CUBAN JAZZ
The island of Cuba has numerous indigenous rhythms, I close my eyes and can see my grandmother dancing a danzon enthralled in dance with her imaginary partner. Historically Cubans have been passionate dancers, that is the reason we can appreciate all kinds of music, from merengue to reggae, even bagpipes or a Polish polka. But among this musical kaleidoscope that exists on the island, one genre stands out, and has been able to achieve what the others have not. It has become a citizen of Cuba, and resides on the island with the natives. Originally from the United States, jazz has found a home in Cuba.
For generations Cuban musicians have been seduced by jazz and have dedicated their careers and lives to it. Mixing and fusing what was created elsewhere, and making it their own, with its unique Cuban sound. Every year the number of graduates from Cuba’s music academies who decide to dedicate their profession to this magical rhythm increases. It gives them the liberty to express themselves without words, and create at each concert a unique interpretation that can never be repeated.
Around Havana places like La Zorra y el Cuervo, Jazz Café, Corner Café, and La Fabrica de Arte Cubano serve as stages for Cuban musicians who have attained international acclaim, musicians like Aldo Lopez Gavilan, Julito Padron, Harold Lopez-Nussa, Carlos Miyares, Juan Carlos Marin, Roberto Carccases, Cesar Lopez, and Jorge Reyes. These are just some of the protagonists, who accompanied by their spectacular bands, illuminate Havana’s nights and fill it with life. They seduce listeners, regardless of nationality or origin, and captivate them with the sonic caress that is Cuban Jazz.
By Luz Grajales