Havana, May 17 (RHC)-- The albums ‘Fusión de almas’, by contrabassist Gastón Joya and pianist Rolando Luna (Colibrí label) and ‘Al son del Caballero’, by a collective of dance music ensembles grouped in Alianza Musical de Cuba or Cuba’s Music Alliance (Bis Music label), won the grand prize of this year’s Cubadisco Awards 2020 -2021.
‘Fusión de almas’ also won the Cubadisco Awards for Best Album Notes about music genres and styles, written by Cuban poet Miguel Barnet.
Meanwhile, ‘Al son del Caballero’, won also in the category of musical production by maestro Manolito Simonet. It includes new versions of iconic dance tunes by Adalberto Álvarez, performed by other high caliber musicians like Alexander Abreu and Havana D’ Primera, Elito Revé y su Charangón, Los Van Van, Aragón orchestra, NG la Banda, Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco, El Niño y La Verdad, Pupy y los que Son Son, Bamboleo, Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor, Charanga Latina, Alaín Pérez, Rumbatá and a special guest, Puerto Rican singer Gilberto Santa Rosa.
Cubadisco, on digital platforms and Canal Clave of Cuban television due to the epidemiological situation generated by Covid-19, awards the best musical production on the island over the past two years, after the cancellation of the event in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The jury decided to grant three special prizes, which went to Aragón orchestra on its 80th anniversary, Adalberto Álvarez y su son on its 35th anniversary and Los Van Van on its 50th anniversary.
The jury also granted an Artistic Excellence Prize, which went to the audiovisual material ‘Al fin Lecuona’ by René Arencibia, with footage of the formidable show performed by baritone Ulises Aquino, pianist Frank Fernández and the National Symphony Orchestra in homage to composer Ernesto Lecuona on his 100th birthday anniversary. A special prize was also granted to the album ‘Entre la trova y el son’, by the group Granma, dedicated to Enrique Bonne on his 95th birthday this coming June 15th.
The Prize for a Lifetime’s Work went to Septeto Habanero for their album ‘100 años Septeto Habanero’ and also to Vicente Feliú for his album ‘Vicente Feliú canta a sus 70’, both under Colibrí label.
The awards ceremony will be broadcast in two parts on Cuban television at 8:30 pm on May 22nd and 23rd.
