Jazz for aficionados

Everything must change, the young become the old, and the old will soon depart; change is the only thing that's certain about life. If you want to know what's good about changes in jazz, look no farther than Cuba; the most scintillating "Afro jazz", as well as "jazz jazz" is emanating from that Island. There are so many subsets of jazz coming out of Cuba, that if you want to split hairs, you can spend all day "categorizing", I prefer to listen and enjoy all the many flavors of this music coming from Cuba.

The word "Cuban", should be synonymous with "survivor"; no other people have gone through so many class, race, political differences and economic upheaval, but yet remained "United Cubans"; they make hypocrites out of the Brazil that claims to be the worlds melting pot. These videos I've chosen will attest to the diversity of Cubans in Cuba who live "harmoniously".

I suppose almost all of these Cuban videos are good, but I chose these two because they present the rocky road of romance that leads to true love, and some smoking hot music plus dance; Cubans got rhythm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rHZXQnQ4rQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDtG84TjYck

For those who desire "Afro Cuban" we have "Cachao"; that one name says more than I could ever say about Cuban jazz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXCD8VB-sb0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5QPq0oTlb0

Another name is "Chucho Valdez", he's leading "The Cuban Jazz Messengers"

"Gonzalo Rubalcabo" is one of the more current jazz musicians that's going off in new directions; here's an example of him and other musicians going off in new directions,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8Fsipr-gHE

"Mayra caridad valdez", that's a name I bet you never heard before; this gal cooks,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7dQasNgHbU

I hope these videos entertain you as much as they have me.

Enjoy the music.

With the so-called "Thaw" in relations with the U.S., Cuban music is in mortal danger. Castro may hold out for a while, but eventually, Cuban music will have to pass muster with the typical air-head in the U.S. Sad.

And of course, the crowd in Miami will, as Bob Dylan once said referring to the European invasion of the U.S., "Start buying the place with beads."

Nice chicks eeerrr I mean clips, but most not Jazz. Or at least not Jazz-Jazz. :)

Pray for Cuba.
Cheers

I really enjoyed the music during a recent trip to the Dominican Republic.

Rok, you know, while I tend to, for personal reasons, resist feeling pessimistic about the future of Cuban music and Cuba in general, I think you are correct. Now, I have no doubt that Cuba will continue to produce fantastic artists including some who will break new and important musical ground and some who will staunchly defend the Cuban music tradition; but the influence of the "air-heads" will be deep and is inevitable.

The "buying of the place with beads" has already been going on for several years by (again) the Europeans and once American commercialism is in full force the change will be huge. It will take time; probably more time than we might imagine, but it will happen. And you know how I know you are correct; aside from common sense and a little bit of knowledge about history? The cigar.

I don't mean to be trite or cute about it. Andy Garcia should be commended for promoting the music of his native country, but he is a product of Hollywood and is so immersed in the Hollywood culture that he doesn't even realize how lame it is to have to use a cigar as a prominent prop during his cameos in the (otherwise good) clip which includes an interview with Cachao, an icon in the music. In typical Hollywood fashion he needs the stereotypical prop as a way to proclaim his Cubanness; please! And sitting in with the band to play congas when it's obvious he can't play......what can one say.

Nice clips O-10, and timely. Thanks.