Charanga Habanera August 21, 2010

La Charanga Habanera was created in 1988 when a group of ten young graduates from the most important Cuban schools of music, David Calzado among them, decided to set in motion the initiative of a French businessman, Bernard Lion, to create an orchestra using the typical format of the charanga and perform the Cuban traditional music, especially that of the 1940`s and 1950`s.

David Calzado "strategist by nature and with a sharp instinct to attain success- has wisely selected the themes with very good nose: the orchestra"s repertoire has an explicit philosophical-popular sense and the daily life becomes his great theme. Likewise, David Calzado has engaged in the selection of the wardrobe and the scenic architecture, thus becoming a very special director. Other characteristic elements of La Charanga include the use of the African harpsichord which adds a greater freedom of performance and accelerated polyrhythmic marked by the bass and the keyboard in what is known as contratumbao, as well as the introduction of rap, funk and hip-hop elements.

David Calzado`s show-orchestra has received the Cubadisco Awards, Lucas Awards and has been nominated for the Latin Grammy; it has also made countless international tours and has received many acknowledgements both in Cuba and abroad. Today, this orchestra is still the favorite of the overwhelming majority of the audience for its always young image and its talented instrumentalists and singers and for its dynamic sound closely associated with the most aggressive timba born of the authentic spirit of the 1990`s. La Charanga Habanera is an indispensable orchestra that has to be taken into consideration whenever we speak of the history of dancing popular music in Cuba.

Official Website: http://www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco/jazzclub/artist/show/1446