Michel Maza Acquitted?

Michel Maza - Como gato de angora Michel Maza

Fantastic news came out of Lima yesterday! According to Cato TimbaDJ at Facebook, the sublimely talented singer Michel Maza has been acquitted of the charges for which he has been incarcerated in the San Pedro prison (ex-Lurigancho) for the past 17 months. We have not been able to find any Peruvian news site with the exact details of the verdict yet which is supposed to come on Monday, but the timberos of Peru are saying that it is 100% confirmed. This is the result his supporters have been hoping for. We certainly hope it is true!

In January of 2012 Michel and another person were arrested and charged with kidnapping, intimidation and armed robbery of a taxi driver. While Michel admitted to having problems with drugs, he denied the other charges. Fans and friends rallied around him creating Facebook pages dedicated to him, but just one month ago reports came that he had been sentenced to 25 years in prison. The preliminary indications today are that he has actually been acquitted of those charges and will be released on August 7th for time-served for the drug-related charges.

Timberos around the world are already rejoicing at the news and in some cities parties are being planned in honor of the acquittal. We at Timba.com hope to soon see Michel back on stage. We have missed his extraordinary voice.

Michel Maza at 18 singing "Lola, Lola" with la Charanga Habanera in 1997
at the now-famous "Suspension Concert"

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Friday, 26 July 2013, 07:15 PM

Yuly y Havana C

Yuleisis Greenidge, better known as Yuly, is the director of Havana C, a group that has been around for five years but really broke into the scene in 2012 with their mega-hit "Bailando". Yuly plays guitar, piano and percussion and is a product of the Cuban music school system, which she attended from grade school at Alejandro García Caturla to La ENA and El ISA. She was a member of the all-female salsa band Caribe Girls, but left for artistic reasons.

Yuly founded her own band, but wanted a mixed group of both men and women. In 2009 they recorded their first CD "Bajo de control". It was a salsa CD but never really took off and received limited distribution. Yuly decided to change the sound of the band and looked for new ways to incorporate other Caribbean genres such as reggaeton, plena and bomba. The result has been a resounding success. Havana C has become very popular among young Cubans who appreciate this playful, light style of dance music. When the band is not touring, they have a Wednesday peña at Casa de la Música Miramar.

Havana C is currently doing its first tour of Europe together with Alexander Acosta, an ex-Havana C singer who is best known to timba fans for his time with Orquesta Revé and now for his new solo album "Desafio". I spoke with Yuly before the show in Stockholm about the band, what it's like to be a female director in a male-dominated world and about the direction that Havana C has taken. The video interview is in Spanish. An English subtitled version will be coming soon. So if you don't speak Spanish, check back with us in a week.

Interview in Spanish with Yuly

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Saturday, 20 July 2013, 09:20 AM

Vitaly y Su Timba Habanera - Para Ti "Para Ti" by Vitaly y Su Timba Habanera was released on 15 June 2013

Vitaly Osmachko appeared on the international timba scene twelve years ago with "Desnudar tu cuerpo". The project Vitaly y Su Timba Habanera included the participation of stellar musicians from Cuba such as Ricardo Amaray, Carlos Kalunga, El Gallo, Amaury Pérez and Alexander Abreu. Well Vitaly is back in 2013 with his second CD, "Para Ti", again collaborating with los grandes. The new CD contains ten tracks. All arrangements are by Vitaly with lyrics provided by Giraldo Piloto, Ariel Cubría, Joaquín Betancourt and Alberto Alberto. Click here for an interview with Vitaly about "Para Ti".

A review will be coming soon to Timba.com but let me give you the short version: DJs should add this to their collection, especially DJs who play for a mixed crowd of casino and cross-body dancers. It should appeal to dancers of both styles. "Para Ti" is not available via on-line digital sales or at record stores. It is being distributed by authorized DJs. If you don't find a DJ in your area who is selling the CD, contact pelikanrec@gmail.com, or facebook.com/vitalyysutimbahabanera to order your copy.

Vitali Osmachko & Giraldo Piloto @ Abdala Studios Giraldo Piloto & Vitaly Osmachko at Abdala

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Friday, 19 July 2013, 12:23 PM

Buena Fe ensayando para los conciertos de Corea del Sur Buena Fe rehearsing with for the concerts in South Korea
Photo courtesy of Buena Fe (PÁGINA OFICIAL)

UPDATE: The concert dates for South Korea are August 2nd at 8:00, 3rd at 19:00 and 4th at 17:00. This facebook link includes instruction on how to book your ticket. Tickets are free but you should book your seat in advance to ensure you get one! Click here for all the information on the concerts and how to book your ticket by fax or e-mail.

Tonight Buena Fe will perform at La Tropical in Havana, giving Habaneros a sneak peek at the show they have put together for their debut performance in South Korea, which will be part of the Festival Cubano del Arte y la Cultura for Martí Cultural Day. The South Korea show will include Cesar López and Habana Ensemble, and the Habana Compas dance company. There will be also an exhibition by photographers Roberto Chile, Julio Larramendi and Gabriel Dávalos . The event takes place at the beginning of August, although the actual concert date has yet to be announced. Buena Fe will soon be updating their Facebook page with the times, dates and locations. If you happen to be in Asia, this may be your best chance to see the band short of going to Cuba. So keep an eye https://www.facebook.com/buenafe.oficial !

Prior to South Korea, "El Duo" - i.e. Israel and Yoel will travel to El Salvador for two concerts along with trovador Eduardo Sosa:
July 27, 2013 - Santa Ana, El Salvador- Estudio y Lucha @ Teatro Nacional de Santa Ana 6pm
July 28, 2013 - San Salvador, El Salvador- Estudio y Lucha @ UCA Auditorio Ignacio Ellacuría 4pm

In Timba-related Buena Fe news, Israel and Yoel sing with Lachy on the updated version of "Esa Mujer" on the new 2-CD set by Elito Revé y Su Charangón. "La Aplanadora de Cuba" contains 24 songs: 12 remakes interpreted by singers of the charangón together with stars such as Gilberto Santa Rosa, Mayito and Haila, as well as 12 new songs. This is a must have for timberos! In a recent interview by Marino Luzardo at Suena Cubano , Israel said that they worked out an arrangement that was a mix of both styles. Certainly Buena Fe's own changüí fusion "Pi 3,14" was a big hit for the band in 2010/11. Although Israel has written songs for Pedrito Calvo, Bony & Kelly and La Charanga Habanera, this is the first time that they actually have recorded with a timba band, to my knowledge. If someone has other information, let me know.

I leave you with the song (not timba) that has become a summer 2013 anthem in Cuba, from their latest CD,"Dial" , "Volar sin ti" featuring my favorite gallego, Andrés Suárez .

Buena Fe - "Volar sin ti" feat. Andrés Suárez from the CD "Dial" (2013)