We’re here almost a week and finally we are about to spend the day with our crew and the family of Aldo López-Gavilán, one of the musical brothers featured in Episode 2 of EVOLUTION CUBA. Aldo was a prodigy, making his national debut around the age of 12. Trained classically on the piano, he plays everything from Rachmaninoff’s super complicated Concerto #3 at the National Theater to his own jazz compositions at the very hip Fábrica de Arte Cubano. He has played in Canada, Europe, and throughout much of Latin America, but only a few times with his violin master brother, Ilmar in the US. In 10 days they will be featured with the festival orchestra at Chautauqua in NY on July 4th. We’re following their journey.
Aldo Lopez Gavilan at work. If you want to hear his remarkable music for yourself, check out : http://bit.ly/UTUBE-Aldo-Epilogo.
The days since our last post have been filled. We conducted a short “pick-up” interview with Ivan Soca, featured in Episode 1, met with our fabulous line producer Claudia Maria Bueno to arrange for crew and details, and visited with long time cinematographer collaborator, Roberto Chile.
A pick up interview in Ivan Soca's spacious but toasty studio.
We also lucked out in in attending one of the biggest concerts (after the Stones) in years—an Argentinian named Fito Paez, whose musician parents were murdered during his country’s “Dirty War” in the 70s. His heartfelt lyrics, and his life long friendship with Cuba’s folk hero Pablito Milanes, who sat in for the evenings’ most moving song, made for a memorable show. And last night, on the solstice, we were graced with an electrical storm that lit up the Malecón and it’s waves on our walk back from dinner.
Our Casa office. Coffee. Computers. Fan. But no internet.
We’ve set up shop in the kitchen of our Casa Particular, a spacious, convenient apartment with super high ceilings and tall wooden doors. The editing station fits perfectly in front of the microwave, my desk is the kitchen table by the window—making access to morning coffee a breeze.