ENGLISH:  Kiki Valera has released his second album in the US, Vacilón Santiaguero.  You can read our review here: "Vacilón Santiaguero" Album Review.
ESPAÑOL: Kiki ha lanzado su segundo álbum en Estados Unidos, Vacilón Santiaguero.  Puedes leer nuestra reseña aquí: Reseña de "Vacilón Santiaguero". 

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ENGLISH:  Escape, the debut album by Alberto Lescay & FORMAS, has just been released in both Cuba and several international digital stores.   This project represents the best of the best of the NuJazz movement in Cuba, and its release was accompanied with justifiable fanfare in the media in Cuba as well as a presentation concert in the Museo de Bellas Artes in La Habana, the perfect venue considering that the Lescay family is also distinguished in the plastic arts.  If you speak Spanish, you can listen to Rabio Rebelde's podcast special here:
ESPAÑOL: Escape, el álbum debut de Alberto Lescay & FORMAS, acaba de ser lanzado tanto en Cuba como en varias tiendas digitales internacionales. Este proyecto representa lo mejor de lo mejor del movimiento NuJazz en Cuba, y su lanzamiento fue acompañado con fanfarrias justificables en los medios en Cuba, así como un concierto de presentación en el Museo de Bellas Artes en La Habana, el lugar perfecto teniendo en cuenta que la familia Lescay también se distingue en las artes plásticas. Puedes escuchar el podcast especial de Rabio Rebelde aquí:

ENGLISH:  You can read Bill Tilford's review of Escape, which includes the group's EPK video, here.
ESPAÑOL:  Puedes leer la reseña por Bill Tilford de Escape (incluyendo el EPK  video del grupo) 
aquí. 

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3 groups of special interest are coming to Chicago very soon. 

1.  Jane Bunnett and Maqueque Thursday, June 28-Sunday, July 1 at the Jazz Showcase
Melvis Santa, who was just in Chicago with her own group, Ashedi, will be returning to perform with Maqueque, which always features some of Cuba's most prominent female jazzistas. 


12th Annual Chicago Latin Jazz Festival, Friday, July 13-Sunday, July 15
This year the festival spends Friday and Saturday at the usual Humboldt Park location before moving to Navy Pier on Sunday.   The entire lineup looks interesting, but of special interest is a big band project by  Chuchito Valdés and the Chicago Latin Jazz Collective   Chuchito usually performs here with a smaller combo, but this will be a special big band tribute to his grandfather Bebo Valdés.  Friday, July 13 and  Sunday July 15.  The full schedule can be seen using the link above. 


Finally, at this writing, Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son are scheduled to close this year's Festival Cubano in Riis Park on Sunday, August 12.

Melvis Santa and Ashedi were at Sabor a Café in Chicago June 16 and 17th for a concert, workshop and Rumba jam.  You can see a photo gallery here. 

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The 9th Edition of Festival Cubano in Riis Park, Chicago, Illinois, will have a very special closing Sunday -  Adalberto Álvarez y su Son in their first Chicago appearance since 1999 followed by Gilberto Santa Rosa,  who is Boricua but has become very popular in Cuba lately due to his collaborations with a few artists there.
In its beginnings, Festival Cubano was very cautious (excessively so in this writer's opinion) about booking artists from the island.  In recent years, this has no longer been an issue, and we salute them for that.  Chicago deserves to hear this music.    One thing that the Festival has done well since its beginnings is showcase Chicago's community of  fine Cuban-American musical talent, and it continues to do so this year.  Many of these bands don't have regular club or restaurant gigs, so catch them while you can!
This is a three-day festival from Friday, August 10 to Sunday, August 12.   There are a lot of things besides the concerts - food, rides for the kiddies, dominos etc. etc.   For a complete listing of events and performers, tickets etc, visit the Festival Cubano website here

If you haven't seen it yet, we have a photo gallery of one of  Maqueuque's June performances at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago here.  Melvis Santa was with them this trip. 

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