Charanga del Norte

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sue Miller – flute, Nick Williams – viola, Simon Siddol – piano, Rosie Hayes – bass, Jon Lindh, Sharleen Samuels and Alinka Greasley – violins, Andy Wardale – cello, Martha Julian and Ana Muñoz – vocals, Y Josephine – guiro, Matty Shallcross – timbales, Jack McCarthy – congas and Guillermo ‘El Iyawo’ Davis – band dancer

See extracts from the gig here

Charanga del Norte are a 14-piece Charanga band  – they play Charanga típica styles of Cuban dance music such as Mambo, Chachachá, Danzón and Pachanga as well as Son and Son Montuno. The band features high improvising flute over pulsating rhythms from the funky string section, mesmeric montunos from the piano.tripping base and driving percussion. 

 

“Charanga del Norte” (Charanga from the North) was set up in 1998 by the bandleader Sue Miller who studied Cuban flute improvisation with the legendary Richard Egües from Orquesta Aragón. The band consists of flute, violins, viola, cello, bass, piano, singers, timbales, congas and güiro. They have toured the UK and performed at many venues including the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester and at festivals as diverse as Harrogate, Sidmouth, Cheltenham and Trowbridge.

 

The band came from Sue Miller’s research and study in Havana with veteran Cuban musicians from Orquesta Aragón and the Buena Vista music scene. Charanga del Norte is the UK’s only Charanga band and  they play ‘Latin music, but not as you may know it – this band are deliciously different and incredibly danceable’ (The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen) 

 

In 2003 - Seven Years ago - the band played a great gig at the Chapel Allerton Festival in a Marquee on the site of what is now Seven Arts. In 2008 they released their 10th anniversary album ‘Our Mam in Havana’ which was given a four star review in Rock ‘n Reel’ magazine. Their latest album, "Look Back in Charanga" will be launched at Seven at the gig.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“One of the finest outfits around” (Salsamania)

“You’ll dance to this with two left feet and a bag on your head!”
Brampton live

See Sue with la Orquesta Barbarito Diez here and hear Charanga del Norte here. Here a clip from the 13 May gig here

 

 

At Seven Arts Chapel Allerton on Thursday 13 May 2010 8pm.  Price £12/£10 concessions 
Tickets available in advance from Seven Arts or online from Jumbo records www.jumborecords.co.uk.

 

 

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