The disc Made in Havanaby the Italian musician and composer Geanmarco Scognamiglio, better known as Gen, pays homage to the figure and work of Juan Formell.
According to a note from the Cuban News Agency (ACN), the album is the result of the joint work of the Recording and Musical Editions Company (EGREM) in collaboration with several Cuban popular music groups. In the phonogram, the dance genre dominates. Most of the lyrics are in Spanish.
Scognamiglio told ACN that with the help of Edmundo Pina, Van Van’s trombonist, he contacted musicians from different groups to make the phonogram.
He said that he had discovered Formell three decades ago and that he considered him an exceptional artist for having maintained the concept of song and being a pioneering figure in the creation of songo.
He also affirmed that he was helped by choristers and other musicians from the Island to create more Cuban compositions. “It is a satisfaction”, she commented, “to have played with those musicians and I think the album came out in a favorable context to be heard on the radio and television”, for which she aspires to be able to offer concerts.
Pina, one of the producers of Made in Havana Along with Boris Luna, keyboardist and arranger for the Van Van, he stressed that Gen’s interest was always focused on using resources in order to achieve a mix between Cuban, American and Italian sounds, and to obtain a modern album with valuable harmonies.
Geanmarco Scognamiglio (Gen) has two other phonograms with his jazz songs published in Italy. This is his third album, already available on the Cuban virtual platform Sandunga.
