Independent musical productions and non- institutional seals gaining ground in Cuban discography, proven fact from the presentation of the albums that are fighting for the 2014 Cubadisco Award in different categories.
The major prize of Cuban music this year has more than 30 CDs recorded outside the Cuban state circuits with proven quality, which gives a nod to the need of musicians to seek “alternative” solutions to the recording and distribution of their material.
Sections as Electronic Music, Metal and reggaeton gathered, almost entirely, the hopes in independent production for reasons known by many and unexplained to others, the pore after all with positive results in the market.
What is striking is the entrance into these categories of renowned artists in the Cuban music scene as the consecrated Gonzalo Rubalcaba, with the 5 Passion seal; Magic Sax Quartet with Connector Records; and the albums Qué lindo el amor by Interactivo, and Recuerdo de una jornada by ZSaxos Quartet.
Outside this area the most important fight for the awards looms very strong in categories such as Cuban Jazz, where CDS like No borders, Chucho Valdés; Live, Cesar Lopez, and Pachecos’s Blues, by the young and talented pianist Jorge Luis Pacheco (Pachequito), are registered.
The popular dance music, one of the sections followed by more public has among its contenders Adalberto Álvarez, with Respeto pa los mayores; Caesar “Pupy” Pedroso with Unlimited; David Calzado, Se sufre pero se goza; Manolito Simonet, with Sin freno; and Paulo FG, with Abre que voy.
About two hundred albums are competing for 2014 Cubadisco, an edition dedicated to the Percussion, Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean cultures, but according to many experts and fans of Cuban music it still lacks significant recognition if it is to cover a spectrum as big as artistic production.
It is noteworthy that the in the Special Awards there is the DVD Concierto Antológico, an initiative of Colibri productions that captures an important part of the work of the late songwriter Santiago Feliu.
Colibri is precisely who presents with riskier projects in terms of trade, although it is clear that the purpose of this division of the Cuban Music Institute is not profit . Belonging to it are the CDs Suites cubanas para niños, Osdalgia desde el cine, Tonadas campesinas, Integración. Yalit González interpreta a Sergio Vitier; Divertimento tropicales, y la Colección Música catedralicia de Cuba. Repertorio litúrgico de Cayetano Pagueras, among others.
Followers of the great festival of Cuban albums, which has yet to announce if it will grant international awards this year, will have a good concoction of productions from which to choose their favorite for each category (beyond the choice of the experts) and enjoy a week of concerts, performances, lectures and trade show, which like last year will be based in the Cuba Pavilion.
