PALO! anticipates Grammy(R) week with video premiere and concert. - Miami’s Afro-Cuban Funk band PALO! has much to celebrate: A Grammy nomination and headlining a concert at one of Hollywood’s top music venues. In anticipation of Grammy Week, timba.com is featuring the Exclusive World Premiere of their music video “La Malanga Resbala”.

PALO! storms Los Angeles on February 3rd for Grammy week with a series of high profile appearances on TV, radio and digital media. (Follow “gopalo” on social media to keep track.) The week culminates with Music’s Biggest Night: The 57th Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 8, 2015.

On Friday, February 6, PALO! will be performing at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood.
Tickets can be purchased here.  

“We are blown away.” said Steve Roitstein, the group’s founder and pianist, when asked about their Grammy nomination. “We started PALO! to have fun and make music we’re proud of. Happily, our fans like it too. But this kind of industry recognition was totally unexpected. It’s a real honor.”

The video for “La Malanga Resbala” features a 1950’s-influenced approach. PALO! collaborated with directors Ralf Gonzalez and Andrew Peña, art director Rene Quesada, and fashion designer Yas Gonzalez, who created singer Leslie Cartaya’s look. “They did a fantastic job to reflect our mix of vintage and contemporary sounds.” Roitstein told timba.com. “The Cuban flavor is echoed in the visuals.” In addition to the Grammy Nomination for Best Tropical Latin Album of the Year, the album “PALO! Live” was also nominated for a 2014 Latin Grammy. For more information about the group, see gopalo.com.

leave a comment

continue reading Pa' Ponerte en Talla

Oh yeah! Timba from Texas... Austin, Texas to be exact. The first and self-titled album by TIMBEROS DEL NORTE was named one of the Top 10 Austin Releases (see below).  Grammy-winning trombonist / arranger Raul “Ralo” Vallejo and pianist / producer Paul “Pauly” Matthews spearhead this 10-piece outfit featuring multi-layered vocals and horns in an impressive and enticing 12-song collection of heavily rhythmic Cuban jazz and pop. 

Album download / CD available here = http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/timberosdelnorte

"Timberos Del Norte, self-titled. Deep danceable grooves driven by ebullient horns and vocals mark this collection of Cuban music that sounds like it could have come straight out of Havana but was made right here." -- Peter Blackstock, Austin American Statesman newspaper

Click on their album cover below to visit their website.

Personnel on TIMBEROS DEL NORTE

leave a comment

continue reading Pa' Ponerte en Talla

San Francisco music fans are in for a treat: prior to hitting Los Angeles for the Grammys, Miami’s Afro-Cuban Funk band PALO! will be performing in San Francisco for the first time. "We’re excited to play for our friends and fans in the Bay area.” says Steve Roitstein, the band’s founder and keyboardist. “It’s gonna be a blast performing in such a great venue” referring to The Addition (formerly Yoshi’s) San Francisco, where they are booked for a show on Friday, January 30. “We also look forward to bringing our music to folks who haven’t yet had a chance to check us out live.”

PALO! @ The Addition - Friday January 30 2015
Doors 7pm / show 8pm - All Ages Event
The Addition (formerly Yoshi's - San Francisco)
1330 Fillmore St - San Francisco, CA, 94115

>>> CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS <<<

Leslie Cartaya sings on the set of the upcoming new video from Afro-Cuban Funk Band PALO!

A live show is where PALO! shines brightest; their album “PALO! Live” was recorded at their 10-year anniversary show, and the results have been impressive. Prior to getting the 2015 Grammy nod, the record was nominated for a Latin Grammy as Best Contemporary Tropical Album of 2014. 

“Our music, steeped in the traditions of Afro-Cuban music, funk, and jazz, thrives in a live setting. We leave room for improvisation and spontaneity, while striving to hit a deep, danceable groove.” After hearing PALO!’s catchy songs and the spectacular vocals of Leslie Cartaya, you will understand why the music industry has recognized this group with two nominations.

Stay tuned to timba.com for more PALO! news; in the weeks to come we will feature the world premiere of their new video for the song “La Malanga Resbala” from their Grammy-nominated album. In the meantime, check out the EPK:

leave a comment

continue reading Pa' Ponerte en Talla

Lots of action this year for Cuban artists in the 57th Grammy® nominations! Here's a quick recap:

BEST LATIN TROPICAL ALBUM

Tremendo PALO! -- Afro-Cuban Funk group PALO! is buzzing hard after their LatinGrammy® nomination. The group -- singer Leslie Cartaya, Raymer Olande, Philbert Armenteros, pianist Steve Roitstein and saxophonist Ed Calle -- got a nomination for their live record Palo! Live. The group’s unique, danceable sound blends the allure of Cuban music with funky beats and jazzy improvisation. You can check out Bill Tilford's review of the record (click) here.


Click HERE to download Track 2 (La Malanga Resbala) from their album PALO! LIVE

Aymee Nuviola - Also following her LatinGrammy® nomination, "La Sonera del Mundo" Aymee's album First Class to Havana counts with guest artists Amaury Gutiérrez, Alexis Valdés, Gonzalo Rubalcaba y also nominated percussionist Pedrito Martínez. The singer had a banner year after her participation in Sergio George's SALSA GIANTS tour. 

BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM

Yosvany Terry - Matanzero and saxophonist Yosvany Terry got a nod for his album New Throned King, is the musical culmination of his spiritual exploration, and one of the most creative recordings of the year. "The entire set is comprised of music Terry composed, based on Arara "cantos" and rhythms, which for the most part have never been performed outside of Matanzas."-- AllAboutJazz.com

Click on the photo below to visit Tom Ehrlich's photo gallery for Yosvany's performance last year at Yerba Gardens in San Francisco.

Pedrito Martínez Group - The highly anticipated, self-titled debut album from the Pedrito Martínez Group has been a delight to Latin jazz, traditional jazz and dancers alike. "Pedrito Martinez is undeniably one of the most talented young musicians in Latin music today and has become one of the most in-demand in the industry for both his beautiful voice and his exceptional percussion skills."-- AllAboutJazz.com

Click on the photo below to visit Tom Ehrlich's photo gallery for Pedrito Martínez Group's performance last year at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz.

Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra - Following in his father's footsteps, Arturo O'Farrill scores another nomination for Motema Music (same label as Pedrito Martínez Group;'s album) with his record The Offense Of The Drum.

"With The Offense of the Drum, O'Farrill nails that lofty goal. The sounds of a big band are here, the sounds of various Afro-Caribbean rhythms are here, and the sounds of some of New York's best musicians in any genre are here. But what's guiding the music is a vision that incorporates sounds from the streets today with a spoken-word performance that's manifesto-like in its call to recognize culture as something that changes and grows every day."-- NPR.org

BEST ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTAL OR A CAPELLA

Alfredo Rodríguez - Alfredo puts himself on the Grammy map with an arrangement of Guatanamera, a track from his second record The Invasion Parade. "Co-Produced by Quincy Jones, Rodríguez’ champion and mentor, and featuring a superb ensemble that includes bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding, percussionist and vocalist Pedrito Martínez, and drummer and percussionist Henry Cole, The Invasion Parade comprises nine tracks including originals by Rodríguez as well as evergreens such as 'Guantanamera', Maria Teresa Vera’s 'Veinte Años', and 'Quizás, Quizás, Quizás'..." -- AllABoutJazz.com

BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM

Luis Conte - Santiaguero and percussionist Luis Conte partners up with musicians Daniel Ho and Wu Man for a collection of international popular songs adapted for traditional chinese instruments for the album  OUR WORLD IN SONG. "So, a Chinese pipa player, a Cuban percussionist and a Hawaiian guitarist go into a studio cross-pollinating instruments and traditions in a series of musical selections from around the world... and successfully traversed genres with such delicious delight that audiences will find the combo hard to resist." -- WorldMusicCentral.org

There you have it.... Best of luck to all the nominees!

leave a comment

continue reading Pa' Ponerte en Talla