The audio files and eBook for Beyond Salsa Piano, Volume 4 are now available on LatinPulseMusic.com. For those who prefer hard-copy, those will go live in about a week, but remember that the audio files can only be bought at LPM.

This finally completes the "roots of timba" phase of the piano project. Volume 4 is all about the 1980s: Rumbavana, Adalberto, Son 14, Los Maravillas (with the early work of Manolito Simonet), Aliamén, and of course Elio Revé y su Charangón. There's even a section on Los Karachi for true 1980s connoisseurs. The 80s were a wild time and it's very interesting to study the transition from the songo era and the birth pangs of the timba revolution. It's also cool to see what timba favorites like El Indio, El Tosco, Tony Calá, Manolito, and Calixto Oviedo were up in their formative years. The coro ya yo tenía mi tumbao pega'o has taken on much greater meaning for me!

It's been an extremely interesting process, but I'm definitely ready to return to Volume 5: Introduction to Timba, which is 90% done and will hopefully go live in a week or two.

Click here for some previews of Volume 4.

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continue reading La Última

That's right - Issac Delgado in 1983, looking different but sounding remarkably similar.

He wasn't kidding with that coro:

"eso no es de ahora - ya yo tenía mi tumbao pega'o"

click "continue reading" for the full video.

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oprima aquí para oir pistas - click here to listen to previews

Dirigido por el ex-Pupy y los que Son Son trombonista Andrés "El Paisa" Fernández Ordoñez, esta orquesta de Bélgica realiza su segundo disco. Creativos arreglos con buena marcha destacan los temas originales del joven grupo. Invitados especiales José "Pepito" Gómez (tema 4) y Marc Bishoff (temas 6 y 8). La producción es el resultado de la busqueda de nuevos caminos e interpretaciones de la música popular cubana. Con un repertorio propio han logrado fusionar con gran elegancia la timba con la bachata, salsa, jazz, bomba pertorriqueña y otros ritmos latinos. La descarga de este álbum incluye el librito completo del CD (full CD booklet pdf included). MUY RECOMMENDADO.

Directed by the ex-Pupy y los que Son Son trombonist Andrés "El Paisa" Fernández Ordoñez, this Belguim based orchestra presents its second release. Creative arrangements mark the great original compositions and tight performance. Special guests include singer José "Pepito" Gómez (track 4) and pianist Marc Bishoff (tracks 6 & 8). The production is a result of the quest for new interpretations of popular Cuban music. Its success lies on the successful mix of Afro-Cuban traditions with bachata, salsa, jazz, puertorican bomba and other caribbean rhythms. Highly Recommended.

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continue reading Pa' Ponerte en Talla

More information is coming in on the new CD that Orquesta Revé has just finished recording, which I reported on ealier today. The album will be named
"¡DE QUE ESTAMOS HABLANDO!". Fans will immediately recognize this as one of Elito's battle cries. If you are new to Cuban music I would encourage you to sift through all the information in our Orquesta Revé section. Elio Revé y Su Charangón has been one of the most important bands in the development of modern Cuban salsa since its establishment in 1956.

Elito Revé on the Paris Metro - Photo courtesy of Patrick Bonnard

The title song was written and arranged by Pachi and Andy, the pianist and timbalero respectively. They did other arrangements on the album as well. Aisar Hernández, bassist and musical director, also contributed songs and arrangements, and Elito himself wrote two of the songs on album. All in all there are 12 songs including a rumba as well as a traditional changüí performed by Pipi y sus Estrellas Campesinas. I have a particular fondness for Pipi having spent time at a real changüí party at Casa de Pipi in Yateras.

As for the new charangonera, 26-year old Susel "La China", she is the most recent addition to the band having been with Sello LA previously. Although she's not well known...yet...she sings well and has good technique. I am looking forward to seeing this new addition to the group. As I mentioned in the previous report, "La China" sings "Ya sé cantar, ya sé bailar", a song that was recorded by Elio Revé Matos, probably in the 70s according to our discography. It has been given new life by a Pachi/Andy arrangement.

The more I hear about this CD the more excited I get! So ya'll better get ready over there in El Yuma!

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continue reading Timbera Mayor

We have some very exciting news Timba fans! Elito Revé tells us that they have finished recording their new CD and are now in the mixing stage. I can't say when the CD will hit the streets but let's hope it's soon. Revé's previous CD, "Fresquecito" was unquestionably the best CD of 2007 and won awards for Best Album both in France in 2007 and at Cubadisco 2008. I expect the new CD by Orquesta Revé to be another winner.

The CD has an impressive list of illustrious guest artists such as Chucho Valdés, Pancho Amat and the güajiro Mirabal. And a particular favorite of mine is also on the album: Estrellas Campesinas the changüí group under the direction of Pipi from Yateras, Guantanamo . Of course the regular Revé singers recorded as well, Dagoberto, el Sinsonte, Emilo (El Niño) and Susel (La China). Susel sings "Ya sé cantar, ya sé bailar". I've never heard Revé with a female singer, so it will be interesting to hear the results.

Elito Revé - photo courtesy of Cristian Muñoz

And in equally exciting new Elito tells us that the April tour of the US is confirmed with a number of dates in Miami and New York. I hope someone will  bring them out to the west coast as well. I know California is dying to see them live! Uy uy uy que veo!

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