GRUPO DANSON - MEZCLANDO CULTURAS

Grupo Danson, under the direction of trombonist Carlos Pérez, exploded on the international Timba scene in 2005 with their debut album "Mi Música". The title track won them the Djembe Award for "Best World Music Track 2005". It has taken nine years, but Danson are back in 2014 with their second CD titled "Mezclando Culturas". Continuing their tradition of collaboration with other Cuban musicians, Alaín Pérez worked with Carlos on the production of the new album and even sings lead on a new arrangement of "Sabor de mi rumba". Mandy Cantero also guests on "Va y ven de hamaca", which is already on DJ turntables in Peru.

Carlos Pérez took a few minutes to tell us about the new CD and the band's imminent plans.

"We now have two singers, Ernesto Manuitt (ex-Klímax) and a Cuban singer who came to Denmark about eight months ago named Henri Benitez (ex-Pupy y Los Que Son Son). This guy is very young and a very good singer and we invited him to record a song that will be on the new album. We also have a new member in the group on coro and trombone. Her name is Teresa Villanueva and she is also Cuban. Our new pianist lives in Stockholm, so maybe you know him. His name is Oldrich Gonzalez and he worked in Cuba with Charanga Forever, among others.

"We were fortunate to be able to invite Mandy Van Van (Armando Cantero) to sing one of our songs, and that track is already playing in Peru. The overall production of this album was done by Alaín Pérez and myself. It was great for the group to work with Alaín, and his arrangements are formidable and have given a new flavor to the sound of the orchestra. So on the new album - Mezclando Culturas  - we will have four singers, and I also sing one song. (Alaín, Henri, Ernest and Mandy!)

"We have 9 songs for the album. The songwriters are Alaín Pérez, Alexander Abreu (one song) and myself. We have five arrangements by Alaín, one arrangement by Alexander and me together, and three of my own arrangements.

"Our plans are now focused on releasing the CD and promoting our music here in Europe and in the United States and South America. We will first release the CD here in Denmark independently, with a label of the musician's union (Gatway). Also we will release it at iTunes and other internet sales sites. We have a couple of gigs here in Denmark and Norway and we are trying to set up a CD release in Stockholm."

Grupo Danson is just putting the finishing touches on the master and expects "Mezclando Culturas" to hit the streets in August or September. While we wait, check out the title track!

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