Los Van Van will be at the Conga Room in LA on Aug. 4, at Yoshi's Oakland Aug. 5-6-7, and at SOB's in NY on Aug. 10-11-12. Check here for tour updates. Don't miss this chance to see the world's greatest dance band up close with state-of-the-art sound in an intimate setting.

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Tom Ehrlich reporting for La Última

Eliades Ochoa had already hatched the idea for the Afro-Cubism project when the Buena Vista Social Club phenomenon swept him onto the world stage in 1997. Now, 15 years later, his original vision has finally been realized: master musicians from Cuba playing son with master musicians from the African country of Mali playing traditional Malian music. I was thrilled to photograph the historic collaboration on a magical afternoon of music at Stern Grove Park in San Francisco. Click here the full gallery. [Tom Ehrlich]

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Hey Midwesterners - need a break from government shutdowns, union-busting and homicidal supreme court justices? Maraca's new timba band will be in MN, WI and IL on the 6th, 9th and 10th - then on to Indiana, Detroit and South Dakota before arriving at SOBs in NY. Here's the full tour schedule - Bill Tilford's review of the new CD/DVD - and Tom Ehrlich's extensive photo gallery from the SF leg of the tour.

If he used both hands it just wouldn't be fair.

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photo by Tom Ehlrich

Yikes - this guy is really amazing. His plane arrived just in time to get him there for the second set at Yoshi's SF, which began with a long exchange of solos between José and Maraca that electrified the crowd and the band. And he also sings in a soaring high tenor with great phrasing, intonation and stage presence - unbelievable. One more night at Yoshi's tonight - then a whole string of concerts across the US. See you there! There's another foto if you click "continue reading".

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