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A Musico-Choreographic Analysis of a Cuban Dance Routine – Animation Demonstrations

This practice research by Prof. Sue Miller, Guillermo Davis and Dr Sarah Bowen is based on the analysis of a live performance on Cuban television of ‘Los Problemas de Atilana’ by Orquesta Aragón in the early 1960s, where musical gestures are shown to be embodied in the flute and dance solo ‘duet’ performed by Cuban flautist Richard Egües and dancer Rafael Bacallao. Through re-performance and re-presentation in the form of a recording and short animations, the many meanings embodied in the original performance are examined through analytical text, musical notation, visuals, recordings and animation film. The article will be published soon in the British Forum for Ethnomusicology Journal and below are some of the animations made to go with this article. Animations are by Cuban dancer-animator Guillermo Davis and the music is recorded by Sue Miller (flute) and her band Charanga del Norte.

Bill Kinghorn – A Tribute

I have studied and taught at a variety of Higher Education institutions and had some brilliant teachers and mentors along the way – but Bill stands out for his ability to teach, perform and entertain simultaneously. He was, in short, the best lecturer I have ever had. His piano playing in lectures on jazz harmony, for example, were both inspiring and so much fun – Bill himself said that if students are relaxed and having fun then they are more receptive to learning. He did not provide easy answers or shortcuts (as he said “questions open doors – answers close them”) – instead he fueled your curiosity and enabled latent creativity to be realized. He encouraged his music students to think deeply about what they were doing and to listen to the results closely.

NEW BOOK – Improvising Sabor – Cuban Dance Music in New York

Improvising Sabor: Cuban Dance Music in New York begins in 1960s New York and examines in rich detail the playing styles and international influence of important figures in US Latin music. Such innovators as José Fajardo, Johnny Pacheco, George Castro, and Eddy Zervigón dazzled the Palladium ballroom and other Latin music venues in those crucible years. Author Sue Miller focuses on the Cuban flute style in light of its transformations in the US after the 1959 revolution and within the vibrant context of 1960s New York.

Sue Miller features on the Radio programme Tropicana Musical in Brazil

Sue Miller was interviewed on the radio programme Tropicana Musical in Brazil by ethnomusicologist and broadcaster Edwin Pitre and is now available as a podcast.The interview on the history of Cuban charanga is mostly in Spanish and features music from Orquesta Tata Peireira, Arcano y sus Maravillas, Fajardo y sus Estrellas, Orquesta Aragon, Orquesta Belisario Lopez, Orquesta Broadway, Charlie Palmieri y su Charanga Duboney, Johnny Pacheco y su Charanga, Estrellas Cubanas, Orquesta Sublime and Charanga Rubalcaba.

New book Improvising Sabor pre-order half price in the 2021 special offer

You can get my new book Improvising Sabor: Cuban Dance Music in New York for only $20.21 until December 15th 2020 if ordered online which is a bargain especially for the hardback version.

Charanga del Norte’s new album Pachanga Time features on Spanish Radio

Kiko Helguera of Radio 3 de España features Charanga del Norte’s new track ‘Mack the Knife’ from their new album Pachanga Time.

Charanga del Norte’s music aired on Global Soul Radio

DJ Irfan Rainy features Charanga del Norte’s new track ‘Bronx Pachanga’ from their new album Pachanga Time on his global Soul radio.

Si Cheeba feature new Charanga del Norte release on his Ship Full of Bombs Radio Show 4 September 2020

Si Cheeba aka Simon Fane features the new Charanga del Norte release ‘Pachanga Time’ on his Ship Full of Bombs Radio Show on 4 September 2020.

Charanga del Norte featured on Global Village Radio

With Hispanic Heritage Month underway later in September, Global Village highlights new Latin jazz from JOSE RIZO’S MONGORAMA, the UK’s Charanga del Norte, the John Santos and The John Santos Sextet; and contemporary sounds from the multi-national Ladama lineup, the reunited Los Mocosos, and the first Spanish-language album from the The Mavericks

UK Charanga Showcased by DJ and Latin Music historian John Child on 31 August on Aracataca Show.

A third feature of Charanga del Norte’s new album Pachanga Time on Aracataca radio by John Child highlighting the talent of Charanga del Norte’s pianist Kim Burton.

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