Cesar Pedroso, for many years the pianist in Juan Formell's band Los Van Van, the internationally most famous band, here introduces himself with a solo project. He wrote numerous hits for the supergroup which was founded exactly thirty years ago and wrote the hit "Azucar" for Celia Cruz, to name but one. In the year 2000, Los Van Van was awarded the Grammy in the category of "Best Latin Performance".
Los Van Van was a major influence on musical life in Cuba over the past three decades. The group invented the physical, highly danceable Cuban-North American mix called "Songo", played alongside Tito Puente and Harry Belafonte, delighted their listeners with albums like "Dancing Wet" (1993), "Lo Ultimo En Vivo" (1995) or "De Cuba (1996) with a relaxed party sound, and released many hits (e.g. "Sandunguera"), which Ruben Blades, Ray Barretto and others later included in their repertoire.
As a member Los Van Van, Cesar Pedroso would seem to have proved his abilities to the full. Now he is on his way to take our planet by storm under his own name. On his new CD, "Pupy" (his nickname) shows himself to be the leading protagonist of the young style of Timba. This highlymodern dance sound combines traditional rhythms like son and salsa with elements of jazz, rap, rock and funk, to make up a fiery mixture which has been the music of Cuban youth for years now. This music from the streets often sounds rough and harsh, and in its everyday poetry it tells of the problems and paradoxes in today's Cuban society.
Timba, by the way, is not only the new dance music from Cuba, but also a residential area of Havana. Pedroso was born and grew up there. As usual the musicians and soloists of his new album are the very best. They include that grand master of Latin American percussion José L. Quintana, aka Changuito. Other names on this CD are vocalists Tirso Duarte, José "Pepito" Gomez, Sixto (and others) and flautist Jorge Leliebre (Los Van Van), Hugo Sanchez, and Julio Padron.
