There has been a re-awakening of interest in the music of Cuba.
Even with its turbulent history, the island, which sits just 90 miles off
the tip of Florida, was almost forgotten as the United States sought to ignore
it. But the Buena Vista Social Club
projects and their attendant publicity woke the world up to the rhythms and
melodies of a strange protected land. The congas, the guitars, the horns and
vocals of generations of Cubans are being listened to everywhere now. Amidst
all this carry-on was the release of a totally unique recording. Nick Gold's
anthology of Los Zafiros' Bossa Cubana introduced the cool doo-wop
sounds of Cuba's biggest pop group ever to the rest of the world. Music
From The Edge of Time provides the images and story needed for a fully
developed picture of this amazing group, and shows just how popular the group
was in Cuba.
Los Zafiros (The Sapphires) follows two original members of the group
around Havana as they seek to tell the story of their early successes. The
other three gems are lost, victims of bad health and alcohol abuse. The time
is the early 60s, the height of the Cold War, the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile
Crisis. This writer recalls with great clarity a letter from my aunt in the
US which was filled with terror and the possibility that it would be the last
time we heard from her. It was a scary time. But from this time came some
of the brightest and most invigorating music ever: The Beatles, and the rest
of the British Invaders; the Folk Revival, and all the other new music that
we in North America were listening to was exciting. In Havana, time moved
more slowly. Youngsters in Cuba were digging the 50s sounds of America's Platters,
Mills Brothers and Modernaires. When they combined those smooth, tight harmony
vocals with the Latin rhythms and some snazzy choreography...four young men
from Havana became pop idols!
They began in 1962 singing to the accompaniment of an acoustic guitar played
by Oscar Aguirre, but their trademark sound was cemented the following year
when Manuel Galban came on board with his unique and sensual electric guitar,
adding the twang of Duane Eddy, and a touch of rock'n'roll to the mix. Galban
(whose new duet album with Ry Cooder was reviewed here)
is one of the hosts for this filmic tour of Los Zafiros. He still lives in
Havana, with his wife of 35 years. He wanders around the city with his guitar
on his back. He visits EGREM Studios. He plays in the local watering hole.
He looks on with pride as his daughter plays the piano. Music is his life.
He is a charming genial host.
Miguel Cancio was a founding member of Los Zafiros. It was his sapphire ring
which inspired their name. He is the only Sapphire to have left Cuba. He lives
in Florida, where his son produced a bio-film about his father's group in
1997. In fact Music From the Edge of Time is the third film about Los
Zafiros. A Cuban documentary was made in the late 90s. Miguelito returned
to Cuba in December 2001 to participate in this film and to reunite with Galban.
The film is filled with emotional scenes of reunion as Galban and Miguelito
travel to their old haunts.
The amazing thing about the film is the number of times it touches the emotions!
Several times this viewer felt tears welling in my eyes, or had to swallow
the lump in my throat. The new footage is intercut with archival footage from
Zafiros appearances on Cuban TV and historical newsreels to help set the frame
of reference. The archival footage of performances is wonderful, but it is
the new material that grabs the heartstrings. The interviews with Cuban celebrities
who talk about the impact of Los Zafiros are fascinating. They speak in Spanish,
with English subtitles. Nick Gold, of World Circuit Records, who aided in
bringing their music to the forefront, is interviewed. Ry Cooder is represented
by one photo. Perhaps most impressive is the incredible level of saturation
Los Zafiros' music must have had in Cuban culture. As records are played,
as the two old men continue their odyssey, everyone on camera is singing along...from
old men on street corners to the kids playing in the park! They all know the
words to the songs!
When Galban and Miguelito meet in EGREM to re-record two of Los Zafiros' tunes,
Oscar "Cachaito" Lopez joins on bass, and a couple of percussionists
beat out the rhythms. Galban's twangy guitar snakes and stings, and Miguel
Cancio sings the lead that he never did before. Beautiful. They travel to
Varadero, where they eat lobster, drink and sing with the brothers of their
fallen comrade "Kike" Morua. While there they stand on the beach,
look out at the ocean. "I live over there, in Florida," Miguelito
says quietly. "I know," replies Galban. It is a powerful moment.
Galban left the group in 1972. The remaining quartet tried to soldier on before
disbanding officially in 1975. Ignacio Elejalde died of a brain hemorrhage
in 1983 he was 37 years old. "Kike" died in 1983 (cirrhosis of the
liver) and Elio, "El Chino" Hernandez had several health problems
before passing on in '95. Galban and Miguelito visit the graves of their compadres,
for one last drink.
Los Zafiros was filmed beautifully by Thomas Ackerman, the island of
Cuba providing a perfect setting for the cinematographer's art. Producer/director
Lorenzo DeStefano did a marvelous job in balancing the archival with the new,
and the whole team has created a stunning work of art. It stands as a brilliant
tribute to an extraordinary group of musicians, to an exotic and exciting
country, to an era that existed on the edge of time.
GMR viewed a preview copy of this film. It will be
featured in several Film Festivals this spring.
Florida Film Festival (Orlando, FL) Mar.7-16, 2003
San Diego Latino Film Festival Mar.13-23, 2003
Palm Beach International Film Festival (Palm Beach, FL) Apr.3-11, 2003
Miami Latin Film Festival Apr.11-20, 2003
Istanbul International Film Festival Apr.12-27, 2003
Learn more about Los Zafiros
