1. SOMOS CUBANOS by Los Van Van. Version recorded live at the Karl Marx Theatre in Havana in 1999.
Who needs an electric shower in Cuba when you can have a baptism of the Gods with this album by The Rolling Stones of Salsa; Los Van Van? This double CD & DVD set will make you shiver with delight and give you goose bumps from head to toe. I love the live versions of Los Van Van tracks as they capture all the spontaneity and ecstasy of a live concert in Havana. The appreciation emanating from the local audience seems to raise the intensity of the music and the result is just pure Cuban magic. I can’t imagine living life or teaching dance without the live version of ‘Chapeando'. These tracks go beyond what I hear in normal studio recordings.
The recorded albums are fantastic to dance to when you are learning salsa, or in a club but when you are ready to add that extra something, listen to the live versions and let your body work out the difference. This 16 piece band play together just like any philharmonic orchestra. They spend more time touring with each other on the road than with their loved ones, so the band become a family - playing together as one; with love, virtuosity and a highly tuned tight connection.
Somos Cubanos is full of passion, pride and complex multi-layered rhythms. It begins with charged Rumba with dynamic accents and breaks and Mayito sings like the force of nature he is, as it moves into Son, Salsa and Songo with the Afro -Cuban Orishas rhythms entwined in the background. At 4.55 mins, we hear the phenomenal Samuel Formell performing a huge drum solo. He once told me that he often senses the energy and spirit of his god Chango with him, feeling an extra power and presence which for a few moments seems to make time stand still.
One Saturday night I heard him play like this in El Capri, the glamorous 1950s dance salon in Havana. One of my clients was standing next to me and totally out of character, practically went into trance in response to his improvised solo. No wonder Madonna wanted to steal him for her live tour - for a million dollars!
The track also brings back great memories of the time I performed with the World Champion dancer Noel Roque Hernandez at Pontins where we had an amazing time bringing all the flavours of Cuban dance present in the music, into the choreography.
2. BESAME MUCHO Written by Mexican pianist Consuela Velasques in 1940, before her sixteenth birthday.
This song is my secret tranquiliser. My mother used to play it on the piano when I was a kid and eventually we began to play it as a duet. I have since taught it to my nephews and son and although it isn't Cuban this simple song haunts the streets of old Havana every night. There are some sublime versions out there by Omara Portuondo, Cesaria Evora, a fantastic early piano version by Consuela and my favourite - by Antonio Bocelli. So many times when I‘ve been on my way to class or a meeting in Havana and I have had to stop in my tracks and listen to some amazing singer in a bar or restaurant bring their own special magic to the song.
A couple of weeks ago I was given the best birthday surprise ever when my partner called me on my phone and told me to come out on to the balcony of our hotel. Below, he was waiting with roses in hand and three musicians performing Besame Mucho. Even the hotel security personnel were goosed! It was a surreal, sublime Romeo and Juliet moment that I’ll never forget.
3. YO NO HACE FALTA, written by Lazaro Valdes of Bamboleo
This is the Gloria Gaynor ‘I Will Survive’ song of the salsa world. It packs a punch and so does the video; (I can’t believe the guy actually gets a swift kick at 2.31 mins!). The video is shot in atmospheric black and white with some great salsa scenes and when the song is played in Havana passions run high with everyone singing along very loudly, remembering some old lover that treated them badly. It's so inspiring to be in a Cuban salsa club, as generally everyone is smiling, dancing, flirting and having fun - you rarely see any serious or competitive faces in the crowd.
The song opens with; 'When you left me, you thought I’d suffer, but look at me now, I'm happy, now I have a new love, that gives me his warmth, so leave me to live in peace, I know you are repentant' etc. Most Cuban salsa tracks have a story, and if you have a good dance partner they will feel the sentiment of the song and dance out some of the drama with you.
Jim Layne did a great job bringing all the classic stars of Cuban Timba music together, with this greatest hits compilation. It includes Charanga Habanera, Manolito y su Trabuco, Azucar Negra, Alexander Abreu, Los Van Van, Klimax, Maykel Blanco, Michel Masa, Elio Reve, Paulito FG, Pupy y Los Que Son Son and Sur Caribe. It's the best-selling Cuban salsa album in Europe!
You can find it on 'The Beginners Guide to Timba' which I’d recommend as gold dust to all those new to Cuban Salsa & Timba. It’s a 3 CD pack available from Amazon or directly from DJ Jim Layne of Salsa Caribe.
4. Y QUE TU QUIERES TE DEN by Aldalberto Alvarez. (The Orisha track).
This is an outstanding video and song. Alvarez is one of Cuba’s most respected musicians and composers and this classic track celebrates the dances of the Afro–Cuban religion. Through this song and video you can get to know the Cuban Gods called the Orishas and their dances, body movement, characters, colours, rhythms, attributes and movement qualities. The video gives a unique insight into just how connected the Cuban people are to the songs of the Orishas and their movement, and you can see the audience participation and sense the joy in the theatre.
According to my dance master in Cuba, the famous Juan de Dios, salsa was born of Son, Son was born of Rumba, and Rumba was born of the movement of the Afro-Cuban religion and Orishas. No wonder we feel good dancing salsa, we are really dancing the steps of an ancient African religion that can send you in to trance states!
I have so much respect for the Santeria religion and the physical and health benefits that dancing the Orisha movements has on your well-being. This track is great for Salseros who want to go beyond the steps and turns of Casino style and dance the origins of Cuban Salsa. In my opinion, if you really want to dance Salsa well, with integrated core body movement and flow, then studying Afro-Cuban dance is the key.
On the holidays I lead with Key2cuba and Juan de Dios, we teach a programme that embodies all these dances and how you can apply the essences of them into your Salsa. We also have a Bembe where you get to see dancers perform the dances of their Gods in the home of a Cuban priest (known as a Babalao) - just as in the video.
5. DESPUES DE TODO live version from the album 'Aqui el Que Baila Gana’, sang by Yenisel Valdes Fuentes and written by Juan Formell of Los Van Van.
In the live version of this song, Yeni makes history! She begins by caressing the words; the lyrics telling the true and intimate story of Formell as he apologises to his ex -wife for not behaving well and taking care of the small details in their relationship. She gradually builds the tension and suspense, then at the height of the story, her magnificent voice soars to sing the longest and most haunting note I have ever heard on a salsa track! As the first female ever to sing in Los Van Van, Yeni was not at first particularly popular but with this song she stole the heart of the Cuban people, proving herself to be one of the top most technically proficient female Cuban singers of her time.
Once when I was waiting for a meeting with Samuel Formell in his house, and I began to play this song on his piano, his late mother sat next to me and asked me if I knew that this was her song. She told me that the night they finished the recording, Samuel and his father, Juan Formell, brought the track to the house -and the three of them sat there mesmerised, listening to it with tears in their eyes.
Recorded version on the album Chapeando.
6. YO NO SAY MAÑANA by Luis Enrique
Even though Luis Enrique is not Cuban, I first heard this song in Cuba where it was (and still is) played every single night in every club. The whole album 'Circulos' is momentous and full of memorable tracks. Nicaraguan born Luis studied percussion in Cuba with Changuito and I have seen footage of him playing the congas at a very high level. Just like Alexander Abreu, this man is a great musician as well as a singer. The two guys are also great friends and apparently one day Luis popped into Casa De La Musica Miramar and got up and to sing with Alexander Abreu. It was two days after I had left Cuba and I missed it! Coño!
For me Luis Enrique is the Frank Sinatra of salsa - with his amazing diction, phrasing and the sheer feeling that comes through in the warmth of his voice. ‘Yo No Say Manyana', has to be up there with Strangers in the Night and My Way. All I can say is don't dance to this if you don't want to fall in love, and if you do fall in love you'll never get over it as you are going to hear the song for the rest of your dancing life! It's a salsa classic and here to stay!
There is a black and white video to this track which demonstrates his great presence on film too, but my preferred version is to watch him singing with his band in this intimate setting. One of my most coveted dreams is to direct a video with him in Cuba.
7. QUE TU PIENSAS Tania Pantoja. All songs from this album, and the Bamboleo classic hit 'Quein Mandar'.
In my eyes Tania is the queen of Havana! Loved by everyone for her warm personality and super powerful, textured voice. She has long since left Bamboleo and now performs with her own band at Casa de la Musica where she dances to all her songs like a professional dancer. She released a solo album entitled ‘Que tu Pensas' which is a musical feast of Bolero, Salsa, Son and Timba. Tania can sing everything! She can play Salsa in the day and sing Bolero at night, so it’s hard to choose my favourite track, as you need to hear both styles to appreciate her full range as an artist.
She so inspired me with her live improvisations of ‘Quien Manda' (Who’s in charge), I felt compelled to make a video with her and my Key2Cuba dancers.
Filming on location with Tania Pantoja on the Malecon was one of the best days of my life. The whole shoot was a dream come true, where everybody gave 100% to make it happen as a team. Lazaro Valdes who wrote the song wanted to wake up the macho Cuban men and bring to light how Cuban women can be sensual independent and powerful at the same time. I just loved filming our male dancers, losing their pants, looking after the babies, cleaning the floor and washing knickers. And check out the hot female dancers strut their stuff! It was a big hit with the Cuban women who all voted for it on the telly.
8. ARASANDO, the album by Los Van Van.
'Si No Te Quieres Tu' sung by Mayito, is a phenomenal, electric performance which makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck and always makes me want to dance. 'Me Mantengo' sung by Lele, is a rich Son rhythm, full of swing and full of life. Both Songs are phenomenal salsa tracks.
I realised a dream of mine to work with Los Van Van and the outrageously talented Yanet Fuentes when I had the great honour of directing and producing the video for ’Me Mantengo’. It took over eight months to complete, with two separate shoots and hours of editing. At their recent concert in London we were presented with the Lukas Award for Best Music Video 2011.
Despite receiving numerous Grammy Awards for their music, the band was over the moon to win their first award for a video. Check out Juan Formell dancing like a 19 year old, my Key2cuba clients playing tourists and a Rueda scene with over 100 dancers. The message of the video I hope is clear - when life gets you down, play some salsa music, move your bootie, change your state and for few minutes - the world will be a great place again.
9. CARITA DE PASAPORTE by Alexander Abreu and Havana d'Primera.
In my opinion Alexander Abreu is the new Louis Armstrong of Cuban Timba. He’s the ‘king’ of Havana right now and his band Havana d'Primera comprises incredibly highly trained musicians. Alexander’s voice, sentiment, writing, musicianship, trumpet playing and charisma drive everyone in Cuba and Latin America wild!
When I first heard this song I wanted to direct a video to it, but it has a very controversial theme which I decided was too sensitive for me as a tourist to handle. (The video for Pasaporte is rich in detail and has a filmic quality).
Instead, I chose to create a Cuban 'West Side Story' style dance video to 'Al Fin de La Vida'. I was extremely fortunate to have dance guru Maykel Fonts in the starring role, dancing alongside Alexander, and backed up by my Key2Cuba dancers. We spent weeks rehearsing the choreography, combining Salsa, Hip Hop, Orishas, Rumba and Son into a 4 minute video shoot. It was very important for me to ensure that none of the genius of Maykel’s timing, choreography and musical interpretation was lost in the edit. We are both delighted with it - and for some reason it’s very popular with women! Here are both videos.
10. AGUA FRIA by Carlos Manuel from the album ‘Por la Vena el Gusto'
This song takes me back to when Carlos Manuel was a huge star in Cuba - bigger, better and sexier than Ricky Martin and playing alternate matinees with the outrageously wild Michel Masa.
He had two fabulous male dancers Freddy and Papito creating hit dance themes like 'Yo So Malo’, and the whole of Cuba could be seen dancing the choreography in shops and hospitals, at bus stops, in the streets and in all the clubs.
I remember girls screaming for him (including me!), and Sean Newton, the journalist from The Times, (who attended a private party I threw for the band and my holiday group), wrote that “they could out dance any British boy band even if they were cemented from their knees downwards!”
He sang this song in my first ever Cuban video, 'Salsa From Within Cuba' where we filmed him on the rooftop of the hotel Ambos Mundos which resulted in the whole street below in old Havana, dancing and partying. A couple of years later Carlos defected to Miami with his sister and some of the band, leaving his pregnant wife behind, and causing the separation of the whole family. Just how do you recover from that?
Unfortunately, I never did get written permission to publish the video, so it’s still sitting in my cupboard, screaming to be let out. Papito and Freddy were separated as Freddy toured the world with Lady Salsa and Buena Vista Social Club, and Papito remained in Cuba working with me at Key2Cuba and touring with Havana Rumba. But for the first time in nine years, they are now about to be reunited, at a new show opening in London in May - Havana Rumba down at the South Bank. It will be phenomenal!
