ENGLISH At a gala in Havana, Cuba on Friday, April 26, the nominees for Cubadisco 2024, Cuba's most important discographic awards, were announced. You can see the booklet of nominees plus some of Bill Tilford's comments about this year's entries here.  A special reason for happiness here at TIMBA.com is that our owner, Michael Lazarus, is a co-producer and handled the mix and mastering in Zona Franka's Se llama sabroso, a nominee in the Antología y Versiones category.  Additionally, our Bill Tilford wrote the liner notes for the album.  ESPAÑOL:  La Gala de nominaciones p ..read more

ENGLISH:  Bill Tilford chatted with Rodrígo Garcia about his megaconcert at Jazz Plaza 2024, Los Días de Gloria: Homenaje a la Nueva Trova.  The English-language version of that conversation is here. ESPAÑOL:  Bill Tilford charló con Rodrígo García sobre su megaconcierto en Jazz Plaza 2024, Los Días de Gloria: Homenaje a la Nueva Trova. La versión en español está aquí: .  ..read more

Click on the photo for Tom Ehrlich's report and gallery ..read more

ENGLISH:  Today's update offers videochats and  videoclips with Pablo Menéndez of Mezcla, whose group did a tribute to the great bassist Cachaito, and Zule Guerra, who did a tribute to the queen of Brasil's vocalists, Elis Regina.  You can see that here.  ESPAÑOL: La actualización de hoy les ofrece videochats y videoclips con Pablo Menéndez de Mezcla, cuyo grupo presentó un homenaje al gran bajista Cachaito, y Zule Guerra, que presentó un homenaje a la reina de las cantantes de Brasil, Elis Regina.  Puedes ver todo aquí.  ..read more

Joaquín Betancourt y Enrique Padron ENGLISH:   While the end of the COVID pandemic is a blessing overall, it also signified the end of the entensive Internet coverage of Jazz Plaza to the rest of the world (some daily highlights were shown on Cuban television).  This means that you won't be able to watch the entire festival on line.  However, thanks to some friends and colleagues on the ground, we will be able to present some short interviews and video clips with musicians, attendees and other figures over the next several days.  We begin with producer/videographe ..read more

ENGLISH:  Jazz Plaza 2024 begins January 21 in Havana and Santiago de Cuba.  You can find schedules, video etc. here:  ESPAÑOL: Jazz Plaza 2024 comienza el 21 de enero en La Habana y Santiago de Cuba.  Puedes ver programaciones, video etc. aquí:  ..read more

Two great new episodes of the leading Cuban music podcast: Tom Ehrlich's photo of John Calloway from last month's Monterey Jazz Fest John Calloway on the Bay Area Scene Lani Milstein on Conga Santiaguera ..read more

ENGLISH:   After a considerable hiatus, we will be publishing CD reviews again in the future.  Most of these will be recent releases made in Cuba or with musicians living in Cuba, but we are going to begin with what is believed to be the last full studio album by El Gran Fellove, recorded in 1999 in Mexico city and not released until October 7 of this year (the 100th anniversary of his birth).  You can read our review of Joey Altruda Presents: El Gran Fellove in English here.  ESPAÑOL: Después de una pausa considerable, volvemos a publicar reseñas ..read more

An especially exciting new episode, and hopefully the first of several with the great Ned Sublette, whose combination of knowledge about Cuban, Afro-North American, and African music puts him in a class of his own. This episode focuses on folkloric music. Here's Rebecca's description: Rebecca speaks with musician/producer/historian Ned Sublette, author of the most comprehensive history of Cuban music in English, Cuba and Its Music: From the First Drums to the Mambo. Sublette is leading trips to Cuba through his organization, Postmambo, and in January will embark on La Ruta de los Fundamentos ..read more

  ENGLISH:   Cubadisco 2024, which will take place May 11-19 2024, has announced its call for entries.  You can read the full details in English here (note that the registration period for entries is has already begun and closes December 31).  ESPAÑOL:  Dan a conocer la convocatoria de Cubadisco 2024, que tendrá lugar del 11 al 19 de mayo 2024.  Puedes leer todos los detalles en español aquí (nota bien:  el periodo de inscripción ya ha comenzado  y vence el 31 de diciembre ..read more