Carnival
Festivals
The producing and program management of Carnival – a contemporary Latin music and dance showcase.
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Year: 2011
Venues / Dates: Queensland Performing Arts Centre (11,12 March)
Presenter: Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Producing Partners: FAMA, Latin-American Cultural Association
About
Carnival was a festival of classic and contemporary Latin beats and dance headlined by two international acts – Juan De Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All Stars (Cuba) and Sidestepper (Colombia / UK), performing alongside Chukale – Afro Cuban Ensemble (QLD), The View from Madeline’s Couch (QLD) and Victor Valdes & his Mariachis Real Mexico (SYD).
The Afro-Cuban All Stars, led by the visionary behind the Buena Vista Social Club recordings Juan De Marcos, was joined on stage by the master of the Cuban salon style dance, Eric Turro (Bar at Buena Vista).
Spanning four generations of musicians, the Afro-Cuban All Stars 15-piece big band performed the full-range of Cuban music, including bolero, chachachá, salsa, son montuno, timba, guajira, danzón, rumba and abakua.
Reviews
“(de Marcos) has probably done more than any other person to bring traditional Cuban music to people outside the island. ” — Miami Herald
“A thrillingly autentico survey of the colorful panorama of Cuban music, from religious batumbata beats through contemporary timba jams. ” — Village Voice