Cuban music in the 2012 Latin Grammys! -- Los Van Van secured a nomination in the "Best Contemporary Tropcial Album" category with their recent album "La Maquinaria". This was surprising for timba fans as that release was received with mixed results. It competed with plenty of strong material but the news is a welcome addition.   

Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval also scored various nominations. His Latin Jazz album "Dear Diz (Every Day I Think Of You)" is listed in the Album of the Year, Best Latin Jazz Album, and Best Engineered Album. 

Other nominees listed included..
- Best Traditional Tropical = Eliades Ochoa " Un Bolero Para Ti "
- Best Traditional Tropical = Miguel García " Guarachando "
- Best Salsa Album = Mambo Legends Orchestra " Watch Out - Ten Cuidado "
- Best Latin Jazz = Jerry González y El Comando de la Clave (self-titled)
* is Alaín Pérez on the record?
- Song Of The Year = Amaury Guitiérrez & Gian Marco " Invisible "
- Best Instrumental Album = Paquito D' Rivera & Berta Rojas " Rasgando Seda "
- Best Latin Jazz = Chuchito Valdés "Live In Chicago "
- Best Classical Contemporary Composition = Yalil Guerra & Elizabeth Rebozo " Seducción "

** Update - also nominated for Best Contemporary Tropical Album is Elaín (of the Cuban Timba All-Stars) with his album " Volando Alto - Made On The Road "

Good luck to all the nominees !!!!!! Buena suerte.

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continue reading Pa' Ponerte en Talla

This won't be released for a few more weeks yet, but Rafael Monteagudo, leader of The Music Connection, was kind enough to give us a sneak preview of the debut CD Innovation, which will soon join the ranks of the best new Latin Jazz releases to come out of New York (or anywhere else) this year.  To read our review in English, click here.

Esto no se será lanzado hasta que unas semanas más han pasado, pero Rafael Monteagudo, lider de The Music Connection, tuvo la amabilidad de darnos un preestreno de su debut CD Innovation, que pronto se unirá a las filas de los mejores estrenos de Latin Jazz desde Nueva York (o cualquier otro lugar) este año.   Para leer nuestra reseña en español haga clic aquí.

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continue reading Sin Clave No Hay Na

No time for a full post, but get to Monterey Jazz tonight at 8:00 tonight if you can !!!
This is an astounding group. Yoshi's was sold out and minds were blown.  [Kevin Moore]

Photo by Tom Ehrlich

Photo by Peter Maiden

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                                                                    photo by Tom Ehrllich

This is really the most exciting timba development ever to come out of the U.S. It's timba - all timba - but it's a timba conjunto - it's got all the fire and great songs and great piano tumbaos and gear changes of timba but only about half as loud - so you can hear all the nuances. The only metal percussion is the bongosero's hand bell. Pedrito plays congas and cajón (playing kick drum parts) and all four members singing brilliantly. They're at Yoshi's Oakland tonight and the Monterey Jazz Fest on Friday. if you're on a budget (who isn't) it's a mere $15 for the whole night at Yoshis. This is the one, people. Don't miss it. VIDEO HERE. [Kevin Moore]

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