The concept behind the AfroCubism collaboration is to celebrate and unite some of Mali and Cuba’s hottest musicians and to explore their shared spirit of Afro-Cuban soul. In the Sixties, socialist Mali politics had close links to those of the new communist Cuban government, creating strong ties between the two...
Tag Archives: Cuba
The legend says that back in 1996, World Circuit Records appointed some of the finest Malian musicians, asking them to visit Cuba and give life to collaboration with similarly impressive local artists. The project didn’t come to life because of visa issues and instead of the Malian-Cuban musical communion, World...
![Daymé Arocena – Cubafonia [Brownswood Recordings, 10th March 2017]](http://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/dayme-arocena-cubafonia-335x335.jpg)
Caribbean societies are often subject to a certain gaze, in search of exotica. The cultural region’s best musicians are those who break with fulfilling the expectations of such a gaze, and produce music rooted in artistry. Daymé Arocena is such a musician, and with Cubafonia, invites us into the realm...
If you are mad about rumba and mambo, come bump and grind your way into the Barbican to be moved by the grooves of son and guaracha, and to sing bolero. Roberto Fonseca (pianist, band leader, and very much part of a younger generation of new Latin jazz musicians) is...
The relation between ¡COMO NO! and Cuban dancers and choreographers started back in 2000. Since then, the London-based Latin American culture promoters have always been keen to present and bring Cuban companies to the UK, constantly presenting original and successful shows. The same will happen late this February… Forget about...
![Album Review: Gilles Peterson: Havana Cultura Anthology [Brownswood Recordings, 2nd December 2016]](http://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/a2290789108_10-335x335.jpg)
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Album Review: Gilles Peterson: Havana Cultura Anthology [Brownswood Recordings, 2nd December 2016]
This is the ‘anthology’ of modern Cuban music that embodies the diversity of a new generation of artists beyond the Buena Vista Social Club legacy. This is also the ‘anthology’ that embraces a good number of Afro-Caribbean rhythms – son, salsa, reggaeton, hip-hop, Latin jazz, among many others – linked...
The Omara Portuondo & Diego El Cigala concert at the Barbican Hall to celebrate Portuondo’s 85th birthday and 70-year musical career prompted such enthusiasm, excitement and feelings that both audience and critics have to recognise an incomparable and historical event – along with the rests of the concerts of the...
In 1970s New York salsa emerged, conquering the world in just a few decades. Caribbean migrants (mainly Puerto Rican, Dominican and Cuban) were at the heart of the Latin community, bringing musical styles such as cha cha chá, son, guaracha, mambo, bolero, plena, bomba and even Latin jazz. This breeding...
The long international careers of Omara Portuondo and Diego ‘el Cigala‘ are held together once more through the ‘85 Tour’. A total of 12 concerts throughout Europe’s most important cities have been set up to celebrate Portuondo’s 85th birthday and a 70-year musical career. The seventh concert at the Barbican...
Usually it would be rude to reveal a woman’s age, but there are always exceptions. Especially when it comes to an impressive young musician, composer, arranger and choir director who, at the age of 24, has already released two albums, toured the world, signed for Gilles Peterson’s label Brownswood Recordings,...