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May 8, 2021 Day of the Cuban Son

On May 8, Cuban Son Day is celebrated on the birth of Miguelito Cuní and Miguel Matamoros, great exponents of the Creole genre.

This article is dedicated to exalt the most Creole of Cuban music, especially son.

 

This day is a tribute to this music-dance expression and to the musical legacy of its great exponents included Miguel Matamoros and Miguelito Cuní, reported the Cuban Music Institute.

The Official Gazette of the Republic said on 2 October that the Decree 19 of the Council of Ministers recognizes Cuban son as part of the intangible heritage since 2012.

This day is a tribute to this musical-dance expression and to the musical legacy of its great exponents, Miguel Matamoros and Miguelito Cuní, informed the Cuban Institute of Music.
May 8th Cuban Son Day

This declaration consolidates the file for its proposal to this candidacy.

The information has also been shared by the chief proponent of this initiative, maestro Adalberto Álvarez, who said on his Facebook page that the joy of having our Son Day is very great.

Cuban son is a vocal and sanceable instrumental genre that constitutes one of the basic forms within Cuban music that blends African musical elements with Spanish musical elements.

May 8 is a representative day, since the births of Miguelito Cuní and Miguel Matamoros are commemorated, that is why this date was the one proposed, said the 2008 National Music Award.

Likewise, the Caballero del Son, as Adalberto Álvarez is known, declared that this is only part of the task, since we already have the Day of the Cuban Son, we still have to get the son to be named Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
May 8 is a representative day

In addition, the Caballero del Son, as Álvarez is known, stated that this is just a part of the task, so we already have Cuban Son Day, we still have to get son to be named an Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

This is a vocal and danceable instrumental genre that constitutes one of the basic forms within Cuban music that blends African musical elements with Spanish musical elements.

It reportedly was born in the easternmost region of Cuba and was developed in provinces such as Guantánamo, Baracoa, Manzanillo and Santiago de Cuba in the late 19th century, even though there are testimonies that the most ancien Cuban sones date back to the 16th century such as the Son de la Má Teodora by the 1562 and performed by two Dominican sisters, Micaela and Teodora Ginés.

 DECREE 19, CUBAN SON DAY Single Article. To declare May 8 “Day of the Cuban Son” as a tribute to this music-dance expression and to the musical legacy of its great exponents. IT SHALL BE PUBLISHED in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cuba. DONE in the Palace of the Revolution, Havana, to the next two days of September 2020, “YEAR 62 OF THE REVOLUTION”.

BE IT PUBLISHED in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cuba. GIVEN at the Palace of the Revolution, in Havana, on the 2nd day of the month of September 2020, "YEAR 62 OF THE REVOLUTION".
The Cuban Son was born from the blending of Afro-Cuban and Spanish crossbreeding.

History of Cuban Son

Cuban Son was born by mixing Afro-Cuban and Spanish cross-breeding. Its origin is intimately linked to Changüi, considered as the mother rhythm of son.

Son came from the East to Havana around 1909. The “Cuarteto Oriental”, created in 1916, became the Sexteto Habanero in 1918, establishing itself as the traditional format of the son bands. In the 1920s, with the emergence of commercial radio broadcasting, the rise and popularization of son began, being the Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Piñeiro one of the main representatives from this time.

The upper classes of Cuba, who are fond of danzón (Cuba’s first native genre) sat watching son warily, seeing it as a slumming and classless genre. However, son was gaining popularity and ended up imposing on danzón, which was consigned to oblivion.

Apart from the fans son has always had in Cuba, the importance of this genre also lies in the influence it has had on the emergence of other genres such as son montuno, mambo, and salsa. In contrast of danzón, son has always been present in Cuba, either directly or within other later musical genres.

Son montuno is a type of son that was played and danced in the last part of Danzón. The importance of this son was its influence in the creation of salsa, in both in music and dance.

Dancing

This dance is only played at the last minute in a salsa club room if the deejay is Cuban, and hardly anyone dances it well.

The base of this dance is three steps followed by a pause, such as salsa. The figures are very simple and similar to those of Cuban salsa. The fundamental difference with salsa is the way of taking the steps. They are more energetic, such as mambo, with a wider hip movement and the pause more marked than in salsa. In other words, instead of the rhythm fast-fast-slow on salsa. In the case of son, it could be considered as fast-fast-fast-fast-slow.

The rhythm of son is, in general, slower than that of salsa, which allows the dancers to recreate in adornments and flirtations. The rhythm is better followed with the key, which is usually very marked.

There are no enchuflas, which are typical of Cuban salsa. The side steps, cockroach style, the couple turn, the walk, the side walk, the side walk, and the step forward-back are widely used.

A very typical and spectacular figure is when the man crouches or even is placed in a horizontal position, leaning the point of the foot on the floor, and the girl takes hom by his hand and walks around him, making him turn the sole of his foot.

Source:

great exponents of the Creole genre.
Cuban Son Day is commemorated on May 8 on the occasion of the birth of Miguelito Cuní and Miguel Matamoros.

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José Alberto “The Nightingale” Several genres one style, composer and singer of Cuban music

Cuban Cultural with José Alberto “El Ruiseñor” Nominated for Best Latin Tropical Album  “Mi Tumbao”For the 63rd Grammy®Awards.

Hollywood, CA. The 63rd Grammy Nominations were announced on November 24, 2020.

The astonishing surprise was the Nomination of Cuban born José Alberto “El Ruiseñor”, Nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album “Mi Tumbao”.

The excitement is building and it could not have happened to a better man.

José Alberto Tamayo Diaz, aka The Nightingale. Born into a musical family, José’s parents played a key role in his musical journey; his father was a tres player and his mother was a singer.

At fourteen years young José flourished as the leader of the Cuban based band, Grupo Rock Lasser; his charisma and popularity spurred his passion, and the rest is history.

José Alberto "The Nightingale" Several genres one style Composer and singer of Cuban music
José Alberto “The Nightingale” Composer and singer of Cuban music

José Alberto has dedicated his love of Cuba through his music. A win for José Alberto on Jan 31, 2021 would make him the first solo Cuban male vocalist to win a Grammy in 21 years, since Chucho Valdez in 1999.

El Ruiseñor confesses, “The Grammy Awards are way up there, it is the Oscars for music, winning a Grammy award would mean a lot to my country.”

Hailing from Bayamo, the capital city of the Granma Province of Eastern Cuba, “Bayamo is my life”, Alberto admits proudly in reflection of his group BNM, Bayamo National Movement.

For over 30 years, Jose has thrived as a prominent citizen of Cuba, and has constantly worked hard for his city, his music and his valuable culture. As the most internationally awarded solo artist of Granma, José Alberto El Ruiseñor has dedicated many songs to his fellow countrymen.

With the pandemic numbers growing, he curated an online philanthropic concert, to recognize the efforts of doctors and nurses titled, “Cuba Saves”, broadcasted from his own backyard. Before the pandemic he was keeping up with his hometown roots by performing every Saturday in the main street of Bayamo.

Hailing from Bayamo, the capital of Granma province in eastern Cuba, "Bayamo es mi vida" (Bayamo is my life)
“Bayamo is my life” José Alberto “The Nightingale”

The album title, “Mi Tumbao” translated to “swag” or “grace to move,” transcends the listener into the origins of Cuban music, and the raw roots of his Cuban nation.

The album breathes three decades of artistic life, composed of Guaracha, Son, Salsa, Cumbia, and Merengue. Homage is vibrantly paid to his influencers and godfathers of Cuban music; Sindo Garay, Ñico Saquito and Miguel Matamoros, all who were introduced to him by his father.

The album has 10 illuminating, action packed tracks, some unpublished and others adaptations of known Cuban classics.

In the feature track “Emigrante” (Immigrant), José narrates the overlooked struggles of migrant life with pure vulnerability, through lyrics such as “This has to change, down ambitions, there is only one heaven in this world, why so many divisions”.

In the title track, "Emigrante", José narrates with pure vulnerability the forgotten struggles of migrant life, through lyrics such as "This has to change, lower your ambitions, there's only one heaven in this world, why so many divisions".
The album’s title, “Mi Tumbao”, translates as “swag” or “grace to move”,

A timely song meant for acknowledging all the current problems brought on by controversial governments. In contrast, José transforms the internationally known anthem, “Lagrimas Negras”  (Black Tears), to more of an inspired traditional salsa.

The project is backed by English label Tumi Music. With legendary A&R director Mo Fini at the helm, the UK based label specializes in authentic and original music from all corners of Latin America.

José Alberto’s innate vocal techniques, and the ability to relate to the common man through his music, will captivate and inspire any and all of its listeners.. Miracles do happen and this time it’s all rolled up in a profoundly talented troubadour, José Alberto; he is a force to be reckoned with. If you’ve never heard his music before, now is the time to listen; make yourself a cubano and a cafecito, take the old Victrola for a spin, your feet will do all the work. José Alberto’s contagious rhythmic vocals will get you going!

With legendary A&R director Mo Fini at the helm, the UK-based label specializes in authentic and original music from all corners of Latin America.
José Alberto Tumi Records

José Alberto

Tumi Records

www.tumimusic.com

Media Inquiries

Jodi Jackson

JJ Entertainment

323-356-0797

[email protected]

 

 

 

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Anacaona The Cuban Female Orchestra

It was founded on February 19th, 1932 by Concepción Castro Zaldarriaga and her sisters, being the first son female Sextet and expanded to the jazz band and typical charanga format in 1934 and projected onto the world from the famous “Aires libres of the Hotel Saratoga” at the Prado of Havana.

These talented women toured the entire length of America from north to south, the Caribbean and France between the 1940s and 1960s.

In Mexico, one of the most visited countries by the Orchestra at this stage, their images and sounds were recorded in some Mexican films, such as: “La noche es nuestra”, “No niego mi pasado” and “Mujeres de teatro” that they alternated with film and music artists from that country. At the same time, they recorded for the record label RCA Victor.

Anacaona The Cuban Female Orchestra It was founded on February 19th, 1932 by Concepción Castro Zaldarriaga and her sisters
Anacaona The Cuban Female Orchestra

THE AGUIRRE

 Sisters Georgia and Dora Aguirre, who have a strong background playing contrabass and saxophone and were new graduates from the “Amadeo Roldan” Conservatory, joined the Anacaona Orchestra with its founders from the 1983 under the direction of Alicia Castro, with whom they learned the most genuine genres of Cuban popular music, rigor and discipline in this profession.

3rd GENERATION

 With the Castro sisters’ retirement in December 1987, Georgia Aguirre asumed the direction of the orchestra and continued the work of its founders with her sister and other young women graduates in music schools, consolidating a style that combines tradition with modernity in order to preserve and enlarge the history of Anacaona.

Sisters Georgia and Dora Aguirre, with a solid musical training in the specialties of double bass and saxophone, recently graduated from the "Amadeo Roldán" Conservatory of Music.
Anacaona La Orquesta Femenina de CUBA Between the 1940s and 1960s, these talented women toured all of North and South America, the Caribbean and France.

TOURS

At international level, they have traveled to more than 30 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, America and the Caribbean to perform at important festivals and multiple scenarios including: The 34-city tour in China; their participation in the theater play “The Tropical Bourgeois” under the direction of Gerome Sabarí and inspired by Moliere’s classic, “Le bourgeois gentilhomme”; the tour round some US cities in which they also had an emotional meeting with Graciela Pérez, singer and founder of Anacaona and the show “Sabor de la Habana” that opened the season of Cuban shows at the Cabaret of the Grand Casino Monte Carlo from the Principality of Monaco and other important jazz and summer festivals in Spain, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Holland, Canada, Jamaica, Aruba, Curaçao, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia, Peru, Honduras, Venezuela, Mexico, among others.

TRAYECTORY

The orchestra has also participated in several films such as “La Bella de la Alhambra” by director Enrique Pineda Barnett, “Vidas Paralelas” by Pastor Vega, the Cuban-Swiss co-production, “Barrio Negro”, as well as the documentaries “La ruta del ritmo” by director Harry Belafonte, “Anacaona, 70 Años después” by director Jorge Aguirre and produced by Cuban Television, and the documentary “El mundo cantan el mundo baila” about the history of Cuban music produced by NHK from Japan.

LATEST NEWS

 In recent years, they have recorded 8 albums with the labels PM Record, LUSAFRICA, BISMUSIC and COLIBRI and have been invited to productions from other labels such as DISMEDI-Spain in Volume ll of “Cuba le canta a Serrat” and with the English producer Kenny Young to perform two classic theme songs of Anglo-Saxon music set to Cuban rhythms.

Anacaona The Cuban Female Orchestra
Anacaona The Cuban Female Orchestra

In Cuba, it performs in popular dance music main stages, cultural events, national tours, festivals and Cuban radio and television programmes with a great gathering and the public and critical acceptance.

At present, it is integrated by 14 women who cultivate Cuban popular music, merging the most traditional rhythms with a contemporary sonorite. The musicians, also known as “Las Mulatísimas del Sabor”, have achieved a seal that distinguishes them and are appreciated by critics and dancers from all over Cuba and other countries.

ANACAONA, with more than 85 years of uninterrupted work, is among the top-level groups of Cuban popular music and considered “The Distinguised Cuban Female Orchestra”.

 

RAIDER  TECHNICAL

– YAMAHA or Peavy Drum

(’10, ’12, ’14, ’22) with stool.

-Timbal LP (’14 and ’15) with stand.

-LP Congas (’12 and ’13) with stand.

-Bongó LP with stand.

-ROLAND RD 700 or ROLAND RD 500 piano with stand.

-Korg Trinity keyboard.

-Baby Bass, AMPEG or similar with stand.

-Peavy, Tracy Elliot bass amp, or similar for Baby 400w (minimum) Bass and Electric Bass.

-Digital mixing console with 32 channels for living room with splitter and connectors (Yamaha).

-MCL7, CL5, LS9, Soundcraf Expression Si3 or similar).

-7 Music stands.

MICROPHONICS

-1 Shure Beta 52 AKG 112 (Bass Drum)

-6 Shure SM 57 or similar (Brass)

-8 Senheiser 421 or SM 98 H or similar (Percussion)

-3 Condenser SM 81 (Over)

-6 Shure SM 58 or SM 87 (Vocals)

-6 Direct Box (Piano, Bass, Keyboard, Tres)

Each microphone with its stand and corresponding lines.

MONITORING

-1 Mixing console with 32 reference channels with 8 sends and splitter.

-5 floor monitors for vocals.

-2 Brass monitors.

-1 Tres and guitar monitor.

-1 Piano monitor.

-2 Drum monitors.

-1 Drum Field.

* Kilos of Power and Monitoring will be adjustable according to the to the conditions of the place, depending on whether they are indoor or outdoor stages.

ANACAONA THE CUBAN FEMALE ORCHESTRA

Director: Georgia Aguirre

Email: [email protected]

FB/Orchestra Anacaona II

Recruitment agency: Artex’s Clave Cubana

Email: [email protected]

Manager: Leonardo Sintes

Email: [email protected]

FB/Orquesta Anacaona II

Cell phone number: 5 35 289 82 26

Email: [email protected]

ANACAONA, with more than 85 years of uninterrupted work, is one of the first level groups of Cuban popular music and is considered "The Insigne Female Orchestra of Cuba".
“Las Mulatísimas del Sabor”

José Madera Timbal de Machito and his Afro-Cubans, Tito Puente, Mambo Legends Orchestra and Fania Record Co.

The musician, arranger and composer who has yet to find the time to record and write music for some of the most influential bands in existence.

José Madera, Timbal of Machito and his Afro-Cubans, Tito Puente & Fania All-Stars
osé Madera, born on September 30th

One might think that working for Tito Puente’s famous band can keep a percussionist busy enough.

But musician, arranger and composer Jose Madera had found time to record and write music for some of the most influential bands in the world.

Before joining Tito Puente over 35 years ago, Madera played for four years with the famous Machito Orchestra and recorded with many R&B artists (including James Brown, Diana Ross, David Sanborn and Aztec Two – Step).

Jose musical director of Mambo Legends Orchestra

As an arranger for Fania Records, he participated in several commercial hits, and over the years has composed music for Fania All-Stars, Larry Harlow, Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colón and Celia Cruz.

As an arranger for Fania Records, he participated in several commercial hits, and over the years has composed music for Fania All-Stars, Larry Harlow, Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colón and Celia Cruz.
Jose musical director of Mambo Legends Orchestra

Despite having recorded some 75 albums in 20 years, as well as numerous radio jingles and movie soundtracks, Madera still had time for his other career: for 15 years he worked as a teacher and director at a privately funded performing arts high school in New York City.

Jose has written many arrangements for countless commercial Latino artists and has also recorded or worked with many of them.

Some of them include: Larry Harlow, Johnny Pacheco, Chico O’Farill, the Lincoln Center Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Celia Cruz, Tito Rodriguez, Fania All-Stars, Willie Colon, Joe Farrell, Machito, Graciela, Mario Bauzá, Willie Rosario, Earl Klughand, Eddie Palmieri, to name a few. Jose also worked and recorded with many pop, R&B and jazz artists.

Some of them include Diana Ross, James Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Paquito D’Rivera, George Benson and Lionel Hampton, among others.

Jose has participated in over 250 recordings. He has worked on several television show soundtracks, including The Simpsons, and several film soundtracks, including The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love, where he was the musical arranger and conductor for the Tito Puente film segment.

Jose also taught the art of playing Latin percussion instruments at BOYS HARBOR in New York City for 28 years.

Jose has done and continues to do musical clinics around the country at various schools.

He was the musical director of the Latin Giants of Jazz from 2001 to 2009.

Jose continues his musical direction with Mambo Legends Orchestra, a band composed of former members of the Tito Puente Orchestra, which is dedicated to the execution of new and creative Latin and Latin Jazz concepts, as well as some of the music of Machito, Tito Rodriguez and Tito Puente.

He was the musical director of the Latin Giants of Jazz from 2001 to 2009.
José has participated in more than 250 recordings

 

Jose has personally recreated and re-arranged much of the music that the bands performed during the heyday of the mambo at the Palladium Ballroom in New York City, which many critics consider to be the “Greatest and Most Innovative Era” in the history of Latin music.

Madera’s father, Jose “Pin” Madera, a saxophonist, was one of the original members of the Machito Afrocubans.

The young Jose was influenced by Machito’s drummer (“the best Latin Big Band drummer I’ve ever heard”). He was later influenced by José Mangual and Tito Puente himself.

Madera's father, Jose "Pin" Madera, saxophonist, was one of the original members of the Machito Afrocubans
José Madera was influenced by José Mangual Padre and Tito Puente himself

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Role of the Triangle Trade in the birth of Cuban rumba

What Cuban rumba is

As we all know, Latin music is a very diverse mix of a series of rhythms and musical styles from all over the world. What we know today as Latin music was the result of a whole concoction of historical facts that must come first in any story that seeks to explain the origins of any Latin rhythm that wants to be studied.

A good example of this that we have just said is the Cuban rumba, which is part of a set of cultural concepts that can be found in many parts of the world. There are certain musical rhythms that have allowed us to see that some seemingly alien places have made us discover each and every one of the common points they have, both historically and culturally.

How Cuban rumba starts

Cuban rumba and the Triangle Trade
Some people dancing rumba and and playing drums

One of the most important historical events that marked the birth of the Cuban rumba was the triangular trade carried out between Africa, America and Europe. This fact was the emergence of a large number of musical genres that were resulting from the mixture of rhythms and styles from all the aforementioned continents.

After the Discovery of America, Europe saw in the New World a useful territory for many of the economic activities that were not possible in their respective countries. In the case of labor, many African chiefdoms offered for sale to part of their inhabitants, something that was seen with very good eyes by the powerful Europeans of the time. This is how what historically would be known as triangular trade began.

This activity consisted of sending low-quality materials to be exchanged by African slaves to work with African and American resources in terrible living conditions. Once in America, some African ethnic groups were in charge of introducing the rumba in the Antilles, although the origins of the groups that brought these rhythms continue to be controversial among many scholars of the subject.

Although the slaves worked very hard during the day, they continued to practice their traditional rituals and rites at night. These practices were entirely based on their traditional music and religious customs to stay united with their Mother Earth despite the remoteness and the circumstances. Over time, these rites and percussion instruments were banned, so the new inhabitants of America had to adapt to the instruments allowed by the Spanish Crown. This made these sounds unknown to the Africans together with their forbidden dances in this land were merging until resulting in what we know today as rumba.

Rumba today

Cuban rumba and the role of the slaves
People dressed in white to enjoy Cuban Rumba on the streets

The characteristics of the rumba vary enormously from one place to another, since there are many variations and changes from one continent to another. In Africa, many see this genre as similar to zouk or benga, while Europeans refer to it as flamenco or Catalan rumba. There have been many artists who have taken on the task of making this genre their own and making it evolve to unsuspected levels to make it what it is today.

Today, we can appreciate a good number of subgenres that have their origin in the same parrones rhythms from which rumba derives in its different versions.

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