Cuba in Nijmegen Starts Today!

Cuba in Nijmegen / Hennes Latin Stage 2013
"Hennes celebrates his annual party and everyone is invited."

The Summer Festival Season 2013 is in full swing throught Europe now, and we are grateful to all the enthusiasts that are the driving forces behind these events. We who enjoy the fruits of their labor really have no idea how much time and effort these people put into it.

One particularly interesting case is the annual Hennes Latin Stage in Nijmegen, Netherlands. It is truly the result of the vision of a single person, Henri van Woerkum aka "Hennes". His love of Cuban music and dancing led him to decide to bring Cuba to the Netherlands. It is an ispiring story close to my heart. I think we'd all like to do something like this in our own hometowns. Click here to read the story of the origins of the Cuba in Nijmegen festival in Hennes' own words and see the full program of events for 2013.

It is a week-long Cuban music festival that takes place during the "international 4 day marches Nijmegen", the world's largest marching event, held since 1916 with particpants from 24 countries. The Cuba in Nijmegen event features DJs and top-name bands. Previous years have seen Elito Revé y Su Charangón (2012), Azúcar Negra 3 nights in a row (2007), and in 2008 Maravilla de Florida and Septeto Naborí each had concerts for for 3 nights. The 2013 Cuba in Nijmegen festival starts today with concerts by Trio Canay at 6:30pm and Contrabando at 9:30 pm. Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor will perform 2 nights in a row July 15-16. You can also see Orquesta Salsabor, Tomi y Su Timba Light and Lariba. Each day begins with a DJ and then at 6:30 the concerts begin with Trio Caney. The headline band goes on at 9:30pm. I can't go this year due to work, but if you're in Europe, hop on a discount airline and take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy the concerts by night and the Nijmegen marches and surrounding events by day.

Concerts:
July 13 Contrabando
July 14 Trio Caney & Friends
July 15 Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor
July 16 Maykel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor
July 17 Orquesta Salsabor
July 18 Tomi y su Timbalight
July 19 Lariba

Hennes Latin Stage 2013 - Nijmegen, Netherlands Hennes Latin Stage on the River Waal in Nijmegen, Netherlands

Thursday, 25 July 2024, 12:04 AM

Tributo Al Timbal - Edgardo & Candela feat. Calixto Oviedo Edgardo Cambon & Candela present tributo al Timbal featuring guest Calixto Oviedo

To say that Calixto's recent work in Denver, Colorado has gone well is an understatement. He started out 2013 with a successful debut concert of his new timba orchestra, a project with bassist Armando Santoyo, before heading back over to Europe for concerts and Masters Classes. He has recently returned to the US after a tour of Japan and has already been featured in an article in the Wall Street Journal concerning his recent concert at Jazz Standard in New York as part of their Afro-Cuban series. You can read the article at WSJ website.

Calixto Oviedo in the Wall Street Journal

Calixto followed New York with two concerts in Boston and will now be performing in Denver before heading to the West Coast for eight concerts with Edgardo Cambon in August. Although he's officially in the US now, you can expect him to keep up his busy travel schedule, so click here to find a concert near you!

If you are a musician but haven't had an opportunity to take part in one of Calixto's Masters Classes, check out the Beyond Salsa Percussion series volumes 2 & 3.

Thursday, 25 July 2024, 12:04 AM

Congratulations are in order for Descemer Bueno, Alexander Delgado & Randy Malcom of Gente D'Zona, and Enrique Iglesias who won in three of the four categories for which they were nominated. "Bailando" won Best Urban Song, Best Urban Performance and the coveted Song of the Year. It's great to see Cuban musicians getting such international recognition. There is still a long way to go, since the original version of the song recorded and released in Cuba would probably not even have garnered a nomination (note: this is my opinion and not necessarily the opinion of Timba.com). I hope to see renewed international interest in what is happening in Cuban music as well as a continuation of interational artists collaborating with Cuban musicians, as we have seen with Andy Montañez, Gilberto Santa Rosa and El Canario. Most recently Marc Anthony has released the official video of his version of Polo Montañez' "Flor Pálida" and collaborated with Cuban audiovisual producer Alejandro Pérez, who also produced the "Bailando" videos.

Billboard recently published a good interview with Descemer Bueno titled: "Meet Descemer Bueno, The Talent Behind Enrique Iglesias' Smash Hit 'Bailando'.

The guys are currently touring Europe and were in their hotel in Paris when the winners were announced. Thanks to Joel Collazo for posting a video of Enrique, Descemer, Alexander and Randy and their reaction to the GRAMMYs.

Post by Joel Collazo.

Song for Maura Best Latin Jazz Album LATIN GRAMMYS 2014

Congratulations also to Paquito D'Rivera & Trio Corrente ("Song for Maura") for their tie with Chick Corea ("The Vigil") for Best Latin Jazz Album. I am not a GRAMMY historian so I don't know how often ties happen. Maybe Bill has more comments in this area.

Thursday, 25 July 2024, 12:04 AM

Buena Fe ensayando para los conciertos de Corea del Sur Buena Fe rehearsing with for the concerts in South Korea
Photo courtesy of Buena Fe (PÁGINA OFICIAL)

UPDATE: The concert dates for South Korea are August 2nd at 8:00, 3rd at 19:00 and 4th at 17:00. This facebook link includes instruction on how to book your ticket. Tickets are free but you should book your seat in advance to ensure you get one! Click here for all the information on the concerts and how to book your ticket by fax or e-mail.

Tonight Buena Fe will perform at La Tropical in Havana, giving Habaneros a sneak peek at the show they have put together for their debut performance in South Korea, which will be part of the Festival Cubano del Arte y la Cultura for Martí Cultural Day. The South Korea show will include Cesar López and Habana Ensemble, and the Habana Compas dance company. There will be also an exhibition by photographers Roberto Chile, Julio Larramendi and Gabriel Dávalos . The event takes place at the beginning of August, although the actual concert date has yet to be announced. Buena Fe will soon be updating their Facebook page with the times, dates and locations. If you happen to be in Asia, this may be your best chance to see the band short of going to Cuba. So keep an eye https://www.facebook.com/buenafe.oficial !

Prior to South Korea, "El Duo" - i.e. Israel and Yoel will travel to El Salvador for two concerts along with trovador Eduardo Sosa:
July 27, 2013 - Santa Ana, El Salvador- Estudio y Lucha @ Teatro Nacional de Santa Ana 6pm
July 28, 2013 - San Salvador, El Salvador- Estudio y Lucha @ UCA Auditorio Ignacio Ellacuría 4pm

In Timba-related Buena Fe news, Israel and Yoel sing with Lachy on the updated version of "Esa Mujer" on the new 2-CD set by Elito Revé y Su Charangón. "La Aplanadora de Cuba" contains 24 songs: 12 remakes interpreted by singers of the charangón together with stars such as Gilberto Santa Rosa, Mayito and Haila, as well as 12 new songs. This is a must have for timberos! In a recent interview by Marino Luzardo at Suena Cubano , Israel said that they worked out an arrangement that was a mix of both styles. Certainly Buena Fe's own changüí fusion "Pi 3,14" was a big hit for the band in 2010/11. Although Israel has written songs for Pedrito Calvo, Bony & Kelly and La Charanga Habanera, this is the first time that they actually have recorded with a timba band, to my knowledge. If someone has other information, let me know.

I leave you with the song (not timba) that has become a summer 2013 anthem in Cuba, from their latest CD,"Dial" , "Volar sin ti" featuring my favorite gallego, Andrés Suárez .

Buena Fe - "Volar sin ti" feat. Andrés Suárez from the CD "Dial" (2013)