ENGLISH:   After a considerable hiatus, we will be publishing CD reviews again in the future.  Most of these will be recent releases made in Cuba or with musicians living in Cuba, but we are going to begin with what is believed to be the last full studio album by El Gran Fellove, recorded in 1999 in Mexico city and not released until October 7 of this year (the 100th anniversary of his birth).  You can read our review of Joey Altruda Presents: El Gran Fellove in English here. 
ESPAÑOL: Después de una pausa considerable, volvemos a publicar reseñas de CD en el futuro.  La mayoria de ellas serán lanzamientos recientes hechos en Cuba o con músicos que viven en Cuba, pero vamos a comenzar con lo que se cree es el último álbum completo en estudio de El Gran Fellove, grabado en 1999 en la ciudad de México y lo lanzado hasta el 7 de octubre de esta año (centenario de su natalicio).  Puedes leer nuestra reseña de Joey Altruda Presenta: El Gran Fellove en español aquí. 

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An especially exciting new episode, and hopefully the first of several with the great Ned Sublette, whose combination of knowledge about Cuban, Afro-North American, and African music puts him in a class of his own. This episode focuses on folkloric music. Here's Rebecca's description:

Rebecca speaks with musician/producer/historian Ned Sublette, author of the most comprehensive history of Cuban music in English, Cuba and Its Music: From the First Drums to the Mambo. Sublette is leading trips to Cuba through his organization, Postmambo, and in January will embark on La Ruta de los Fundamentos, a tour focusing on Afro-Cuban sacred sites in western Cuba (email postmambo@gmail.com for more info). We talk about the dense and entangled networks of Afro-Cuban religious practice and play a few fieldwork recordings from rural western Cuba.

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ENGLISH:   Cubadisco 2024, which will take place May 11-19 2024, has announced its call for entries.  You can read the full details in English here (note that the registration period for entries is has already begun and closes December 31). 
ESPAÑOL:  Dan a conocer la convocatoria de Cubadisco 2024, que tendrá lugar del 11 al 19 de mayo 2024.  Puedes leer todos los detalles en español aquí (nota bien:  el periodo de inscripción ya ha comenzado  y vence el 31 de diciembre)

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In Congalese Rumba: Cuban Music Goes Back Home, Rebecca Bodenheimer interviews French historian Charlotte Grabli on the fascinating journey of African rhythms from the Congo to Cuba and back again.

Drumming and Singing for the Orishas is a great overiew of batá rhythms in both religious and popular music--from the Oru seco to Adalberto to the Bay Area's own Jesús Díaz y su QBA.

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