Orishas only did two things that troubled me during their 11 years together creating stunning, one-of-a-kind Cuban hip hop music. The first was featuring Pitbull on one of their tracks “Quien Te Dijo” – and there ain’t no way of ever undoing that. The second and much more devastating thing was their decision to split up… Continue reading Orishas Reunited For New Album
Category: Cuba
Cuban Music Artists
WOMADelaide 2015: Nourishment Forever-After
Oh WOMADelaide, how I long to be back in your nourishing arms. You came again and gave the people four days and nights of awesomely-diverse arts, culture and music from around the world under sunshine and shady trees in Adelaide’s Botanic Park. You created the space for a vibrant community of friendly, conscious, arts-loving people… Continue reading WOMADelaide 2015: Nourishment Forever-After
E is for Electronic Music Infiltration
‘E’ in Beaver’s A to Z of Fusion goes to the sounds of electronic music for their like-it-or-not, rapid infiltration of almost every type of music in just about every part of the world since their beginnings at the end of the 19th century. A Shallow History of Infiltration The history of electronic music is long… Continue reading E is for Electronic Music Infiltration
Carlos Sarduy – Charly en la Habana
Like with so many Cuban music artists, not enough people in the world have probably had the chance to access and hear Carlos Sarduy’s unique Afro-Cuban jazz music or super-fine trumpet playing. This artist is another little gem from the much-insulated music bubble of Cuba. Like with most Cuban music artists, there’s little to be… Continue reading Carlos Sarduy – Charly en la Habana
Roberto Fonseca – A Deservedly Lucky Cubano
Roberto Fonseca’s incredible recent shows at WOMADelaide 2014 reminded me of two things about Cuba and its music: 1. Cuba is a small island filled with a huge number of phenomenal musicians and amazing music. 2. Most of those phenomenal Cuban musicians, and most of that incredible Cuban music, never find the opportunity to leave Cuban… Continue reading Roberto Fonseca – A Deservedly Lucky Cubano
The WOMADelaide Experience – What Everyone Wants
Everyone I know who experiences WOMADelaide festival, wants to experience it again. Everyone I know who’s heard about the WOMADelaide experience, wants to have it. That’s because it’s one of the world’s best musical festivals, and Australia’s very best. Fundamentally for the quality of music and its friendly festival people, but for so many other… Continue reading The WOMADelaide Experience – What Everyone Wants
‘A’ is for Afrobeat Hip Hop
I was talking music with a Texan musician recently. He told me about a few fusion music genres from the U.S. I’d never heard of and sounded great. When I later checked them out I remembered again that the very long and ever-growing list of music genres in our world, is pretty damn cool. Don’t you… Continue reading ‘A’ is for Afrobeat Hip Hop
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. 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… Continue reading Colombian Music v Cuban Music For Fusion
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. No one else is going to… Continue reading Orishas – A Musical Remedy for Colombian Anxiety