Havana Rhythm & Dance Festival - 2015

Dale cliq aquí para leer la convocatoria en español.

Fiesta del Tambor 2015 Havana

One month from today sees the start of the 2015 Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival. This is one of the major Cuban music and dance events every year with masters classes and performances as well as competitions for hopeful young percussion musicians in the categories drums, timbales, congas, bongos and batá. The Festival also hosts the International Competition in Casino Dance. Prizes are provided by the event sponsors, which include Hotel Palco, Melia Hotels, Havana Club S.A., Sabian Co, Pearl Drums, Evans, Regal Tip, Bucanero S.A. among others. The competitions are open to both Cubans and non-Cubans. If you are interested in participating, you can click here for contact information.

After an intense day of classes and competitions, relax in the evenings with the top bands in Cuba including Havana D'Primera, Maykel Blanco y Salsa Mayor, Manolito Simonet, Paulo FG, Klímax, Robertico Carcarsés and Interactive, Companía Santiago Alfonso, Companía Liszt Alfonso, Havana Dance Compás, Muñequitos de Matanzas, Afrocuba Matanzas, Osaín del Monte, Yoruba Andabo, Rodney Barreto, Oliver Valdés, Ramsés Rodriguez, and Eliel Lazo among others.

The complete program with times and venues for all events will be released shortly so stay tuned! As travel opportunities open up, this festival is a must for musicians and dancers who want a chance to learn from the very best. Click here for the full announcement with contact information.

If you need any more convincing, just check out this video from the 2014 Festival!

Klímax - "Aquí estoy" Havana Rhythm & Dance Festival 2014

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lunes, 12 enero 2015, 01:28 pm

La Liga Habanera released their first album "Tremenda Unión", in the summer of 2013. They are back heating up Stockholm's cold, dark winter with their new single "Estocolmo Se Pone Caliente". The songs starts with a tribute to NG La Banda's "El Trágico" and quickly slips into a dance groove with an urban edge courtesy of rap by Bamma B. Definitely timba caliente. We asked bandleader Max Alton to tell us a little about the song.

"Daniel Baro (Flecha) wrote the lyrics together with me, except for the rap which was written by Kevin Dennis (Bamma B) from Trinidad Tobago. Daniel is a singer from Havana who has sung in various son orchestras. The arrangement is by me, Oldrich González, and Petter Linde. We are also working on another song that will be released in 2015."

"Estocolmo Se Pone Caliente" has been released at iTunes and Spotify. Dale clic para escuchar!

Daniel Baro (Flecha) - Lead vocals
Bamma B (Kevin Dennis) - Rap
Oldrich Gonzales - Piano
Aleksander Bdarski - Bass
Alexander Waljansson - Guitar
Jan Kohlin - Trumpet 1
Rickard Lindgren - Trumpet 2
Johan Åström - Trombone
Pablo Cepeda - Backing vocals and congas
Max Alton - Drums, timbales, güiro, bongo and backing vocals
Måns Ek - Mixing
Farmerstreet studios and Mastertone studios

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viernes, 09 enero 2015, 03:58 pm

Osvaldo Chacón is back with "Se te cuela"

Osvaldo Chacón is back with his third CD "Se te cuela", which will be released in 2015! He has uploaded a teaser with clips from the album as well as a four-minute video of his new arrangement of "Te gusto" - the new version of his hit song with Bamboleo. The videos are already making waves with timba fans around the world.

We asked Osvaldo a few questions about the upcoming album.

This year you will release "Se te cuela", a CD containing nine songs. Who are the authors and arrangers of the songs?
I am the author and arranger of all 9 songs and all mambos (horns) that you are going to hear. The other musician who helped me (the co-arranger) is a young man named Gelmis Castillo Suarez who wrote piano, bass and percussion. He is a very talented young man. He has worked with Azúcar Negra, Son14 and is planning to work with Leo Vera and Tania Pantoja.

What studio did you recorded in?
The recording was done in Studio Forever Music and the recording and programming was done by Daynel Castillo (CUPIDO) who is working with "El Balacero" now! He is a young man of great talent and professionalism in his work. He has produced hundreds of projects for reggaetoneros: El Yonky, Jacob Forever ex-Gente D 'Zona, etc. It was a lovely experience!

Who are the musicians who recorded?
Daynel Castillo Reyes (CUPIDO) - Programing, all Percussion
Gelmis Castillo Suarez - Arranger, Piano, Bass
Lester Mancebo Magdariga - Trombone
Luis R Fuentes - Trumpet (Sierra Maestra)
Leyanis Campos Marrero - Corista
Gabriel Rodriguez Ducamger - Corista
Rubén Rodriguez Ducamger - Corista

Tell us about plans for concerts in the UK and Europe.
I have a lot of plans, first to promote the CD well. I'm hoping to sign with a label and start making some videos to have a good start. The new version of "Te gusto", a song I recorded with Bamboleo years ago, has had a viral acceptance. I think the new arrangement is cooler. In just three days on YouTube it had over 400 hits. Many DJs around the world are asking me for a copy. So that's a good sign!

Do you have a release date and where will people be able to buy it?
I will know the release date when the physical disk is ready for sale. It will be sold on the major networks such as iTunes, Amazon, etc. Moreover, it was made with love and I hope the dancers like it since they have the last word!

A warm hug and greetings to all the dancers of Cuban music around the world and thanks to you for the help you have been giving Cuban musicians for a long time on your website Timba.com.

Blessings

Aché, iré, salud pa' mi gente linda!
Osvaldo Chacón

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sábado, 06 diciembre 2014, 08:50 am

Los Van Van @ La Escalinata de la Universidad de la Habana por Ivan Soca Pascual Photo courtesy of Ivan Soca Pascual

Havana has a wonderful tradition of free concerts at the end of the year. They are off to an early start this weekend with two free mega-concerts. The first took place last night on the Stairway of the University of Havana. To put it mildly, the concert was well-attended. Los Van Van closed their national tour with a free concert and also the official release of the new CD "La Fantasía". If you're in Havana pick up a hard copy. It isn't up at digital retailers yet, but hopefully next week. Samuel has said that it's Van Van's best CD. It's too early for me to say, but it is definitely the best since "Chapeando", maybe even the best since "Llegó...Van Van". Without question it is going to be a favorite of dancers, so keep an eye out for it.

Una Luz Por La Esperanza - Buena Fe Tonight!

Buena Fe concert @ Carlos III y Boyeros

The other big free concert this weekend takes place tonight at Carlos III and Boyeros. Buena Fe are holding a concert in honor of the doctors fighting ebola in Africa. The show starts early at 7:00pm so families with young children can participate. Buena Fe is also working on a new album which should be out soon.