ASERE

Asere are proof that the future of Cuban music is in safe hands. With inventive song writing and a soulful groove these musicians are building a fresh sound for a new generation.

Their first break came in 1996 when the Colombian singer Totó la Momposina and her manager John Hollis were visiting Cuba, where they were working on a show featuring Celina Gonzalez in which she was to guest with Totó at London's Barbican the following year. They were persuaded to check out a rehearsal and were immediately struck by the character of the music and energy of the band. This was before the success of the Buena Vista Social Club and there were very few young musicians in Cuba keen to work in this style. Shortly after John talked Christian Mousset, from Label Bleu in France, into signing the band on the strength of a rough rehearsal cassette. He was soon back in Havana with producer-engineer Richard Blair to record their first album in the autumn of 1997. Recorded in an old radio theatre, with the song structures going down live, it captured the youthful exuberance of the band yet displayed an endearing steadiness and maturity. Released in 1998 Cuban Soul was acclaimed by critics and public alike. The Totó team also gave the band their name Asere (pronounced Aséré), an oft-used greeting in Cuba from the Efik dialect of the Afro-Cuban sect Abakua.

In the autumn of 2008 Asere travelled to Europe for the first of many tours - they took to Europe and Europe took to them. Despite the inundation of Cuban acts that flooded the continent following the success of the Buena Vista project (most of which were to fall by the wayside) Asere managed to gather and maintain a momentum returning year after year and developing their career.

In 1999 recorded Yo Soy El Son - The Next Generation in Amiens, France, released in 2000. It wasn't easy to follow such a fine first album but they gave it a good shot and there are several memorable titles from the sessions - most penned by Adan Pedroso, singer-songwriter, troubadour and founder member of Asere, who has gone on to tread his own solo path. His work on both albums included the classic son style known as the vieja trova as well as the nueva trova song writing style of ballads and contemporary song.

In 2002 Asere started working with legendary drummer Billy Cobham – at the invitation of the Womad festival. With Billy as special guest they performed at festivals in Spain and Greece before finishing at Womad's Rivermead festival in the UK. Their show in the Siam tent – fired by mutual respect, spontaneity and enjoyment – blew the roof off. For seven young Cubans seeking to reinvigorate the musical traditions at the core of their work, this was a remarkable opportunity to work with a musician of such rich experience and virtuosity.

It wasn't until 2003 that Asere went back into the studio, recording the album Destinos which was released in 2004 on Astar, again receiving fine reviews at a time when a Cuban-weary press are reluctant to listen to most new releases of Cuban music. Retaining son as their rhythmic-harmonic base of choice, they began to explore other musical styles a little, celebrating their cultural brotherhood with musicians across the Caribbean basin as well as making connections with artists on other continents.

Since 2006 Asere have been working regularly with Billy Cobham – both acts enjoying a fascinating musical collaboration, which can only be described as awesome. Billy, born in Panamá (moving away to New York at the age of three), has been able to reconnect with his latin roots and Asere have been honing their musical skills, growing through the experience, unfazed to be performing alongside the man who once worked with Miles Davis and whose story reads like a history of modern music. In 2007 Astar/Mwldan released the DVD film trilogy, A Latin Soul, which documents this heart-warming encounter. In 2007 they recorded an album at Real World, De Cuba y de Panamá, due for release in June 2008 on Astar/Mwldan/Long Tale.

Asere are currently working on a new album for release in 2009.

Over the last ten years Asere have developed an appetite for educational and community work. They have found working with infants, primary, secondary and university students to be a satisfying experience and one, which they continue to develop.

"It's time to meet the lads who will take son into the new millennium"

Mojo

"Full of vitality, artfully poised between past and present."

The Sunday Times

"Asere are proof that the future of Son is in very safe hands indeed"

Straight no Chaser

"There's plenty of plenty of art in making music sound effortless."

The Guardian

"An element of surprise and a sense of adventure...uniquely engaging and different from other Cuban bands I have seen"

Charlie Gillett

"Asere's expanding reputation is built on their dynamic transformations of Cuba’s classic style….the young Cubans are dedicated to their traditions, but they inhabit the modern world, and their music proves how robust the century-old bedrock is… Asere are a classic son sextet, featuring trumpet, guitar, percussion and bass: superlative musicians who with producer John Hollis – know exactly how to modernise without losing soul"

Songlines