A Conversation with Magda Rosa Galbán, Daughter Of Manuel Galbán – HuffPost 6.25.12

Mike Ragogna: Magda Rosa, how would you sum up your dad Manuel Galbán’s musical contribution to the Cuban culture and to Cuban music?

Magda Rosa Galbán: He was always a true defender of popular Cuban music. He was one of the first to play the electric guitar in Cuba, and one of the first to overlay it with vocal quartets such as Los Zafiros. Sometimes, a small band accompanied the quartets and he’d accompanied them on his electric guitar. He created his own style, which has been imitated by many others. As a musician, he was very flexible. He could easily integrate into different formats, such as when he played with La Vieja Trova Santiaguera or with the vocal quartet Los Zafiros or with Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club.

MR: How would you sum up his last project, Bluechacha?

MRG: He really wanted to record Bluechacha. The album covers many of the different genres that he played during his entire career. And also, it was the first time we could work together, and that made him really happy. Thanks to God he could make this dream come true.

MR: Can you tell us about Bluechacha‘s musical guests?

MRG: It was a true pleasure having the possibility to work with so many talented artists, such as Omara Portuondo, an artist with whom my father worked with on so many occasions. The beautiful voice of Rosa Passos, Eric Bibb’s charisma, who has always admired my father and wanted to be part of this project. As well as the great contributions made by musicians such as Jose Antonio, Marcelo Mercadante, Balleke Cissoko and Adam Levy. To all of them, we thank them for joining us and my father on this celebration.

MR: What are the musical highlights on Bluechacha?

MRG: My father always loved albums that were varied, attractive and not boring, and on this album, he wanted each track to be a surprise. Our aim is a record that reflects the essence of Galbán as a guitarist, a project that is both elegant and ambitious. It was made with honesty, and above all, a lot of love.

MR Can you tell us about the DVD’s historical and documentary-style content?

MRG: Even though my father was already ill, he worked as long as necessary during the filming of the DVD. The crew that worked on the DVD were very kind and they really looked after him, they respected him and cared for him throughout the filming. He loved the camera, he enjoyed it and he was touched when he saw the final version. When they were filming in the streets of Havana, often, people called him “El Zafiro mayor,” “The Big Zafiro.” He really loved it when they used this nickname.

MR: Did he ever share his thoughts with you about Buena Vista Music Club? How about his time with Los Zafiros?

MRG: He was part of Los Zafiros during his youth, and it was an important part of his career. He would always talk about how they would harmonize their voices, and he knew very well the vocal range of singer in the band. He would also do the arrangements of the songs that the composers would bring him, and he’d adapt them to the group’s style. The TV would often play Los Zafiros videos that they filmed in the 1960s. He was proud of them and would enjoy watching them. With Buena Vista Social Club, he had the chance to be part of a project that included great artists that he had worked with in the past, artists such as Cachaito, Rubén González, Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo, etc. And he also travelled around the world, playing popular Cuban music. It was through this project that he met Ry Cooder, and later, they recorded together on the album Mambo Sinuendo that won the Grammy.

MR: What was your musical interaction with him?

MRG: From a young age, he educated me in a musical environment. I grew up breathing in music. Sometimes, we would have different ideas, but we agreed on many things. For example, we liked to play together–our four hands at the piano–Peruchín, a pianist who we both admire a lot.

MR: What is your favorite recording by your dad?

MRG: I really like the Los Zafiros’ records. I told him one time that when I listen to “Orfeo Negro,” it really reminds me of him. Also “Mi oración,” a recording that I remember with a lot of love for the beautiful melody that he played on the guitar.

MR What is your favorite memory of your dad?

MRG: Everything that comes to my mind when thinking about my dad are really nice memories, but above all these things, what I will always keep in my mind is his smile.

MR: What advice might he have had for new artists?

MRG: He would always advise them that they respect the harmony, in that he was a traditionalist, though he was always open to new ideas. He would get annoyed when things didn’t work out, but he’d offer his knowledge with a lot of humility and he would help everyone who came to seek his advice.

MR: And what’s your advice to new artists?

MRG: I would tell them to look into their roots, into their traditional music in the older musicians, but also to work hard and with humility and ready to learn from the others.