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Cosa Latina?

By
Local Salsapower Correspondent in Santiago de Cuba
November, 2005

The afternoon was lovely on the Thames, where the Queen's swans, along with the people, were enjoying a late autumn with the reddening glow of the sunset, and the cold announcing its presence with the mist covering the horizon. Various airplanes appeared simultaneously in the sky, leaving a white vapor trail like a furrow of the future, landing in London, the world culture capital.

I had landed in one of the Air Europa planes coming from Havana to London the day before, looking forward to meeting many old friends again.

London opens its doors each day to many festivals and concerts, and offers us the opportunity of visiting a part of the comedy world such as the George IV Pub and Headliners Comedy Club. Every Friday they are packed with people wanting to enjoy the live comedy shows, assuring the musicians the financial funds to continue their art and opening up the perspective of a greater awareness of cultural life. By 6 o'clock in the evening the musicians had installed the sound system and after a brief rehearsal, they were ready. So much noise, so much promotion in the Internet, and an uproarious detachment of the Latin and Cuban community of London packed the room, and warmed up the nerves of the musicians.

The characteristic Cuban hubbub along with the elegant clothing of the Cuban women and others present, the freshness of the surroundings and the refreshing beer, made us feel as if we were in a Cuban carnival and at the same time in one of the fine ballrooms in Cuba of the Society of Friends of Danzón and Son.

A unique moment was the meeting of the local SalsaPower correspondents, Angela Johnson from London and José Antonio Prades Hung from Santiago de Cuba (seated with friends), and in that exact moment, the maestro Keith Johnson took the baton and unleashed a memorable concert of Cuban music which included "Ajiaco Caliente", "Cocinando", and other themes which kept us warm for two hours.

Cosa Latina, as this musical group is called, is a perfect reproduction of the Cuban musical format, made up of eight professional musicians from different countries and cultures and who have added up their musical mastery to deliver a great night.

Piano and Director: Keith Robert Johnson, from England;
Bongó (as well as: Campana, Claves and Güiro): Richard Katesmark, from England;
Percussion (tumbadoras): Alejandro Martínez, from Argentina;
Bass guitar: Gary Schuller, from Puerto Rico (New York);
Trumpet: Dimitris Modupoulos, from Greece;
Saxophone: Miguel Ramón, from Spain;
Timbales: Nat Steele, from Colombia;
and the unrivaled, beautiful, sexy and excellent singer and dancer Elizabeth Leyva, from Cuba.

Keith Johnson has successfully brought to London the Cuban musical spirit that he has gathered through his several continous years of living in the cities and villages of Cuba with musicians and Cuban people, performing in carnivals, concerts, clubs and and taking classes.

Today I was surprised because the musical arrangements of Cuban-style standards performed, ("Mambo Batiri", "Pensando en Ti", "Lágrimas Negras", "Tremenda Descarga", "Mi Negra", "Cuba Te Llama", "Moliendo Café", "Soñando", "Azúcar", and "El Cuarto de Tula") are the personal work of Keith Johnson himself, and that's why, in my opinion, we have listened and danced to a distinct and very Cuban music.

As I sat there, I conjured up the images of the Maestros Daniel Damian Vistel Powell, Francisco Salvador Ulloa Añasco and Ernesto Burgos. Keith Johnson has exchanged ideas with them, and played music with them, as well as forming a professional friendship, realizing the personal desire of doing his own musical arrangements of traditional Cuban Music, which his band is now playing.

Elizabeth Leyva recreates with her melodic voice and energetic descarga, her interpretation of the songs of the 90's when she sang at the Restaurante Monserrate in Havana, accompanied by Cuban musical groups and dancers.

It is hard to know when "Cosa Latina", which is truly "Cosa Cubana", will delight us again in Shakesperian London, but tonight this group has earned the musical certificate entitling them to call themselves "Cuban" by virtue of the way they made all present dance with abandon. It wasn't just the Cubans present, but all Latinos, British and other nationalities. We want to know when and where the next show will be!

SalsaPower will be there watching this phenomenon of Cosa Latina, and the other musical groups that cultivate the most authentic cultural and musical Cuban heritage throughout the world. They only need assure that they are authenticly Cuban and that they keep the music fresh and dance from their hearts.

Congratulations! Thank you!

José Antonio Prades Hung

Read other SalsaPower reviews HERE

Last updated on 27-Nov-2005