Monday, January 22, 2007

Music for Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Carnaval 2007

Shrove Tuesday, February 20th, the big day of Carnaval 2007 in Santa Cruz, when the Gran Coso (Main Parade) will fill the streets, Avenidas de Anaga and Maritima, in the afternoon, has been reserved, in the evening, for Cuban "Timba" orchestra, NG La Banda. "NG" stands for "nueva generación" (new generation).

Formed by José Luis "El Tosco" Cortés, who had previously written and played for Los Van Van, "NG La Banda amalgamated the innovations of the groups that came before it with many of its own to create a type of music that wasn't Son, Songo or Rumba - nor was it Rock, Jazz or Funk. It had ample amounts of each blended in, but its most potent component was something entirely new - something that was born in the streets and barrios of Havana in the late 1980's. Cortés called it "Timba".

You can judge for yourself from the video above, but NG La Banda is certainly considered one of the best. Reportedly, the organizers had set Los Van Van as their primary objective, however they were already booked to play in Venezuela.

Santa Cruz town hall had also looked at the possibility of contracting other artists, such as Rubén Blades, Gloria Estefan and Don Omar. In the case of the first two, the huge fees they demanded caused the negotiations to be aborted.

Paulina Rubio at Carnaval de Tenerife

Although, there are still a few contractual details to be worked out, Mexican singer Paulina Rubio is to perform at the Santa Cruz Carnaval on Saturday, February 24th. Ms. Rubio last visited the island in October 2006, to promote her latest album, Ananda, and had promised then that she would offer a concert in Tenerife.

There will, of course, be many other orchestras and groups performing at various points in the capital, over the various nights of the Carnaval. Among them, is local girl group Nueva Línea. Watch their video clip here and at their website.

PAULINA PARA LA PIÑATA Via: Marchaymas.com