Popular orchestra brings energy of Cuban music to US

Washington, Aug 31 (Prensa Latina) The powerful energy of Cuban music took over the Howard Theater in this capital to the rhythm of Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco, a popular group that is on a tour of the United States.

When the curtains of that historic stage in Washington DC were raised last night and the group opened the show with one of its musical hits, La Habana me Llama, the public moved with the salsa and timba rhythms and enjoyed the concert.

The orchestra, which began the tour on August 23 in Miami, Florida, and will close its performances on Sunday in Stamford, Connecticut, pleased those present with some of its most emblematic songs over the past 25 years.

The Cuban orchestra achieved great complicity with the audience at the Howard Theater, composed of US and Cuban citizens, but especially by Latin Americans from nations such as Peru, Colombia and the Dominican Republic, who were very knowledgeable about the work of the group.

Orchestra Director Manolito Simonet told Prensa Latina that each concert is a different experience.

I never make an order, I consider the first songs and to the extent that the public responds, I change the repertoire, and I also give people the chance to ask for the songs they want, he explained.

On the decision to celebrate in the United States the 25th anniversary of the group, founded in 1993, he stressed that it was an important scenario, due to the close collaboration they have had with US artists or based in this country, including saxophonist David Murray, guitarist Dominic Miller, and musician and producer Ray Chew.

For his part, Daniel Donayre, the orchestra's producer in the US, said that they want to perform in other cities where they could not be now, including Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, in March.