Alex Cuba, who lives in Smithers, B.C., has been writing a lot of music this winter. On the phone with the Peninsula B次元官网网址 Review, Cuba joked that it was a way to stay warm (it was minus 7 when he called).

Cuba is coming to the Mary Winspear in Sidney on March 7, after which he will also swing through Quesnel, Nanaimo and Campbell River. His concert will feature music from his most recent album, Lo 脷nico Constante (The One Constant). It drew inspiration from the filin movement, which blends Cuban trova and black Americana styles and was popular in the 1940s. It was nominated for a Grammy this year (his third nomination among other Juno and Latin Grammy wins), so he attended the Grammys in New York on Jan. 28.

He said itB次元官网网址檚 a 72-hour whirlwind, and he felt proud to get there as an independent musician. Most of the awards are handed out during the day before the televised concert and Cuba heard the Grammys sifted through 20,000 entries.

B次元官网网址淚t just makes you proud to know that thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of music out there,B次元官网网址� said Cuba. B次元官网网址淭o be one of five in a category is quite amazing B次元官网网址� all the way from Smithers, B.C.!B次元官网网址�

He was in Victoria last weekend to put the finishing touches on a documentary, The Cuban Bus, which chronicled a trip through his home country two years ago. His friend Joby Baker (a musician and sound engineer) joined him in a 1950s minibus, going around the island to find talent with a camera crew.

He said he was interested to learn if other Cubans could hear the Canadian influence in his music. He hopes to release it this year, and said it was interesting to play his music in his home country.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 always open to receive from the universe, I guess. You get lucky, you get wonderful surprises somehow. ItB次元官网网址檚 been very gratifying to expose my music in some small way to people over there, see what they take from it.B次元官网网址�

Cuba does three to four tours per year across Canada, and he said he likes actually meeting his fans in person.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always great to see their reactions, the audiences. I guess I enjoy that. ItB次元官网网址檚 very different from the studio. ItB次元官网网址檚 just you, working away, pretending that your music is the best in the world!B次元官网网址�

He had nothing but praise for his bandmates, who are all Cubans living in different parts of Canada. Alain Berde, his drummer, was born in Miami but has been living in Montreal for almost 20 years. Bassist Yoser Rodriguez lives in Toronto but is from Havana. He has an afro B次元官网网址� like Cuba

B次元官网网址淪ometimes people think heB次元官网网址檚 me, and I think thatB次元官网网址檚 funny.B次元官网网址�

Jose Sanchez, the percussionist, is also from Havana and lives on Salt Spring Island.

Since they are spread across the country, Cuba said there is sometimes no opportunity to practice beforehand as a group.

B次元官网网址淪ometimes I just meet them a day earlier, we go somewhere and run it, but sometimes that first sound check is our rehearsal for the tour.B次元官网网址�

He said he relies on their professionalism and experience.

ItB次元官网网址檚 CubaB次元官网网址檚 second time at the Mary Winspear Centre and he said he had an B次元官网网址渁mazing showB次元官网网址� last time.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 small enough for you to feel the audience right there. It was fantastic. IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to coming back and doing it all over again!B次元官网网址�

reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com
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reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com