Hear Dan Talmo‘s exclusive interview with Cuban artist and Amsterdam resident Estrella Acosta, which aired on Global Revolutions Mon. Jan. 11, 2021.
In August of 2020 Estrella released a new album of traditional Cuban songs, a tribute to her motherland and its great troubadours.
(Album art photo by Suzi Stern)
“After spending a while in the land of Latin jazz, it felt like the right time to return to my Cuban music roots, as in the year 2000 with the album and tour of Alma Guajira – Cuban Country Songs. The perfect occasion for this was when I reunited in 2019 at the Roode Bioscoop in Amsterdam with two of the main players in that swinging band, tres guitarist Carlitos Irarragorri and bassist Pedro Luis Pardo. Luckily, Carlitos, who was visiting Europe from Trinidad, Cuba, could join us for a wonderful concert and stay a couple of extra days. This happy reunion felt so good that we decided to record the music. Pedro Luis has been playing tres guitar in the past years next to his grooving bass. What could better mark a happy return to the countryside than the sound of not one, but two tres guitars! Then there is the swing of master percussionist Gerardo Rosales, and not only my vocals, but also those of Pedro Luis and Carlitos… We are happy to share the result with you: a new album of traditional Cuban songs, Noche Cubana, made with lots of sabor y amor! We are so grateful to be able to present this work, so dear to our heart, for it has brought us joy and hope during these challenging times. We hope it also brings you joy!”
– Estrella Acosta