On the contemporary side it’s conversation and a sample of the music of trumpet player Yasek Manzano.
Youtube
Many people told us to look him up in Havana and we were impressed.

We will also ask our regular Latin Roots contributor Aaron Levinson

Range Recordings Studios
to tell us about the history of Cuban jazz. He concentrates on Descargas
Youtube
or jam sessions.

Deemed "the most exciting young trumpet player to come out of Cuba in the last decade," Yasek Manzano is a Jazz Trumpetist.

The theme of the interview is about how they are influenced by music/jazz outside of Cuba (they draw a bunch of comparisons to New Orleans), but why the Cuba music scene is important to them, how they learn as musicians in Cuba (mostly on the streets like in New Orleans for local music styles).
Yasek Manzano
He started playing the trumpet at age nine
at 13 or 14 he began working with Bobby Carcasses ...... a jazz musician. Yasek began working with his band.
Oscarito Valdes
Wynton Marsalis
at 17 played alongside him went to Juilliard in NYC. Studied under Wynton Marsalis
trumpet used a lot in cuban music
some good jazz muscians

Made possible by the Wyncote Foundation.

Yasek Manzano MySpace

Set List: Yasek Manzano / CongoBronx 8:45

session notes IN THIS INTERVIEW The Havana Jazz Collective was inspired partially by the San Francisco Jazz collective but still they tried develop a unique style that was their own style of modern Cuban jazz-fusion. The collective finds themselves trying to play modern music with big band combos as a means of interacting and experiencing new ideas. Cuba's educational system is a 3 level system, elementary school, high school. and college. There are a lot of tests to get between levels and musical education is all about classical music. Traditional Cuban music listening depends on what part of the country you're from and is not taught in schools. Instead, Cuban music is learned on the street (like it is in New Orleans). Rhythms are part of what identifies Cuban music. Jazz was initially for dancing but now it is a universal language. Cuba is a country of piano players. Playing the music is a privilege and is important for the soul. They look to study more of Cuban music to inform their own musical approach. Although they like to "drink from different fountains," their roots are very important.