Doc Fest Jazz
In honor of Dr. Robert Morgan, educator
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
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A few blocks from where I was staying I came across this band.
They got together to accompany an outdoor basketball tournament taking place in in public park.
In the last video the guys identify themselves and the name of the band.
A Saturday morning surprise on Calle 23 in Vedado
Note the little kids watching. This is how the music gets transmitted to the next generation.
Snare, bass drum, trumpet, cow bell. These guys would be at home in New Orleans. Was this one of the sounds of Congo Square?
On days like this, I wish my Spanish was better
These videos are just the tip of the tip of the iceberg of what I saw and heard in Havana. Over the ten days there I went to at least two different shows, some days as many as five, per day.
I could have easily gone to more and I never saw a bad one.
– 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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If you’re looking for a great time to visit Havana, keep your eyes open for the Fiesta del Tambor which takes place every March.
This festival literally offers more music at more locations than any mere mortal could possibly absorb.
I focused on three of the five venues, all of which are relatively close to each other: The Riviera Hotel (you’ve seen fragments of some of the jazz sessions there), Teatro Malla and Jardin de Teatro Malla.
The first four videos are from the Jardin (the garden.)
The last one is from a stage show inside the theater.
Proyecto Mujeres de la Rumba takes the stage.
In Cuba it’s not a surprise to see an audience member join in with complete knowledge of the moves and songs.
Los Papines, a decades old rumba group in its latest form
More from Los Papines
In Cuba, everybody dances: Alain Perez and friends
Keep in mind there was a different stage show at the Mella every night of the Festival and two rumba groups in the garden afterwards every night.
In spite of these musical riches, not everything interesting took place in a theater or garden or as part of the Festival.
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By marvelous coincidence, Fiesta del Tambor coincided with Cuban Women in Jazz Week.
El Zorra y La Cuarva, Havana’s pre-eminent jazz club, featured a different woman-led band every night during the week of March 6.
The truth is this scheduling only required a little rearranging of Zorra’s schedule since all of these bands already play there regularly when they’re in the country.
On Wednesday, March 8, International Woman’s Day (a holiday which began in NYC in 1909), the club hosted an all day conference on women in jazz in Cuba.
After a day of fruitful and enlightening discussion, the featured bandleaders got on stage with no rehearsal of any kind, someone called the tune “Besame Mucho” and this resulted.
Apologies to the bass player whose solo got cut off midstream. I ran out of memory and had to jettison files before I could start filming again.
The whole gang. Click on the photo to enlarge it
Bellita (Lilia Esther Exposito Pino), bandleader, composer, educator, pianist extraordinaire and organizer of women’s week in jazz
Singer, composer and bandleader Daimé Arocena
Drummer and bandleader Yissy Garcia. Her band is BandAncha
A musicologist discusses the rich history of all-woman singing groups in Cuba
Singer and band leader Zule Guerra talks with Cuban jazz veteran saxophonist and bandleader Rafael Quiñones
Legendary jazz singer Bobby Carcassés talks about scat singing with three of Cuba’s top practitioners Bellita, Daimé Arocena, and Zule Guerra
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Pianist Dave Bryant met Ornette in 1981 and in 1983 became his student auditing rehearsals of Prime Time at Rivington Street. He joined Prime Time in 1990 and was the pianist on Tone Dialing.
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We went down to Havana in March to see the Fiesta del Tambor (The Drum Festival.)
We figured a drum festival in Havana had to be amazing, but nothing prepared us for the superabundance of talent and the sheer amount of music offered.
Since Jazz on the Tube is a jazz web site, we’re going to start with the jazz we encountered, but follow the thread to the end to get a more complete picture of this Treasure Island of music, both in and outside the festival.
At the Riviera Hotel, Havana
March 2017
Oliver Valdes – leader, drummer
Alejandro Delgado – trumpet
Tony Rodriquez – piano
Jorge Reyes – bass
Marcus Santos – congas
Did you recognize the tune?
It’s “Chan Chan” a 1987 composition by Compay Segundo featured in the movie “The Buena Vista Social Club.”
This is a great example of the alchemy jazz can accomplish, taking a well known melody and finding deeper magic in it. (Think John Coltrane’s version of “My Favorite Things.”)
At the Riviera Hotel
March 2017
Delvis Ponce Jove – leader, alto saxophone
Carlos Vietia – saxophone, trumpet
Michael Herrera – saxophone
Miguel Garcia – piano
Victor Cambel – piano
Edwardo Silveira – congas
Karel Kindelan – drums
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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