roberto fonseca and the havana cultura band

GILLES PETERSON PRESENTS HAVANA CULTURA: REMIXED
CD01 / THE REMIXES
01. MAMI / EDGARO EL PRODUCTOR EN JEFE TROPICALIA REMIX
02. ROFOROFO FIGHT / LOUIE VEGA’S EOL MIX
03. REZANDO / MICHEL CLEIS REMIX
04. CHEKERE SON / SEIJI RERUB
05. ARROZ CON POLLO / MJ COLE REMIX
06. ARROZ CON POLLO / CARL COX MIX
07. LA REVOLUCION DEL CUERPO PT.1 / SKINNER’S OWINEY SIGOMA MIX
08. AFRODISIA / RAINER TRUEBY REMIX
09. THINK TWICE / 4HERO REMIX FEAT. DANAY & CARINA
10. ARROZ CON POLLO / SOLAL “SOY CUBA” REMIX
11. CHEKERE SON / WICHY DE VEDADO REMIX
BONUS TRACKS
12. ROFOROFO FIGHT (LOUIE VEGA’S REMIX)
13. LAGRIMAS DE SOLEDAD (NO EXISTEN PALABRAS) D’WALA REMIX
14. CHEKERE SON (ALEX PATCHWORK REMIX)
15. LAGRIMAS DE SOLEDAD (NO EXISTEN PALABRAS) VINCE VELLA REMIX
CD02 / BONUS DJ MIX BY GILLES PETERSON
01. THINK TWICE / 4HERO REMIX FEAT. DANAY & CARINA
02. MAMI / EDGARO EL PRODUCTOR EN JEFE TROPICALIA REMIX
03. AFRODISIA / RAINER TRUEBY REMIX
04. ROFOROFO FIGHT / LOUIE VEGA’S EOL MIX
05. ROFOROFO FIGHT / LOUIE VEGA REMIX
06. LAGRIMAS DE SOLEDAD (NO EXISTEN PALABRAS) / D’WALA RIDDIMIX
07. CHEKERE SON / ALEX PATCHWORK REMIX
08. LA REVOLUCION DEL CUERPO PT.1 / SKINNER’S OWINEY SIGOMA MIX
09. REZANDO / MICHEL CLEIS REMIX
10. CHEKERE SON / SEIJI RERUB
11. ARROZ CON POLLO / MJ COLE REMIX
12. ARROZ CON POLLO / CARL COX MIX
+ GILLES PETERSON PRESENTS THE MAKING OF HAVANA CULTURA
A 12 MINUTE DOCUMENTARY
FOREWORD
When the opportunity to travel to Cuba and check out the new generation of Havana-based artists popped
up in September 2008, I grabbed it with both hands. My initial exploratory trip with Yuset and Francois only
lasted a few days, not even the weekend, but shifting quickly through 1950's Chevrolet gears we rifled
through the city picking up sounds in every nook and cranny. Then, come the spring of '09, I was preparing
for a 5-day Egrem Studios love-in. Vince Vella was my co-producer and Roberto Fonseca was my overall
saviour and chief of operations with Orestes by his side conducting the desk. The band was Fonseca's and
the groove was free. I had a few covers as starters: one from Fela to capture that true Afro-Cuban fusion; a
Blue Note joint as a 70th anniversary gift; and a couple of Cuban faves from my Ballroom days - Irakere's
Chekere Son and some Juan Pablo Torres. The rest was pretty much controlled jamming, picking up the
Rumba boys from the bar below, or convincing Mayra Caridad Valdes to hit it freestyle. What a week we had
in this iconic spot. I feel so blessed to have worked with these guys (folk who take their art very seriously, but
always with a smile at the end of the session) and I'm so proud of the album that we made - 'Gilles Peterson
presents Havana Cultura'.
For me, it was just a natural progression to rework those live studio jams and take them to the club domain.
For example I felt sure that Louie Vega would be able to elevate the Afro groove of Roforofo Fight to new
heights and he did not disappoint me. Likewise Seiji who morphs Chekere Son into a thundering club banger
and Michael Cleis who turns in a gloriously meandering and utterly epic four-on-the-floor workout of Rezando.
A handful of veteran maestros - 4hero, Rainer Trueby, MJ Cole and Carl Cox - alongside the cream of the
Cuban electronic scene - Wichy de Vedado and Edgaro from Doble Filo - makes for an intriguing blend of
the traditional and the contemporary. I hope you enjoy the fruits of our labours.
Gilles Peterson
HAVANA CULTURA
A window on contemporary Cuban culture, Havana Cultura exists to give the spirit of Havana a global voice.
You don't have to search far in Havana to find evidence of creativity. But you have to search carefully. Listen
for those few notes of Afro-Cuban jazz coming from a piano as you stroll along the Paseo del Prado; read
the poem scribbled on a tiny piece of paper and left at an Orisha shrine. Artistic expression surges from
every corner of the city, showing no sign of letting up. In Havana's art galleries and museums, its open-air
markets, schools, abandoned factories and tiny studio flats, artists are showing what they do.
Someone once remarked that all Cuban music is dance music, but that doesn't prepare you for the
virtuosity of the musicians performing at these dance clubs or in just about any of Havana's cafes, concert
halls, cabarets, or bodegas.
Havana Cultura is proud to enable Havana's artists – from musicians to dancers, visual artists to writers – to
showcase their work, energy and passion to the world. It's an international effort, originating in Havana and
made possible by the ultimate icon of Havana: Havana Club rum.
'Gilles Peterson presents Havana Cultura: Remixed' is the second CD in a series established to celebrate
Cuba's freshest musical talent, from Latin and Afro-jazz to hip hop, funk, reggaeton, pop and R&B. It features
a string of superb remixes of the tracks recorded by Gilles Peterson's all-star Havana Cultura Band at the
legendary Egrem Studios in Havana, plus an awesome bonus DJ mix by the man himself.
Many of the Cuban artists who feature on the CD, including celebrated pianist Roberto Fonseca, are
profiled through video interviews on www.havana-cultura.com
As for the rest… stay tuned.
ROBERTO FONSECA AND THE HAVANA CULTURA BAND
A giant of the global jazz community, Roberto has shared the
stage with Cuban legends such as Rubén González, Ibrahim
Ferrer and Omara Portuondo. He plays the piano with
awe-inspiring sensitivity to the melody and rhythmic forces that
marry the musical cultures of America, Brazil, Bulgaria, Arabia
and Cuba, releasing his fifth solo album ‘Akokan’ in 2009.
Working alongside Gilles, they brought together a handful of
Cuba's finest musicians to bring their vision to life. The mighty
Ramses Rodriguez on drums; Omar Gonzalez on bass; old
school wizard Javier Zalba on flute and saxophone; the
prodigious Yelfris Valdes on trumpet; and the legendary
percussionist Yaroldy Abreu. Flourishing under the direction of
Mssrs Fonseca, Peterson and virtuoso engineer Vince Vella,
these celebrated musicians captured the essence of the
Havana Cultura groove.
Gigante de la comunidad jazzística mundial, Roberto ha
compartido escenario con leyendas cubanas de la talla de
Rubén González, Ibrahim Ferrer y Omara Portuondo. Toca el
piano con una asombrosa sensibilidad hacia las fuerzas
melódicas y rítmicas que logran el maridaje de las culturas
musicales de América, Brasil, Bulgaria, Arabia y Cuba. El quinto
álbum solista de Fonseca – Akokan – salió a la venta en 2009.
Gilles y Roberto, corazón del proyecto Havana Cultura,
reunieron a un puñado de los mejores músicos cubanos con
el fin de dar vida a su concepción musical: el poderoso
baterista Ramses Rodríguez; el bajista Omar González; el
genio de la vieja escuela, Javier Zalba, como flautista y
saxofonista; el prodigioso trompetista Yelfris Valdes, y el
legendario percusionista Yaroldy Abreu. Todos ellos, bajo la
dirección de Fonseca, de Peterson y del virtuoso ingeniero de
sonido Vince Vella, lograron captar la esencia del ritmo de
Havana Cultura.
DANAY
A 24-year-old soul sister who has drawn
comparisons with the likes of Erykah Badu and Jill
Scott, Danay eschews a gangster lean for a more
conscious delivery with her honeyed vocals and
effortless rhyme flows. Born in Havana’s Cerro
district, today she lives with mother and sister in
Santa Fe (on the fringes of the capital). Solo
material is scarce but she has collaborated with
Aldo – of Los Aldeanos – and popular Cuban
fusion artist X Alfonso.
Cantante soul de 24 años de edad, comparada
por algunos con Erykah Badu o Jill Scott, Danay
se aparta del estilo ‘gangster’ para llegar al
público, de una forma más consciente, con sus
letras melosas y el flujo sencillo de sus ritmos.
Nacida en el barrio del Cerro de La Habana, en
la actualidad reside con su madre y su hermana
en Santa Fe (en la periferia de la capital). Aunque
no se ha publicado mucho material suyo en
solitario, cuenta con diversas colaboraciones con
Aldo – de Los Aldeanos – y con el popular artista
de fusión cubano X Alfonso.
photo by Youri Lenquette
OGGUERE
Translated as “soul of the earth”, Ogguere are
one of the hottest and most inventive hip hop
bands in Cuba. Members Edrey and Ulises
blend an original mixture of Cuban rhythms –
mambo, son and cha-cha-cha – with funk,
rumba and rap. They are most famous in Cuba
for their smash hit ‘Como Esta el Yogurt?’ with
the title of the song now immortalised in street
culture as a commonly used phrase.
Con un nombre que, traducido, quiere decir
“alma de la tierra”, Ogguere es uno de los
grupos de hip-hop más “calientes” y con
mayor inventiva de Cuba. Sus integrantes
Edrey y Ulises logran una original fusión de
diversos ritmos cubanos – mambo, son y
cha-cha-chá – con el funk, la rumba y el rap.
En Cuba son muy famosos por su rotundo éxito
‘¿Cómo Está el Yogurt?’, título que la cultura
callejera se ha encargado de inmortalizar,
convirtiéndolo en una frase cotidiana.
photo by Youri Lenquette
WICHY DE VEDADO
A pillar of Havana’s underground electronic
music scene, Wichy’s musical journey began with
imported American 80s pop. A group of German
DJs visiting Havana opened his ears to acid
house, inspiring him to experiment with his own
homemade electronic loops, applying them to
soundtracks for short features. Lately he has been
working with jazz pianist Tony Rodriguez as D’Jazz,
a global project blending DJing and live jazz
music.
Considerado uno de los pilares de la escena
musical electrónica underground de La Habana,
Wichy inicia su periplo musical con pop de los
años 80 importado de Norteamérica. Un grupo
de DJs alemanes de visita por La Habana,
abrieron sus oídos al acid house, que les inspiró
a experimentar con sus propios ritmos
electrónicos de fabricación casera, y a incluirlos
en bandas sonoras para producciones de corta
duración. En los últimos tiempos ha trabajado
con el pianista de jazz Tony Rodriguez bajo el
nombre de D’Jazz, un proyecto global que
fusiona DJing y jazz en directo.
photo by Youri Lenquette
DOBLE FILO
Working the angles on an experimental hip hop
tip, Doble Filo has existed in various incarnations
since 1995, for the most part as a duo. However,
Yrak Saenz and Edgaro (aka Edgar Gonzales)
recently teamed up with a third member DJ Dark
aka Alain Medina. The group’s hip hop credentials
are impeccable. Not only did they originate in
Alamar, the hub of Havana’s hip hop scene, but
they share credit for starting the multi-disciplinary
art collective La FabriK.
Trabajando sobre los ángulos de un tipo de hip
hop experimental, Doble Filo ha reencarnado en
varias ocasiones desde 1995, casi siempre como
dúo. No obstante, Yrak Saenz y Edgar González
(aka Edgaro) incorporaron recientemente a un
tercer integrante: Alain Medina (aka DJ Dark). Las
credenciales del grupo dentro del mundo del
hip-hop son impecables. No sólo se creó en
Alamar, principal escenario del hip-hop de La
Habana, sino que también comparten el mérito
de haber sido co-fundadores de la agrupación
artística La FabriK.
photo by Youri Lenquette
GILLES PETERSON’S HAVANA CULTURA BAND – HAVANA CULTURA REMIXED
1. Mami feat. Roberto Fonseca (Edgaro el Productor en Jefe Tropicalia Remix)
(Roberto Fonseca - SGAE) Piano: Roberto Fonseca; double bass: Omar Gonzales; congas:
Yaroldy Abreu; drums: Ramses Rodriguez; backing vocals (chorus): Roberto Fonseca, Vince
Vella, Yaroldy Abreu, Yelfris Valdés and Ramses Rodriguez. Remix and additional production by
Edgaro el Productor en Jefe. Electric guitar: Dayron Gonzalez; Electric bass: Arvis Cunie; MPC
2000 programming: Edgaro el Productor en Jefe. Mixed by Edgaro el Productor en Jefe & Celso
Corbillon.
2. Roforofo Fight feat. Mayra Caridad Valdés (Louie Vega’s EOL Mix)
(Kuti) Published by Strictly Confidential / EMI Music Publishing. Vocals: Mayra Caridad Valdés;
backing vocals: Vince Vella & Ogguere; piano: Roberto Fonseca; bass: Omar Gonzalez; drums
& timbales: Ramses Rodriguez; congas: Yaroldy Abreu; trumpet: Yelfris Valdés; baritone sax and
alto sax: Javier Zalba. Remix produced & arranged by Louie Vega for Small Wonders Productions,
Inc. Mix engineer: Yas Inoue; keyboards & piano solo: Junito Davila; electric bass: Gene Perez.
Mixed and recorded at Daddy's Workshop, NJ.
3. Rezando feat. Roberto Fonseca (Michel Cleis Remix)
(Roberto Fonseca - SGAE) Piano: Roberto Fonseca; double bass: Omar Gonzalez; congas and
bata percussion: Yaroldy Abreu; drums: Ramses Rodriguez. Remix & additional production by
Michel Cleis.
4. Chekere Son feat. Mayra Caridad Valdés (Seiji Rerub)
(Paquito D'Rivera) Published by Havana New York Music (BMI), represented locally by Hendon
Music Ltd. Vocals: Mayra Caridad Valdés; piano: Roberto Fonseca; drums: Ramses Rodriguez;
Fender bass: Omar Gonzalez; flute and baritone sax: Javier Zalba; congas and percussion:
Yaroldy Abreu; backing vocals: Vince Vella, Roberto Fonseca, Yelfris Valdés and Yaroldy Abreu.
Remix & additional production by Seiji.
5. Arroz con Pollo feat. Ogguere (MJ Cole Remix)
(Roberto Fonseca / Edrey Riveri) SGAE. Vocals: Ogguere; drums: Ramses Rodriguez; double
bass: Omar Gonzalez; congas: Yaroldy Abreu; piano: Roberto Fonseca. Remix & additional
production by MJ Cole.
6. Arroz con Pollo feat. Ogguere (Carl Cox Mix)
(Roberto Fonseca / Edrey Riveri) SGAE. Vocals: Ogguere; drums: Ramses Rodriguez; double
bass: Omar Gonzalez; congas: Yaroldy Abreu; piano: Roberto Fonseca. Remix & additional
production by Carl Cox – safehousemanagement.com, www.carlcox.com
7. La Revolución del Cuerpo Pt.1 (Skinner's Owiney Sigoma Mix)
(Ulises Quinones, Edrey Riveri) Vocals: Ogguere, Danay & Obsesión; congas and percussion:
Yaroldy Abreu and Rumberos de Cuba; clave: Roberto Fonseca; double bass: Omar Gonzalez.
Remix & additional production by T. Skinner.
Remix - Vocals by Danay & Carina Andersson. Piano, Rhodes, Arps, Moogs, bass & drum
programming by Marc Mac. Additional drums, percussion and guitars by Luke Parkhouse.
Arrangement & production by Marc Mac. Additional vocal arrangement by Vince Vella. Mixed
by Marc Mac @ Dukes Place.
10. Arroz Con Pollo feat. Ogguere (Solal “Soy Cuba” Remix)
(Roberto Fonseca / Edrey Riveri) SGAE. Vocals: Ogguere; drums: Ramses Rodriguez; double
bass: Omar Gonzalez; congas: Yaroldy Abreu; piano: Roberto Fonseca. “Soy Cuba” remix
produced by Solal. Programming & sound: Jack Lahana. Electric guitar: Philippe Cohen Solal.
11. Chekere Son feat. Mayra Caridad Valdés (Wichy de Vedado Remix)
(Paquito D'Rivera) Published by Havana New York Music (BMI), represented locally by Hendon
Music Ltd. Vocals: Mayra Caridad Valdés; piano: Roberto Fonseca; drums: Ramses Rodriguez;
Fender bass: Omar Gonzalez; flute and baritone sax: Javier Zalba; congas and percussion:
Yaroldy Abreu; backing vocals: Vince Vella, Roberto Fonseca, Yelfris Valdés and Yaroldy Abreu.
Remix & additional production by Wichy de Vedado.
CD2: BONUS TRACKS
Roforofo Fight (Louie Vega Remix)
(Kuti) Published by Strictly Confidential / EMI Music Publishing. Vocals: Mayra Caridad Valdés;
backing vocals: Vince Vella & Ogguere; piano: Roberto Fonseca; bass: Omar Gonzalez; drums
& timbales: Ramses Rodriguez; congas: Yaroldy Abreu; trumpet: Yelfris Valdés; baritone sax and
alto sax: Javier Zalba. Remix produced & arranged by Louie Vega for Small Wonders
Productions, Inc. Mix engineer: Yas Inoue; keyboards & piano solo: Junito Davila; electric bass:
Gene Perez. Mixed and recorded at Daddy's Workshop, NJ.
Lagrimas de Soledad (No Existen Palabras) feat. Danay (d'Wala Riddimix)
(Aldo Rodriguez Baquero, Danay Suarez Fernandez) Vocals: Danay; vibes and piano: Roberto
Fonseca; udu drum: Yaroldy Abreu and Ramses Rodriguez; percussion: Yaroldy Abreu; double
bass: Omar Gonzalez; cymbals: Ramses Rodriguez. Remix & additional production by d’Wala.
Chekere Son feat. Mayra Caridad Valdés (Alex Patchwork Remix)
(Paquito D'Rivera) Published by Havana New York Music (BMI), represented locally by Hendon
Music Ltd. Vocals: Mayra Caridad Valdés; piano: Roberto Fonseca; drums: Ramses Rodriguez;
Fender bass: Omar Gonzalez; flute and baritone sax: Javier Zalba; congas and percussion:
Yaroldy Abreu; backing vocals: Vince Vella, Roberto Fonseca, Yelfris Valdés and Yaroldy Abreu.
Remix & additional production by Alex Patchwork.
All tracks produced by Gilles Peterson. Co-produced by Roberto Fonseca and Vince Vella.
Production supervision, project management and coordination: Gilles Peterson, Vince Vella,
Simon Goffe and Francois Renié.
8. Afrodisia (Rainer Trueby Remix)
(Dorham) EMI Music Publishing. Trumpet: Yelfris Valdés; drums: Ramses Rodriguez; double bass:
Omar Gonzalez; piano: Roberto Fonseca; congas: Yaroldy Abreu; baritone sax: Javier Zalba.
Remix & additional production by Rainer Trueby & Danilo Plessow.
Roberto Fonseca appears courtesy of Enja Records and Montuno Producciones
9. Think Twice feat. Danay & Carina (4hero Remix)
(Mizzell, Sigidi, Mbaji) Universal Music Publishing. Arranged by Vince Vella and Roberto Fonseca.
Vocals: Danay and Obsesión; piano: Roberto Fonseca; double bass: Omar Gonzalez; trumpet:
Yelfris Valdés; drums and timbales: Ramses Rodriguez; congas, bata and percussion: Yaroldy
Abreu and Vince Vella.
P&C Brownswood Recordings 2010
www.havana-cultura.com
www.gillespetersonworldwide.com
The original versions of these tracks are available on the album “Gilles Peterson presents Havana
Cultura: New Cuba Sound” (BWOOD038CD) on Brownswood Recordings.
A&R: Gilles Peterson
A&R Co-ordination: Emily Moxon, Alex Stevenson & Fawaz Al-Jabban
Mastering by Stuart Hawkes, Metropolis Mastering
Thank you to Francois Renié without whom this album would never have been possible.