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• 01 / 03 / 2010

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The Cuban Music Institute, in representation of its president Abel Acosta, recently stated the wonderful exchange between the Band Kool and The Gang and the Cuban people. More than 100 000 people went to the anti-imperialist tribune to enjoy the music and the performance of this very important US band.

“This is a very well known and very famous band. They have wanted to come to Cuba for many years and they have never achieved it.

This is the exchange that should be natural, but it is not for the reasons we all know: for the pressures from the US government.” “I think they (Kool and The Gang) also feel as the tip of a sword, as an avant-garde that is opening up other possibilities for US musicians,” declared Acosta.

The visit made by Kool and The Gang to Havana has been very important. Several exchanges took place with Cuban musicians and Cuban art students and they were given the Cubadisco 2009 Honor Award.

Calle 13 is expected in Havana

René Pérez, the Residente from the frequently awarded Puerto Rican duet Calle 13 has been informing for several weeks to several press media on their possible visit to Cuba and he has also communicated this through the social network Twitter.

They were even ready to reach Cuba within the international movie festival which took place in Havana, in which was screened the documentary Sin Mapa on their trips around Latin America. But they were unable to come because they didn’t get on time
the permit from the US State Department.

Recently in Mexico, René Pérez said that his trip will take place in March and that his project in our country is not a concert for peace as was that of the Colombian Juanes, but simply a party for which some musicians will be invited.

“The US law does not allow us to travel to this country so easily, if we don’t follow the protocol, the Americans might arrest us. We need more time to organize the event and for everything to come out right,” expressed Residente Calle 13 in the Mexican federal District.

On the other hand, the Cuban Music Institute expressed that when Calle 13 arrives in Cuba there will take place several recitals. The band is ready to sing to Cuban people, the only thing missing is for the United States to grant the permissions
to travel to the Caribbean Island.

New York Philharmonic

Abel Acosta has made declarations on the presentation in Cuba of the New York Philharmonic, whose attempt to travel to Havana last October was frustrated because several of its members and sponsors were not granted the visa.

“We still have no definition from the US government on the licenses of the contributors and sponsors; we hope they are granted on 2010.”

All of the prohibitions are motivated by the embargo applied by the United States towards Cuba, for more than four decades.

It is a blockade that goes beyond the economical factors and it also limits the exchange of culture, music and art in general.

“The blockade will not be overthrown for their own will, they will eliminate it because they have no choice. That politics has no future,” declared the president of the Cuban Music Institute.

Source: Cubadebate  and Cubarte