Here's  Part II of Tom's Manolín photos. On drums was the electrifying Ángel "Pututi II" Arce from the original band that took Havana by storm in the 90s. Also from that band was trumpeter "El Niche" Romero, now a Bay Area resident, joined by Roberto Morris (ex-Sur Caribe).

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Here's the first gallery from Manolín's incredible show with Jiovanni Cofiño and Ángel "Pututi II" Arce at Café Cócomo in SF.

Book News: Volume 1 of Beyond Salsa Bass should be out soon.

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The brand new state-of-the-art SF Jazz hall plays host to Juan d'Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All Stars for the next four nights. The acoustics are supposed to be absolutely sublime and the band definitely is. Juan will also give a lecture/demonstration (same venue) on Saturday afternoon. See you there!

Click here for more info and tickets.

Click here for the rest of the tour (WA, Canada, Arcata, etc.)

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photo by Peter Maiden

UPDATE: Manolín & Cofiño are also in Los Angeles tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 9th at the Florentine Gardens.

You may not have heard of Jiovanni Cofiño, but you've heard his music. As the musical director of Elito Revé y su Charangón, he penned such classic arrangements as Dale agua al dominó, 1999 and Se sigue comentando (Uyuyui). He's also a brilliant and thoughtful bassist who's been a huge help to me and other writers on timba such as Orlando Fiol. Cofiño has been in Las Vegas for about 7 years or so where he's put together a very tight and steady working band. From a timba fan's perspective, this means that Manolín has been working with a cohesive, well-rehearsed band led by one of Cuba's best arrangers. One can fantasize about major creative sparks flying, but if nothing else it'll be a chance to hear El Médico finally doing some new timba such as the tracks he introduced last year as SF SalsaRueda. 

The doors open at 7:00, Sunday night at Café Cócomo in SF, with DJ Walt Digz opening and dance lessons provided.

Speaking of SF SalsaRueda, that's coming the following weekend and features the usual staggering selection of bands, instructors, performers and lecturers, including my favorite writer, Ned Sublette.

And speaking of lectures, there's a very exciting free one from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., also Sunday, by Umi Vaughan at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) at 685 Mission St. in SF. Vaughan wrote an excellent book on batá legend Carlos Aldama and has now released his second major treatise on timba: Rebel Dance, Renegade Stance.  The lecture also features music by the ubiquitous DJ Walt Digz and should be a perfect hors d'oevre for el Médico & Cofiño later that night. See you there! [Kevin Moore]

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