Christmas in Havana: Week 2

Thought I’d go to Trabuco late. I mean I liked them last week, but I didn’t like them as much as I hate all the shit that goes on before the band goes on. I got there at 7.05. It wasn’t late enough. The DJ segued from reggaeton into house, with a strobe. My very favourite. It was again very busy. The band didn’t come on till 7.45 - plenty of time to be bored, miserable, and asked where I was from by friendly locals. At one point I went and waited near the bag check, and contemplated going home. Then the Casa de la Musica Galiano theme song came on and I went in and I was glad I hadn’t left.
Again the sound was good - nice and strong - unlike Havana D’Primera, they bring some of their own front of house with them (most bands do). It pays off. Again most of the songs were new, with the exception of Musica cubana and, in a nice twist, El aguila. Always great to hear that one. (Pretty sure I’ve said that before.) Weird that they are doing absolutely no songs from Hablando en serio. Not Comunicate; nothing. I don’t know where the slow song comes from that Mayami sings but it has a great groove. And he both sings and performs it beautifully. They did La Habana me llama, which I didn’t hear last week. Had a nice dance with a guy called Lester for that one.
There was too much Amaray as usual. At one point as he struggled - and failed - to reach a high note, I thought I saw him laugh. Well it was kind of funny I suppose.
Andy is still subbing for Riveron. He told me exactly what was wrong with Riveron’s lung but the medical term in Spanish escaped my comprehension. Everyone keeps saying Riveron “estar de reposo” so I guess he’s on the mend. I asked the bass player Chino how it was playing with Andy. He said, just like playing with Riveron, only he’s smaller. Joker. He is using Riveron’s kit and I noticed the kick drum kept getting away from him and he had to keep dragging it back. Funny.
Alexander was there and got up for some trumpet on La noche, then they did a latin jazz thing especially for him to solo on. It was nice and funky and had him trying to get the audience to mimic his increasingly complicated licks. By now it was after 9 - I’ve never seen a matinee go long at Galiano before, except for those by Van Van which were scheduled to do so. Manolito led the band into Locos to close and I noticed that Jelien, formerly of Maravilla de Florida had jumped onto violin although he looked really different from the last time I had seen him, maybe in 2008. I had seen Maravilla on the show 23 y L/Donde si no on Saturday before I went to La Palacio and thought “man, I don’t recognise a single muso - have they all left the band?” But now I just wondered if it was his new hairdo that had thrown me. Turns out he had left the band and was now playing with Charanga Latina. They’re in the Egrem studio near my house all this week. I might go down and see what’s shaking.
During Locos por mi Habana I moved to the aisle in the centre, just for fun, where I didn’t realise a cola of tipos was waiting for me. As I knocked each one back another would immediately appear in his place, asking if I spoke Spanish, where was I from, did I want to dance. When the fifth one appeared in rapid succession, I ran like a girl, back to the corner in front of Pan con Salsa, stage right. Only one followed.
My new fuck-me hairdo (I must remember to get a fuck-you hairdo next time) and the 50MN cover charge is a deadly combination.

I told Andy I’d see him later at Miramar for Reve and he said, no I think it’s cancelled, call Aisar. I sent him a message but he didn’t get back to me so at 11 I rang the Casa. No answer. At 11.30 I called back. Someone picked up and said Elito was on, and I said it isn’t suspendido? And he said no. I was almost disappointed. I dithered about whether to go but eventually went out into the street about 12.15. It was pretty cold; and pretty deserted as usual, except for a guagua that I guess had broken down, and a couple of cop cars that were hanging around it. I waited about 20 minutes for a taxi. The driver was the very chatty Jose Ramon. He dropped me off just as the opening strains of De que estamos hablando sounded. OMG perfect timing. The crowd was adequate but not ample and was less than enthusiastic. At times I was the only person dancing down the front. Elito wasn’t impressed but I was happy to just not be sliding around in spilt rum and fighting with drunks a la Palacio de la Salsa. The set was short (one hour) but perfectly formed. It was great to hear Niña relájate and Open the Door. When they followed the latter with Ya sé cantar I thought they’d made a terrible mistake, playing two midtempo songs in a row, but Suzell got a bunch of people (mainly girls) up and dancing.
The sound was great. I actually felt like I was hearing Andy for the first time. Which is a weird thing to say, especially as in Trinidad on the last trip I was on stage standing behind him. But I was tired on that trip.

• • •

I spent the next afternoon shooting the shit with Duniesky, from Pupy y los que Son Son. He said the European tour was a bit disorganised and he was pretty happy to be back home.
He played me an interesting track by a guy from Grupo Danson (forget his name), arranged by Alain Perez. Sounded a lot like Issac (unsurprisingly). It was pretty good.
The French singer Orly is in town and she is organising a gig with various musicians including Duni, Vania, Maikel Blanco and I forget who else. She must have quite a budget. It’s Saturday night at the Hotel Kohly. No idea if it’s open to the public but there is other stuff on - Azucar Negra in a matinee larga at La Palacio; Reve at Galiano por al noche. Also Duni says Pupy is playing Los Jardines de la Polar on Saturday but Disco Fiesta says it’s Sunday. Guess I’ll have a better idea what’s what later in the week.
Tuesday matinee was Havana D’Primera at Miramar. It was as insane as last week. I fart-arsed around and didn’t get there till about two minutes before they went on. The only space at the front of the stage was in front of the speaker. Too loud: I had to move back. There was a fuckload of Fins there, among other foreigners. I’m beginning to think it’s more fun here in June-August when it’s just me and the locals. Of course not all the bands are here then, so …
Martin, who came with his GF and his brother who is on town from Canada for the week says I’m to blame for the crowds because I rave about the band so much on the blog. Grrrr.
BTW, HdP are shite. Whatever you do, do not go and see them.
OK, mentira.
Tony was back from his whirlwind tour with Carlos Varela. Rodney was still AWOL. The conditions weren’t perfect but I still enjoyed it, cause it’s Alexander. As we left, Martin heard a guy say, “Going to see Alexander is like having an orgasm.” A-fucking-men to that.