Cuba Unplugged: Musical Kaleidoscope
with Jennifer Spelman and Pepe Gavilondo Péon
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Course Description
It is not an exaggeration to say that the heart and soul of Cuba is found within their music. Woven into the beats of the island are notes of its deep traditions, varied religious expressions and multiple ethnicities. These rich musical undertones are a direct reflection of the complex nuances of the island’s history. Our sounds of Havana immersion is a cultural exchange to support the Cuban people and better understand their lives today. On our journey we meet a diverse cross section of working musicians in the private sector from one of the most vibrant musical communities in the world.
This program presents a journey into all forms of Cuban song as we explore traditional trova and then delve into world music and jazz through groups like Sintesis, Yissy & Bandancha and Eme Alfonso. We learn about experimental and contemporary music represented by the innovative and fearless artists such as the Ensemble Interactivo de La Habana and an important space is held to experience the Afro Cuban music expressions like Yorubá, Arará, Regla de Palo de Ocha, by learning about their original, secret rituals and bembés.
Our goal is not to go from one fixed, prearranged performance to another, but to experience each music in a different context, realizing a multi-layered view that includes rehearsals and casual meetings with musicians, often the more underground or unknown spaces of true Cuban musicians. Join Jennifer and Pepe on a visual and auditory immersion into the sounds of Cuba which offers each participant the unique opportunity to interact meaningfully by exchanging ideas and experiences with members of Havana’s vibrant music community.
Additional Information
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
This Cuba Unplugged program is open to amateur, advanced amateur and professional photographers who have traveled to Cuba with Santa Fe Workshops (SFW), with another group, or on their own. Enrollment is limited to seven participants.
What You Should Know:
Participants should be technically self-sufficient, as this is not a program to learn how to use your gear or editing software. Participants should be in very good health with good stamina and mobility, as long days are spent exploring—this means walking, sometimes for two to three hours at a time, occasionally up steep stairs, steep hills, and along uneven terrain.
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about
Jennifer Spelman is a sensitive documentary and fine-art photographer, as well as a playful observer of the subtleties of human activity. Her images pop with insight and imagination, exciting curiosity and suggesting secrets. As an educator and trip leader, Jennifer is in high demand for her creative instructional insights, easy-going nature, and sharply-honed international photography travel acumen.
Since 2011, Jennifer has co-instructed domestic and international photography workshops for National Geographic Expeditions, OneWorldSeen, and Santa Fe Workshops through Morocco, India, Cuba, Turkey, Romania, Mexico, Vietnam, and Japan. She is especially proud of the many imaginative and immersive photo trips she has co-led in elusive Cuba. Jennifer also co-founded the niche publication, CubaSeen, and is engaged in Santa Fe Workshops’ popular Mentorship Program ».
Website: jenniferspelman.com
Instagram: @jennifer_spelman
about
Pepe Gavilondo Péon is a Cuban musician, composer, professor of music, and photographer. He has studied music since the age of 7 and in 2014 got his Degree in Musical Composition at the Arts University in Havana. He has worked alongside several Cuban and foreign choreographers and his music has accompanied performances in Cuba, Mexico, United States, and Spain. Pepe is the keyboard player of the famous Grammy-nominated band Sintesis, with whom he also worked as the arranger and orchestrator in two concerts performances in 2015. He also works as a pianist with Cuban songwriters Ariel Díaz and the Lien y Rey duet.
Pepe is part of the staff and specialist of Classical Music at Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC), Cuba’s top contemporary art center. He is director and interpreter of the Ensemble Interactivo de La Habana (EIH), an experimental music and improvisation orchestra with whom he has participated in national events like the Festival of Contemporary Music of Havana (Festival de La Habana), the Arts University Festival, the Habana en movimiento street dance Festival, and the Premio de Composición Casa de Las Américas.
As a photographer, Pepe explores two basic worlds — abstract macro photography and street portraits.
