“My art and music are both fed from my desire for looking for the truth in beauty, despite the forces of pain and grief.” — Maria Bacardi
Release Party: March 21st | Kitano Hotel | New York |
Performing: 8PM and 10PM |
New York, NY – Cuban-born, New York-based musician, artist and performer, Maria Bacardi, announces the release of her debut album of traditional Cuban ballads titled Deseo released through Breaking Records. A release party and two performances by Maria Bacardi and the musicians recorded on the album on March 21, 2013 at The Kitano in New York City at 66 Park Ave.
The illustrious event will be attended by many members of the Bacardi family as well as Maria’s extensive community of celebrated actors, actresses, musicians and artists.
Deseo (Desire) is a collection of traditional ballads of love and longing performed in the Cuban Bolero style and sung in Spanish, French and English. Born in Cuba in 1957, Maria Bacardi was raised in Europe and given an “A-patrida” (no country) passport when she and her family were forced to flee the country when Fidel Castro nationalized all private businesses. Maria Bacardi’s great-grandfather was the founder of the successful Bacardi rum company, which was deeply embedded in the socio-political and economic fabric of the nation since its inception in 1860. This special selection of tracks featured on Deseo were chosen by Maria Bacardi, as they are the songs her mother sang to her while exiled in Spain.
Bacardi’s songs honors her personal Cuban history by treating the traditional scores on Deseo with the intended notes. The musical arrangements for Deseo are by David Oquendo and Carlos Gomez. Maria Bacardi’s singing is accompanied by Cuban and Latin American musical luminaries including David Oquendo, guitar; Vicente Sanchez, percussion; Alex Hernandez, bass; Onel Mulet, saxophone and flute; Pablo Vergara, piano; Roman Diaz, percussion; Yunior Terry, bass; and Duo Carlos y Marta, guitar and vocals.
In East Hampton since 1990, where Bacardi is known as Maria Pessino, who is an actress, singer, artist and poet and founder of the nonprofit theater company, Oddfellows Playhouse, which promotes new work and uses alternative indoor and outdoor stages across the East End. With her new CD and returning to her birth name, Maria Bacardi has reinvented her. And, you know what? Her music is infectious, smooth and upbeat.
Deseo begins with traditional Cuban songs her mother sang while in exile in Spain, and tells the story of her live growing up in Cuba.
I am not in Cuba. Cuba is in me. – Maria Bacardi, from Deseo album
Maria Bacardi is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Oddfellows Playhouse, a not-for-profit artist’s theater company, which instigates new work and uses alternative indoor and outdoor stages throughout many locations in the Hamptons.
Maria Bacardi’s Deseo is available through:
Amazon, Apple iTunes, Amazon MP3, CD Baby, Rhapsody, Xbox Music, 24-7, Omnifone, Google music Store, Rdio, Muve Music, Slacker.fm, Emusic, Last.fm, Spotify, MySpace Music, Media Net, GreatIndieMusic, Pandora, Music Choice.
“Como Fue” (http://soundcloud.com/mariabacardi/1-como-fue/s-Gsw7V) “Yellow Days” (http://soundcloud.com/mariabacardi/5-yellow-days/s-4MXIt) “Siboney” (http://soundcloud.com/mariabacardi/10-siboney/s-3Z9VQ)
If you like the old Cole Porter songs, you’re going to love Deseo. “They’re romantic, very slow and you’re supposed to dance them with your partner on a single brick. They’re very close, tight. You barely move. Very sexually suggestive and absolutely brilliantly written,” said Bacardi.
For ticket info or to RSVP, contact Lainya Magana: lainya@aopublic.com
Editor’s Note: From the moment I received a copy of Ms. Bacardi’s Deseo CD, I have not been able to get away from it. I love it! It’s romantic, joyful, melancholic, and up lifting. As a woman, her story resonates and her music is dreamy and inspiring. It brought back memories long buried. Goes to show you that you can reinvent yourself at any point in your life. – Elia Esparza
Comments