Producing the Under the Radar CD
The Under the Radar CD is a collection of recordings of Cuban music made on location in Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo. It is an expansive compilation of traditional songs by Cuban groups and new collaborative works by individual artists from Cuba and the US. Though all these musicians and groups have attained varying measures of success in their respective genres and locations, they are all engaged in the continuing struggle for artistic survival and international exposure.
In the production of Under the Radar, the music, the artists and the project itself flew under the radar of governmental strategies and restrictions while attempting to build bridges of cooperation, fight injustice and bring attention to the people-to-people and musical relationships that exist between the two nations, particularly in the historical and cultural context of Africans in the Americas.
These recordings were made on location during two brief cultural expeditions to Cuba. I was contracted by Executive Producer Alvin “Skipper” Bailey to go to Cuba to record a variety of music to be used in the soundtrack of an independent documentary film he wanted to make about the negative effects of the US economic blockade on Cuba.
Because I have long been fascinated and inspired by Afro-Cuban music, I was excited by the prospects of the project. So, with no hesitation I made arrangements with several US universities to sponsor my work, then packed up my digital recording gear and traveled to Cuba by way of Canada.
The timing of the first trip was planned to coincide with when renowned avant jazz artists, saxophonists David Murray and Hamiet Bluitt and trombonist Craig Harris, would be in Havana. My son, hip-hop beat producer Jamiah “Fire” Branch, also accompanied me. This collection of five musicians, including myself, would form the contingent of musical collaborators and ambassadors that would give the project its international scope.
Because of Bailey’s ongoing work with the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization: Pastor’s for Peace and their relationship with the Cuban government, we were given open permission to work with and record Cuban artists. Because of the US Treasury Department’s ever tightening restrictions on Cuban travel and trade, this was a rare opportunity to document local music and culture in Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantanamo during this period.
As producer of the music, I had two main objectives: 1.) To capture original and traditional music that was in the repertoire of the musicians involved: and, 2.) To produce new, unique musical collaborations and improvisational works. In addition, I wanted to explore the relationship between Afro-Cuban music and the music of Africans and African-Americans.
The recordings were made using a Roland VS1680, a 16-track digital workstation and high quality microphones. The field recordings were made in a variety of settings, including: the Karl Marx Theater in Havana, a backyard in a Havana barrios, the living room of an urban apartment, a hut in Guantanamo, a night club in Santiago, a rooftop performance space, a religious ceremonial site and the oldest concert hall in Latin America, among others.
All of the musicians involved are aware of the positive possibilities of working together and the impact their music can have in the political, social and cultural arenas both because of and in spite of the policies of their governments. All are aware of the power of music to transcend restrictions and affect the minds and spirit of the people. The participants hope that you will let the music of the past and the music of today speak for a better future for us all.
- J. Plunky Branch
Under The Radar
1. Manuel Denis (Solo) [Havana]
“Una Ves a la Semana”
(Manuel Denis)
2. Grupo: Denis & Swing (Son-Swing Big Band) [Havana]
“Live at the Café Cantanta”
(Manuel Denis)
3. Grupo: Rumba Morenas (Drums and Chants) [Havana]
“Que Fuete el Amor”
(Traditional)
4. Grupo: Folkloryuma (Drums & chants) [Havana]
“La Africana”
(Traditional)
5. Los Profetas (Rap) [Havana]
“Blockade”
(Words by Lourdes Alvarez; Music by Jamiah Branch)
6. Papo Records (Rap) [Havana]
“Revolucion”
(Words by A. Daniel & R. Hechavaria; Music by Jamiah Branch)
7. Salsa Voices (Improvised vocals and saxes) [Havana]
“Saxes Can’t Stop”
(J. Plunky Branch)
8. Grupo: Free Hole Negroes (Rap) [Havana]
“Cuban Pride”
(Free Hole Negroes & Jamiah Branch)
9. Grupo: Morenos del Changui [Guantanamo]
“Changui Song”
(Traditional)
10. Grupo: Okan y Maria Vinent (Afro-Cuban Fusion) [Santiago de Cuba]
“Yuca del Escandel”
(Maria Vinent)
11. Grupo: Muralla (Afro-Cuban Rock) [Santiago de Cuba]
“Rumpe Saraguey”
(Albelardo Larduet)
12. Cuarteto de Saxofones Santiago (Modern classical) [Santiago de Cuba]
“Paralitico”
(Miguel Matamoro)
13. Live All Star Jam (Afro-Cuban jazz) [Havana]
Denis & Swing featuring David Murray, J. Plunky Branch, Craig Harris & Hamiet Bluiett
(J. Plunky Branch)
14. The Trio (Poetess, sax & congas) [Havana]
“Espiritual”
(J. Plunky Branch)
Produced, recorded and mixed by J. Plunky Branch
Executive Producer Alvin “Skipper” Bailey
All songs published by Shekere Music, BMI
Photographs and videography by Jamiah Branch
CD graphic design by Jose Lorenzo
Special Thanks:
Eugene Godfried, Siul Mancebo, Luis Antunez Mendoza, Marika “Angelika” Wanders, Lic Carmen I. Lamoru La O, Maria de la Angels Poll, Marley Aucio,
Naomy Soler, Vanessa Carroll
And all the beautiful Cuban musicians, performers and rappers who contributed their music, time, and love to this project.
All profits from the sales of this CD will be donated to the non-profit organizations: Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization: Pastor’s for Peace and Branches of the Arts, Inc.
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Saxophonist J. Plunky Branch is a performer, songwriter and record and film producer, and he is president of N.A.M.E. Brand Records. Plunky was a studio musician for television's "The Cosby Show. His song “Every Way But Loose” was a top-ten soul music hit in London. He has appeared on avant-garde jazz albums by Pharaoh Sanders, and Hamiett Bluitt and he taught jazz and commercial music at universities.
He has performed in England, explored music business opportunities in France and Japan and traveled to Brazil and to Cuba twice to produce music recordings and a documentary film, Under the Radar- A Survey of Afro-Cuban Music.
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