Books « CharangaSue.com

Tribute to Eddie Palmieri

A real innovator of Latin music left us on 6 August 2025 – it seems like Eddie Palmieri has been on this planet forever and his immense contribution to Cuban dance music in New York and Latin jazz will continue to hold influence. Below is an extract from my book Improvising Sabor – Cuban Dance Music in New York looking at his wonderful work with his band La Perfecta – sadly missed by all who knew him and his music Eddie Palmieri, along with his brother Charlie, leave an extraordinary body of work for us all to learn from and enjoy. Gracias por la musica Eddie E.P.D. – en paz descanse

New Review of Improvising Sabor – Cuban Dance Music in New York

A new review by Professor Jairo Moreno of Sue Miller’s book Improvising Sabor – Cuban Dance Music in New York (University Press of Mississippi, 2021) https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/I/Improvising-Sabor

“This is strong historical work, joining a distinguished set of revisionary histories of New York City “Latin” music such as Salsa Rising (Juan Flores, 2016) and Arsenio Rodríguez and the Transnational Flows of Latin Popular Music (David Garcia, 2006)—research that offers a rich, inclusive, and diverse understanding of one of the great musical developments of twentieth-century American, Caribbean, and Latin American music.”

New Book on Serge Gainsbourg

“Latin” Gainsbourg and the Parisian Nightclub Scene

Sue Miller (Leeds Becket University)

That Serge Gainsbourg made use of Cuban music on recordings such as “Mambo Miam Miam” (mambo/chachachá), “L’Eau à la Bouche” and “Cha cha cha du Loup” (chachachá), and “Couleur Café” (Cuban son), is well known. Perhaps less explored, at least in terms of musical influence, is Gainsbourg’s background as a performer and musical director within the 1950s Paris nightclub scene and the important role his father Joseph Ginsburg had on his musical development. Both Joseph and Serge (Lucien) Ginsburg worked in Paris cabarets and the history of live music in Paris therefore holds a key to understanding Gainsbourg’s eclectic artistic output.

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.

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.

New Book by Sue Miller – Improvising Sabor: Cuban Dance Music in New York

My New Book comes out next year in hardback and paperback and if you pre-order there are really good discounts available from the University Press of Mississippi. More details here: https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/I/Improvising-Sabor

Cuban Flute Style: Interpretation and Improvisation review in Latin American Music Review Journal

Review by Sunni Witmer of ‘Cuban Flute Style: Interpretation and Improvisation’ by Sue Miller in Latin American Music Review, Volume 37, Number 1, Spring/Summer 2016, Published by University of Texas Press
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/619638

‘All in all, Miller’s book is a valuable contribution to the scant research on charanga, and it is especially informative for those interested in improvisation, performance practices, analysis of popular music, flute performance, and, of course, Cuban music.’

Review in Flute Journal

Book Review: Cuban Flute Style: Interpretation And Improvisation, By Sue Miller. Book Review by Jessica Valiente Cuban Flute Style: Interpretation and Improvisation, by Sue Miller (The Scarecrow Press, 2014), holds the distinction of being the only scholarly work published in English devoted exclusively to the study of the Cuban charanga. Read more here: Book Review in Flute Journal […]

ARSC Journal Review of Cuban Flute Style by Nestor Torres

I am honoured that the multi-talented flute player Nestor Torres has reviewed my book for the Association of Recorded Music Sound journal (ARSC):
‘I declare that Cuban Flute Style is brilliant and without precedent. The research work is thorough and meticulous. The historical narrative of the flute styles and its protagonists is comprehensive, consistent and most importantly, respectful of the music’s tradition and filled with palpable affection. Her improvisation transcriptions and music samples from a wide selection of recordings (most of them commercially released) are accurate and accessible. . . .Sue Miller has created a work that celebrates and guarantees the perpetuation of Charanga and its Cuban Flute Style Tradition for many generations to come. Its historical, cultural, and pedagogical value cannot be overstated.’ (ARSC Journal)

‘Activating Improvisational Creativity in the Performance of “World” and “Popular” music’ has a new review in the Journal of Music, Technology & Education

Sue Miller’s chapter on improvisation in university music education has a review in the Journal of Music, Technology & Education:
‘As in Part 2, the arrangement of chapters in Part 3, Experiments in Teaching, brings out their thematic connections. Improvisation, composition and the experience of diverse musical cultures are prominent in this section. Sue Miller describes using her practice-led research in Latin improvisational styles to inform research-led teaching (Chapter 6, ‘Activating improvisational creativity in the performance of “World” and “Popular” music’). She argues for the positioning of improvisation at the centre of musical education, and against the cultural imperialism of most university music curricula.

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