Cuban Pianist Dayramir Gonzalez Unleashes Tribute to Juan Formell & Los Van Van! Release Date: November 20, 2021

About the Project
“I have completed a fantastic project to release this fall 2021 called Dayramir González Tribute to Juan Formell & Los Van Van, celebrating the 50 anniversary of the creation of the band. Juan Formell & Los Van Van are considered “the Rolling Stones of Cuba”, a legendary Cuban band no doubt.” – Dayramir González

DVD recorded on January 14th, 2020 as the opening concert of the Havana Jazz Festival. Studio CD recorded in Abdala Studios in Havana November 25-December 2nd, 2020.

Dayramir’s Vision:
Immersing myself in the music of Juan Formell has been one of the great challenges of my career. Not only because of his musical legacy but also because of what he represents for many a generation of Cubans. An impressive social chronicle extending over 50 years.

Choosing the repertoire was hard, what shall I write? What he created is already so balanced, danceable, I was in doubt what to do. But I knew that I wanted to approach his music from my various internal creative facets: as a composer, arranger and orchestrator as well as presenting my various musical pallets; ranging from my Big Band influences, my European classical music, the Cuban traditional sound of Cha Cha, Danzón, Guaracha and my Afro-Cuban jazz.

This project is a Tribute to Juan Formell but it goes far beyond that. It’s a tribute to a global and historical trajectory of Cuban music: from Bach to Ignacio Cervantes, to Chucho Valdes and Irakere, from Duke Ellington and Benny Moré to Juan Formell.

Full musicians on stage:
Rhythm section: Piano, bass, drums, Congas (4)
Brass section: Flute, 2 trumpets, alto sax, tenor sax, trombone (6)
String sections: String chamber orchestra (20)
Back vocals: 3 Coros
Guest singers: Mayito Rivera, Alain Perez, Haila Mompie, Brenda Navarrete