Los Tres de la Habana - Frank Madrid meets up with them at Havana's Cafe Cantante (Feb 2003)

Cuba, a musically blessed land, is a laboratory of non-stop artistic ferment and the birthplace of more than sixty authentic rhythms. Frank Madrid had the chance to attend Los Tres de la Habana’s show at one of the most popular cafes in Havana, the “Café Cantante” at the Cuban National Theatre, right on Revolution Square.

I arrived in Havana looking for a big band to tour internationally. I was lucky, it is carnival time so the government organises free concerts with some of the top names in the Cuban scene: Los Van Van, Carlos Manuel, NG La Banda, Paulito and other members of the Cuban musical elite. I loved them all, big and sassy but I was also keen on finding a smaller band with a different sound and after speaking to several people in Havana there was a name that kept popping up, Los Tres de la Habana playing on Thursday afternoons at the Café Cantante.

I make my way to Revolution Square and find the place. A long queue waits outside. Talking to the university students lining up I am told that this has become one of the hottest tickets to find in Havana. All tickets are gone by the time I make it to the front (USD15 for tourists) but I speak to the doorman and my accent wins me a pass through a back entrance. I am ushered to the front row. The room is packed. Finally the “magnificent seven” are on stage.

This septet does not have a typical “Cuban” look. No bright shirts, no hats to be seen. Black is the chosen colour of this very stylish act, lead by two guys who could pass muster strolling down a Milan fashion catwalk and a glamorous blond woman with a spiky hairdo. Everyone in the band is young and gorgeous but I can’t wait to hear them sing.

I guess it’s easy to get confused if you’re expecting a traditional harmonic trio. But hearing Los Tres de la Habana turned out to be something totally different. They take you on a journey across the spectrum of Cuban music, beginning with the bolero, the cha-cha-cha, the guaracha and the traditional son and closing with the very explosive “timba”, a contemporary Cuban take on what the rest of the world calls “Salsa”. Only that Timba is much more complex, rich and very energetic.

The dance floor is sizzling and everyone is moving their hips. I am completely sold on their vocals, their style, but most of all by the audience reaction: Cubans know their stuff. I am curious to know how this band in particular got noticed in such a crowded market. I asked to meet them the next day during one of their rehearsals at the National Theatre. The air conditioning is off. It’s stinking hot. So we keep it brief.

How did it all start?

German: In March of 93, very casually. I studied music from early age at the National School and had been my father’s guitar accompanist. I also worked at the Tropicana Cabaret where I joined Anita who at the time was their lead singer and presenter of the show. My brother Ari was studying Arts and, coming from a family of artists was always singing. One day we just decided to put together a trio. Since then we’ve had a clear goal and have been running hard.

Anita: I started and stayed in folk music until I was asked to join the Tropicana to work as their soloist. I felt great… it was a great gig. I knew German but… in a “personal way”, not in the arts if you know what I mean! We were dating and together decided that a career in cabaret although wonderful is short lived. We were ambitious and believed that there surely was something for us to do… the three of us were always singing together at home and we then said to ourselves “there is something about our voices, let’s do something about it and see what happens”. And that’s how the group and its unusual way of doing things came about.

What is so unique about Los Tres de la Habana’s work?

German: It’s vocal. Primarily because Cuba has a great harmonic trio tradition, we went back to the roots. We felt that the idea of the trio had aged and we thought that there was a lot more to be done like writing songs that people could dance to and try to take the concept to the big stage. In 1998, musicians joined us from the very best of the Cuban arts schools to enrich the work of Los Tres. Now we are “The Three from Havana and their band”.

One of the aspects that we notice is the versatility of the repertoire. How do you choose the songs?

Ari: When you listen to Los Tres de la Habana you are listening to work which is very seriously made. When choosing the repertoire we are thinking of our audiences and try to offer them an opportunity to hear good material. We always work around those lines. People are used to us making serious music, popular music that you can really dance to but is musically well thought out.

German: We include the jewels of traditional Cuban music as well as the most up-to- the-minute sounds.

Anita: When talking danceable popular music we believe that music should carry a message, whatever style that is, classical, popular or any other genre you choose. Being Cuban we prefer “ son”. It is an easy style to present to the public. In Cuba we love son music from birth till death. It is not only through the lyrics of the songs but you can also say many things with the rhythm. We make traditional Cuban music in a very different way, a lot more modern that really gets to people. We are a small format band that without being a full orchestra performs to a young audience and make them move using the harmonic trio as a tool. That has worked well!

When one looks for Cuban elements in your music, what does it means to be Cuban?

German: Music reflects the society where it is made. The Cuban audience is very knowledgeable and it is very important to us to perform locally, giving people at the Café Cantante an explosive atmosphere, even more that working anywhere else in the world because it is such a tough challenge. We get very emotional when an audience from other parts of the world understand and enjoys our work

That takes us to the end of our chat with Los Tres de la Habana in my view, one of the most interesting, versatile and dynamic bands of the new generation of Cuban musicians. Their repertoire, voices and arrangements have secured them prestige and attention in the extremely competitive Cuban music market as well as the recognition of a world audience. Los Tres de la Habana, with its Cuban stamp brings a piece of that island’s musical magic. Don’t miss their shows in Australia (and if you ever get to Havana, join the queue at the Café Cantante. You won’t be disappointed!).