The 2018 Festival de la Salsa en Cuba is almost upon us and, as with previous years, I will be unable to attend. Fortunately, the Facebook page shares a lot of good photos and videos, so I will follow along there. Also as with previous years there is an all-star line-up for the nightly concerts as well as music and dance workshops, DJ parties and After Parties. This year also includes an excursion in Havana to important places for Cuban musical and cultural production under the guidance of none other than Pedro Lázaro Ordoñez - better known as Papucho, bassist and bandleader of Manana Club.

Participants can buy complete passes for all events and concerts, concert-only passes or a day pass that is good from 5pm for one day only. The after parties are not included in any of the passes but are something you don't want to miss with animations, DJs, and separate dance floors for traditional versus contemporary music. Foreigners will not be able to attend events this year by buying tickets in moneda nacional, but you can purchase your tickets by following this link.

For more information check out Festival de la Salsa en Cuba @Facebook. 

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ENGLISH: Grammy-winner Juan de Marcos and his Afro-Cuban All Stars begin their 2018 winter tour on Wednesday, January 10th in the frigid North Eastern US with concerts in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. The US leg of the tour will also take them to California and Georgia. The European Tour will run from January 1 through February 1st. Click here for all the tour dates.

The tour is in support of the Afro-Cuban All Stars' eighth Album - "Absolutely Live II - Viva Mexico!" - a CD + DVD released in 2017. You can check out one of the videos from the album below. Don't miss this opportunity to bring some Caribbean heat to your winter!

ESPAÑOL: Ganador del Grammy Juan de Marcos y sus Afro-Cuban All Stars comienzan su gira de invierno de 2018 el miércoles, 10 de enero en el glacial noreste de los EE.UU. con conciertos en Nueva Jersey, Nueva York, Pensilvania y Massachusetts. La etapa estadounidense de la gira también los llevará a California y Georgia. El Tour Europeo se desarrollará desde el 1 de enero hasta el 1 de febrero. Haga clic aquí para ver todas las fechas de la gira.

La gira es en apoyo del octavo álbum Afro-Cuban All Stars - "Absolutely Live II - ¡Viva México!" - un CD + DVD lanzado en 2017. Puede ver uno de los videos del álbum a continuación. ¡No pierda esta oportunidad de traer algo de calor caribeño a su invierno!

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ENGLISH: Calixto Oviedo is returning to Europe for a tour with his Cuban Jazz Train during March and April. We have updated his tours page and will continue updating as more information becomes available. Calixto is busy in the US as well and will be performing with his Cuban Jazz Train in Hollywood at Catalina Jazz Club on January 18th and at Yoshi's in Oakland with his Afro-Cuban Jazz group. You can keep up with Calixto by visiting his official website and his following his Facebook page.

ESPAÑOL: Calixto Oviedo regresa a Europa para una gira con su Cuban Jazz Train durante marzo y abril. Hemos actualizado su página de giras y continuaremos actualizando a medida que haya más información disponible. Calixto también está trabajando mucho en los Estados Unidos y actuará con su Cuban Jazz Train en Hollywood en Catalina Jazz Club el 18 de enero y en Yoshi's en Oakland con su grupo de Jazz Afrocubano. Puede mantenerse al día con Calixto visitando su sitio web oficial y siguiendo su página de Facebook.

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ENGLISH: Ian Ignacio Herrera López, better known as "Nachito Jr.", has distinguished himself in recent years as one of the young generation of Cuban musicians who are defending the legacy of Cuban dance music. Nachito Jr. comes from a family of renowned musicians named Ignacio, which can lead to some confusion. His father, Ignacio Herrera, played trombone with Orquesta Revé, Los Reyes 73 and Ritmo Oriental while his brother, pianist Ignacio Herrera "Nachito", who currently resides in the US, was a member of Cubanismo for several years before settling in the US. It may seem that Nachito Jr. was always destined to play piano, but the truth is...well, I'll let you read it in his own words in the interview.

Nachito Jr. has worked with a number of timba groups as well as with Roberto Faz, where he had the opportunity to perform with Omara Portuondo. He has been both pianist and musical director for Habana City, Bakuleye, El Noro y 1ra Clase and currently with Yasser Ramos y Su Orquesta. Nachito Jr. also works on arrangements for other artists and is interested in all types of music. On December 23rd there will be a release concert for an album with arrangements by Nachito Jr. for the reggaetonero G Rowell. 

Click here to read the interview with Nachito Jr.

ESPAÑOL: Ian Ignacio Herrera López, mejor conocido como "Nachito Jr.", se ha distinguido en los últimos años como una de las jóvenes músicos cubanos que defienden el legado de la música de baile cubana. Nachito Jr. proviene de una familia de renombrados músicos llamado Ignacio, lo que puede generar cierta confusión. Su padre, Ignacio Herrera, tocó con Orquesta Revé, Los Reyes 73 y Ritmo Oriental, mientras que su hermano, el pianista Ignacio Herrera "Nachito", que actualmente reside en los EE. UU., fue miembro de Cubanismo durante varios años antes de establecerse en los EE. UU. Puede parecer que Nachito Jr. siempre estuvo destinado a tocar el piano, pero la verdad es ... bueno, te dejaré leerlo con sus propias palabras en la entrevista.

Nachito Jr. ha trabajado con varios grupos de timba, así como con Roberto Faz, donde tuvo la oportunidad de actuar con Omara Portuondo. Ha sido pianista y director musical de Habana City, Bakuleye, El Noro y 1ra Clase y actualmente con Yasser Ramos y Su Orquesta. Nachito Jr. también trabaja arreglos para otros artistas y está interesado en todo tipo de música. El 23 de diciembre habrá un concierto de lanzamiento para un álbum con arreglos de Nachito Jr. para el reggaetonero G Rowell.

Haga clic aquí para leer la entrevista con Nachito Jr.

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