Calle Real is hard at work writing and recording new songs as they prepare for a busy tour season in 2014. They are already booked to play at Rumba y Candela 4 in Strasbourg, France on February 14, 2014 and have plans for tours of the US and Argentina...more information is pending. 

In the meantime, on September 15, 2013 Calle Real performed in front of the Royal Palace in Stockholm at the celebrations for the 40th anniversary of King Carl XIV Gustav as Regent of Sweden. During the break between sets I took the opportunity to talk to Harry Wallin (drums/pailas), Gunnar "El Dony" Thullberg (piano) and Thomas de Paula Eby (lead vocals) about the concert, the tour of Peru and Chile and plans for the future. The video interview also includes clips from the concert where they performed two new songs "Hoah 2013 edition" and "Oye". There is also footage from Peru courtesy of Luis Ángel Gonzáles Taipe, Jesús Nimbona & Alberto Orbegoso. Audio from the Stockholm concert is by Francisco Hernández.

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Expectativas, the killer new album by Manuel Valera & New Cuban Express (aka NCX), has been out since September, and if you listen to any of the best Latin Jazz radio programs, you have probably already heard at least parts of it, but other touring obligations of the members (including Manuel's own time in India and Europe) have delayed the official CD release party until now.  The first New Cuban Express album brought home a GRAMMY nomination, and this one is as good or better,  If you have the opportunity to catch this performance, it is a don't miss.  The details:

Manuel Valera & New Cuban Express
November 6, 2013, 7:30pm & 9:30pm - Jazz Standard,  116 East 27 Street, NY, NY
Musicians:  Manuel Valera, piano and keyboards; Yosvany Terry, saxophones and checkere; Tom Guarna, guitar; John Benitez, bass; Paulo Stagnaro, percussion; Ludwig Afonso, drums

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Last night I had the great pleasure of seeing Havana D'Primera in Stockholm. I haven't seen them live since 2010, so the anticipation was tremendous. Havana D'Primera is a band that appeals to dancers and musicians alike, and both groups were well represented at the concert, which was arranged by Club Mambo and El Barrio. A full report is coming but in the meantime, I want to urge you to find a concert near you. In 2013 Havana D'Primera has toured every continent with the exception of Africa and Antarctica. There is a reason for this exceptional popularity: their remarkable combination of first-class musicianship and heart.

There are seven dates remaining in the European Tour. Tonight they perform in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Click here for Havana D'Primera's full concert schedule to date. They return to Cuba November 12th and head to Venezuela November 13th where they will give three concerts before returning to Havana. If you are attending Baila en Cuba 2013, you will see Alexander and the guys on November 27th as part of the prodigious concert line-up.

Stockholm Timberos representing @ Havana D'Primera

Members of Calle Real, La Liga Habanera, Orquesta Pomo and La Jugada were there, as well as musicians from several other Stockholm timba groups.

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On the heels of his arará-jazz project, Yovany Terry has turned his attention to the Parrandas tradition of Remedios region of Cuba. He describes it as follows: "Parrandas is a remarkable, locale-specific cultural tradition that has survived the passage of time and the vast gulf of racial and social differences. “Las Noches de Parrandas” represents the marriage of two very different cultures that united to create a unique, important and enduring tradition. In the Parrandas, Spaniards and Africans gathered together to contribute their cultural and artistic energies and create an extraordinary synthesis transcending differences of race, social status, economics, religion and language." Click here for Tom Ehrlich's gallery.

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