More on the Afro Cuban Music Night

The first Tuesday of every month is firmly placed in my diary. This is because it means it’s time for London’s Afro Cuban Music Night. The organisers describe the event as a night of drum, song and dance from bata and Orisha music to rumba and as an informal gathering where musicians who know the traditions … Read more

Afro Cuban Music Night

Bombo Productions runs a monthly Afro Cuban Music Night in Dalston, usually on the first Monday or Tuesday of the month. Last week’s session was graced by the presence of the incredible Cuban-born singer Martha Gallaraga, known to many simply as Martica. I don’t normally take photos at these sessions as I tend to sing … Read more

Some pictures of the London Lucumi Choir open rehearsal

Today, The London Lucumi Choir (the fantastic Afro-Cuban Choir I sing with) had an open rehearsal at Premises Studio in Hackney. This was part of an international initiative of singing for peace and healing. Some of the participants were experienced members of the choir but there were also people who had never sung with us … Read more

women and percussion: women who play bata

When I was in Miami in September I attended a workshop given by one of my favourite Cuban bands, Sintesis. Sintesis fuse rock and other contemporary genres with traditional Afro Cuban music. They use bata drums as part of their percussive sound. Bata drums, when used in Afro Cuban religious ceremonies are only played by … Read more