MisterBryans

Wow. I Like This!!

It's Yulien Oviedo's remake (with Blad MC) of Van Van's classic Sandunguera. (h/t Gabriel)

New Video for "La Crisis"

Yoani Sanchez to visit the U.S?

Interesting news

Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez has won Columbia University's Cabot Prize for her postings from the island she calls home.

The Cabot Prize, which recognizes reporting on Latin America and the Caribbean, gave Sanchez the gold medal for her work on her blog, Generación Y.

She was the only digital reporter of the four journalists recognized by this year's prize.

"Generación Y does not repeat the battle of words which Cuba and the U.S. have hurled back and forth for five decades. Instead, it is a pitch-perfect mix of personal observation and tough analysis, which conveys better than anybody else what daily life — with all its frustrations and hopes — is like for Cubans living their lives on the island today," says the press release, which you can see here.

Of course, the immediate question becomes, will she be able to travel to the U.S. to accept the award. Yoani is quoted as saying...

“The organizers have acted very quickly and I understand that they have already begun my visa process, but the question is whether the Cuban government will give me permission to leave or not,” she said.

“I believe they have learned something during this time and it’s that every time they don’t let me go somewhere, all they’re doing is making my blog more attractive and increasing the number of visitors to Generacion Y,” she said.

Lets hope the Cuban government issues Yoani the visa to go accept her award.

Then maybe-just-maybe, the U.S. can allow other Cubans, say like Silvio Rodriguez or Los Van Van, into their country as well

(Sorry, got carried away there for a sec, thinking too logically...)

Mental Health Break

So I was checking out this new HBO sex comedy called 'Hung' (pretty funny) and at the end of the second episode, as the credits rolled, they played a song with a lyric that included the line 'PS We got dicks like Jesus'. Curious, I twitter-searched the lyric and came up with the song 'My Dick".

I sorta-but-not-really apologize for offending anyone's religious or moral convictions.

Buena Fe, Frank Delgado in Toronto

On September 12 the highly popular Cuban group Buena Fe will perform a concert with nueva trova artist Frank Delgado at Le Treport Wedding and Convention Centre in Mississauga.  It's being presented by the Havana Arte people in association with TorontoHispano.com.

You can get more info at www.Torontohispano.com. Or call 647 403 7308

Here's the offical Buena Fe website. It's nicely done. Here's the Frank Delgado Wikipedia entry.

Gozando en La Habana

The edition of this song released in Cuba.....

Animales De La Música Cubana

Jen Paz has a new DVD coming out next month about the clash of the Cuban salsa and reggaeton scenes. You'll remember Jen's earlier film about Charanga Habanera, well, here's what she's come up with this year. Looks interesting.......

The web-site Havana Buzz has more info on how you can pre-order a copy of the DVD

Around the Cuban music blogosphere

Here's a new site from Italy called Timba Social Club

Bad news. The Salsa Mayor tour in Europe fue cancellado.(scroll down) Michelle has the bands explanation.....(Nothing is worse for a band than to have a big tour cancelled at the last minute. It's not only the lost income  - crucial for Cuban musicians - it's also the frustration of having had other opportunities that were turned down and can't be recovered). European fans of the band will have to console themselves with this fine new Maykel Blanco song that Mirco has up on has on his blog (scroll down)

Over at Yemayas verse, Gabriel has added another chapter to her invaluable Timba Geeks Guide with a post on the new bus routes of Havana!

OK, now I get it. There are two versions of Charanga Habanera's Gozando En Miami/Gozando en Havana. One for Cuba (Habana) and one for the rest of the world (Miami). Thus explains Señor Calzado himself in a video that Franz posted up on the Planet Timba blog. 'Gozando en Miami' is totally ruling my dance floor these days, am looking forward to hearing the Cuban version.

Meanwhile at cubaintoronto.com it's a little quiet now since Anacaona left town, but Richard 'muchoswing' Curson has updated the dance section with a pretty thorough overview of the teachers, classes and practices for casino rueda and cuban salsa in our town.

A few months ago I received advances of the new Pachito Alonso album (I think from Nona Yobiz) which I have been playing consistently and now the song 'La Cara Bonita' has shown up on a post from SomosdeBarrio."..... mas pegados del vedado"...."una salsita rica...."

The famous blogger Yoani Sanchez didnt have such a great time at the Pedro Luis Ferrar concert in Vedado a few weeks ago. I wonder why.

Someone Buy Antonio a Beer

or two. A Brahma beer.

Antonio Scisci is one of the organizers of Brazilfest, an important annual gathering of the local Brazilian cultural communities.

Last year, Brazilfest was scheduled for a Sunday on the Island  - and was totally flooded out by the biggest rainfall of the year. It was rescheduled for September. (I performed there with Maracatu)

This year the city workers strike has nuked Brazilfest 09 which was to take place on July 26

Fron his Facebook note, Antonio explains

As everyone knows the city workers are on strike and because of this all permits that have been issued from Parks & Rec are cancelled or suspended - which includes us.

We have been in talks with Councillor Cesar Palacio office of Ward 17, trying to see if there was any way of working around this but unfortunately, there is not - The City has the final say in these matters and it looks like its going to be awhile before anything gets resolved.

This is not a cancellation.....but, there could be a rescheduling of the date...Ward 17 has offered us Labor day weekend - September 5-6-7 to choose from.

We have expressed our interest for the 5th or 6th ; which is the Saturday or Sunday.

We'll keep you posted, and as soon as we get confirmation of scheduled date we will let all of you know a.s.a.p

Meanwhile, this year I had the opportunity to programme a whole day of music and dance at Nathan Phillips Square for Irie Fest (Aug 1st).....

Ooooops. i have no idea what will happen now.

Beaches Jazz

Have some good friends playing this year.......

Lady Son y Articulo Veinte The Woodbine part Stage at 5:00PM Sunday July 18

Roberto Linares Brown Orchestra OLG Stage at Kew garden at 2:00pm Saturday July 25th

also

Joaquin Hidalgo will be conducting a Rumba percussion workshop on Monday July 20th at the Mennonite New Life Centre of Toronto 1774 Queen Street East. (Participants are asked to bring their drums and dancing shows)

Here's a Toronto Star article by Asante Infantry about someone who I dont know, but has always sounded like an interesting musician Kellylee Evans. She's playing the Kew Gardens mainstage at 12:30 on July 25th.