{"id":1978,"date":"2011-04-01T01:39:32","date_gmt":"2011-04-01T09:39:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/latinomusiccafe.com\/?p=1978"},"modified":"2022-07-04T12:49:07","modified_gmt":"2022-07-04T16:49:07","slug":"afro-cuban-all-stars-visit-seattle-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinomusiccafe.com\/2011\/04\/01\/afro-cuban-all-stars-visit-seattle-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Afro-Cuban All-Stars Visit Seattle – Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
Buena Vista is \u201chasta la vista\u201d<\/em>. Juan de Marcos Gonzalez, the founder of the famous group whose album “Buena Vista Social Club”<\/em>\u00a0won a Grammy in 1998, has evolved the group into a smaller and more versatile ensemble.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
This evolution of the Afro-Cuban All-Stars was forced in part by the passing of some of its elderly founding members. Most passed during the first decade of the 2000s. The departed include such Cuban music glories as Ibrahim Ferrer, Manuel \u201cPuntillita\u201d Licea, Compay Segundo, Ruben Gonzalez, Pio Leyva, and Orlando \u201cCachaito\u201d Lopez.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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But instead of sticking with the winning formula, Juan de Marcos decided to evolve the sound of the band. He expanded its repertoire to include jazz.<\/p>\r\n
\u201cI want to show people that we can maintain the traditional Cuban music essence and play a wide range of musical rhythms, from traditional Cuban melodies to Latin jazz\u201d,<\/em> explained Juan de Marcos in an exclusive interview with Latino Music Caf\u00e9.<\/p>\r\n
The Origins of Buena Vista Social Club<\/h3>\r\n
Juan de Marcos was born in the Pueblo Nuevo neighborhood of Havana. This was also the birthplace of many of Cuban popular musicians, including legendary percussionist Chano Pozo. His dad, Marcos Gonzalez, was a popular singer who spent a few years with Cuban music great Arsenio Rodriguez.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n