Los Tres de la Habana - Frank Madrid meets up
with them at Havana's Cafe Cantante
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 mean 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!).
