ivylander
ivylander
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Is this jazz? I say yes.

Posted almost 5 years ago
Herewith one of the classic Cuban bands, NG La Banda. (NG stands for "Nueva Generation" and is pronounced enna-HEY.) This is a little atypical for them in that their brass section (allegedly nicknamed "the Horns of Terror") doesn't get much of a workout here. I saw them seven or eight years ago in a bar in Havana and not only were they the loudest band I've ever heard in my life (distant second: Joe "King" Carrasco & the Crowns), they were absolutely the tightest. There were no synchronized dance moves or matching outfits - on that teeny stage there wouldn't have been room for a beer gut. There was just superb musicianship top to bottom and a sense of swing that didn't let up for a second. We had been to the Cuban National Ballet the night before, which was the only reason we recognized the guy in the middle of the dancefloor who was totally slaying everybody within a half-mile radius - he'd been the male lead in "The Nutcracker." Hope you like this.
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Comments (13)

  1. dermahrk
    dermahrk says Sorry, it can't be jazz. I like it! ;)
    Permalink posted 06/30/2007
  2. mktackabery
    mktackabery says It's not jazz, but jazz wishes it were. Jazz stole A LOT from Cuba, muy amigo.
    Permalink posted 06/30/2007
  3. mktackabery
    mktackabery says And I forgot to say, tight bands like this, with horns, absolutely are my most favorite things in the world. When I die, I want one at my funeral. Y'all remind my husband, now.
    Permalink posted 06/30/2007
  4. Rawkkiddoh
    Rawkkiddoh says jazz or not, me likes
    Permalink posted 06/30/2007
  5. chucky
    chucky says Haha. I thought Aguas De Marcos was jazz and this just has a latin feel to me. I give up. :)
    Permalink posted 06/30/2007
  6. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says Is this hot? I say "Yes!"
    Permalink posted 07/01/2007
  7. ivylander
    ivylander says Chucky, all I can say is that this proves beyond a doubt that categories are slippery. I consider this jazz because of the horn lines and the way it swings - Latin, but with a distinct jazzy feel. But it's not jazz in a strictly traditional way. Kinda why I asked the question. Mike is right, though - all that really matters is the way it hits your ear.
    Permalink posted 07/01/2007
  8. pjebsen
    pjebsen says Very nice! And I appreciate it that you brought back Joe “King” Carrasco & the Crowns to my memory: They once invited me to witness a performance on a very special occasion ... they were supporting James Brown for a wedding anniversary party in San Antonio/TX in the late '80s. ;-) I remember one of the GFOS's horn players sneaking into JKC's band limo to get a sample of a smokable healing herb that was being passed around after the show. He was afraid to get caught because JB had a strict "No Drugs" policy (although rumor had it that JB was experimenting with "Angel Dust" himself at the time).
    Permalink posted 07/01/2007
  9. ivylander
    ivylander says Joe "King" Carrasco allowed druggies in his entourage? I am frankly shocked. Man, what a reception that must have been - you have some very cool friends, friend.
    Permalink posted 07/01/2007
  10. soulrocket
    soulrocket says it is popular cuban music with exceptional musical arrangements, they sure use some complicated patterns. i believe this is the kind of stuff to experience in cuba and then enjoy it back home, i didnt have that experience and while i can listen to it, this stuff really doesnt do much for me. i need some cuban education myself, most of my friends already visited the island. i just thought of your past post on forro music opposed to bossa & samba being more stylish & this popular music (with a big dose of salsa) can be opposed to cuban latin jazz & bugalú.
    Permalink posted 07/03/2007
  11. pjebsen
    pjebsen says @ivylander: I wasn't talking about druggies, only about health-conscious consumers of bio-organic healing herbs. I'm sure Joe "King" wouldn't have allowed anything else in his entourage ... ;-)
    Permalink posted 07/04/2007
  12. ivylander
    ivylander says Of course not. I understand perfectly.
    Permalink posted 07/05/2007
  13. Spike
    Spike says The video clip was wonderful. The choreography was a real plus. The singers had great voices. Normally salsa's blaring brass impedes me, but watching this was fun. I love salsa piano patterns, too often only in the background. The percussion, as usual, was state-of-the-art.
    Permalink posted 07/26/2007

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