- The second album by Natty Bo’s Ska Cubano is a mixed affair – in the best possible sense. Though Ska is the given form, Ay Caramba! Plays free with countless styles that are as natural as a Caribbean wind to this set of trad Cuban musicians Bo recruited for this project.
- Find album reviews, stream songs, credits and award information for Ay Caramba! - Ska Cubano on AllMusic - 2006 - Ska Cubano excel at a style of music that never.
By Ska Cubano, released 11 July 2006 1. Soy Campesino (I'm A Country Man) 2.! Oye Compay Juan (Listen, My Buddy Juan) 5. No Me Desesperes (Don't Drive Me Crazy) 6. Big Bamboo (Gran Bambu) 7. Istanbul (Not Constantinople) 10. Find Ska Cubano discography, albums and singles on AllMusic. Cumbancha 2008: Ajiaco (The Remix Album) Absolute AllMusic.
From Wikipedia
Ska Cubano | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | London, England |
Genres | Ska, mambo |
Years active | 2001–present |
Labels | Casinosounds |
Website | http://www.skacubano.com/ |
Members | |
Natty Bo Beny Billy Megumi Mesaku Rey Crespo Jesús Cutiño Oresta Noda Dr. Sleepy Eddie 'Tan Tan' Thornton |
Ska Cubano are a London-based group who combine ska and Cuban music such as mambo, with elements of other genres including cumbia and calypso.
Contents |
History
The group was put together by investment banker Peter A. Scott, who in his own words 'decided to create an alternative history in which Cuban ska had emerged'.[1][2] He travelled to Cuba with Top Cats singer Natty Bo (Nathan Lerner) in 2001, and there they rehearsed and recorded the Ska Cubano album over a two-year period with local musicians including singer Beny Billy (Juan Manuel Villy Carbonell), Oscar Calle, and Locho Bermúdez. On their return to London, Scott and Lerner decided to go for a less Cuban sound and formed a more-permanent line-up using UK-based musicians, including Rey Crespo (double bass), Jesús Cutiño (tres), Oreste Noda (congas), Dr Sleepy (Reuben White, drums), and Eddie 'Tan Tan' Thornton (trumpet), with Beny Billy commuting from Santiago for recordings and performances. The new line-up recorded the second album, ¡Ay Caramba!, which was nominated for a BBC World Music Award in the 'Culture Crossing' category.[3] The album was described as 'imaginatively crafted, brimming with melody, wit and a joyous fusion of rhythms, this album’s about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on'.[3]
Ska Cubano have performed at major festivals including Glastonbury, Big Day Out, and WOMAD, and toured internationally.[3][4]
Band members
- Natty Bo (Nathan Lerner) - vocals
- Beny Billy (Juan Manuel Villy Carbonell) - vocals
- Megumi Mesaku - saxophone
- Rey Crespo - double bass
- Jesús Cutiño - tres
- Oresta Noda - congas
- Dr. Sleepy (Reuben White) - drums
- Eddie 'Tan Tan' Thornton - trumpet
- Jay Phelps- trumpet
Discography
- Ska Cubano (2003), Victor - reissued (2004), Absolute
- ¡Ay Caramba! (2005), Casinosounds
- Ajiaco! (the remix album), (2008) Casinosounds/Universal Portugal
Notes
References
- Cartwright, Garth (2007) 'SKA CUBANO', BBC
- Meadley, Phil (2005) 'Ska Cubano: Revolution in the head', The Independent, 1 July 2005
- Scott, Peter A. 'Ska Cubano History', skacubano.com
- 'Ska Cubano: A Parallel Musical Universe', NPR Music, 6 August 2006