Eclecticus Augusto Enriquez
The opening of the 14th Habano Festival at the Karl Marx Theater promises to be an unforgettable evening. The show, defined by its creator Augusto Enriquez as a Cuban divertimento, mixes several musical genres with singular wit accompanied by some well-known friend performers.
The Habano cigar is a way of thinking of life, rather than an addiction. It could be the perfect companion for a moment of reflection, for wonderful relaxing times, a friend in important creation processes to artists or anybody else. A Cuban cigar can become your confident; not that it is fetishism, it’s the reality. The smoke takes you away… manufacturing it alone is a piece of work that predisposes you in a positive way and makes you create.” This is how Augusto Enriquez defines his concept about the world of Habano cigars and how special it is for him to take part in the opening night of the 14th Habano Festival, something he considers an honor and a commitment. In his words, any attempt to hide the passionate artist who vehemently devotes himself to any project he undertakes, actually falls short. Eclectic-us is an album co-produced with Pucho Lopez, one of the greatest Cuban contemporary musicians. “It is a beautiful and very interesting project that has received favorable reviews from the top jazz magazines of the world; and so we thought it was the right proposal for us to return Habanos’ invitation. This night will be the stage debut of Eclectic-us, and which will be followed by a series of presentations that have been already contracted at the different Blue Notes clubs of the world.” Eclectic-us Genesis “Three years ago, an Italian musician named Pino Daniele invited me to join him in a concert on the island of Ischia and suggested that instead of the Mambo Band I had been working with, that I take a smaller group to make transportation and the whole logistics easier. I called maestro Pucho Lopez and told him about Pino’s proposal and he set to work immediately. The first thing to do was to choose the repertory and since we have been dedicated a lot of time and efforts to traditional music, we decided to start with renowned themes. “The first two arrangements were on anthological pieces like Drume Negrita and Bilongo (La negra Tomasa) and those two arrangements convinced me to accept his proposal since the very beginning. There were clear evidences of the inevitable interconnection between the music of the south of the United States and the whole Cuban archipelago, with great wit. “I was impressed and I told Pucho: regardless of whether we make the concert in Italy or not, the truth is that this deserves an album in which you will accompany me as my partner. I don’t want you to make the arrangements for me, but to participate as responsible for something that belongs to both of us, and that’s how the project started.” Fission, not fusion After a thorough selection work, eleven themes whose arrangements return them revitalized to the contemporary times, almost like unpublished themes, were recorded in the album. “Perla Marina, for example, was performed in 6/8 time with all the attributes of walking on a Sunday into a black church in New Orleans. Widely-known songs are sift through fission and not fusion. That is, rhythms that interact without getting blended. That’s the singular thing about this project, what it tries or innovates as creative possibility; that is, being able to go from bebop to Cubop, which are very different styles, though related in a certain matter and can be assimilated when arranged in a way they can harmonically co-exist.” But as Augusto says: “it is better to listen to rather than talking about the music of Eclectic-us,” and that’s the reason why this opening concert is already raising expectations. Added to the novelty of these masterly recorded songs in the album produced by the Colibrí record company – Manisero, Vete de mi, No puedo ser feliz, Mamá Inés, among others –, is the privilege of enjoying the work of the two musicians that come together for the occasion, along with their guest artists. Star-Studded Night As Augusto explained to us, the project was originally conceived as a quintet: “drums, double bass, piano, organ and keyboards, guitar and singer; to which they later added a saxophone. For the Habano Festival we included a trumpet and a trombone to form a trio of brass and heighten certain sounds.” The performers in the group are all stars; and except for the guitar player Jorge Luis Chicoy, who will be on a tour by then, in the show will be: in the drums, Enrique Pla, one of the masters in that instrument in Cuba and a pillar of Irakere, the orchestra that refashioned the musical panorama of the 1970s in the island; in the keyboards will be Pucho Lopez himself; as double bass player will be Gaston Joya, a very young musician whose talent has turned him into one of the most coveted performers of the moment; and as saxophonist will be Alfred Thompson, another one out of this world who has been part of important projects over the last two decades; meanwhile the guitar will be played by the seasoned and versatile guitarist Raul “El Chino” Verdecia. “This is a kind of music that has to be played by experienced musicians, stars, like Augusto says, because rather than just playing the chords, one has to know the meaning of those musical notes.” The Guests It is almost a tradition at the Habano Festival that artists hosting the opening act invite their fellow musicians to whom they are united not only by great friendship but also by common musical concepts. This year will make no exception as Augusto Enriquez has made a selection as delightful as the one made for Eclectic-us. “There are a few guests, two foreigners and a Cuban institution, the vocal quartet Sexto Sentido. The foreign guests are from England: Phil Manzanera, the legendary guitarist of the psychedelic rock band of the 1970s, Roxy Music; and Jack Bruce, who used to be the bassist, composer and singer of Cream, the legendary group from the 1960s. Bruce wrote, together with Eric Clapton, several anthological songs and we are going to perform one of them at the show that will open with the girls of Sexto Sentido. “They will perform a piece from their repertory; I’ll join them afterwards for the interpretation of Longina in five voices; and later they will form part of the choir. I’ll sing next alone and then I’ll introduce Phil, who will perform as a soloist. In another moment of the show, Jack will join Phil and me for the interpretation of one of the hits on Cream’s first record and we’ll be singing together El Cuarto de Tula as well. From that moment on the concert will go on with all of us on stage.” But the reason why Phil Manzanera and Jack Bruce will be in the concert is not only the friendship that unites them with the Cuban musician, but also the musical concept of Eclectic-us. ”The record has passages of rock, for example it starts with a quote by Jimi Hendrix, so in addition to southern rhythms, it has U.S.-style rock inside.” A Challenge and an Honor “When Habanos asked me to give this concert I couldn’t believe my ears; I was moved. The year before the last one such a high honor was given to Maestro Chucho Valdes, who brought along wonderful guests; and last year, it was maestro Leo Brouwer. “Now it is the student Augusto Enriquez, pupil of Leo and Chucho, among many others, which poses a challenge and a commitment that I take on with such a big pleasure you can’t imagine, worried about all the details, so that the show is as close to perfection as possible.” As we talked, Augusto has been smoking and enjoying a Cohiba. Would Augusto have any preferences as for Cuban cigars? Which would be it? “I love the different mixtures; I love the different arts, the differences in colors or sounds. In each of the good Habano cigars I’ve smoked, I always find a particularity that catches my interest and that I enjoy, regardless the moment or other circumstances, so my closest answer would be that when it comes to the great Habano cigars I prefer them all, because what I truly like in the end is to have a good puff.”
JACK BRUCE As a teenager, Jack Bruce won a scholarship to study cello and composition at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. In the meantime, he played at the Jim McHarg´s Scotsville Jazzband to make ends meet. However, the academy disapproved of its students playing jazz so he was told: “you either stop or leave college.” And that’s how he dropped out. He is a singer and also plays bass, piano, harmonic, guitar and cello. In 1966, he founded the group Cream next to Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker. After the breakup of the trio in 1968, he formed various bands and later on embarked on a solo career during which he has recorded close to 20 albums, featuring mostly rock, jazz and fusion.
Phil Manzanera What is your relation with Havana and with the Habano world? I have a very long history with Cuba. When I was six years old my father who worked with BOAC, now British Airways, was sent to Havana to open up the new route from London to Havana. We lived in the city from 1957 to 1959. It was here that I first started learning to play the guitar, so you could say that the seeds of my lifelong love of the guitar, were sown in Havana. Since then, I have returned to play concerts in Havana with my good friend Augusto Enriquez. The first concert was in 1992 with Augusto’s band, Moncada, together we performed at the Karl Marx theatre and we made Cuba’s first ever live album ‘Manzanera Moncada: Live at the Karl Marx Theatre’. It’s such a thrill to return to that wonderful theatre to play again with Augusto and the legend that is Cream’s Jack Bruce. Naturally my father smoked Cuban cigars and that distinct, intoxicating aroma, is incredibly nostalgic. He would have been delighted that his son is playing at the prestigious Habanos Festival. The Habanos Festival will pay special tribute to Cohiba and Romeo y Julieta brands. Are those among your favorites? It was fascinating to learn why many of these world famous classic cigars have such wonderful names: from the books read to the cigar makers. Habanos must have the most ‘bookish’ workforce in the world! The 14th Habano Festival takes place within the framework of the 520th anniversary of tobacco discovery. Consequently, the event will be specially focused on the cultural exchange resulted of the mixture between Spain and Cuba. What is your experience related to culture mixture? What do you appreciate the most about Cuban rhythms and their influence in contemporary music? Cuban music is a unique blend of African rhythms, European classical, and folk music brought over via Spain dating from the 16th century, and jazz. However, the lyrics and melodies of Pablo Milanes and Silvio Rodriguez has taken Cuban music to an even higher level which has resonance in Spain and all Spanish speaking countries. Obviously the Buena Vista Social Club records and La Vieja Trova Santiaguera had an incredible effect on the appreciation of Cuban music on a global scale since the 1990’s. At the Welcoming Evening you will be on the stage with Augusto Enriquez and Cream’s Jack Bruce in a show called Eclectic-us. Is it the first time that you play in Cuba? What is your relation with Augusto Enríquez? I have played in Cuba four times. I met Moncada at the San Remo festival in Italy in 1990and they invited me to play with them .I first came in 1990, second time 1992, third time 1997. In 1999 Augusto, his singer wife Yami, and Aldo Lopez-Gavilan played a festival in the UK with me – we recorded the concert and this became the album, 801 Latino. Jack Bruce is one of the world’s most famous musicians. His group Cream was and still is revered, they wrote iconic songs, such as ‘White Room’ and ‘Sunshine of Your Love’, which sound as powerful as ever. Which activities of this Habanos Festival edition you do not want to miss? This is such a unique experience for me that I’m intending to attend as much of the Festival as I can. During my visit to Cuba last May, I had a fascinating tour of the Cohiba factory, it was a revelation to see the whole process from start to finish. Augusto came with me and enthralled the workers by singing a couple of his hits – it was very moving to see the joy and love for music that is in the hearts of Cuba’s wonderful people. Cuba has long been an inspiration for musicians. Can you tell us what you think is so inspiring? Here he can talk about how there are visual references everywhere – from people smoking the Cuban cigar to the art deco buildings – it’s a visually rich and enlightening place. Cuba is a hotbed of music, it is the beating heart of the country and I have had the great pleasure of playing with many of the country’s great musicians. The level of musicianship in Cuba is pretty staggering. It is a country like no other: the people, the stunning architecture, the coast, the countryside…for a musician there is much to inspire creativityd .
SEXTO SENTIDO The performance of all-girl quartet Sexto Sentido during the opening gala of the 14th Habano Festival will give a special musical note to the show. It’s been fifteen years since they started performing in Cuban and international stages, swaying right through jazz, bossa nova and rhythm & blues, quite in sync with the sounds and concept of Eclectic-us. Arlety Valdes (Music Direction), Eliene Castillo, Wendy Vizcaino and Yudelkis La Fuente (Music Direction), make up this band, whose latest CDs “My Feeling” and “The Way” have garnered great acclaim in the Cuban public. For more information, click on: www.myspace.com/sextosentidocuba
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