| Name | PROYECTO COMPARSA ORIENTAL |
| Line-up | Alexis Rojas Montero - percussion & vocals Joaquín Solórzano - percussion & corneta China tbc |
| Genre | Conga - Comparsa |
| Origin | Cuba |
| Booking | Contact Eli Silvrants at Jazzconexion |
| Press Material | Downloadcenter |
Touring: Contact Jazzconexion
Cuban Carnival
Contrary to the rest of the world, Cuban carnival takes place in the middle
of the summer, commencing mid-July. After all, first the sugarcane has to be
harvested!
Every village and town has its own carnival and many flow over from one place
to the other. Especially the Carnivals in Oriente, the most Eastern area of
the island, with its capital Santiago de Cuba, are legendary.
Among the diverse music genres of Cuba, the less known is the typical carnival
music, called Conga, played by Comparsa-bands,
through the streets, where the dancing public join, forming a long parade.
Comparsa groups can be compared with the Samba schools of the Brazilian carnival.
The legendary percussionist and composer Chano Pozo began his
career in the comparsa band: Los Dandys in Havana. Desi
Arnaz, son of a former mayor of Santiago de Cuba, Hollywood star, husband
of Lucille Ball and creator of the famous sit-com "I love Lucy", kicked-off
a virtual Conga-craze in the United States in the 1940’s. For the last
30 years Irakere have been closing their concerts with a conga.
Ibrahim Ferrer invited la comparsa Los Hoyos
from Santiago de Cuba on his last CD: Buenos Hermanos.
The instruments
The Corneta China (Chinese horn) with its high-pitched, penetrating
sound is an especially noticeable instrument in the comparsa, along with percussion
instruments such as bocú, quinto, redoblante,
requinto and campanas; el can
and maní tostao (referring to the rhythms).
The performances
Proyecto Comparsa Oriental can perform as a podium-act with
Afro-Cuban folklore, rumba and congas but is also a marching / street band.
They performed as opening act for Los Van Van and Maraca.
The musicians
Joaquín Solórzano acquired international fame
as a percussionist in, among other groups, Los Guanches and Eliades Ochoa y
Cuarteto Patria. He is considered to be one of the best interpreters of the
Corneta China in Cuba. For some years now he is the leader of Grupo Obini Irawo.
Alexis Rojas Montero who participated in various bands and
initiated this project.