Reviews
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z All
Type | Artist | Product | Date | Author |
---|---|---|---|---|
CD/DVD | Maraca & His Latin Jazz All Stars |
Reencuentros - (Independent Release 2011, EGREM 2012) Initial Release 2011
This Cuban Jazz recording by Maraca and a cast of supporting all stars received critical acclaim internationally including a glowing review by Downbeat in the United States. |
01/09/2012 | Bill Tilford |
Film | Josué Joseph |
La Época, Part I - The Palladium Era (2009) Directed by Josué Joseph
This film is a cinematic ode to the Palladium Era and the Mambo Craze in New York, a time before "Salsa" and simplified dance steps and rhythms took hold in the clubs. This film is not without its flaws but raises some good conversation topics including the degree of communication between dancers and bands then vs. now. |
01/09/2012 | Bill Tilford |
CD | Timbalive |
La Timba pa' to' el Mundo - (Latin Power Enterprises) Released 2011
This recording was nominated for a Cubadisco award in 2012 in the Popular Dance Music category, a rare distinction for a dance band based in the United States. |
12/06/2011 | Bill Tilford |
CD | Rumbankete |
Que No Pare La Fiesta - (Independent Release) Released 2011
Shhh, don't tell anybody, but this "Progressive Salsa" band in LA plays some very good Songo and Timba too. We wouldn't want some of the "I don't like Timba" people currently dancing to this to freak out... |
10/16/2011 | Bill Tilford |
CD/DVD | Ernan López-Nussa |
Pas de Trois - (Colibri) Released 2009
This beautiful trio recording has Ernán at the grand piano and incorporates elements from much of the history of Cuban and US popular music and Jazz as well as his classical training. For those who only know of Ernán from his work with Afro-Cuban groups, this shows a different side of his talents. |
09/01/2011 | Bill Tilford |
CD | Harold López-Nussa |
El País de las Maravillas - (World Village) Released 2011
Harold López-Nussa may not be as famous as uncle Érnan yet, but if he keeps putting out recordings like his one, that will change in time. |
03/11/2011 | Bill Tilford |
CD | Manolín, El Médico de la Salsa |
El Puente - (Ciocan Music) - Released 2002
Given the amount of water that's passed under "the bridge" for the amusingly enigmatic character known as "El Médico de la Salsa", it's no wonder that the historic release of "El puente" has rekindled the many controversies swirling around the current state of music and politics in Cuba and the United States. Fortunately, "El puente" also has the power to make us forget such annoyances and remember why we're drawn to this music in this first place. This live double CD captures the torrid adrenaline rush of the live Timba experience as no commercial recording ever has... |
09/28/2002 | Kevin Moore |
CD | Charanga Habanera |
Pa' que se entere La Habana - (Inspector de la Salsa) - Released 1995
By 1995 Charanga Habanera and their second album, Hey You Loca, had become a major sensation in Havana. Their concerts were packed with young "Charangueros" who danced and dressed as they did and knew all of their songs, each of which became, in rapid succession, a huge radio hit. With the band's popularity reaching "mania" proportions.... |
07/28/2002 | Kevin Moore |
CD | Charanga Habanera |
Tremendo Delirio - (Inspector de la Salsa) - Released 1997
By 1997, the Timba scene in Havana had reached the flash point. The innovations of NG La Banda and Charanga Habanera had been embraced and assimilated by a new generation of musicians and an exciting array of new groups had emerged... In the heady days of 1997, Timba was surging forward with dizzying momentum, and in the eye of that storm, in an atmosphere of tremendo delirio, the original Charanga Habanera released their eagerly-anticipated fourth album. Neither they nor anyone else would have dreamed that it would also be their last. |
05/28/2002 | Kevin Moore |
CD | Azucar Negra |
Andar Andando - (Bis Music) - Released 2000
With the release of “Andar Andando”, Azucar Negra has produced a timba classic for the new millennium. The dynamic duo of writer-arranger, Leonel Limonta and vocalist Haila Mompie (both founders of another powerhouse group, Bamboleo), have come up with a delicious blend of rhythms that will grab hold of both dancer and listener alike... |
01/15/2001 | Carlos Suarez |