Rowland Coffee Roaster's Gourmet Espresso Brand, Cafe Bustelo, and Sony Masterworks Brew New Deal Serving Cuban Music Group Tiempo Libre On a Million Cans of Coffee

Rowland Coffee Roaster's Gourmet Espresso Brand, Cafe Bustelo, and Sony Masterworks Brew New Deal Serving Cuban Music Group Tiempo Libre On a Million Cans of Coffee

NEW YORK, April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in its 80 year history, Rowland Coffee Roaster's Cafe Bustelo brand, is changing its can design to feature the Miami-based, two-time Grammy-nominated Cuban music group Tiempo Libre on a million cans of coffee while offering a free down-load from the band's new CD, Bach in Havana, their first recording to be released by Sony Masterworks on May 5th. The cans will be in stores across the country starting in late April-May.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090428/NY06765 )

"Like the Rowland Coffee family, Tiempo Libre's members left Cuba to pursue freedom and opportunity in the United States," says J.P. Souto, VP of Marketing for Rowland Coffee Roasters. "Featuring Tiempo Libre on our cans is not just a strategic alliance; it pays tribute to the day by day drive and determination it takes to achieve the American dream. We take pride in their success and their contribution to the American experience."

Rowland Coffee Roaster's first joint venture with Tiempo Libre and Sony Masterworks is an at-cost deal, an unusual but progressive partnership during these economic times. The co-branding merchandising deal will showcase the group on the Cafe Bustelo's coffee can in exchange for Bustelo-branded inserts in Tiempo Libre's Bach in Havana CD. A free download will be available at www.javacabana.com providing Rowland and Sony the ability to track how many consumers visit the site, how many people download the song and if they purchase coffee at the Cafe Bustelo's online store.

"Tiempo Libre is a major signing for Sony Masterworks and represents our commitment to creativity without boundaries," commented Alex Miller, General Manager of Sony Masterworks. "With their unique mix of traditional Afro-Cuban influences and sophisticated jazz harmonies, the conservatory-trained group brings audiences out of their seats wherever they perform. We are very excited about Bach in Havana and the extensive tour planned in support of this extraordinary release. This new relationship with Cafe Bustelo will bring their music to a new generation of coffee enthusiasts and between their high octane music and Bustelo coffee, it not only a good fit from a promotional perspective, but a great way to jumpstart the day."

Rowland Coffee Roasters' has been aligning itself with music for the past several years. In 2008, Cafe Bustelo had a presence at music events such as Lollapalooza, South by Southwest and the Winter Music Conference, where it gave away free coffee and merchandise.

Tiempo Libre, since forming in Miami eight years ago has experienced tremendous success. Not only did they land a record deal and management, but two consecutive Grammy(R) nominations (Arroz Con Mango and Lo Que Esperabas, both on the Shanachie label) and tours which take them around the globe. The group starred in a musical production inspired by their collective life experiences which ran at Miami's Adrienne Arsht Center last summer. They even were hand-picked by legendary flutist Sir James Galway to perform and arrange his RCA Red Seal CD O'Reilly Street.

Sony Masterworks recently announced the signing of two-time Grammy(R)-nominated Miami-based Cuban music group, Tiempo Libre, to an exclusive contract. The first album under that deal, Bach in Havana, unites the two musical worlds of the band's Cuban childhoods -- connecting the rhythm and sensibilities of Afro-Cuban music with the compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach -- and features guest tracks by the Cuban legend Paquito D'Rivera and the Cuban born sax player Yosvany Terry. Multi Grammy winner Steve Epstein (Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, Placido Domingo) produced the CD with Jorge Gomez as co-producer.

Rowland Coffee Roasters has a history dating back to 1930s of producing espresso in the traditional Hispanic style. With a family tradition of creating savory and aromatic coffee, the family believes the best coffee is achieved through quality beans and roasting perfection. Today, Cafe Bustelo is one of the leading and most recognizable coffee brands in the world and is part of Rowland Coffee Roasters, Inc. parent to over twenty-five different coffee brands brewed in the company's state-of-the-art facility in South Florida. Cafe Bustelo is available throughout Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Chicago, Midwest, New Orleans, Los Angeles and New England. For more information on Rowland Coffee Roasters and Cafe Bustelo visit www.javacabana.com, or call 1-800-990-9039.

RCA Red Seal, Sony Classical, deutsche harmonia mundi, Masterworks Broadway and Masterworks Jazz are labels of Sony Masterworks. For e-mail updates and information regarding RCA Red Seal, Sony Classical, RCA deutsche harmonia mundi, Masterworks Broadway and Masterworks Jazz artists, promotions, tours and repertoire, please visit www.sonymasterworks.com

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Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090428/NY06765
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN16
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Sony Masterworks

CONTACT: Tiempo Libre, Jane Covner, JAG Entertainment, +1-818-905-5511,
jcovner@jagpr.com; or Cafe Bustelo, Christina Rice, The BMF Media Group,
+1-201-759-0979, christina@bmfmedia.com

Web Site: http://www.sonymasterworks.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment