Cuban Songstress Performs Benefit Concert in Support of Project MOST

Maria Bacardi’s Album Premier Show at Guild Hall in East Hampton, NY

Concert takes place on Sunday, July 14, 2019 at 8 p.m.

 

Maria Bacardi, the singer leading the Cuban “Bolero Feelin” revival, will host a benefit concert to raise money for Project MOST, an accessible and inclusive after-school and summer learning program for children of all incomes in East Hampton, NY. The concert also debuts her new album. The performance takes place on July 14th at 8PM at Guild Hall (158 Main Street) in East Hampton, NY. Tickets start at $30. Click here to purchase.

At a time when Cuba-US relations have once again deteriorated, Bacardi, in collaboration with seasoned and up-and coming young Cuban artists, is forging new musical bridges between the two nations. In her latest album, titled “DUELE (It Hurts),” Maria Bacardi has deftly transmuted traditional Cuban gems into a fresh and vivid sound, the “Neo Bolero,” with contemporary scores, English translations and new turns of phrase.

“It is the task of the artist to reflect the times he or she lives in. With “DUELE,” we have attempted to restore to life these classical musical masterpieces of Cuba, with a contemporary musical palate,” shares Bacardi, a multi-talented artist who has also mastered theater and the visual arts.

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Maria Bacardi performs at Joes Pub in NYC in December 2018. Photo by Pasha Antonov. Courtesy of Maria Bacardi.

Maria Bacardi performs at Joes Pub in NYC in December 2018. Photo by Pasha Antonov. Courtesy of Maria Bacardi.

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To achieve this, "DUELE" creates a precise tension between the wrist-slicing lyrics of the old school compositions and bold, up-beat and groovy beats. The result is a sound that plays homage to the tunes Bacardi’s mother used to sing as a political exile in Spain, while steering away from the facile “vintagey” sound that many North Americans associate with Cuban Music.

"My interest is to make art and music that remains fresh, overriding short-lived trends or fashions and that speak to all peoples, at all time, and which pass the test of time," Bacardi said. "I strive for The “Neo Bolero’s” current and intrepid musical approach to very old school Cuban songs, to be a re-discovery for young and older Cuban audiences in Cuba and in the Cuban diaspora, as well as for young and older audiences anywhere in the world. "

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Maria Bacardi. Photo by Christine Newman. Courtesy Maria Bacardi.

Maria Bacardi. Photo by Christine Newman. Courtesy Maria Bacardi.

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Indeed, just as Bacardi is out to transform the sounds of the Cuba she left behind, she is out to shatter preconceived notions of Cubanidad through music. Audiences to her East Hampton, NY concert will be treated to a soul-shaking novel Latin sound, a resonance of human grief expressed in a love song that will also put a skip in their step.

“If you enjoy the old school songs of Buena Vista Social Club, Paquito D’Rivera, American Jazz, Gloria Estefan, Omara Portuondo, Elena Burke, Xiomara Laugart, as well as Lounge Music, Soul, Funk and Hip Hop, you’ll enjoy this project,” Maria Bacardi added.

Featured and collaborating artists include: Grammy Award guitarist, arranger and singer, David Oquendo; Hip- Hop master and leader of the new generation of Cuba producers, Edgaro Gonzalez; virtuoso pianist, Ahmed Alom; gifted bassist Jorgito Bringas; brass arranger Kali Rodriguez; drummer Amaury Acosta; percussionist, Tony De Vivo and vocalist Gina Soto.

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Maria Bacardi, center" with Edgaro Gonzalez and David Oquendo in NYC. Photo by Pasha Antonov. Courtesy of Maria Bacardi.

Maria Bacardi, center, with Edgaro Gonzalez and David Oquendo in NYC. Photo by Pasha Antonov. Courtesy of Maria Bacardi.

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Through her unique crooning style and sound, Bacardi will move and entertain with a lyrical rejection of saccharine/vintage Cuba, and bringing to life the Modern Cuba; a love note to its raw past, present and future.

Bacardi expressed that she is especially jazzed for the benefit concert and knows the performance will be a special one.

"I am very excited, because my colleagues David Oquendo and Edgaro Gonzalez and I—accompanied by our all-star 12 piece Cuban band—have brought to life the 'Neo- Bolero,' a new way of delivering these old school compositions, fused with contemporary beats, a daring new approach which has never been attempted before.

"I have chosen to focus on the love songs of the Bolero style, born in the beginning of the 20th century, and on the tunes of 1950’s Bolero Feelin’, which are a very romantic style, which is slow-danced with partner, “on a tile”- they say, very intimately…Most of the Bolero style ballads are like the American Jazz ballads, where the lyrics are wrenching, but in our case, we have created a tension between the “wrist slicing lyrics” of these old school compositions and our bold, up beat and groovy beats."

Performing in the community where she lives adds another layer of unique connection between performers and the audience, Bacardi predicts.

"It is especially a great honor for me to play Guild Hall, in the most distinguished theater in my hometown, beautiful East Hampton, and to sing to my own beloved community," Bacardi said. "There are many wonderful music experiences in the Hamptons, from classical music to rock, talent from many local musicians, theater pieces and art shows. However, this concert featuring my new album DUELE ( IT HURTS) will be very different than other concerts in the Hamptons, because it offers the Hamptons community an opportunity to hear a Latin new style, which is completely novel."

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Maria Bacardi performs. Photo by Pasha Antonov. Courtesy of Maria Bacardi.

Maria Bacardi performs. Photo by Pasha Antonov. Courtesy of Maria Bacardi.

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A Benefit Concert, featuring Maria Bacardi, the singer leading the Cuban “Bolero Feelin” revival, will take place on Sunday, July 14, 2019 at 8 p.m. at Guild Hall, 158 Main Street, East Hampton, NY. Concert tickets start at $30. Click here to purchase. Tickets are also available at the Guild Hall Box Office.

“DUELE (It Hurts)” is available on Sound Cloud, Spotify, Apple Music | iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and across all digital platforms.

A portion of the proceeds from the July 14th concert ticket sales will go to benefit East Hampton’s Project MOST, an accessible and inclusive after-school and summer learning program for children of all incomes in East Hampton, NY. Click here to discover more about Project MOST.

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Maria Bacardi at with students participating in Project Most. Photo by Christine Newman. Courtesy Maria Bacardi.

Maria Bacardi with students making art at Project Most. Photo by Christine Newman. Courtesy Maria Bacardi.

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Maria Bacardi with students having fun at Project Most. Photo by Christine Newman. Courtesy Maria Bacardi.

Maria Bacardi with students gardening and having fun at Project Most. Photo by Christine Newman. Courtesy Maria Bacardi.

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