Vanito Brown

Vanito Brown

Until now best-known as a member of Cuban group Habana Abierta, Vanito is currently recording his debut solo album with BlancoMusic. The album will be entitled Cambios.

Vanito's musical education started early. The son of established Cuban vocalist Tito Caballero, his childhood bedroom doubled up as a storeroom for his father's musical equipment, which he was encouraged to use. By the time he hit his teens he was a member of a growing group of musicians named after the intersection of the Havana streets they came from: Trece y Ocho. Benefiting from Cuba's vibrant music radio culture, the musicians of Trece y Ocho were open to the influence of international music, but were simultaneously steeped in the traditions of Cuban musical styles. Vanito includes hip-hop, reggae, salsa, Cuban traditional and contemporary classical music as being part of the everyday listening experience from those days. A defining style began to emerge from the Trece y Ocho movement, blending the distinctive rhythms of Cuban music with more contemporary styles and techniques. 'Nuevisima trova' was one title, but even that became quickly redundant as the movement developed.

Forming Lucha Almada with Ale Gutierrez in 1994, the band released their first album the following year. In 1996 the duo made the decision to travel to Madrid, Spain, and joined the nascent Habana Abierta. Currently working on their fourth album, Habana Abierta have consolidated their position as one of Cuba's premier contemporary bands.

With BlancoMusic and the production skills of Ivor Novello-winning producer Robin Taylor-Firth, Vanito Brown is fulfilling a long-held ambition to record a solo album. Entitled Cambios, the album takes as its theme the concept of change. Changes in his life, in his musical influences, in his collaborators – all find their expression in this work in progress. Vanito's cheeky songwriting and engaging voice meet Taylor-Firth's edgy urban beats and textures. The result is incendiary.

Queriendo que te sientas bien

Pawapacha