Salsa superstars

In September last year, an estimated 1 million people filled Havana's Plaza de la Revolución for the Peace Without Borders festival. Despite a last-minute cancellation by Shakira, the festival featured a stellar program of popular artists from South America, the Caribbean, Spain and Italy. Headlining the festival was the band that for more than 30 years has been called Cuba's Rolling Stones: Los Van Van.

As one of the first Cuban bands to add a synthesizer and a drum kit, Los Van Van has shown a talent for constant innovation that has made them Grammy Award-winning recording artists and arguably the most influential band in Cuba today.

Discussing his group's legacy, Los Van Van bandleader and drummer Samuel Formell tells The Prague Post, "Los Van Van started 40 years ago with the classical charanga format lineup of three violins and one flute. In the '80s, Juan Formell, my father who founded the band, introduced the three trombones. In 1982, the first synth appeared and later the percussion pad."

As the band took on new instruments and new personnel, its sound became more complex. "With the introduction of the electronic keyboard, one violin was taken away," Formell explains. "Also, the keyboard parts in the arrangements often took on the parts traditionally played in the Cuban son by the tres [a small guitar with six double strings]. Introducing a second melodic tumbao [groove] line using bass and piano in the '70s, Van Van pioneered the so-called songo form. Songo was a new rhythm or groove mixing Cuban son with more intensity that also borrowed North American rhythm patterns taken from rock, reggae, jazz and other Caribbean sources."

While incorporating outside influences is not new, the band has been careful to preserve the core elements of its sound. "Van Van has always picked up influences from the U.S., mostly in the form of harmonic and melodic ideas, and also harmonies and rhythms from Brazil," Formell says. "We are constantly renewing the sound and harmonic treatment. But it's always around the songo rhythm, and the unique bass and piano movements which are the authentic Van Van trademark in sound."

The results are exciting, as evinced by Los Van Van's Grammy Award-winning recording Llegó Van Van (1999 on Atlantic/Caliente), and their latest CD, Arrasando (2009 on Planet Records). And the dynamism that has made Los Van Van a supergroup in the Caribbean does not stop in the studio. Describing the band's real-time stage philosophy, Formell says, "All of the players can and do play solo - it's part of Cuban identity. This is why our songs live are much longer than on record. First priority in a live situation, of course, is that Van Van's four lead singers actively communicate with the public."

Returning to Prague with their full 16-piece band for the first time in 20 years, Los Van Van puts on a stage act that is best described as atomic. Formell promises, "Van Van will perform with strength, talent and the suggestive mood of Cuba's rhythms and relaxing lifestyle. It's a concert for listeners of extraordinary music as well as for lovers of son and salsa. Let's dance!"

Darrell Jónsson can be reached at
features@praguepost.com