Vitorino and Septeto La Habana 99 (Portugal and Cuba)

Saturday, March 18, 2006     Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium     150

Vitorino, Voice

Septeto La Habana 99
Raul Reyes, Voice and Bongos
Jorge Cervantes, Voice and Guitar
Onelio Fernandes, Voice and Cuban Tres
Osvaldo Pegudo, Guirro and Maracas
Alexys Rodriguez, Trumpet
Dani Machado, Bass
Angelo Firmino, Voice

Lights: Jorge Pato
Sound: Luís de Freitas and Pedro Faria

While at first glance there seems to be little to connect the Cuban son with Portuguese traditions, Vitorino proves otherwise with the album “La Habana 99”. By invitation of the Septeto Habanero, he assumed the role of “crooner”, reliving his childhood memories of boleros like Las Tres Palabras and Guantanamera, music that crossed the border from Madrid to Portugal decades ago and incited the people to dance to their rhythm.

Strongly influenced by Spanish and African music, the son is also rooted in the music that Chinese slaves brought to Cuba from Macao. These melodies helped sculpt the sounds that lulled Vitorino to sleep more than 40 years ago, long before his hit “Menina Estás à Janela”, soon to be performed in Macao.

Duration: approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, no interval