MANANA//CUBA Mixes

Ahead of his set at the Havana Cultura : ¡Súbelo, Cuba! Album launch on October 22nd, Jazz FM and @musicamacondo’s Tim Garcia has put together a guest mix for us of some of his favourite Afro/Latin cuts. ‘With a nod to Cuba and Puerto Rico’s Rumba traditions the mix starts off on the jazzier side of the musical spectrum, spanning rumba, Afro-latin jazz, Afrocuban/Afrobeat fusion, Salsa and then culminating in the electronic side of things with contemporary Cuban musicians and one of my favourite tunes on Yoruba Records’ Tracklist: Kerkstra Ft. Feat. Etián Brebaje Man - Soy Cubano Yelfris Valdés - Grande Oshanla Okonkolo - Oba Jerry Gonzalez - Ya Yo Me Curé LokkhiTerra meets Dele Sosimi - Afro Sambroso Luisito Quintero - Acid Har-You Percussion Group - Welcome To The Party Har-You Percussion Group - Welcome To The Party (Jazzanova Remix) Auntie Flo - Die Bailando Soundspecies - Bembe! Havana Cultura: ¡Súbelo, Cuba! - Bomba Ft. El Individuo Daymé Arocena - Eleggua (Esa & Narchbeats Kwaai Mix) Trinidad Senolia - Sucre Sacre Tim plays alongside Movimientos’ Cal Jader warming up for the Havana Cultura : ¡Súbelo, Cuba! Live show at Rich Mix on Monday 22nd October. You can buy your tickets to what is set to be a very special night of contemporary Cuban music here: http://bit.ly/2P0I49X

In celebration of their first 12" release on Manana Records (http://bit.ly/2kDUpRW) check out this powerful live session by 8-piece rumba masters, Obbatuké, straight from Santiago de Cuba's legendary home of rumba, the Casa del Caribe.

Our 15th podcast brings you straight into the heart of this year's festival with British DJ/Producer/Musician duo Henry & Oliver Keen, aka @soundspecies - featuring exclusive tracks inspired by Manana 2016 and an extract from their astonishing live set with Santiago de Cuba bembe ensemble, Ache Meyi. ++ How and where was the mix recorded? ++ At home, in my first days arriving back in the UK. I did the final compilation on Traktor DJ but I also needed to do some hasty mixes of some of the new tracks to include them. ++ What was the idea behind the mix? ++ Just to present an idea of how inspired we were by the trip and also how the concept of the festival fit so well with how we've been making music for the last few years anyway. ++ How is the mix influenced by Cuba? ++ That is evident when you listen to it I hope! ++ What did you take away from your trip to Santiago ++ Lots of gigabytes of recordings! Lots of new friends, lots of ideas for future collaborations and projects, an allergy to rum!!

Our first post-Manana podcast comes from one of the stars of the festival, @dj-sabine, whose work focuses on the exposure and pleasures of African Diasporic music. ++ How and where was the mix recorded? ++ It was recorded at home in preparation for the African & Diasporic Religious Studies Association conference this year where I presented on Oyasound. ++ What was the idea behind the mix? ++ I wanted to create a mix that featured Yoruba's influence in house music. It's a mix of old and new tracks. ++ How is the mix influenced by Cuba? ++ A lot of the tracks are sung by/sampled by Afro-Cubanos as the Yoruba tradition (Santeria/Lucumi) is very strong in Cuba. ++ What did you take away from your trip to Santiago ++ It was indeed a spiritual & musical awakening for me. I have a strong interest in how traditional Haitian art, culture, & spirituality has informed the craft of Haitian electronic artists. When I found out about the festival in Santiago, the idea was so aligned with the work I am doing. Santiago also has a rich Haitian history. I was so excited to visit, participate as a DJ and share my interpretation of the music. For me, it was a great opportunity to explore art, culture, and spirituality not only from an African diasporic lens but also have a global connection with various people I've met. What better way than through music! 1. Orisha - Afroqbano 2. Omo Oggun - Santos 3. Rumberos de Ayer - Quinto y Bongo (Jose Marquez Mix) 4. Orisha - Atjazz Lovesoul Remix (Havana Cultura) 5. Elegua - Celia Cruz (Jose Marquez Remix) 6. Oya - Abicah Soul (Space Mix) 7. Chango Chant - Gigi Testa 8. Aguanile - Hector Lavoe (Jose Marquez Remix) 9. Baile Elegua - David Montoya 10. Cubanacan - Charo Velecio & Realm of House 11. Oyadde (Oya) - Sintesis 12. Oyasound - (Sabine Blaizin/Oyasound Mash-Up) 13. Madres - Dayme Arocena (Zepherin Saint Remix) 14. Love & Happiness/River Ocean - India (Master's At Work) 15. Yemaya - Carlos Torre 16. Chango - Hook & Bass (Afrotech Mix) 17. Obatala Sango Ochun- Tony Real 18. Eleggua - Ibeyi (DJ Don Cuco Remix) 19. Babalawo - Gianluca Pighi & Tiziano Ribiscini 20. Cantos A Oshun Et Oya- Osunlade 21. Babalu Aye - Kiko Navarro & DJ Fudge ft. Dono (Club Mix) 22. O Mi Shango - Sunlightsquare 23. Oya's Bembe - Ian Friday ft. Nina (Libation Remix) 24. Babalu Aye Y Yemaya - Louie Gorbea & Chris Perez ft. Nina (LouIIChris Main Mix) 25. Chango - Gina Martin & Latin Xpress 26. Orisa - The Boss (David Morales Mix)

Gabriel Reyes-Whittaker is a composer and sound artist who is best known for his electronic works of widely varying styles. He has released records through his own label, @giftedandblessed, as well as with several others including Wild Oats, Eglo, All City and Sound In Color. Gabe has spent the last few years studying MIDI composition and analog synthesis. This is reflected in the works he has released since, which range often drastically in style and exhibit the breadth of his learning process. He calls these varying sounds by the umbrella term "technoindigenous studies," a bridging of the technological with the ancestral in his music.