Mercury News, California — Also on tap: Los Van Van, plucky Chi-town dancers Lucky Plush; 'West Side Story times 2; singer Marc Cohn and a Roy Orbison tribute band born from karaoke. more info

ContactMusic — The founder and leader of Cuba's Los Van Van band Juan Formell has died at the age of 71.The acclaimed bassist, composer, and arranger passed away in... more info

Guardian Music — (Rubyworks)The Mexican guitar heroes have moved on, in style. On the last couple of occasions I've seen Rodrigo y Gabriela, they were technically brilliant but repetitive, relying too much on rapid-fire riffs and guitar noodling. Their last studio al... more info

L.A. Times - Entertainment — On Thursday night, not even Kennedy-era red tape, and a somewhat gnarly sound mix that occasionally smothered the band's charanga-style string and keyboard players, could prevent Los Van Van from working its spell. more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — Los Van Van at the Conga Room review: Urgent memo to the Department of Homeland Security: Los Van Van, the brilliant Cuban dance band that tore up the Conga Room on Thursday night, poses a clear and present danger to the U.S. capitalist system. more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — Los Van Van, the legendary Cuban band has postponed tonight's gig at the Conga Room in downtown L.A., citing last-minute problems for band members in obtaining U.S. travel visas. more info

Mercury News, California — It's not a music critic's place to try and judge the political reasons that make it so hard for people to travel between the U. more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — Looks as though that temporary thaw in U.S.-Cuban cultural relations has reverted to the Big Chill, at least temporarily. Instead of being en route to play the Conga Room in downtown L.A. tonight, at least three members of the seminal... more info

All About Jazz — The Pete Escovedo Orchestra featuring Sheila E., Peter Michael and Juan Escovedo will join the Playboy Jazz Festival line-up Saturday, June 12th, it was announced today by Dick Rosenzweig, President of the Playboy Jazz Festival. The group will repl... more info

All About Jazz — Los Van Van Cancels for SummerStage: Jose Conde Will Open for Pupy y Los Que Son Son Last week Los Van Van canceled their appearance at Central Park SummerStage. But that won't stop Miami-born, NYC-based singer Jos Cond from building a musical bridg... more info