As a crate-digging teenage DJ, Gilles Peterson fell in love with Latin music via “dodgy bossas”.
A couple of decades later the broadcaster and tastemaker was producing albums in Cuba, forging links between the island’s unexposed young talent and global club culture; “a Buena Vista Club for the 21st century,” as Peterson put it.
This double CD handpicks his productions, winding from ambient street noise through polished salsa, elegant jazz piano, storming DJ mixes and drum- heavy rumba.
Among the many voices (and handclaps) come jazz diva Mayra Caridad Valdés, the popular Arema Arega (whose “Ay” is a gem), hip-hopper Danay Suárez and ethereal choirs summoning the spirits on Orisa. A seamless selection of Cuban joys.
“The Havana Cultura project gave me the chance to go deep in a country that had intrigued me ever since I was digging for Latin records as a young DJ,” recalls Gilles. “From the first release up to now, it’s been about taking that spirit of the Buena Vista Social Club to show a new generation of artists and opening it up to as big an audience as possible. Picking the tracks for this anthology, I wanted to show modern Cuba alongside the remixes, putting it in the context of a global club culture.”
Vol. 1
1. Soy Cubano – Kerkstra feat. Etian Brebaje Man & Sexto Sentido
2. Lagrimas de Soledad (No Existen Palabras) – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Danay Suárez
3. Arroz Con Pollo – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band
4. La Mulata Abusadora – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Telmary & Elain Morales
5. Rezando – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band
6. Calle F – Mala
7. Roforofo Fight – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Mayra Caridad Valdés
8. La Rumba Experimental (Motor City Drum Ensemble Remix) – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band
9. Cuando Ya No Este – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Danay Suárez
10. La Revolución del Cuerpo Pt.1 (Skinner’s Owiny Sigoma Mix) – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band
11. Yemaya – Chillum Trio feat Coki & Yeni
12. Ay – Arema Arega
Vol. 2
1.Espera Mi Gente – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Danay Suárez & Ogguere
2. Orisa – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Dreiser & Sexto Sentido
3. Check La Rima – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Los Aldeanos, Danay Suárez & Silvito El Libre
4. La Plaza (Poirier Remix) – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band
5. La Revolución del Cuerpo Pt.1 – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Ogguere, Danay Suárez & Obsesión
6. Ipacuba – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band feat. Danay Suárez, Francis Del Río, Vince Vella & Julio Padrón
7. Traigo – Seu Seppie feat. El Niche
8. Yambu (Daisuke Tanabe and Yosi Horikawa Remix) – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band
9. En Lo Profundo – Danay Suárez & Roberto Fonseca
10. El Ruso – Daymé Arocena
11. Rezando (Michel Cleis Remix) – Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band