Luis Frank Feat. Cesar Pedroso & Julio Padron Cuba Total

 
The people of Cuba call Luis Frank “El Macry”;  He wants this album to be seen as a platform for striving young musicians. He has given the highly talented young female rapper Mariana Moracen Saiz, a golden opportunity.
Luis Frank Arias (his full name) has made a name for himself in his career up to now as a universally trained musician. He began with the Orquesta Revé and as first vocalist in Compay Segundo’s legendary group singing son in the classic style, which he kept to when he subsequently toured with the Buena Vista Social Club.  In his own formation Tradicional Habana he remained faithful to the son Cubano again. The Soneros de Verdad led by Luis Frank then provided a sparkling performance on “A Buena Vista: Barrio De La Habana” and “El Run Run De Los Soneros” with contemporary arrangements of well-loved classics; they lovingly combined ingredients from different musical styles (such as jazz).  Then finally the Afro-Cuban All Stars added salsa and rock elements. Luis Frank toured the globe with the big band which was founded in 1998 and comprises three generations.
A further highlight in his career was when he took part in Wim Wenders’ movie “Musica Cubana” and the film soundtrack. His song “A Buena Vista”, by the way, is a classic parable of his own life story: when this man from the Republica de Cuba first recorded the track with the Soneros de Verdad, it was definitely a traditional son Cubano number.  For the soundtrack version on “Musica Cubana” the song (which is also on “Homeland”, TIMBA order no.: 59805-2) had gained hip-hop grooves and rap rhymes, causing a marked change. And just as Luis Frank has gone through a change of direction from traditional son to modern Latin rap, similarly in his personal biography he has travelled through virtually all the Cuban musical styles of the 20th century.  And this development is far from over.  The mood of change in “CUBA TOTAL” shows us that we can expect more great things from this indefatigable innovator.  The future has only just begun.