo (bassist), Joel Nunez (sax) Yasser Morejón (one of the great Cuban bassists who resides in Denmark), Calixto Oviedo as well as some classics of Latin Jazz. "Como Suena" is the name of a composition by Yosmel Montejo that also lends its name to the CD. Soon,  in late May, we will be enjoying The Cuban Jazz Train.

The musicians are Montejo Yosmel - bass, Joel Nunez - piano, Nathanael Molina and Alex Rivas -piano, Christian Moraga - congas, Lily D Oviedo - vocals and one of the great Cuban trumpeters of the moment guest star Josiel Perez on flugelhorn. It will for sure be an album that everyone will enjoy, and from now on with what little I have heard you can say Como Suena!" - Miriam Dotls

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International Timba Month has hit Venezuela in the form of Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor. They will perform their Venezuelan debut concert this Saturday in Barquisimeto. Fans are thrilled to finally get an opportunity to see Los Mayores en vivo. Maykel has been working hard over the past few years to really put together not only a great musical repertiore, but also a well-rehearsed, fun performance that makes Salsa Mayor arguably the best timba show in Havana today.

Los Mayores will be in Venezuela for five concerts. Click here to see the list of concert dates. If you are not fortunate enough to be in Venezuela, you can console yourself with the brilliant new DVD/CD "Cerrando Filas" available at iTunes and other digital retailers. Here is a personal message for the Venezuelan fans from the Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor official Facebook page.

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ENGLISH: In April, Pedrito Calvo Jr. released a new single titled "Casinero Sí o Sí". The video followed in June and both have been very well received by fans of Cuban music and dance. In only 2 months the video at Facebook passed 200000 views and has now passed 300000. We spoke with dancer and now composer Esteban Isnardi about how the song and his collaboration with Pedrito Calvo Jr. came about. Click here for the interview (including a link to the English translation of the lyrics).

ESPAÑOL: En abril, Pedrito Calvo Jr. lanzó un nuevo sencillo titulado "Casinero Sí o Sí". El video siguió en junio y ambos han sido muy bien recibidos por los fanáticos de la música y los bailes cubanos. En sólo 2 meses el video en Facebook pasó 200000 vistas y ya pasó de 300000. Hablamos con el bailador y ahora compositor Esteban Isnardi sobre cómo surgió la canción y su colaboración con Pedrito Calvo Jr. Haga clic aquí para la entrevista.

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Leoni Torres begins his European tour on August 27th in Malaga, Spain. He will also visit Italy and Switzerland on this tour. I expect we will be seeing more and more of Leoni since his signing with Marc Anthony's Magnus Media. He became a well-known face and voice in Cuban music during his time with La Charanga Habanera, and his subsequent solo career has kept him at the top  of the Cuban charts.

Leoni's solo career has produced salsa hits such as "Soledad"; his own version of "Idilio"; and the beautiful son "Toda una vida" as well as Latin Pop hits like "Amor bonito"; "Para que un día vuelvas" feat. Pablo Milanes; and of course the "Es tu mirada" feat. Alexander Abreu & Kelvis Ochoa. Most recently he has released a new video of "Si tú me dejas" feat El Chacal. Leoni is also the composer of the hit "Traidora" made famous by Gente D'Zona and Marc Anthony. His sello is beautiful texts that never fall into the trap of trying to curry favor with vulgarity. The arrangements vary between genres but have a strong Cuban flavor often firmly rooted in son.

Leoni is an excellent perfomer with a remarkable voice. Don't miss him if you can make one of these concerts. If you're not familiar with his recent work, check out the videos below.

Concert dates:
August 27, 2017 - Malaga, Spain - Sala La Farandula
August 31, 2017 - Zurich, Switzerland - Escherwyss
September 3, 2017 - Rome, Italy - Latin Palace
September 9, 2017 - Valencia, Spain - Sala Fusion
September 10, 2017 - Pamplona, Spain - Sala Jet Set
September 16, 2017 - Madrid, Spain - Sala Gotham
September 17, 2017 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Up & Down

Es tu mirada

Toda una vida

Si tú me dejas

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