Tuesday, December 13, 2016

DAYMÉ AROCENA // NEW ALBUM CUBAFONÍA ANNOUNCED (Brownswood Recordings)


Daymé Arocena releases Mambo Na'má, first Single from Upcoming Album Cubafonía


With Cuba poised to become more connected to the rest of the world, the Cuban people’s pride in a unique musical heritage has never felt more vital. Arising from that lineage, Daymé Arocena has returned to deliver an ambitious second long player; rooting her compositions in Cuba’s classic rhythms, Daymé encompasses the rich, diverse musical make-up of her home whilst looking outward too – to the world she has spent the last two years traveling.

It’s her most polished, fully realised project since meeting her mentor (and record label head), Gilles Peterson, in 2012. Benefiting from Gilles’ expansive vision as a DJ, broadcaster and promoter, Daymé has been nurtured to this point by the Havana Cultura project – a platform for contemporary Cuban creativity driven by Havana Club rum.

First, there was 2014’s Havana Cultura Mix album, which introduced her to working with electronic producers for the first time. She then accompanied Gilles in his journey through rumba culture for the expansive Havana Club Rumba Sessions project, which produced a feature-length documentary along with an album – using her distinctive vocals – of rumba reimaginings and sample pack. As a solo artist, she released her debut album Nueva Era to critical and popular acclaim in 2015, with an EP of cover versions, titled One Takes, released in early 2016.

The reception to her music has spurred a whirlwind of opportunities: she shared an off-the-cuff live moment with Roy Ayers and Brazilian superstar Ed Motta to leave Worldwide Festival in tears of joy, jumped on stage with Miguel Atwood-Ferguson at his triumphant Suite for Ma Dukes show at the Barbican, and rung the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange with a delegation from Women of the World. She has played shows from LA to Tokyo, charming audiences with her mesmerising vocal range and earthy sense of humour. She name-checks Kendrick Lamar and Anderson .Paak as artists she would love to work with.


Despite all that, however, it’s not distracted Daymé from a deep sense of seriousness about her art form; born of a uniquely musical culture, she strives to forge a cohesive musical language from Cuba’s distinct musical dialects. Growing up in a two-bed house with 21 other people, every available surface was scuffed from the rumba rhythms which had been played out on them. It’s a childhood typical of a country where children grow up readily exposed to the island’s numerous, particular rhythms.

That immersive upbringing forms the record’s starting point. Entering one of Havana’s prestigious, state-funded classical conservatoires at age 9, that rigorous classical training has informed an interconnected vision of Cuban music, where inspiration comes from the Caribbean island’s different rhythms and styles – from Guantánamo’s fast-paced changüí, to ubiquitous guaguancó and ‘70s-style ballada. Sung mainly in Spanish, Daymé drops into English (and even tries out a little French) when the mood takes her. Produced alongside Soundway artist Dexter Story, with string arrangements from Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, this is heritage music for modern-day citizens of the world.

Interviewing Daymé at the Sound of Cuba showcase at SXSW last year, NPR wrote, “It is hard to imagine a better voice to open her country’s gates” – and it feels like this statement holds true. Ambitious, hardworking, and hungry for cultural exchange that doesn’t compromise the unique flavour of her home country of which she is so proud, it feels like 2017 could be a monumental year for Daymé. She possesses a clear sense of her music’s intermingling influences: “We don’t have this native culture,” she explains. “We don’t have indigenous people, like Maya or Quechua. They made a country with people from everywhere – that’s what makes Cuban culture so different.”


Listen to Mambo Na’ Nà below and pre-order the album on Bandcamp and iTunes.


1. Eleggua
2. La Rumba me llamo yo
3. Lo que fue
4. Maybe Tomorrow
5. Negra Caridad
6. Mambo Na’ M à
7. Cómo
8. Todo por Amor*
9. Ángel
10. It’s Not Gonna Be Forever
11. Valentine

Check Daymé’s tour dates for 2017


5th January, Highline Ballroom, New York (US) – Tickets

6th January, Le Poisson Rouge, New York (US)

5th April, De Roma, Antwerp (Belgium)

6th April, Paradiso, Amsterdam (Netherlands) – Tickets

7th April, Motel Mozaïque Festival, Rotterdam (Netherlands) – Tickets

8th April, Espace Senghor, Brussels (Belgium)

14th April, Jazz Café, London (UK) – Tickets


Actuaciones de Jazz: MosaiKOREA - La Navideña, 15 y 17 de Diciembre en Matadero, Madrid


El Centro Cultural Coreano perteneciente a la Embajada de la República de Corea se suma por segundo año a la II Edición de la Navideña: Feria Internacional de las Culturas (15-23 dic.). En esta ocasión Mosaikorea, talentoso grupo surcoreano que lidera el panorama musical tradicional y del jazz será el representante de Corea del Sur con su `Melodía Dispersa´. Cabe destacar que tres de sus componentes con la banda Blackstring participaron en el mes de septiembre en WOMEX , una de las grandes citas mundiales del mundo de la música. El jueves 15 actuará en el Auditorio Casa del Reloj a las 19.00 hs y el sábado 17 de diciembre en Nave 1 a las 21.00 hs, ambas en Matadero (Paseo Chopera,14)-Plaza de Legazpi,8.

Además del 15 al 22 de diciembre tendrá lugar una exposición en nuestro caseta de Matadero sobre los productos K-Ribbon de gastronomía coreana y Talk Talk Corea, contenidos de cultura coreana.

K-Ribbon es una iniciativa del gobierno coreano que desde noviembre de 2015 ha seleccionado productos de valor destacado con denominación k-Ribbon divididos en 5 categorías: Productos industriales gastronómicos, menús gastronómicos, Hanbok o vestimenta coreana, arte, y contenidos culturales.

Talk Talk KOREA es un concurso internacional de contenidos con motivo de la cultura coreana, organizado por KOCIS (Korean Culture & Information Service), MAE (Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de Corea) y KBS World, en el que los concursantes compiten en 6 categorías: video, fotografía, webtoon(comics), postales, caligrafía. Este año bajo el tema, "KOREA In Your Eyes", han participado 151 países con 24.024 obras diversas.

De este modo deseamos que Mosaikorea y la muestra de productos que se exhibirá acerque a todas las personas la cultura y artes de Corea del Sur.



Nombre actividad: MosaiKOREA
Fecha: 15 de Diciembre
Horario: 19:00 horas
Espacio: Auditorio Casa del Reloj
Duración: 60 minutos aproximadamente
Entrada : Recogida de entradas en taquillas de Matadero una hora antes del espectáculo  

Nombre actividad: MosaiKOREA
Fecha: 17 de Diciembre
Horario: 21 horas
Espacio: Nave 1
Duración: 60 minutos aproximadamente
Entrada : Recogida de entradas en taquillas de Matadero una hora antes del espectáculo