I am really enjoying the new video/song La Pelirroja by Klímax. Noel Díaz sings lead vocals and there are moments while Noel is "rapping" where it has almost a Charanga Habanera "the second incarnation" feel to it. Noel is also the composer of the song and I must congratulate him on an excellent job. Interestingly, Piloto wrote a song called Pelirroja for the first incarnation of La Charanga Habanera. It was on the Hey You, Loca!   CD with Leo Vera on lead.

But this is not the same song. It's a completely new song with a masterful, classic Klímax arrangement.  The harmonies Piloto uses are unmistakable. I highly recommend this song to DJs!  Disfruten ahora a La Pelirroja ! (Currently #2 on RADIO TIMBA ). 

Klímax - La Pelirroja

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      Sierra Maestra launched its 2011 United States Tour in Chicago with a rousing outdoor concert at Chicago's Millennium Park on Thursday, July 14 followed by a great indoor dance party at the Mayne Stage on Friday, July 15.  The Millennium Park concert had an opening set by Chicago's own Funkadesi,  which does a mix of bhangra, funk, reggae and the kitchen sink quite well.  They made a tasty appetizer to Sierra Maestra's main course of la musica Cubana.  Much dancing erupted, even in the seated area.  It's always fun to time how long  the city's "Please don't dance in the seats, there is space for that back in the park" requests actually remain effective when a band like Funkadesi or Sierra Maestra hits the stage.  Kudos to the city for bringing them here.

Sierra Maestra 's followup at the Mayne Stage was a high-energy Cuban dance party with Son, Guaracha and  other rhythms that ended with a Conga line (we're saving  that Conga line  for a future post). Now then, there's really no substitute for catching a band like this live, so Timba.com's own Michelle White has posted their tour schedule here , but for those of you who live on another planet or just can't get to a live concert for some other reason, there is some relief available:
click here to read the full story about Sierra Maestra in Chicago and more concert photos

1.  Chicago's radio station WFMT (98.7 FM) is broadcasting its recording of  the Millennium Park concert on Friday July 22 at 11pm Central time, and they stream on the web!
2.  You can always buy (you should really do that anyway) their recent CD, Sonando Ya, which was nominated for a Latin Grammy last year and which we reviewed here a few posts ago.  
3.  We have posted a few photos from the Chicago concerts.  We also sat down with some of them for a fascinating video interview last Friday, and we'll be posting that in the future after we add in an English translation. For now, Click here for photos of Sierra Maestra's Chicago concerts

Item Two:  Maraca Tour Continues

     We caught Maraca 's performances in Milwaukee and Chicago and can't say enough good things about the current incarnation of his 13-piece band from Havana.  In fact, we're going to help you see what the crowds thought:  We have a gallery from Chicago and Milwaukee (and Colorado thanks to Celine's help) that includes, in addition to the usual shots of the musicians,  some pictures with a "band's eye" view of the crowds.  This group is throwing down some serious dance music (including some killer Timba), and the crowds are responding accordingly. click here to read the full story about Maraca and for more photos from Colorado, Wisconsin and Illinois

Item Three:  ¡Que Palo, Palo!

When the music is good enough, we have a special place in our heart for musicians and bands that defy labels if they really do have the music to go along with the posture.  Palo! is based in Miami, and its highly-talented members include Ed Calle, whose sax work alone is worth a listen, along with a vibrant singer, Leslie Cartaya, mad musical scientist Steve Roitstein (the leader), and two killer percussionists originally  from Cuba,  Philbert Armenteros and Raymer Olalde. Click here to read the full story and for more photos from Palo's recent Chicago concert.

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It's finally out! Today was the official release of Soneros All Stars new single, the timba version of La Habana Tiene Su Meneo , featuring Lesmer Solenzar (Klímax, NG La Banda) on lead vocals. Yanesito has done something rather unusual with this song, he has recorded two versions of it. I'm not talking about the typical ballad version and a salsa version. He has recorded two dance versions: a hardcore, flaming timba single which has been released today, and a classy sonero version with El Indio, El Sinsonte and Pepitín on lead.

To find out what Yanesito had in mind with this dual-version song, I had a little talk with him in Stockholm. Click here to read the interview where he explains why he recorded the song in two versions as well as gives us some interesting behind-the-scenes gossip from the recording session at ICRT Studios in Havana. As of today you will find the Timba version of La Habana Tienen Su Meneo at iTunes, Spotify and other retailers. Enjoy the official video below.

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Leonel Limonta & Azúcar Negra are the talk of the town with their new singer line-up and the new CD Se acabó el pescao that will be released later this month. You have probably heard that when Tania Pantoja left Bamboleo for a solo career, Ailyn moved to Bamboleo. This left an opening for a new female singer, and I have been very curious about who Limonta would find to fill the spot.

The new leading lady of Azúcar Negra is 26-year-old Havana native, Ingrid Leyva Fuentes. Limonta found her singing with the small group Calle Cuba. She has a voice with a timbre that sounds like a mix of Tania and Ailyn and a tremendous stage presence. I might add that a number of men have pointed out that she is also quite attractive, which is always a plus in the world of show business.

Other new faces in the Azúcar Negra front line include Pavel "La Figura" who sings the title track from the upcoming album Se acabó el pescao. His voice is in top form and he remains one of Havana's most entertaining performers. El menor among the singers is 20-year-old Leisdel Gonzáles, the very good-looking nephew of none other than Manolín, El Médico de la Salsa. He has become Havana's new heartthrob and sings lead on the track La vida es . Rounding out the front line is Yurisan Hernández, lead singer on A mí La Habana .

Having finally seen the current lineup thanks to muchoswing.com and Cubavision, I am very pleased to say that they sound fantastic! The band has great energy, arrangements that call you to the dance floor and as always Limonta's lyrics are creative and intelligent, and the coros are infectious. Stay tuned for our full report on the CD, coming soon. In the meantime, here are a few words from Limonta himself and a look at Ingrid singing lead on "Perrita Fina", also known as "Sacúdate que tienes arena".

Dice Leonel Limonta a los fanes: "Como se acabó el pescao se acabó el abuso Azúcar Negra está dando que hablar con sus nuevos cantantes y nuevo CD , es el suceso de la Habana y toda Cuba."

Azúcar Negra "Perrita Fina"- cantante Ingrid Leyva

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