HE WAS 95. I never got to meet him. My friend Brad had breakfast with him about two years ago. Brad said he was no longer especially interested in his own old music.
Excellent. Unfortunately, my interest in both Cuban music and older jazz hadn't really emerged until just little over a year ago, so I never had the opportunity to see either Carter or Segundo.
Cuba is on my list of places to go before it turns even more to shit.
American business will invest a fortune, as will other foreign business, something like in China. The musicians will do great. More freedom, the ability to market themselves and keep their own money. As an artist, would you like the government to 'guide' your work?
There will be other problems for sure, but if they keep their successful programs, they'll do well. I really don't think opening up to the USA will hurt Cuba much. Look at it now. And don't forget the influence of Jeb Bush's Cuban-Americans in Florida.
Maybe more Cuban musicians will get their due here. Maybe they'll do better in Latin America too.
Or maybe we'll see music like Son turn to a Cuban version of dancehall.
I see Cuba post-Castro as ending up just like the rest of the Caribbean states, horribly dependent on the IMF and World Bank, with no real economic legs of its own.
The gross poverty, working conditions, and ridiculous relationship with the United States are tragic. Their literacy and infant mortality rates, however, are not.
But, no matter how you argue it, something is going to happen, for better or worse.
Also 95... weird.
There's a complitation of poems by Lester Young out there somewhere, don't remember the name of it, but they had it at my school's library.
Reply
I had heard about Compay Segundo. I once saw Omara Portamundo and Barbarito Torres at UCLA. That was great. All of Cuban LA was there yelling, ¡Eso!
Reply
Cuba is on my list of places to go before it turns even more to shit.
Reply
Reply
I think their country is going to get fucked hard by american business, and that their musical culture could dwindle easily as a result.
I just hope that doesn't happen. Hell, I'd rather see them become the 52nd state than see that happen.
Reply
There will be other problems for sure, but if they keep their successful programs, they'll do well. I really don't think opening up to the USA will hurt Cuba much. Look at it now. And don't forget the influence of Jeb Bush's Cuban-Americans in Florida.
Maybe more Cuban musicians will get their due here. Maybe they'll do better in Latin America too.
It's a tragic country, any way you look at it.
Reply
I see Cuba post-Castro as ending up just like the rest of the Caribbean states, horribly dependent on the IMF and World Bank, with no real economic legs of its own.
The gross poverty, working conditions, and ridiculous relationship with the United States are tragic. Their literacy and infant mortality rates, however, are not.
But, no matter how you argue it, something is going to happen, for better or worse.
Reply
Cuban music will evolve, just like all art. I'm grateful for the past. My childhood would not be my own without Orquesta Aragón.
Reply
Leave a comment