“We’re also going to be turning what is normally the Cargo restaurant into our own mini alternative space aided by Havana Cultura – so expect high quality rum cocktails whilst enjoying the delights of Cuba’s Kumar as well as the very acoustic Mama Milk from Kyoto and a brilliant new UK singer songwriter in the Nick Drake/Terry Callier tradition, Jonathan Jeremiah…”
- Gilles Peterson
http://www.havana-cultura.com/
Kumar
Kumar born and raised in Havana, Cuba, started his career in 1998 writing and performing his own Hip Hop before advancing into producing Rap. In July of 2004 along with Telmary Dias and back up from the Qvalibre band he records his debut album “No se vuleve atrás”.
The song is included in the soundtrack of the movie Habana Blues by director Benito Zambrano and went on to win a Goya award for the best soundtrack of that year.
In October of 2004 the song Ves, featuring Telmary, was nominated for three awards in the Cuban video festival Premios Lucas. Kumar continued to prosper working on a number of collaborations, successful tours with the likes if Audioslave and further award nominations.
In 2007 Kumar relocated to Spain where he was able to complete the final mixing of his forth coming album “Película de Barrio” under the independent label Diquela Records/Universal.
The album features the collaboration of many excellent Cuban musicians and the Spanish group Ojos de Brujo among others. Película de Barrio is setfor release February 2009.
Jonathan Jeremiah
Jonathan Jeremiah is a London-born singer/songwriter. His debut album ‘Fool In Love’, which he composed, performed and produced himself, is a heart-warming symphony of acoustic guitar and orchestration.
‘Fool In Love’ uses London’s highly regarded Heritage Orchestra, with the conductor Jules Buckley at the helm. Jonathan decided on an entirely analogue recording process which he was able to do at the Fishfactory Studios, West London, and it is this that gives the album its uniquely warm sound.
Jonathan Jeremiah’s musical inspiration comes from a not so distant past, where artists like James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Scott Walker and Nick Drake made music that moved people and spoke like a zeitgeist to its audience. Jonathan Jeremiah’s sound echoes such a time, and yet has a modern touch that firmly places him in the present.
http://www.myspace.com/jonathanjeremiah
Mama!Milk
mama!milk is the culmination of the artistic talents of accordion player Yuko Ikoma and contrabass playerKosuke Shimizu.
Based in the ancient city of Kyoto, Mam!milk music has been showcased across a range of venues including arts museums, theatres, cafés and even in a temple. Their music has been described as “Japanese New Exotica”, “Cinema for Ears”.
Mama!milk’s fourth album, “Fragrance of Notes” was released on the 17th of August 2008.
http://www.mamamilk.net
www.myspace.com/mamamilkkyoto
Havana Cultura was created by Havana Club to give the artists of Havana a global voice.
It offers them exposure through a sophisticated interactive website, Havana-Cultura.com, and is currently gathering momentum through a series of art and music events across the world.
Its online hub is a treasure trove of films and images that beautifully capture the essence and ‘philosophy of life’ inherent to Havana.
