Piloto

Has a new album that has just been released, called Solo Tu Y Yo. Here's the Descarga review

Piloto and his band have always been apart from the average timba band, in part because what he produces isn’t straight up timba, often mixing rhythms from around the Caribbean, and because his recording and production technique often sounds more modern and professional than the average Cuban recording. It sounds like he spends time outside of Cuba, which he does, and on Solo Tu Y Yo, he’s doing his traditional mixing of stuff. In case non-Cuban speaking people buy the album (something that’s been on his mind from early on), it comes with a Cuban-Spanish dictionary; the music’s the same, a salsa/timba/other stuff mix, all played perfectly. There’s some Latin pop schmaltz, per usual, but when this band starts moving down the road, get out of the way. Not only is Piloto a great writer, but his drumming is as good as it gets in the idiom, which is saying something. There’s the sense of musical heaviness you hear in great bands, whether it be the Coltrane Quartet or the Rolling Stones. Piloto’s invited a bunch of people to perform, from Omara Portuondo, Pablo Milanes, Tania Pantojo, Chucho Valdez and the goddess Haydee Milanes who’s pretty much brilliant on her track, offering a new set of melodies for improvisation. Dance music doesn’t get better than this, intelligent, driving, of a place, heroic.
Highly Recommended. 
  (Peter Watrous, 2008-07-23)

La Permuta is a beautiful song, which I have been playing for a couple of months now. The rest of the album is quirky and rewarding as only Piloto can be, especially with all the guest stars.

Klimax may not be the trendy dancefloor band they once were, but Giraldo Piloto is so talented (and such a sweet, positive guy), if you cant get behind this music I hereby sentence you to one year on a deserted island with an Elvis Crespo record.

Update: Richard, the king of Cuban music videos, sent along this TV performance of Haydee Milanes with Klimax. It's Friday afternoon folks, enjoy

Comments

[Richard]

Personally, I can't stop listening to this CD. But boy do they come out slow in Cuba...

Haydee's song showed up on Cuban TV nearly a year ago, I YouTubed it back then: http://youtube.com/results?search_query=haydee+milanes&search_type=&aq=f

It's about #5 down the list called "Haydee Milanes, Klimax".

At a time when it's hard to get attention among the competition, everywhere, in every style, bands tend to get louder, less subtle, dumber. They fall under the sway of stupid publicists to make stupid changes. Not so this band or Haydee... cubana de pura sepa.

[Michelle]

OUCH! Of COURSE we're behind him! You don't have to making such horrible threats!