Thanks for including Los Van Van, my favorite Cuban band. I first saw them playing on the roof of the Havana Libre Hotel during my first (very illegal) trip to Cuba in 1974. It was during the Havana Carnaval, then held in July, and they were playing to throngs of sweating revelers on the Malecon. (I also saw the original lineup of Irakere on that trip, with Chuco Valdes and Paquito D'Rivera). The next day I found a record shop and bought their latest LP called "Juan Formel & Los Van Van", so his name was upfront early on. Juan called his beat "Songo" which incorporated folkloric rumba into popular dance music, including rock and roll. I was lucky to see them perform many times in the U.S., once they were allowed to travel. The last time was in 2023 at the Lehman Center in the Bronx where tragically Juan Carlos Formel, Juan Formel's son, died onstage of a heart attack. Juan Carlos had become the band's bass player after his father's death in 2014. My understanding is they continue to record and perform.
I still can’t believe it myself. And I still play that album I bought in Havana (for $2 pesos). BTW, the classic Grupo Irakere album from 1976 has been reissued on the Mr. Bongo label. Keep up the good work, I enjoy your writing and taste.
Thanks for including Los Van Van, my favorite Cuban band. I first saw them playing on the roof of the Havana Libre Hotel during my first (very illegal) trip to Cuba in 1974. It was during the Havana Carnaval, then held in July, and they were playing to throngs of sweating revelers on the Malecon. (I also saw the original lineup of Irakere on that trip, with Chuco Valdes and Paquito D'Rivera). The next day I found a record shop and bought their latest LP called "Juan Formel & Los Van Van", so his name was upfront early on. Juan called his beat "Songo" which incorporated folkloric rumba into popular dance music, including rock and roll. I was lucky to see them perform many times in the U.S., once they were allowed to travel. The last time was in 2023 at the Lehman Center in the Bronx where tragically Juan Carlos Formel, Juan Formel's son, died onstage of a heart attack. Juan Carlos had become the band's bass player after his father's death in 2014. My understanding is they continue to record and perform.
Thanks for this. I can only imagine how exciting they must have been on stage. And I'm extra jealous that you saw Irakere way back when.
I still can’t believe it myself. And I still play that album I bought in Havana (for $2 pesos). BTW, the classic Grupo Irakere album from 1976 has been reissued on the Mr. Bongo label. Keep up the good work, I enjoy your writing and taste.
Love listening to these old songs!