Klimax Begins

Giraldo Piloto (drummer) and Klimax from their first cd, Mira si te gusta, 1996 (no longer available) The song really begins to cook at the break after the verse around 2:40: Rockin' dance music, copied and admired by every popular Cuban music group to follow and by latin and jazz musicians on both sides of the pond. They're still around.

Timba by the Bay

Vieja Luna

Celia was Celia--of that, there is no doubt.

Who, however, was Juan Orlando de la Rosa Valenzuela? Yes, he was the Cuban composer of this beautiful bolero. He was born in 1919 and only lived to be 37 years old. During his short life, he was an accomplished pianist, having played with the famous Lecuona. He helped to launch the careers of Elena Burke and Omara Portuondo in his group, El Cuarteto Orlando de la Rosa. He helped to form a genre, contributing prolifically to the Golden Age of the Bolero, composing classic songs like “Cansancio”, “Mi corazón es para ti”, “Qué emoción”, “Nuestras vidas”, “Si te dicen”, “No vale la pena”, and, of course, “Vieja luna”.

Here are the lyrics:

Quiero escaparme con la vieja luna,
en el momento en que la noche muere;
cuando se asoma la sonrisa blanca,
en la mañana de mi adversidad.

Quiero volver a revivir la noche,
porque la vieja luna volverá;
ella es quien sabe donde esta mi amor,
ella sabe si es que la perdí;
vieja luna que en la noche va.

En Jesús María

Guarapachangeo recorded by Ilu Irawo in Tijuana in 1989. The recording, Tambor de las estrellas (rare cassette tape), features Regino Jiménez, Roberto Vizcaíno, Juan de Diós, Mario Jaureguí and Mark Lamson. Courtesy: David Peñalosa (Unlocking Clave)

¡El cha, cha, chá, y mucho más!

Learn from two excellent young dancers from Cuba:

CONGA!

This is the real thing! I want to watch this a lot.

Conga San Pedrito

Más Delirio más moderno

Listen to another beautiful version (quite modern) of this timeless song, Tú, Mi Delirio, by a wonderful Mexico City songstress, Magos Herrera.
My wonderful teacher and extraordinary vocalist, María Márquez, said to us, in our class last night, that many in the jazz world say that in order for it to be considered "real jazz", it must be sung in English only. What do you think?

Elegant Elena

Elena Burke (1928-2002), Madame of Fílin (Feeling), sings one of my favorite songs in this ancient video. Fifty years ago in Havana, Cuba, in 1941, she began her artistic career by participating in a radio program for amateurs. She later formed part of the famous female cuartet, Cuarteto D'Aida, along with Omara Portuondo, Moraima Secada, and Omara's sister, Haydeé.

César Portillo de la Luz, one of the originators of the Fílin Movement which started in the '40s, wrote the song in this video, "Tú, Mi Delirio". He was a prolific, talented, and internationally acclaimed song writer. His melodies have endured the decades and changes within popular music--and are still very much alive today. Aida Diestro, director of Cuarteto D'Aida, was also one of the founding members of this collaborative group which changed the course of Cuban song. Fílin songs, usually boleros, were sung differently than in the past--more spoken than sung, almost private in delivery--giving the singer great freedom to interpret. You really notice those things in Elena's rendition of this song of passion and longing.

Elena became a legend in Cuba, helping to shape "El Fílin" and the Cuban Nueva Trova Song movement.

In Cuba, one only has to say the word: Elena. Cubans know exactly who and what you're talking about. They didn't call her Your Majesty for nothing.