ABRACADABRA. Oriente Lopez latest album (OHL Music 2016)

Cuban music elsewhere

The ABRACADABRA phonogram will be there for a long time, and whoever wants to know how Cuban music was made in the first decades of the 21st century will have to listen to it.

Usually, when I'm about to write, I try to avoid "the fear of the blank page" and I do it trying to shred the idea as much as possible; however, with ABRACADABRA the digestion has been slow, long, very long, and the more I listen the more I discover the complex warp of magic.

I do not want to describe each piece of the album, because all those who have participated in it have had the same responsibility and that responsibility has been exercised by everyone with the same mastery. So let's see, this album, which I've already heard a few times, is a stop, a point of reference, an indicator, a snapshot of Cuban musical art, of Cuban music elsewhere. It is, in my opinion, an anthology of the work of Oriente López; but, above all, a family portrait of some of the most experienced musicians born in Cuba, and of others, who, having been born on other beaches, join the waves of Cuban jazz and Cuban song.

And I mention these two genres because it is the forest that I can see, because detailing the trees would be as laborious as it is unnecessary, because each of them is a lustful synthesis of world music. Synthesis I say and nothing else, because something new emerges from it, without seams, without us discovering where the filin, jazz, timba, son, flamenco or rock, etc. begins or ends. This music is all that and much more.

And since all the pieces of this album are sung, Oriente found an accomplice in Ana Margarita Mireles, as Lecuona found it in Gustavo Sánchez Galarraga. She, Ana, is a poet who was born in the largest of the Antilles, and with this work she marked a line on the wall, a line that indicates the height, or perhaps I should say one of the many directions of Cuban literature. Anyway, she gave the gift of the word to each of the pieces of ABRACADABRA and threw it to the ground, demolished the myth of the vulgarity of texts in Cuban popular music.

I understand that for now I can not adjust this album to categories or genres. I can assure, that yes, that is the result of that emotional catharsis that historically Cuban musicians have defined as "descarga", those creations that come out of the spirit like fire, regardless of the consequences. Oriente López has downloaded the music that fits in his ears, the one that catches in his multiple listeners, the one that leads him to the synthesis of the styles and refers us to sonic universes that, although they are in our ear, he, through his creative mastery, rescues them, re-creates them and shares them in this phonogram that we have to listen to, first for pleasure ... then we will see how to categorize or categorize it, for now it is magic. The ABRACADABRA phonogram will be there for a long time, and whoever wants to know how the Cuban music that went with its musicians to another part was made during the first decades of the 21st century, will have to listen to it.

Who is who in ABRACADABRA:

Oriente López (1962): As a composer and arranger of the popular group Afrocuba, his particular vision of fusing Cuban music with jazz, Caribbean, Brazilian and other more universal styles influenced the direction of many contemporary groups in Cuba in the decades eighty and ninety. This work directs him to other subsequent collaborations with important contemporary artists such as Chico Buarque de Hollanda, Chucho Valdés, Arturo Sandoval, Fito Páez and Pablo Milanés. Read more.

Ana Mireles: Graduated in theatrology of the Higher Institute of Art, she has maintained programs on television and radio, created companies and set up the camp on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, as well as collecting a powerful and personal poetic work. Read more.

Pavel Urkiza (1963): Composer, producer and arranger of great sensibility and connection with the musical cultures of the world. His deep respect and understanding of the roots of Cuban music in combination with 22 years of musical life and experience in the Iberian Peninsula has resulted in a truly unique style that offers a wide range of rhythms, harmonies, melodies and lyrics. Read more.

Javier Ruibal (1955): In his music, styles such as flamenco, Sephardic and Maghrebian music, jazz, rock, etc. come together. On February 28, 2007 he won the Medal of Andalusia in recognition of his career. Read more.

Leslie Cartaya: Singer and composer of the salsa genre. He was born in San Nicolás de Bari near Havana, Cuba. He currently resides in Miami, United States. Among its most popular themes are: Hug Me, That's My Land, Forget, Dance, La Candela, Bolero Blue and The Best Of My Madnesses. Read more.

Mayito Rivera: Mayito was discovered by Juan Formell, the director of Los Van Van. Initially hired to play the bass and sing choruses, he soon established himself as the group's lead vocalist. Read more.

Alain Pérez (1977): At the beginning of the 21st century the rhythm of Madrid changed. Cubans and flamencos understood and practiced a common language beyond jazz, son and bulería. He is part of the "Piratas del flamenco", with Niño Josele, Caramelo, Javier Colina, Diego El Cigala, El Piraña and Jerry González. This opened a door for the reappearance of Bebo Valdés. Read more.

Malena Burke has recorded three CDs with her mother: Cuba on Fire, Las Burke and "Elena and Malena Burke", in Cuba, production of EGREM. Also Salseando, with NG La Banda. In 1996 he recorded in Miami the CD Super Cuban All Stars, produced by RMM Records, and Malena Burke, and in 1998, together with Meme Solís and Luis García, produced A Solas Contigo, vol. I and II. He has also recorded the Cd's Bolero Jazz: Misty, Contigo en la Distancia and Malena Total. Recently he recorded Maybe, Maybe, Maybe on CD 10 of Cuba for Colombia, and four songs on Volumes 1 and 2 of Classics of Cuban Music by Eliseo Grenet. Read more.

Kelvis Ochoa: His ability to appreciate so many different types of music, his talent to capture that inspiration in his work and to conceive a sound totally his; it is what has made Kelvis Ochoa such a vital force in Cuban music today. Read more.

Gerardo Contino: Since moving to New York, Gerardo started his own band, Gerardo Contino and Los Habaneros. They released their debut album, Somos Latinos, in 2013 to very high critical acclaim. He has toured all over the world and in his new hometown, NYC, he has performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Sounds of Brazil (SOBs), BB King Blues Club, Le Poisson Rouge, the Bronx Museum, Live at the Gantries , Roulette, Gonzalez and Gonzalez, Taj and many others. Read more.

Yamila Guerra: One of the most talented Latin artists. Yamila brings her voice, her songs and her rhythms from her native Cuba, from Latin America and from all over the world. Read more.

Magilee Álvarez:  Magilee has had collaborations as a singer with Luis Barberia, Manolín (el medico de la salsa), Aries, Raul Torres, Habana Oculta, Habana Abierta, Anna Torroja of Grupo Mecano, Luis Pastor, Ketama group, Nunno da Camara, Javier Gurruchaga, Amaury Gutierrez, Gema and Pavel, Santiago Auseron, David Torrens, Descemer Bueno, Yussa, Williams Vivanco, Haka, Filbert Armenteros, Yotuel and Beatriz Luengo, Ossiel Fleitas, Pavel Urquiza among others, Magilee also shares the author of many compositions with Raul Torres, Pavel Urquiza, Descemer Bueno and Ossiel fleitas among others. He has also worked in film, theater and television, in addition to starring in numerous video clips.

Ángel Bonne (1961): His interpretative quality and musical talent led him to be part of one of the most important orchestras of Cuban music: the Juan Formell Orchestra, Los Van Van, where in addition to playing the saxophone, he performed the duties of arranger and singer. Read more.

Translate from Spanish into English by Oriente Lopez.

To obtain the CD click here: CDbaby

Who does what in ABRACADABRA:

ABRACADABRA

2016 ℗ OHL 003

Total time (1:08:02)

Executive producer: ORIENTE LÓPEZ

Music - Oriente López OHL Music

Lyrics - Ana Mireles ARCARIUM Music

1 Saltos en La Escalera. Lead Vocal - Pável Urquiza

2 Abracadabra. Voz solista - Javier Ruibal

3 Peregrino. Lead Vocal - Oriente López

4 Cálido Amargo. Lead Vocal - Leslie Cartaya

5 Oba Iré. Lead Vocal - Mayito Rivera

6 El Dulcerito Llegó. Lead Vocal - Javier Porta

7 Baja La Candela. Lead Vocal and Bass- Aláin Pérez

8 En Fin, El Mar. Lead Vocal - Malena Burke

9 Mi Tatara. Lead Vocal - Kelvis Ochoa

10 Pasáste Por Aquí. Lead Vocal - Gerardo Contino

11 Aterriza. Lead Vocal - Yamila Guerra

12 Herida De Pena. Lead Vocals - Magilee Alvarez y Oriente López

13 No Te Olvidé. Lead Vocal - Magilee Alvarez

14 El Alma Del Jardín. Lead Vocal - Oriente López

15 Había Una Vez. Lead Vocal - Oriente López

16 Arrollando El Carnaval. Lead Vocal and clarinet - Angel Bonne

Bass: Carlos Mena (1) (5) (11) (14) (16), Luis Manresa (2) (3) (6), Itaiguara Brandao (4) (15), José Gola (8) (13), Jorge Bringas (9) (10), Sean Kupicz (12)

Guitars, acoustic, electric and tres: Román Lajara (1) (7) (12) (13), Gil Gutiérrez (2), Yuniel Jiménez (3) (9), Julio C. López "Pachy" (3), Itaiguara Brandao (4) (15), John Tropea (8) (11), Jorge Luis Pérez (12)

Drums: Jimmy Branly (1) (3) (4) (6) (8) (11), Calixto Oviedo (7) (9), Mauricio Zotarelli (15)

Percussions: Mauricio Herrera (1) (9) (10) (16), Román Díaz (1), Ramón Porriña (2) (9), Vicente Sánchez (3) (6) (8), Mario Lino Fernández (3) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (14), Gilmar Gomes (4), Conrad Garcia (5) (7), Gabriel Machado "Chinchilita" (10), Fernando Favier (12) (13) ), Igor Arias (14), Yusnier Sánchez (15)

Sax: Carlos Averhoff (1) (11), Luis Felipe Lamoglia (4), Neil Leonard (5), Luis Faife (7) (12), Chris Ferrer (6) (16)

Trumpet and Fluglehorn: Chris Ferrer (1) (3) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (12) (16), Juan Carlos "Wichy" López (1), Yaure Muñíz (1) ( 11), Guillermo Trujillo (5)

Trombone: Rey David Alejandre (1) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (12), Chris Ferrer (16)

Background Vocals: Pável Urquiza (1), Glenda Del E (1) (2) (4) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (16), Román Díaz (1) (9) , Oriente López (2) (3) (5) (7) (8) (10) (12) (16), Barbara Martínez (2), Magilee Alvarez (3) (8) (9) (11) (12) ) (15), Leslie Cartaya (4), Emilia Przesniak (5) (9), Vicente Sánchez (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (15) (16), Gerardo Contino ( 5), Sebastián López (5) (9) (16), Luis Manresa (6), Iraysmi Andrea Ramírez (6), Ailyn Arias (6) (15), Aime Arias (6) (15), Yun Huang (9) ), Ana Mireles (Poem 9), Yamilia Campos (10) (16), Salvador De Angela (12), Michelle Collier (14), Igor Arias (14)

Violins: Rafael Cos Peña (2) (4), Juan Miguel Hechavarría Pérez (2) (4), Yunior Terry (2) (5) (8) (10) (13), Omar Puente Fiffe (7) (10)

Viola: Ana María Rojas Gallego (2) (4)

Cello: Karen Lizeth Londoño Múñera (2) (4), Jennifer Vincent (2) (5) (8) (10) (13)

Recorded at: Kitsa Studio (Madrid, Spain) Pavel Urquiza, JBranly Studio (CA, USA) Jimmy Branly, PTY Studios (Panama City, Panama) Ignacio Molino, Yaure Muñíz Studio (MA, USA) Yaure Muñíz, MH Studio (NJ, USA) Mauricio Herrera,

OHL Music (NJ, USA) Oriente Lopez, Infinity Studios (Madrid, Spain) Pablo & Pedro Baselga, RCM Studio (Paris, France) Luis Manresa, ProMaster Estudio (Medellin, Colombia) Alex Gaviria, Toppano Studio (SM Allende, Mexico) Lorenzo Toppano, OK Studios (FL, USA) Otto Knight, Habana Studios (London, UK) Flavio Correa, Orpheus Studio (Tokyo, JAPAN) Naoto Sugawara, RYCY Productions (CA, USA) Yalil Guerra, Tedesco Studios (NJ), USA) Tom Tedesco

Mixing and mastering BASS MAN STUDIO (NY, USA) Dave Darlington

COVER ART CREDITS:

Typography and logo: Oriente López and Juan Betancurth,

Interior photo: Greta Liz López, Cover design: Frank Guiller