Alexander Abreu is making history
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- Music
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- 05 / 14 / 2010
"Haciendo historia" is the title of the CD —first with his band— and has been nominated to CUBADISCO 2010 in the categories of First Work, and popular dance music. The album produced by EGREM was the best in a survey on the Internet in 2009 and the song "Después de un beso" was the best of the year in France. Among his main achievements, Alexander has won a Latin Grammy for his participation in the CD “La Rumba Soy Yo."
"Haciendo historia" lyrics were composed by Alexander. Each song was well thought-out, without losing any detail. All members of the band have a role in the album. Each cooperates based on the original idea of the composition to optimize the sense of things. Havana D' Primera is composed of 14 musicians on stage. Loosening and spontaneity in the chorus show a band confident of its maturity, which has earned its place in the popular Cuban dance music.
It is easier to confirm his Havana is top-quality with this album. Those who have seen Alexander performing live quickly realize his relationship with his trumpet is very romantic. There is a total commitment, passion for what he does. And he does not ask that much, he just wants the rest “to feel what hew is already living”.
Cubasí spoke with Alexander and fellow trombonist Amaury Pérez, who shares the management of Havana D' Primera.
How did you decide to form the group?
The group emerged out of the necessity to found something after having recorded together for over 15 years. Record companies chew over the idea of making a CD nowadays. So the best way is to play live. We begin to see what could happen and luckily something is happening.
Why “Haciendo historia"?
Cuban music is a great history. The CD main value is the rescuing of Cuban music from the 1990s that had such strength and I think it has been lost by giving way to other things. There were first-class orchestras in those days in the field of lyrics and arrangements. Nonetheless, some of them have become reggaeton groups with many people. It's nothing against the genre, but we fail to defend the possibility of making an arrangement, or write something thought-provoking in a song...This CD contributes to recovery it.
How much have you learned in all these years of previous work with other musicians?
I am a musician who has lived much of the recording studio. I have recorded with almost 90 percent of dance bands, jazz and concert music. I have learned a lot. What I want with my orchestra is to bring to reality all that music I have been accumulating for years.
More than two years have passed and we are happy with the achievements, looking for a unique style that combines energy with poetry, with Cuban rhythms, cool harmonies, and lyrics making a nice song.
Have you thought of any project different from dance music?
There are others mid-term commitments that will lead us to make another type of repertoire, such as concert music, because the orchestra does not want to be typecasted. We are at 30 percent yet. There are many things we can exploit. We do dance music but we can do anything, I'll split the orchestra in a way that it can transcend as Irakere and NG La Banda did.
One of the principles on which Alexander formed Havana D' Primera was to accompany any soloist or musicians we have recorded albums for them, in addition to concert music.
Now that you have a CD, have you planned a national tour?
It does not only depend on our will but also that of our institutions. We'd love to do a tour all around Cuba, be known live.
Alexander, you are one of the best trumpeters in Cuba. Are you aware of that? What are your influences?
There are many good trumpeters in Cuba to say that. I appreciate many of my generation, the young trumpeters and those who preceded me like Chapotin or Carmelo Andrés. I think it’s all about studying so the public can enjoy our performances. Many good things are being done in Cuba with trumpets.
By Elizabeth López Corzo
Source: Cubasi.com
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