The Cuban Masters Ensemble
Del Pasado Al Presente (The Past Meets The Present)
A Banquet of Swinging and Danceable Cuban Musical Treats
PRE
THE CUBAN MASTERS ENSEMBLE
Presents
Del Pasado Al Presente / The Past Meets the Present
The Cuban Masters Ensemble , brings together some of Cuba’s finest musicians and singers from many different musical styles performing eleven new original tunes written by Aaron Singer in collaboration with Orlando Perez Montero ( Orchestra Aragon ), Jorman Almagro ( Pachito Alonzo ) , Ernesto “el gato “ Gatell ( Rumberos de Cuba) , Bobby Carcasses , Rafael Lay , and Emilio Morales .The featured singers include : Lazaro Galarraga ,Ernesto Bacallao ,Tamayo, Sixto Llorente (El Indio) ,Pedro Lugo Martinez (El Nene) ,Ariel Monterecy ,Lisset Caro Farquenson and Ernesto Gatell (Gato) .
All of the tunes recorded here reflect a wide variety of Cuba’s rich and varied musical styles .
There is a Danzón dedicated to Ochun ,the Cuban goddess of love and sensuality performed by current members of Orquesta Aragon, under the direction of Rafael Lay and sung by the great Cuban master Lazaro Galarraga . A Comer Con Manteca is aa Rumba written in memory of Tata Güines the late great and irreplaceable “congero” percussionist . In order to pay the proper tribute to Tata ,the rumba was recorded live and performed by legendary percussionists Jesus Alfonso ( who recently passed away ), Freddie Alfonso (both from the group Los Munequitos de Matanzas), Changuito, and Maximino Duquensne Martinez from Los Rumberos de Cuba,and sung by Ariel Monterecy . The rumba also includes solos from pianist Jorman Almagro and trescero Pancho Amat .
There are two Latin Jazz tunes on the CD as well. Mojito Blues is in 6/8 arranged by Bobby Carcasses in which he also plays and solos on the flugelhorn and See Seven Sabor featuring exhilerating solos by violinist Dagoberto Gonzalez Sibore. (Orquestra Aragon ) and pianist Emilio Morales .
In addition , there is a bonus track written by Blas Munoz “Son A Celia “ dedicated to to the memory of Celia Cruz referred to as the “ Queen of Salsa “ performed here by La Caro Band a well known salsa band in Cuba .
Much of this CD was recorded live without any time restrictions placed upon the soloists, giving them total freedom to express their musical ideas. For that reason, this music is destined to live forever because it captures the spontaneity and creativity of these Cuban masters. I hope that you enjoy it.
Aarón Singer.
Biography:
Brooklyn born percussionist, composer, and now producer Aaron Singer began studying piano and drums at the age of nine. As a teenager, he started studying hand percussion with Emil Latimer and Daniel Barrajanos after listening to West African artists Guy Warren and Babatunde Olatunji. Later he studied the vibraphone and attended the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Chicago Music College, and graduated from the Berklee College of Music with a four year diploma in arranging and composition. Over the years, he has performed with the Buddy Rich big band, Tito Puente band, Richie Havens, Rahsaan Roland Kirk , and Hines, Hines,and Dad. Singer has worked as a percussionist-accompanist for dance troupes in New York, Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles
has led his own band , written several musical shows , and performed on radio, television, and in the theatre.
NOTA DE PRENSA
“DEL PASADO AL PRESENTE”: UNA GRABACIÓN ESTELAR DEL “CUBAN MASTERS ENSEMBLE”
El colectivo denominado “Cuban Masters Ensemble” congrega a un nucleo de los mejores músicos y cantantes cubanos, representativos de muchos diferentes terrenos estilísticos, con el propósito de interpretar once novedosos temas compuestos por Aarón Singer, en colaboración con Arnoldo Pérez Montero (Orquesta Aragón), Jormán Almagro (Pachito Alonso), Ernesto ‘El Gato” Gatell (Rumberos de Cuba), Bobby Carcassés, Rafael Lay (hijo) y Emilio Morales. El elenco de cantantes primordiales incluyen a Lázaro Galarraga, Ernesto Bacallao, Tamayo, Sixto Llorente (El Indio), Pedro Lugo Martínez (El Nene), Ariel Monterecy, Lisset Caro Farqueson y el antedicho Ernesto Gatell (El Gato). Todos los números aquí grabados reflejan una amplia gama estilística de la opulencia musical cubana.
El disco comienza con un danzón dedicado a Ochún, la deidad afrocubana del amor y la sensualidad, ejecutado por integrantes actuales de la Orquesta Aragón (bajo la dirección de Rafael Lay, hijo) y vocalizado por el magistral Lázaro Galarraga. “A Comer Con Manteca” es una rumba escrita en homenaje al fallecido e irremplazable Tata Güines, el gran ícono de la percusion cubana. Con miras a rendir tal tributo apropiadamente, esta rumba fue grabada en vivo e interpretada por un par de legendarios percusionistas extraidos de los Muñequitos de Matanzas (Freddie y Jesús Alfonso, el último de los cuales falleció recientemente), en alianza rumbera con Changuito y Maximino Duquesne Martínez (Rumberos de Cuba) y Ariel Monterecy. La rumba tambien contiene solos del pianista Jormán Almagro y del tresero Pancho Amat.
Hay un par de piezas de jazz latino: El arreglo en 6/8 de “Mojito Blues” fue elaborado por Bobby Carcassés (quien también nos ofrece un notable solo de fliscornio), mientras que “See Seven Sabor” incluye formidables solos del violinista Dagoberto González Siboré (Orquesta Aragón) y el pianista Emilio Morales.
Finalmente, hay un “bonus track”, “Son a Celia”, escrito por Blas Muñoz y dedicado a la memoria de Celia Cruz. Este tributo póstumo a “La Reina de la Salsa” es interpretado aquí por la Caro Band, una renombrada agrupación salsera de la capital cubana.
Gran parte del CD fue grabada en vivo, sin imponer ninguna restricción de tiempo a los solistas participantes, los cuales gozarón del libre alberdrio necesario para expresar cabalmente sus idóneos conceptos musicales. Por lo tanto, el producto final está destinado a perdurar perpetuamente ya que logra capturar la espontaneidad y creatividad de las antedichas figuras magistrales de la música cubana. Espero que lo disfruten.
Aarón Singer.
Moods: Type: Tributes