Cuban Music: Crossing Borders

I just got an email about this upcoming show on BET:

CUBAN MUSIC: CROSSING BORDERS

JUAN DE MARCOS AND THE AFRO-CUBAN ALL STARS

WHAT: Journey with BET into the soul-stirring musical world of Cuba, with the fascinating producer, musical director, performer Juan De Marcos as your guide.

WHEN: On BET This Sunday, 1 p.m.

On BET JAZZ Tuesday, September 30, 10 p.m.

WHO: Cuban Music: Crossing Borders is a BET Hispanic Heritage special that illuminates the gloriously rich history of the Afro-Cuban All Stars, the phenomenal group of Cuban musicians that was assembled by De Marcos to resurrect the lush big band stylings of Havana, Cuba.

The BET special explores the sound and culture of Afro-Cuban music as it follows these magnetic performers on tour in Japan and in the U.S. The special takes viewers backstage with the musicians and into Cuban studio sessions.

Interviewed are Juan De Marcos, the incomparable Ibrahim Ferrer, Luis Frank, Masacote Carillo and Pedro Calvo. The production also features a special interview with Compay Segundo, the charming frontman of the band who passed away this summer at the age of 95.

MORE: Juan De Marcos is the architect of popular Cuban music who, by drawing upon the roots of his country’s traditional “son” music, developed an innovative new cultural expression with masterful fidelity. Under De Marcos’ direction the Afro-Cuban All Stars recorded such acclaimed albums as A toda Cuba le gusta (Grammy Nominated), Distinto Diferente (Latin Billboard Award Nominated), the phenomenal Buena Vista Social Club (Grammy Award Winner) and its subsequent recordings Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer (Grammy Nominated, Latin Grammy Award Winner) and Buena Vista Social Club presents Omara Portuondo (Grammy and Latin Grammy Nominated).

The Buena Vista Social Club (BVSC) was hailed as one of the most important productions of the century, as it introduced the sensational polyrhythmic sounds of Afro Cuban rhythms to the world. A surprising runaway hit, the album showcased the renaissance of Cuban music to which De Marcos’ life is dedicated. It was De Marcos’ reassembling of the retired legendary Cuban musicians and convincing them to record again that was the foundation of BVSC.

De Marcos has exciting new projects coming out this year which you will hear more about. One is the CD/DVD Live in Japan, expected for release in February. The other is Breaking the Rules, expected in the summer of 2004 accompanied by an Afro Cuban All-Stars tour.