What happens when you combine the sounds of “La época de oro” (1930s-1950s) in Cuba with the American Jazz scene of the same time period?
Son De Brooklyn and their latest release Los Hipsters No Bailan.
“Cuban grooves with a shot of Brooklyn”, as it so aptly states in their bio.
Taylor Watson had a dream to combine these sounds. But above and beyond that simple goal he wanted to do it in Cuba with some of the island’s most talented musicians…
Notice I said most talented, not necessarily “famous” or well known.
The record also received contributions from engineers Nadim Issa and Kamilo Kratc in New York.
The amount of passion poured into this project goes above and beyond your average musical release.
The players featured herein are not the most famous Cuba possesses. Many are virtual unknowns whose talent had never previously appeared on record. Yet even though I only knew these musicians a couple of days before going into the studio things felt very comfortable right away. Maybe it was the familial touch: The Corrales clan provided flutist Alberto Senior, percussionist Alberto Junior and violinist Elizabeth. We were also fortunate to have Luis Mirabal, the 18 year-old grandson of trumpet legend and Buena Vista Social Club member Guajiro Mirabal.
Recording at Egrem, Cuba’s national studio, the musicians came together for a 14 hour marathon session. The result is Los Hipsters No Bailan.
All you need to do is press play, relax, and let the music guide you through jazz influenced arrangements of Cuban sones, rumbas, boleros, and cha-cha-chas as well as plenty of original material across an array of other styles.
This is the sound of Cuba’s finest musicians and the island atmosphere permeates through each of the album’s 12 compositions. Each track a journey in and of itself through a golden era of Latin and Jazz music.
I feel like I’m floating through the Caribbean at peace with illuminating sunshine and an ocean breeze.
You might also remember Taylor Watson’s work from our review of Places, Spaces, Embraces.
This is the part where you inject your aural with some Latin jazz. Connect with Son De Brooklyn on Facebook or YouTube.
