Ana Carla Maza – Caribe (Persona Editorial, 2023)
Cuban composer, virtuoso cello player and vocalist Ana Carla Maza presents her latest musical endeavor Caribe (Caribbean in Spanish). Notably, on this recording, Ana Carla embarks on a soul-stirring journey that reconnects her with the vibrant music scene of her Havana heritage and the rich Latin American musical traditions.
Caribe is a delicious and savory self-produced album that features an ensemble enriched with brass instrumentation. It invokes the spirit of the 1950s Afro-Cuban descarga sessions, offering a delightful set that highlights the rhythms of the Caribbean, the allure of Argentine tango, and the lively vibes of Brazilian bossa-jazz and samba. Carla assembled a Latin jazz ensemble to paint a vivid auditory portrait of her joyful memories from the late 1990s in the effervescent streets of Havana.
The album’s development is a testament to Ana Carla’s nomadic creativity. Conceived, written, and recorded on the move; on a plane to Mexico, the shores of Lake Annecy, and from a castle in Portugal. To bring her vision to life, she collaborates with a stellar group of musicians, each handpicked to craft this new chapter.
The ensemble includes drummer Arnauld Dolmen (Guadeloupe); percussionist Luis Guerra (Cuba); saxophonist/flutist Irving Acao (Cuba); pianist Norman Peplow, from Germany but harboring a deep love for Honduras; trombonist Fidel Fourneyron from the south of France; and accordion virtuoso Noé Clerc. Nevertheless, at the heart of this album stands Ana Carla herself, wielding her cello and lending her enchanting voice to Caribe.
Buy Caribe.
Author: Iliana Cabrera
