ENGLISH: Manolito Simonet y Su Trabuco begin their 2018 European tour tonight at Changó in Frankfurt, Germany. The band is celebrating it's 25th anniversary this year as well as promoting the release of their latest album "La Vida Cambió". Bring some cash with you in case they are selling hardcopies!

It's been two years since their last European tour but they are making up for that with 18 concerts in 23 days. The tour even includes gigs in Edinburgh, Scotland and Birmingham, England. Cuban bands don't make it to the UK very often so don't miss them! Click here for a list of concert dates and links to buy tickets! I leave you with the title track from "La Vida Cambio".

ESPAÑOL: Manolito Simonet y Su Trabuco comienzan su gira europea de 2018 esta noche en Changó en Frankfurt, Alemania. La banda celebra este año su 25 aniversario y promueve el lanzamiento de su último álbum "La Vida Cambió". ¡Traiga algo de efectivo en caso de que estén vendiendo copias impresas!

Han pasado dos años desde su última gira por Europa, pero lo han compensado con 18 conciertos en 23 días. La gira incluye conciertos en Edimburgo, Escocia y Birmingham, Inglaterra. Las bandas cubanas no llegan al Reino Unido muy a menudo, ¡así que no te las pierdas! Haga clic aquí para la lista de fechas de conciertos y enlaces para comprar entradas! Te dejo con la pista que da título a "La Vida Cambió".

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If you can be in Havana the second and third weeks of November, you have the opportunity to indulge to your heart's delight in music and dance with three overlapping events El Rumbazo, 13th Baila en Cuba and the first Havana Salsa Congress.

The 2nd annual Rumbazo event will take place in Havana from November 8-12. It looks like a must for rumba fans. Look at that list of participating artists including guest of honor Pedrito Martinez and special guests Dayamé Arocena dn Yissy Garcia & Bandancha! For information on how to participate, e-mail info@postmambo.com 

El Rumbazo #2, Nov. 8-12, 2018 in Havana from Ned Sublette on Vimeo.

The 13th Baila en Cuba runs from November 11-16. This event is well-known now to Cuban dance fans, with high quality dance workshops at four levels including the opportunity to dance with a Cuban dance partner, as well as 5 open air nights with concert and shows. If you don't have time for the workshops, you can still buy a concert pass that gets you in to see Los Van Van, Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son, Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Manolito y Su Trabuco, Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor, La Charanga Habanera and Havana D'Primera. You just can't beat that!

The first ever Havana Salsa Congress will take place from November 16-18 and reservations need to be made by October 15th, so if you want to participate, don't wait any longer! This event brings linear salsa dancing both - On1 and On2 - to Havana. there will be teachers from Italy, New York and Florida. as well as some Cuban teachers. The concerts will be:
November 15 - Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son
November 16 - Los Van Van
November 17 - Havana D'Primera

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ENGLISH: The Power of Cuban Music is the brainchild of pianist and director Gabriel Hernandez and vocalist José Gil Piñera (Gilito). The project features nine virtuoso musicians (see below), graduates of the famed Cuban music academies, with a long international trajectory and participation in various festivals, veterans of groups such as the Afro-Cuban All Stars, Cubanismo, Omara Portuondo, Irakere, Issac Delgado, and Paulo F.G. The Power of Cuban Music project brings these musicians together with a repertoire of their own original Latin Jazz pieces as well as a journey through well-known Cuban music with updated contemporary arrangements that highlight the influence of Afro-Cuban rhythms in jazz. 

The repertoire is includes danzón, cha-cha-cha, son, rumba, ballads, Latin jazz and timba. The compositions and arrangements are by Gabriel Hernandez and Alfred Thompson, with Gilito contributing some compositions also arranged by Hernandez and Thompson.

The Power of Cuban Music completed a very successful nine-concert tour of Mexico in the autumn of 2018 and have been invited back for 2019. Other plans for 2019 include a summer tour of Europe and an album for which they are currently selecting the songs. They will record in Havana and will include a number of special guest artist. Check out their EPK below for a taste of what you can expect.

For information about bookings for Europe 2019 contact Yaneicy Martinez.

ESPAÑOL:The Power of Cuban Music es una idea original del pianista y director Gabriel Hernández y el cantante José Gil Piñera (Gilito). El proyecto cuenta con la participación de nueve músicos virtuosos (ver más abajo), graduados de las famosas academias de música cubana, con una larga trayectoria internacional y participación en varios festivales, veteranos de grupos como Afro-Cuban All Stars, Cubanismo, Omara Portuondo, Irakere, Issac Delgado y Paulo FG. El proyecto The Power of Cuban Music reúne a estos músicos con un repertorio de sus propias piezas de jazz latino original, así como un recorrido a través de la música cubana con arreglos contemporáneos actualizados que resaltan la influencia de los ritmos afrocubanos en el jazz.

El repertorio incluye danzón, cha-cha-cha, son, rumba, baladas, jazz latino y timba. Las composiciones y los arreglos son de Gabriel Hernández y Alfred Thompson, con Gilito contribuyendo algunas composiciones también arregladas por Hernández y Thompson.

The Power of Cuban Music completó una exitosa gira de nueve conciertos por México en el otoño de 2018 y fue invitada a regresar en el 2019. Otros planes para 2019 incluyen una gira de verano por Europa y un álbum para el cual actualmente están seleccionando las canciones. La grabación será en La Habana e incluirán varios artistas invitados especiales. Echa un vistazo a su EPK a continuación para ver lo que puedes esperar.

Para información sobre reservas para Europa 2019 contacte a Yaneicy Martinez.

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The 2019 Festival de la Salsa en Cuba is only one month away. If you have any opportunity to be in Havana between February 19-24, I recommend you do it! As always the festival is a combination of classes, dance shows, excursions and the fantastic dance nights with concerts by Cuba's top timba bands and the best timba DJs from around the world. There are full pacakges including room and board, as well as just a passport to the VIP section of the nightly concerts, so something for everyone depending on what you are there for.

For those who purchase the package with the excursion, Maykel Blanco himself will take you to visit the music school Amadeo Roldán and afterwards there wil be a lunch at the Museum of Fine Arts. Dance classes will be held by Maykel Fonts, Sylvia Chapelli and Jennyselt Galata and dance shows by Guaracheros de Regla, Componedores de Batea, La FEU and La Giraldilla.

The 2019 edition is also the first to include the participation of a foreign salsero. Jerry Rivera will perform on the 20th, following Haila and Bamboleo. The Cubans love salsa romantica, so expect to find Parque Almendares full.

Click here to keep up with all the information about the Festival de la Salsa en Cuba, including how to order your tickets. Check out the video below to get it straight from the mouth of Maykel Blanco.

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