Cubanismo

The leader of ¡Cubanismo!, Jesús Alemañy, was atrumpeter for Sierra Maestra, one of Cuba's leading songroups, from the age of 15. Now residing in London, Jesusimmerses the listener in sweet dance sessions full ofswaggering horn charts and wild polyrhythms that recallthe vintage big-band son sound. The orchestra is filledwith the likes of lrakere veteran flutist Orlando "Maracas"Valle; saxophonist Yosvany Terry from Los Terry, hisfamily's Afro-Cuban group; the great Cuban bassistCarlos del Puerto; and tres player Pancho Amat. The all-star percussion lineup boasts the venerable "Tata" Guinesand Roberto Vizcaino on tumbadoras (conga drums), andthe always inventive timbalero Emilio del Monte.Jesús Alemany's ¡CUBANISMO! began as a recordingproject for Rykodisc's Hannibal label. The album wasrecorded in Havana with British producer Joe Boyd inMay of 1995.Breaking sales records in Europe and theUS, iCubanismo! became one of the Latin crossoveralbums of 1996,and made the Top Ten lists of BillboardLatin Beat and Afropop Woldwide.Last year, Alemañyreassembled the band and recorded their second albumMalembe, also on Rykodisc's Hannibal label"