Michel Maza y Su Tentación at Casa De La Musica in Central Havana, December 2002 I saw Michel's group my first day in Cuba at the $5 matinee at the new Casa de la Música in Central Havana. This club is much like the original in Miramar, but with up-to-date décor and sound technology. The crowd was mostly young Cubans dressed to impress and ready to rock to this strong new Timba band. Michel has not yet cut a CD with this new group but the kids knew the tunes and related to his edgy street message. A few days later, we caught up with Michel at a popular Cuban youth hang out on the Malecón called Ola Hola. The venue was like a deep urban Hip Hop club scene, but in the open air and wind from the Caribbean. Michel and his group were about to perform for an all Cuban crowd of about 1,000 kids. He showed up to meet us in the bar with an entourage like a Hip Hop peso superstar. We had 15 minutes.

Michel looked tough in his black leather baseball cap, but his attitude was very mellow. He said he left Charanga Habanera to express his own style and message. He learned his music from his parents. His mother was a singer and has father performed at the Tropicana. He has formal musical training but said his main influences are from the streets. His inspiration comes from the difficult daily life shared by his peers. As for North American influences, he listens to Stevie Wonder and Al Jarreau, and he likes American Hip Hop. But he learned the most from his years with Charanga Habanera. I have been told that Michel is the member of the group that caused the Cuban government to suspend their public performances for six months when he got too lewd at a concert during an international youth festival held in Havana in the late '90s. Thor and Michel at Ola Hola I asked Michel what, in his view, is the difference between the new music of Timba and the classic sound of Los Van Van. He said Timba is stronger, harder. It pushes the message. But Timba owes a large debt to Van Van and traditional Cuban music. I learned later that Van Van's Le Le has helped Michel with the horn arrangements for his new group. Le Le said that, in his opinion, Timba is done better than salsa in general, that the musicianship is at a higher level in part because the musicians have had formal training in Cuba's music schools.