Décima and Rumba: Back on the web!

"Décima and Rumba: Iberian Formalism in the heart of Afro-cuban song," by Philip "Felipe" Pasmanick.

Don't let the long title scare you, this is a beautiful work of afro-cuban scholarship and essential reading for those wanting a deeper understanding of rumba.

Originally published in the Latin American Music Review in July of 1997, it is posted here with kind permission of the author.

También disponible en español.

Los Muñequitos Live on Rapidshare

Recordings from their 1998 tour. Featuring some rarely performed songs such as the beautiful yambú "Chino Guaguao," the guaguancós "Oiga Barón" and "Venga madrina traigame la calma." This last is notable for having no "song" to speak of, it is just a series of coros, including a coro from capoeira: "paraná é, paraná é paraná."

And finally the columbia "Fundamento Dilanga" - you can never have too many recordings of that one.

(LINK UPDATED 15 MAR 07)
Download Los Muñequitos Live 1998

Afrocuba de Matanzas on YouTube

Someone just posted this on YouTube, an excerpt from a documentary, called I think simply "La Rumba." Featuring classic footage from Afrocuba de Matanzas having a rumba at a train station. Beautiful!

Coro Folklorico Cubano

"Chambeleque" by Coro Folklorico Cubano. From the CD "...en un solar habanero" apparently out of print.