Sound Bite Sunday

I love Timba! So much that, seldom do I go through a day without hearing at least one Timba track. Timba is what many call Cuban Salsa, but its much more than that. I won't go into extreme detail here, but there are a few points of importance. Most know that what is now known as Salsa developed out of Cuban Son. Puerto Ricans in New York are responsible for the giving it the name and bringing it into the mainstream via Fania Records. But while Salsa in the U.S., Puerto Rico and elsewhere was developing, a similar musical style was evolving simultaneously, but independently. Timba developed out a Cuban Son as well, but it has had several other influences. Timba is also strongly influenced by Rumba, Cuban spiritual traditions(Yoruba, Carabali, etc.), Songo(Los Van Van), Latin Jazz(Irakere), Funk and Hip Hop. All of this is heard in the music and seen in the aesthetic of Timba. For all of these reasons and more I dig Timba; musically it is extremely rich, full of incredible polyrhythms, fantastic harmonies, unconventional chord changes.... it is just inspiring and intelligent music! Anyway, one of my favorite bands is Bamboleo. Mostly because Lazaro Valdes(Founder and Director) is funky as hell and has a profound understanding of musica bailable. While the roster has continued to change, like most Timba bands, the sound has remained somewhat consistent--driving, edgy, forceful and melodic. But in my opinion Bamboleo was at its height when they possessed the voices of Haila María Mompié and Vannia Borges, Haila in particular. With a powerful and soulful croon reminiscent of a young Patti LaBelle, Haila has the skill and charisma to match her tremendous beauty. She went on to do several other projects(e.g. Azucar Negra) and is still a relevant artist today. However, I believe her most valuable contributions are found in her Bamboleo discography. Here is a live performance, a brief comeback if you will, singing two Bamboleo classics: Con Un Canto Con El Pecho and Yo No Me Parezco A Nadie. Enjoy!