Ahead of his set at the Havana Cultura : ¡Súbelo, Cuba! Album launch on October 22nd, Jazz FM and @musicamacondo’s Tim Garcia has put together a guest mix for us of some of his favourite Afro/Latin cuts.

‘With a nod to Cuba and Puerto Rico’s Rumba traditions the mix starts off on the jazzier side of the musical spectrum, spanning rumba, Afro-latin jazz, Afrocuban/Afrobeat fusion, Salsa and then culminating in the electronic side of things with contemporary Cuban musicians and one of my favourite tunes on Yoruba Records’

Tracklist:

Kerkstra Ft. Feat. Etián Brebaje Man - Soy Cubano

Yelfris Valdés - Grande Oshanla

Okonkolo - Oba

Jerry Gonzalez - Ya Yo Me Curé

LokkhiTerra meets Dele Sosimi - Afro Sambroso

Luisito Quintero - Acid

Har-You Percussion Group - Welcome To The Party

Har-You Percussion Group - Welcome To The Party (Jazzanova Remix)

Auntie Flo - Die Bailando

Soundspecies - Bembe!

Havana Cultura: ¡Súbelo, Cuba! - Bomba Ft. El Individuo

Daymé Arocena - Eleggua (Esa & Narchbeats Kwaai Mix)

Trinidad Senolia - Sucre Sacre

Tim plays alongside Movimientos’ Cal Jader warming up for the Havana Cultura : ¡Súbelo, Cuba! Live show at Rich Mix on Monday 22nd October. You can buy your tickets to what is set to be a very special night of contemporary Cuban music here: http://bit.ly/2P0I49X

In celebration of their first 12" release on Manana Records (http://bit.ly/2kDUpRW) check out this powerful live session by 8-piece rumba masters, Obbatuké, straight from Santiago de Cuba's legendary home of rumba, the Casa del Caribe.

Our 15th podcast brings you straight into the heart of this year's festival with British DJ/Producer/Musician duo Henry & Oliver Keen, aka @soundspecies - featuring exclusive tracks inspired by Manana 2016 and an extract from their astonishing live set with Santiago de Cuba bembe ensemble, Ache Meyi.

++ How and where was the mix recorded? ++

At home, in my first days arriving back in the UK. I did the final compilation on Traktor DJ but I also needed to do some hasty mixes of some of the new tracks to include them.

++ What was the idea behind the mix? ++

Just to present an idea of how inspired we were by the trip and also how the concept of the festival fit so well with how we've been making music for the last few years anyway.

++ How is the mix influenced by Cuba? ++

That is evident when you listen to it I hope!

++ What did you take away from your trip to Santiago ++

Lots of gigabytes of recordings! Lots of new friends, lots of ideas for future collaborations and projects, an allergy to rum!!

Our first post-Manana podcast comes from one of the stars of the festival, @dj-sabine, whose work focuses on the exposure and pleasures of African Diasporic music.

++ How and where was the mix recorded? ++

It was recorded at home in preparation for the African & Diasporic Religious Studies Association conference this year where I presented on Oyasound.

++ What was the idea behind the mix? ++

I wanted to create a mix that featured Yoruba's influence in house music. It's a mix of old and new tracks.

++ How is the mix influenced by Cuba? ++

A lot of the tracks are sung by/sampled by Afro-Cubanos as the Yoruba tradition (Santeria/Lucumi) is very strong in Cuba.

++ What did you take away from your trip to Santiago ++ It was indeed a spiritual & musical awakening for me. I have a strong interest in how traditional Haitian art, culture, & spirituality has informed the craft of Haitian electronic artists. When I found out about the festival in Santiago, the idea was so aligned with the work I am doing. Santiago also has a rich Haitian history. I was so excited to visit, participate as a DJ and share my interpretation of the music. For me, it was a great opportunity to explore art, culture, and spirituality not only from an African diasporic lens but also have a global connection with various people I've met. What better way than through music!

1. Orisha - Afroqbano

2. Omo Oggun - Santos

3. Rumberos de Ayer - Quinto y Bongo (Jose Marquez Mix)

4. Orisha - Atjazz Lovesoul Remix (Havana Cultura)

5. Elegua - Celia Cruz (Jose Marquez Remix)

6. Oya - Abicah Soul (Space Mix)

7. Chango Chant - Gigi Testa

8. Aguanile - Hector Lavoe (Jose Marquez Remix)

9. Baile Elegua - David Montoya

10. Cubanacan - Charo Velecio & Realm of House

11. Oyadde (Oya) - Sintesis

12. Oyasound - (Sabine Blaizin/Oyasound Mash-Up)

13. Madres - Dayme Arocena (Zepherin Saint Remix)

14. Love & Happiness/River Ocean - India (Master's At Work)

15. Yemaya - Carlos Torre

16. Chango - Hook & Bass (Afrotech Mix)

17. Obatala Sango Ochun- Tony Real

18. Eleggua - Ibeyi (DJ Don Cuco Remix)

19. Babalawo - Gianluca Pighi & Tiziano Ribiscini

20. Cantos A Oshun Et Oya- Osunlade

21. Babalu Aye - Kiko Navarro & DJ Fudge ft. Dono (Club Mix)

22. O Mi Shango - Sunlightsquare

23. Oya's Bembe - Ian Friday ft. Nina (Libation Remix)

24. Babalu Aye Y Yemaya - Louie Gorbea & Chris Perez ft. Nina (LouIIChris Main Mix)

25. Chango - Gina Martin & Latin Xpress

26. Orisa - The Boss (David Morales Mix)

Gabriel Reyes-Whittaker is a composer and sound artist who is best known for his electronic works of widely varying styles. He has released records through his own label, @giftedandblessed, as well as with several others including Wild Oats, Eglo, All City and Sound In Color.

Gabe has spent the last few years studying MIDI composition and analog synthesis. This is reflected in the works he has released since, which range often drastically in style and exhibit the breadth of his learning process. He calls these varying sounds by the umbrella term "technoindigenous studies," a bridging of the technological with the ancestral in his music.

Introducing our latest Manana podcast from @jose-marquez

Join us at Manana 2016: www.mananacuba.com/overview

Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/manana.cu

More mixes on our Mixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/mananacuba/

++ How and where was the mix recorded? ++

In my man cave home studio located in San Diego, California, haha! This is actually the first mix I've recorded on my new Rane MP2015 mixer. So it was an honor to break it in with a mix for you guys.

++ What was the idea behind the mix? ++

The idea was to put together a 1 hour musical story of the music that i love within an Afro-Cuban context.

++ How (if in any way) is the mix influenced by Cuba? ++

Every song on here is influenced by Cuba. From tracks featuring Cuban artist like Celia Cruz, Carlos Patato Valdez & Elsa Valle to orisha infused Afro-house tracks embedded with sacred bata drums and patterns. The styles of songs chosen may vary a little but their origins are all the same.

++ What excites you most about the journey to Santiago? ++

Afro-Cuban music has a strong influence on what I do. It's the music I loved listening to when growing up. I have always felt very connected and drawn to the culture, the drumming, the rhythms. It is a special place that I have always wanted to visit and feel honored to do so very soon!

++ Are you going to be preparing for the trip in any way? ++

I'm going to be prepared to eat, dance and drink all week!!

Tracklist:

1. Elsa Valle - Nana Pati

2. Milton Cardona - Obatala Macho

3. Bobby Matos - Lucumi Soy

4. Patato Valdez - Canto a Chango

5. Bonga - Mu Nhango

6. Jose Marquez Vs. Lazaro Roz (Unreleased)

7. Celia Cruz - Elegua (Jose Marquez Remix)

8. Miles Bigelow - El Ray De Los Truenos (Kiko Navarro Remix)

9. Lou Gorbea feat. Nina - Oya's Bembe (Jose Marquez Remix)

10. Hector Lavoe - Aguanile (Jose Marquez Remix)

11. Kiko Navarro & Dj Fudge - Babalu Aye

12. Merceditas Valdes - Osain

Presented by @havana-cultura, the latest installment of our Manana podcast series takes you on a journey through Cuban hip hop, Afro-Latin jazz, reggae and funk with Afro-Cuban music producer and Mc, @sublevao-beat aka Kumar.

Kumar began his musical career in the height of Havana's 1990s Hiphop movement. The profound influence that Afro-Latin jazz, reggae, funk and, especially, traditional Afro-Cuban music have had on his musical work have allowed him to achieve a personal sound that combines MPC live performance with Afro-Cuban percussion, synths and live acoustic instruments.

To celebrate the 10th edition of our weekly podcast we have teamed up with @thump to present an exclusive mix by British electronic royalty, A Guy Called Gerald, in anticipation of his headline appearance at Manana Festival in Cuba this May. Scroll down to see what he had to say about the mix.

See Gerald Live at Oval Space 17th April: http://bit.ly/1R7YAdT

Join us at Manana 2016: http://www.mananacuba.com/overview

Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manana.cu

++ How and where was the mix recorded? ++

It was recorded at my studio using other people's music.

++ What was the idea behind the mix? ++

The idea was to have bass orientated theme but with a melodic flow.

++ How (if in any way) is the mix influenced by Cuba? ++

Most of the melodies I picked I feel have a latin flavour to them.

++ What excites you most about the journey to Santiago? ++

I'm looking forward to going somewhere on the planet that is not American influenced. I grew up listening to Mongo Santamaria. Cuba is just across the way from where my parents come from: Jamaica. I think there are deep ties throughout the Caribbean. I'm sorry I'm not a religious person but I'm into deeper feelings. I'm going there to taste the spirit. The musicians I've heard are unbelievably talented and I believe I have something to share.

++ Are you going to be preparing for the trip in any way? ++

Yes, I'm bringing all my music, ready to jam.

Producer, DJ and Percussionist, Vince Vella blends a deep knowledge of Afro-Cuban, and tropical rhythms with beats, soul, jazz and beyond. Alongside producing Vince Vella is an accomplished percussionist who has studied in Cuba and Brazil where he received guidance from Pururu, the late Tata Guines, Adel Gonzalez. His love affair with Cuba continues, where he co produced the Havana Cultura series with Gilles Peterson, and Roberto Fonseca collaborating with some of the best musicians in Cuba: Julio Padron (Irakere), Danay Suarez, Changuito (Los Van Van), Los Aldeanos and DubStep pioneer Mala.

In his words "The mix is a collection of raw rumba tracks (including one of my own tracks) from some of the my favourite Rumberos in Cuba, including Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Clave Y Guaguanco, Chucho Valdes, Rumberos De Cuba, Los Papines , Pedrito Martinez and more"

Cuba's 1st International Electronic & Afro-Cuban Music Festival. www.mananancuba.com

A Note from @centurymx:

It’s been a while since we’ve put together a mixtape, probably years. Maybe it’s the fact we stopped playing records – obsessively placing our energies on building (and constantly re-building) a live set that can cover everything we do. Yet, every once in a while it’s great to re-visit many of our core or temporal influences and do something off-routine. If someone was to ask us what we would play in a DJ gig right now, it would definitely not be what is heard here, which makes this format really interesting. We’ve decided to assemble an hour narrative of congas, weird congas over 4/4 rhythms, and dubbed-out echoes and vocals in Spanish – somewhat ad hoc to our Cuban dream ; we’ve been there once and it was nothing short of magical. If you pay attention, you’ll find one fresh new track, and a live jam we literally just exported straight out of our computer. Salud, and thank you for listening.

Please forgive us, but we prefer to keep the tracklist secret. It’s way more fun + these tracks aren’t that hard to find.