Colombian Music v Cuban Music For Fusion

Deliriously jet lagged in Bogota. Slightly dizzy from the high altitude. So happy to be here. This time (unlike my first) I know the fusion music delights that await me.

IMG_5325

I was on a plane to Colombia when Cuban band Orishas gave me my first taste of Latin fusion music.

Fusion Music in Colombia? 

Arriving in Colombia for the first time, I didn’t know much about the music I’d find here. Only what travel books, blogs etc tell you generally about Colombians’ love of music and the popular music you will hear – Salsa, Cumbia, Vallenato, Reggaeton, Merengue, Champeta etc.  They are definitely right about that, but that’s only a part of the bigger musical picture in Colombia.

Colombia - www.beaveronthebeats.com

My first month in Colombia (Cartagena) all I heard was those popular genres of music – playing in houses, cars and bars everywhere. I left Colombia thinking those were the musical styles on offer.

Fusion Music in Cuba? 

I went to Cuba to find innovative and unique music.  I assumed I had a pretty good chance of finding it in Cuba.   When I heard Orishas on that plane I was even more hopeful.

Cuba - Beaver on the Beats

I never really did find it in Cuba. I heard music everywhere. I heard live bands playing everywhere. I heard multi talented/instrumental and technically brilliant musicians everywhere.  I found some cool, unique  contemporary jazz music – but I didn’t find much other music that really messed around with traditional styles and sounds.

Fusion Music in Colombia?

I found it when I got back from Cuba, to Colombia. Musical diversity+. Fusion. Lots of bands creating really original & unique music I loved by craftfully blending different traditional and non-traditional styles together.

Colombian music is the fruits of having a mix of very diverse peoples and cultures. Also unrestricted access to the music and peoples of the rest of the world – unlike insulated Cuba. Orishas live outside of Cuba by the way.

The musical diversity in Colombia, the fusion music and so many other reasons (people, food, nature & people in all their diversity) make me ever so happy to be back in Colombia again.

I still love Cuba too – and  listen to and love a lot of Cuban music.

Cuba - www.beaveronthebeats.com

A Fusion Ode to Cuban & Colombian Music

In celebration of both Cuban and Colombian fusion music then, here’s a really awesome fusion song. It’s  a collaboration between Cuba’s Orishas & legendary Colombian salsa artist Yuri Buenaventura.

300 Kilos (Orishas & Yuri Buenaventura – Emigrante)

  

Cuba – I’m not gonna make it to you this time round.

Colombia – here I am again. Bogota, here I am…for as many fusion (and traditional) music experiences as I can find.

Orishas – A Musical Remedy for Colombian Anxiety

I first met Orishas exactly 6 years ago.  It was on the same time flight I am about to board soon – to Bogota, Colombia. I remember it ever so clearly. The feeling of anxiety, and the moment Orishas’ music made that anxiety disappear and put a huge smile on my face.

Orishas - www.beaveronthebeats.com

No one else is going to Colombia

I was on my own you see. On a plane to Colombia for the first time.  With a total of about 5 Spanish words in my vocab. I’d been warned by a Colombian living in Colombia “Don’t come. It’s too dangerous”.  I didn’t know why I was going. But for whatever reason I’d chosen to ignore the Colombian’s advice and be on that plane to Colombia.

I was on the last of the 4 plane rides that took me to Colombia, by then in Spanish speaking territory. The same plane I’m about to get on again now. I looked around at the people and noticed that every other tourist on my last 3 plane rides had arrived at their destinations and departed by now. Why wasn’t anyone else going on to Colombia?  What the hell was I doing going to Colombia?  About that time I started to feel anxious.

The Orishas Remedy

Atypically for me I grabbed the airline headphones to try and find some music that might help soothe my anxiety, or at least maybe help me progress my Spanish faster.

A few moments later, to my absolute delight, I heard the sweet musical sounds of Orishas coming through the head phones. It was a totally unique mix of traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms with hip hop beats, scratching, really cool raps and beautiful melodic male vocals.

Orishas - www.beaveronthebeats.comThat was my first beautiful taste of Latin fusion music (Orishas are Cuban, based in Europe since the late 1990’s).

It woke me up to the fact that I was about to enter and explore a whole new magical world of Latin fusion music sounds.  When I realised that, my Colombian anxiety instantly transformed into excitement and a smile.

The rest of my Colombian & other Latin fusion music story is history. Part of that history definitely includes hours and hours of Orishas music listening and dancing pleasure.  The future will too.

The Music

Have a listen to some sample tracks from the Orishas albums. Try to imagine all the extra sounds you’d hear in the music if you didn’t have to listen in MP3 format. Maybe you’ll buy the CDs and that will become part of your listening and dancing future?

Orishas music is by the way, a perfect illustration of the distinct fusion music I was trying to explain in WTF is fusion music anyway Beaver?.

 

A Lo Cubano (1999)

A Lo Cubano (1999)

04 A Lo Cubano

10 Canto Para Elew Y Chango

 

Emigrante_Album_Cover_  Orishas_2002_Beaver_On_The-Beats

Emigrante (2002)

06 Niños

08 Gladiadores

 

El_Kilo_Album_Cover_Orishas_2005_Beaver_On_The_Beats

El Kilo (2005)

08 Al Que No Le Guste

11 La Calle

 

Antidiotico_Album_Cover_Orishas_2007_Beaver_On_The-Beats

Antidiotico (2007) Essentially a ‘best of” album

Cosita_Buena_Album_Cover_  Orishas_2008_Beaver_On_The_Beats

Cosita Buena (2008)

01 Cosita Buena

09 Machete

To Colombia with a Smile

Orishas was a top quality introduction to Latin fusion music – and are one of my all time favourite musical finds. I remember them today, because exactly 6 years ago they sent me to Colombia with a big smile on my face.

Orishas - www.beaveronthebeats.com

So then, HOLA COLOMBIA again!  I come with a smile this time too, because I know we’re definitely going to share many delightful musical experiences in the coming months. Hopefully lots of them will be fusion ones.

P.S . Sadly, Orishas is no longer  – but the 5 albums remain forever after, and are available to buy.