Afro Cuban Azucar (CD/DVD Giveaway)

In honor of my 60th blog post, I decided it was time to celebrate! For me, celebrations always include music and one of my favorite genres is addictive,hip-swinging Cuban music. The Cuban sound draws much of its foundation from complex West African rhythms, with Latin melodies layered on top. This creates a joyful and sophisticated blend of music that is instantly recognizable. I've never heard anybody represent the music as vitally as bandleader, producer and musician Juan de Marcos and the Afro Cuban All Stars.

As the man behind the Buena Vista Social Club, he skillfully demonstrates the vast generational appeal of Cuban music. You get stylish jazz melodies, funky beats and hot, soulful singing all at once. The CD and DVD set, Absolutely Live, was re-issued to promote the group's 2009 Spring American tour, the first since 2002, when Cuban musicians were routinely denied work visas for U.S. tours. That's changed now as we look forward to a new era of U.S. and Cuban cultural exchange. Let's kick off the exchange here! The DVD shows footage of the group's live Tokyo concert and the CD is an unreleased recording of a performance at The Hague's North Sea Jazz Festival. My favorite is the classic, "Chan Chan" but all the songs will sashay around in your head for days.

Here's the deal: If you haven't already, follow my blog on the Google friend connect widget. Leave a comment explaining how music has opened your mind to a specific culture, country or language. I'll pick the best answer and send that person a copy of the Afro Cuban All Stars, Absolutely Live CD/DVD. That's four generations and 32 musicians all under one banner. Enjoy a taste here: