Conjunto Guantanamo
New York City, New York, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2003 | INDIE
Music
Press
“… Afro-Cuban Ensemble Conjunto Guantanamo [explore] the rhythms of son montuno, cha-cha-cha, mambo and rumba with contemporary energy…” - Forbes
‘New York City's Conjunto Guantánamo… celebrates Cuban folklore as the spirit breathing life into its sound.’ - Lowell Sun
“Sensational… Go hear them. You’ll thank me.” - Jennifer Kite-Powell, contributor, Forbes
“...Great sound... Smokin'!” - - Luis Pomales
"Conjunto Guantánamo strike an impressive balance between yesterday and today" - El Chino on Solar Latin Club
“… Conjunto Guantánamo lives and moves within a fluid world between the past, present and future, bringing together people, sounds and memories …their effortless and heartfelt forays are supported… [by] an innate, classic style of days gone by. I am moved and drawn into their world to experience a moment and place that is timeless and nameless.” - Nova Clutch Culture Space
“… We want to say a special thank you to the [director] of the band called, “Conjunto Guantánamo,” playing three songs to Dr. Castro our Founder and CEO. The band has an awesome sound and the only thing we could do was dance to the Cuban music.” - Michael W., Aurora International, LLC
Vocalist and conguero Ulises Beato and his players preserve the Cuban traditions of son montuno, mambo, rumba and more, while also beating a path toward recent trends in timba and descargas. - Time Out New York
"One of the most wonderfully compelling Latin bands in New York City. This Afro-Cuban ensemble has an edge that's often imitated but rarely expressed in its true flavor... A truly remarkable music experience for the heart, soul and feet" - The New Times
"... Conjunto Guantanamo truly are the Ambassadors of Cuban Folklore displaying a familiarity and fondness of the pantheon of African lore that is the cornerstone of all the popular music of the world today from the Rolling Stones to Buena Vista Social Club and everything in between". - Latin Jazz News
Discography
Discography (Nganga Records)
• "Oye Como Suenan" EP (2011)
• "¡Las Navidades con el Conjunto Guantánamo!" Double Single (2015)
• New single releases 'Cuchillo para la Piña Cubana' (November 2018), 'Mamaita no Quiera' (February 2019)
• Upcoming full album release 'Moviendo los Caracoles' (Summer 2019)
Photos
Bio
BOOKING CONTACT: booking@ConjuntoGuantanamo.com
LISTEN TO OUR LATEST SINGLE 'MAMAITA NO QUIERE' VIA SOUNDCLOUD
https://soundcloud.com/conjuntoguantanamo/mamaita-no-quiere
Conjunto Guantánamo's soulful sound is layered with authentic Cuban swing and sophisticated influences like “El Barbaro" Benny More, Arsenio Rodriguez, Roberto Faz, and Miguelito Cuní. Playing authentic traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms like Son Montuno, Cha-Cha-Cha, Mambo and Rumba with contemporary energy, their performances sometimes transition into extended experimental descargas -- a type of Afro-Cuban improvisational jam session -- using musical motifs straight from the streets of Havana and Matanzas, combined with the very spirit of New York City. The band inspires thousands of New Yorkers and international fans alike to swivel their hips in the name of Latin passion.
Since Conjunto Guantánamo was founded in 2003, they’ve been highly visible on the NYC nightlife scene, performing concerts at festivals, dance parties, events and venues as diverse as
- Lincoln Center’s Boro-Linc: La Casita
- Louis Armstrong House Museum’s What a Wonderfull World 50th Anniversary Festival
- Lowell Folk Festival with National Council for the Traditional Arts
- The Gantries summer series
- Perfomance at Langston Hughes Auditorium
- The Schomberg Center, First Fridays - Afro Cuban edition
- The Museum of Modern Art
- and many more
The band have also recently enjoyed the support of WPKN, WFMU and WVST in the U.S and Celtica Radio in the U.K. and was recently ranked Number 6 on ReverbNation’s Latin Music category for their previous single ‘Y Yo Ganga’.
Founder Ulises Beato (director, conga, vocals) along with José Pepito Gomez (vocals, guitar, tres), Carlos Mena (bass, Vocals), Ittetsu Nasuda (piano), Oscar Oñoz (trumpet) and Hector Torres (bongo) are the celebrated musicians who create this unique sound. You can find Conjunto Guantánamo at select venues around New York City and the Tri-State area just about every week, just check their show calendar on their Official Home Page.
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