Next album “HAVANA MEETS KINGSTON – PART II”
[BACO RECORDS / 2022.06.03]
In June 2015, Australia’s leading reggae and dancehall producer and accomplished pianist, Mista Savona (aka Jake Savona), has gathered some of Cuba and Jamaica’s most influential musicians in the famous recording studio Egrem Studio in La Havana, Cuba to create a world first album.
“Havana meets Kingtson – Part I” brings together established and emerging Cuban and Jamaican musicians in an album of mostly original songs, as well as covers of classic Cuban material. Savona flew Sly & Robbie, Ernest Ranglin, Bongo Herman and ‘Bopee’ Anderson among other greats Jamaican artists into Havana for these sessions with Rolando Luna and Barbarito Torres from the Buena Vista Social Club, Los Van Van, Havana Cultura etc.
Despite their huge respective global appeal and geographical proximity, there has never been a full length album that unites the unique sounds of both Jamaican and Cuban music. This is a truly groundbreaking record and project that honours both islands’ incredible musical foundations and legacies while inspiring and creating something entirely new. Drawing from the styles the islands are best known for – roots reggae, dub and dancehall on one hand and son, salsa, rumba and Afro-Cuban on the other – Havana Meets Kingston sees an incredible team of musicians come together to bend and twist genres effortlessly, and the results are exceptional.
Savona’s main intention is to bring Jamaican sound system and bass culture together with Cuba’s electrifying and virtuosic Afro-Cuban and jazz traditions, and this is where the album excels and is unique in musical history. Energetic and passionate vocals in Spanish, English and Jamaican patois twist and turn over the distinctly Cuban rhythms and melodies, while the deep bass lines that Jamaica is best known for pulse underneath, unifying the music of both cultures and creating something fresh, bold and exciting.
The first album “Havana meets Kingtson – Part I” was released in November 2017. It was airplayed by David Rodigan at BBC, it got #1 on iTunes World Music Charts and #3 on Billboard reggae, and has sold to date more than 10.000 copies.
The fabulous combo included Jake “Mista” Savona, Randy Valentine, Brenda Navarette, Rolando Luna, Julito Padron on tour at Summer 2018, performing in prestigious festivals and venues as Paléo (CH), BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall, Womad and Boomtown (UK), FMN-Sines Festival (PT), Nuits de Fourvière (FR) and more.
The Havana Meets Kingston live project will be touring this summer in Europe and later in 2022 and early 2023 in North America.
PRESS
“Havana meets Kingston Part 2 is everything Part 1 promised and more, a colorful, enchanting and intoxicating journey to some of the most talented musicians the two islands of Jamaica and Cuba have to offer”.
Reggaeville
“An ingenious, varied and rollicking set of tunes featuring some extraordinary artists, including the legendary Jamaican rhythm section Sly and Robbie, and Cuban funk rising star Cimafunk.”
Afropop Worldwide
«The high production values and top-notch musicianship yield a unique and captivating set»
Mojo Mag ★ ★ ★ ★
«The musical cocktail that is Havana Meets Kingston and which is already being spoken of as a landmark release.»
Echoes Mag
« The Havana meets Kingston project united some of the island’s finest musicians for a historic recording session »
BBC
In agreement with Cartel Concerts
Mista Savona & Clinton Fearon – Havana Meets Kingston Part 2 – The Human Chain – May 2022
Live @ BBC Proms, Royal Albert Hall, London – July 2018
Music video – “Beat Con Flow” feat. Cimafunk
Music video – Mista Savona & Brenda Navarrete – Havana Meets Kingston (La Canción) – April 2021
Music video “Carnival” featuting Solis et Randy Valentine – 2017
EPK “Havana meets Kingston”
Music video – « El Cuarto de Tula » feat. Maikel Ante, El Medico & Turbulence – September 2017