BOMB 123/Spring 2013
Ned Sublette on Michael Zwack’s commitment to Minokan Vodou culture and his quest to paint “the whole world.”
A 15-piece orchestra of all-star Cuban musicians, ¡Cubanismo! celebrates the legacy of Cuban dance music—from traditional rumba and cha-cha to son and danzón. Band leader Jesús Alemañy once played trumpet for Cuba’s most famous son group, Sierra Maestra.
Maraca’s technical proficiency as a flutist is complemented by his lightning-fast ear. Renowned in his native Cuba, Maraca earned his chops playing Cuban jazz with Chucho Valdés’s supergroup, Irakere, and composer Emiliano Salvador before he turned 23.
Cuban pianist, composer and arranger Bebo Valdés was at one time the orchestra leader of Havana’s Tropicana nightclub, accompanying visiting stars such as Nat King Cole and house legend Beny Moré.
WEB EXCLUSIVE Songbird Jambalaya: Musician and musicologist Ned Sublette talks to “blues growler” Coco Robicheaux, a true Louisiana spirit—a survivor of Katrina and more.
These photographs were taken by Ned Sublette over a period from late 2004 to early 2005.
This First Proof the story contains The Good Darkey. For copyright reasons this content is available in print only.
