Cubanana

Cubanana will be in Buffalo May 24-26, 2010. Contact us to book this entertaining duo!

Nowhere have I seen the level of talent, attentiveness to students, and the knowledge of the music combined with the pedagogical skill like I have seen with Carrie and Jesús of ¡Cubanana! -Queens College/CUNY, NYC

This presentation was the best I've seen in terms of a perfect balance/mix between the educational information and entertainment. As a teacher, I can certainly appreciate that. The performance was also perfectly timed and they arrived at our school early! Yeah! I also liked that they got the kids up to participate. -Naples High School, Naples, NY

You guys were great! The kids loved it! Come any afternoon you want! They were singing away in the classroom! . . . Everyone loved it - teachers and kids! -Wilson Middle School, Natick, MA

Exceptional program. Carrie is a natural teacher and their presentation was spot on for elementary students. I guarantee that each child left the auditorium knowing something new. -Hubbard School, East Berlin, CT

Cubanana Workshop

Students practice a variety of songs, rhythms, instruments, dances and lyrics with this egaging Latin musical duo. This multicultural experience provides insight into the history, language and culture surrounding the songs and dances... READ MORE

Melodías & Danzas de Cuba

When Cubanana presents popular Cuban music and dance, like the chachacha and the roots of salsa, everyone loves to join in singing, dancing, clapping and playing instruments! This immersion in Cuban culture, dialect, and history is enriched by stories... READ MORE

Biography

Carrie Lavender and Jesús Alvarez Bulté met in Cuba in 1997. They perform in diverse venues, incorporating two to six additional musicians. As a duo, they present their school program across the northeastern U.S. Cubanana specializes in Cuban son, and other Cuban styles, plus Latin American and American folk music. The duo's school and community activities include assemblies, residencies, and teacher workshops.

Bulté was born in Guantánamo, Cuba, the birthplace of the son genre. He is classically trained in voice, bass, and theory, and plays major and minor percussion, upright bass, guitar, charango, and tres (a fundamental Cuban-style guitar).

Bulté studied with legendary musicians, and is expert in traditional Cuban son, Afro-Cuban styles, and the rhythms which gave rise to Cuban son: nengón, kiribá, regina, and changüí. In 1998, he emigrated from Cuba.

Carrie Lavender grew up in Eastern Pennsylvania. She played guitar, influenced by the folk movement of the 1960s. She traveled to Cuba in 1997 to study son and changüí. Lavender has performed with various bands in addition to Cubanana. Her instruments include guitar, voice, minor percussion, bongo, and recorder. Besides Latin music and dance, her professional and performing credits include soap operas, theatre, ballet, and character dance. Lavender holds a Masters Degree in Teaching Spanish from Columbia University, Teachers College.