| Name | Pupy y Los que Son, Son |
| Lineup | view lineup |
| Genre | Mixture of tradition of the Cuban music and modernity |
| Origin | Havana, Cuba |
| Booking | Contact Eli Silvrants at Jazzconexion |
| Press Material | Downloadcenter |
Composer, writer, arranger, piano player and musical director
_César de las Mercedes Pedroso Fernández
His real name is César de las Mercedes Pedroso Fernández but
he is better known as "Pupy". This composer, writer, arranger, piano
player and musical director was born on September 24, 1946 in the Vedado, a
popular neighbourhood in Havana, Cuba.
He started as a one finger piano player at the age of five and by the age of
twelve he was studying music at the famous Amadeo Roldan Conservatory
of Music in Havana. Music was no stranger to him at all because his
father had been a piano player with the renowned Felix Chapottín and
various other groups and before that, his grandfather had also been the musical
director for different well known Cuban orchestras.
After playing with different groups and even standing in for his father as the
piano player for Chapottín, in 1966, Pupy was asked
by Elio Revé to become the musical director and piano
player for his group Charangón. Charangón music
style created by Revé. One of the other members of Reve’s group
was Juan Formell and in 1968 Pupy and Formell decided to start
a new group by the name of Los Van Van. They also came up with
a new musical style and rhythm the "Songo".
During his 32 years with Los Van Van, Pupy was responsible for over 150 compositions. Famous interpreters such as the late Celia Cruz, Adalberto Santiago and Alfredo de la Fe can be counted among some of the performers of his many songs. In 1999 Los Van Van were awarded a Grammy for their CD "Permiso Llegó Van Van". It was a recognition for the band’s outstanding contribution to world music and also for Pupy for his work with the group.
As a constant searcher for new ideas Pupy decided he was ready for another challenge and this resulted in the 1999 pilot project CD, "De la Timba a Pogolotti", an expression of the new style of Timba, the musical rhythm created by famous flautist, composer and arranger Jose Luis Cortés, aka "el Tosco". The CD unites ultramodern dancing with a fusion of traditional rhythms such as Son-Salsa, with elements of Jazz, Rock and Funk.
After this solo project Pupy decided it was time for his own band. He severed
his ties with Los Van Van and reappeared with "Los que Son, Son"
, a young and energetic new formation. In 2001 they released
their first album by the same name. With this new group Pupy is showing once
again that he can be counted among the most innovative Cuban musical talents
of all times.
In 2002 the group released their second album, "Qué
cosas tiene la vida".
Pupy y Los que Son, Son embarked on a Caribbean tour and had the opportunity to perform at the Saint Lucia’s Jazz Festival with famous artists such as Bradford Marsalis, Lauryn Hill and even Chucho Valdés.
This summer, Pupy y Los que Son, Son, will be touring Europe for the first time. Of course Pupy has been here many times with Los Van Van, but it will be the opportunity to see and hear why Los que Son Son is the band everybody not only in Cuba, but everywhere else is talking about.
_"LINEUP"
1. César 'Pupy' Pedroso
director, piano
2. Osiris Martínez Rodríguez
keyboard
3. Reinier Elizarde Ruano
baby bass
4. Roelvis Reyes Simono
drums
5. Neiris Lorenzo Mustelier trombone
6. Sergio R. Luna Longchamp
trombone
7. Jorge Castillo Hernández
percussion, congas
8. René Suárez Zapata
percussion, timbales
9. José Gómez Martínez
vocals
10. Armando I. Cantero Abreu
vocals
11. Alexander Acosta Muñoz
vocals
12. Leonardo R. Teruel Velásquez
trumpet
13. Juan Carlos González Borrero
trumpet
14. Gerardo Miró Rivera
violin
15. Julio A. Noroña Pérez
güiro