For followers of Cuba's  Fusion scene,  Sintesis, founded in 1976, needs no introduction.   They have been one of the most important groups performing Afrocuban Fusion there for decades. They are currently still doing performances in their 40th Anniversary tour, which sadly only includes a couple of dates in the US.  One of those is Friday, August 25, at 8:30pm at the Ford Theatres in Los Angeles.   An extra reason to go see this if you can is that they are bringing percussionist Degnis Bofill with them.  Degnis is one of the most impressive young percussionists in Cuba today (and that is saying a LOT).  He won first place in Solistas Mayores at JoJazz in Havana last year AND 3rd place in Composition.  I have seen him perform with a few groups already,  and he has elevated whatever he was in so far.  Not only do you get to help Sintesis celebrate 40 years of excellence, you'll also get a glimpse of part of Cuba's percussion future. 

Also on the bill is Cuban-born violinist Dayren Santamaria and her band Made in Cuba.  Dayren plays in Los Angeles with several excellent groups.  

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS FOR THE CONCERT, SEE THE IGNITE @ THE FORD EVENT PAGE

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ENGLISH: Bill Tilford's shortwave radio program, From the Isle of Music, will have Feliciano Arango, Albertico Lescay and Gizelxanath Rodríguez as special guests along with their music on the next episode.   This program can be heard as follows:

1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in all directions with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0000-0100 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EDT in the US)
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.
From the Isle of Music is not available for listening on demand but some broadcasts can be heard online during the time of the broadcast using Web SDRs or the WBCQ website  WBCQ.COM (ONLY during the broadcast) if you are not receiving the radio signal.

Soon after, there will be a review of the new album by Los Hermanos Arango, The Arangos World, on this website, along with some additional material that Bill recorded with the Arango family in Cuba that did not air on the program. 

ESPAÑOL: El programa radial en onda corta de Bill Tilford, From the Isle of Music, ofrece como invitados especiales a Feliciano Arango, Albertico Lescay y Gizelxanath Rodríguez con su música en el episodio siguiente.   Se puede escuchar el programa:

1. Para Europa del Este pero audible más allá de la zona objetiva en todas las direcciones con 100Kw, domingo 1500-1600 UTC en SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, desde Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. Para las Américas y partes de Europa, martes 0000-0100 UTC en WBCQ, 7490 KHz desde Monticello, ME, EE.UU. (lunes 8-9PM EDT en los EE.UU.)
3 y 4. Para Europa y a veces más allá, martes 1900-2000 UTC y sábado 1200-1300 UTC en Channel 292, 6070 KHz desde Rohrbach, Alemania.
From the Isle of Music no está disponible para escuchar en demanda, pero algunas emisiones pueden ser escuchadas en línea durante la hora de la emisión usando Web SDRs o el sitio web de WBCQ, WBCQ.COM  (SOLAMENTE durante la emisión) si Uds no están recibiendo la señal via radio. 

Publicaremos despues una reseña del nuevo álbum de Los Hermanos Arango, The Arangos World, en este sitio juntos con material adicional que Bill grabo con la familia Arango en Cuba y no incluyó en la emision.   

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Leoni Torres begins his European tour on August 27th in Malaga, Spain. He will also visit Italy and Switzerland on this tour. I expect we will be seeing more and more of Leoni since his signing with Marc Anthony's Magnus Media. He became a well-known face and voice in Cuban music during his time with La Charanga Habanera, and his subsequent solo career has kept him at the top  of the Cuban charts.

Leoni's solo career has produced salsa hits such as "Soledad"; his own version of "Idilio"; and the beautiful son "Toda una vida" as well as Latin Pop hits like "Amor bonito"; "Para que un día vuelvas" feat. Pablo Milanes; and of course the "Es tu mirada" feat. Alexander Abreu & Kelvis Ochoa. Most recently he has released a new video of "Si tú me dejas" feat El Chacal. Leoni is also the composer of the hit "Traidora" made famous by Gente D'Zona and Marc Anthony. His sello is beautiful texts that never fall into the trap of trying to curry favor with vulgarity. The arrangements vary between genres but have a strong Cuban flavor often firmly rooted in son.

Leoni is an excellent perfomer with a remarkable voice. Don't miss him if you can make one of these concerts. If you're not familiar with his recent work, check out the videos below.

Concert dates:
August 27, 2017 - Malaga, Spain - Sala La Farandula
August 31, 2017 - Zurich, Switzerland - Escherwyss
September 3, 2017 - Rome, Italy - Latin Palace
September 9, 2017 - Valencia, Spain - Sala Fusion
September 10, 2017 - Pamplona, Spain - Sala Jet Set
September 16, 2017 - Madrid, Spain - Sala Gotham
September 17, 2017 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Up & Down

Es tu mirada

Toda una vida

Si tú me dejas

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Chuchito Valdes, who has graced these pages many times in recent years, is currently on tour in the US, and his next performance is at the Jazz At Five festival on the corner of State and Mifflin Streets in Madison, Wisconsin on Wednesday, August 16 at 4:00-8:00pm.  You can find more information about this free concert at the Jazz at Five Event Page
Chuchito will also be releasing a new album very soon, Sueño que te beso.   This is a collaborative project with Spanish composer Juan Poch, and it will be something of a departure from Chuchito's earlier recorded work.   Chuchito tells us that with the state of heightened tensions in the word right now, he wanted to release something a little mellower to help send a message of peace.   We'll have more about the album when it is ready for release (it is still in its final stages).  
Finally, there is now a Chuchito Valdes website, chuchitovaldes.com

Brenda Navarrete will soon release her debut solo album Mi Mundo, with the digital release coming in September and the physical CD after the first of the year.    At the moment she is on tour in Canada with performances on Friday August 18 at Hugh's Room in Toronto (details and tickets here) and at the Markham Jazz Festival at the MacKay Art Centre on Sunday, August 20 (details here)

(Photo courtesy David Pye)

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