The Clave Chronicles

Scholar and singer Hannah Burgé Luviano joins Rebecca to discuss the career of the "King of Mambo," Dámaso Perez Prado. Unable to achieve much acclaim in Cuba because of his unique compositional style, Pérez Prado struck gold after relocating to Mexico in the 1940s. Songs played: México Lindo Mi Gallo Mambo Politécnico Pianola Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

Musicologist Marysol Quevedo joins Rebecca to speak about Cuban art music composers of the mid-20th century, such as Harold Gramatges, Juan Blanco and Argeliers Leon. As she details in her recent book, although their works largely relied on classical music structures and forms, they brought in elements of Cuban popular and folkloric music. Pieces played: Tres preludios a modo de toccata, Harold Gramatges Sonata a la Virgen del Cobre, No. 2, Argeliers Leon Quinteto No. 1, Juan Blanco Cirkus Toccata, Juan Blanco Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

Cuban dancer, musician, and educator Roberto Borrell speaks with Rebecca about his incredibly versatile career, spanning popular and folkloric styles. He talks about growing up hearing the legendary bands of the 1950s like Orquesta Aragón and Chappottín y Sus Estrellas, and attending the Black social clubs that were eliminated in the early years of the Revolution. Songs played: Linda cubana, Orquesta de Antonio Maria Romeu Mambo, Arcaño y Sus Maravillas La engañadora, Orquesta América de Ninón Mondéjar El bodeguero, Orquesta Aragón Pare cochero, Orquesta Aragón Roberto Borrell dance videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHSJFOefUBE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiwhNdxKndY Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

Punk cubano emerged during the Special Period crisis, giving young disaffected Cubans an outlet to express their angst and rage, often toward the Cuban government. Carmen Torre Pérez joins Rebecca to speak about the counter-cultural genre and its DIY ethics. Songs played: Jodidos y perdidos, Rotura Eres tú, Eskoria Azul, Akupunktura Esta no es mi puta guerra, Eztafilokoko Ruido en el sistema, Pólvora Soxial Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

(Rerun of nueva trova episode, first aired in July 2023) Nueva trova is one of the few Cuban genres that is for listening and reflecting instead of dancing - it's sung poetry, much like other Latin American singer-songwriter genres, namely nueva canción. Rebecca has an in-depth conversation with independent scholar and former Cuban diplomat Eva Silot Bravo about the major figures of nueva trova and how it came to be closely identified with the ideology of the Cuban Revolution. The genre's relationship with the government shifted in the wake of the economic crisis of the 1990s, as newer artists began to openly critiqued the preferential treatment given to foreigners, as well as emigrate abroad. Songs played: Pablo Milanés, Mis 22 años Silvio Rodríguez, Sueño con Serpientes Xiomara Laugart, Paria Carlos Varela, Foto de Familia Gema y Pavel, Se Feliz Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

Ethnomusicologist and percussionist Johnny Frias joins Rebecca to speak about one of the lesser known Afro-Cuban folkloric practices, the tonada trinitaria, from the central Cuban city of Trinidad. We then delve into the rumba percussion style that has become dominant in recent decades, guarapachangueo, created by a group of brothers from the outskirts of Havana known as Los Chinitos. Songs played: Una corona al General Maceo, Conjunto Folclórico de Trinidad Plegarias, Grupo Abbilona (Los Chinitos) Caridad, Pancho Quinto El conflictivo, Humo + La Liga Rumbera Learn more about guarapachangueo in Rebecca's book: Geographies of Cubanidad: Place, Race and Musical Performance in Contemporary Cuba Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

Afrocuba de Matanzas is widely considered one of the best preservers of Afro-Cuban folkloric music and dance on the island, but the group also created one of the funkiest and most exciting musical innovations in 1973 when they blended rumba percussion and batá drumming to create batarumba. As the years went on, batarumba became even more complex and versatile, as Afrocuba musicians added in instruments and rhythms from son, Abakuá, Iyesá and adapted the songs of Celia Cruz to a batarumba format. Songs played: Tambor, Afrocuba de Matanzas Baila Mi Guaguancó, Afrocuba de Matanzas Caridad, Afrocuba de Matanzas Rinkinkalla, Celia Cruz & Sonora Matancera Rinkinkaya, Ritmo y Canto Learn more about batarumba in Rebecca's book: Geographies of Cubanidad: Place, Race and Musical Performance in Contemporary Cuba Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

Grammy-nominated percussionist, recording artist and educator Michael Spiro joins Rebecca to speak about his apprenticeship in Matanzas with masters of Afro-Cuban folkloric drumming, differences in drumming styles between Havana and Matanzas, and his innovative recordings, which fuse batá drumming with other Afro-diasporic traditions, such as Brazilian samba, Candomblé, and Zimbabwean mbira music. Songs played: Inspiración a Santiago, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas Para Clave y Guaguancó, Clave y Guaguancó Osain, Michael Spiro & guests Butsu Mutandari/Iyesa, Michael Spiro & guests Maracambique, Michael Spiro, Joe Galvin & guests Stardust (El Encanto), Michael Spiro,Wayne Wallace & guests Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

Acclaimed pianist/bandleader/composer/author/educator Rebeca Mauleón discusses the long and incredibly versatile career of pianist/composer Chucho Valdés, who founded the groundbreaking jazz fusion group Irakere 50 years ago. In 2018, Mauleón and Valdés co-authored the book Decoding Afro-Cuban Jazz. In both his Irakere compositions and in his solo career, Valdés has often drawn from Afro-Cuban folkloric music—rumba, batá drumming—for inspiration. Songs played: Misa Negra, Irakere El Tata Cimarrón, Irakere Xiomara, Irakere Ochún, Chucho Valdés featuring Regina Carter Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

Ethnomusicologist and prolific scholar Peter Manuel joins Rebecca to speak about the many centuries of musical exchange between Cuba and Spain, which birthed genres like the Cuban punto and contributed to the evolution of flamenco in Andalucía. Author and editor of numerous books on Caribbean and Indian popular music, including an important anthology of Cuban musicology, Manuel's newest book is Flamenco Music: History, Forms, Culture. Songs played: Fandango, Antonio Soler Controversia, Justo Vega & Adolfo Alfonso Corazón Tu Eres Mi Amigo, Luis Gómez Guajira, Pepe Marchena Juro Que, Rosalía Me Voy Contigo, Remedios Amaya Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

In our first episode en español (!!!), Rebecca interviews Mario Seguí Correoso, a Santiago-based percussionist who has worked with various groups over the course of his career: an innovative rumba group (Kokoyé), a son/salsa group (Sonora La Calle), and currently a more traditional son group (Los Jubilados), as well as a percussion-based group (Los Tambores de Enrique Bonne). We talk about how difficult the situation has been for musicians since the pandemic. **IF YOU DON'T SPEAK SPANISH, CHECK OUT A TRANSCRIPT OF THE CONVERSATION TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QfvV7JelKB2tDjsNFkT_LxXPwOgUO89anRFCIAMMtMI/edit?usp=sharing Songs played: Manigueta, Los Tambores de Enrique Bonne Calle Enramada, Los Jubilados (title unknown), Grupo Folklórico Kokoyé Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

Congolese scholar Ribio Nzeza Bunketi Buse joins Rebecca to speak about the many sub-styles and evolutions within Congolese popular music over the past 60 years. While many in the West refer to the music as "soukous," that's only one specific style of rumba, which also includes rumba chachacha (Joseph Kabasele & African Jazz), rumba odemba (Franco Luambo & OK Jazz), rumba cavacha (Zaiko Langa Langa), and ndombolo (Wenge Musica, Koffi Olomide, Papa Wemba). Dr. Nzeza also explains the significance of the seben, the improvisatory second section of a rumba song featuring virtuosic guitar playing. Songs played: Madre Rumba, La Sonora Matancera featuring Celia Cruz and Celio Gonzalez Africa Mokili Mobimba, Joseph Kabasele & African Jazz Alimatou, Franco Luambo & OK Jazz Nzinzi, King Kester Emeneya Mulolo, Wenge Musica An homage to Grand Kallé (Joseph) Kabasele by Cuban artists and musicians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY-BVoI93Q4 Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

Rebecca is joined by reggaeton scholar Petra Rivera-Rideau, who co-created the Bad Bunny Syllabus to provide historical and social context for Bad Bunny's music. His massive hit Un Verano Sin Tí was the most globally streamed album of 2022 and the first Spanish-language album to be nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys. We speak about what makes him such a unique, versatile artist, and then delve into the ways Cuban and Puerto Rican music have diverged in recent decades. Songs played: Controversia, Ismael Rivera El Apagón, Bad Bunny Titi Me Preguntó, Bad Bunny Yo No Soy Celoso, Bad Bunny Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

Franco-Haitian cultural influences in Cuba date back over two centuries, beginning with the "refugees" from the Haitian Revolution who fled to eastern Cuba in the early years of the 19th century. However, a much larger wave of Haitian migrants arrived in the first decades of the 20th century to fill labor shortages on sugar plantations, and most stayed. Anthropologist Grete Viddal joins Rebecca for an in-depth conversation on this history, the musical and religious practices migrants brought with them (like Vodou), and the ways Cuban descendants of Haitian migrants carry on their traditions today. Songs played: Camagüey, Tumba Francesa La Caridad Yamvalú, Ballet Folklórico Cutumba Haiti Namizé, Grupo Baraguá Neg Anwo, The Creole Choir of Cuba Se Lavi, The Creole Choir of Cuba Gagá, Ballet Folklórico Cutumba Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

Multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and educator Dr. John Calloway joins Rebecca to speak about the Cuban music scene in the Bay Area. Calloway has written for Grammy-nominated projects and recorded several of his own albums. He has spent 35 years as a music educator in San Francisco public schools and at San Francisco State University, founding the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble and the Afro-Cuban Ensemble at SF State. Songs played: Aprovecha que me voy, John Calloway Dime si te gusta, Jesús Díaz y Su QBA Asere Ko, John Calloway Generaciones, Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of San Francisco Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

Ethnomusicologist and event producer Lani Milstein joins Rebecca to talk about Santiago de Cuba's quintessential musical practice: conga, an Afro-Cuban percussion and song genre linked to the city's famed Carnival celebrations. It involves mass participation by people parading along with the mobile percussion ensemble and continues to be a major symbol of santiaguero identity. Songs played: Abre, Conga de Los Hoyos Va a llover, Conga de San Agustín Añoranza por la conga, Sur Caribe La mujer del pelotero, Baby Lores, Insurrecto & Clan 537 Desi Arnaz performing "Babalu" - at around 0:50, he starts dancing the side-to-side conga step commonly seen in comparsa parades https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAV3bOJaQuY Sur Caribe video for "Añoranza por la conga" - you'll see footage of people arollando with the conga https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC6Vjr0i9sw Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

No new episode this week, but a quick note from Rebecca, followed by a slow, juicy yambú from the legendary Havana rumba group Clave y Guaguancó. Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

Rebecca speaks with musician/producer/historian Ned Sublette, author of the most comprehensive history of Cuban music in English, Cuba and Its Music: From the First Drums to the Mambo. Sublette is leading trips to Cuba through his organization, Postmambo, and in January will embark on La Ruta de los Fundamentos, a tour focusing on Afro-Cuban sacred sites in western Cuba (email postmambo@gmail.com for more info). We talk about the dense and entangled networks of Afro-Cuban religious practice and play a few fieldwork recordings from rural western Cuba. Tracks played: Song for Ochosi, recorded in the 1950s by Lydia Cabrera in the province of Matanzas Yuka drumming, recorded by Sublette in the province of Pinar del Río Bembe de sao, recorded by Sublette in the province of Mayabeque Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

The most well-known African-derived religion in the Americas is La Regla de Ocha or Lucumí, more popularly known as Santería. The music used to accompany rituals and ceremonies involves complex, polyrhythmic drumming and a huge repertoire of songs for the different orishas (Yoruba-derived deities), like Yemayá, Oshún and Changó. Rebecca breaks down some basic features of the religion and its diverse musical ensembles, as well as its widespread influence on Cuban popular music. Songs played: Elegua, Jesus Díaz y Su QBA A Elegua, Merceditas Valdés y Yoruba Andabo Güiro for Oshun, Afrocuba de Matanzas Ogun, Bobi Céspedes Y Que Tú Quieres Que Te Den (1991), Adalberto Álvarez Y Su Son Y Que Tú Quieres Que Te Den (2005), Adalberto Álvarez Y Su Son Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

Cuban son, under the label "rumba," became incredibly popular following the success of "El manicero" in 1930, including in the two Congos (at the time colonized by Belgium and France). Congolese musicians heard echoes of their own traditional music and began creating a new genre (Congolese rumba) largely based on son, mambo and cha cha cha and sung in a mix of Spanish, French and Lingala. French historian Charlotte Grabli joins Rebecca to talk about the bi-directional musical exchanges between Cuba and the two Congos. Songs played: El manicero, Don Azpiazu & His Havan Casino Orchestra Marie Tchebo, Manuel D'Oliveira & Georges Edouard El que siembra su maiz, Trio Matamoros El que siembra su maiz, Joseph Kabasele & African Jazz Independence Cha Cha, Joseph Kabasele & African Jazz Cha Cha Cha del Zombo, Brazzos & O.K. Jazz Mwanga, Franklin Boukaka Muanga, Orquesta Aragón Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts Follow The Clave Chronicles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @clavechronicles https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions