Monday June 28, 2004 - Timba in Disneyland - Day 3 - Maraca -
I was able to see Maraca y Otra Visión perform during the final day of the EuroDisney concerts and also took the opportunity to give him his Timba.com award for Best Timba Flautist.

Workshop in Nijmegen, Holland with César "Pupy" Pedroso -
On Sunday July 4th Pupy will be conducting a workshop in conjunction with the 20th Music Meeting where he will focus on the development of the tumbao and the charactaristc rhythm patterns used by the string instruments in the rhythm section. He will make use of material that reflects the different stages of musical development from Chapottin to Los Van Van to timba. For more information about the workshop see the Dutch site below.

http://www.musicmeeting.nl

El domingo el 4 de julio Pupy conducirá un seminario conjuntamente con la 20th Music Meeting donde se centrará en el desarrollo del tumbao y de los patrones rítmico usados por las cuerdas en la sección del ritmo. Utilizará material que refleja las diversas etapas del desarrollo musical desde Chapottin a Los Van Van a la timba. Para más información sobre el seminario vea el sitio holandés arriba.

Sunday, June 27, 2004 - Sin Mirar Atrás Officially Presented
Leonel Limonta acaba de presentar su nueva producción discográfica Sin Mirar Atrás. Su presentación se hizo en La Casa de La Música Habana, el Viernes 25 en la noche, con un concierto espectáculo y la actuación especial del ballet del Teatro América y las solistas, Haila y Vania. Haila interpretó, No Me Parezco a Nadie y Vania, Tu y Yo Una Misma Cosa. El local se abarrotó de personas, y la radio y la tv no perdieron ni un detalle de este evento. Limonta esta muy feliz por la presentación oficial de su nuevo disco.

Leonel Limonta just presented his new record production Sin Mirar Atrás. The presentation took place in La Casa de La Música Habana, on Friday the 25 at night with a concert show and a special performance by the ballet Teatro América and the soloists Haila and Vania. Haila interpreted No Me Parezco a Nadie and Vania, Tu y Yo Una Misma Cosa. The venue was packed with people, and the radio and television did not miss a detail of this event. Limonta is very happy with the official presentation of his new CD.

Más fotos de Dantes 'El Ricky'
Durante su visita a la Habana del 25 de mayo al 14 de junio, donde actuó en la Casa de la Música de La Habana junto a David Calzado y la Charanga Habanera, Michel Maza, Pupy y los que Son, y Los Ángeles de La Habana. También concedió varias entrevistas para los programas radiales El Exitazo y Discofiesta, así­ como para el destacado programa de la televisión cubana Piso 6.

Unas fotos  nuevas de sus actuaciones están en la página Fotos.

Friday, June 25, 2004 - Concert Report
I saw Manolito y su Trabuco in Amsterdam last week and finally am able to file my concert report. In short the sound was good, the band was tight and the crowd was enjoying every minute, singing and dancing all night long. 

Thursday, June 24, 2004 - Interview with Orestes Calderón
After the concert of Manolito y su trabuco in Amsterdam on June 17, 2004 I presented Orestes Calderón with his award from Timba.com for Best Timba Cellist. They were on a tight schedule but made time for me to ask a few questions. In addition to being a great musician, Orestes is a really nice person and was fascinating to talk to. I want to thank him for his patience with my poor Spanish.

The interview is up in MP3 format and as soon as we have time we'll get it transcribed and translated. Click here

Note: At the end of the interview you can hear El Indio come into the room. He didn't know we were recording.

Dantes y su Bomba update
Dantes Cardosa has replaced the drummer and guitarist with a keyboard player who also plays guitar and another excellent percussionist. We are expecting new photos soon so keep an eye on Dantes' section.

Dantes Cardosa ha sustituido al baterista y al guitarrista, por un tecladista que toca también guitarra y otro excelente percusionista. Estamos esperando nuevas fotos en el sección de Dantes pronto.

Calixto y su Latin Train
Calixto Oviedo is preparing for a concert July 3 at the Civic Theater in Vercelli, Italy. The musicians are:
Calixto Oviedo está preparando el concierto del día 3 de julio en el taetro Civivo de Vercelli, Italy. Los músicos son:

Piano - Enrico Caruso (Chicho Tumbao)
Bass - Massimo Baruffaldi
Trumpet - "Puchi" Mena (Cuba)
Congas - Ferdinando Despaigne (Cuba)
y por supuesto Calixto Oviedo Mulens  - bandleader, drums, timbales and vocals.

Calixto will also be playing at the Open Jazz Festival on the 8th, 9th and 11th of July.
Calixto va a tocar también en el Open Jazz Festival días 8, 9 y 11 de julio.

Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - Dantes Tour Dates Added
Dantes y su Bomba have joined the list of bands on tour for the summer concert season in Europe. We have added a Tours page for Dantes and will hopefully be able to add more dates soon.

Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - Tour Updates
Ilán and I are back at our desks after a busy week of concerts. The Tours section has been updated to include more dates for Los Van Van, Maraca, Adalberto Álvarez and Pupy. And finally we have gotten more dates for the Azúcar Negra Canadian Tour, so if you live in Canada or the Northern US don't miss them!

We have also updated our links section with a page for Artist Homepages so they will be easier to find. Right now we don't have very many, so if you have any information on a site we have missed, please let us know.

And stay tuned for concert reports for Manolito and the EuroDisney concerts, which will be coming soon!

Thursday, June 10, 2004 - Verano cubano
Los cubanos están invadiendo. This month Issac Delgado, Los Van Van, Manolito y su trabuco, Maraca y otra visión, Dayron y su boom, Haila y El Clan, Cubanito 20.02 and Pupy y los que son son begin their summer tours of Europe and in July they'll be joined by Adalberto Álvarez, La Charanga Habanera,  N.G. La Banda, Orishas and Paulo FG. 

And for timba fans in Canada and the US, Azúcar Negra begins their Canadian tour in July. Remember to keep checking our Tours section because we update it almost daily.

And if you're looking for a chance to experience dance and music courses in Cuba, the Cuban Culture Association in Denmark organizes courses in music and dance. Information about the courses is also available in English and en Español. You can find other interesting timba related sites on our Links page.