Contrabando - Interview with El Paísa

On February 6, 2010 I attended the release concert for Contrabando's second CD, "Abriendo Caminos". Located in Belguim, Contrabando is dedicated to spreading Cuban music and culture in Europe with a repertoire of original songs and arrangements that range from son to timba to fusion of Cuban rhythms with other Caribbean genres. The band has been working hard and paid their dues and have developed a steady following. The release concert was a celebration of the completion of this project and the beginning of the next stage in the band's development. The full concert report including video clips will follow soon. In the meantime here is a short interview with director and trombonist Andrés Fernández "El Paísa" with English subtitles!

Since the first decade of the new century is coming to a close, I decided it was time to go high-tech. I bought a program that easily adds subtitles to videos. So now both Spanish and English speaking fans will be able to enjoy the interviews! Click here or on the image above to watch the video. And stay tuned for the complete concert report.

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Thursday, 18 February 2010, 02:08 PM

Tom Bauer was present for the annual Fiesta Latina at Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich. This year's concert was held by Alexander Acosta y La Nueva Propuesta, and Tom has sent us a selection of his excellent photos. Click here or on the photo above to see all of the pictures.

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Tuesday, 16 February 2010, 03:17 PM

From March 9th - 14th the eyes of the Latin percussion world will be turned to Havana as it plays host to many of the premier Latin percussionists from Cuba and around the world as well as talent from the new generation of aspiring percussionists. It is time again for the Fiesta Del Tambor in memory of Guillermo Barreto. This year the festival will honor the recently deceased Ricardo “Papín” Abreu, founder of “Los Papines”, Jesús Alfonso Miró musical director of “Muñequitos de Matanzas”, as well as Roberto García, the great Cuban bongocero. On Sunday the 14th there will be a tribute to changüí and to Elio Revé Matos at La Tropical.

The Fiesta del Tambor is a multifaceted event. Each day from 9:00am to 4:00pm at Palacio de la Rumba percussionists compete in the international Drum Festival Contest. Winners receive new instruments within their area of specialty. The contest is open to both Cuban and non-Cuban musicians. There is also a prize for best female interpretation and best child's interpretation. Masters classes and conferences are held as well.

Closest to my own heart, every day there is a selection of great concerts to choose from. Here are some of the groups you can see if you are in Havana at this time: Klímax celebrating their 15th anniversary, Yoruba Andabo celebrating their 25th anniversary, Rumbatá de Camaguey, Conjunto Folklórico Nacional, Maraca y Otra Visión, Muñequitos de Matanzas, Pupy y los que Son Son, Elito Revé y Su Charangón, Lázaro Valdés y Bamboleo, Manolito Simonet, Los Papines, Rumberos de Cuba, Pachito Alonso y sus Kini Kini, Maykel Blanco, Addaché de Matanzas and Habana C. For the complete program of the 2010 Fiesta del Tambor and instruction for registration in the contest click here.

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Monday, 15 February 2010, 02:18 PM

Tumbao Habana Mambo Duro

Pascualito Cabreras posted today at Facebook that due to factors beyond their control, Tumbao Habana is not on the tour with Alexander Acosta. They will still be performing two concerts in France: February 27 at Salle Victoire 2 in Montpellier and February 28 at New Morning in Paris. If other concerts are scheduled during their stay in Europe, we will post the information at Timba.com so keep checking with us. For more details see Tumbao Habana's Facebook page.

I tried to contact Alexander Acosta's manager, but they are on the road returning from a concert in Munich and I have not recieved an answer. However, I have been told by a person who attended the Bayerischer Hof concert last night, that Alexander is performing with musicians from Italy and as far as I know, the remaining concert dates for his tour are unaffected.