Category Archives: Uncategorized

07.12.18: Suave Tumbao – Pa’ Que Todo Salga

Good day dear blog readers, listeners, followers ¡y todos los amantes de la musica Cubana!

Today we shall be enjoying another fine song by Suave Tumbao, from their 2018 mini album sharing the name of today’s track, and mentioned here before

As you probably know, the mini album is called “Pa’ Que Todo Salga”, and so is the track for today, an energetic composition full of Yoruba culture chants and references.

So, here it is!

In studio version

And live from FIC 2018 !

And always remember… ¡Sigue disfrutando la musica Cubana!

30.11.18 : Maite Hontele y Roberton – Gracias Te Doy

Good day dear blog readers, followers and listeners!

Recently, or more specifically, a week ago (23.11.18) an interesting new album came out… and today we shall explore it a little…

The album is called Cuba Linda, and is the latest release of talented Dutch Trumpet player Maite Hontele.
Maite has an interesting story (that you can read by following the above link), and has been creating unique Cuban music for us all to enjoy.

As a good composition need both talented musicians and vocalists, the album features several guest performer helping out with the vocals part, including a very talented Cuban singer that we all know and love – Roberton Van Van!

You can explore the album by following the link above, starting with today’s composition called “Gracias Te Doy”.

And remember… ¡sigue disfrutando la musica Cubana!

23.11.18 : Tumbao Habana – Yo No Me Voy De La Habana

Good day dear blog readers, followers, listeners ¡y todos los amantes de la musica Cubana!

Today I’m glad to present a newly released song by Tumbao Habana!

Pascualito of Tumbao Habana recently announced the release of the bands’ 5th album, ” Son 20 na’ ma’ “, to celebrate two decades of their mutual musical career.

Today the album shall be presented live in Teatro Mella, La Habana, together with some of the greats of contemporary Cuban music such as Lele, Jose Luis Cortes, Emilito Frias and many more… So if you are in Cuba at the moment, be there at 20:30!

For the rest of us, we can enjoy some of their new songs from afar, including the songs for this week… ¡Disfruten!

16.11.18: Suave Tumbao – Tambor Añá

Good day dear blog readers, followers, listeners ¡y todos los fanaticos de la musica Cubana!

2 weeks ago I mentioned the wonderful concerts at FIC 2018, which included Manolito y Su Trabuco, Los Van Van and Suave Tumbao.

So, for today’s blog post, we shall be having a great time listening (and maybe also dancing) to a recent Timba hit by Suave Tumbao!

Earlier this year La Cañonera de Cuba released a mini album called “Pa’ Que Todo Salga”, containing 4 compositions, including “Tambor Añá”, the song for today!

So, here it is… preparate for almost 6 minutes of fun!
And remember… ¡Sigue disfrutando la musica Cubana!

09.11.18 : Oderquis Reve – Mira Como Suena

Good day dear blog readers, followers, listeners ¡y todos los amantes de la musica Cubana!

Today we shall get to know a little about legendary Elio Reve’s brother, Oderquis, and also enjoy one of his new songs from the 2018 promo mini album released not long ago!

Younger brother of Elio Reve, Oderquis was born in Guantanamo on July 14th 1949, and as a member of that family, grew up in surrounded by Cuban music.
Thus, it is not surprising that Oderquis picked up Congas and other percussive instruments during his childhood and teen years, playing the congas and bongos in the band Nicolas Angarica when only 17.
In 1969 Oderquis received the title of “omo alañá” in a religious ceremony, granting him the right to play the Bata drums, sacred for followers of the Santeria religion.
In 1973 he graduated from the Ignacio Cervantes school of music in 1973, and in 1979 joined his brother’s band, Orquesta Reve, as a percussionist.

In 1997, after the tragic death of Elio, Oderquis decided to leave the Orquesta, forming a group of his own – Oderquis Reve y Su Changui, focusing on bringing more of the Changui genre he loves so much into contemporary Cuban music.
With his band Oderquis recorded 4 full and 2 mini albums (the latest of which came out this year, 2018), adding to the 7 he appears on as a part of Orquesta Reve (1980-1997).
Since the beginning of the current millennium, Oderquis Reve has been performing in dozens of countries around the globe, and continues bringing the of of modern Changui to the masses today.
Do your best and attend his concerts when you get the chance!

Anyways, for today’s song, we have a wonderful composition called “Mira como Suena” from the 2018 promo album.

¡Disfruten!

P.S:
And here is a gem for the dancing folks among us – some social dancing to this fine song by two talented Cubans at the Red Square!

02.11.18 : Los Van Van, Manolito y su Trabuco & Suave Tumbao live at FIC 2018 !

Good day dear blog listeners, followers, readers y todos los amantes de la musica Cubana !

Last Friday the blog was not active, but for a good reason – I was having a great time at FIC 2018, which took place at Orange, France…

This wonderful, 5 day / 4 night Cuban festival hosted this year over 1200 participants from Europe and all over the world, featuring 16 teachers and no less than 3 amazing Timba concerts, by Manolito y su Trabuco, Suave Tumbao and Los Van Van !

So for today, I have gathered some of the clips from those 3 concerts for us all to enjoy!
(as the festival was a week ago, there is certainly more to come, so do search youtube for “fic 2018 live” clips occasionally).

Los Van Van’s performance was one of the best I’ve ever seen, Suave Tumbao had amazing energies and Manolito made me nostalgic with some of his band’s hits from the golden age of Timba…

Here are a few example that are already up… and remember…
¡Sigue disfrutando la musica Cubana!

The great Samuel Formell playing with Manolito’s band (this drum solo was very much fun to improvise to on the dance floor, I might add…)

And here is the full clip!

Van Van definitely la estan pasando bien!

Suave Tumbao prepared a real treat, surprising us with traditional Cuban music and solos!

One of my favorite songs by Manolito from recent years… and this is not a lie at all!

Vanessa is not Yeni, but she gave us all of her, singing one of Van Van’s most well known romantic compositions

Suave Tumbao demonstrating some wonderful Afro-Timba with their composition Pa’ Que Todo Salga

Los Van Van – Amiga Mia

Suave Tumbao performing their wonderful Tambor Añá

P.S:
Tired yet?
Hell No!

19.10.18: Maite Hontele – La Mala

Good day dear blog readers, listeners, followers ¡y todos los amantes de la musica Cubana!

Today we shall be having a great time listening to another fine composition by Dutch trumpet player Maite Hontele and her band…

She makes very nice Afro-Latin music in a diverse plethora of musical genres, some of which are Cuban, and have much Sabor.

A hint for this is found in the photo above – the name of today’s song… La Mala!
Despite the name, the composition is quite good.

So, here it is.
And remember… ¡sigue disfrutando la musica Cubana!

12.10.18: Son Como Son – Este se Pone Bueno

Good day dear blog readers, listeners, followers y todos los amantes de la musica Cubana!

Today we shall see that you don’t even have to be Cuban to make good Cuban music, but you do have to have the passion for it deep inside, as we can see quite well with the members of the band Son Como Son, based in Albuquerque, in the US state of new Mexico…

This truly pan-american group, made of Cubans, Borriqua, Mexicanos and Americans has been playing all over the USA since the late 1990s, and has established itself as a leading ensemble in the north american continent.

The music of this 9 member band is sits somewhere between the beauty and elegance of Son and the drive, groove and high energy of Timba, resulting in a unique yet very Cuban “rolling” sound, that seems to keep going with no end in sight!

I fell in love with some of their songs from “Aqui no falta mas Nadie”, their first albums released in the year 2000, but their later 2 albums were no disappointment as well!

So for today, we have a composition from their 1st album, with which some of us more veteran Cuban dance students might be familiar from the earlier volumes of the wonderful instructional tapes \ DVDs of the “Salsa a la Cubana” series produced by Eric Freeman

So, here is our song for today;
And don’t forget – ¡sigue disfrutando la musica Cubana!

05.10.18 : Mixael Cabrera y su TimBarcelona – Llego Lo Que Te Gusta Live !

Good day fellow readers, blog followers, dancer ¡ y a todos los amantes de la música Cubana !

Today we shall be enjoying a concert performance of a song covered here quite some time ago…

Life can hand you positive surprises at times;
Unexpectedly, I got a very good value, last moment opportunity to attend a new Cuban dance event ~45 minutes drive from where I live… so for me, this shall be a weekend of Cuban music & dancing!

The event (called “Cuba libre festival“) includes a concert of Mixael Cabrera y su TimBarcelona, which I’ll be enjoying tonight!

So, to spread some of the love, today the blog will be presenting a clip from a concert of this fine band in Barcelona… ¡Disfruten!