Elito Reve y su Charangon
Founded in 1956 by master Elio Revé Matos, outstanding figure of Cuban music, ”Revé y su Charangón” orchestra is, since many years ago, one of the most prestigious groups in Cuba and abroad. Its creator Elio Revé, born in Guantánamo, in the oriental part of the country, on June 23, 1930, was a remarkable exponent of the best values of the Cuban Culture and was titled Padre del Changuí, due to the contributions he made for the genre and for being in addition one of its great defenders.
Inside this important musician’s career he also stands out the fact of being the first one in using the timbale of five keys in the Charanga format, also the introduction of trombones in his arrangements and the use of drums Batá belonging to the religion Yorubá. The above-mentioned melted with his charisma, sympathy, to that hoarse voice that accompanied him and gave him a signature tone, to his innate and cultivated talent, to his rigor and professionality, all these features allow him to reach the popularity in a very short time.
Professor of remarkable musicians, his orchestra has formed figures like of Chucho Valdés, Juan Formell, Yumurí, Carlos Alfonso even his own son, Elio Revé Matos managed to convince in each performance.
The life and work of this musician and composer is still having great transcendency in the Cuban musical history
After his death in 1997, his son Elio Revé Jr. graduated of master degree in music who besides having been prepared by his father, he already formed part of the orchestra like pianist and arranger, assuming the challenge of Reve´s work continuity, for this reason, he took the orchestra direction keeping popularity, sonority and the signature tone that had accompanied this group during so many years.
Elio Revé Jr and their Charangón with rigor, talent and great aesthetic and musical sense has peaked the top level in the charts of the national hit parade on Radio and television they have toured to France, Holland, United States, Spain, Belgic, Switzerland, Italy and Mexico where the orchestra was well-known and the public received him enthusiastically thanks to the fact that they have maintained the sonority and its unmistakable sign.
In the year of 2001, this popular group celebrated its 45 anniversary in a concert gathering more than 20 thousand persons. This time some remarkable figures joined the group such as Chucho Valdés, Juan Formell, Changuito, Mayito Rivera, Juan Carlos Alfonso and Yumurí.
This night full of celebrations and unforgetable moments Elio Revé Jr. Y su Charangón performed for the first time ”Andan Diciendo” receiving the approval of the public and becaming instantly in a standout of the Cuban radio and television.
Around 2002 and begginings of 2003, the popularity of this group has grown up, their prestigy allowed them to attend remarkable festivals citing Santa Lucia Jazz Festival sharing the scene with Boys II Men, Forplay, Earth, Wind and Fire, Herbie Mann, The Michel Brecker Quartet, Kindred and Mike Philips among others. It is also in 2003 when they made an important tour around Europe amazing the critic and general public.
Elito Revé has also gained the public’s respect due to his outstanding cultural projects, highlighting the First Changüí Festival in Cuba and the creation of the promotional theme for the First World Domino Championship.
Elito Revé y su Charangón just amazed everyone in this 2004 at the Festival of Jazz & Blues Air Jamaica celebrated on January 22-25 proving the Cuban popular music’s strength and validity before such luminaries as La India, Arie, Michael McDonald, Nancy Wilson, Beres Hammond, Cassandra Wilson, Bobby Womack, Monty Alexander and Kenny Rogers. He came back to Havana holding the idea of renovating some of his vocalists and add a new signature tone for this 2004, readying inmediately his ”Se sigue comentando” set via Bis Music label.
This new production finds a renovated Charangón, keeping his roots and sonority, they feature new songs, having careful orchestrations thinking always on the audience, and as exclusive a new detail, there’s the inclusion of a ballad gaining quick acceptance and peaking top position on the radio and TV popularity charts.
In 2005 Elito Revé celebrated the 75th birthday of his father with diverse homages and Cuban radio and TV programs, he also recorded a new CD via the Italian firm Avanti Records with Con la mano en la masa, theme that reinforced their popularity in the country. Also in this year he performed at diverse scenes in Europe achieving great success and public acceptance.
Sure of its unavoidable success, being talented and enduring a very important work, Elito Revé with his Charangón bestow great efforts upon making their spectacles unique where the public can enjoy them forever.
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