August 24, 2017 

By Barrington M. Salmon 

NNPA Newswire Contributor 

 

For Juan De Marcos González, there are three pillars that are constants in his life: family, spirituality and music.

 

From his days as a relative unknown paying his dues, to the enviable position he now occupies, each of these elements have always been intertwined in ways that have informed his circumstances. For example, when he lived and worked in London, the revered founder and bandleader of the Afro-Cuban All Stars recalls hard times, writing songs for musicians in London and netting barely enough to take care of himself and his family.

 

“I spent a couple of years in London. I lived in London, Stockwell and Brixton,” said González. “I enjoyed it there, but they were tough times. I wrote music for local bands and made £150 a week. I sent home £130 and lived on £20. I was providing food for all the family: my family and my wife’s family.”

 

In 1996, González’s fortunes also took an upward turn when he met Nick Gold, founder of World Circuit Records. González told Gold he wanted to bring together legendary, but neglected, Cuban musicians from the 1950s to produce a “Big Band” album. González carried with him a long-held desire to honor his father, who sang and played with the great Arsenio Rodriguez, and to also pay tribute to his father’s contemporaries and share the richness of Cuban music with the world.

 

“‘Buena Vista’ was on my mind for years. Nick Gold wanted to do a jam session so I went to Havana and started looking for musicians. I wrote them and found all the old guys,” González said with a chuckle. “It was music of the past with a more sophisticated sound.”

 

González said that some of the players were his father’s friends.

 

“Daddy was a special guy. He never had the chance to go to university. He was Black and poor, had no money at all, but he was the most intelligent man I’ve ever met,” González said, his voice taking a reflective tone. “He had about a 152 IQ, he was a genius. He was a musician, a huge personality who played popular music in the ‘30s and ‘40s. He didn’t consider music a proper profession and insisted that I go to college.”

 

The Buena Vista Social Club brought together greats like OmaraPortuondo, Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, who was a next-door neighbor and a family friend, PioLeiva, Rubén Gonzalez and others.

 

González shook his head and laughed as he spoke of the creation and subsequent public and critical reaction to the Buena Vista Social Club.

 

“We had the budget to record only two albums. At the end we had £4,000 left and recorded in a couple of live sessions and a third album, "Introducing Ruben González." So, the sessions brought three albums in total,” González explained. “It was great to have all of them and be in front of them. We invited RyCooder and he was contracted to work with us. Ry convinced WimWenders to produce the documentary.”

 

González said that he thought that the “Buena Vista Social Club” album would produce some good reviews, but it became a hit.

 

“It was the touch of God, definitely the touch of God,” said González. “The guys died happy, onstage and loved. I enjoyed conducting these guys.”

 

At last count, about 12 million copies of the album had been sold, making it the best-selling album in Cuban history.

 

Music has always been a family affair. As a young man, González studied at the Havana Conservatory, studying classical guitar, but said he was kicked out for bad behavior “because I was a really bad kid,” he said.

 

Later, as a professional musician, he studied contemporary harmony and orchestral conducting.

 

“My daddy didn’t mind (me being kicked out) and bought a guitar from Compay Segundo and said I could play at university.” He honored his father Marcos’ wishes and went to Universidad Agraria de La Habana where he graduated as an Agronomic Engineer and traveled to the Soviet Union to study Engineering, Russian and English Languages and earned a doctorate in Agronomy in 1989, the first in his family to go to university.

 

“My daddy didn’t consider music a real profession,” González said with a hearty laugh. “He wanted me to be in a ‘real’ profession like an engineer, a doctor or a lawyer. I wanted to please him.”

 

Soon after his father died, González became a full-time musician.

 

González considers the musicians he travels and plays with as family and the Afro-Cuban All Stars is very much a family affair with his wife Gliceria Abreu serving as tour manager and Afro-Cuban percussionist, daughters Laura Lydia on saxophone and Gliceria, a classical pianist and orchestra conductor.

 

González spoke lovingly and reverently about the music, and was self-deprecating but firm as he shared his mission: to reveal the breadth, beauty, vitality and diversity of Cuban music. His contributions and participation with Sierra Maestra, Buena Vista Social Club and the Afro-Cuban All Stars has helped raise Cuban music to heights not reached before.

 

The music, he said, is deeply rooted in Africa.

 

“Cuba is perhaps one of the most musical places in the Hemisphere. Cuba is a very important country in this Hemisphere,” he asserted. “The Spanish were in touch with Africa. They didn’t mind Africans

 

playing the drums. Cuban music is happy. You can dance to the Gods. The music is infused with African Spirit with a Spanish flavor. We are a spiritual people. We are Africa.”

 

González said reggae legend Bob Marley is his idol, as is Wailers bandmate Peter Tosh. The three-time Grammy-nominated musician said he also loves the music of Ivorian reggae phenom Alpha Blondy. The Afro-Cuban All Stars tours widely playing between 60 and 70 concerts a year, he said.

 

“We’re touring here, going to Europe, Colombia and Latin America,” said González. “We leave for Europe on January 18 and we have some private concerts. It’s been like this for 21 years. It’s the Afro-Cuban All Stars, my wife and my two daughters. I bring excellent musicians together. They have to be great [people] and they have to have good spiritual energy. It’s difficult to find nice people. I picked the proper people who range in age from 23 to 63 years-old.”

 

The Juan de Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All Stars Orchestra is celebrating its 20th Anniversary marked by a new CD/DVD titled, Absolutely Live II.  There is a live double disc featuring a Blueray DVD of performances at the Strathmore Center for the Arts in Bethesda, Maryland and a CD of the Cervantino Festival in Guanajuato, Mexico.

August 17, 2017 

By A. Scott Galloway 

Contributing Writer 

 

The heart and soul of Senegal, West Africa were on pulsating and vibrant display Sunday, August 6 in the Hollywood Hills when international superstar Youssou NDOUR brought his sprawling ensemble of musicians, singers and dancer to town. NDOUR. Arriving on this first stop in Southern California in over 6 years, NDOUR was touring in support of his 34th and most recent recording, Africa Rekk (“Africa And That’s Final!”) - his first CD in six years following highly honorable service as Minister of Tourism followed by Minister of Culture under President of the Republic of Senegal: MackySall. Once NDOUR’s status shifted to Minister Advisor to the President, he was liberated to once again bring his soul-stirring messages of spiritual grace, gratitude and love to fans around the globe.

 

NDOUR would have had the whole house on its feet from the first buoyant number had everyone in the multi-cultural audience known what to expect. However, once the star insisted that the ushers chill out so everyone could feel free to dance, sing and participate as the spirit moved them, it was near impossible to the majority of the crowd in their seats. Steeped in a river of rhythm from his 4-man percussion and drums section, the music united the audience into a sea of joy…a combination of both jubilant and salacious feelings.

 

Melding the messages of his heart with the music of Mbalax (pronounced “em – bah – lah”), a traditional music of Senegal, with his pop crossover classic of conscience “7 Seconds” (made famous in a duet with Neneh Cherry but sung this night with Babacar FAYE), NDOUR captivated the crowd for nearly two hours of music. NDOUR also performed his two latest singles. The first, “SerigneFallou,” finds him carrying a metaphorical torch of wisdom for the generation behind him depicted as modern dancers. The second, “Be Careful,” delivers a message to young girls to be wary of insincere men and boys who would toy with their hearts.

 

Almost as riveting as NDOUR was featured dancer Moussa SONKO, a locally based master who changed colorful clothing ensembles several times to come down front from the drum section to engage in hyperkinetic movements across the stage and into the aisles. So lifted was the audience that after giving NDOUR a 5-minute standing ovation, the band broke house curfew to play two more songs.

 

NDOUR does not tour often. Should L.A. be granted another visit, it is strongly suggested that lovers of uplifting music suitable for all ages and generations make a special trip for this Senegalese experience in their own backyard.

August 17, 2017 

By Ricky Richardson 

Contributing Writer 

 

Long Beach-Rainbow Promo­tions, LLC. Celebrated three memorable decades of jazz, Latin Jazz, Smooth Jazz, fusion, funk, R&B, and Soul with 20,000 music aficionados, August 11-13 at its 30th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival.

 

The event was held at the Rainbow Lagoon.

 

The Long Beach Jazz Festival featured some of the music industry’s top notched artists, performing in front of a huge receptive audience. The festival also included a vast array of food and art.

 

The festival kicked off with a welcome from Mistress of Ceremony Pat Prescott, Radio Personality, 94.7 The Wave.

 

Al Williams, founder of the Long Beach Jazz Festival along with his daughter Kimberly Benoit-president of Rainbow Promotions LLC., came onstage to welcome the crowd and thank them for their continued support as the festival celebrates another milestone.

 

It only got better and better as the evening progressed. Rachelle Ferrell is an amazing vocalist with an incredible range. She showcased her powerful vocal range during her time in the spotlight, performing some of her classic hits from the past and some recent tunes including, “I Can’t Explain,” “I forgive You,” and “Run to Me.

 

The momentum continued to build up on day two with additional crowd pleasing performances.

 

Before the crowd and I could relax, an explosive ensemble took the festival by storm. This set entitled “30 Years of Long Beach Jazz” featured a stellar group of musicians, NduguChancler-drums, Bobby Lyle-piano/keyboards, Craig T. Cooper-guitar, Alphonso Johnson-bass, and Bridgette Bryant on vocals. They hit all of the right notes that had the crowd grooving throughout their set that featured the tunes “The Genie,” “I Love Your Smile,” “The Sweetest Taboo,” “How Do You Do” (That Thang You Do), and “So High.”

 

Saturday’s line-up also featured performances by Nathan East with his sons Jordan and Noah East as he performed “Life cycles,” Eleven/Eight,” Over the Rainbow, and “Higher Ground.”

 

Will Downey Balladeer/Crooner wowed the crowd on the tunes “I Can’t Help Myself,” “Million Ways to Love a Women,” “You Know How to Hold Me,” “You Got the Best of My Love,” and “Love Roller Coaster.” do you get the feeling that love was in the air as Will Downing worked his way into and melted the hearts of the women. The evening closed with an excellent set by Boney James.

 

Jazz patrons were also treated to a health and wellness pavilion while the music played. They were provided with useful health information and a panel discussion on nutrition.

 

On deck for the final day of the Long Beach Jazz Festival was Al Williams Jazz Society playing a couple of tunes that had the crowd tapping their feet to the beat.

 

Saxophonist Najee and a splendid set by Ramsey Lewis and Urban Nights contributed tremendously to the success of the festival.

 

Conguero Poncho Sanchez return­ed once again to close out the festival.