"Traditional Cuban classics meet soaring joyful vocals and an impressive horn and percussion section driving a booty-shaking party guaranteed to pick up your mood."
- San Francisco Spectrum (2004)
Tiempo Libre - One of the hottest young Latin bands today, Miami-based Tiempo Libre will perform at Central Washington University's SUB Ballroom on Wednesday, November 16, in celebration of the University's 2005 International Education Week.
True modern heirs to the rich tradition of the music of their native Cuba, Tiempo Libre has become known for their imaginative, high-voltage Latin jazz and the seductive hard-driving rhythms of their distinctive timba (think high-voltage Buena Vista Social Club).
Combining some of the most sought-after musicians in Miami today, the creation of this band emerged from a common desire amongst its founding members, all of them Cuban immigrants and old friends. Schooled in different Havana conservatories and all enjoying thriving careers in Latin music, these seven extraordinary musicians came together to realize their collective musical dream: to create a new musical style by fusing their diverse individual talents with a unique mix of jazz, traditional Cuban and Afro-Cuban music. Their eagerness to share their music with others led these multi-talented musicians to come together between projects to develop their new style together. Hence the name Tiempo Libre (Free Time).
Since their formation in 2001, Tiempo Libre have been on a mission to share the musical heritage in which they grew up with as wide an audience as possible, reinterpreting and reinvigorating traditional Cuban music with a youthful, modern sound. In Summer 2002, at their Ravinia Festival debut, opening for Celia Cruz, Tiempo Libre dazzled a crowd of more than 12,000 people. They were quickly re-engaged by Ravinia for Summer 2003 Festival where they shared a bill with Aretha Franklin, performing before an enthusiastic crowd of 20,000. Tiempo Libre has since performed hundreds of highly acclaimed shows dazzling audiences from local Latin hot spots in New York and Miami, to Latin music festivals throughout the US, to jazz and world music festivals in Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Back at home, Tiempo Libre has been featured on many of Miami's highest-rated Spanish-language shows such as Mikimbin, Payo and Tropicama.
In January 2005, Tiempo Libre signed a multi-record deal with Shanachie Entertainment. Their debut CD on that label - Arroz con Mango - was released in May 2005 and will be available for sale at their Nov 16 concert. To support the release of the album, Tiempo Libre is touring extensively throughout the United States, including performances at the Ravinia Festival, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Festival International de Louisiane, Society of the Performing Arts in Houston, to mention just a few - and they made their European debut during a tour in Italy in August 2005 including a performance at the prestigious Tuscan Sun Festival.
According to Hispanic Magazine, This powerhouse, Miami-based timba group makes an impressive recording debut on this 10-track feast of incendiary, up-tempo Cuban dance fare. Ven pa' Miami is a cha-cha rooted masterpiece, while Un son celebrates the group's funky, urban essence while paying tribute to elemental Cuban sounds. The band's highly effervescent style and spirited musicianship will entrance new fans.
Each of these in-demand musicians has vast experience in the music industry, performing, touring and recording with such artists as Albita, Cachao, Arturo Sandoval, NG La Banda, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Isaac Delgado, Roberto Torres, and DLG. For more information on Tiempo Libre, visit their official website at http://www.tiempolibremusic.com/index.php
