Miami Dade College’s (MDC) MDC Live Arts present the popular Cuban timba band Timbalive on Friday, Mar. 18, 8 p.m., at the Koubek Center, 2705 SW Third St., offering a souped-up form of salsa, full of infectious rhythms, playful hooks, and plenty of swagger.
The show culminates MDC Live Arts’ new Little Havana Social Club dance party/concert series, featuring flavorful live bands, pre-concert dance lessons, specialty food, and cocktail vendors.
The high-octane, 10-member group, Timbalive, is based in Miami, but enjoys great success among the salsa circuit across Europe, South America, Cuba and the U.S. The group just released a new album this month — their fourth — titled Gasolina de Avion (Jet Fuel), which features songs by Grammy-winning singer/composer Descemer Bueno, Maykel Fonts, and others. The title refers to the sheer power behind this production.
“We cannot wait to debut these songs for the community at this event in the heart of Little Havana,” said musical director Leo García.
The concert will be preceded by a salsa dance lesson, and followed by a deejay dance party on an outdoor dance floor, under the stars.
“We are so lucky to have extremely talented artists, like Timbalive, in our community and are thrilled to welcome them to the Little Havana Social Club stage,” said Kathryn Garcia, MDC Live Arts executive director.
The Little Havana Social Club, in its very special home at the Koubek Center, is all about community and mingling — from the dance floor to the domino tables to the food trucks. Earlier this season, the series presented Peru’s own Cumbia All Stars as well as the “Duke of Bachata,” Joan Soriano, straight from the Dominican Republic.
Timbalive was created in 2008, founded by musical director and timbales player Leo García. Its members all come from the top music schools in Cuba, but are now all based in Miami. The group released their first album De Miami a la Habana, a collection of their own songs and covers of beloved composers, in 2009. They quickly gained international attention, appearing the Top 10 in more than 20 countries, and winning “Álbum Revelación del Año 2009” in France and Best Timba album in Peru.
Two more albums followed: La Timba Pa to El Mundo, (2011), nominated for a Cubadicoso award in the popular music category, and Con la Música Cubana No” (2013), securing their position as one of the most popular timba groups in the Latin circuit.
The group has toured extensively throughout Europe, Mexico, Canada, South America and the U.S. Timbalive credits its success to hard work, perseverance, and their signature sound — an inimitable mix of Caribbean rhythms and Cuban popular music, with the lyrics and arrangements designed with the dancer in mind.
For more information about MDC Live Arts, visit www.mdclivearts.org.
Tickets are $10; children 12 and under are free. To purchase tickets and learn more about the MDC Live Arts Season, call 305-237-3010 or visit mdclivearts.org.
