This one's from Mary. TK
More on yesterday's music, particularly about timba. In thinking about what
More on yesterday's music, particularly about timba. In thinking about what
David (bass player) said about the economic conditions giving rise to the "more
aggressive" sounds and improvisation of timba, I realized that the best analogy
was to bee bop in the US. For us, Afro American jazz musicians were expressing
their anger, frustration and general "we aren't going to take it anymore"
attitude through the stridence and dissonance of their music. But unlike punk,
another musical reaction/ expression to hard times, bee bop and timba are
complex musical expressions in comparison to the simplistic, 3-chords music of
punk. So the young jazz players (who don't specialize in timba) are aware of and
building on the feeling of timba while they explore the jazz idioms.
The music of today was going to a recording studio where a trumpet-player friend
of Ariana (our tour organizer) was mixing his new CD. Looked state of the art to
me, but then it's been awhile since I've recorded. He, too, was experimenting
with combining different genres--Cuban son with Brazilian with big-band jazz.
His was a softer, more "classical" sound, i.e. he was using classical horn,
woodwind and string instruments. The vocalist was absolutely stunning (vocally
that is--we didn't see her), reminiscent of Sarah Vaughn and some Brazilian
female singers whose names I can't remember. Again, there ws a clear Cuban
"feel"--wish I could explain that in words better--but not what we think of in
the Guantanamera/Buena Vista Social Club way. So enough of musings! Today was
mostly about artists, which Toni (I hope) will cover. We've acquired many
CDs--helping the local economy in our humanitarian mission! So here will need to
be a serious listening party for those of you who are music afficiandos! I see
that my internet time is running low, so off to the Tropicana. Yes, THAT
Tropicana! It's kitch but it's a historic institution in Cuba and a better deal
than Vegas. And it's under the stars, open air. More on that another time. Love
to all. MT
aggressive" sounds and improvisation of timba, I realized that the best analogy
was to bee bop in the US. For us, Afro American jazz musicians were expressing
their anger, frustration and general "we aren't going to take it anymore"
attitude through the stridence and dissonance of their music. But unlike punk,
another musical reaction/ expression to hard times, bee bop and timba are
complex musical expressions in comparison to the simplistic, 3-chords music of
punk. So the young jazz players (who don't specialize in timba) are aware of and
building on the feeling of timba while they explore the jazz idioms.
The music of today was going to a recording studio where a trumpet-player friend
of Ariana (our tour organizer) was mixing his new CD. Looked state of the art to
me, but then it's been awhile since I've recorded. He, too, was experimenting
with combining different genres--Cuban son with Brazilian with big-band jazz.
His was a softer, more "classical" sound, i.e. he was using classical horn,
woodwind and string instruments. The vocalist was absolutely stunning (vocally
that is--we didn't see her), reminiscent of Sarah Vaughn and some Brazilian
female singers whose names I can't remember. Again, there ws a clear Cuban
"feel"--wish I could explain that in words better--but not what we think of in
the Guantanamera/Buena Vista Social Club way. So enough of musings! Today was
mostly about artists, which Toni (I hope) will cover. We've acquired many
CDs--helping the local economy in our humanitarian mission! So here will need to
be a serious listening party for those of you who are music afficiandos! I see
that my internet time is running low, so off to the Tropicana. Yes, THAT
Tropicana! It's kitch but it's a historic institution in Cuba and a better deal
than Vegas. And it's under the stars, open air. More on that another time. Love
to all. MT
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