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March 8 - 11, 2001
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 Geraldo Piloto Klimax |
Caliente en la Habana - March 2001
This seven-year-old festival from Switzerland
was brought to Havana, March 8-11, for the first time. Whew! Opening
night was in the Teatro Nacional with Chucho Valdez and
jazz piano great, Herbie Hancock, playing grand pianos, one-on-one.
Performances were taking place in other venues throughout Havana, including
a premier concert with Los Van Van at La Macumba in La
Lisa, Havana. This gorgeous venue is open air with an arched dome, a
stage with water on either side–even a swimming pool for daytime
use. Los Van Van were stronger than ever. Though Pedro Calvo
has left, this gifted Grammy-winning band still has that sound that
is only possible when a band has played together for so long and of
course, under the leadership of maestro Juan Formell. In addition
to Roberton and Mayito, two new singers have been added: Jenny,
once with NG La Banda, and El Lele, son of El Lele
who sang with Los Van Van in the '70s. Guest artists included
Manolito Simonet on keyboards and vocals by Michel Masa.
Past favorites and new tunes from their new CD were sung and of course,
the crowd was anything but mellow and rocked until 5AM.
The second evening was outside of the Hotel
Nacional, La Piragua. Stage and sound were set up with some seating.
Word is that close to twenty thousand people were there. Musical performances
included Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco 
,
Charanga Forever, Issac Delgado ,
NG la Banda
and Los Van Van.
At one point, Issac Delgado was joined onstage by
Herbie Hancock. He played off Roli, Issac's gifted keyboard player,
and Alfredo, jazz bassist. The combination was unbeatable. Issac started
to scat sing off of Herbie Hancock's riffs - unbelieveable .
Though the event ended at 2AM, even after six bands, this crowd was ready
for more.
 Juan Formell Los Van Van |
|
 Manolito Simoney y su Trabuco |
An evening of dance performances and music
were held at the Teatro Nacional on the third night of the festival.
Ballet Español performed a version of Flamenco but a lot was lacking
in terms of duende and soul. Conjunto Foclorico perfromed
two pieces including a colorful and spirited Carnival dance. With strong
musicians and dancers, this group continues to present and preserve traditional
dance and music of Cuba. Martiers del Compás from Spain sang spirted
flamenco with his fusion band of bass, percussion and vocals. The finale
was the Habana Allstars. This is a charanga all-star band you will
want for your next party. Among the musicians to perform with this group
were Pancho Amat, Guillermo Rubalcaba, Changuito, Tata Guines, Vania
and more! Each musician and singer took their solos and the combined effort
was a unique concert .
The final night of Festival Caliente
was again in the Teatro Nacional. This was an amazing concert.
First, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas presented some beautiful
rumba, in song and dance. The traditions are kept very alive in this community,
as was appearant by the range of ages dancing (a three-year-old, an eight-year-old,
teenagers and adullts), singing and playing onstage. They were joined
by Mayito (Los Van Van) for a few tunes .
Chucho Valdez was supposed to play but was not able to.
Instead, the audience was treated to the solo jazz piano of master Herbie
Hancock
, later joined on bass by Fino (Chucho Valdez Quartet) and
Ramses Rodriguez (Chucho Valdez Quartet). Soon, Changuito, Tata Guines
and Piloto (Klimax) joined Herbie for a fusion of Cuban percussion and
American jazz .
The finale was Los Muñequtios de Matanzas and Mayito
joining these musicians on stage. The sounds that floated through the
theater were intoxicating .
A wonderful end to this hot festival. Caliente indeed!
It is unclear if the Swiss company will repeat this again in Havana. Worst comes to worst, you can travel to Switzerland for the yearly Festival Caliente in June and catch some good music there.
 Herbie Hancock and Issac Delgado |
|
 Changuito and Tata Güines |
 |
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Jaila,
son Jamel and a
proud padrino, Jesus Piña |
And caliente it was! Early March brought
many musical transitions and Festival Caliente
to Havana. First, a little up-to-date news…The sad passing of the
great sonero, Raul Planas ushered in the month. His voice and energy
will be missed. But, as one life leaves our world, another enters: born
to Jaila (Azucar y Negra) and Aned Mota (La Charanga
Habanera) was a healthy baby boy, Jamel. Though Haila
was not performing with her band, many kind words and best wishes were
sent the family's way by many a musician and fan…Issac Delgado
had a press conference to announce his CD 'El Malecon', the same we saw
marketed here as 'La Formula'. Gracious as always, Issac spoke
of upcoming tours to NY in April. He sang with his older brother and Angel
Diaz, the principal founder of the 'Feeling' song movement in Cuba.,
also sang. Issac is busy producing a recording with Jaila (Azucar
y Negra) …Pedro Calvo, formerly with Los Van Van,
is very busy recording on his own as well as with Juan de Marcos and
the Afro Cuban All Stars. He will be touring with the group this spring,
along with sonero Felix Baloy and his son, Felix Baloy
Jr. We'll see them here in the Bay Area in June. …The latest
hit singer on the radio is Carlos Manuel, once a singer with Irakere.
All the young kids are swooning over his music and voice…Irakere,
though the name is still used, does not exist any more. Former members
still perform in various jazz venues and groups….Julito Padron,
ex- musical director of Irakere, recently released his latest CD
and is also recording and touring with Juan de Marcos and the Afro
Cuban All Stars ….Omara Portuonda is also recording a
new CD. She will tour in the US but at this point will not be out our
way….Ibrahim Ferrer was just in from touring in Australia.
Always in high spirits, this great sonero continues to charm the
world with no stopping in sight…Soon to grace us with their latest
sound will be Adalberto Alvarez y su Son. With two new vocalists,
Donaldo 'Congo' Flores (toured with Maraca on his first US
tour), and Jose Pelayo. Jose's physical and vocal likeness
to Aramis is uncanny. The band sounds better then ever…Aramis
, formerly with Adalberto Alvarez y su Son, has his own band these
days which holds it's own. He is one of the many vocalists on the recent
project 'Soy de la Rumba' from Bismusic of Havana. This CD, produced
by Cary Diaz of Bismusic, is an incredible mix with the vocals
of Mayito, Aramis, Issac Delgado, Jaila, Los Muñequitos
and Clave y Guaguanco with percussion by Tata Guines, Changuito,
Panga, Los Muñequitos, Clave y Guaguanco and others. Rumba,
salsa and rumba flamenca are hot and furious on this brilliant production.
Word is that a few more recordings of this nature will be produced by
Bismusic including a concert at Carnegie Hall for Los Muñuequitos
de Matanzas' fiftieth year celebration…Los Van Van's future
glows brighter than ever. The group is
busy recording their latest CD, at this point,
to be called 'Sol Natural'…
 Cesar 'Pupi' Pedroso Los Van Van |
Co-founder, arranger and keyboard genius of the band, Cesar ' Pupi' Pedroso, also just released his own CD and is busy with another recording project that includes Panga (formerly with Cubanismo), Tata Güines and others…Lazaro Valdez and Bamboleo were in full force. Expect another visit this year…Clave y Guaguanco will be touring the US this Spring. Check back for calendar dates in the Bay Area ….Juan D'Dios and Las Raices Profundes will be touring in North America and hopefully wil make it into the U.S. Look for their performance and workshops dates…NG La Banda, with Jose Luis Cortez, swings as usual. A few changes: 'Tosco', who toured with La Charanga Habanera, is now singing with NG la Banda….La Charanga Habanera was about to perform a concert with Paulito F.G. Both groups should be touring in the US later this year. Pablo Menendez and Mezcla are busy recording a Latin jazz CD. With Orlando Sanchez arranging, this should be a hot CD. Look for Mezcla in the US this fall ...Mario 'El Indio' Hernandez (Irakere, Habana Ensemble) is working with a small group and performing a bit in Europe. He is joined there by Lugmil Perez, now living in France and Jose 'Hermida' (Mezcla)...Piloto and Klimax are active and expecting to tour in the US this summer...Maraca y su Otro Vision were busy rehearsing for upcoming performances in Havana as well as a European tour. Look for them here in the Bay Area thi s July. Check for an interview with Maraca. Cezar Lopez and his Habana Ensemble, though now made up of seven members (at one time they had 15 members plus guests) played jazz a la Habana style: energy, clave, vocals and more. Vocalist Michel Maza (formerly with Charanga Habanera) has his own group. Though recently in a car accident, he still performed, walking to and from the stage with the help of crutches...Jazz club La Zorra y el cuervo featured nights of Women in Jazz including Bellita and Jazztumbata...The Jazz Cafe had many memorable evenings of jazz including Oscar Valdez (Irakere) and Diakara. Oscar's voice, batas and a hot, young band proved a powerful combination. In general, Havana is very hot, with music every night of the week for those that seek it out.
Photos, video and
article © 2001 by Julia Sewell.
All rights reserved. No reproduction of any kind without written permission.