The Cuban ensemble Havana Fax will showcase their singing and musical talents Friday, August 14, at the Northside Yacht Club in North Sydney as part of the Cape Breton Jazz Festival, reported the Cape Breton Post.
Showtime is at 7 p.m. with a cover charge of $15, featuring music suitable for both dancing and listening.
Members of Havana Fax have performed around the world.
Opening for Havana Fax will be Cape Breton performer Keith Mullins. Mullins recently recorded an album of music in Cuba at the same studio in Havana where the famed album Buena Visita Social Club recorded.
Legendary Cuban singer Augusto Enriquez, one of Cuba's best-known singers will lead the Havana Fax group, said Carl Getto, coordinator of the Cape Breton Jazz and World Music Festival.
"He has shared the stage with such legendary singers as Luciano Pavariotti, in the show Pavarotti and Friends. Enriquez’s style is such that he can sing in all music genres, and he will give samples of such singing virtuosity during this event."
He added that Enriquez has shared the stage with popular style performers such as Rod Steward, Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Deedee Bridgewater, and La Toya Jackson, and has also worked regularly with the ‘who’s who’ of Cuban music.
Joining Enriquez will be his wife Allison, who is also a vocalist, as well as his daughter, who is one of Cuba’s top young violinists. Drummer Dave Burton, bassist Matt MacLellan, pianist Carla Bezanson, and Halifax saxophonist Jeff Goodspeed also are members of the group.
Enriquez and Havana Fax will be playing at the Big Fiddle in Sydney on Wednesday, August 12, at the KOC Hall in New Waterford on Thursday, August 13, and at the Northside Yacht Club in North Sydney on Friday, August 14.
The Cape Breton Jazz and World Music Festival will present more than a dozen events between August 7-15. Various artists will perform.
The festival aims to have an eclectic mix of various sub-genres of jazz, from traditional vocal performances to presentations by Cuban and Latin style music groups.