At the beginning of 2020 Tregar and I planned to record a new Orquesta La Moderna Tradición project of all original compositions. We were excited to get back in the studio and to continue our mission of championing the charanga style of Cuban music that we have so proudly and steadfastly represented since our founding in 1998. As a point of reference: Cuba is famous for the myriad of musical genres it has contributed to the world (both popular and folkloric), but as we move further into the 21st century the once hugely popular charanga sound that was born on the island in the 1930s has come very close to extinction. This is true not only in Cuba, but in the United States as well. Perhaps the younger generation does not consider music that features strings and flute to be “powerful” enough to represent the feelings and emotions of today’s internet driven culture? Perhaps it is not loud enough, or electric enough, or that the sweet, subtle swing of the music does not reflect the angst of today’s youth? Whatever the case may be, the genre that gave birth to some of Cuba’s most famous bands and dance forms has slowly been declining in popularity to the point where La Moderna Tradición may be one of the last remaining orquestas to be found anywhere. But because we love the textures and sonorities of a Cuban rhythm section accompanying woodwinds and strings, we have always remained passionate in our “defense” of this musical genre! So at the end of 2019 we organized our new material and arrangements, and prepared to begin our new record. And then……..
The world-wide pandemic arrived, and the mandatory social distancing and self-quarantining brought collective music-making to a halt. We lost all our performance opportunities and going into the recording studio face-to-face was too dangerous to even consider. But staying at home and waiting for the virus to pass felt like a creative death sentence, and the thought of never recording another project was simply unacceptable. After much consideration we decided to produce a 2nd edition of EnCanto, originally released in 2006. Given the parameters of the virus, we could maintain our health and safety by recording individual musicians over the rhythm tracks we already had. This gave us the opportunity to add to the project our current singer Félix Samuel, our current flute player Miguel Martínez, as well as long standing colleague and friend Jeff Cressman on trombone. We could also take advantage of the latest technology to remix and remaster the entire project, so I called my old friend Phil Hawkins and asked him if he would bring his talents to the project. We are so grateful that he accepted.
The result is a new and dramatically improved EnCanto, now entitled EnCantado. It is vibrant, sabroso y caliente, and truly represents our sound and aesthetic. We are thrilled with what we were able to accomplish under the difficult circumstances of the Covid epidemic, and we hope EnCantado will bring you great listening pleasure, as well as the opportunity to dance like there’s no tomorrow - Pa’lante!
Michael Spiro
August, 2021
credits
released September 28, 2021
Produced by Michael Spiro and Tregar Otton
Jesús “Chus” Alonso – flute on tracks 3, 5, 8
Sage Baggott – coro, güiro, batá
Edgardo Cambón – coro
Carlos Caro – timbales on tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, conga on tracks 3, 6, 8, quinto on track 5
Jeff Cressman - trombones
Rachel Durling – violin
Ramón “Monchy” Estévez – coro
Don Gardner – clarinet
Eduardo Herrera – lead vocals on tracks 1, 4, 7, 9, coro
Bob Karty – piano, coro
Tregar Otton – co-director, arranger, violin
Sandy Poindexter – violin
Miguel “Miguelito” Martinez – flute on tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9
Félix Samuel – lead vocals on tracks 1, 2, 5, 9, coro
Steve Senft-Herrera – bass
Michael Spiro – co-director, conga on tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, timbales on tracks 3, 6, 8, batá, lead vocal/arranger on Rumba pa’Changó
1. Contrólate (son-montuno/timba) by Benigno Echemendía, arranged by Tregar Otton
2. Canta la Ceiba, Baila la Palma Real (songo) by Calixto Callava, arranged by Tregar Otton
3. Carnegie Hall (danzón-chá) by Orestes López, arranged by Tregar Otton and Michael Spiro
4. Cenizas (Guaracha) by Vergés Ciman, arranged by Tregar Otton
5. Rumba pa’ Changó/En el Tiempo de la Colonia (rumba/cha-cha-chá) Rumba pa’Changó by Michael Spiro - En el Tiempo de la Colonia by Tregar Otton, lyrics by Carlos Caro
6. Te Llevo Bajo Mi Piel (danzón-chá) by Cole Porter, arranged by Tregar Otton
7. Amor Fugaz (guaracha) by Beny Moré, arranged by Tregar Otton
8. Soy Matancero (danzón-chá) by Orestes López
9. Compay, Ven a Guarachar (guaracha) by Tregar Otton, lyrics by Maru Pérez-Viana
Danzonemos Productions 2021
Produced by Michael Spiro and Tregar Otton
Trombone arrangements by Tregar Otton and Michael Spiro
Photos by Kike Arnal
Cover photo Rio San Juan, Matanzas, Cuba
Original tracks recorded by Bob Karty at Patterson Studios in Oakland, Ca.
Félix Samuel recorded at Heartstrings Music in Mountain View, Ca.
Jeff Cressman recorded at Cressman Music Studio in San Francisco, Ca.
Miguel Martínez recorded at Corazonsur Records in Oakland, Ca.
Mixed by Michael Spiro, Tregar Otton and Phil Hawkins at Pnotemedia, Santa Clara, Ca.
Mastering by Phil Hawkins
Orquesta la Moderna TradiciónSan Francisco, California
Orquesta La Moderna Tradición, is an Afro-Cuban charanga orchestra, featuring violins and woodwinds interlocking with
driving afro-Cuban rhythms.
Since 1996, the 11-piece group has thrilled audiences worldwide with a mix of contemporary timba-infused arrangements guaranteed to get you on your feet and traditional danzónes that transport you back to the Havana social clubs of the 1950s....more
