Among the 800+ attendees of the Dec. 22 Charanga Habanera show in San Francisco were Nick & Serena of SalsaValeTodo, happily reporting that registration is almost full for their upcoming and 2nd Annual SALSA RUEDA FESTIVAL at the Hotel Whitcomb. 

This year they will be offering over 40 workshops in Cuban-style salsa, Rueda de Casino, Rumba, Afro-Cuban Folkloric, Son, Cha Cha Cha, Danzon, Salsa Suelta, Cuban Styling for Ladies, Cuban Cabaret and Mambo, and Music appreciation and listening classes. Beginning dancers will have the unique opportunity of extensive study in a Beginner's Track devoted to giving new dancers the basics and introducing other dancer's to Cuban dance. 

The festival will also host special guest, Roberto Borrell who will teach danzon, son, cha cha cha and present his multi-media demonstration and lecture on "Timba: Dancing Though Time".  Four nights of parties will include performances and three live Timba bands.

Enjoy dancing with casineros from around the world!!

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Get ready for this upcoming show. Kicking off their US tour, Los Van Van, celebrates José Martí's January 28th birthday with a special peformance at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in Key West, Florida. The band is also celebrating its 40th anniversary. 

Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door. Gates open at 7pm for this three hour concert event. Martí was in Key West during the late 1890's to deliver a speech in support of Cuba's independence movement. 

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It was twenty years ago today...Juan Formell taught the band to play. Actually forty, and as far as Miami is concerned, its more like ten years since Los Van Van's last appearance. At that time the show was cancelled due to the protests that rang clear -there is an understanding between the Cubans who lost everything and have suffered in exile. In response to this, another message has also continued to ring true. Los Van Van is a group of artists that herald a lasting musical movement, used by many to get in touch with their culture and shun the political spin. Inside of that tension many wish they could enjoy the music more openly and that some of the barriers can be brought down.   

This picture is the present. One that would have been impossible just two years ago. Take a good look at it. Corporate America is behind it. Maybe you should be too?

Many thanks to Eli Silva for this outstanding photograph. An ex-trumpet player based in the Miami area, Eli writes music reports and has an extensive photo gallery here on TIMBA.com. To solicit his professional photography services you can contact him at photographybyeli [at] aol [dot] com. Te botaste con esta foto Eli.

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Our friend in Havana Chucho El Rey de la Salsa reports that BAMBOLEO's first concert of the year was attended by 3000+ fans, mostly 18-30 year olds and very well dressed beautiful ladies.  In his opinion the outdoor venue La Tropical is the "thermometer" by which the popularity of the Cuban music scene, and its reception in the world, is measured -if you can pack La Tropical you can pack any venue. 

He also reports that, after many years, master percussionist from Puerto Rico Giovanni Hidalgo is set to perform in Cuba along woth Orlando "Maraca" Valle and other music greats. He states that because Giovanni has a very special set of hands he is well regarded and respected by many percussionists in Cuba. 

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