Album Notes

“Los Hipsters No Bailan: La Habana/Brooklyn Sessions” is the dynamic debut cd from Son de Brooklyn. This album’s unique mix of musical flavors derives from its unusual pedigree: half of the tracks were recorded in New York City and half in Havana, Cuba. “Los Hipsters No Bailan” is the sun-baked soundtrack for your unrealized daydreams to move to the islands…featuring danceable grooves, catchy choruses and killer musicianship all tightly wrapped into a cohiba of New York sophistication and authentic Caribbean sensuality. Son de Brooklyn is the antidote to slick and overproduced Latin music: If you love Marc Anthony and Ricky Martin, you’ll probably hate this album.

“Los Hipsters No Bailan” features some of New York’s and Havana’s finest young musicians, including Renato Thoms (percussion,vocals), Igor Arias (percussion, vocals), Eddie Venegas (violin, trombone), charanga master Alberto Corrales (flute), and Luis Mirabal (trumpet), the 18-year-old grandson of Cuban trumpet legend and Buena Vista Social Club member Guajiro Mirabal.

Album highlights include “Rumba Descomplicada”, a thrilling guagancó about the pleasures of the simple life, “En Ti Pensaba”, a bolero whose lyrics borrow from the poetry of Cuban statesman Jose Marti, “Glen Echo Ballroom”, an original danzón with jazz harmony, and “Bach Invention No. 13/Glen Echo Ballroom Rehearsal” which features a baroque classical selection played on the traditional Cuban stringed instrument, the tres.

“Los Hipsters No Bailan” fondly recalls the days when Havana and New York freely exchanged their musical wealth. A rich rhythmic stew of son, rumba, danzón, mambo, bolero, and jazz Latino, Son de Brooklyn’s first album is an exhilarating musical bridge between New York and Havana that will satisfy those who want to dance and inspire those trying to get the nerve.