‘Talking In Cuban’ (Independent) by Palacio de la Rumba is Eastside Radio’s Album of the Week. 

The album is a worldly extravaganza where the brassy sounds of an 18 piece big band meets the rhythms and melodies of Cuba. Saxophonist Gai Bryant is the force behind the entire record having been inspired to commence the project whist undertaking her Master’s in Composition course at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. The artist went as far as to work on-location for the project, traveling to Havana in 2012 where she met co-performer and ultimately one of the most instrumental additions to the work, percussionist Justo Pelladito Hernandez. Hernandez himself continues to play a pivotal role within his local music scene, having influenced the education of the art by establishing the Cuban Percussion Department at the Higher Arts Institute, for which his efforts were reworded after he received a Diploma of Artist Worth by the same institute. He rose to fame as a founding member of the Conjunto Folclorico Nacional de Cuba as a resident percussionist and dancer.  For Bryant, Hernandez’s presence on stage and throughout the compositional process added to the authenticity of the project, something she continually strived to encapsulate. In particular it was his wealth of knowledge within the stylings of the Rumba which proved most useful in bringing Bryant’s vision to life, one quarter of the albums exploration of some of Cuba’s folkloric genres, the danzon, bolero and tonada. She felt most receptive to this selection of styles as they effortlessly lent themselves towards one of Jazz music’s hallmarks, improvisation. The jazzy side of this record ultimately forms the bases of each piece as it’s where the artist feels most comfortable adapting such rhythms energy and vibrancy offered by Cuban musical traditions to the format of an 18 piece big band, saying that “Jazz can absorb other styles and still allow you to function as a jazz player and that’s really interesting. You can still interact and keep a flavour of something else.” (via australianjazz.net)

(The charity campaign has now closed)

Track Listing

Pollo Por Pescado

El Castllo de la Sirena

Palacio de la Rumba

The Girld with the Moon in Her Eyes

Columbia Cubanos

Luminoso

Talking in Cuban

Artists:

Trumpets: Daryl Carthew, Eamon Dilworth, Warwick Alder and Ray Cassar

Saxaphones: Peter Farrar (sop & alto saxes), Gai Bryant (sop & alto saxes, flute), Craig Walters (tenor sax, clarinet, flute), Mark Ginsburg (tenor sax) and Paul Cutlan (bass clarinet & baritone sax)

Trombones: Paul Weber, Danny Carmichael, Martin Taylor and Colin Philpott (bass trombone)

Rhythm: Jeremy Sawkins (guitar), Alisiter Spence (piano), Lloyd Swanton (bass), Fabian Hevia (drum kit) and special guest Justo Pelladito on congas.

You can follow Palacio de la Rumba’s career via their FACEBOOK or at https://gaibryantspareparts.com. Be sure to tune in this week to 89.7FM EASTSIDE RADIO for your chance to WIN a copy of ‘Talking in Cuban’ by Palacio de la Rumba. You must be a supporter to win so make sure to sign up at https://eastsidefm.org/support-us-2/. Don’t forget you can also stream the station at WWW.EASTSIDEFM.ORG.