What's on Tap?

FRIDAY OCTOBER 1st 2010

OKOKAN and SMALLWORLDMUSIC present ... For the first time in Toronto! ELITO REVE Y SU CHARANGON (part of the 9th annual Smallworldmusic festival ) THE COURTHOUSE 57 Adelaide Street East Toronto also including special performance from Afro-Cuban folkloric group IYÁ IRÉ

Also performing Antonny Reyes and Shashu Clacken from AfroLatino dance company music by DJ BILLY BRYANS $35.00 advance tickets Doors 8.30pm Showtime 10.30 (first of two sets) Infoline 416 836 2600 limited capacity www.cubaintoronto.com for more info and upcoming exciting Cuban events in Toronto ! Tickets online at www.torontohispano.com For the first time ever – the REVE musical dynasty of Cuba touches down in Toronto for a night of high energy salsa and timba music as only a 16 piece Cuban dance orchestra with an illustrious history can perform it. Founded in 1956 by the father Elio Reve - and now led by the son Elito Jr.,- "La Charangon" has boasted a who's who of famed musicians such as Juan Formell of Los Van Van, Pupy Pedroso,

Chucho Valdez, Yumuri, who have all been members of the Reve Orchestra before beginning their solo careers

Originally formed to play the regional afro-cuban dance music known as changui, the Reve Orchestra have never stopped touring around the world, and never fasiled to release era-defining hit songs such as 'Mi Salsa Tiene Sandunga', 'La Runidera', and most recently 'Fresquito', to name but a few.

Credited with introducing many of the innovations in the format of the Cuban dance orchestra, the REVE Orchestra are the embodiment of the traditional and the contemporary, rolled into one riveting display of Cuban music firepower and finesse.

A huge success in dance halls and music festivals across Europe and Latin America.

ELITO REVE Y SU CHARANGON will be the first Cuban band to play at The COURTHOUSE in Toronto- a beautiful downtown venue with a great dance floor, large stage, and state of the art sound system.

Added to the bill will the exciting new Toronto-based group IYÁ IRÉ, who will present their contemporary interpretation of Afro-Cuban folkloric music and dance.

Some Locations for advance tickets available at: SUPERLATIN MUSIC 1088 StClair ave w 416 654 2217 BOLIS BOOKS 872 Bathurst street 416532 4000 SOUNDSCAPES 572 College street 416 537 1620 AFROLATINO DANCE COMPANY 585 Yonge street 416 6717140

COMING SOON SAT NOV 27 2010 LOS VAN VAN return to Toronto . earlybird tickets available until OCt 10 2010 check www.cubaintoronto.com

Personal Reflections on Cuba

(The Diary of a Romantic)

The first adventure

About two hours before my flight’s departure from Lester B. Pearson airport, I pass through the screening process. I travel light with my carry-on being my point and click camera and documents and papers relating to my sketchy itinerary. Sketchy? Well, this is my first time to Havana, Cuba and I will be meeting people I have never previously met but they are people whom my Cuban friend in Toronto knows well and one of them happens to be his wife, Patricia. Since I arrived early, there are not too many people in the waiting area.

We are getting close to boarding time. I notice many of the flight crew in the lounge. Passengers are generally clad in light, loose-fitting clothes and though the lounge is air conditioned and feels a mite chilly to me I don’t see signs of discomfort on any faces. Probably they are in their own worlds of anticipation, thinking what lies ahead.

Cubana Airlines’ Airbus A-320 that I am on has plenty of leg room and the lunch is a happy surprise: a cold bean salad with black and green olives, feta cheese chunks and sliced cold chicken (white meat) plus orange juice, a whole wheat bun, coffee and a fair-sized dessert. All in all, for me, a tasty combination.

I have a window seat by choice. Justin, the young man who sits beside me has a good deal to tell me about his plans to enter the world of finance and provided me with his personal background. We part before Havana, a scheduled stop for passengers to journey on to their chosen resort.

Matthew, the man in the aisle seat and I strike up a conversation. We remark on how only six passengers remain in the leg to Havana. He also gave me some of his background and it turns out that he comes to Cuba up to four times a year for weekly vacations. Matthew and I parted company when I was dropped off at the Hotel Plaza where I had a room booked.