26.04.2006: New CDs briefly...
1. HABANA BLUES - the movie, the music and behind the scenes ...
2. TANGO NUEVO WITH PIPI PIAZZOLLA
3. DVD BY FERNANDEZ FIERRO
4. LUNATICO
5. NEWS AND CLASSICS BY MONCHY & ALEXANDRA
1. HABANA BLUES - the movie, the music and behind the scenes ...
If you are keeping track with the movie programme and if you are
interested in Cuba, you won't have missed the following movie
recently. If you have had the chance to watch it at the movies, you
have surely had a positive surprise, because it shows the real Cuba:
Two musicians dream about going out into the big, wide world. A
Spanish record company offers them a contract, which turns out to be
an adhesion contract. The movie is lively, funny and there is no
better movie at the moment portraying Cuban life as authentically. The
soundtrack (Rock with various stylistic influences) even achieved a
Goya, probably the most important Spanish music award.
To me, a look behind the scenes - one of the bands involved in the
movie made that possible - was quite interesting. “Habana Blues”
was produced by a Spanish movie company, and one should think that
when a movie critizises the methods of the Spanish music industry - the "bad
boys" in the movie - in such a way that the musicians participating in the
movie should work under better conditions. Far from it! Unfortunately.
Convincing documents by musicians and authors show that for example
musicians received a payment of only 30.- Dollar per recorded title. The
authors received amounts that are quite a lot for Cuban standards, but they
are below the usual international license agreements. Noboby of the persons
we know received a copy of movie or the soundtrack. So far, I would call
this the "usual business conduct". At least, musicians and authors received
some money and in the case of the authors more that normally in the
country. But fairplay also implies what is coming afterwards: Neither
musicians nor authors have received any accounts regarding the takings
of the movie. The production company has not even provided the
musicians and authors we know with the contracts they had signed. The
band managers keeps insisting but the production company keeps holding
up the procedure. Their aim: the business partner keeps making efforts
until he gives up and stops asking. Just like in the movie ... :-(
Habana Blues Soundtrack
2. TANGO NUEVO WITH PIPI PIAZZOLLA
“Nordic Sounds meets Pipi Piazzolla” or “Mi Tango es Buenos
Aires”: this is the name of the CD by and with Pipi Piazzolla, Astor
Piazzolla's grandson. It was recorded together with the musicians
originating from Estonia, Villu Veski and Tiit Kalluste. The
instruments are drums, accordion and saxophone. Here are some audio
samples:
TANGO NUEVO WITH PIPI PIAZZOLLA
3. DVD BY FERNANDEZ FIERRO
Now, there is also a DVD by the anarchist of Tango. If you shouldn't
have see a live performance by the Orquesta Fernandez Fierro, you
should definitely get the DVD “Tango Antipanico”:
DVD BY FERNANDEZ FIERRO
4. LUNATICO
The CD by Gotan Project has arrived and is ready for delivery.
Commentary: compare last newsletter ...
Gotan Project - LUNATICO
5. NEWS AND CLASSICS BY MONCHY & ALEXANDRA
Monchy & Alexandra, one of the best and most popular Bachata
formations, has released a Best of CD. “Exitos y Mas” presents 11
classics but also 4 new tracks. And the Dual Disc also contains videos
and concert recordings:
MONCHY & ALEXANDRA
Many regards
Matthias Möbius (1) and Alexandra Reents (2-5)
from the DyM team
