Master Percussionist Calixto Oviedo will be back in Boston June 18-20 for the Berklee Percussion Festival. Calixto will be teaching Masters Classes as well as performing in a concert. This is an invaluable opportunity to learn directly from one of Cuba's most important modern percussionists! You can apply now on-line to attend the workshops.

If you're not able to attend the Berklee classes, check out the Beyond Salsa Percussion series. In this series Calixto teaches drums and timbales, both basic patterns and timba gears. You can choose from books, videos and audio files.

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Contrabando is one of Europe's leading timba bands. Under the direction of Andrés Fernández "El Paísa", Contrabando has released two CDs and has maintained a steady flow of gigs. They will be touring Europe all summer. Click here to find a concert near you. Check out the video below to see what you have to lok forward to.

Contrabando Live @ "Aquí Cuba" 2012

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Pepitín y su Q'mbachá have another single out. "No lo hagas más dificil" was composed by Pepitín and arranged by Lino Lores, who is producing the album for Q'mbachá. The septeto has recorded three songs so far. It is slow going since they are financing the project themselves, but the album will be worth waiting for. Pepitín is one of the most talented young soneros in Cuba. With his distinctive voice, he worked with Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor and Manolito y su Trabuco before deciding he wanted to start his own septeto to promote son cubano with a touch of timba. So be patient and enjoy the clip below!

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The trailer of "7 Days in Havana" is now up at YouTube and I was thrilled to see the segment with Alexander Abreu! As far as I know this is his movie debut and he plays a taxi driver / musician. Felicidades de Timba.com Alexander!

The film has 7 directors who each took one day of the week. The segments in order of appearance are: El Yuma by Benicio Del Toro, Jam Session by Pablo Trapero, La tentación de Cecilia by Julio Médem, Diary of a Beginner by Elia Suleiman, Ritual byGaspar Noé, Dulce amargo by Juan Carlos Tabío and La fuente by Laurent Cantet.

I don't know when it will be at theaters but the trailer looks great, although the girl-on-girl dancing action is a bit unrealistic for Cuba. Anyway, check out the trailer. If you look closely you cna see some of the other musicians from Havana D'Primera as well. Look for the movie at a theater near you!

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