FUNDarte y Miami Light Project abren el año a todo tren con el primer festival Global Cuba Fest, un proyecto que pretende ser realizado anualmente, para impulsar la música cubana de la diáspora, hecha por los ‘menos viejos’ y los poco difundidos.

“El festival empieza con la diáspora, pero la idea es hacerlo en el futuro con gente de Cuba también, cuando se pueda por ambos lados,” nos comentó para Contigo en la Distancia Eva Silot, Directora de Desarrollo de FUNDarte, Inc., una fundación sin ánimos de lucro dedicada a la promoción de la danza, el teatro, las artes visuales, la música, el cine y otros eventos.

“El objetivo es,” prosiguió Silot, “mostrar que la música cubana no es nada más que el Buena Vista Social Club, que hay varias generaciones posteriores de artistas con mucho talento que prácticamente nadie conoce o difunde, y que estamos seguros pueden gustar mucho.”

Sin embargo, aunque el énfasis sea en el talento y la variedad de los que acumulan menos calendarios, este distintivo festival no intenta cerrar puertas a los que no cumplan algún requisito, sino sumar siempre más artistas.

Cada domingo, durante los dos primeros meses de este 2008, se podrá disfrutar de seis conciertos donde jóvenes músicos cubanos combinarán los sonidos de sus raíces con influencias de otras culturas, sin perder su identidad, demostrando así los innovadores avances que incorporan a la música contemporánea.

Los atardeceres en el Spiegelworld de Collins Park, no sólo se verán bañados con las cálidas aguas de la playa de Miami, sino también con mucha buena música.

Aquí les va el programa:

FUNDarte and Miami Light Project present
Global Cuba Fest

During the first two months of 2008, the traveling Spiegelworld will house "Global Cuba Fest", on the shores of Miami Beach, every Sunday at Sunset. Six concerts where Cuba’s young musicians mesh the sounds of their roots with influences from other cultures without losing their identity – making innovating inroads in contemporary world music today.

GLOBAL CUBA FEST

every Sunday at Sunset,
January 13 - February 17, 2008 - 5:00 p.m.
at Spiegelworld
Collins Park, 21st Street and the Ocean, Miami Beach, FL

Sunday January 13th 5.00 pm
Overproof
Latin Jazz
Overproof is a Latin-jazz based power trio who have recently released their debut recording on the Japanese EWE label and Spanish SONIFOLK label, entitled "3 Guys Walk Into A Bar". The band was originally formed as a collective by drummer Robby Ameen featuring Cuban Octavio Kotan on guitar and Nuyorican Ruben Rodriguez on bass. The band incorporates Latin timba, rock, jazz, and funk elements into one hard-hitting sound which is truly unique in today's ever growing eclectic world of music.


Sunday January 20th 5.00 pm
Gema y Pavel
World Cuban Music
In a time when so-called fusion has reached great levels of artistic expression, Gema y Pavel have chiseled their path absorbing the various influences that make them distinctly Cuban - the crystalline simplicity of nueva trova, the sonorous freedom of Jazz and Rock, the seduction of el son, and the pulsating rhythms inherited from Africa. Their words unite us in familiar places, and can, through humor and drama, reflect on the human condition. Their most recent release called Art Bembé (El Europeo) encompasses a new poetic approach to creating Cuban music.

Sunday January 27th 5.00 pm
Dafnis Prieto Quartet
Latin Jazz
A native of Santa Clara, Cuba, Dafnis Prieto studied as a youngster School of Fine Arts and later at the National School of Music in Havana, receiving a thorough classical education and ever broadening knowledge of Afrocuban music, Jazz and world music from no academic sources. Grammy and Latin Grammy nominee, he is supported by more than ten years of professional work, going back to his first European tours with a succession of talented pianist including Carlos Maza, Ramón Valle and the "Columna B" Group. For his record Absolute Quintet (2006), Prieto assembled an unusual instrumental line-up, breathing fresh life into the relatively bland world of contemporary jazz

Sunday February 3rd 5.00 pm
Artevivo
Symphonic Rock
Formed by Enrique Gonzalez on percussions, Jorge Almarales on the guitar and Manuel Camejo as lead voice, the group restates the strength of a musical foundation born from their academic beginnings as chamber musicians during the 70's, to their evolution as progressive exponents of symphonic rock and pop.

Sunday February 10th 5.00 pm
Tiempo Libre
Timba
Grammy-nominated Tiempo Libre is one the hottest young Latin bands today. Equally at home in concert halls, jazz clubs and dance venues, the Miami-based band has become known for their incendiary, joyful performances of timba - an irresistible, dance-inducing mix of high-voltage Latin jazz and the seductive rhythms of son - true modern heirs to the rich tradition of the music of their native Cuba.

Sunday February 17th 5.00 pm
Los Herederos
Afrocuban Rumba
Directed by Philbert Armenteros, Los Herederos is a collection of musicians and dancers who represents a colorful musical heritage that fuses rumba, guaguancó, timba into esencia afrocubana. Their goal is to show the World the result of the fusion of both cultures: the African and the Cuban through their music. With every performance they seek to promote the essence of their musical culture beyond limits.

Save on tickets by purchasing a pass to see all Global Cuba Fest concerts!
Tickets: www.fundarte.us
$28 General Admission

Location
COLLINS PARK - 21st STREET BEACH SPOIL
Collins Avenue and 21st Street
Miami Beach