Yerba Buena (band)
Encyclopedia
Yerba Buena is a Grammy-nominated fusion band based out of New York
. The project was started by Venezuela
n songwriter
, producer
and instrumentalist Andres Levin
, and Singer, Composer Cucu Diamantes
who brought Cuban
composer Descemer Bueno
to New York. All worked together during the conception of the band, but soon after Bueno left the group to pursue a solo career. The original lineup included Cuban singer Percussionist Pedro Martinez and singer Xiomara Laugart.
Yerba Buena's music (as described by Razor and Tie, the band's record label) is a blend of African-rooted Latin music (Cuban Rumba
, Colombian cumbia
, Pan-Caribbean Soca
, and Cuba
n Boogaloo
) with hip-hop
, Motown soul
, West African Afrobeat
with a dash of Middle Eastern themes.
Prior to the release of their album President Alien, Yerba Buena
collaborated with Me'Shell NdegéOcello
on a track titled "Gentleman" for the Red Hot Organization
's tribute compilation album for Fela Kuti
, Red Hot and Riot. They also appeared on a track called "Colonial Mentality" for the CD. The Paul Heck produced album was critically acclaimed and donated all its proceeds to various AIDS charities.
Tracks :
President Alien was an immediate success. In 2004, the 12-track album was nominated for the Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album Grammy Award. The band supported the debut CD with extensive touring.
Tracks :
The popularity of the band has taken the group to play at multiple summer festivals such as Central Park
Summerstage, The Hollywood Bowl
, The Newport Jazz Festival
, Montreal
’s Nuits D’Afrique and Tempo Latino
in France
among others.
Ben Ratliff of The New York Times
has described Yerba Buena as “one of New York’s best new dance bands, mixing up the Latin boogaloo
of the 60’s, Cuban religious music, some American soul and Fela-like Afrobeat. It’s a history of the transmission of Yoruban culture in a nutshell, and it’s a good party.”
Since Island Life
, both Diamantes and Laugart recorded solo albums, with both artists veering closer to traditional Cuban music, while Yerba Buena is yet to release a third CD. Diamantes placed the emphasis on her own compositions, while Laugart recorded the classics "Manicero", "Son de la Loma" and "Besame Mucho", among others.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The project was started by Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and instrumentalist Andres Levin
Andres Levin
Andres Levin is a Venezuelan-American record producer, band leader, film maker, recording engineer and philanthropist. Levin won a Grammy award in 2009 for his production of the In The Heights Cast Recording...
, and Singer, Composer Cucu Diamantes
Cucu Diamantes
Cucu Diamantes is a Grammy nominated Cuban-American singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist. Her 2009 solo debut Cuculand received a Latin Grammy Nomination for Best Alternative Song, "Mas Fuerte." Diamantes is also cofounder and lead singer of Grammy nominated New York City fusion band...
who brought Cuban
Cubans
Cubans or Cuban people are the inhabitants or citizens of Cuba. Cuba is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
composer Descemer Bueno
Descemer Bueno
Descemer Bueno is a Cuban singer, composer, and producer. His first professional gigs were playing bass with Santiago Feliú, one of Cuba’s greatest troubadours.-Early life:...
to New York. All worked together during the conception of the band, but soon after Bueno left the group to pursue a solo career. The original lineup included Cuban singer Percussionist Pedro Martinez and singer Xiomara Laugart.
Yerba Buena's music (as described by Razor and Tie, the band's record label) is a blend of African-rooted Latin music (Cuban Rumba
Cuban Rumba
In Cuban music, Rumba is a generic term covering a variety of musical rhythms and associated dances. The rumba has its influences in the music brought to Cuba by Africans brought to Cuba as slaves as well as Spanish colonizers...
, Colombian cumbia
Cumbia
Cumbia is a music genre popular across Latin America. The cumbia originated in the Caribbean coast of Colombia, where it is associated with an eponymous dance and has since spread as far as Mexico and Argentina...
, Pan-Caribbean Soca
Soca music
Soca is a style of music from Trinidad and Tobago. Soca is a musical development of traditional Trinidadian calypso, through loans from the 1960s onwards from predominantly black popular music....
, and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n Boogaloo
Boogaloo
Boogaloo or bugalú is a genre of Latin music and dance that was popular in the United States in the 1960s. Boogaloo originated in New York City among teenage Cubans, Puerto Ricans and other groups. The style was a fusion of popular African American R&B and soul with mambo and son montuno...
) with hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, Motown soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, West African Afrobeat
Afrobeat
Afrobeat is a combination of traditional Yoruba music, jazz, highlife, funk and chanted vocals, fused with percussion and vocal styles, popularised in Africa in the 1970s. Its main creator was the Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Fela Kuti, who gave it its name, who used it to...
with a dash of Middle Eastern themes.
Prior to the release of their album President Alien, Yerba Buena
Yerba Buena
Yerba buena is a rambling aromatic herb of western and northwestern North America, ranging from maritime Alaska southwards to Baja California Sur...
collaborated with Me'Shell NdegéOcello
Me'shell Ndegeocello
Meshell Ndegeocello is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, bassist, and vocalist. Her music incorporates a wide variety of influences, including funk, soul, hip hop, reggae, R&B, rock, and jazz. She has received significant critical acclaim throughout her career, and has had ten career Grammy...
on a track titled "Gentleman" for the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
's tribute compilation album for Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti
Fela Anikulapo Kuti , or simply Fela , was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of Afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick.-Biography:...
, Red Hot and Riot. They also appeared on a track called "Colonial Mentality" for the CD. The Paul Heck produced album was critically acclaimed and donated all its proceeds to various AIDS charities.
President Alien
The band's debut album, President Alien, was released on April 15, 2003. For the recording of the album, Levin and Diamantes invited several colleagues with whom he had collaborated in the past, including:- singer Xiomara Laugart
- singer/bassist Meshell Ndegeocello;
- Brazilian singer-songwriterSinger-songwriterSinger-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and percussionist Carlinhos BrownCarlinhos BrownCarlinhos Brown is a Brazilian musician from Salvador, Bahia. He was born in Candeal Pequeno, a small neighbourhood in the Brotas area of Salvador de Bahia...
; - guitarist Marc RibotMarc RibotMarc Ribot born May 21, 1954) is an American guitarist and composer.His own work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, and Cuban music. Ribot is also known for collaborating with other musicians, most notably Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and composer John Zorn.-Biography:Ribot was...
; - keyboardist Money MarkMoney MarkMark Ramos-Nishita aka Money Mark is a producer and musician who has collaborated with the Beastie Boys many times. He also appears on the first Banyan album in 1997 as the "Freeway Keyboardist".-Career:...
; - jazz trumpeter Roy HargroveRoy HargroveRoy Anthony Hargrove is an American jazz trumpeter. He won worldwide notice after winning two Grammy Awards for differing types of music, in 1997, and in 2002...
; - rapper Sticman (of Dead PrezDead PrezDead Prez stylized as dead prez is a hip hop duo from the United States, composed of stic.man and M-1, formed in 1996 in New York City, New York. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice and Pan-Africanism...
fame); - drummers Horacio “El Negro” HernándezHoracio HernandezHoracio "El Negro" Hernandez is a renowned Cuban drummer and percussionist."El Negro" is a gifted musician who represents a new generation of great players following in the footsteps of countrymen Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D'Rivera, Ignacio Berroa, and others. Hernandez plays on the cutting edge of...
and Terreon “Tank” GullyTerreon Gully- Career :Gully has performed with various musicians and genres, including the Christian McBride Band, saxophonist Ron Blake, vibrophonist Stefon Harris and Latin band Yerba Buena....
; - bassist Sebastian SteinbergSebastian SteinbergSebastian Steinberg is an American bass player, best known for his work in the band Soul Coughing.- Biography :Steinberg played with Soul Coughing throughout the band's entire history, from 1992–2000. He also recorded and performed with guitarist Marc Ribot and appeared on William Shatner's 2004...
, and a host of other artists.
Tracks :
- Guajira (I Love U 2 Much)
- Tu Casa, Mi Casa
- La Gringa
- Solito Me Quede
- Electric Boogaloo
- Fire
- Wassamatter Baby?
- Bote Bote Va
- Follow Me
- Definition of a Warrior
- Rompe El Cuero
- Solar
President Alien was an immediate success. In 2004, the 12-track album was nominated for the Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album Grammy Award. The band supported the debut CD with extensive touring.
Island Life
August 2005 saw the arrival of Island Life, the band's second album. This CD focuses more on hip-hop but without abandoning the band's Afro-Cuban rhythmic heritage.Tracks :
- El Burrito
- Sugar Daddy (single version featuring Celia CruzCelia CruzCelia Cruz was a Cuban-American salsa singer, and was one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums...
& Les NubiansLes NubiansLes Nubians is an R&B Grammy-nominated duo composed of sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart from Paris, France. In 1985 the sisters moved with their parents to Chad. Seven years later, they returned to Bordeaux, France, and began singing a cappella, producing poetry slams in Bordeaux and Paris, and...
) - La Vida La Life
- Belly Dancer
- La Candela featuring Orishas
- Corazon Bandolero
- Bilingual Girl
- Fever
- Bla Bla Bla
- Cityzen Citysoy
- Te Estoy Amando Locamente
The popularity of the band has taken the group to play at multiple summer festivals such as Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
Summerstage, The Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
, The Newport Jazz Festival
Newport Jazz Festival
The Newport Jazz Festival is a music festival held every summer in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. It was established in 1954 by socialite Elaine Lorillard, who, together with husband Louis Lorillard, financed the festival for many years. The couple hired jazz impresario George Wein to organize the...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
’s Nuits D’Afrique and Tempo Latino
Tempo Latino
Tempo Latino is a festival of salsa music and latin music in Vic-Fezensac, France .-2008:*24/7 :**/ Ska Cubano **/ Roy Paci & Aretuska*25/7:**Yerba Buena** Latin Giants of Jazz :*26/7 :**/ Los Patriarcas de la Rumba...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
among others.
Ben Ratliff of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
has described Yerba Buena as “one of New York’s best new dance bands, mixing up the Latin boogaloo
Boogaloo
Boogaloo or bugalú is a genre of Latin music and dance that was popular in the United States in the 1960s. Boogaloo originated in New York City among teenage Cubans, Puerto Ricans and other groups. The style was a fusion of popular African American R&B and soul with mambo and son montuno...
of the 60’s, Cuban religious music, some American soul and Fela-like Afrobeat. It’s a history of the transmission of Yoruban culture in a nutshell, and it’s a good party.”
Since Island Life
Island Life
Island Life was Grace Jones' 1985 compilation album, featuring songs from her Island Records albums Portfolio, Fame, Warm Leatherette, Nightclubbing, Living My Life, and Slave to the Rhythm. No tracks from Muse were included...
, both Diamantes and Laugart recorded solo albums, with both artists veering closer to traditional Cuban music, while Yerba Buena is yet to release a third CD. Diamantes placed the emphasis on her own compositions, while Laugart recorded the classics "Manicero", "Son de la Loma" and "Besame Mucho", among others.
Current Band Members
- Andres Levin – Guitar, Electronics, MD
- CuCu DiamantesCucu DiamantesCucu Diamantes is a Grammy nominated Cuban-American singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist. Her 2009 solo debut Cuculand received a Latin Grammy Nomination for Best Alternative Song, "Mas Fuerte." Diamantes is also cofounder and lead singer of Grammy nominated New York City fusion band...
- Vocals - Pedrito Martinez – Percussion, Vocals
- Skoota Warner - Drums
- Ron Blake – Saxophone, Flute, Vocalss
- Alfredo De la Fe - Violin
- Mauricio Herrera - Percussion