More Timba in the U.S. .. Look out for your favorite bands ..

-Pupy y los que Son Son – April 1-30th

-Manolito y su Trabuco – April 1- 12th

-Charanga Habanera – May 5th – June 10th

-Bamboleo- May 13-24th

-NG La Banda- June 24th – July 5th

-Adalberto Alvarez- June 1-30th

-Oscar Valdes- May 2-30th

Los Van Van, Elito Reve, Azucar Negra, Alexander Abreu, Conjunto Nacional, Maykel Blanco, Sur Caribe, Candido Fabre, Munequitos de Matanzas, and Anacaona dates will be posted soon.

*Dates have been confirmed by El Ministerio de Cultura in Cuba

Venue information will be given very soon
*All dates are subject to change.

Author: DJ Melao

Lionel Rogier TimbaStars.com report:

Monica Mesa era la diva de NG La Banda que cantaba con Toni Cala “El Papi” el coro “Soy inocente hasta que se pruebe el contrario”! Ella tomo el papel que tenia Yeni Valdes en NG La Banda y ha seducido el publico con su estilo refrescante, su charisma y su voz clara. En 2008 ella empeza una carrera de solista y graba un disco con Joel Dominguez. Ella empezara pronto una gira promocional en toda Europa con su grupo Monika y su Maquina Perfecta. En Enero 2009, Monica nos dio una entrevista exclusiva para hablar de su carrera y de sus proyectos !

Monica Mesa joven estrella de la música cubana, nace en 1978 en la Habana precisamente en el barrio de Marianao, desde muy pequeña comienza a estudiar actuación y canto. Desde muy joven empieza a trabajar con varios grupos musicales de relevancia en el panorama musical cubano: Chicuelos Son, Las Chicas Del Sol, PG, Anacaona, Azúcar Negra, etc… grabando numerosos CD. Fue cantante con Ng La Banda , bajo la dirección de José Luís Cortés “El Tosco durante nueve años. Ha participado como invitada en producciones discográficas de algunas de las más destacadas agrupaciones cubanas, con las de Issac Delgado y Hayla Mompié entre otras. También ha participado a la grabación del último CD Tranquilo que Yo Controlo de Pupy y los que Son Son y el mismo Cesar Pedroso le propuso agregarse a su orquesta antes de que ella saliera con su propia agrupación. Durante un tiempo, Mónica decidió suspender su carrera artística para a cuidar de su hijo, que ahora tiene tres años.

Actualmente, después del éxito de su primer single y video clip “Mi Soledad” Mónica acaba de grabar su primer CD en solitario producido por el productor musical Joel Domínguez (ex director musical de Issac Delgado y Manolin El Medico De La Salsa entre otros). Ha realizado cuatro videos para la promoción de su CD producidos por el director italiano Fabio Cimino. La realización de su debut CD ha contado con la colaboración de varios de los mas talentosos e destacados músicos cubanos como: Pucho López (piano y teclados), Alexander Abreu (trompeta), Chicoy(guitarra), Yulien Oviedo (percusiones), Amaury Pérez (trombón), Coco Freeman (coros y voz a dúo en un tema), Adel (congas), Joel Domínguez (bajo , piano, arreglos, composición). Su album serà lanzado y puesto a la venta para principio de este año.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o4bjHJdqp0

Mónika posee una gran voz, talento y sabor. Se pasea con abilidad entre los generos musicales cubanos ritmos, Actualmente se prepara para su debut oficial con su orquestra “Mónika y su Máquina Perfecta” compuesta por 12 músicos y dirigida por el director musical Joel Domínguez.

En la primavera del 2010 “Mónika y su Máquina Perfecta” realizaran sus primera gira promociònal por toda Europa.

Entrevista con Monica Mesa por Lionel Rogier

Author: 1

A todos mis amigos les digo,

On January 31, 2010, I woke up and could not believe the day had arrived!

This was a day I imagined in my dreams; but after nine long years, it was finally here.

Driving into the James L. Knight Center to see Los Van Van in Miami – was just as I thought it would be. The venue was loud, there was controversy surrounding this historic show – they’re from Cuba after all, and this is Miami, after all. Yet, the energy inside where Miami fans were thrilled to be getting their first glimpse of Los Van Van in almost a decade, was electric.

This was a celebration of a new beginning for aficionados of Cuban music in the U.S.A. It was the exclamation point to the dreary years of asking, even begging for the cultural exchange so many of us had longed for, raising our cries to anyone who would listen.

This one was for Duniel, Kevin, Hugo, Shabi, Michelle, Mike, Jacira, Añejo, Bill, Sue, and all my friends in California, Atlanta, New York, Oregon, D.C., and Miami. All of you were present in my heart during that magical night of Van Van in Miami! Now we must all stay united and keep this movement alive and strong for years to come.

Show time…Samuel’s drum toms, kick, and snare rocked as Pedro Fajardo’s strings and Lele’s flute ride over Hugo’s grooves, Pavel’s bass and Manolo’s congas - when suddenly Mayito, Roberto, Yeni, Lele, and Formell come onstage to an audience of ecstatic fans only to sing the melody “Llego Van Van y esta ves viene Arrasando” - and that they did.

The dream was real, Cuban music was officially back in the States for me in that special moment - and this is only the beginning of a year which promises to be unforgettable for many Timba fans in the U.S.

The night had several unforgettable moments like Manolin, Issac, and Los Van Van sharing the same stage for the first time ever in Miami and Vanessa Formell and her dad together onstage for the first time in many years; but none was greater than seeing Lele stop singing to let his emotions out as he cried during “Anda Quiereme”.

As Lele gathered his emotions, Roberto stepped in and improvised a bit over the song when Lele suddenly turned around and sang his heart out saying, “LA ENVIDIA, LA MENTIRA, LAS COSAS MALA”. No words can express the power of this moment…and that led to Pavel, Cucurucho, and Samuel dropping one of the most powerful bomba’s I have ever experienced. For so many reasons – this was simply spiritual…the soaring heart and soul of an incomparable gathering of musicians on a stage denied to them for so long.

In conclusion, Cuban music is taking off and will reach unheard of new heights in 2010. Yet from this moment forward and until I can imagine those new heights - all my dreams have been fulfilled as I work and promote Cuban music throughout the world. Emotions, head and heart – my sense of accomplishment, of sharing something bigger than all of us – will never be the same after this weekend with Van Van.

For me it is and will always be - about the music!

Que viva la bandera Cubana y los Timberos del mundo! We did it!

Por eso me mantengo,

- David “DJ Melao” Figueroa

Video Clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_ZsH1SsrUo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIk-ZggG6Cg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FdX8aU08VI

Author: DJ Melao

What is Pornoson? Cuban music meets sexually explicit lyrics in a high voltage fusion of Son and heavy Rock and Roll style percussion. The director of Pornoson (Danny Rojo) talks about Pornoson in the video below.

Pornoson - Ah Sing Are (2009) is now available on iTunes.

Author: DJ Melao

Donde mi Cubana (conga-house)
Soy Monocanal (son)
Bomba con tambor (son)
El medico me dijo (son)
Bonito Bonito (conga pop)
Pilon porqué si - (Pilon con son)
Sí (con J. Formell, O. Portuondo, Fernández) - son
Corazón ganale (son flamenco)
Ella y los dos (con Elvis Manuel, DJ Jerry) (cubaton con son)
Todo por el Son (son-timba)
Arrollando por la Ciudad (conga)
Parece que nunca (cha cha cha)
El luchador (son)
Ay Que Felicidad (conga)

Author: DJ Melao, DJ Duni

The recent events of Cuban bands coming into the U.S. is all part of the Obama administration trying to ease tentions in the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba by supporting Cultural exchange. The U.S. sends Kool and the Gang .. Cuba sends Van Van .. can it get any better for both sides?

Just recently Kool and the Gang was live in Havana in a free open air concert which featured more than 100,000 people. It is great to see both American and Cuban artists in both sides of the bridge. Music is culture and as the great Bill Martinez says “Culture Cures“.

Author: DJ Melao

Issac Delgado is currently working on his new project named “Love” under the music label Calle 54 which is the label behind some of the recent releases of Bebo Valdes, Habana Abierta and many others. This project will be with collaborations with different important musicians and producers including the famous Spanish director Fernando Trueba and special guest Freddy Cole, brother of the American star Nat King Cole. Even thought this project will be something different for Issac’s fans he promises in the video below he will never abandon his true music. Others Cuban stars like Paulito FG, Vania Borges, Amaray, Dany Lozada, Manolín did their own Pop and Ballad albums and had great acceptance, we hope the same will be the case for Issac.

In the other hand Issac has also announced he has recorded a new duet with salsa star “La India” and soon it will start playing at radio stations around the world.

We wish Issac Delgado the best and we’ll support him 100% at all times like we have done since the beginning of his career in the US.

Author: DJ Duni

Miami’s sonero resident Luis Bofill is well known for its fabulous nights in “Hoy como Ayer” and for promoting Cuban music in the city for over 10 years. Luis won several awards in Cuba before he moved to the US and has already released 3 albums including a tribute to superstar Juan Gabriel making his romantic songs into a Cuban fusion of son, timba and trova. This month Bofill has launched his 4th album “Made in Habana” and he is focusing more in the bolero and trova part of his career. This great Cuban singer brings us fresh lyrics with a lot of Cuban seasoning, check out the songs “La Habana-Miami” and “El Club”. Recommended if you like boleros and trova.

Click here to preview this album in . For visitors from Europe click here.

1. Abreme La Puerta Al Cielo

2. I Fell In Love

3. Marielena

4. Cariño

5. How Could It Be

6. La Habana-Miami

7. Habana, Mis Sueños Te Elevan

8. Viene A Mi

9. Un Bolero Que Te Salve

10. El Club

Author: DJ Duni

Tiempo Libre kicks off the new year with an East Coast tour which started this past saturday in Casa de Tula in Miami.

Here’s the rest of the dates: 

Friday, January 23
New York - SOBs - 204 Varick Street - shows at 8 & 10

Thursday, January 28
Boston - Sculler’s - 400 Soldier’s Field - shows at 8 & 10

Author: DJ Duni

Charanga Habanera’s first U.S. concert in years!

An report from our friends at the Oakland Post Online:

Last week on December 22, the Bay Area, and specifically San Francisco was again the beneficiary of the efforts of a small group of people who believe the motto, “culture cures,” and by producing yet another Cuban music show in the Bay Area, put their beliefs in action. For the first time since the year 2000, a world-famous group, David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera, performed a show and it took place in San Francisco, after which the group returned to give two more shows in Miami – their point of entry. Local attorney, producer, and music lover, Bill Martinez introduced the group onstage at Café Cocomo, a local dance venue that donated their club for the show. “Culture cures,” said Mr. Martinez, who coined the phrase, to a joyous crowd of fans as the show began. Mr. Martinez, long an advocate for opening borders between the United States and Cuba, believes that through cultural exchange, differences can be overcome and once again, open travel and trade can be reestablished.

Local music lover and Post feature writer, Sue Taylor was one of three producers for this event. Earlier this year Taylor produced 5 Cuban music shows at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), and in November, 2 tremendously successful Cuban music shows at Yoshi’s Oakland. “This music truly brings all ages and stages, all races and socio-economic groups together to dance and have fun,” says Taylor who started dancing as she recovered from cancer. “If we can dance together, how can we have differences,” Taylor says. She and her co-producers and friends Shabi Samoohi of New York, and Patricia Morgovsky of San Francisco, with the help of Walter Vela – DJ Waltdigz – in the Bay Area and David Figueroa – DJ Melao – in Miami, are searching for their next project. No doubt the Bay Area will be a beneficiary of their efforts.

Charanga Habanera last came to the United States when older Cuban exiles might have picketed their performances.. But times have changed and under President Obama, so have government policies and practices. This year saw a relaxing of rules governing how often Cubans can visit family members back home. No longer must a family wait three years between visits, unlimited visiting can take place. A recent visit to Cuba by a Congressional delegation head by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, was encouraging to many in the performing arts who have yearned to visit Cuba to study, and to host Cuban artists here. Taylor, Samoohi, and Morgovsky second that notion and will continue to work toward full and open cultural exchange.“We would love to see an ‘Ambassador Lee’ in the near future and full, open cultural exchange established,” says Taylor.

Courtesy of Sue Taylor

Click here for a clip of the historic San Francisco show:

Author: DJ Melao