The second half of of the road trip was for Alex' U.S. release tour dates. The new, self-titled album "Alex Cuba" (Caracol Records/Caroline Distribution) was released to critical and fan acclaim in the U.S. on June 8th. The tour run started in Boston and ended in San Francisco passing through New York, Minneapolis, Chicago and Los Angeles. The crowds were strong and media coverage was excellent as Alex brings his "Latin Soul", a genre all his own, to a growing base in the U.S. Check pics out on Andres' facebook here

The first portion of the run was in Europe where Alex played in the U.K., Spain, Germany and Turkey with debut performances in Madrid, Cologne, Berlin and Istanbul. It was a solid, market development run where we covered media like BBC News, Radio Nacional de Espana, DWR Radio Germany, Jazz FM UK and other outlets. We are currently working on licensing partnerships for key European territories as a result of the trip. Check out pics from the trip on Andres' facebook profile here

The album was very well received and shot straight to the #1 slot on iTunes "Alternativo/Rock Latino" Chart. It was very well supported by an NPR "First Listen" feature, a KCRW "Today's Top Tune" slot, an AOL Latino Album Listening Party as well as popmatter.com, Associated Press and other outlets.

Press Release Copy From June 17th Below:

ALEX CUBA’S SELF-TITLED NEW ALBUM GARNERS CONSIDERABLE INITIAL ACCLAIM

#1 Spot on iTunes Alternativo/Rock Latino Chart, NPR First Listen Feature,  KCRW Today’s Top Tune, Critical Raves for Album and Live Shows

By following his unique muse, the Cuban-Canadian artist Alex Cuba has pioneered a genre of his own: a 21st Century Latin soul. His self-titled new album perfectly reveals the sound, and is helping him to build upon the extraordinary success he has achieved through two previous, Juno Award-winning long-players. On the heels of an NPR First Listen feature and a KCRW Today’s Top Tune download, he released Alex Cuba through his own Caracol Records on June 8, immediately reaching the #1 spot on iTunes’ Alternativo/Rock Latino chart and receiving vast critical praise.

Pop Matters calls Alex Cuba “a consistently rewarding album that never stays in one place too long but never strays from Cuba’s considerable talent for writing hooks that leave a permanent imprint.” Noting the “unbelievable beauty” of Cuba’s songs, The Huffington Post says the new album makes the listener “remember just how good a songwriter this man is.” The Boston Globe says that Cuba “has become an ambassador of his homeland’s native rhythms with charisma as outsize as his Afro,” and The San Francisco Chronicle summed up the current moment in Cuba’s career this way: “While he's better known in the States as a songwriter, since collaborating with Nelly Furtado on her 2009 Spanish-language album Mi Plan…Cuba is a compelling performer in his own right, a soulful singer who's forged a singular synthesis of Latin styles, jazz, funk and pop. With two Junos (Canadian Grammys) to his credit and an impressive book of original songs laced with memorable melodic hooks, he's a rising star who seems destined for larger venues.” National Public Radio suggests, "He's having fun throughout Alex Cuba, and the result sounds like summer love: exciting and warm, but with a wink at the listener."

Though he was raised in Artemisa, an hour outside of Havana, Alex Cuba’s artistry is as far-flung as the place he settled and has lived in for over ten years: Smithers, BC, 14 hours north of Vancouver. His music at once incorporates his roots in these vastly divergent places and is a unique amalgam of styles: He’s a ringer for the Afro-sporting Sly Stone of the `60s, collaborates with peers ranging from Nelly Furtado and Jason Mraz to Ron Sexsmith, and brings together melodies, pop-soul hooks and rock chords in songs that bear little resemblance to any traditional Cuban form.

A forward-thinking, indie-minded artist who owns his masters and releases his music on his own label, Cuba has amassed a steadily growing following among critics and fans. As Billboard has said, “Staying true to his Spanish-language folk-funk-rock hybrid has paid off.” His 2007 album, Agua del Pozo, earned him his second Juno Award (the Canadian equivalent of a GRAMMY). Cuba has had four iTunes Singles of the Week (Canada, U.S., Japan, Netherlands), has charted on various iTunes charts in Canada, the U.S. and Japan, has built an impressive online community and has had major content features on Myspace, Yahoo!, AOL and other portals.

Cuba recorded the new album at Baker Studios in Victoria, B.C. and released it last October in Canada. Featuring surprising new grooves, innovative electric guitar inflections and varying tempos and structures, the album is a natural but bold step in Cuba’s ongoing musical revolution. The first single, “Caballo” (Horse), a Cuban-funk-rocker, was also made into video conceived and produced in Smithers. Other highlights are “Solo Tu” (Only You), a moving, mid-tempo rock ballad; “Tierra Colora” (Red Soil), a samba-rock-surf-punk sizzler; and the funk tune “If You Give Me Love,” Alex’s first song in English.

Cuba’s high-energy music translates especially well in live performances. Having just completed a highly successful initial tour of Europe and the U.S., he will return to the States for the Latin Alternative Music Conference Acoustic Showcase, July 8 at NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge. Other dates will be announced soon. 

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Its been a while since our last post. All is well, we've been on the road to St. John's, Cancun and San Juan delivering Alex Cuba's soulful sounds. Next up is Europe mid-May, followed by the U.S. early June. Read the latest Alex Cuba industry newsletter here for more exciting tidbits.

Alex' new, self-titled album has been nominated for "World Music Album Of The Year" at the 2010 Juno Awards. This is Alex' third consecutive nomination after winning the award in 2006 for Humo de Tabaco and again in 2008 for Agua del Pozo. The awards take place April 17 and 18th in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Hit the Juno site here.