Percussionists and fans of Cuban music and dance, you are hereby notified in good time that the 2013 Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival will take place from March 5-10. You now have time to schedule your vacation and make your travel plans. No more excuses! this is a stellar even with a breathtaking combinations of performances, expositions, conferences, masters classes, dance, music as the prestigious International Percussion Competition. Competitors choose from various percussion genres and are rated on a clear set of criteria, which you will find elaborated in the official announcement of the festival. Prizes are given to the winners and there is even a youth category for budding musicians.

The official website hasn't been updated with the 2013 schedule and rules, but keep checking as that information should come soon. For information about hotels, transportation, credentials, etc., contact Cecilia Principe. Remember, 2013 is your year so don't miss this opportunity!

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No rest for Timba.com's Chicago team.   We took in three bands in three cities, and all were worth it:

For Cosa Seria, an exciting band based in  Louisville, KY, click here

For Charangueo, Chicago's new Charanga ensemble, click here

For Tiempo Libre's appearance with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, click here

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LOS ANGELES HAPPENINGS! HAVANA d' PRIMERA, CHANGUITO, CURUYE's ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, ORQUESTA ARAGÓN, JANE BUNNETT, CHUCHO VALDÉS, DAFNIS PRIETO, JUAN de MARCOS & AFRO CUBAN ALL STARS ...read on...!

Read the full report from Curuyé (Kay Torres) here....

FINALLY in LOS ANGELES!  The CONGA ROOM has officially announced ALEXANDER ABREU & HAVANA d' PRIMERA for a THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15 performance! THE BUZZ IS ON! Tix are only $20 now, but I've been advised those prices may go up closer to show date! For tix: www.congaroom.com. (Knowing that they'll be up in the Bay later in the month, I'll bet some Southern Californians won't be able to resist traveling north on that long Thanksgiving weekend for another hit of this awesome band!) 

Also in town this month and next is 'CHANGUITO' JOSÉ LUIS QUINTANA, Cuba's legendary percussionist, and one of LOS VAN VAN's founding musicians. On SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24 he'll be featured with the AFRO CUBAN JAZZ PROJECT which includes former MARACA trumpet player JOSIEL PÉREZ, along with FERMÍN SIFONTES on keyboards, SAWA PÉREZ on bass, BRIAN DE LA FÉ on congas at VITELLO's JAZZ & SUPPER CLUB in the Studio City area of L.A. 

Plus ORQUESTA ARAGÓN, RHAPSODY CUBANA ALEXANDER ABREU & HAVANA d' PRIMERA DAFNIS PRIETO's PROVERB TRIO, JUAN de MARCOS &  the AFRO CUBAN ALL STARS 

Read the full report from Curuyé (Kay Torres) here....

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Is it coincidence or is there some greater plan at work? I will be arriving in Colorado on November 24th and it just so happens that on November 25th the Boulder Theater in my hometown of Boulder, Colorado will be hosting a concert by the timba band La Maquinaria featuring Calixto Oviedo ! Now who would have expected that Calixto and I who both live in Stockholm would also run into each other in Boulder of all places? It must be fate. It is a thrill to know I will finally be able to enjoy timba right there at home! See you at Boulder Theater on November 25th!

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