Coming at You:

We just finished listening to Omar Sosa's new release, Eggūn, and it blew us away. We'll be reviewing it in detail in a few days, but meanwhile, there is a YouTube video that is more informative than the usual promo clip, and it is worth checking out:

In December 2012, The CMQ Big Band did some beautifully-orchestrated tributes to Beny Moré featuring Alain Pérez on vocals. Love the sax section in this band too. Here's a taste:

Last but not least: After an absence from most of the United States of more than a decade, Ernán López-Nussa is planning a tour here later in 2013. This will be a reunion tour with two former bandmates, drummer Jimmy Branly and bassist Sawa Perez. In 2011, these three played together for a couple of sessions in Wisconsin and Iowa, and the chemistry and music were great. Ernán won four Cubadiso awards for Veinte Pianos in 2012. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

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Sunday, 30 December 2012, 07:37 AM

TIMBA.com wishes you a happy and prosperous 2013, and as we prepare for the new year, we also wanted to take the opportunity to remember some key moments from this year:

TIMBA.com les desea un feliz y próspero año 2013, y mientras nos prparamos para el nuevo año, hemos quierido aprovechar la oportunidad para recordar algunos momentos importantes de este año:

Music Industry Awards/ Premios de la industria musical:

In Cuba's CUBADISCO 2012, Acabaito de Nacer (David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera) won the award for Best Album of Current Popular Dance Music. It is worth mentioning that a band based in the United States, Timbalive, was also nominated in that category. We believe that this is the first time that a band in the US has received that distinction.

En Cuba, CUBADISCO 2012, Acabaito de Nacer (David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera) ganó el premio al Mejor Álbum de Musica Popular Bailable Actual. Vale la pena mencionar que un grupo en los Estados Unidos, Timbalive, también fue nominado en esa categoria. Creemos que esta es la primera vez que un grupo un ls EE.UU. ha recibido esta distinción.

Also, Mis 22 Años (NG La Banda) received a Special Prize along with 30 Años de Son 14 (Son 14.)

Asimismo, Mis 22 Años (NG La Banda) recibió un Premio Especial junto con 30 Años de Son 14 (Son 14)

In the United States, La Maquinaria (Juan Formell y Los Van Van) received a nomination for Best Contemporary Tropical Album in the XIII Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards. Although this was not necessarily the best Timba recording to come out during this period, we were glad to see that a Timba recording from anyone did finally receive recognition from the Academy. The Academy also created a new category, Best Tropical Fusion, that will be worth watching in the future.

En los Estados Unidos, La Maquinaria (Juan Formell y Los Van Van) recibió una nominación al Mejor Álbum Tropical Contemporáneo en La XIII Entrega Anual del Latin GRAMMY. Aunque esto no era necesariamente la mejor grabación Timba para ser lanzado durante este periodo, nos alegramos de ver que una grabación Timba de cualquier grupo hizó finalmente recibir el reconocimiento de la Academia. La Academia también ha creado una nueva categoría, Mejor Álbum de Fusión Tropical, que ser digno de ver en el futuro.

Milestones/Hitos:

Juan Formell celebrated his 70th birthday this year. Congratulations Juan, and thanks for all the joy that you have brought us during several decades of wonderful music. Also, the late Celia Cruz was selected by popular vote in the United States to be recognized with a special portrait in the Smithsonian Institution. For fans in North America, the most important news of the year may be that 2012 saw a significant increase in tours by bands from Cuba. Hopefully this trend will continue.

Juan Formell celebró su cumpleaños número 70 este año. Felicidades Juan, y gracias por toda la alegría que nos ha llevado durante varias décadas de música maravillosa. Además, la fallecida Celia Cruz fue seleccionado por votación popular en los Estados Unidos para ser reconocido con un retrato especial en la Smithsonian Institution. Para los fans en América del Norte, la noticia más importante del año puede ser que el 2012 se registró un aumento significativo en giras con grupos de Cuba. Esperemos que esta tendencia va a continuar.

Most Exciting Band of 2012/Grupo más excitante de 2012:

TIMBA.com doesn't have an official "Best Band" award, but if we did, it would be difficult to deny Alexander Abreu and Havana d'Primera the honors for 2012. They sent audiences into a frenzy wherever we saw them play.

TIMBA.com no tiene un premio de "Mejor Grupo", pero si lo hiciériamos, sería dificil negar Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera los honores en 2012. Enviaron a un público en un frenesi donde los vimos tocar.

GRAMMY NOMINATION
Nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album (Mejor Álbum Tropical) in the upcoming 55th Grammy Awards, CUBANO SOY by Raúl Lara y sus Soneros, is a wonderful tradional Son and Rumba project from a Cuban expat living in Sweden, which practically has its own colony of Cuban musicians now. Raúl studied extensively with José Luis Quintana (Changuito) when he was younger. He has played with several groups, but Cubano Soy is his debut release as a solo artist. Raúl's website, which includes some sound clips, is here.

In Memoriam:

Luis Abreu, Sara González, Paquito Hechavarria, Gregorio "El Goyo" Hernandez

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Friday, 21 December 2012, 06:54 AM

Pupy Cantor and the Edwin Sanchez Orchestra at the Old Town School of Folk Music

In the late 1990s, and for a brief period in more recent years, Chicagoans had the luxury of seeing some bands from Cuba and Puerto Rico at prices ranging from free to a minimal admission charge at various city festivals and events. While it was wonderful to experience these performances while they were happening, as a long-term proposition, they may have conditioned audiences to expect to see this music at little or no visible cost (these performances were never truly "free" since payment came from a city budget that was experiencing escalating problems over the years). More recently, the city has dramatically reduced its financial support for several musical events, cancelling some and dramatically reducing the scope of others. Among other things, the Viva Chicago festival is no more, and the annual Puerto Rican festival in Humboldt Park has been shortened to adapt to budget cutbacks. The best information available to us indicates that this funding is unlikely to come flowing back in the foreseeable future, and increasing private (both for-profit and not-for-profit) sources will be needed to pick up the slack if Chicagoans hope to see this type of music live.

Henry Cole and the Afrobeat Collective at the Mayne Stage .

Fortunately, two private venues have already stepped in to do what they can - the Mayne Stage and the Old Town School of Folk Music have been very aggressive in booking touring bands (including bands from Cuba) and have done a commendable job with the resources available to them. The Old Town School in particular has used its outdoor festival as well as its indoor venues to help give the music a home. More recently, a new privately-organized festival, Festival Cubano , has also emerged as a noteworthy annual event (it is doubtful that this particular event will be in a position to book talent from outside the US, at least in the near future, but it has shown positive growth during its first three years in its ability to book a wide range of acts from within the United States).
One challenge confronting festivals and large concerts generally is....click here to read the full post...

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Tuesday, 18 December 2012, 01:36 PM

It's large -- 40 musicians más o menos (it's complicated), it has two CDs, it includes many of the heavy hitters in Havana with some special invited guests, and it's coming at you! Wait, don't run: read our review here first...