Juana Bacallao shook Barcelona's Jamboree Jazz Club

By: Ricardo Alonso Venereo

Cuban singer, Juana Bacallao, shook Barcelona’s Jamboree Jazz Club, after having performed at this iconic place during the 3rd International Bolero Festival “Ron Palma Mulata”, held from June 12 to 20.

The outstanding artist repeated the success she achieved last year at this place, and invited to go up to stage some of the main singers of this event, which gathered figures such as Elsa Rivero, Telva Rojas, the girls of Gema 4 Quartet, and Martirio, among others.

Cuban music was the queen of this festival, which also includes concerts, the lecture Mujeres en el Bolero (Women in Bolero music), taught by journalist and musical critic, Jordi Rueda. According to Rueda, speaking of the bolero history is like talking about Cuba, since it was here where this genre was created, which has become popular around the world and it is developed worldwide and, especially, in other American nations.

Names like Ernestina Lecuona (Anhelo besarte, Ahora que eres mía), Maria Teresa Vera (Veinte años, Por qué me siento triste), Isolina Carrillo (Dos gardenias, Miedo de ti), Ela O’Farrill (Freddy, Adiós felicidad) and Marta Valdés (Palabras, En la imaginación), were highlighted by Rueda during his speech. Besides them, there were Olga Guillot, Aída Diestro, Elena Burke, Omara Portuondo, etc, all of them representatives of our country.

Other important names as Portillo de la Luz, José Antonio Méndez, Angelito Díaz and Bebo Valdés were so much heard during the performances, and several artists paid deep tributes to them.

The 3rd International Bolero Festival “Ron Palma Mulata” left, once more, an imprint of our culture in Barcelona, where the bolero genre, especially, Cuban boleros, are not only enjoyed at the jazz jamboree. Places like L'Havana Xica and El Gato Tuerto, replica of Havana’s remarkable space, in Vilanova i la Geltrú, as well as in Barcelona, program Cuban shows every Friday and Saturday during the summer season.

Source: Cubarte