The Game of Vocal Sampling

July 20, 2023

What began as entertainment performed for friends and family became a successful vocal group that for the past 34 years has offered an unusual way of performing, mostly Cuban music, using only their voices.

Recognized by personalities in the world music scene such as Bobby McFerrin, Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon, the vocal sextet led by René Baños Pascual is characterized by constant innovation, as well as work with and for children. Such is the case of their participation in the series of stop-motion animated shorts titled "Mi Taller," produced by the Animation Studios of ICAIC and directed by Paul Chaviano, where the entire soundtrack (effects, dialogue, sound design and music) is performed by the all-male group completely a cappella.

Another notable example of their constant creation is their systematic work with the Cuban children's theater company La Colmenita in concerts, master classes and on the television program La Colmena TV.

El Juego is the title of the most recent music video by this all-male group, which under the direction of filmmaker Leandro de la Rosa, addresses the theme of competitiveness and healthy confrontations where each competitor seeks to be the winner.

It is an analogy about daily life demonstrating that sometimes the overconfident or even the favorites do not achieve their objectives.

The audiovisual was produced by the Record Label and Music Publishing House Producciones Colibrí and filmed at the end of last year on the grounds of the University of the Arts, ISA. It also features special performances by Aramís Delgado and the children Alma Ramos Ramos, Diana Mary Soto Martínez and Diego Andrés Soto Martínez.

The clip premiered on Saturday, July 15 on the digital platforms of Vocal Sampling and the National Center for Concert Music.