TIEMPO LIBRE, latin band

Grammy-nominated Tiempo Libre is one of the hottest young Latin bands today. Equally at home in concert halls, jazz clubs and dance venues, the Miami-based band has become known for their incendiary, joyful performances of timba - an irresistible, dance-inducing mix of high-voltage Latin jazz and the seductive rhythms of son - true, modern heirs to the rich tradition of the music of their native Cuba.

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, and forging a new style born from the meeting of their Cuban roots and their new American experience. Their thrilling and auspicious July 2002 debut, opening for the legendary Celia Cruz at the Ravinia Festival, has been followed by a tireless tour schedule that has taken them from Thailand, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur, to Rome, Milan, and Athens, as well as to important stages from New York to Los Angeles, New Orleans to Chicago and numerous points in between.

In January 2005, Tiempo Libre signed a multi-record deal with Shanachie Entertainment. Their debut album on that label, Arroz con Mango, was both a tribute to the deep Cuban roots of Tiempo Libre’s members, and a celebration of their new life in the U.S. Arroz con Mango received tremendous attention in the press and was nominated for a 2006 Grammy Award.

In May 2006, Tiempo Libre released their second album on the Shanachie label, Lo Que Esperabas (“What You’ve Been Waiting For”). The new release is being supported with a tour to Europe and an extensive number of engagements in the U.S. In August, Tiempo Libre made their fourth appearance at the Ravinia Festival, this time in a special concert called “Las Dos Alas” – a concert tribute to the shared musical heritage of Cuba and Puerto Rico with the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

In addition to their performing and recording careers, the members of Tiempo Libre are particularly committed to the sharing of their rich musical traditions through outreach and educational activities. They have become known for their inspiring classes on rumba, Latin jazz and traditional Cuban music, designed to reach audiences of all ages and backgrounds.