Gina Leon "shakes" old loves with her calm voice. She is accompanied by the sound of a guitar and Cuban percussion. The diva sings the song ¨Alejate¨, like the homonymous hit of Roberto Cantoral, and recalls the 1960s when she took possession of Cuban scenarios and imposed fashions through her hairstyles and ways of dressing. The scene takes place one summer afternoon at the famous Havana’s Gato Tuerto (One-Eye Cat) night club located in O Street, between 17 and 19, in Vedado neighborhood). Leon, who is now "just a bit older" and keeps intact her performance style, seduces an audience celebrating the 53 years of a unique place in the early hours of the Cuban capital. ¨Qué te cuesta¨, ¨Aunque seas feliz¨ and ¨En nosotros¨ are songs that will leave captivated those attending this premises at dawns next October, when Gina will rule on that romantic corner of Havana, as previously Elena Burke, Marta Estrada , Moraima Secada, Jose Antonio Mendez and Cesar Portillo de la Luz did. And the news sounds pleasing to the ear. It is a revitalization of this space, which has found in journalist Julio Acanda, an excellent presenter in the last 12 years, who for...

It is interesting to know the teaching book of every professor. We propose you to unravel the experiences in this field and in the one of interpretation of the unique Cuban artist Douglas Vistel who lives in Berlin, Germany. The important cellist undertakes significant projects in that European city and thanks to Leo Brouwer Chamber Music Festival he will be performing soon in Havana. When questioned on how to define the cello and its teaching process in a comprehensive way, Vistel claims that this is "an instrument with a proven history of about 500 years, i.e., it is as old as young is the history of our country." Douglas told OnCuba that "during that time the cello has undergone large and small changes. The composers have increasingly improved, so cellists have increased their technical and interpretative level and have had also to adapt themselves to the needs and new challenges. We may talk about several cello masters and different schools that produced, in due course, great virtuosos, soloists, orchestral musicians and educators. Cellists like David Popper, Pablo Casals, Mstislav Rostropovitsch and Yo Yo Ma contributed through their interpretations and their personalities to popularize the image of the instrument. "Today the...

Alain Perez, a young Cuban who is a band member of the famous Spanish musician Paco de Lucía, talks with OnCuba on that particular instrument and his upcoming performance, with De Lucia, at the Leo Brouwer Festival of Chamber Music in Havana. I can imagine Alain Pérez Rodríguez detailing a painting, perhaps painted under the precepts of Leonardo Da Vinci and Sandro Botticelli. In him the essence of the guitar certainly appears drawn, the instrument that allows him to express himself, as the stars of the Renaissance did through the visual arts. He probably has pictorial sensitivity and beauty. Capturing such features is always a difficult task, because Alain is a demanding artist. I have not yet proposed the extrapolation of art. The idea came after reviewing each of his answers, thanks to the digital age, obtained through email.  Young and restless, Perez is a musician that distills Cuban identity in an endearing way. He has also been known to drink from all sources to which he has access, including its strong connection with Paco de Lucia, whom he has accompanied for almost a decade. While we can appreciate his artistic work in the upcoming Leo Brouwer Chamber Music Festival,...

The saxophonist César López, i nspired by the genius of evidence summarized in the ordinary Cuban man, in that immense solidarity that characterizes him, in his daily life and in the richness of his music, finished his latest album, which brings together leading artists of Cuban soundscape as bassist Jorge Reyes and Rolando Luna, pianist of the Buena Vista Social Club. ¨Cu-bop Los Cubanos¨ (Egrem 2013) is a kind of melodic gift that Lopez gives to those who feel that sense of authenticity, of the genuineness of this island. That is why these nine singles allure us. Most of them are instrumentals, although the also leader of the band Habana Emsemble also surprises us by placing his voice in two of the songs of the album and thus he show us his singing skills (¨Son las cosas que pasan¨ and ¨Irresistible¨ ). For captivating those listening carefully the CD, César has chosen an exquisite repertoire and there is where he displays the wonder of love for everything related to Cuba. ¨La tarde¨, a hymn to the most sublime feeling and written by Sindo Garay, carries on its texture a melodic beauty impregnated by its author, which is now combined with...

Isaac Delgado looked to his right and made a gesture of reverence to Benny’s photo that appeared on the giant screen on the stage. He sang Cienfuegos, written by the King of Rhythm, and the National Theatre erupted in applause. It was a cherished encounter, emotions to the surface, and the salsa singer wished to be present at a concert that will evoke the figure of Moré. Although this is the third time that Delgado acts on the island after his final departure from the country-the first was in January last concert by Carlos Varela in the same theater, and then was in March in a presentation by Silvio Rodriguez in the Havana neighborhood of Tamarindo, last night Isaac moved the audience with his words, always imbued with a deep love for Cuba. At three points, the “Chévere de la salsa” took over the scene, always accompanied by the Estrellas del Areito orchestra, guided by maestro Emilio Vega, but that on that night were making their comeback, as the group insignia of the Egrem label recordings -organizer of the gala tribute to Benny. A truly impressive moment came when Isaac sang Mata Siguaraya by Ezekiel Lino Frias, which was immortalized...

By the hand and care of the famous pianist and composer Chucho Valdes, the new album by the well known saxophonist has an incalculable musical wealth.

Both artists will perform in the Pina Colada Festival, to promote their latest CD “Everybody in love”

The key and heart are fundamental dressings to son. This The Ignacio Piñeiro National Septet makes clear in its CD La Habana tiene su son (Bis Music 2012), essential album for those wishing to enter traditional Cuban music, cultivated in contemporary times.