2B = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
ENTERTAINMENT
THURSDAY. SEPT. 27, 2001
HOROSCOPES
Todav's Birthday (Sept. 27).
You may have thought you had it good before, but you can't seen nothing yet. This year could be magnificent. You have all the right conditions for travel, true love and the acquisition of wisdom. Don't just sit there. Make it happen. Your career could take off like a rocket. Don't wait. Active participation in your own life is required.
Aries (March 21-April 19). Today is a 7. You may feel slightly inhibited, so let others be the messengers for a while. A partner is your best spokesperson, and friends can make progress where you would fail. You've got a good team, so relax. You'll get another turn at bat soon enough.
Taurus (April 20-May 20). Today is 7.
It soon may be possible to increase your status and paycheck. The trick is to find a need and fill it. A coworker could point you in the right direction. Don't wait. Tell people what you want and what you'll do to get it.
Gemini (May 21-June 21). Today is a 10.
This should be one of your "well" days
where you call in "well" and get out of
work. Call it preventive medicine. If the
boss doesn't go for that, can you think of
a reason to take a business trip?
Cancer (June 22 - July 22) Today is a 5. Concentrate and don't let anybody distract you. Read the ads, clip the coupons, surf the Internet and talk to the neighbor's uncle who can get it for you at wholesale. You can buy twice as much for half the money, but it's not easy. It's an art.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22). Today is a 6.
Feel like laying back and letting somebody else direct the show for a while?
That would be fine. You know just the person for the job. Stop fighting for control. Let it go and get something better.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Today is a 6.
The more you work on your routine, the
faster it'll go. The objective is to make
each movement efficient. Be like a well-
oiled machine, cranking the money in,
today and tomorrow.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22). Today is an 8.
Love triumphs again! Whatever had you bothered is easily forgotten. So are old inhibitions and your exhaustion. You're eager to try new things and explore new ideas - with just the right companion, of course.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 6.
Go ahead and make a mess at home.
Sometimes it's necessary to get things just the way you want them. You like to wait until you have the whole thing figured out, but where's the adventure in that? Leave a couple of things to chance.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Today is an 8 Call back people you talked to earlier to answer questions and close the sale. There's a friendlier, less defensive tone to all communications now. People are also more willing to learn. Teach them.
**Capricorn (Dec. 22 Jan. 19).** You might get that promotion or higher-paying job even if you've been brutally honestly late. You might have to take on more responsibility, though.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20). Today is a 6.
Should you buy a new couch or reupholster the old one? Should you do it yourself or hire someone to do it? This dilemma could drive you nuts if you let it. Do whatever keeps more money in your bank account for the longest time.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Today is a 10.
Drag out those old ideas that fizzled. You were just ahead of your time. The same item no one wanted then could be your best seller now — with a little twist to bring it up to date.
Editor's note: The English translation of this article follows below. For more information, see page 4A.
Señores pongan asunto: Cuba es música
By Carlos Centeno Jayplay writer
En un estallido de espuma blanca, las desañistas olas del mar caribe, revientan contra un malecón en Cuba mientras que las teclas del piano en Estudios Egrem, conocen las talentosas manos de un hombre de 77 años de edad.
Con un repertorio casi infinito de música, logra hacer un recorrido nunca ante vista a travez de las calles de la musica cubana. Después de tanto tiempo de estar tocando, Rubén González, se ha convertido en una enciclopédia de melodias, esto y he hecho que es un maga o la hora de combinar sonidos, lo hacen el "rey" de la "descarga" o sesión de improvisación cubana.
Al mismo tiempo, los ojos y las manos de Juan De Marcos Gonzalez, vigilan a todos los integrantes del grupo que se disponen a grabar un disco. Apunta a Ibrahim y le dice que es su turno, alza la mano para llamar la atencion de la sección de metales y se acerca para escuchar un poco lo que Rubén esta tocando.
Todo esto ocurre en menos de un minuto, pero para eso nació Juan De Marcos; para ser el mejor director, compositor y productor de la isla.
Manuel "Puntillita" Licea se encuenta de pie en el cuarto de grabación. Observa a todos sus colegas mientras se organizan para tocar
la primera pieza. En sus ojos se puede apreciar que ha pasado un buen tiempo desde que no vea tanto entusiasmo en las caras de sus compañeros de trabajo y es que este personaje ya es una leyenda.
En el rol de cantante lider, ha participado en grupos como La Sonora Matancera y Adolfo Guzman entre los más famosos. A sus 69 años, "Puntillita" parece estar contento y ansioso por dejar su voz plasmada en el nuevo disco que después de tanto trabajo se ha logrado comenzar a grabar. Es el disco de 1996 titulado *A toda Cuba le gusta*, realizado por Afro-Cuban All Stars.
Lo que estos señores no sabían cuando grabaron este disco es que cinco años más tarde, serían conocidos en todo el mundo, tendrían una cantidad interminable de conciertos, grabaciones, contribuciones, viajes y fama inagotable.
Pero lo que en realidad lave a los "muchachos" al estrellato es el documental de Wim Wenders titulado Buena Vista Social Club. El film documental, inspirado por el disco con el mismo título de productor Ry Cooder, narra la vida de este grupo tan variado en estilos de vida y filosofias sobre la música.
La filmación se le llevó a cabo durante el viaje de tres semanas que realizó World Circuit Productions para realizar una cantidad de dis-
"Los cubanos que conformaron aquel grupo entusiasta... son embajadores de la música latina y lo seguirán siendo durante años."
cos indeterminada. Sus cuentos, casas, familiays y anecdotas se regaron por el mundo como si se hubeiese abierto una cajita llena de historias perdidas en el tiempo. La banda sonora del documental ganó varios premios internacionales, lo cual llamo la atención de la crítica hizo que la gente se enterara de quienes eran estos fabulosos musicos.
Es el año 2001 y todavía en un bar de Munich, Alemania se escucha la voz de Ibrahim Ferrer atravez de un radio cantando, "... mujeeer de malos sentimientos, toooodo se te ha vuelto un cuento porque no ha llegado la hooooora fatal ..."
El "boom" llegó hace cinco años y todavía no se ha ido, todo esto es parte de un esfuerzo de World Circuit Productions por mantener la musica cubana en el mal alto nivel de popularidad. Este mercadeo de alta factura llegó a tal punto que en el año 2000, el tercer disco mas vendido en
Alemania a través de Amazon.com era el "Chanchullo" de Rubén González, que con un piano alucinante y una excelente percusión se mantenía en Inglaterra en el cuarto y alrededor de toda Europa el ranqueo no baila del décimo puesto.
Se comenzaron a hacer populares los bares de música latina, en especial la cubana y la gente pedía más. Elíades Ochoa grabó un disco extraordinario este mismo año y se espera un reencuentro para grabar la tercera parte de "Afro-Cuban All Stars". Gracias a este "boom cubano", Chucho Valdés, Francisco Aguabella, Benny M., Irakere (la banda de Chucho Valdés) y muchos otros artistas han logrado llegar de nuevo al tope de la popularidad.
Siguiendo el ejemplo de los pioneros de la música Afro-Cubana: Amadeo Roldán y Alejandro García Caturela, los "muchachos" del Buena Vista no han parado de tocar para enseñarle a todo aquel que quiera oir, lo sabrosa que es esta movida musical. Con más de 10 discos y unas 15 recopilaciones y contribuciones a través de estos ultimos 5 años, los cubanos que conformaron aquel grupo tan entusiasta en Estudios Egrem, no son historia de la música como una vez la pudieron llegar a pensar, son embajadores de la música latina y lo seguirán siendo durante años.
Everyone listen carefully: Cuba is music
By Carlos Centeno Jayplay writer
In a burst of white foam, the defiant waves of the Caribbean smash against a Cuban seawall, while the piano keys in Estudios Egrem meet the talented hands of a 77-year-old man.
With an almost infinite repertoire, he performs an accomplished run through the streets of Cuban music.
After so many years of playing, Ruben Gonzalez has become a living encyclopedia of melodies.
That and the magic he creates when he combines sounds make him the king of the descarga, or Cuban jam session.
At the same time, the eyes and hands of Juan De Marcos Gonzalez watch closely over everyone in the studio.
He signals Ibrahim Ferrer and tells him that it's his turn. He raises his hand to get the attention of the brass section while he nears the piano to hear what Ruben is playing.
All this happens in less than a minute,but that's what Juan De Marcos was born to be — the best director, composer and producer in the island.
Manuel "Puntillita" Licea stands in the recording room. He watches his colleagues get ready to perform the first piece. In his eyes you can appreciate that it has been a while since he saw so much enthusiasm in
his comrades' faces.
1nis man is already a legend. In the role of lead singer, he played in bands like La Sonora Matancera and Adolfo Guzman.
At the age of 69, "Puntillita" looks happy and eager to leave his voice engraved on the new record that after so much work they have managed to start producing — the 1996 album, A toda Cuba le gusta (All of Cuba likes it), performed by Afro-Cuban All Stars.
What he didn't know was that five years after recording this album, the musicians would be known all around the world and would have an endless amount of concerts, recordings, contributions, tours and fame.
What really took the "boys" to stardom was the Ry Cooder-produced album, Buena Vista Social Club, and the subsequent documentary of the same name by Wim Wender.
The documentary's soundtrack won various international awards,
Their tales, homes, families and anecdotes spread around the world as if a little box filled with stories lost in time was opened.
The film narrates the band members' diverse lifestyles and philosophies about music. The filming took place during a three-week trip World Circuit Productions made to record an undetermined number of albums on the island.
"The Cubans who formed that enthusiastic group. . are the ambassadors of Latin music, and they will remain that way for many years to come."
which caught the attention of critics and allowed the public to discover these fabulous musicians.
It's the year 2001 and a radio in a humble bar in Munich, Germany, still plays the sweet passionate voice of Ibrahim Ferrer singing: "mujeeenec de malos sentimientos, tooooode se te ha vuelto un cuento porque no ha llegado la hora fatal" ("woooooooam with evil ways, eeeeeverything is like a fairy tale to you because your time of reckoning hasn't come").
The "boom" arrived five years ago and it's still here. All this is part of the effort conducted by World Circuit Productions to maintain Cuban music at the highest level of popularity.
The marketing campaign reached such a magnitude that last year, the most popular record in Germany sold through
Amazon.com was Ruben Gonzalez's Chanchullo.
With its gripping piano and excellent percussion, the record stayed fourth in England and its ranking never dropped below No. 10 throughout.
Latin music bars started to become more popular, especially the ones dedicated to Cuban music, and people wanted more.
This year, Eliades Ochoa recorded an extraordinary album and a reunion is expected for the third part of Afro-Cuban All Stars.
Thanks to the Cuban boom, Chucho Valdes, Francisco Aguabella, Benny M., Irakere and many other artists have made their way back to the top of popularity.
Following the same example of Afro-Cuban music pioneers, Amadeo Roldan and Alejandro Garcia Caturelha, the "boys" of Buena Vista have not stopped to show everyone who wants to listen, how delicious this musical movement is.
With more than 10 albums and 15 compilations out during the past five years, the Cubans who formed that enthusiastic group back in Estudios Egrem have not been relegated to the history books of music like they once might have thought.
They are the ambassadors of Latin music, and they will remain that way for many years to come.