"My Songo", the new album by Los Van Van

December 5, 2020

The best tribute to Juan Formell, on the day Van Van reaches its 51st anniversary, has undoubtedly been the press presentation of the album "Mi Songo".

Produced under the label of the Empresa de Grabaciones y Ediciones Musicales (EGREM), the new record proposal from La Maquinaria is dedicated to its founder and to all those who, during 50 years, have been part of the history of a group that has made Cuba and the world dance.

For this very reason, the album offers dancers 12 songs, 9 of which are authored by Formell: "Popurrit de los 70", "Anda, ven y muévete", "El buey cansao", "Quién no ha dicho una mentira", "A través de mis canciones", "Sandunguera", "Resolución" and "Me gustas". Meanwhile, the three remaining songs belong to Rodolfo Vaillant, "Recaditos no", "Azúcar" by César Pedroso and "Si a una mamita" by Evaristo Aparicio.

Under the direction and general production of Samuel Formell, director of Van Van since 2004, and the musical production by Samuel himself along with Efraín Wilson, Jorge Leliebre and Boris Luna, this album maintains a distinctive sound.

In turn, it includes within its musical proposals the fact of assuming the original arrangements of each song, while still sounding contemporary. And that is one of its main values which, according to Samuel himself, is the way to preserve the legacy of its creator, who set the standard in Cuban musical history.

The album is the result and the challenge of following Juan Formell's formula, assured his son, Samuel Formell, director of Los Van Van. Photo: Ariel Cecilio Lemus.

The album is the result and the challenge of following Juan Formell's formula, assured his son, Samuel Formell, director of Los Van Van. Photo: Ariel Cecilio Lemus.

Significant is the accurate selection of guests invited to record this album, which has the luxury of featuring saxophonist César López; Telmary, in a special interpretation of "El buey cansao"; Gilberto Santa Rosa, on the song "Quién no ha dicho una mentira"; Jimmy Boch, who makes an unforgettable trombone solo in "Sandunguera"; Alexander Abreu, who takes on trumpet and vocals in "A una mamita"; El Micha, on "Azúcar", to which are added the choruses of Ángel Bonne and Danae Blanco.

Each of the guests, in addition to displaying their individual talent, integrates into the musical aesthetic of the Cuban music train, allowing enjoyment to the highest degree of music made to delight the dancer's soul.

Special mention deserves the song "A través de mis canciones", which moves, stirs feelings and achieves an artistic flight that some call dramaturgy, performed in a masterful manner by Juan Formell and a special guest, Silvio Rodríguez.

The album cover is the result of a call made by Samuel to several important Cuban visual artists, following the orchestra's 50th anniversary, which became a 5-meter mural that will be donated to the Museo del Música, as testimony to the respect and admiration of these artists for Formell, among them Zaida del Río, Yasbel Pérez, Ángel Rivero, Eduardo Roca "Choco", Gustavo Echevarría, Eduardo Abela, Jorge Perugorría and Christian González, so that it can be shown to the people, as happens with Juan Formell's bass.

The press presentation is part of the closing of the campaign for Van Van's 50th anniversary and marks the beginning of festivities for the orchestra's 51st year.

At the meeting were Heydi González, musicologist at EGREM, Mario Escalona, Director of EGREM, Armando Escalona, General Manager of Agencia Musicalia Artex, to which Cuba's distinguished orchestra belongs, and Samuel Formell.

The album is the result and the challenge—according to Samuel—of following Juan Formell's formula. He affirmed that the entire orchestra knows and understands what Formell wanted with Van Van, his mastery, the work he left behind. And continuing that legacy, maintaining the favor of dancers in Cuba and the world, representing the people and their culture, continue to be the values that each member of the orchestra he founded defends, and for which they earned the title: Van Van is Cuba, Van Van is the Homeland.

The album "Mi songo" will be available on digital platforms and several of its songs will begin to be promoted by national radio and television, as well as in upcoming performances by the orchestra both online and live, as permitted by the new normal, given the pandemic.

To listen to the album Mi Songo Van Van https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-YOeXRE0mA

Interview conducted with Silvio Rodríguez by Radio Rebelde regarding his participation on this album https://www.ivoox.com/silvio-rodriguez-8220-van-van-es-escuela-8221-audios-mp3_rf_61401866_1.html