Chico & Rita (2010)

Chico and Rita (Chico & Rita) is a Spanish animated feature-length film with Spanish and English languages directed by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal. The story of Chico and Rita is set against backdrops of Havana, New York City, Las Vegas, Hollywood and Paris in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The film was produced by Fernando Trueba Producciones, Estudio Mariscal and Magic Light Pictures. The film was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film for the 84th Academy Awards (the first time that a Spanish full-length animated film is nominated) and has won in Spain the 2012 Goya Award for best animated film.

A gifted songwriter and beautiful singer chase their dreams – and each other – from Havana to New York and Las Vegas. Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and romantic desire unite them, but their journey – in the tradition of the Latin ballad, the bolero – brings heartache and torment.

Havana Cultura: The Search Continues (2011)

Continuing his longstanding love affair with Cuba and its musical melting pot, globetrotting DJ/broadcaster Gilles Peterson is back with a new chapter in his Havana Cultura album series – producing an original studio album and lovingly curating a compilation of new Cuban talent.
Welcoming a string of guest musicians, vocalists and rappers to Abdala Studios, Havana, Gilles orchestrated the glorious sound clashes that populate the latest chapter in this landmark series, highlighting a clutch of artists innovating in the spaces between jazz, soul, traditional Cuban rhythms, reggaeton and hip-hop. The so-called “Havana Cultura Band” will bring the essence of those exciting, anything-goes recording sessions to London’s newly refurbished Electric Brixton… the full rainbow spectrum from freeform rumba styles to frenetic, danceable piano workouts via hip-hop’s golden age and classic soul. The internationally acclaimed pianist Roberto Carcassés heads up an all-star cast featuring soul diva Danay Suarez and Edrey from hype rap outfit Ogguere, plus Alexey (El Tipo Este)from Obsesion and Cuban diva Osdalgia… Gilles P, as creative head of the project, will of course be jumping up on the turntables for a DJ set too, ably supported by co-producer and close confidante – the very talented Simbad.

Danay Suarez – Havana Cultura Sessions (2010)

“She’s amazing. A phenomenon. The most impressive singer I’ve heard and worked with over the last five years.”
- Gilles Peterson

Havana Cultura – the global arts initiative by Havana Club that champions the work of some of Havana’s most exciting yet unseen creative talent - is presenting the latest chapter in Havana Cultura music releases. Under the creative directorship of Gilles Peterson, the first in a series of Havana Cultura Sessions highlights the vocal talents of Danay Suarez, backed by the masterful Roberto Fonseca and the elite Havana Cultura band.

Taking up residence once more in Havana’s legendary EGREM studios for five days in May 2010 Gilles Peterson, Roberto Fonseca and their handpicked Havana Cultura band came together to practice for their European tour. The rehearsals were intense leading an excited Gilles to spontaneously book an extra day in the studio to record a handful of songs with Danay.

Danay possesses one of those rare voices which can shift - glide - through many vocal identities: as a soul and R&B singer and a cocktail jazz expressionist as well as a skilful improviser that makes her an effortless, articulate rapper. Her words flow fast, rhythmic and unpredictable and always finding or creating spaces that emphasize the emotional elements.

Danay Suarez – Havana Cultura Sessions is the latest album in a series of cultural projects from Havana Cultura celebrating fresh talent across all artistic disciplines. Since its inception in 2007, the initiative has provided an important platform for creative expression to aspiring film producers, visual artists, dancers and musicians. Havana-cultura.com showcases the remarkable profiles and work of such artists whose creativity would otherwise remain indefinitely obscured.

OUT NOW ON BROWNSWOOD records

Danay Suarez // Havana Cultura Sessions by Brownswood

Gilles Peterson presents: Havana Cultura, New Cuba Sound (2009)

Featuring the work of over 20 musicians and artists recorded across 28 tracks, this double CD album is a celebration of Cuba’s freshest musical talent from Latin, Afro jazz and fusion to hip hop, funk, reggaeton and R&B. CD1 consists of brand new recordings produced by Gilles Peterson jointly with Roberto Fonseca and Vince Vella. Fans of Cuban music will also recognise a handful of traditional Cuban classics such as ‘Chekere Son’, which have been carefully re-imagined and re-recorded. CD2 features tracks from Gilles’ favourite new discoveries. New talent such as vocalist Danay (described by Gilles as “Cuba’s Jill Scott”) and Doble Filo, in addition to international award-winning artists such as rapper Kumar and pianist Roberto Fonseca.

The album was recorded in the world famous Egrem Studios in Havana, where all the major figures of the Cuban music scene have recorded including Beny Moré, Arsenio Rodriguez and the Buena Vista Social Club. It is the latest in a series of cultural projects from Havana Cultura, which has been designed to give artists in Havana a global voice via the Havana Cultura website.

You can get your mitts on the album at the following spots:

Brownswood Record Store

Amazon