Maria Hinojosa talks with Bobby Sanabria about “West Side Story Reimagined.”
This is our fourth article about this piece.
We did one before the premier.
One before the free streaming performance at Dizzy’s in New York City.
One before the release of the CD and the free outdoor show at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park.
Why so much attention?
Because it’s going to be one of the cultural forces of the year, if not the decade.
And remember, you heard about it on Jazz on the Tube first.
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
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Bobby started his music career as an opera singer, but switched to popular music working as a vocalist at the legendary Tropicana nightclub and dancing professionally as well.
As a sideline, in 1960, he was Cuba’s champion long distance jumper.
Along the way Bobby also picked up the trumpet, the bass, the congas and the drums.
In 1980, he organized the first “Jazz Plaza Festival”, better known now as the Havana Jazz Festival, which I can tell you without hesitation is today one of the great music festivals on earth.
Rumbibop
Over the years, Bobby’s been a mentor to countless young Cuban jazz musicians – multiple generations worth – and remains a tireless promoter of the music.
He continues to perform, record, create events to help showcase other musicians – and paint. (He just had a gallery show in Havana.)
P.S. Fans: Please write to Downbeat and Jazz Times and ask them to review this and other major albums from Cuba.
Cuba has a globally important jazz scene.
It would be good as a matter of policy for US jazz publications to recognize that due to the vagaries of history, Cuba lacks a well funded jazz music promotion machine and is unlikely to have one anytime soon.
In the meantime, American fans and readers of these magazines worldwide are being deprived of a wealth of great and important music.
I haven’t been to Madrid in Spain yet, but it looks like it’s a good place to enjoy Cuban music.
Not long ago, we featured Chicas de Habana who are based there.
Here’s another young Cuban group in Madrid having fun with Gandinga, Mondongo y Sandunga, the classic Frank Emilio composition.
“Having fun” is a lesson some North American musicians could learn from their Cuban brothers and sisters.
Enough with the long faces. Music can be profound and fun at the same time.
Personnel:
Luis Guerra, piano
Yuvisney Aguilar, timbales
Reinier “El Negrón”, contrabajo
Juan Viera, congas
Michael Olivera, bongó
– 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.
New Orleans drum master Zigaboo Modeliste explains how he built the iconic drum riff to the funk classic “Hey Pocky A-Way” from the clave.
First the tune..
Now the explanation
– 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.
Released by the Cuban National Film Institute in 1964
There’s a myth in some people’s mind that Cuban jazz began with musicians like Chucho Valdes and Arturo Sandoval.
With all due respect to those gentlemen, no.
The show starts at the 00:35 point after a brief piano prelude and then a second group comes on at 5:30. This music is from the early 1960s
The tune is “Gandinga, Mondongo y Sandunga” written by Frank Emillio.
Personnel
Frank Emilio, piano
Guillermo Barreto, drums
Tata Güines, congas
Orlando “Papito” Hernández, bass
Gustavo Tamayo, güiro
Hot enough for you?
The group is described as “Quinteto Instrumental de Musica Moderna.”
The film segues into another piece that features the dancer Ana Glorioa and Milacho Rivero’s percussion group
Released in 1964 by the Cuban National Film Institute which was formed in 1959.
I’ve been told, and I have no reason to doubt it, that the Cuban government frowned on jazz in the 60s and 70s. If that’s true, how do we explain this film which clearly celebrates jazz?
Here are many of the same gentlemen – about 20 years later – playing under the name “Los Amigos”
– 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.
Filmed June 1, 2013 at Yoshi’s Jazz Club in San Francisco
The jam (“descarga”) is based on Cachao’s “Las Boinas.”
The Cuba-based band Havana D´Primera is led by Cienfuegos-born trumpet player Alexander Abreu.
Back home, this very popular band is known for its “Timba” music, a combination of salsa, American funk/R&B, and the strong influence of Afro-Cuban folkloric music.
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.
– Ken McCarthy Jazz on the Tube
Merry Christmas from Jazz on the Tube