Clave y Guaguancó Founded in Cuba more than 50 years ago, legendary group Clave y Guaguancó is dedicated to researching and developing the true traditions of Afro-Cuban music. Just singing, drumming and dancing, this ensemble introduces the listener to a black universe of gods, magic and African-rooted rituals.
Twelve or more musicians make up the Clave y Guaguancó show playing old and basic musical instruments such as the cajas or boxes, and the cajones or smaller boxes, which were the first ever instruments used in rumba. With vocals and percussion they demonstrate a harmonic and contagious atmosphere through the interpretation of the clave choirs, yambú, guaguancó, columbia, yoruba songs and chants, abakuá, congo or bantú and the traditional congas Cuban-carnival style.
Clave y Guaguancó were formed in the 1940s by Mario Alan Agustín Pinci “Flor de Amor”, Agustín Gutierrez “El Bongocero” (who later became the bongo player for the Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Piñeiro), Martin Rivas “El Gallego”, Alberto Zayas “El Melodioso”, Gustavo Martinez “Cucharas” and the singer Gloria Mora. They were all friends and initially they played at parties and family gatherings. In the 50s they began playing son but the group soon disintegrated. Then in 1960 Dr Argelier León, a well known musicologist, brought the group back to life by reuniting most of its former members. In the 1980s, Amado de Jesús Dedeu Hernández, joined Clave y Guaguancó as director.
Clave y Guaguancó have always maintained an element of experimentation throughout their 50 years of artistic life. Their artistic development has included constant investigation and education making the group more versatile vocally and more surprising musically. They have been aided, assisted and supported throughout the years by Dr Argelier Leon, Dr Eduardo Robreno and the Professor and ethnologist Odilio Urfe.
Their live shows incorporate all kinds of stage elements and their music has been recorded on television, radio, Cuban cinema and for several record labels. They can be seen most Wednesdays in Havana’s UNEAC building (Union de Escritores y Artistas Cubanos) also known as the Pe?a del Ambia – El Ambia’s weekly folkloric gathering also known as the Noche de Rumba.
Discography:
Songs and Dances (Xenophile, 1990)
Déjala en la puntica (Egrem, 1996)
Noche de La Rumba (Tumi Music, 2001)
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.
