The vortex of Cuban music in New Orleans

Kako Escalona
03.06.2024
3 minutes Reading

Sweat. That's the word that comes to mind when I think of the past Cimafest NOLA. The sweat running down the bodies of Cimafunk and the members of La Tribu; the sweat that drenched the explosive La Dame Blanche who came from France with her flute and her lyrics vindicating female power; the sweat that amalgamated the bodies that came to the Civic Theater on the night of April 26, 2024. The sweat of enjoyment has a different texture, bittersweet, playful, and it seems that Cimafunk and his Tribe have found the formula to summon it in each presentation, and the second edition of Cimafest was no exception.

After seeing what happened last December in Miami, I was happy to see that Cimafunk and La Tribu's complicity with the public transcends any language or cultural barrier. It was beautiful to witness how the band has been able to penetrate so well into the psyche of New Orleans and also give back to the city and its inhabitants all that it has given them.

What happened was another confirmation of the state of grace of the orchestra with the most exciting live performance in Cuban music today, brought to a stellar level by the inclusion of the luxury guests it had. The opening of La Dame Blanche, who with her genius, energy and sound won over the audience instantly (I regret that most Cubans do not know the work of this artist), was the beginning of a memorable night that featured the living icon that is Chucho Valdés, and other luxury guests such as X Alfonso, Big Freedia and Victor Campbell (former member of Toques del Rio, based in New Orleans). All of them contributed a bit of their particular grace and legend in a concert that turned the Civic Theater into the venue for the definitive celebration of Afro-descendant cultures in the American continent.

Let us hope that this project, which builds bridges and creates synergies, will continue to grow and mature, and that sooner rather than later it will reach the Havana public, which needs it so much.

Kako Escalona's snapshots below perfectly capture the magic of that night.

(Rafa G. Escalona)