| It may have started as an experiment, but Decidedly Jazz Danceworks’ ¡BULLA! has grown into a full-fledged celebration of music and dance. And, while its emphasis is on the dance forms of Africa, Cuba and Europe, the music has proven to be the cornerstone of its success. Having dug deep into the roots of jazz and Afro-Cuban music, DJD has come up with an exceptional amalgamation of Canadian and Cuban musicians to complement its rhythmic arts.
It’s been up to Edmonton pianist Chris Andrew, the show’s musical director, to translate the exhilarating movement of the DJD dancers into a musical mélange that befits their body language. Andrew is a mainstay in the Alberta music scene and is considered one of the hottest Canadian pianists around. For ¡BULLA!, three of the eight musicians collaborating on the show are from Andrew’s Latin-World group, ¡Bomba! Together they travelled with the DJD gang to Havana for an intensive study of Cuban culture.
Along with Andrew, bass player Rubim de Toledo and percussionist Mario Allende make up the core of the group. The two offer their Brazilian and Chilean styles, respectively, using fluid bass lines and an inventive mix of drum kit, timbales and other percussion instruments for the music. Allende has spent his career celebrating the African influence on Latin music and is the rhythmic force behind the show’s score, complemented by the elegant style of Edmonton drummer Sandro Dominelli and vocalist-percussionist Luis Orebogoso.
Joining these five Alberta musicians, the show’s trio of Cuban guest artists adds the authentic flavour of the timba, rumba, son, salsa and songo. Violinist Neraldo Durán Torriente, percussionist Raul Gómez Tabera and saxophone player Livan Morejón Quián help make ¡BULLA! as much about the music as it is about the dance.
The production places the musicians onstage with the dancers, emphasizing their essential role in the performance. The result is not just some interesting dance-music fusions, but also original forms of visual expression.
|
Copyright ©2005 FFWD. All rights reserved.