NYC: Adalberto at SOB's

<p style="text-align: justify;">The first thing Adalberto did when he took the stage was name-check Sonora Ponceña, Willie Rosario, and Oscar d'León. The first set, which included a Son 14 medley, was splendid. In the second set, when they played "El Baile del Toca-Toca," I was surrounded by people doing the toca-toca, which I haven't seen anyone do since sometime in the 90s in Havana (it was a novelty dance that was kind of like playing tag.) But for the penultimate number, the transcendental "Y Qué Tú Quieres Que Te Den?" -- Adalberto's landmark contribution to the 90s wave of santería-themed songs, it describes a toque de santo in a rap (one of the first raps in Cuban dance music) and asks, "and what do want them [the santos] to give you?", and says, "voy a pedir pa' ti / lo mismo que tú pa'mi," I'm gonna ask for you the same as you ask for me Read More

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Top picks: Robert Plant, Cuba's unique flora and fauna, Patrick Dougherty's sculptures, and more

<p style="text-align: justify;">Robert Plant's new album 'Band of Joy,' PBS documentary on 'Cuba: an Accidental Eden,' sculptor Patrick Dougherty's new book 'Stickwork,' and more recommendations. PBS “Nature” explores “Cuba: The Accidental Eden” on Sept. 26. September 22, 2010. Robert Plant's 'Joy'. At first blush, Robert Plant's new album "Band of Joy" (Rounder Records) is a de facto sequel to "Raising Sand," his Grammy-winning collaboration with Alison Krauss. Read More

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Iran, Cuba aim to bolster ties

<p style="text-align: justify;">Wed Sep 22, 2010 4:30AM. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (R) meets with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Tuesday. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calls for bolstering ties with Cuba, noting that the two countries have enjoyed sustained ties for more than three decades. Read More

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Pablo Milanes returns with his music to the USA, after 10 years absence

<p style="text-align: justify;">As the title of his famous song Yo pisaré las calles nuevamente (I shall step over the streets again), the Cuban Pablo Milanes, returns to the USA next October to offer two concerts in California, as a preview of his tour all over the country scheduled for next year. "I haven’t been to the USA in the last 10 years, last time I was there, was to offer some concerts in New York, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles", said Milanes to EFE from Cuba in a telephone conversation. Read More

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MH/Tamayo: Lawyer in line to head Marti stations

<p style="text-align: justify;">MIAMI HERALD. Posted on Wednesday, 09.22.10.A lawyer active in the Cuban American National Foundation is in line to head U.S. government broadcasts to Cuba, sources said. Read More

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XINHUA: Time for US to lift Cuban embargo

<p style="text-align: justify;">I recall years ago protesting to then-Senator Bill Bradley (the "liberal" and so-called intellectual New Jersey senator) and asking him to listen to the General Assembly vote. He dismissed the General Assembly vote as meaning nothing. His aide smiled in agreement. Read More

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AP: US, Haiti accord paves way for Korean factories

<p style="text-align: justify;">PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti. U.S. and Haitian officials signed an agreement Monday with a South Korean clothing manufacturer to build garment factories that they said will employ 10,000 people in this quake-ravaged nation. Read More

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CNN: Obama invited to visit Cuba -- and bring jailed Cubans with him

<p style="text-align: justify;">Havana. Cuba (CNN) -- U.S. President Barack Obama has been issued an unexpected invitation to visit Cuba -- from the island's 90-year-old prima ballerina, who implored him to bring along five Cuban agents imprisoned in the United States for more than a decade. "I want to invite the president of the United States to come to Cuba with his wife and lovely children," Alicia Alonso said at an event to call for the release of the agents, who were convicted of spying on Cuban exile groups in a hotly debated trial. Read More

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Near Cuba, Wary Kin Wait for Proof of a New Path

<p style="text-align: justify;">MIAMI — Fashion boutiques, restaurants, a bank — Jorge Gomez plans to help his relatives in Havana open whatever business they want. But when? Like many Cubans on and off the island, Mr. Gomez has been scrutinizing the Cuban labor federation’s announcement last week that 500,000 public sector workers would soon be laid off and expected to find jobs in small private enterprises, possibly reshaping Cuba’s state-dominated economy. Read More

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Deeper Cuba, Caricom unity

<p style="text-align: justify;">THE CARIBBEAN Community and Cuba have pledged to strengthen regional integration based on “cooperation and solidarity”, as well as to deepen Caribbean and Latin American cooperation. The pledges are outlined in a “declaration” released late Monday,&nbsp; following last week’s Third Ministerial Meeting Of Foreign Affairs Ministers Of CARICOM And Cuba hosted by President Raul Castro’s government in Havana. Read More

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