VA - Gilles Peterson Presents Havana Cultura: Anthology (2016)

In 2008, DJ and globetrotter Gilles Peterson was approached by the melomaniac at the helm of Havana Cultura – an initiative to showcase and support Cuban creativity by Cuban rum maker Havana Club –, inviting him to Cuba to check out Havana’s underground music scene with a view to making an album. While some might associate Cuba simply with salsa or Buena Vista Social Club, there was a new generation of artists teeming with new sounds, waiting for an opportunity to reveal their talent to the world. That first trip was the beginning of what has now been an eight-year-long collaboration between Peterson, his Brownswood Recordings label and Havana Club’s cultural platform. It first resulted in the release of Havana Cultura: New Cuba Sound, an acclaimed double album that included original productions and a compilation of existing tracks across a range of genres reflecting contemporary Cuba’s musical diversity: jazz, hip hop, reggaeton and plenty in between. From there, the first edition of Havana Cultura Sessions, a solo release from Danay Suarez – a standout talent in the sessions for New Cuba Sound – came next, followed by Havana Cultura Remixed, joining the dots – with remixes from Louis Vega and 4 Hero – between Cuba and global club culture. After that, 2011’s Havana Cultura: The Search Continues was the next attempt to dig deep into the different corners of the island’s contemporary music scene. Joining Peterson on that trip was dubstep pioneer Mala, who took recordings and sessions with Cuban artists as the basis for Mala in Cuba, an album marrying together UK soundsystem culture with the deep rhythmic possibilities of Cuba.

Tracklist:

CD1

1. Soy Cubano – Kerkstra feat. Etian Brebaje Man & Sexto Sentido
2. Lagrimas de Soledad (No Existen Palabras) – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Danay Suárez
3. Arroz Con Pollo – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band
4. La Mulata Abusadora – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Telmary & Elain Morales
5. Rezando - Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band
6. Calle F – Mala
7. Roforofo Fight – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Mayra Caridad Valdés
8. La Rumba Experimental (Motor City Drum Ensemble Remix) - Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band
9. Cuando Ya No Este - Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Danay Suárez
10. La Revolución del Cuerpo Pt.1 (Skinner's Owiny Sigoma Mix) – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band
11. Yemaya – Chillum Trio feat Coki & Yeni
12. Ay – Arema Arega

CD2

1. Espera Mi Gente - Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Danay Suárez & Ogguere
2. Orisa – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Dreiser & Sexto Sentido
3. Check La Rima – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Los Aldeanos, Danay Suárez & Silvito El Libre
4. La Plaza (Poirier Remix) - Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band
5. La Revolución del Cuerpo Pt.1 – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Ogguere, Danay Suárez & Obsesión
6. Ipacuba – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Danay Suárez, Francis Del Río, Vince Vella & Julio Padrón
7. Traigo – Seu Seppie feat. El Niche
8. Yambu (Daisuke Tanabe and Yosi Horikawa Remix) - Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band
9. En Lo Profundo – Danay Suárez & Roberto Fonseca
10. El Ruso – Daymé Arocena
11. Rezando (Michel Cleis Remix) - Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band