The Ultimate Cuban Music Thread!!!

[PRgirl]

I am reading a two part series of books on the origins, history and background of Cuban Music. I got it for Christmas as one of various presents from my husband. It is by Ned Sublette. A true passionate lover of Cuban Music. I am reading it thoroughly, along with Caetano Veloso's book on his version of Brazilian Musical history too. It is fascinating and great history even if it wasn't about Music (even though of course it is about Music). I love Music so very much. If anyone knows or likes Cuban music, please comment in my thread. If you don't like it PLEASE comment as well. All opinions are invited. Meanwhile I will dig through my nearing 1000 CD collection of which the vast majority are Latin American musicians and singers and artists and composers. And we shall have fun musically in this thread? What do you say Scotland.com? What better way to start off 2005 than with music. Also today is my birthday. Lol. I am a year older.

I also want to know Celyn's opinions on music of all kinds too. And any other moderators or member's opinions too. Scottish Republican, Andy J, SherbrookeJacobite, Sgriobhair, Digital, and many others are all welcome here. And also if you have a question to ask about the Music at all, please do so. It is so much fun.

Love to all,

PRgirl.

[Celyn]

Me? I don't know much about music, and nothing really about Cuban music (although I suspect I *would* like it. In fact, perhaps the *only* one I have heard is, of course, "Guantanamera". Ok, that is pretty bad of me. I'll see if I can find some to listen to on the internet, although my computer is very uncouth and often refusees to play music. (It has NO taste! )

Normally, I like traditional or modern folk music, or sort of older rock stuff (yes, I am getting old)

[PRgirl]

Celyn, you are not alone on only knowing "Guantanamera". It is the ALL TIME most famous Cuban Rhumba song isn't it? Lol. You know it is based (the lyrics of it) on Jose Marti's poems about the beauty of Cuba. He says in Spanish (if I can recall darling Celyn):

Yo soy un hombre sincero ( I am a sincere and honest man)
de donde crece la palma, (From the place where the palm trees grow)

Yo soy un hombre sincero,(I am a sincere and honest man)
de donde crece la palma, ( From the place where the palm trees grow)

Y antes de morirme yo quiero, (And before I die)
cantar mis versos del alma....
(I want to sing the verses from my soul)

Guantanamera, guajira, Guantanamera....

Guantanamera means the woman from Guantanamo. "Guajira" is what Cubans call a country person. A peasant from Cuba. And since it ends in an 'a' it means a female person from the Cuban countryside. What he means (Jose Marti), is that he is a humble man from a humble country, and longs to live a simple life again. One in peace. Which he never did. He died in battle fighting the Spanish.

What rock songs do you like Celyn darling?

It is a lovely melody.

[PRgirl]

Celyn I am going to list off the top of my head some people I have spent money on and see if you like some of them or know some of their music allright?

In English:

Bonnie Raitt, Steely Dan, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire, Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Roy Orbison, Bill Withers, The Eagles, The Beatles, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Carlos Santana, Chicago, Kool and the Gang (lol) I like old Disco music. Lol. The Bee Gees, Matchbox 20, K.D. Lange, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and many many more

The Brazilian group:
Caetano Veloso, Milton Nascimento, Bebe Gilberto, Joao Gilberto, Sergio Mendes, Chico Buarque, Elis Regina, Daniela Mercury, Jobim, and so many more that I can't type. Brazil alone produces an outstanding amount of excellent music. ALL THE TIME.

The Cuban groups:
Cuba officially has over 15,000 paid professional musicians. All or the vast majority are super great. But scratching the surface, Irakere, Cachaito Lopez, Barbarito Torres, Carlos Varela, Los Van Van, Juan Formell, Omara Portuondo, Compay Segundo, Pio Leyva, Eliades Ochoa, Pablo Milanes, Silvio Rodriguez, Amaury Perez, Los Blues, the entire Nueva Trova generation. Maria Teresa Vera, the Miami crowd, Albita Rodriguez, Gloria Estefan, Jon Secada, Willie Chirino,etc. The list doesn't stop for miles.

Well the greatness of Cuban music is found in its incredible mastery of percussion. The drum. The sacred drums of the Lucumi people and Bantu, Congo and etc. peoples. Combined with the complexity and melody of the Spanish guitar, and the many varied tapestries of the Arab influenced parts of Southern Spain and other parts. Some rooted in those Ancient Phoenician peoples from the Mediterranean. And of course the love and passion for music that is found in the Caribbean, with its ocean sounds, bird song, winds, and tropical tree frogs choruses. As they say in Puerto Rico "Aqui hasta las piedras cantan." Here even the stones sing. Lol. THat is true.

Let us start with some basic rythyms. What is a son, a guaracha, a pachanga, a rhumba, a bolero, a cha-cha-cha, a son montuno, and so many other rythyms in the Cuban pantheon of music. And it is not some stilted ballroom dances folks. This is real primal and evocative rythyms with some spontaneous dance accompanying it. Whoever watered it down to accomadate some stiff ballroom rules got it all wrong. Lol.

If there is an interest I will continue if not. I will write about the history for my own pleasure only. I will.

[earful]

Happy belated birthday, PR!

I agree almost completely with your remarks about latin music and am deeply impressed by your knowledge. I too enjoy it, but am perhaps less of a purist than you--I like "ballroom" latin and other latin hybrids. In fact, I've long been struck by the ease with which Cuban musicians in the US seem to have picked up American jazz. I'm thinking especially of Nilo Menendez, Ernesto Lecuona, (both recorded in the 1930s) and of course, Machito, who came a little later.

They made such an impact in the US that North American musicians, black and white, adapted latin rhythms and melodies to their jazz. Often the musical debt to latin influences went unacknowledged. During the 50s and 60s, latin and latinesque music was extremely popular as so-called "bachelor pad," "exotic," or "lounge" music. Are you shuddering? Yes, much of this music is awful, but a good deal of it is actually quite good. One of my favorite musicians is vibes player Cal Tjader (1925-82), who became highly respected among latinos and non-latins alike, often playing old jazz standards in a mellow, spicy bachelor-pad latin vein.

I'm sure I'd enjoy real cuban music more if I could hear it. Here in the U.S. it's often difficult to find and is typically available only on Mexican and European labels. Too bad!!!

These days, hearing Guantanamera puts a lump in throat for reasons Jose Marti could never have imagined. Guantanamo is Gitmo now! I imagine if the inmates there could get together with Cuban musicians, they'd come up with some excellent Mid-Eastern laments! Aiii!!!!



peace,
earful

[PRgirl]

Cal Tjader is very cool indeed. I always liked him.

Machito was married to one of the Anacaona sisters? Do you know them? They were 10 sisters of Cuban-Chinese ancestry and all played instruments and played the drums. Their father was the grandson of a Chinese railroad laborer to Cuba in the 19th century.

Graciela was a fine singer, and she married Machito I think. Chano Pozo teamed up with Dizzy Gillespie and was the first official 'marriage' of African American Jazz and sophisticated and incredible Cuban percussion. Dizzy called it the equivalent of a musical 'nuclear explosion'. You can hear that fantastic marriage that fueled such great Jazz pieces in the seminal, "Manteca" by Chano Pozo and Dizzy Gillespie. The opening rythyms were an original composition by Chano Pozo, he was a fantastic dancer and composer and he could play the congas, dance and sing all at once. It starts with some haunting rythym, and then becomes quite jazzy with the bridge Dizzy composed for it. You can download it now remember the title "MANTECA" by Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo...listen to it. Unfortunately it was the last piece of music Chano heard, he lost his life in a fight with a rival in some dance hall as Manteca played in the background. Chano's sister recalled her brother in a fine biography I saw long ago...Chano had raw prolific talent, and did not speak a lick of English, and Dizzy did not speak a lick of Spanish at the time...but they loved music and that was enough, and both were Africans.

[PRgirl]

Originally posted by PRgirl
Cal Tjader is very cool indeed. I always liked him.

Machito was married to one of the Anacaona sisters? Do you know them? They were 10 sisters of Cuban-Chinese ancestry and all played instruments and played the drums. Their father was the grandson of a Chinese railroad laborer to Cuba in the 19th century.

Graciela was a fine singer, and she married Machito I think. Chano Pozo teamed up with Dizzy Gillespie and was the first official 'marriage' of African American Jazz and sophisticated and incredible Cuban percussion. Dizzy called it the equivalent of a musical 'nuclear explosion'. You can hear that fantastic marriage that fueled such great Jazz pieces in the seminal, "Manteca" by Chano Pozo and Dizzy Gillespie. The opening rythyms were an original composition by Chano Pozo, he was a fantastic dancer and composer and he could play the congas, dance and sing all at once. It starts with some haunting rythym, and then becomes quite jazzy with the bridge Dizzy composed for it. You can download it now remember the title "MANTECA" by Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo...listen to it. Unfortunately it was the last piece of music Chano heard, he lost his life in a fight with a rival in some dance hall as Manteca played in the background. Chano's sister recalled her brother in a fine biography I saw long ago...Chano had raw prolific talent, and did not speak a lick of English, and Dizzy did not speak a lick of Spanish at the time...but they loved music and that was enough, and both were Africans.

The 'inventor' of the mambo is hard to identify but he is pointed out as being Israel "Cachaito" Lopez. Cachaito was one of more than 40+ bass players in his family. In fact, Cuba has whole families of people dedicated to maybe one type of instrument. In terms of musical 'traditions' some groups of conga players, and drummers would communicate with each other and 'compete' sometimes non-stop for days and nights and they would listen carefully for 'accusations' and 'challenges' and so on, and then 'respond' some of the arguments would become quite heated and they would stop drumming and start fighting with fists and or weapons....all because of the 'communication' and 'insults' recieved via the drum playing. It is a deeply rooted African cultural tradition. But it is an integral part of Cuban popular culture in general. The African, the Spanish, the French, the Irish, the Chinese, the Carib indian and so much more. A fusion of many, in a cosmic group of people with love of music....always. I love it. And always will....