Although only three artists of Cuban origin won a Latin Grammy, the presence of the Island in the nominations was considerable.
MIAMI, United States. – Cuban music was felt at the 26th edition of the Latin Grammy Awards, held this Thursday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, where Gloria Estefan, Chucho Valdés – along with his Royal Quartet – and the Cuban-Venezuelan pianist and arranger César Orozco took the only three gramophones linked to Cuba, in the categories of Best Traditional Tropical Album, Best Jazz Album Latin/Jazz and Best Arrangement, respectively.
The three artists were the only ones born on the Island (or of Cuban origin) who made it to the podium, despite the presence of twenty Cuban and Cuban-American musicians and producers nominated in at least 10 categories.
The gala, dominated in the overall awards by the Puerto Rican Bad Bunny and the Argentine duo Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, left a brief but significant harvest for Cuba: a simultaneous recognition of its tropical traditions, its jazz and the work of diaspora arrangers.
Gloria Estefan
Gloria Estefan won the Latin Grammy for Best Traditional Tropical Album for Rootswhich won in a category made up exclusively of projects linked to Cuba: Malena Burke sings Meme Solís, Vol. 1by Malena Burke and Meme Solís; and Walking piango piangoby the Failde Orchestra. This is the artist’s fourth Latin Grammy, which adds to the eight “Anglo-Saxon” Grammys she already owned.
During the ceremony, Estefan once again placed his life and work partner, producer Emilio Estefan, at the center. The singer stressed on stage that the album would not exist without him and publicly thanked him for “the beautiful songs” he wrote for her, “the impeccable production” of the album and “the 50 and fifty years of making music together.”
On Instagramthe Cuban-American summed up the moment with a short phrase: “What happiness and honor.”
Chucho Valdes
In the field of jazz, pianist Chucho Valdés and his Royal Quartet won the Latin Grammy for Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album for Cuba & Beyondin a shared failure ex aequo with Hamilton De Holland Trio – Live In NYCby Brazilian Hamilton from Holland.
The category was one of the most loaded with a Cuban accent: they also competed The Fleur De Cayenneby Paquito D’Rivera & Madrid-New York Connection Band, and Lights and shadowsfrom the pianist Iván’s trio Melon Lewis, as well as the Puerto Rican saxophonist Miguel Zenón.
Valdés and his quartet found out about the award at the end of a concert in Girona, Spain, and they reacted on networks with an eloquent “We won!” The result reinforces an exceptional record: the musician has already won 14 Grammys between Latin and Anglo-Saxon editions since 1979, which places him among the most awarded Cuban artists in history.
Cesar Orozco
The third gramophone linked to Cuba came from the Best Arrangement category. The pianist and arranger César Orozco – presented by various media as a Cuban with a long career in Venezuela and subsequent residence in the United States – won with Chameleona song signed together with his project Cesar Orozco & Son Ahead.
The official list of the Latin Recording Academy places it ahead of arrangements signed by Rafael Beck and Felipe Montanaro, Cheche Alara, Edy Lan, Joachim Horsley and Cassio Vianna, in a category that usually concentrates musicians with very high technical specialization.
Furthermore, in the field of arrangements itself, other projects linked to Cuban tradition competed, such as Bach’s Cuban Concerto For Piano And Tresby the American Joachim Horsley with the participation of the Cuban tresera Olivia Soler.
Upon receiving the award, Orozco let one of the most quoted phrases of the night for the Cuban scene: “Let’s continue making music from the heart, from the truth.”
Many nominees, few awards
Although only three artists of Cuban origin won a Latin Grammy, the presence of the Island in the nominations was considerable.
In addition to those mentioned in the Best Instrumental Album category, Soul in Cubaby Ariel Brínguez and Iván Melon Lewis, and Havana Meets Harlemfrom the Harlem Quartet with pianist Aldo López-Gavilán; and in Best New Artist the young singer Camila Guevara, granddaughter of Pablo Milanés and of Ernest Che Guevara.
Also left without an award were, among others, the salsa singer Issac Delgado, the bassist and singer Alain Pérez, the percussionist Pedrito Martínez and the children’s music composer Rita Rosa, nominated for Giraffes in Best Children’s Music Album.
In addition, the triumph of Rubén Blades and Roberto Delgado & Orquesta in Best Salsa Album for Photographs It had Cuban participation behind the scenes: the producer Alden González and Santiago musicians such as the group Azabache de Cuba, as well as the sound engineer Damián Busqueta, contributed what one producer described as “a little piece of Santiago de Cuba” and “a portion of the flavor of the Casa de la Trova” to that phonogram.
