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 Afro-Cuban All Stars's Profile |
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| Country: |  Cuba |
| Last Login: | Feb 6, 2008 (685 days back) |
About Me |
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Juan de Marcos González is one of the most important figures in Cuban music today. He has a mission to show the world the wealth, diversity and vitality of Cuban music. His work with the Afro-Cuban All Stars, the Buena Vista Social Club, Rubén González, Ibrahim Ferrer, Sierra Maestra and others has made an extraordinary contribution to raising the profile of Cuban music throughout the world. However, neither his name nor his crucial contribution is well known to the general public and he remains something of an unsung hero of Cuban music. González was born in Havana in 1954 and grew up surrounded by music (his father was a singer and played with Arsenio Rodríguez amongst others). At university he studied hydraulic engineering and Russian before working as a consultant at the Agronomic Science Institute, gaining his doctorate in 1989. While at university he co-founded the group Sierra Maestra in 1978. Styled as a traditional Cuban septeto group (tres, trumpet, bass, percussion and vocals), the dynamic young bands aim was to bring about an appreciation of Cuban son by the youth of the island. The band achieved great success, recording fourteen albums in Cuba, touring Africa and Europe and receiving various awards. In 1994, González began his association with the London based record label World Circuit, when the band recorded the album ¡Dundunbanza! (WCD041). For this recording, World Circuits Nick Gold encouraged the group to expand their line-up to include piano, congas and a trumpet section in a tribute to the forties and fifties styles of Arsenio Rodríguez. Having found success and a common ground González and Gold looked to develop this understanding further with a big band recording in Havana, featuring the neglected stars of this golden age of Cuban music. González had long harboured a dream to put together a band combining the old masters and the new generation of Cuban musicians. I wanted to mix the generations so there is the experience of the older guys and the energy of the younger players, says González. He went in search of his heroes and found many of them retired from music, forgotten figures delighted that someone was showing faith in them. He recruited the singers Manuel Puntillita Licea, Pío Leyva and Raúl Planas, all in their seventies. Despite the doubts of others in his ability to still reach the heights, he approached the legendary pianist Rubén González. Rubén did not own a piano, so González found him a place to practice and encouraged him to rehearse with his chosen bass player, Orlando Cachaíto López. González continued to assemble his dream band and the AFRO-CUBAN ALL STARS were born. González and Gold planned to record two albums in Havanas EGREM studios in 1997: the debut from the All Stars and a collaboration between West African and Eastern Cuban musicians for which Gold had invited Ry Cooder as producer. Due to passport complications the African musicians were unable to travel to the recording. However, the two week recording trip yielded an extraordinary trio of albums: The debut albums from the AFRO-CUBAN ALL STARS A Toda Cuba le Gusta and RUBEN GONZALEZ Introducing and the BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB. The All Stars album was the first to be recorded and Gonzálezs band provided both the springboard and many of the musicians for the Buena Vista album that followed. The All Stars rhythm section was retained along with the bands trumpet soloist Guajiro Mirabal, pianist Rubén González and various singers. The great Santiago guitarist and singer Eliades Ochoa and the laoud player Barbarito Torres had already been recruited at Golds suggestion. The day after the All Stars album was completed Ry Cooder arrived in Havana to be greeted by this ensemble for the start of what was to become the Buena Vista Social Club. Other musicians were added during the sessions including the singer Ibrahim Ferrer (who was at the time also retired) whom González contacted and brought to the studio within hours of Cooders request for a singer with a soft voice. González acted as consultant, co-ordinator and conductor during the sessions and when Gold suggested making an album with Rubén González in the two days remaining González was recruited as musical director for that project as well. In 2000 he also collaborated on the debut album by Ibrahim Ferrer. Following the albums release González led the Afro-Cuban All Stars and Rubén González on their debut European and U.S. tours and directed the only ever two Buena Vista Social Club concerts in Amsterdam and New Yorks Carnegie Hall. Despite the new found worldwide success of Cuban music it is the appreciation of the music within Cuba itself that González finds most satisfying. When you live in an isolated country you always think things are better elsewhere. Because of that the influence of American music has been very strong. People were trying to play American music before they learnt Cuban music. We have to use what is good from around the world, but first we have to be conscious of the importance of our own music. A few years ago young Cuban musicians didnt care about real Cuban music. Now there are hundreds of bands playing traditional music. Of course music will change, there will be new dances and styles. But we are going to keep the roots. I am very confident about that. The impact of these albums internationally would also affect the music industry in Cuba; not only did it resurrect the career of several forgotten legends, but left the record buying public worldwide with an appetite for Cuban music, and a receptiveness to new recordings that previously didnt exist. As for the Afro-Cuban All Stars, they evolved from being a musical dream, to a one-off recording, to the formation of a full-time touring and recording group. Having been instrumental in the formation of the project, González moved centre stage with his new edition Afro-Cuban All Stars and their ambitious new, forward-looking album Distinto, diferente. We have to use all the heritage of Cuban music to create a sound of the future, says González. Its important to have that continuity and to fight for the identity of Cuban music. Whilst retaining the stars of the debut album, the follow up record brought in some additional legendary figures of Cuban music including Omara Portuondo, Lina Borges, Polo Tamayo, Jesús Aguaje Ramos, and Amadito Valdés. Some prominent names from current generation of Cuban music such as Orlando Maracas Valle, David Alfaro, and Yaure Muñiz, showcased their talents on this album. The result is again multi-generational but with a sound much closer to the vanguard of Cuban dance music, with lyrics in some cases that have even greater social relevance now. González is not a man to stand still and although he will continue his association with World Circuit, González formed his own production company/ record label, DM Ahora to deal with the wealth of talent in Cuba. I addition to his continued involvement with the development of Cuban music, Juan de Marcos has also maintained the Afro-Cuban All Stars as an active touring band, performing to ecstatic audiences around the globe. 2004 saw the release of a live CD/DVD from the group, and the accompanying tour included a series of concerts with World Circuits Senegalese superstars Orchestra Baobab. The long awaited third studio album from the group Step Forward was released in 2005 on DM Ahora. What direction the Afro-Cuban All Stars go in next remains to be seen, but with Gonzaléz at the helm, one can be sure they are in safe hands. |
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My Interests |
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Music:Member Since: 7/31/2006Band Website: worldcircuit.co.uk Band Members: WCD058 Distinto, Diferente Musician list: Pedrito Calvo - Sonero Fernando Alvarez - Sonero Felix Valoy - Sonero Teresita García Caturla - Sonera Raúl Planas - Sonero Ignacio 'Masacote' Carrillo - Sonero Leo Vera - Sonero Ibrahim Ferrer - Sonero Dennys Martínez - Sonero Manuel 'Puntillita' Licea - Sonero Gregorio 'Goyo' Hernández - Sonero Omara Portuondo - Sonera Lino Borges - Sonero Juan de Marcos González - Chorus Dennys Martínez - Chorus Lázaro Villas - Chorus Demtrio Muñíz - Chorus Yanko Pisaco Pichardo - Trumpet Daniel "el gordo" Ramos - Trumpet Alejandro Pichardo - Trumpet Luis Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal - Trumpet Yaure Muñiz - Trumpet Julito Padrón - Trumpet Alberto "Molote" Martínez - Trombone Jesús "Aguaje" Ramos - Trombone Javier Zalba - Baritone Sax Carlos "Musiquita" Duran - Baritone Sax Braulio 'Babín' Hernández - Tenor Sax Orlando "Maracas" Valle - Flute Joaquín Oliveros - Flute Policarpo "Polo" Tamayo - Flute David Alfaro - Piano Guillermo "Rubalcava" González - Piano Rubén González - Piano Frank Emilio Flynn - Piano Ricardo Muñoz - Bass Orlando "Cachaíto" López - Bass Amadito Valdés - Timbales Victoriano "Filiberto" Sánchez - Timbales Carlos González - Bongo Miguel "Angá" Díaz - Congas Angel Terry Domech - Congas Enrique Lazaga - Guiro Alejandro Pichardo - Maracas Lázaro Villa - Claves Juan de Marcos González - Tres/guitar Barbarito Torres - Laud Jesús Ordoñez - Violins Julián Corrales - Violins Pablito Mesa - Violins Omán Pedreira - Violins José Marón - Violas Roberto Herrera - Violas Juan Vendera - Cello WCD047 A Toda Cuba Le Gusta Musician list: Ibrahim Ferrer - lead vocals Pio Leyva- lead vocals Manuel 'Puntillita' Licea - Lead vocals Raúl Planas - lead vocals José Antonio 'Maceo' Rodríguez - lead vocals Félix Valoy - lead vocals Juan de Marcos González - tres and leader Rubén González - piano Orlando 'Cachaíto' López - bass Luis Alemany - trumpet Manuel 'Guajiro' Miraba - trumpet Daniel Ramos - trumpet Carlos 'El Afrokán' Alvarez - trombone Demetrio Muñiz - trombone Javier Zalba - barritone sax and flute Miguel 'Angá' Díaz - congas Julienne Oviedo - timbales Carlos González - bongos Alberto Virgilio Valdés - maracas Carlos Puisseaux - güiro Alberto Virgilio Valdés - chorus vocals Juan de Marcos González - chorus vocals Luis Barzaga - chorus vocals Ry Cooder - slide guitar on 'Alto Songo' Richard Egües - flute on 'Habana del Este' Barbarito Torres - laoud on 'Amor Verdadero' Record Label: DM Ahora Type of Label: Indie |
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My Background and Lifestyle |
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| Occupation: | Music Artist (Latin / Jazz / Tropical) |
My Blog |
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World Circuit radio player now live |
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| World Circuit are happy to announce that we have now added a smart new radio player and a downloadable colour catalogue to the homepage of our website www.worldcircuit.co.uk At the moment we hav... Posted by Afro-Cuban All Stars on Fri, 04 May 2007 04:04:00 PST |
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Exclusive Afro Cuban All Stars footage on World Circuit website |
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| EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE ON NEW
WORLD CIRCUIT WEBSITE FEATURES
World Circuit are thrilled to announce the next stage of our website development is up and running. Visitors to www.worldcircuit.co.uk w... Posted by Afro-Cuban All Stars on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 06:05:00 PST |
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My Friends |
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Sierra Maestra, Andy Hamilton, Sounds of Sudan, Abdel Gadir Salim, Adams Music and Art page, Ruben Gonzalez, World Circuit, Afel Bocoum, Ali Farka Toure, Anga Diaz, Buena Vista Social Club, Dimi Mint Abba, Ibrahim Ferrer, Manuel 'Guajiro' Mirabal, Orchestra Baobab, Oumou Sangare, Radio Tarifa, Toumani Diabate, Cheikh Lo, Omara Portuondo, Orlando 'Cachaito' Lopez, Dilancray, smileserena, LATINFIRE, ANNA, maikelromero, Javier, Olivier MARCHAND, Mike, Inés Marín, RICARDO MONTALBAN A.K.A SPEEDY -- EN LOS COROS, Mr. Fire And Ice, PanKomio, Frizzey, Internet Radio / TV, Abdelali "Abdul" Mourid, DJ Flip, Sharpe House Productions, La fuente del ritmo, Jörg, ReneSoler - *Rene Wah*, Norman-Z, AFROCUBANBEATS, CHEQUENDEKE, Ronny Wessel Musikagent (Germany), José Carlos II and Bambamoleque Band, Gatito, Luis, Music & Entertainment Public Relations, JESUSOLO, A1 Banda, Palitos, Carmen "Salsera4ever", **Son Gonzalez Son Cubano**, peace, grace, and mercy, Grupo Compay Segundo, Luis Borboa, Duo Session, Prabaticum Esplatifum Brasimbolá, Franck Al Yamine Cohendet, Eguie Castrillo and his Orchestra, DJ Juanito/Joaozinho., Compositor Cubano Carbo, Merle Perkins & The Perkolators, Tsivi Sharett, Camaradas El Barrio, Luca Turolla, Jean Louis, Carmela, Patrick Mura, mamita♥salvavida
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