bands in Cuba.
The 12-track album Chapeando, released through Abdala Records, includes two texts where Cuban poet Miguel Barnet and ethnologist Rogelio Martinez Fure reflect on the importance of folklore in the national culture and the role of the band led by Juan Formell on its spreading.
Cuban plastic artists such as Eduardo Roca (Choco), Kcho, Ernesto Rancaño, Zaida del Rio and Roberto Fabelo, including other, collaborated in the cover design ofChapeando, with original works for the new CD.
Los Van Van orchestra was founded on December 4, 1969. Their career has earned them acclaim with more than a dozen hits including “La Habana no aguanta mas,” “Y que tu crees,” “Aqui el que baila gana” and “Tranquilo, Mota,” making millions of dancers move their feet to their fast-paced rhythm.
The band got a Grammy Award in 2000 to best salsa album for Llegó Van Van… Van Van is here, and were nominated to Latin Grammy in 2003 for En el malecón de La Habana.
To celebrate its 35th anniversary, Van Van performed for more than 100,000 in the outdoor concert spot known as La Piragua, by Havana´s Malecón (seawall). A special moment was the reunion of former members Cesar (Pupy) Pedroso, Pedro Calvo and Changuito, to perform the classic “Sandunguera,” a tribute to their work, as Formell, 65, stated.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
