The CD consists of 13 tracks with a wide-ranging panorama of sounds, and, for many, remains largely unknown, while the DVD unfortunately includes only five tracks from the album. Thus, only a part of the album could be promoted, the part featuring the biggest hit, without a doubt, “Me dicen Cuba,” by Alexander Abreu and Habana D’ Primera, with a videoclip directed by Pablo Massip, who would assume several productions within the project.

The album’s creators, however, sought musical balance, and included other important works that deserved – and deserve – better diffusion, beyond a video clip, which does not detract from the importance of the project or a specific track, a factor that must be considered when thinking about a harmonious communion of so much collective effort and talent. Among these jewels that Motivos… also contains, and are still little known, is the song Dicha grande, composed by Juan Formell and Israel Rojas, and performed by Los Van Van, inspired by what Martí wrote when he landed in Cuba at Playita de Cajobabo: “We arrive at a pebble beach, the little beach at the foot of Cajobabo, I stay in the boat as the last to get out. I jump. Great delight.”

Within the arcane and capricious aspects of the story, is that this is perhaps the only direct reference by Formell to a quote of Marti’s, in a song dedicated precisely to the Maestro. To add emphasis, or as a public declaration and commitment to his admiration of Martí, it is Formell who performs this song to assume, with his greatness and talent, the historic challenge of leaving us his voice in what he perhaps imagined would be his last collaborative production and recording. He died in May 2014, the same year the album was released.

In Dicha grande (Great delight), Martí is reinterpreted with a beautiful text that begins: “I have before me my land, my people, my childhood, my truth, my pains, my roots, my reason, my essences: the entire Cuba of my loves.” The text continues with the complicity of the band’s particular musical language, without renouncing the well-known Van Van cadence, thanks to the arrangement conceived by Formell, who also invited guitarist Dairon Lobaina, from Buena Fe (who unfortunately also passed away shortly thereafter). The sonority achieved pleased Juan, who had previously shared a similar experience with Elmer Ferrer in several of the band’s collaborations.

It would be worthwhile to revisit the album, and make it more visible, and to disseminate the other songs included, especially this one by Los Van Van, a precious gift left by the great Formell honoring Martí and moreover, producing an audiovisual to accompany the track would perhaps be valuable as well, a genuine tribute of profound human and musical relevance.

(Taken from Granma)

The popular Van Van orchestra, created by maestro Juan Formell in 1969, put all its machinery at the disposal of the public who, jubilant, gathered in Havana’s Metropolitan Park, the venue for this musical event.

The afternoon before the concert was moved by comparsas and dance sessions animated with DJs from Spain, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and Cuba involved in the event to animate the intermediates of each presentation.

Just before the vanvan meeting, Cubans and visitors enjoyed the sounds and guarachas, a gift from the octogenarian Aragon Orchestra directed by Rafael Lay and in charge of opening the fifth day of salsa.

Musicians led by Samuel Formell and vocalists Vanessa Formell, Roberto Fernandez, Abdel Rasalps and Armando Ihosvany, representative faces of the band with almost half a century of history.

Before starting his performance, Formell was awarded recognition by the festival’s organizers and the prize of the Latin Academy of Music for the work of life and the defense of Latin American cultural values.

The Salsa Festival opened last 20th with a performance by Puerto Rican salsa artist Jerry Rivera, who described as historic opportunity the fact of playing in Cuba and said he was happy to fulfill the dream of his admirers of the Caribbean island.

Five nights of salsa with the country’s main dance music orchestras and guests from other latitudes, enhanced the quality of the event born four years ago hosted by Carnival Company, Artex, Musicalia Agency, the Cuban Music Institute and the Recording and Music Editions Company.

The biggest salsa meeting in Cuba, according to Blanco, reached an impressive reception of national and foreign public, and exalted the connotation of the event which attracts the attention of several artists from all over the world, interested in attending.

It also reaffirmed the universal character of the music and the excellence of the genre’s worshippers, and left the audience grateful, filled with joy for enjoying these artistic encounters to entertain and cheer the soul.

(Prensa Latina)