ENGLISH:  As the recorded music industry in Cuba continues to evolve and diversify, a growing number of new recordings are being made either completely independently or by using the services of Cuba's major recording companies a la carte. (These companies acquire some of those projects later.) A relatively new aspect of the environment is the consideration of crowdfunding by some Cuban artists. The above example is for a new project by Yissy García, an exciting member of the new wave of music in Havana today. Genre labels can be misleading, but the term Acid Jazz as it was used in the United States (her quintet includes a turntable) comes to mind. The crowdfunding company is based in Barcelona, and the campaign is happening now. To see the crowdfunding website page, click here. 
ESPAÑOL:  A medida que la industria de la música grabada en Cuba sigue evolucionando y diversificándose,  un número cada vez mayor de nuevas grabaciones se están haciendo ya sea totalmente independiente o mediante el uso de los servicios de las principales empresas discograficas de Cuba a la carta. (Estas empresas adquieren algunos de aquellos proyectos más adelante.) Un aspecto relativamente nuevo del medio ambiente es la consideración de crowdfunding por algunos artistas cubanos. El ejemplo anterior es para un nuevo proyecto por Yissy García, miembro emocionante de la nueva onda musical en La Habana de hoy. Etiquetas de género pueden ser engañosos, pero el término Acid Jazz, ya que se utiliza en los Estados Unidos (su quinteto incluye un giradiscos) viene a la mente. La compañía crowdfunding se basa en Barcelona, y la campaña está sucediendo ahora. Para ver la página web de crowdfunding, haga clic aquí.

ENGLISH:  Young but already-renowned tresero Renesito Avich is now offering lessons to the entire planet via Skype.  To register for classes, you can contact him at renesitoclass@gmail.com
ESPAÑOL:  Joven pero ya reconocido tresero Renesito Avich está ofreciendo lecciones a todo el planeta a través de Skype.  Para inscribirse en una clase, puede ponerse en contacto con él @ renesitoclass@gmail.com

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The latest from Ivan Llanes' group in New York...

Also, another New Cuban Express album, Expectativas, is due for release on September 3rd. This writer has heard the tracks, and this is even deeper than the first New Cuban Express recording, the self-titled, GRAMMY-nominated album by Manuel Valera's group. If you are into Latin Jazz (or any kind of Jazz, really), this will be an essential acquisition for you when it comes out. In the meantime, those of you on the East Coast can see most of the group (Joel Frahm is subbing for Yosvany Terry, but do NOT let that stop you for a second) performing at the following locations over the course of the weekend:

July 26-27:  Bohemian Caverns in Washington, DC
July 28: An Die Musik in Baltimore, MD
July 29: Hartford Jazz Society in Hartford, CT

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The 4th annual Festival Cubano, a 3-day celebration of Cuban music, will take place on August 2-4 in Riis Park in Chicago. The band roster this year has a really nice mix of local and out of town acts - some of Saturday's highlights include Xiomara Laugart and Alfredo de la Fe (the closing act that night is Salsero Jerry Rivera ). Sunday packs a wallop with Charangueo, Mambo Fino, Hector Silveira y su Orquesta, and Sureya followed by the Cachao Mambo All Stars.  Timbalive, which was nominated for a Cubadisco award in 2012, a rare honor for a dance band in the United States, closes the festival. For tickets and the complete schedule for this don't-miss event visit thecubanfestival.com

In Los Angeles, on Saturday August 3 at Vitello's, the AC Jazz Project is having a pre-release party featuring material from its new CD Conga Buena, which is due for release in September.  This band is led by trumpeter Josiel Pérez, who played with Maraca's band and Klimax in Cuba, and it brings together a formidable team of musicians (some of them cut their teeth in NG la Banda, Grupo Afrocuba and Opus 13, and percussion monster Luis Conte is the featured conguero). This writer has heard the tracks from the new recording, a potent mix of Jazz and Música Popular Bailable, and it is going to turn some heads when it comes out. For more information, see vitellosjazz.com

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Are we having fun yet?  Yes we are...

Despite dire warnings from a very small handful of self-appointed members of the Purity Of Our Party Patrol that the presence of a non-native taco here, an alcapurria there and the inclusion of some non-Cuban musicians in the entertainment roster would inflict irreparable emotional trauma on attendees, a very large crowd had a very good time at Festival Cubano last night in Chicago.  We'll bring you a full report in a couple of days, but if you are in or near Chicago, get there today, the last day of the Festival. Timbalive, Cachao Mambo All Stars, hey, if you aren't already hooked yet, go to thecubanfestival.com for the rest of the lineup, where and when its at etc. and that should finish the job.  

(What are those weird blotches in the center by Alfredo's head?  We don't know either, but we decided to leave them in because they remind us of our favorite science fiction movies, and we're curious to see whether anyone accuses him of being from the 8th dimension now.  We'll have crisp, blemish-free pictures of him and the band for you in a couple of days...)

One of the highlights was when Alfredo de la Fe, wired for sound, took his violin out into the crowd to solo.The crowd went crazy, and it got more fired up after that as the evening progressed. By the time Jerry Rivera was on, it was like a Rock concert, but in a good way. 

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