La Clave: Home Cinema Release
Süddeutsche Zeitung
The documentary film "La Clave - The Secret of Cuban Music", bursting with joie de vivre, is available on DVD from March 24 and as VoD from March 30 in the W-FILM online store and in regular stores. Director Kurt Hartel traces the musical soul of a country where African and European roots unite. Light-hearted jam sessions à la "Buena Vista Social Club", jazz legend Bobby Carcassés, drummer Yissy García or musicians of the band "Irakere" let us dive into the myth-rich history of Cuba's music and dance scene. An inspiring look at the diversity of the Caribbean island, where even children learn the traditional dances and instruments in unique music schools.
Content
In Cuba, influences from Africa and Europe merge to create a uniquely colourful culture. Its wildly pulsating heart is the music and dance scene, which ranges from Latin jazz to salsa. Havana's streets vibrate with movement and sound: the hypnotic rhythms of clave woods, drums, traditional songs and popular hits flow from every direction. The Caribbean island lives music! Important musicians and experts such as jazz legend Bobby Carcassés, drummer Yissy García or music historian Dr. Olavo Alén decode the origins of Cuban music, provide stirring insights into its richness and how it deals with the next generation. For in hardly any other country does musical education play such an important role as it does here! Music schools – an expensive privilege in this country – are not only numerous but also free of charge and inspire children from an early age to learn singing, various instruments and dances such as rumba, conga and bolero.