Hosted by BBC Radio 1’s Gilles Peterson who will be spinning his favourite Cuban joints from past to present, the 9-piece Havana Cultura Band headline this Cuban extravaganza, ripping through an awesome selection of the album’s biggest tracks with vocals from Havana Cultura mainstays Ogguere and Danay who are flying in live and direct from Havana to maximise the Cuban party vibes.
Ogguere are the elder statesman of Cuban rap. Members Edrey and Ulises got together in the early 1990s, blending a mixture of Cuban rhythms – mambo, son and cha-cha-cha – with funk, rumba and rap to create their own inimitable hip hop hybrid.
A 24 year-old soul sister who has already drawn comparisons with the likes of Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, Danay eschews a gangster lean for a more conscious delivery, switching effortlessly between honeyed vocals and effortless rhyme flows. Born in Havana’s Cerro district, today she lives with her mother and sister in Santa Fe (on the fringes of the capital). Solo material is scarce but she has collaborated with Aldo – of Los Aldeanos – and Cuban fusion superstar X Alfonso.
DJ support comes from London’s Sofrito crew – Hugo Mendez, Frankie Francis and the mysterious Mighty Crime Minister. Renowned for their legendary Tropical Warehouse parties in London’s East End, Sofrito has brought together musicians and artists from Ghana, Nigeria, Cuba, Venezuela and Colombia to celebrate the heaviest sounds from across the Tropical spectrum. Your hips never had it so good!
As blogged by GP on his MySpace last week in Japan:
I never fail but to come back from Japan refreshed and motivated. Last night at Liquid Rooms was so great. All my friends and supporters over the years still coming out and a fresh new audience always adding the energy. That’s the point – keeping it fresh with new sounds mixed with classics from the distance.
I did some great shopping too – although the Pierre Cardin shoes I picked up for 1000 yen did fall apart halfway though the night – thank God for super glue – lol!
The bands all did great last night – adding a little Afro Cuban spice – Quasimode did ‘Afrodisia’, Salsa Swingoza did ‘Roforofo Fight’ and Cromagnon just get better – loved the way they started playing low volume as my last tune faded out with the curtains still down – nice touch from a perfectly tight disco jazz unit – need to bring ‘em back to Europe!
Tokyo Heavy Hitters DJ attack worked really well – better than last time – from Kentaro to Sunaga T everyone took full use of their 3 minutes to keep the audience hyper excited!!
Big ups to Mari who put the whole thing on and continues to be the unsung hero for this scene here in Japan. Her strength and energy continually pushing out the music on Jwave and believe me, the girl knows when to take her ear piece out and party with the best of ‘em! Toshio Matsuura looks after all the tiny details a man like me demands!! Big love and continued success and good luck with the role of fatherhood on the way – your life is just starting sir!
So I’ll take a final stroll around the stores of Aoyama and Shibuya today – pick up some of my favourite comme des garcons aftershave and possibly find a hat for Zinger… a last meal at my favorite Sicilian Japanese fusion restaurant with Andy and the crew – possibly a special drop of red!
Big love also to my record label Beat Inc too – a brilliant job has been done getting the locals to find out about the Havana Cultura cd which came out with extra track this week – nippon special!
Flight leaves at 11 tomorrow am – might just have to avoid my bed and go straight from Microcosmos (UFO reunion), the Room (tykler askew/simone/shuya) and Air (king britt) – its a long 12 hour daytime flight that should land just in time for the West Ham vs. Arsenal game!
As I often say I sincerely appreciate the blessing of being able to play Cedar Walton tracks for a living and not
doing a normal job….yet!
Two very special Havana Cultura launch parties featuring Gilles Peterson, DJ Lubi, Vince Vella and Simbad plus the Havana Cultura Band in full effect. Tickets available right HERE.
Featuring the work of over 20 musicians and artists recorded across 28 tracks, this double CD album is a celebration of Cuba’s freshest musical talent from Latin, Afro jazz and fusion to hip hop, funk, reggaeton and R&B. CD1 consists of brand new recordings produced by Gilles Peterson jointly with Roberto Fonseca and Vince Vella. Fans of Cuban music will also recognise a handful of traditional Cuban classics such as ‘Chekere Son’, which have been carefully re-imagined and re-recorded. CD2 features tracks from Gilles’ favourite new discoveries. New talent such as vocalist Danay (described by Gilles as “Cuba’s Jill Scott”) and Doble Filo, in addition to international award-winning artists such as rapper Kumar and pianist Roberto Fonseca.
The album was recorded in the world famous Egrem Studios in Havana, where all the major figures of the Cuban music scene have recorded including Beny Moré, Arsenio Rodriguez and the Buena Vista Social Club. It is the latest in a series of cultural projects from Havana Cultura, which has been designed to give artists in Havana a global voice via the Havana Cultura website.
You can get your mitts on the album at the following spots:
Giving you a taste of GP’s new album – ‘Gilles Peterson presents Havana Cultura: New Cuba Sound’ – out on Brownswood Recordings on 26th October. Check Havana Cultura for more info on the artists involved, free downloads and all that good stuff.
Wow, this new Theophilus London video is such a big tune. An amazing beat by Machine Drum and featuring Jesse Boykins III, this track is on Theophilus’ new album called “This Charming Man” out on Normrex Records.
Gilles talks to Stuart Baker, proprietor of the famous Soul Jazz shop and label, about the new book the two of them have just compiled together – putting some music to the sleeves.
Tracklisting -
1. Oliver Lake – Africa – (Arista/Freedom)
2. Pheeroan Ak Laff – 3 in 1 (Passin Thru)
3. Gary Bartz – Drinkin Song (Milestone)
4. David Lee Jr – Second Line March (Supernal)
5. Horace Tapscott – Peyote Song No. 3 (Nimbus)
6. Edward Larry Gordon – All Pervading (Sun)
7. Stanton Davis – Space-A-Nova (Outrageous)
8. Hastings St Jazz Experience – Yes Lord (Midnite)
9. Gene Siegel Orc – Terra Incognita (Gayten)
10. John Coltrane – Lord, Help me to be (Coltrane Recordings)
