It’s nothing less than the Mother Ship of Afro-Latin music.
With its habanera, danzon, changüí, son, son montuno, rumba, mambo, cha-cha-cha, timba, and wide variety of Afro-Cuban spiritual musical forms, Cuba has been as important to the music of the world as the United States has been with its blues, jazz, rock and rock, and gospel music.
But getting information about the Cuban jazz scene is not easy…
It’s scarcely covered by major jazz magazines. Even getting a list of jazz venues in Havana isn’t easy.
Ken’s Cuba List is filling the gap with videos and articles that will help you put Cuba’s music in perspective and educate yourself about its riches past and present.
We’re also sharing practical information including travel tips and a weekly listing of what’s going on in the clubs in Havana (the only source of this particular info on the Internet.)
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
P.S. Our unique programming is made possible by help from people like you. Learn how you can contribute to our efforts here: Support Jazz on the Tube
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Trumpet solo by Yuliesky Gonzalez. Transcription by the hip cats at SharpElevenMusic, Jorre Reynders and Timothy Pedone.
The Mambísimo Big Band is 16 piece band is based in the Netherlands. Their goal is to bring the golden age of Latin Big Band to life.
Sounds like a good goal to me. How about those horns?
“Sofrito” (Mongo Santamaria), conducted by Michael Mossman
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
P.S. Our unique programming is made possible by help from people like you. Learn how you can contribute to our efforts here: Support Jazz on the Tube
Thanks.
You’ve got to hand it to any band that can present a positive, upbeat image and get it up on the screen in 2021.
PALO! “La Habana Buena”. Song written by Leslie Cartaya, Roly Rivero and Steve Roitstein. Leslie Cartaya, lead vocal; Raymer Olalde, timbales; Ed Calle, sax; Philbert Armenteros, congas; Steve Roitstein, keyboards and arrangement. Produced by Steve Roitstein. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Phil Colodetti. Tres loop by Jose Elias. More info: GoPalo.com
Mas (2017)
PALO! “Agua Pa’ Los Santos” featuring guest artists Pedrito Martinez (lead vocals, batá); Roman Diaz (prayer poem, batá, chekere) and Descemer Bueno (lead vocal). Leslie Cartaya, lead vocal; Philbert Armenteros, lead vocal, batá; Ed Calle, sax; Raymer Olalde, timbales; Steve Roitstein, keyboards & beats. Produced by Steve Roitstein. Co-produced by Bobby Macuen. Edited by Sam Tapia. Filmed by Ralf Gonzalez (DP), Jose Iglesias, Andres Ramirez, Agape Lataillade and Joe Cardona. Leslie Cartaya’s concert look: Yas Gonzalez. Filmed and recorded at Brown University, Providence, RI. Special thanks to Richard Snyder for facilitating this project. Search http://pbs.org for “Ivy League Rumba” to watch the complete documentary behind this song. Drum loops: Lee Levin. Guitar loops: Dan Warner. More info: GoPalo.com
Warsaw, Poland. October 26, 1984. The band was still a relatively new venture. I like this footage because you can see Michele playing and leading the band.
P.S. Our unique programming is made possible by help from people like you. Learn how you can contribute to our efforts here: Support Jazz on the Tube
Thanks.
A Paramount short filmed featuring Don Aspiazu and his Orchestra.
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
P.S. Our unique programming is made possible by help from people like you. Learn how you can contribute to our efforts here: Support Jazz on the Tube
Thanks.
We’ve been assisting our friend and colleague Camilo Moreira who teaches jazz to the high school students of the Cuban National School of Music (ENA) in Havana.
Here’s their latest project…
Camilo’s notes:
“The saxophone section from the Cuban National School of Music jazz band (ENA) performing an arrangement from All the things you are.
The music was recorded by means voice recorder app from each student cellphone. The teacher Camilo Moreira rehears with each student via WhatsApp due to the lock down caused by the Covid 19 pandemic. ”
The lockdowns have been particularly severe in Cuba with curfews starting as early as 1 PM in some places.
ENA, which is a boarding school for Cuba’s most talented high school students from all over the island, sent all its students home in 2020.
Camilo’s virtual performance project is one of the only organized musical activities they have right now.
This is one of the many projects your contributions go to when you are a paid Jazz on the Tube subscriber. More info here
