Los Van Van - GRAMMY Nomination

La Fantasia - GRAMMY Nomination 2016

The 2017 GRAMMY nominees were announced this week. From the Cuban side Chucho Valdes was nominated in the Best Latin Jazz category for “Tribute to Irakere: Live in Marciac” and Los Van Van was nominated for "La Fantasia" for Best Tropical Album. Timba.com wishes them both good luck. the winners will be announced on February 12th.

El Tren is facing competition from Fonseca - "Conexión, Grupo Niche - "35 Aniversario", La Sonora Santanera - "En Su 60 Aniversario" and José Lugo & Guasábara Combo - "Dónde Están?". If I may campaign for Los Van Van for just a moment, beyond the fact that "La Fantasia" is an excellent album (click here to read Bill's review) , it is special to Cuban music fans because it is a tribute to the late Juan Formell. "La Fantasia" includes some of the last songs in which Juan Formell was involved as composer and arranger. Moreover, the title track features Juan Formell himself on vocals. Formell originally recorded the song as a demo for Luna Manzanares, but after he passed Samuel decided to use his father's vocals and record it on the new album together with the children's choir of Alejandro Garcia Cartula.

Los Van Van also happen to be starting a short US tour tonight at Howard Theatre in Washington D.C. See all the dates below.

Concert Dates:
December 8, 2016 - Washington D.C. - Howard Theatre
December 9, 2016 - New York, NY. - B.B. King Blues Club and Grill
December 10, 2016 -San Francisco, CA. - Roccapulco
December 11, 2016 - Los Angeles, CA. - Conga Room

thursday, 25 july 2024, 12:04 am

Osvaldo Chacón is back with "Se te cuela"

Osvaldo Chacón is back with his third CD "Se te cuela", which will be released in 2015! He has uploaded a teaser with clips from the album as well as a four-minute video of his new arrangement of "Te gusto" - the new version of his hit song with Bamboleo. The videos are already making waves with timba fans around the world.

We asked Osvaldo a few questions about the upcoming album.

This year you will release "Se te cuela", a CD containing nine songs. Who are the authors and arrangers of the songs?
I am the author and arranger of all 9 songs and all mambos (horns) that you are going to hear. The other musician who helped me (the co-arranger) is a young man named Gelmis Castillo Suarez who wrote piano, bass and percussion. He is a very talented young man. He has worked with Azúcar Negra, Son14 and is planning to work with Leo Vera and Tania Pantoja.

What studio did you recorded in?
The recording was done in Studio Forever Music and the recording and programming was done by Daynel Castillo (CUPIDO) who is working with "El Balacero" now! He is a young man of great talent and professionalism in his work. He has produced hundreds of projects for reggaetoneros: El Yonky, Jacob Forever ex-Gente D 'Zona, etc. It was a lovely experience!

Who are the musicians who recorded?
Daynel Castillo Reyes (CUPIDO) - Programing, all Percussion
Gelmis Castillo Suarez - Arranger, Piano, Bass
Lester Mancebo Magdariga - Trombone
Luis R Fuentes - Trumpet (Sierra Maestra)
Leyanis Campos Marrero - Corista
Gabriel Rodriguez Ducamger - Corista
Rubén Rodriguez Ducamger - Corista

Tell us about plans for concerts in the UK and Europe.
I have a lot of plans, first to promote the CD well. I'm hoping to sign with a label and start making some videos to have a good start. The new version of "Te gusto", a song I recorded with Bamboleo years ago, has had a viral acceptance. I think the new arrangement is cooler. In just three days on YouTube it had over 400 hits. Many DJs around the world are asking me for a copy. So that's a good sign!

Do you have a release date and where will people be able to buy it?
I will know the release date when the physical disk is ready for sale. It will be sold on the major networks such as iTunes, Amazon, etc. Moreover, it was made with love and I hope the dancers like it since they have the last word!

A warm hug and greetings to all the dancers of Cuban music around the world and thanks to you for the help you have been giving Cuban musicians for a long time on your website Timba.com.

Blessings

Aché, iré, salud pa' mi gente linda!
Osvaldo Chacón

thursday, 25 july 2024, 12:04 am

La Liga Habanera released their first album "Tremenda Unión", in the summer of 2013. They are back heating up Stockholm's cold, dark winter with their new single "Estocolmo Se Pone Caliente". The songs starts with a tribute to NG La Banda's "El Trágico" and quickly slips into a dance groove with an urban edge courtesy of rap by Bamma B. Definitely timba caliente. We asked bandleader Max Alton to tell us a little about the song.

"Daniel Baro (Flecha) wrote the lyrics together with me, except for the rap which was written by Kevin Dennis (Bamma B) from Trinidad Tobago. Daniel is a singer from Havana who has sung in various son orchestras. The arrangement is by me, Oldrich González, and Petter Linde. We are also working on another song that will be released in 2015."

"Estocolmo Se Pone Caliente" has been released at iTunes and Spotify. Dale clic para escuchar!

Daniel Baro (Flecha) - Lead vocals
Bamma B (Kevin Dennis) - Rap
Oldrich Gonzales - Piano
Aleksander Bdarski - Bass
Alexander Waljansson - Guitar
Jan Kohlin - Trumpet 1
Rickard Lindgren - Trumpet 2
Johan Åström - Trombone
Pablo Cepeda - Backing vocals and congas
Max Alton - Drums, timbales, güiro, bongo and backing vocals
Måns Ek - Mixing
Farmerstreet studios and Mastertone studios

thursday, 25 july 2024, 12:04 am

El Niño y La Verdad Europe 2017

Emilio Frias "El Niño" y La Verdad have just uploaded their new video "Con Eleguá y con Orula". Emilio did a live Facebook chat beforehand from Panama where they are currently doing promotion. You can check it out at the band's official Facebook site - this is the one they want people to follow to get all the latest news, so be sure to click "Follow". El NIño y La Verdad will be touring Europe from February 15th through March 5th promoting their 2nd CD - "Más Duro". Next week we'll post all the concert dates. For now, enjoy the latest video.