New Music + Tours: Cuban Salsa, Boleros Psicodélicos, Flamenco Now

Summer music. Anchors in the storm.

Hello subscribers and other readers of Cuba on Record! Here’s a round-up from some recent and upcoming albums I’ve been listening to as summer begins. Take care, it’s hot out there.

Adrian Quesada and Hermanos Gutiérrez, “Primos”

The Black Pumas guitarist releases his second volume of Boleros Psicodélicos this Friday, June 27. He sets the mood with this track together with the Ecuadorian-Swiss brothers Hermanos Gutiérrez.

Adrian Quesada will play these dates later this summer:
8/8 - Brooklyn, NY - Celebrate Brooklyn at Prospect Park
9/1 - Puyallup, WA - Washington State Fair

Issac Delgado, “Tu pensabas”

Some things thankfully do not change. The quintessential Cuban salsero Issac Delgado has a new album, and for me his unmistakable voice is always an anchor in the daily storm. On “Tu pensabas,” he brings back some Cuban old school with fellow veteran Alain Pérez. As the song says (roughly translated to English): “You thought I was retired - you’re insane!”

Alex Cuba, “Tiempo para vivir”

Alexis Puentes moved to British Columbia and dubbed himself Alex Cuba back in 1999, when Cuban music was in one of its trendiest moments in history (after the release of Buena Vista Social Club.) The Juno Awarded singer-songwriter has continued to turn out music that’s as chill as a Canadian morning, with accents of son and rock. His new album will be out in October. The single “Tiempo para vivir” (“Time to Live”) is a simple tune whose message, according to the artist’s web site, is “count your blessings and multiply your joy…taking power back into your life.” I’ll take that Alex, gracias.

Alex Cuba is touring Canada and the U.S. this summer: https://www.alexcuba.com/events.html

Rocio Márquez, Pedro Rojas Ogáyer - “Destino”

Rocio Márquez is at once a fearless experimentalist and fierce keeper of flamenco’s eternal flame. Himno Vertical, her new album with guitarist Pedro Rojas Ogáyar, is a ritualistic exploration into the dichotomy of dark and light that has characterized flamenco since its obscure inception. Márquez will be playing some concerts in Spain this summer: https://www.rociomarquez.com/es/

Pedro Martínez, “Ayuda”

Pedrito Martinez’s new album opens with a spoken introduction by Bill Murray in the vein of a celebrity answering machine message. Get past that and Ilusión Óptica is a great early summer afternoon pick, featuring collaborations with Cuban reparto star Wampi, Cimafunk and Panamá’s Sandra Sandoval, among others, and top Cuban players including Osmany Paredes, Issac Delgado Jr. and Armando Gola.

Actor Andy Garcia sits in to play bongos and cowbells on “Ayuda,” a track that digs back to the Havana nineties timba style.

Murray reappears on that track too, perhaps playing a bit of bongo as he’s previously done on stage with Martinez- the available song credits do not specify.

Martínez has posted the band’s many concert dates happening from now through next March:

https://www.pedritomartinezmusic.com/live