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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Chucho el Rey de la Salsa reports from Havana that at a special concert yesteday, a free event that took place at the at the Tribuna Anti-Imperialista in El Malecón, Paulo FG launched a new album after a 5 year hiatus. The production features the hit "Mami Te Fuiste Pa' La Yuma" (my hottie split to the USA). Stay tuned for more info. 

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