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Los Van Van is a Cuban band led by bassist Juan Formell, and is considered to be one of Cuba’s major timba acts, while Juan Formell has arguably become the most important figure in contemporary Cuban music.
In 1967, Formell became musical director of Elio Reve’s charanga orchestra. He reformatted the group into Changui ‘68, and then founded his own group, Los Van Van, on December 4, 1969.
Musical style
Using a charanga line-up as its base, Van Van added trombones and vocals, and was the first Cuban group to use synthesizers and drum machines. Their sound was a fusion of changui and son montuno with various types of music, including Afro-Cuban rhythms, rock, funk, disco, and hip hop. Juan Formell contributed countless innovations to the Cuban bass and clave, which paved the way for a radical reconceptualisation of rhythmic arrangements in Cuban music. The Van Van sound came to be known as songo (based on the songo rhythm), which laid the base for the later development of timba.
Los Van Van has consistently managed to adapt its style to the times, and remains, after 35 years, Cuba’s most popular dance band. Along with pianist Cesar “Pupy” Pedroso, Juan Formell has written some of the most intriguing verses in popular dance music, including stories that run over several albums and, contrary to trends in timba, all types of social commentary. Both artists are undisputed masters of double-entendre in a musical culture where multiple meanings in lyrics are pervasive.
In 1967, Formell became musical director of Elio Reve’s charanga orchestra. He reformatted the group into Changui ‘68, and then founded his own group, Los Van Van, on December 4, 1969.
Musical style
Using a charanga line-up as its base, Van Van added trombones and vocals, and was the first Cuban group to use synthesizers and drum machines. Their sound was a fusion of changui and son montuno with various types of music, including Afro-Cuban rhythms, rock, funk, disco, and hip hop. Juan Formell contributed countless innovations to the Cuban bass and clave, which paved the way for a radical reconceptualisation of rhythmic arrangements in Cuban music. The Van Van sound came to be known as songo (based on the songo rhythm), which laid the base for the later development of timba.
Los Van Van has consistently managed to adapt its style to the times, and remains, after 35 years, Cuba’s most popular dance band. Along with pianist Cesar “Pupy” Pedroso, Juan Formell has written some of the most intriguing verses in popular dance music, including stories that run over several albums and, contrary to trends in timba, all types of social commentary. Both artists are undisputed masters of double-entendre in a musical culture where multiple meanings in lyrics are pervasive.
Top Albums
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Llego Van Van
Los Van Van
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Live At Miami Arena
Los Van Van Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $17.98
- 7digital $7.77
- iTunes $19.99
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Arrasando
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Azucar
Los Van Van Buy- Download Album
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Top Tracks
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Esto Te Pone La Cabeza Mala
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Quien No Ha Dicho Una Mentira
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El Negro Está Cocinando
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Somos Cubanos
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Sandunguera
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La Bomba soy Yo
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temba, tumba, timba
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Eso Damelo a Mi
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Permiso Que Llego Van Van
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Mi Chocolate
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Havana City
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Consuelate Como Yo
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Appapas del Calabar
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Shoutbox
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Quijanogaby wrote:
Llego van van
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rebeccaclosure wrote:
i love you
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_tsk_ wrote:
Join Fidel Castro Group
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whereonearth wrote:
Who uploaded these? Why are they misnamed/misspelled all over the place?
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wonderbjorn wrote:
tim-popcon birdland has mi mimi for music as mi mimi has tim-pop con birdland. Can somebody fix that?
Videos
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Events
- Jan 31 Los Van Van James L Knight Center, Miami, United States
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Mar
20
Los Van Van 20/03/10 @The Roundhouse, 8:30pm
THE ROUNDHOUSE, Camden Town, LONDON, United Kingdom
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| 2 attendees
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Recent Activity
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robertoblades, bisaaclaposte, doarmutar and 16 other people added Los Van Van to their libraries. 3 hours ago
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cmarchena2 tagged Los Van Van with ‘timba’. 9 days ago
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cmarchena2, JOANCO78, yallazucar and 15 other people added Los Van Van to their libraries. 9 days ago
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dgilham tagged Los Van Van with ‘salsa’. 19 days ago
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dgilham, rafael_escudero, yildiznese and 7 other people added Los Van Van to their libraries. 19 days ago
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petrabosnjak added Los Van Van to the lineup of Los Van Van 20/03/10 @The Roundhouse, 8:30pm at THE ROUNDHOUSE. 25 days ago
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bonsai72, daouda34, feraco69 and 14 other people added Los Van Van to their libraries. 25 days ago
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jerrygroovefunk tagged Los Van Van with salsa, musica con sabor, musica afrocubana and 30 other tags. December 2009
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Latin America
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