Cubanocast

Sotomayor special: The best Puerto Rican music: Rafael Hernandez

asymmetricblog@gmail.com (Nelson Guirado) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:39:25 PDT

http://www.nelsonguirado.com/media/Preciosa.mp3

In honor of the first Puerto Rican nominee to the Supreme Court,** I thought I'd spend the next few days talking about Puerto Rican music.

You can get the basics at Wikipedia here. Many Puerto Rican music forms are similar to those of its neighbor, Cuba, which isn't surprising considering their similar histories and demographics, but many, like Bomba and Plena are unique to Puerto Rico.

The greatest figure in Puerto Rican music is Rafael Hernandez. He performed his own music early in his career, but he's mostly known now for having composed some of the greatest Latin American music of all time, his universal appeal proven by the selection below: singers from Brazil, United States, Cuba, Mexico, Argentina, and, of course, Puerto Rico.

"Preciosa" is a beautiful ode to his home island. I like this light-jazzy version by Puerto Rican band Impacto Crea.

Cobarde

Marc Anthony does a fine version. I saw him perform years ago at Universal studios with Celia Cruz and Oscar D'Leon. Nice show.

Desde un Principio: From the Beginning

"Ahora Seremos Feliz" by unknown mustachioed dude:

My favorite Hernandez song is "El Cumbanchero." Judging only by the amount of times it's been remade, it's one of the most popular Puerto Rican songs of all time. Listening to it, one can understand how successive generations can fall in love with its insistent beat and sharp melody. The video below explains that when Rafael Hernandez met President John Kennedy, that Kennedy addressed him as Mr. Cumbanchero.

Celia Cruz does a lovely version:

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Cuban scat: Miguelito Valdes: Oh, mi Tambo and the American influence on Cuban music

asymmetricblog@gmail.com (Nelson Guirado) — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:15:20 PDT

http://www.nelsonguirado.com/media/Oh_Mi_Tambo.mp3

Classic Cuban music didn't exist in a vacuum. Just like the pre and immediate post-war world loved Cuban music, Cubans loved foreign music. Brazilian, Mexican, and Argentine music was popular, but American music probably left the biggest impression: Frank Sinatra inspired Cuban imitators in a music Cubans called "Filin" or "el Feeling." Jazz was huge, of course. Some of the influences are subtle, and some are quite obvious. Here are some of the easy ones:

One "lady" who sure did get around was Minnie the Moocher. On her way to Sweden, she must have stopped by Havana to catch a show by Miguelito Valdes. Miguelito Valdes' Minnie turn is above. Cab Calloway is below.

King of Hi-De-Ho: 1934-1947

Celia Cruz has a song called "Rock and Roll." It's funny that they only considered Rock a "new rhythm," or one of many and apparently had no idea that it would become the dominant force in popular music.

Cuban Queen

One of the most popular songs from the immediate post-revolution Cuba is Los Zafiros. They mixed Cuban rhythms with American Rock and Roll, especially Doo Wop. This one's called "Puchunguita Ven." You can probably hear several American songs in there.

Bossa Cubana

According to this interesting book, Olga Guillot was one of the leading Cuban singers of the Filin movement. Here she sings "La Noche de Anoche." You can tell why the style became popular. Filin is a good match for the melodramatic Latin sensibility.

Los 15 Grandes Exitos

Wait! I happen to have all of the singers mentioned in the book. And, they're all on one superb collection that I purchased a few years ago. It's called 100 Canciones del Milenio and you can buy it below.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Star Trek's Uhura dances Merengue

asymmetricblog@gmail.com (Nelson Guirado) — Mon, 11 May 2009 00:34:53 PDT

http://www.nelsonguirado.com/media/la_llave_de_mi_corazon-sbr.mp3

Zoe Saldana, very pretty, likable actress.

As I was reading up on Star Trek's super-sexy Zoe Saldana, I noticed that she's parts Dominican and Puerto Rican and that she's in a Merengue video with Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra.

I'll discuss Juan Luis Guerra more later, as he's an interesting guy and I like a number of his songs. Today, we'll play, "La Llave De Mi Corazon," the song in which Lt. Nyota Uhura...I mean Zoe Saldana, dances.

It's OK. It sounds more Mambo than Merengue, which fits better with the retro theme.

Grandes Exitos de Juan Luis Guerra Y 4.40 by Rudy Mangual

La Llave De Mi Corazon

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

The Quim songs, Celia Cruz, Machito, Conjunto Casino, et. al.

asymmetricblog@gmail.com (Nelson Guirado) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:53:49 PDT

http://www.nelsonguirado.com/media/Quimbara.mp3

I was listening to "Quimbombo" by Machito, remembering that a few other songs had "quim" in it, and realizing that I had no idea what it meant. I looked it up. According to the Reverso dictionary, "quim" means "coño," which, if you hear it and it's directed at you, means that you've pissed off some Cuban or Spanish dude (or a very unladylike Spanish or Cuban woman).

"Quimba" is "sandal," in parts of the Caribbean and "debt" in the Andes.

The definition that makes most sense in an Afro-Latin musical context, however, is as part of the name of an Afro-Brazilian religion called "Quimbanda".

OK. On to the music. The podcast is "Quimbara" by Celia Cruz. It's one of her best sixties, post-Sonora Matancera songs. It takes a while to get going, but really sizzles once the chorus pushes her into an improvisational, son style.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Song of the Bi-day: Masabi: Alberto Socarras Y Su Orquesta Cubanacan

asymmetricblog@gmail.com (Nelson Guirado) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:36:01 PDT

http://www.nelsonguirado.com/media/Masabi.mp3

Here's a nice instrumental. Outstanding flute playing.

Music of Cuba: 1909-1951

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

song of bi-day: Sonando by Maraca

asymmetricblog@gmail.com (Nelson Guirado) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:41:09 PDT

http://www.nelsonguirado.com/media/Sonando.mp3

Technical problems have kept me from my Juan Cubanoseedian duties recently.

Here's a nice jam called "Sonando" by Maraca. Typical of much modern Cuban music, the lyrics are rambling and the singing, unmelodious chanting, improvised in the montuno style.

The playing is very good and the music has a quality hook.

Cuban Nights

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Maria Cervantes: Guajiras Cubanas and the Cuban zapateo

asymmetricblog@gmail.com (Nelson Guirado) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:04:46 PDT

http://www.nelsonguirado.com/media/GuajirasCubanas.mp3

I understand that Maria Cervantes' voice isn't everybody's cup of tea (I like it), but I think most will agree that the music itself is very interesting. The piano-only accompaniment reminds me of a Schubert lied.

CUBA CON VOZ DE MUJER by VOL.1 VARIOS

The album is a valuable addition to my collection.

Below is a video of the Cuban country dance mentioned in the song, el zapateo, just to give you an idea of what it looks like. The video is of poor quality, but the alternative was to film myself doing the dance, and I forgot my hat at my dad's house.

Now, "Zapateo," by Rene Touzet. Bonito, no?

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Song of the Bi-day: Xavier Cugat- Brazil

asymmetricblog@gmail.com (Nelson Guirado) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:57:16 PDT

http://www.nelsonguirado.com/media/Brazil.mp3

Wherein a expatriate Spanish conductor famous for semi-authentic Cuban music performs a Brazilian-themed song for well-heeled American audiences.

South America, Take It Away: 24 Latin Hits

Original post blogged on b2evolution.