Juan Formell y Los Van Van
Latin Jazz - World Fusion
Juan Formell (director, bass); Yenisel Valdes Fuentes, Mario Enrique Rivera Godinez, Roberto Hernandez Acea, Abdel Rasalps Sotolongo (vocals); Jorge Leliebre Sorzano (flute, piano); Hugo Antonio Morejon Gomez (trombone, keyboard); Alvaro Collado Martinez, Edmundo Carlos Pina Machin (trombone); Irving Roberto Frontela Rico, Pedro Cesar Fajardo Alzaga (viola); Roberto C. Rodriguez (piano); Boris Ernesto Luna Mendez (keyboard); Pavel Molina Ruiz (bass); Samuel Formell Alfonso (drums); Manuel Labarrera Hernandez (congas); Julio Eladio Norona Cruz (guiro).
Sat 10 July 2010 23:45 - 01:00 Maas
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Jacob Crawfurd
The orchestra Los Van Van was founded by the Cuban Juan Formell. This singer-songwriter started out as a troubadour when he was young. He was taught by Cuban legends like torch singer Jorge Socarrás and bandleader Orestes López 'Cachao'. Formell debuted alongside Guillermo Rubalcaba. Towards the end of the 1960s his star truly begins to rise. Like no other, Formell is able to mix Cuban music with jazz and Caribbean music styles. He doesn't want to play Cuban music on auto pilot, which happens too often according to Formell. "My compositions need to truly reflect Cuban life, in all its facets," he explains. Formell's influence is far-reaching. Legends like Rubén Blades, Harry Belafonte and Ray Barreto have already interpreted his music, and for good reason. It has earned Los Van Van the nickname "The Rolling Stones of Cuba".
