I remember back in the 90’s in New York when you would have to wait a year to get the new releases coming from Cuba and even then only a few releases that maybe made their way into Europe then the US. By the start of the 2000’s more began to surface but again about a year later. By 2010 we started to see more releases and within months of the release date. But with the demand for more Cuban music the releases are now current and the availability more accessible due to social media. While the younger bands went into the hip hop and reggaeton vein older established bands tried to either keep the traditional going or adapt to Timba or the younger sound (Charanga Habanera is a good example). Today we are at a stage where you get different generational music for any style you may like. There are also many Cuban bands outside of Cuba and recordings from Los Angeles to Mexico and New York to Europe.
One of today’s best representatives of Cuban music is the equivalent of Gilberto Santa Rosa to Cubans and I had the pleasure of promoting his CD’s at RMM Records and interview him for Latin Beat Magazine in the 90’s. Issac Delgado has stayed true to his sound and the lyrics chosen for his productions have always been superb.
In his latest release, “De Lluvia y Fuego” recorded in New York and EGREM Studios in Havana, he joins forces with Gilberto Santa Rosa on the lead single “El Que Siempre Sono” quickly became an international hit. While Issac has always been a romantic vocalist the man also swings. His productions are creative and in this new recording he includes two fantastic medleys: “Para Cheo” (Oriente & Cita a Las Seis- originals with the Joe Cuba Sextet) and “Pal Benny More” (Beny More would be 100 years old this year). Add to these hits the title track “Lluvia y Fuego”, “La Mujer Que Yo Amo”, and “Amplitud De Amor” (with guest Alexander Abreu).
Los Van Van’s leader Samuell Formell is also a guest as are Alain Perez (a big name in Cuban music over the past five years) and Pedrito Martinez who has become one of the today’s hottest ambassadors.
One of Cuba’s premier pianists in Jazz music for the past 20 years is Gonzalo Rubalcaba who is in a league by himself. In his latest gem he teams with last years Grammy winner, Aymee Nuviola, (who many feel is the closest thing to Celia Cruz) that covers many of the genres of Afro Cuban music in a live setting. “Viento y Tiempo- Live at Bluenote Tokyo”
The classic standards “El Manisero”, “Lagrimas Negras”, “El Guararey de Pastora (Guarare)”, and “Bemba Colora” showcase Nuviola’s golden voice. One of my favorite tracks is “Rumba Callejera” with the improvisations by drummer Renier Guerra and conguero Jose Aguilera.
Club Musical Oriente Cubano featuring La Familia Valera Miranda’s “Tres” brings us a unique concept with 18 songs each featuring a different tresero. This is Club Musical Oriente Cubano’s third CD, and first after an eleven year hiatus dedicated to the Cuban tres.
La Familia Valera Miranda has dedicated their career to covering over 300 years of traditional Cuban music and in this new CD, “Tres”, showcase that career. Two of my favorite modern tresistas are on this CD…Kiki Valera (from La Familia Valera Miranda) and Fernando Dewar (El Septeto Santiaguero). My favorites are the upbeat “Me Voy Pa’ Bayamo”, “Frutas Pa’ Los Santos”, “Arrolla Cubano” and “Sentimiento Guajiro”.
The CD is a reply from Eastern Cuba (Santiago De Cuba) to the Buenavista Social Club and also features the vocalists Candido Fabre, Paolo Franco (who has been travelling to Cuba for 20 years), Victor Lussa, Griselles Gomez and Luife Boloy (Valera Miranda).
Orquesta Marquetti & Habana Swing is best known as Habana Swing and led by trumpeter Robersys Marquetti Fuentes whose ancestry includes Luis Marquetti who wrote the classic bolero “Plazos Traicioneros”.
Habana Swing represents the new generation of Cuban music and their sophomore release, “Dejale Que Baile- Salsa Con Swing”, on BIS Music, and were formed in 2013. Check out their own compositions “A Pedir Se Queda”, “La Fiesta Perfecta”, “Candela”, “Mas Vale Solo”, “No Me Supo Amar” and “Muriendo De Celos”. Adding to their Salsa other genres like Bachata, Bolero and Ballads have made Habana Swing one of the hottest new young bands in Cuba.
Another great Cuban CD is Omara Portuondo’s “Mariposas” that has her sounding better than ever at age 90…Jovenes Clasicos Del Son released “Clasicos de Fabre” with mostly all the Candido Fabre hits with La Original De Manzanillo. The same band also did a live CD, “25 Años y No Pueden Parar”…Orquesta Aragon celebrates 80 years with “Icono”…Ricardo Leyva Y su Orquesta Sur Caribe released the wonderful “Regalate El Amor” and Alain Perez’ “El Cuento De La Buena Pipa” are all top winners so far in 2020.
N’Klabe is band that was formed in 2004 but has stayed young with their combination of urban with Salsa and today features Felo Torres, Karlo Figueroa and Urayoan Lizardi as the front men. Their CD, “Nuestra Esquina”, has the enjoyable title track, “Tranquila Bebe”, “Te Seduce”, “La Conquista” and “Si No Esta N’Klabe” featuring Andy Montañez as guest vocalist. The first hit off this CD was their union with Daniela Darcourt titled “Probabilidad De Amor”.
From Venezuela comes the new fantastic dance CD from vocalist/composer Nestor Pacheco and his Orquesta Retrombon, “Salsa Swing Saoco y Mealo” in conjunction with Italian DJ/Producer Marco Ghamo. From the first track you can tell that this is one of the finest combinations of energized Salsa dance with rich arrangements that any ‘old skool’ or new fan will love.
Fans and DJ’s will love “La Cantaleta”, “Ahe Ven A Bailar”, “Salsa Rembamba”, “Rumba Callejera”, “Salsa y Medellin”, “Suena La Campana”, “Te Voy A Cortar Las Patas”, “Salsa y Movimiento”, & “Goza La Salsa”.