OFFICIAL BOOK OF CUBADISCO 2015 AWARD NOMINEES

ENGLISH: Thanks to the Publications Department of Cubadisco, you may download the official book of Cubadisco 2015 nominees here. It is free but only available in Spanish.
ESPAÑOL: Gracias al Departamento de Publicaciones Cubadisco, puede descargar el libro oficial de nominados premio Cubadisco 2015 aquí. Es gratis, pero sólo está disponible en español.

ENGLISH: Melvis Santa was given a warm welcome at Sabor a Café in Chicago - you can view a photo gallery here.
ESPAÑOL: Melvis Santa se le dio una bienvenida afectuosa en Chicago en Sabor a Café -puede ver una galería de fotos y el comentario aquí.

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domingo, 03 mayo 2015, 06:37 am

ENGLISH: Cubadisco 2015, a combination of Cuba's equivalent of the GRAMMY Awards, a music symposium, a trade fair, concerts and exhibitions, will take place in Havana Cuba from May 15-24, 2015. The nominees for Cubadisco 2015 were announced at a special gala at the Cabaret Tropicana on April 30. Bill Tilford will be covering Cubadisco in a special section of the From The Studios Report. You can see the nominees here, and special video links have been added to the list when these were available ("pirated" links were not included).
There is a special Video Clip category in Cubadisco, and the nominees are:
ESPAÑOL: Cubadisco 2015, una combinación del equivalente cubano de los Premios GRAMMY, un simposio de música, una feria comerciál, conciertos y exposiciones, tendrá lugar en La Habana, Cuba a partir de 15 a 24 mayo, 2015. Los nominados a Cubadisco 2015 se anunciaron en una gala especial en el Cabaret Tropicana el 30 de abril. Bill Tilford estará cubriendo Cubadisco en una sección especial de From The Studios. Puede ver los nominados aquí, y enlaces de vídeo especiales se han añadido a la lista cuando disponibles (no incluimos enlaces "pirateados").
Hay una categoria especial, Video Clip, en Cubadisco, y los nominados son:

1. Oshún (Adrián Berezaín)

2.. Hablando con Juana (Alaín Pérez)

3. Canción fácil (Haydée Milanés)

4. Cuando tú dices que me amas (QVA Libre)

5. La Moda (Los Van Van)

ENGLISH: Congratulations to TIMBA.com's Michael Lazarus; he co-mixed and mastered Septeto Santiaguero's album No Quiero Llanto, which is a nominee in the Traditional Son category.
ESPAÑOL: Felicitaciones a Michael Lazarus de TIMBA.com; él co-mezcló y masterizó el álbum No Quiero Llanto de Septeto Santiaguero, que es nominado en la categoría Son Tradicional.

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viernes, 24 abril 2015, 08:45 am

Omar Sosa and Cuarteto Afrocubano are at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago every night until Sunday, April 25. Unlike the album, which includes guest musicians that add some elements of Flamenco and other influences, this is the core quartet and is more down-to-the-bone Cuban in its execution. BIll Tilford was there for the first set opening night - you can read more and see photos here.

In 2012, Santa Habana by Melvis Santa was nominated for a Cubadisco award in the Fusion category. Melvis has her own projects now but has also been a member of Interactivo (which appears here) and Sexto Sentido. You can read a review of this recording in English here y en español aquí.

Best of all for Chicagoans, she will be in town May 9 to perform. See Report From Chicago from April 19 for details.

In the next month or two, you will be reading and hearing a lot about Ruy López-Nussa, who in no particular order is Ernán López-Nussa's brother, a phenomenal drummer, and the leader of the group La Academia, a group that has some killer recordings that are about to find their way to public notice. If you were a fan of Grupo Afrocuba, watch this like a hawk. This is not a reencarnation, but it is every bit as good, in some ways even better. While we wait, here's a review of a Fusion project (Cuban music and Reggae) that they did with Everton Paul, Remembrance. You can read it in English here o en español aquí.

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domingo, 19 abril 2015, 05:41 am

Spring is here, and some dont'miss performances are coming up in different cities in the United States:

I. Omar Sosa y Cuarteto AfroCubano

Omar's newest group is currently on tour in multiple cities in the United States in support of their new release ilé, a return to Omar's Cuban musical roots. You can read my review of that album (in English) here. I will have the good fortune to be able to catch them live during one of their many performances at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago from April 23-26; they also have dates in LA on the 19th, Washington DC on the 29th and Brooklyn NY on the 30th before heading off to Europe. You can see the full tour schedule here.

II. Melvis Santa

Melvis Santa already has an impressive resume - a founding member of Sexto Sentido, work with Interactivo as well as many Cuban Jazz artists, film work in Siete días en la Habana and her own projects Santa Habana and Achedi. This Chicago performance (At Sabor a Cafe on May 9) has her collaborating with a hand-picked ensemble, three of whom took the roof off the place a few weeks ago when they played there with Eliel Lazo: Cuban saxophonist and keyboardist Orlando Sanchez "Cubajazz", bassist Joshua Ramos and guitarist/keyboardist Rob Block. Melvis' voice is one of those that I would listen too even if she were singing the Chicago telephone directory. But don't take my word for it - her YouTube channel is here. This is also an opportunity to buy her CD Santa Habana, which I have heard (I love it) and will be reviewing soon. This is a small venue (with wonderful Colombian food incidentally), so make your reservations now.

III. Jane Bunnett and Maqueque

This is hardly Jane Bunnett' s first rodeo with top-tier Cuban artists, nor is it the first time that an excellent all-female ensemble has come together to perform Cuban music. What is new is that the lineup includes heavy hitters like drummer Yissy Garcia, who recently stood a few US cities on their ears during a tour with her own project, Bandancha, and this group draws on the strengths of Yissy, Yusa and others to throw down an interesting mix of Cuban music, Jazz and Soul. The group will be touring Canada and the west coast of the United States in May at the following locations:

Jazz Bistro – Toronto Canada – Wednesday May 6 to Saturday May 9
PDX Jazz @ Jimmy Mak’s – Portland Oregon – Monday May 11
Jazz Alley – Seattle Washington – Tuesday May 12, Wednesday May 13
Piedmont Piano Company – In-Store Concerts – Oakland CA – Thursday May 14
Jazz Bakery Presents at Moss Theater – Santa Monica CA – Saturday May 16
MIM Music Theater (Musical Instrument Museum) – Phoenix AZ – Sunday May 17
Kuumbwa Jazz Center – Santa Cruz CA – Monday May 18