Adalberto Álvarez Zayas (Havana-1948) is one of the most faithful defenders of Cuban popular music.

Although he was born in the capital of the Island, it is not less certain than his life has been very ingrained in Camagüey and that he is a legitimate son of this earth. Their music overflows of authentic Cubanhood, in a region where names Álvarez and Zayas are a patrimony of the art.

Under the warmth of his family he forged his sonero condition, with a good and rich source allowing him to improve his work with the legacy of the greatest as Benny Moré, Arsenio Rodríguez, Félix Chapottín and Miguelito Cuní, and of contemporary as Frank Fernández and Francisco “Pancho” Amat, with whom he has collaborated many times.

At the beginning of 1970´s he studied in the National School of Art next to other important musicians that some years later would also reach uppermost places in the national staff as it is the case of José Luis Cortés, current conductor of the orchestra NG La Banda.

After Adalberto returned to Camagüey, besides teaching at José White Music School, he began to work in the group Avance Juvenil conducted by his father, where he put into practice the knowledge and ideas he learned in the capital.

During that time he also collaborated as author with one of the most popular groups of the moment Conjunto Rumbavana, with which his creations Con un besito and El Son de Adalberto, also recorded by Venezuelan Oscar D´León, gained national ad international acknowledgement.

At the end of the 70’s, next to a group of friends he decided to found in Santiago de Cuba Son 14 that would give a vital encouragement to the Cuban popular music.

Circa 1983 a new evolution takes place in this musician work when he founded his current group, with which he was able to consolidate his position as sonero in anthological orchestras as Arsenio Rodriguez’s and Félix Chappotín’s.

During these years of creative work he composed songs that are patrimony of the Cuban music of all times, such as: A Bayamo en coche, El son de lamadrugada, or Qué tu quieres que te den, where the best of the universal art fuses with the autochthonous rhythms of the nation.

The urban chronicle is always present in his songs as a reflex of men’s and women’s life in the cities, likely under the influence of his fellow countryman poet Nicolás Guillén, who combined Cuban letters with son music.

On the other hand the influence of Cuban trova, Sindo Garay, Manuel Corona, Silvio and Pablo play an important role in Adalberto’s work that is why in many of his important creations there is a poetic breeze, one example of this is El fiel trovador.

Aside from being musician, creator, and interpreter, Adalberto Álvarez is also producer and cultural promoter making a great job in the recent national contest of Baile de Casino (Casino Dance) as its main creator.

Together with personalities like Juan Formell, and Chucho Valdés, Adalberto makes an indispensable trilogy for the Cuban music, due to his contribution to the country and to the substantial development of the art in general, over the last 30 years, which turns him into a classic of the XX century.

Ediciones Cubanas turns 30 years

Ediciones Cubanas, a notable Cuban branch, specialized in the import, export, distribution and marketing of books and publications, turns on December 30 years of enriching work for Cuban culture. It has among its missions to show the best in the literature, art and Cuban sciences, from classic works of great world recognition until the most novel and renovating literary materials in the island.

Their wide catalog gathers among other authors: Nicolás Guillén, Eliseo Diego, Dulce María Loynaz, Roberto Fernández Retamar, Miguel Barnet, Pablo Armando Fernández, Carilda Oliver, Jaime Sarusky, Graciela Pogolotti and Leonardo Acosta, among others, all National Prizes of Literature.

Belonging to ARTex, Artistic and Literary Promotions S.A, Ediciones Cubanas has also become one of the main leaders in the national marketing of stationary supplies, desk and school material whose varied offer can contribute to complete the most diverse enterprising and personal needs.

Among their varied offers that are marketed in a wide bookstores chain, airports and tourist destinations of Cuba, we can find Cuban and universal literature, art, social sciences, science and technique, encyclopedias, language courses, photographic books, posters in individual cases, post cards, calendars, tourist guides and Cuba maps, stationary and desk supplies, school materials, calendars, agendas, spiral notebooks, manila and letter envelopes, briefcases and souvenirs.

Ediciones Cubanas also offers subscription service to publications distributed worldwide, through its website www.suscripciones.soycubano.com. It acquires specialized books abroad for institutions that request the service. Literature and other printed materials importing service to national entities and provides marketing services of products from its catalogue to clients wholesalers.

ll these years of experience and arduous work in the promotion of the Cuban and universal literature represent an unquestionable guarantee and an excellent precedent for its future work: to promote the literary work of the island.

Jojazz: a competition for young talents

The tenth edition of the International Contest Jojazz 2007 will be held in Cuba from November 29 to December 2, the most expected event for young jazzists from Cuba and the world. Artists with international prestige came out from this contest.

Composers and interpreters interested on artistic creation and leaning to Jazz are gathered in Jojazz Contest in order to show their knowledge, skills and abilities and at the same time to encourage jazz motivation among the new generations of young artists. The Competition opens its doors to all musicians, who are between 16 to 30 years old, in the most diverse jazz styles. At the same time there will be theory events to enhance the values and contributions of music teaching in Cuba and its development and of course, the expected harmony and improvisation workshops.

Cubamusic proposes three extraordinary CDs of Cuban Jazz to people who love this gender: Gregoriando recording of the live concert by José M Crego ‘El Greco’ in Halifax, New Scotia, Canada. In the concert also participated outstanding international figures: Jeff Goodspeed (Sax and Flute) and Tom Roach (Drums); Pianissimo by the unforgettable maestro and pianist Emiliano Salvador; Descarga pa´gozar: Grandes del Latin Jazz Cubano, collection of well known songs by the best Cuban jazzists.

Source: Cubamusic.com