Crossing the Atlantic ocean for the first time it was pretty exciting I have to say. Travelling towards the Americas for those who likes music, literature and cinema in particular is always a hell of a journey. In fact what attracted me the most about going on the island were the tales of Hernest Hemingway and latin jazz. Seeing the statue of papa Hemingway sitting at the Floridita in La Havana, waiting for one of his specials was simply amazing. Afro-cuban music was the other reason. To make it simple, everything started with Habanera. Habanera comes from Contradanse, english country dance music adopeted at the court of France and taken to America, where became important and developed in Mambo and Cha-Cha-Cha. Habanera is famous for its rhythm time signature in 2/4 with the upbeat falling in the middle of the bar.
During my stay I had to make choices since I couldn't travel all along the island. I decided to Varadero that despite of not being the most interesting place in Cuba, can offer amazing beaches and be enough relaxed for those who have to recover after a 12 hours flight. The next stops were in order: Cienfuegos, Trinidad, La Havana where I had the chance to see some local street musician performing, Vinales and back to Varadero.
In addition to the poems below, also some of the songs of "For the Time Being" were inspired from the happy rural everyday life of Cuba, in particular Guanabana Guajira Hat and La Revolucíon desde tu Cuerpo.
LOS GUAJIROS Los guajiros se vienen Los guajiros se van con sus exitos tristes todo el dia cantan Son sonidos tan buenos que la gente no sabe si quedarse o irse si pararse o andar Los guajiros son actores y su escena es la calle y su peli es la vida.
ANTES QUE ATAQUEN ELLOS Estamos listos para ataquar para convertirlos para llegar Contaran los muertos y qui no mata se quedará sin techo sin almolzar
**Rubén Gonzales, Introducing//Buena Vista Social Club, Dos Gardenias//Benny Moré "que me canta sabroso"//Guillermo Portabales, Guateque Campesino**