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Juan-Carlos Formell
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Discography · Booking Agency · Bibliography · Similar Music
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| Biography: | |
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Born in Havana in 1964, Juan-Carlos is a fourth generation musician. But the restrictions of the government-controlled music industry in his homeland made it difficult for the singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist to express his new ideas. "While still in my twenties, at a time when most musicians are full of hope, I was resigned to a future of marginalization," Juan-Carlos recalls. In 1993 he fled to the United States, to make his own music, his way. He went to New York where he established a band, and in 1998 he was signed to the world music label Wicklow Records. His years of struggle in exile were vindicated when his debut CD, Songs from a Little Blue House received a nomination for the Grammy 2000. His next release, in 2002, was the critically-acclaimed Calles Del Paraiso (EMI Latin). Then, after several years of touring with his band and some major concerts -- with Buena Vista Social Club veteran Eliades Ochoa, and world music stars Cesaria Evora, Milton Nascimento and Susana Baca -- Juan-Carlos decided to take on the challenge of a solo guitar project. Inspired by a sojourn in New Orleans, Juan-Carlos returned to the Crescent City in May of 2005 to record Cemeteries & Desire, which was released by Narada Records in August 2005. The album features powerful original ballads -- songs now haunted by the devastation of the city. His current project, Son Radical, is the spontaneous combustion of rock en clave that came out of Los Angeles recording sessions with two other exceptional Cuban musicians -- drummer/producer Jimmy Branly (of NG la Banda) and bassist Carlitos del Puerto (of Caravana Cubana). "The son is the root of everything," says Juan Carlos. "Working from that base, we have the credentials to break the rules of Cuban music and the clich?s of the Latin music establishment. We broke away from Cuba because we couldn't accept the restrictions and censorship -- we're a new generation of musicians who have come out of Cuba with something to say, with a mission to expand the definition of what Cuban music is and can be." Channeling the writing of Cuban negrista poet Nicolas Guill?n, Cuban patriot
Jose Marti, and the African roots of the Caribbean experience, son radical
creates a lyrical, politically-charged dimension of contemporary Cuban music. Official Web Site: www.juancarlosformell.com |
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| Discography: | |
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Songs from a Little Blue House Calles Del Paraiso (EMI Latin) Cemeteries & Desire (Narada Records, 2005) |
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| Booking: | |
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Kabumpo Booking kabumpo@hotmail.com |
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| Bibliography: | |
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The Rough Guide to Cuban Music CD reviews:
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| Similar Music: | |
| Afro-beat, Afro-Cuban, Pop, Jazz-Rock, Rock, Afro-Cuban, Guitar - Acoustic, Guitar - Electric, Bass, Vocals, Vocals | |
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