Cuba's Los Van Van set for U.S. Tour

Grammy-winning Cuban band Los Van Van are celebrating 40 years of salsa revolution with a long-awaited return to the United States next month.

Often called the 'Rolling Stones of salsa', the group will perform in Key West, Florida on January 28, ending a long absence from the United States caused by tense U.S.-Cuban relations during the administration of President George W. Bush.

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Latin Music USA BBC4 series to screen in January

Latin Music USA is a groundbreaking series for BBC Four which describes Latin music's profound and deep impact on the United States' musical and social landscape and its promotion of the struggles and achievements of immigrants as they moved from the margins to the mainstream of American society. It was filmed across North America and the Caribbean and features the finest Latin musicians, musical performances and previously unseen archive.

Moving from the influence of Cuban immigrants and the Afro-Cuban music which enthralled fifties America, it tells the story of how the rhythms of Havana and Puerto Rico were transformed in Seventies New York by a brilliant group of players and the Fania label to create Salsa, now a global music. It also traces the waves of immigration between the USA and Mexico and reveals the dynamic role that Mexican-American music has played, while the final programme, The Latin Explosion tells of the impact of Latin Pop on music, business, fashion and media across the Americas, reflecting a new-found power and confidence in the Latin community. Featured artists include Carlos Santana, ‘Cachao', Dizzy Gillespie, Ruben Blades, Eddie Palmieri, Johnny Pacheco and The Fania, Los Lobos, Linda Ronstadt, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Shakira and Gloria Estefan.

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Cuba's other revolution is green, not red

In Copenhagen they are debating how to end deforestation, but in Cuba's Pinar del Río they were replanting 50 years ago, creating lush, unspoilt valleys.

Birds and butterflies are swooping above us and, as our taxi reaches the summit of this forest road just 40 minutes from the heat and noise of Havana, the view opens to an undulating landscape painted every shade of green. Before Castro these hills were dusty yellow and brown scrub.

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Casa de las Américas taken by young art

Creators of more than 10 countries are the protagonists of Casa Tomada or the 2nd Meeting of Young Artists and Writers of Latin America and the Caribbean, that began last Tuesday at Casa de las Americas until December 18th.

"We liked the house because it was spacious and kept the old memories of our great-grandparents, paternal grandfather, our parents and all children." Excerpt from the story "Casa Tomada" by Julio Cortazar.

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