Timba from Venezuela? ¡Timba from Venezuela!

La Timba Loca Más allá de la Habana (CariJazz) 2001 By N. Kozmo Miller

Representing the raw urban funk of Havana’s newer sounds, the Timba style has been known for it’s hardcore “Cubaness” or “tumbao”. Timba acknowledges elements of funk and jazz intelligently woven into a rhythmic texture that pridefully acknowledges the music’s West African ancestry. It’s so Cuban that it has often been the victim of trite prejudice of salseros who deem it too “different” to dance to but Timba isn’t made for salsa steps; it’s much less restricted yet commands a harder, spicier step to it as well. Boston-based La Timba Loca’s release of Más allá de la Habana is nothing short of a fistful of this special Cuban jazz-funk. This is a style that is definitely not for the weak at foot. In terms of Salsa music, "salsa" refers to a recipe mixture of a type of condiment that generally tends to be pretty light with varying degrees of intensity: sometimes mild and sometimes hot. However, if salsa is salsa, then Timba would have to be Barbecue sauce because it's thicker, richer, heavier and packs a more flavorful punch. La Timba Loca is led not by a Cuban but a Venezuelan. Pianist Gonzalo Grau is a 1998 Suma Cum Laude graduate of the Berklee College of Music where he majored in piano performance. Make no mistake for this brother has the Timba sound down pat reminding one of many of the great Cuban Timba giants like NG La Banda, Bakuleye, Chicas del Sol and the unforgettable Bamboleo. Más allá de la Habana offers a cynical reference to the fact that a non-Cuban like Grau is able to put together such an authentic sound. It’s all there: the heavy, choppy funk beats powered by trap drums with various percussion, that strong presence of a bass guitar and the way the songs can just seem to break down into a totally different groove. Need I mention that abstract sassy brass often associated with Timba? Grau took some creative measures with the production of some of the tracks while still keeping the real flavor, which takes things to another level. The Más allá de la Habana project is a treasure of aggressive Timba grooves that are strong enough to get some 90-year-olds to their feet quickly. It opens with Daniel Santos’ “El Tibiri-Tabara” in fine fashion followed by “La Manitu” which has Queen’s “We Will Rock You” intelligently worked into it’s grove. “Chacharepa” features a rather innovative infusion of southern US “crunk” style rap beats that lock right in with the Timba rhythm. Along with some tastefully composed original tracks, the project also includes some well-selected and rendered covers of various classics by Ismael Rivera, Aldalberto Alvarez and the king of salsa Oscar D’Leon (also a Venezuelan). Más allá de la Habana is one of those albums that you just have to hear to believe then you won’t believe what you’re hearing. La Timba Loca will no doubt be the ones to watch in the coming days as Timba continues to push it’s way into a fickle Latin music market.

For more info visit: http://www.latimbaloca.com/