New Reve, New Van Van, New Manolito

Well, the anticipated arrival of new releases from Van Van and Manolito have left me drooling and counting off the months...Van Van's should be out soon-ish and will have a lot of guest appearances and feature the talent of Samuel. Maybe even a DVD too if we're lucky.

Contrary to what the grapevine says, Manolito have only just laid down the finishing touches to the new album (which sounds amazing by the way) and expect it to be out early next year.


And of course, can't fail to mention the new release from Reve- Fresquecito. It's getting rave reviews- can't wait to get my hands on it. At the moment, it only seems available from the website prodland but let me know if you find anywhere else, and I'll do the same!!!

Maikel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor interview

I've been a little bit busy lately, so excuse my absence. Anyway, as fans of timba.com will know, Maikel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor have just packed up from their second European tour and have headed home for a quick rest before hitting the Havana scene once again. As I've mentioned, we are all convinced they are the ones to watch, and everyone is keen to know exactly

Who are Maikel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor???

Well, MrBongo has pointed me in the direction of a great interview to get you clued in. Take a look.

Otherwise check out timba.com for full info of the band...

Los Van Van- Si A Una Mamita

This classic is getting played again and again by Havana DJs at the moment. New version? Yep, reckon so...

Watch and enjoy!!!!

Monthly Timba, Son & Reggaeton parties in London

As of this Sat 24th Nov, Cuban Connection in London presents their flavoursome offering of timba (yay), Son (yay) and reggaeton (mmmmm..) with the super-talented DJ Javier

If a class is not your thing, head for the club- 10pm til 3am

For more information, check out the offerings of SalsaTumbao

Pupy y Los Que Son Son- Bailalo Hasta Afuera/ La Machucadera

It's no secret- I'm madly in love with Pupy y Los Que Son Son and the sweetly growling vocals of Mandy Cantero. That's why I couldn't resist posting a vid of one of their new tracks as appeared on muchoswing

Headed to Bilbao in October to catchone of the days on their Autumn European tour and what a gig it was- pure fierce timba!! The question is, what is next? Tours? Releases? Who knows

In the meantime, catch more of Mandys vocals or more of the Pupy y Los Que Son Son team on the Soneros All-Stars release due out anytime now

Christmas Party @ La Clave Cubana

Wow! La Clave Cubana have just announced their Christmas Party 2007. And what a party it's gonna be!

Head down to the capital on 9th December

Expect some of the best timba the UK has to offer, plenty of dancing 'a lo cubano' and much more. Besides this, they're not trying to bankrupt us before we've bought all our pressies..

Check out http://uksalsa4all.com/la_clave_cubana/christmas_party.html for more information as well as http://www.laclavecubana.com/ for regular events throughout the year.

Will I see you there?

Stuck for a fantastic Salsa Xmas Party?...

Everyone is gonna be there and you really can't miss this one!

FIESTA HAVANA are hosting their annual Christmas party on SATURDAY 15TH DECEMBER @ THE CLARENDON CLUB, HINCKLEY with Rafael & Yanet (triple world champitons) & Moe Flex (Best UK Teacher Award) & Angelique

There will be a programme of workshops during the day for levels 2, 3 and 4. An exhilarating party experience at night, including fun lesson, 2 x dance displays and animation. They've invited the best, so you'l be in for a real treat!

PRICES & BOOKINGS
Discounted prices now available for advanced bookings. Alternatively, contact them at info@havananights.co.uk or on 07817983291
Workshops Only (4 hours): £30 (includes free party ticket) - advanced bookings only.

Maikel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor- 3rd Anniversary Gig @ La Cecilia, Havana

I was lucky enough to find out about the Salsa Mayor's much-anticipated 3rd anniversary gig at La Cecilia in Havana, and what a night it was!

It wasn't one of your usual Havana venues and I couldn't help feeling I could have been anywhere in Latin America. Obviously, we were expecting the whole thing to be hard on the pocket, but only set us back $10 a piece- the same a Manolito matinee.

Surrounded by white, middle class folk, it was hard not to feel like a slob in my boots and denim-skirt combi. Between sips of beer, I tried desperately not to look at the fantastically-groomed model-types with their businessman boyfriends.

The stage was interesting, to say the least as it consisted of a huge stage surrounded by 6 flat screen TVs, but then a catwalk jutted out which was fine for the individual vocalists, but awful for trying to spot the band way back in the distance.

See what I mean?

We only got a few tracks for our pesos, but were 'treated' to a suprise appearance by Baby Lourdes (depends if you like reggaeton or not i guess)

Nevertheless, they were fantastic and I can still see them going from strength-to-strength and staying around a lot longer, especially with the talent of Maykel behind them.

Catch them on tour if you can! They're doing the rounds of Europe again-yay!
Visit for more information

The Mega-Hit of the Moment.....(not timba, but...)

The video below is the mega-hit of the moment. Wherever you go, your eardrums will be drowned, your eyes blasted with the video and the sight of row upon row of Cubanos line up to show you their thing.
Ahh, the memories...!!!

Manolito y su Trabuco @Cafe Cantante

Manolito y Su Trabuco @Cafe Cantante (matinee)

Saw them on their European tour in the summer of 2007 in the UK, and I was disappointed with their set which mainly concentrated on old classics and left me begging for more of their fierce but melodic timba.

On arrival at Cafe Cantante, we were treated to the typical romantica, colombiana and then reggaeton but found we were able to get seats right next to the stage- perfect for my pics :-)

They were all I had hoped for and better- opening with the cubaton "Control" which perfectly blended with the previous tracks and dived into full-on heavy timba madness. The atmosphere was fantastic and all of the singers played with the crowd. El Indio, bless him directed his attention towards the most admiring in the audience several times and Amaray continued to be his usual talented self. Mayami seemed a little tired though, but made up for it by somehow balancing between Riveron's bass drum and the floor and displaying his best moves-wow!

Although crammed is an underestimation, somehow I mangaged to get a little fix of dancing (getting kicked asccidently all the while, mind you!) and couldn't stop. I know people who go EVERY WEEK to see them and never get bored- What a change from Harrogate!

Sources tell me that they are in the studio now putting the finishing touches to their new release which is due for release in early 2008. Can't wait guys, really can't!

Haila y Charanga Habanera @ Cafe Cantante

Although they are a mere shadow of their former all-conquering selves, I wanted to see Charanga this trip, check out the material from the new album, get into the spirit of things. The best suprise was an appearance from the ever-charismatic Haila who, like the rest of the country, is increasingly bowing to reggaeton. Not that I mind the stuff as much as I used to, but with a voice as powerful as hers, it seems such a waste. Atmosphere?- Good. Band? Great. Crowd?- all little forceful, but still ok.

Taking my normal spot as close to the stage as possible, I started to feel part of some kind of riot as the crush increased and increased. It did seem a little like a boy band audience- in my late 20’s, I felt like I was well out of place at a teen disco. We hung on, despite spolit girls doing all they could to dislodge us from the audience. It got too much- we escaped the crowd and grabbed a beer for relief.

Charanga Habanera
The ‘boyband’ came on to screams and a full surge forward simillar to football disasters. I too had the sensation that I would be squashed any second so escaped again and peered over teenage heads to see what the fuss was about.

The tunes on offer were taken from the new album which I wasn’t too impressed with but as a band they were slick, well presented and delivered what the majority of the audience wanted. It was too much of an ordeal (yep, even at a matinee larga) so we escaped.

Charanga Habanera are currently touring Canada- check out timba.com for more info

New Years Party- Omar Puente and band in Leeds

For a cool, intimate and funky New Year’s Eve Latino Party, look no further than Viva Cuba in Leeds!

No danceclasses or danceshows! Damn, it’s New Year’s Eve after all - time to party!

Great food and live Cuban band option (the world famous Omar Puente & band), and the best latin DJs in the North of England spinning quality sounds until 4am! No cheesey business just a proper Nuevo Ano Fiesta! We may be a small venue but we have huge atmosphere and party spirit. Limited tickets so buy asap to secure entry.

Details below:
> Event : Viva Cuba New Year’s Eve Party Leeds
> Date: Mon 31st Dec 2007
> Description : The North’s finest and most authentic Cuban bar hosts it’s New Year’s Eve
> Two ticket options:
Liveband/buffet/clubnight ticket with Cuban violinist Omar Puente & band playing between 7pm and 10pm.
12 tapas Cuban buffet as prepared by Viva Cuba’s excellent quality Latino chefs!
Clubnight only ticket from 10pm to 4am with “la combinacion perfecta” djs
Lubi (Fania Records), Fabio Bahia & Silvao Do Santos spinning salsa, timba,
reggaeton, merengue, bachata and a touch of Brasilian beats!

Pricing :
> £35 for band/buffet/clubnight ticket (limited to 75) - from 7pm to 4am.
> £12.50 adv (more on the night) for clubnight - from 10pm to 4am
> Contact Information and venue address :
Viva Cuba, 19 Queens Square (off Claypit Lane), Leeds LS2 8AF - 0113 244
9550
Tickets available from:
Viva Cuba itself OR any of the 3 DJs in the club or yours truly!!!!

Chispa y Sus Complices

What better thing to do on the first full day in Havana than head to a matinee at Casa de La Musica, Miramar? Although it was only Chispa, and I was never a huge fan of theirs we went $5 in hand to explore the offerings for the day.
They were a true cliche in Cuban male fashion- gold, slashed jeans, skinny tops with moved to make a woman weep. I can’t say that I was blown away by the music but the atmosphere was fantastic and there were enough Cubans to get a good dancing fix early on. Didn’t get any pics at this early stage in the trip (besides, the management are a bit funny about pics) but check out the vid below for an idea of who they are.
Remember- if you go to CDM, take the stickiest shoes you own, or you’ll spend the whole time clenching your toes inside your shoes for fear of diving onto your behind!

Casa de la Musica, Galiano

Just off the plane, and desperate to know what was on the bill for the coming week, we decided to pass by Casa de La Musica to check out the board and see what was happening that week. Nada. Que? Nada. Just guys outside with the phrase “Ya no sabemos” pained on their lips. Amidst rumour after rumour, the word was that a building had collapsed at the side entrance leaving CDM in fear of invasion from the newly famous. No Bamboleo matinee……:-( The day before we left, they claimed it would be another month (Christmas time?-wow!)

It's been a while, but....

I’m back!!! Fresh from Havana (ok, so not feeling all that fresh but i blame the jetlag!) Plenty of news from the beautiful isle. Hope to get my butt in gear and keep you updated, though bear with me whilst I post all of the stuff from the last 3 weeks.

Elio Reve y Su Charangon- Fresquecito (review)

I’d heard it was good, but I didn’t count on just how good it could truly be! Fresquecito is the long awaited album from Elito Reve y Su Charangon which reinforces Elito’s rightful inheritance as son of the Godfather of Charangon. It’s infectious to the max: just you try hitting that stop button and see how you feel!

Reve has a great reputation and for a good reason. Many great artists have passed through the band over its 50 year history and I have a feeling they are about to burst back to new heights.

Already knowing the title track “Fresquecito” doesn’t help quell the addiction, and we continue through the rich incessant piano of Pachy Junior, violins from guest Irving Frontela of Los Van Van fame and even a surprise appearance from another Van Vanero: Roberton. The vocals of Dagoberto, El Sinsonte, Eric Broche and Lázaro Cuesta weave rich coros that won’t leave your head or feet for days and call to you in your sleep. (did I already say that I love this CD?)

Top tracks have to be El dinero, La Viuda, Ya No Te Doy Mas Na', El Jonron and A Sancochar Boniato but they all rock!

BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT

Tracks

1. Fresquecito
2. El teléfono

3. El dinero

4. El martes

4. La viuda

5. Ya no te doy mas na'

6. El jonron

7. Vamos a bailar Changüí

8. A sancochar boniato

9. No le pegues con el pie

10. La madrugada

Musicians:

Piano: Wilfredo A. Naranjo "Pachy Jr."

Bass: Aisar Hernández Segundo

Tres: Jorge Luis Vila

Timbales, Bata: Andy Fornet

Conga, Bata: Arian Chacón

Bongos, Cowbells, Bata: Ariel Hernández

Guiro: Maikel Díaz

Trombones: Eulices Benavides, Yamer Pérez, Orlando Montander

Vocals: Dagoberto Vázquez, Pascual Matos "El Sinsonte", Eric Broche, Lázaro Cuesta, Elito Revé, Jr.:

Tania Pantoja- Di Que Piensas (review)

Poor Tania- she had her critics when she started singing with Bamboleo but she soon proved time again what a voice she truly had and her stage presence- WOW! She’s a little package but with a humungous voice.
On this, her first solo release she silences her critics with a collection of 10 lovely tracks. Using songwriting talents such as Giraldo Piloto, Ricardo Amaray, Manolito Simonet and Alain Daniel she teases our ears with soft salsa/timba, beckons with soothing ballads and even had the guest appearance of Alexander Abreu up her sleeve. Go girl!
Unfortunately, if you’re looking for slamming dancefloor Timba, then turn elsewhere but as a debut- it ain’t bad.
1. Te Sueno Despierto
2. Llora
3. Nube Oscura
4. Voy A Seguir Sin Ti
5. Qué Piensas de la Vida
6. Esta Manía
7. No Llores
8. Si Estuvieras Aquí
9. Es Simplemente Puro Amor
10. Asuntos Entre Tú y Yo

Estrellas de Envidia- Homenaje a Fania (review)

What do you get if you combine the cream of Cuba’s musical talent with the classic sounds of New York?
Far from being another half-hearted album of covers, the likes of Tirso Duarte, Jorge Rodriguez “El Gafas”, Armando Cantero “Mandy”, and Jesus A Chappotin “El Nino” inhabit the compositions as if they were their own, have their own fiesta inside and throw in a fistful of Afro-Cuban sabor leaving us with a CD that is both tight and highly danceable. Great tracks, great musicians- what more can we ask?

A concept that may seem incompatible to the outsider, the integration and weaving of sounds and respective cultures surprises and excites, the breaks could keep any dancer sweating and we just have to go back to listen time and time again.
It keeps all sides of the equation happy and is one of the ‘must-haves’ of 2007.

Highlights (though hard to choose) must be “Anacaona”, “Quitate La Mascara” and even justice is well and truly done to the Lavoe wonder “Mi Gente”. To listen, Click here
Go and buy it! Now!

Tracks:
1. Homenaje a Los Salseros (Luis A Dominguez)
2. Anacaona (C.Curet)
3. Azuqita Mami (Hernandez-Alvarez)
4. Quitate La Mascara (Hugo Gonzalez)
5. Juan Pachanga (Ruben Blades)
6. El Raton (Cheo Feliciano)
7. Quitate Tu (J.Pacheco- B.Valentin)
8. Mi Gente (J.Pacheco)
9. Coro Millare (L.Martinez)
10. Rompe Saraguey (L.Martinez)
11. Puerto Rico/Adoracion (E.Palmieri)

Los Ases de la Timba- Aqui Estan Los Ases (review)

Right from lift-off, you can just tell this is a release aching to be a classic.

This Envidia release bursts in with a simple piano tumbao and launches into Tirso, Mandy and Michel all taking turns at introducing themselves through the first track Aqui Estan, each making the track their own despite each artist being extremely distinct and well-known in the timba scene. You'd think that egos and timba wouldn't mix, but they just seem to blend into something that's (unbelievable) even better than each invdividually. It's the perfect intro track- we're pulled in, grabbed by the throat and the bass of Pedro Pablo holds the groove and begs us to dance.

The next track Se Que Vas a Cambiar is Mandy's, reminiscent of early Charanga Forever material but more polished with the piano more prominent. How is possible to be a medium tempo track and sound so smooth yet raw and energetic at the same time?

Then Michel takes his turn with Pa’Que Te Dure which actually feels quite tame compared to the rest of the tracks (tame as in slower and less raw as opposed to rubbish!)

Cuenta con Los Santos belongs to Tirso and he opens with his rumba call, and then we follow him as his voice rides the constant changes throughout- pausing and then racing away on this feisty track referencing Santeria and bobbing on that fantastic bassline and driving piano tumbao again. This has to be on the ultimate Timba album ever!....

From this point onwards, we're on fire. Mandy takes over again with Tu Tin de Suerte. This man's voice is pure sex!- my eardrums are in love!!!!He smolders then skips on the piano tumbao (what piano it is too) and claims the crown of 'Best Track on the album from Tirso'.

Los Aparencias Enganan is medium paced and features Michel smoking his own way through the track with a flawless delivery and hot timba!

Then Tirso steals the crown back and gives us Estoy Colao- a track of pure dance paradise. The arrangement is FANTASTIC, and he has every right to scream his own immense talent.... "quítate quítate quítate".Did I tell you to buy this yet? You have to!!!

Soy Tu Pesadilla: Mandy is back again! We're heavy on the metales, heavy on the vocals and heavy on the talent.We start gently and get angrier, heavier and more intense as we go on. This is Mandy at his best.

Our last two tracks feature Michel first with Echale.com, and Tirso with La VecinaMichel puts in his last appearance with Echale.com, both of which allow us flutter down from our Timba high to the silence we know will make us start all over again.
And this is the album that it's really possible to do it with. There are no dud tracks, no skipping required. And definitely not for the faint-hearted timba fan! Buy it now and get lost in the perfect of it all. Don't say I didn't warn you!!

To listen, click here

Musicians:
Pedro Pablo- Bass
Karina Gutiérrez- Piano
Jorge Torres “Papiosko”- Conga
Yerisloy Serrano- Timbales
Carlos Amores- Güiro
Frank Padrón- Trumpet
Jesus Angel Chappottín- Trumpet
Cecilio O. Valido- Sax
Mario “Mayito” Gavilan, Wilmer “El Fine” Muñoz- Coro
Armando “Mandy” Cantero, Tirso Duarte, Michel Maza- Vocals

Maikel Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor- Live desde La Casa de la Musica (review)

“They came, they played, the conquered”

Sounds like a cliché, but even this is an understatement compared the past 6 months in the life of this fresh salsa/timba band from Havana. Although Salsa Mayor has quickly become firm favorites with DJs throughout Europe, this summer hailed their first European tour and now the release of their first Live CD.

I’m not normally a fan of live CDs, but my resistance was soon melted away as soon as the opening track booms through- just like being back in Rome- the tension, the anticipation and the feeling that this could be history in the making.

We dive straight into the epic “La Masa”, the track which hooked me onto them in the first place and whose energy never fails to disappoint- HEAVEN FOR DANCERS!!
The distinctive voice of Norisley (often compared to Mandy Cantero, but with his own bone-stirring timbre) is perfect for live performances. As the CD progresses, Ricardo and Norbert each take their turns and proclaim their virtues. Unlike the new incarnations of Charanga Habanera, Maykel has recruited on the basis of talent, and it shows. Great vocals, great musicians, great arrangements- you can’t fault them.

“Esto Esta” was another of the instant DJ hit, originally from the “Recoge y Vete” release (as are several of the tracks) and draws the most comparison with Los Van Van. Despite this, the band already has their own recognisable ‘sello’ which keeps us dancing throughout.

The two tracks that aren’t on previous recordings “La Masa” and “Control” tie the whole disc together- old, familliar and new!

Maykel Blanco has been making music for what feels like forever (and he’s still only just into his late 20s!) and previous tracks with his old band ‘La Suprema Ley’ are introduced in Popurri form. It feels like a greatest hits album, or better still, a “This is us. Take us or leave us!” Our answer? I’ll take it, just give me more!!!!!!!

So if you didn’t make the tour, can’t make it to Havana, or just want to hear it all again-listen then BUY IT.

(DJs- buy Recoge y Vete if you haven’t already I promise, the WILL dance)

Here's the vid for Esto Esta for a little taster.