Osvaldo Chacón, liner notes for the CD Salsa Afro Cubana, 2001:

"Nowadays in Cuba we play music differently, and nobody knows what to call it. People dance differently and there's no name for it, so we're calling it timba. Timba is the sound being heard on the island and it's hard to explain in theory, but the changes we have made are based on the dancers, who for the last five years have been moving differently. Each musical genre, and Cuba has twenty or thirty, has a dance. To my mind, the interesting thing is precisely the dancers. They're making it clear that there's something new in our music.

"There was a moment when we had to accept the word 'salsa' because of the international situation. At that time we were on the defensive, but now we're on the offensive and we can say, "No, that's not what we do. We're somewhere between traditional son and salsa" By combining our artistic criteria we're going to enter the market. It's a new initiative and it needs a new name, timba, a musical name like rumba or conga."

Juan Formell, Leader of LOS VAN VAN (for over 30 years, Cuba's leading popular band) April 1998, presentation of the CD Te Pone La Capeza Mala to the Cuban press.

Salsa Afrocubana (ARC EUCD 1658)

'Timba' music is today's sound in Cuba, brewing more and more potent since the early 1990s. Chacón, whose singing CV includes spells with 90s stars El Medico de la Salsa and Paulito FG, has brought the sound of 'timba' to the UK where he hopes to make it popular. Intense big band arrangements infused with virtuoso jazz attitudes, with fast exchange of rhythms between instruments, makes for a compelling sound which has dancers wiggling their butts like magimixes.

Wisely, as the UK salsa scene is only just able to deal with those moves, Chacón covers cha-cha-cha with swing, romantic ballads beloved of Cubans like Segundas Partes, as well as Colombian cumbia and sounds reminiscent of New York salsa. Recorded in Havana with a tight brace of musicians Chacón's husky voice is appealing, the material is fresh, the sound hot , if derivative. A good party disc, if the band takes to the road, bound to raise roofs."
Christine Charter fRoots (Folk Roots Magazine) November 2001

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"This album is Cuban all the way...Chacón delivers pura timba...with top quality musicians, hot, horn-rich arrangements...some nice twists...shows off his considerable vocal skills"
www.picadillo.com

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“An irresistible dance beat. With eight self-composed tracks the young Cuban has proved himself a talent to watch”
Paul Morrison ( Wanderlust August/September 2001)

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“…Polished and dance-floor-friendly album…varied in tempos and moods, from high-octane burners (Mi Vicio and A la Buena Si) to ballad, cha-cha, guaguancó and even a Cumbia. That playing, compositions, arranging and production are great throughout and Chacón himself is no less accomplished.”
Jimmy le Mesurier (The Musician Union March 2002)

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“Watch out for this guy! He is a real powerhouse…His vocal stylings are clear as a bell and very captivating…a great debut album and hopefully we will be hearing much more from Osvaldo Chacon y su Timba”
Rita of www.salsaroots.com

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“..One of the best products of the last few years and I am greatly surprised that Osvaldo Chacón has not been discovered by one of the big labels…In sum, this music is excellent! The “salsa” begins to take on other colours and without wanting to, the hips begin to move. It has a touch of salsa dura, a little timba, elements of jazz, songs of talent and inspired choruses…the instrumentation is masterful” Jacira Castro www.salsapower.com