GILLES PETERSON PRESENTS HAVANA CULTURA: REMIXEDCD01 / THE REMIXES01. MAMI / EDGARO EL PRODUCTOR EN JEFE TROPICALIA REMIX02. ROFOROFO FIGHT / LOUIE VEGA’S EOL MIX03. REZANDO / MICHEL CLEIS REMIX04. CHEKERE SON / SEIJI RERUB05. ARROZ CON POLLO / MJ COLE REMIX06. ARROZ CON POLLO / CARL COX MIX07. LA REVOLUCION DEL CUERPO PT.1 / SKINNER’S OWINEY SIGOMA MIX08. AFRODISIA / RAINER TRUEBY REMIX09. THINK TWICE / 4HERO REMIX FEAT. DANAY & CARINA10. ARROZ CON POLLO / SOLAL “SOY CUBA” REMIX11. CHEKERE SON / WICHY DE VEDADO REMIX

BONUS TRACKS12. ROFOROFO FIGHT (LOUIE VEGA’S REMIX)13. LAGRIMAS DE SOLEDAD (NO EXISTEN PALABRAS) D’WALA REMIX14. CHEKERE SON (ALEX PATCHWORK REMIX)15. LAGRIMAS DE SOLEDAD (NO EXISTEN PALABRAS) VINCE VELLA REMIX

CD02 / BONUS DJ MIX BY GILLES PETERSON01. THINK TWICE / 4HERO REMIX FEAT. DANAY & CARINA02. MAMI / EDGARO EL PRODUCTOR EN JEFE TROPICALIA REMIX03. AFRODISIA / RAINER TRUEBY REMIX04. ROFOROFO FIGHT / LOUIE VEGA’S EOL MIX05. ROFOROFO FIGHT / LOUIE VEGA REMIX06. LAGRIMAS DE SOLEDAD (NO EXISTEN PALABRAS) / D’WALA RIDDIMIX07. CHEKERE SON / ALEX PATCHWORK REMIX08. LA REVOLUCION DEL CUERPO PT.1 / SKINNER’S OWINEY SIGOMA MIX09. REZANDO / MICHEL CLEIS REMIX10. CHEKERE SON / SEIJI RERUB11. ARROZ CON POLLO / MJ COLE REMIX12. ARROZ CON POLLO / CARL COX MIX

+ GILLES PETERSON PRESENTS THE MAKING OF HAVANA CULTURAA 12 MINUTE DOCUMENTARY

When the opportunity to travel to Cuba and check out the new generation of Havana-based ar tists popped up in September 2008, I grabbed it with both hands. My initial exploratory trip with Yuset and Francois only lasted a few days, not even the weekend, but shifting quickly through 1950's Chevrolet gears we rifled through the city picking up sounds in every nook and cranny. Then, come the spring of '09, I was preparing for a 5-day Egrem Studios love-in. Vince Vella was my co-producer and Roberto Fonseca was my overall saviour and chief of operations with Orestes by his side conducting the desk. The band was Fonseca's and the groove was free. I had a few covers as star ters: one from Fela to capture that true Afro-Cuban fusion; a Blue Note joint as a 70th anniversary gift; and a couple of Cuban faves from my Ballroom days - Irakere's Chekere Son and some Juan Pablo Torres. The rest was pretty much controlled jamming, picking up the Rumba boys from the bar below, or convincing Mayra Caridad Valdes to hit it freestyle. What a week we had in this iconic spot. I feel so blessed to have worked with these guys (folk who take their ar t very seriously, but always with a smile at the end of the session) and I'm so proud of the album that we made - 'Gilles Peterson presents Havana Cultura'.

For me, it was just a natural progression to rework those live studio jams and take them to the club domain. For example I felt sure that Louie Vega would be able to elevate the Afro groove of Roforofo Fight to new heights and he did not disappoint me. Likewise Seiji who morphs Chekere Son into a thundering club banger and Michael Cleis who turns in a gloriously meandering and utterly epic four-on-the-floor workout of Rezando. A handful of veteran maestros - 4hero, Rainer Trueby, MJ Cole and Carl Cox - alongside the cream of the Cuban electronic scene - Wichy de Vedado and Edgaro from Doble Filo - makes for an intriguing blend of the traditional and the contemporary. I hope you enjoy the fruits of our labours.

Gilles Peterson

FOREWORD

A window on contemporary Cuban culture, Havana Cultura exists to give the spirit of Havana a global voice.

You don't have to search far in Havana to find evidence of creativity. But you have to search carefully. Listen for those few notes of Afro-Cuban jazz coming from a piano as you stroll along the Paseo del Prado; read the poem scribbled on a tiny piece of paper and left at an Orisha shrine. Ar tistic expression surges from every corner of the city, showing no sign of letting up. In Havana's ar t galleries and museums, its open-air markets, schools, abandoned factories and tiny studio flats, ar tists are showing what they do.

Someone once remarked that all Cuban music is dance music, but that doesn't prepare you for the vir tuosity of the musicians performing at these dance clubs or in just about any of Havana's cafes, concert halls, cabarets, or bodegas.

Havana Cultura is proud to enable Havana's ar tists – from musicians to dancers, visual ar tists to writers – to showcase their work, energy and passion to the world. It's an international effor t, originating in Havana and made possible by the ultimate icon of Havana: Havana Club rum.

'Gilles Peterson presents Havana Cultura: Remixed' is the second CD in a series established to celebrate Cuba's freshest musical talent, from Latin and Afro-jazz to hip hop, funk, reggaeton, pop and R&B. It features a string of superb remixes of the tracks recorded by Gilles Peterson's all-star Havana Cultura Band at the legendary Egrem Studios in Havana, plus an awesome bonus DJ mix by the man himself.

Many of the Cuban ar tists who feature on the CD, including celebrated pianist Roberto Fonseca, are profiled through video interviews on www.havana-cultura.com

As for the rest… stay tuned.

HAVANA CULTURA

ROBERTO FONSECA AND THE HAVANA CULTURA BAND

A giant of the global jazz community, Roberto has shared the stage with Cuban legends such as Rubén González, Ibrahim Ferrer and Omara Portuondo. He plays the piano with awe-inspiring sensitivity to the melody and rhythmic forces that marry the musical cultures of America, Brazil, Bulgaria, Arabia and Cuba, releasing his fifth solo album ‘Akokan’ in 2009. Working alongside Gilles, they brought together a handful of Cuba's finest musicians to bring their vision to life. The mighty Ramses Rodriguez on drums; Omar Gonzalez on bass; old school wizard Javier Zalba on flute and saxophone; the prodigious Yelfris Valdes on trumpet; and the legendary percussionist Yaroldy Abreu. Flourishing under the direction of Mssrs Fonseca, Peterson and virtuoso engineer Vince Vella, these celebrated musicians captured the essence of the Havana Cultura groove.

Gigante de la comunidad jazzística mundial, Roberto ha compartido escenario con leyendas cubanas de la talla de Rubén González, Ibrahim Ferrer y Omara Portuondo. Toca el piano con una asombrosa sensibilidad hacia las fuerzas melódicas y rítmicas que logran el maridaje de las culturas musicales de América, Brasil, Bulgaria, Arabia y Cuba. El quinto álbum solista de Fonseca – Akokan – salió a la venta en 2009. Gilles y Roberto, corazón del proyecto Havana Cultura, reunieron a un puñado de los mejores músicos cubanos con el fin de dar vida a su concepción musical: el poderoso baterista Ramses Rodríguez; el bajista Omar González; el genio de la vieja escuela, Javier Zalba, como flautista y saxofonista; el prodigioso trompetista Yelfris Valdes, y el legendario percusionista Yaroldy Abreu. Todos ellos, bajo la dirección de Fonseca, de Peterson y del virtuoso ingeniero de sonido Vince Vella, lograron captar la esencia del ritmo de Havana Cultura.

DANAY

A 24-year-old soul sister who has drawn comparisons with the likes of Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, Danay eschews a gangster lean for a more conscious delivery with her honeyed vocals and effortless rhyme flows. Born in Havana’s Cerro district, today she lives with mother and sister in Santa Fe (on the fringes of the capital). Solo material is scarce but she has collaborated with Aldo – of Los Aldeanos – and popular Cuban fusion artist X Alfonso.

Cantante soul de 24 años de edad, comparada por algunos con Erykah Badu o Jill Scott, Danay se aparta del estilo ‘gangster’ para llegar al público, de una forma más consciente, con sus letras melosas y el flujo sencillo de sus ritmos. Nacida en el barrio del Cerro de La Habana, en la actualidad reside con su madre y su hermana en Santa Fe (en la periferia de la capital). Aunque no se ha publicado mucho material suyo en solitario, cuenta con diversas colaboraciones con Aldo – de Los Aldeanos – y con el popular artista de fusión cubano X Alfonso.

photo by Youri Lenquette

OGGUERE

Translated as “soul of the ear th”, Ogguere are one of the hottest and most inventive hip hop bands in Cuba. Members Edrey and Ulises blend an original mixture of Cuban rhythms – mambo, son and cha-cha-cha – with funk, rumba and rap. They are most famous in Cuba for their smash hit ‘Como Esta el Yogur t?’ with the title of the song now immortalised in street culture as a commonly used phrase.

Con un nombre que, traducido, quiere decir “alma de la tierra”, Ogguere es uno de los grupos de hip-hop más “calientes” y con mayor inventiva de Cuba. Sus integrantes Edrey y Ulises logran una original fusión de diversos ritmos cubanos – mambo, son y cha-cha-chá – con el funk, la rumba y el rap. En Cuba son muy famosos por su rotundo éxito ‘¿Cómo Está el Yogur t?’, título que la cultura callejera se ha encargado de inmortalizar, convir tiéndolo en una frase cotidiana.

photo by Youri Lenquette

WICHY DE VEDADO

photo by Youri Lenquette

A pillar of Havana’s underground electronic music scene, Wichy’s musical journey began with imported American 80s pop. A group of German DJs visiting Havana opened his ears to acid house, inspiring him to experiment with his own homemade electronic loops, applying them to soundtracks for short features. Lately he has been working with jazz pianist Tony Rodriguez as D’Jazz, a global project blending DJing and live jazz music.

Considerado uno de los pilares de la escena musical electrónica underground de La Habana, Wichy inicia su periplo musical con pop de los años 80 importado de Norteamérica. Un grupo de DJs alemanes de visita por La Habana, abrieron sus oídos al acid house, que les inspiró a experimentar con sus propios ritmos electrónicos de fabricación casera, y a incluirlos en bandas sonoras para producciones de corta duración. En los últimos tiempos ha trabajado con el pianista de jazz Tony Rodriguez bajo el nombre de D’Jazz, un proyecto global que fusiona DJing y jazz en directo.

DOBLE FILO

Working the angles on an experimental hip hop tip, Doble Filo has existed in various incarnations since 1995, for the most part as a duo. However, Yrak Saenz and Edgaro (aka Edgar Gonzales) recently teamed up with a third member DJ Dark aka Alain Medina. The group’s hip hop credentials are impeccable. Not only did they originate in Alamar, the hub of Havana’s hip hop scene, but they share credit for starting the multi-disciplinary art collective La FabriK.

Trabajando sobre los ángulos de un tipo de hip hop experimental, Doble Filo ha reencarnado en varias ocasiones desde 1995, casi siempre como dúo. No obstante, Yrak Saenz y Edgar González (aka Edgaro) incorporaron recientemente a un tercer integrante: Alain Medina (aka DJ Dark). Las credenciales del grupo dentro del mundo del hip-hop son impecables. No sólo se creó en Alamar, principal escenario del hip-hop de La Habana, sino que también comparten el mérito de haber sido co-fundadores de la agrupación artística La FabriK.

photo by Youri Lenquette

1. Mami feat. Roberto Fonseca (Edgaro el Productor en Jefe Tropicalia Remix) (Roberto Fonseca - SGAE) Piano: Roberto Fonseca; double bass: Omar Gonzales; congas: Yaroldy Abreu; drums: Ramses Rodriguez; backing vocals (chorus): Roberto Fonseca, Vince Vella, Yaroldy Abreu, Yelfris Valdés and Ramses Rodriguez. Remix and additional production by Edgaro el Productor en Jefe. Electric guitar: Dayron Gonzalez; Electric bass: Arvis Cunie; MPC 2000 programming: Edgaro el Productor en Jefe. Mixed by Edgaro el Productor en Jefe & Celso Corbillon. 2. Roforofo Fight feat. Mayra Caridad Valdés (Louie Vega’s EOL Mix) (Kuti) Published by Strictly Confidential / EMI Music Publishing. Vocals: Mayra Caridad Valdés; backing vocals: Vince Vella & Ogguere; piano: Roberto Fonseca; bass: Omar Gonzalez; drums & timbales: Ramses Rodriguez; congas: Yaroldy Abreu; trumpet: Yelfris Valdés; baritone sax and alto sax: Javier Zalba. Remix produced & arranged by Louie Vega for Small Wonders Productions, Inc. Mix engineer: Yas Inoue; keyboards & piano solo: Junito Davila; electric bass: Gene Perez. Mixed and recorded at Daddy's Workshop, NJ. 3. Rezando feat. Roberto Fonseca (Michel Cleis Remix) (Roberto Fonseca - SGAE) Piano: Roberto Fonseca; double bass: Omar Gonzalez; congas and bata percussion: Yaroldy Abreu; drums: Ramses Rodriguez. Remix & additional production by Michel Cleis. 4. Chekere Son feat. Mayra Caridad Valdés (Seiji Rerub) (Paquito D'Rivera) Published by Havana New York Music (BMI), represented locally by Hendon Music Ltd. Vocals: Mayra Caridad Valdés; piano: Roberto Fonseca; drums: Ramses Rodriguez; Fender bass: Omar Gonzalez; flute and baritone sax: Javier Zalba; congas and percussion: Yaroldy Abreu; backing vocals: Vince Vella, Roberto Fonseca, Yelfris Valdés and Yaroldy Abreu. Remix & additional production by Seiji. 5. Arroz con Pollo feat. Ogguere (MJ Cole Remix) (Roberto Fonseca / Edrey Riveri) SGAE. Vocals: Ogguere; drums: Ramses Rodriguez; double bass: Omar Gonzalez; congas: Yaroldy Abreu; piano: Roberto Fonseca. Remix & additional production by MJ Cole. 6. Arroz con Pollo feat. Ogguere (Carl Cox Mix) (Roberto Fonseca / Edrey Riveri) SGAE. Vocals: Ogguere; drums: Ramses Rodriguez; double bass: Omar Gonzalez; congas: Yaroldy Abreu; piano: Roberto Fonseca. Remix & additional production by Carl Cox – safehousemanagement.com, www.carlcox.com 7. La Revolución del Cuerpo Pt.1 (Skinner's Owiney Sigoma Mix) (Ulises Quinones, Edrey Riveri) Vocals: Ogguere, Danay & Obsesión; congas and percussion: Yaroldy Abreu and Rumberos de Cuba; clave: Roberto Fonseca; double bass: Omar Gonzalez. Remix & additional production by T. Skinner. 8. Afrodisia (Rainer Trueby Remix) (Dorham) EMI Music Publishing. Trumpet: Yelfris Valdés; drums: Ramses Rodriguez; double bass: Omar Gonzalez; piano: Roberto Fonseca; congas: Yaroldy Abreu; baritone sax: Javier Zalba. Remix & additional production by Rainer Trueby & Danilo Plessow. 9. Think Twice feat. Danay & Carina (4hero Remix) (Mizzell, Sigidi, Mbaji) Universal Music Publishing. Arranged by Vince Vella and Roberto Fonseca. Vocals: Danay and Obsesión; piano: Roberto Fonseca; double bass: Omar Gonzalez; trumpet: Yelfris Valdés; drums and timbales: Ramses Rodriguez; congas, bata and percussion: Yaroldy Abreu and Vince Vella.

Remix - Vocals by Danay & Carina Andersson. Piano, Rhodes, Arps, Moogs, bass & drum programming by Marc Mac. Additional drums, percussion and guitars by Luke Parkhouse. Arrangement & production by Marc Mac. Additional vocal arrangement by Vince Vella. Mixed by Marc Mac @ Dukes Place.

10. Arroz Con Pollo feat. Ogguere (Solal “Soy Cuba” Remix) (Roberto Fonseca / Edrey Riveri) SGAE. Vocals: Ogguere; drums: Ramses Rodriguez; double bass: Omar Gonzalez; congas: Yaroldy Abreu; piano: Roberto Fonseca. “Soy Cuba” remix produced by Solal. Programming & sound: Jack Lahana. Electric guitar: Philippe Cohen Solal. 11. Chekere Son feat. Mayra Caridad Valdés (Wichy de Vedado Remix) (Paquito D'Rivera) Published by Havana New York Music (BMI), represented locally by Hendon Music Ltd. Vocals: Mayra Caridad Valdés; piano: Roberto Fonseca; drums: Ramses Rodriguez; Fender bass: Omar Gonzalez; flute and baritone sax: Javier Zalba; congas and percussion: Yaroldy Abreu; backing vocals: Vince Vella, Roberto Fonseca, Yelfris Valdés and Yaroldy Abreu. Remix & additional production by Wichy de Vedado. CD2: BONUS TRACKS Roforofo Fight (Louie Vega Remix) (Kuti) Published by Strictly Confidential / EMI Music Publishing. Vocals: Mayra Caridad Valdés; backing vocals: Vince Vella & Ogguere; piano: Roberto Fonseca; bass: Omar Gonzalez; drums & timbales: Ramses Rodriguez; congas: Yaroldy Abreu; trumpet: Yelfris Valdés; baritone sax and alto sax: Javier Zalba. Remix produced & arranged by Louie Vega for Small Wonders Productions, Inc. Mix engineer: Yas Inoue; keyboards & piano solo: Junito Davila; electric bass: Gene Perez. Mixed and recorded at Daddy's Workshop, NJ. Lagrimas de Soledad (No Existen Palabras) feat. Danay (d'Wala Riddimix) (Aldo Rodriguez Baquero, Danay Suarez Fernandez) Vocals: Danay; vibes and piano: Roberto Fonseca; udu drum: Yaroldy Abreu and Ramses Rodriguez; percussion: Yaroldy Abreu; double bass: Omar Gonzalez; cymbals: Ramses Rodriguez. Remix & additional production by d’Wala. Chekere Son feat. Mayra Caridad Valdés (Alex Patchwork Remix) (Paquito D'Rivera) Published by Havana New York Music (BMI), represented locally by Hendon Music Ltd. Vocals: Mayra Caridad Valdés; piano: Roberto Fonseca; drums: Ramses Rodriguez; Fender bass: Omar Gonzalez; flute and baritone sax: Javier Zalba; congas and percussion: Yaroldy Abreu; backing vocals: Vince Vella, Roberto Fonseca, Yelfris Valdés and Yaroldy Abreu. Remix & additional production by Alex Patchwork. All tracks produced by Gilles Peterson. Co-produced by Roberto Fonseca and Vince Vella. Production supervision, project management and coordination: Gilles Peterson, Vince Vella, Simon Goffe and Francois Renié. Roberto Fonseca appears courtesy of Enja Records and Montuno Producciones The original versions of these tracks are available on the album “Gilles Peterson presents Havana Cultura: New Cuba Sound” (BWOOD038CD) on Brownswood Recordings. P&C Brownswood Recordings 2010

A&R: Gilles Peterson A&R Co-ordination: Emily Moxon, Alex Stevenson & Fawaz Al-Jabban Mastering by Stuart Hawkes, Metropolis Mastering Thank you to Francois Renié without whom this album would never have been possible.www.gillespetersonworldwide.com

GILLES PETERSON’S HAVANA CULTURA BAND – HAVANA CULTURA REMIXED

www.havana-cultura.com