Review of Robin Moore’s book Music and Revolution: Cultural Change in Socialist Cuba in Cultural Politics Journal Volume 03 Issue 02 July 2007, p265 -268:
BOOK REVIEW
Cultural Policy and Music Making in Revolutionary Cuba
Sue Miller
Music and Revolution: Cultural Change in Socialist Cuba, by Robin D. Moore, Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of [...]
Estrellas Cubanas performed the Danzon Amalia Batista by Rodrigo Prats at the Danzon Festival in Havana in 2007 – do contact me if you’re interested in promoting an exchange project between Estrellas Cubanas and Charanga del Norte.
In 2006 I guested with Orquesta Barbarito Diez in Bejucal near Havana which was a lovely gig with a sweet rhythm section which included the grandson of Orestes Varona, the timbale player from Orquesta Aragón. On piano a very classy lady called Obdulia , Francisco ‘Panchito’ on bass and Jeronomito Barbón on congas and a [...]
At the International Danzón Festival I performed with Charanga Orquestas ‘Estrellas Cubanas’, ‘Orquesta Sublime’ and ‘Charanga de Oro’ and gave a lecture in Spanish at the conference on my research and my band Charanga del Norte (the UK’s only Charanga Orquesta). I was featured on Cuban television and radio as something of a novelty [...]
Polo Tamayo plays the famous Mambru quote and tongue twister rr con rr cigarro, rr con rr barril, rapido corren los carros, cargando de azucar del ferrocarril on El Bodeguero as played by Charanga de Oro led by Jose Loyola. Enrique Lazaga is on güiro, Pancho Terry on violin and Jorge Machado on bass. This [...]
Recent CD Reviews of Cuban and Salsa music by Sue Miller are available on www.gondwanasound.co.uk :
Review of The Rough Guide to Cuban Music
Review of Amadito Valdes Bajando Gervasio
I gave a lecture at the international Danzón conference in Havana in April 2009 where I demonstrated how I learnt the Cuban flute style of improvisation from renowned Cuban flute players such as Richard Egües, Polo Tamayo and Melquiades Fundora.
Transcribing Charanga flute solos forms part of my PhD research into the Cuban flute style of improvisation. Here is a solo by Richard Egües from the album ‘Richard Egües Grandes Hits con la Orquesta Aragón’ (Egrem)
The following interview took place between Sue Miller and Richard Egües, flautist from Orquesta Aragón at Richard’s home in Santo Suares, Havana in April 2000
SM: Where were you born and how did you begin your musical career?
RE: I was born in a small village called Cruces, when it was part of the former province of [...]