By Orbert Davis, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic
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| Photo by Kent Richmond |
Creating Havana Blue was a process unlike any
other in my life as a musician and composer. Starting with the exploratory trip
to Cuba, it was a process of discovery and inspiration, on both a personal and
professional level.
I set out on the trip
to Cuba with several goals. I wanted to
explore my African roots through the Cuban culture, where the African heritage
is prominent. In my mind, I wanted to “become Cuban” through immersion in the
culture and music. I was curious to see where my collaborations with authentic
Cuban music would take me as an artist. It was an odyssey of musical
self-discovery.
Also, I have always had an interest in tracing the
development of African music in the United States and other countries. I once traveled to Brazil, for example, to see
how the African influence shaped that musical tradition, and I was interested
in doing the same thing in Cuba.
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| Photo by Kent Richmond |
What I found in Cuba was a wealth of musical expression, and
a real passion for learning and sharing.
There’s such a strong connection between American jazz and Cuba that
dates from the 1940’s and exists to this day. The local musicians were so
excited to play with an American musician. They were especially excited when
they heard I was from Chicago.
The musicianship there is of the highest order. I bought
CD’s everywhere I could. I was so amazed at the creativity and the talent of
the local artists. And what’s more amazing is that there are no jazz schools
there, so that the artists have to pick it up on their own.
Wherever I went, I took my horm with me, and the musicians
would always welcome me to play with them. My goal was to absorb what was
happening in the moment and improvise based on the environment I was in and
what was happening around me. I learned something new with every encounter I
had, whether it was the house band in the hotel, or a street musician, or the
classically-trained performers in the clubs.
I also found out something about my ancestral roots. One of the percussionists, who could trace
his own ancestors back to their village in Africa, told me that I was of
Nigerian descent. He knew this from the way I looked, but more importantly by
how comfortable I was with polyrhythms. It had nothing to do with my training
as a professional musician, he said. It was something innate that can’t be
taught.
I created the score for Havana Blue as a series of musical
portraits of the people and the places I encountered. I did not want to
recreate the music but rather my interpretations of the Cuba I found. I tried to capture the sense of a people proud
of their traditions, intent on honoring the old but eager to embrace the new
and move forward. I am excited to bring this project home and share it with the
people of Chicago.
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HAVANA BLUE: River North Dance Chicago with Orbert Davis' Chicago Jazz Philharmonic
Presented by BMO Harris and Co-commissioned by the Auditorium Theatre
Venue: Auditorium Theatre
Dates: Saturday, April 13, 2013
Times: 8:00 pm
Price: $76-$32
In a momentous collaboration, the Artistic Directors of River North Dance Chicago and Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, Frank Chaves and Orbert Davis, explore their shared Cuban experiences for a vibrant World Premiere of original live music and dance, bringing the culture’s rich history to life in a contemporary way. Co-commissioned by the Auditorium Theatre.
Box Office: 50 E. Congress Pkwy. | Phone: 800.982.ARTS (2787) | Groups of 10+ 312.341.2357
