Magical Beat
Salsa has placed a spotlight on Cuban music around the world, and many people believe that over here, that infectious, lively musical genre is all that can be heard.
For this reason, I’d like to introduce you to a group that, in a short period of time, has recreated a psychedelic 70’s rock sound, taking a cue from The Beatles.
Magical Beat is the name of the group, and their audience is a bit on the young side.
They recreate classic hard rock songs with different arrangements, substituting keyboards and electric guitars with other instruments to create a harmony that is truly “sui generis”.
The lead singer is Luis Manuel Molina, one of Cuba’s most famous guitarists, with over three decades experience in both classical and pop music. He is also quite well-versed in the musical stylings of the Beatles. In just three years, Magical Beat has won numerous fans and critical praise. They’ve played at festivals like the Cayman Rock Festival in 2007 and 2009, Love In, Rotilla (2008), Cuerda Viva (2008), Jazz Plaza International 2009, and the homage to John Lennon, among many others.
They have played in the Amadeo Roldan, Guiñol and America theaters, and the Salon Rosado de la Tropical, and the Cafe Cantante, La Maison, in “La Puntilla”, the Salon Centro at the Hotel Melia Cohiba, and the Cafe Cantante at the Teatro Nacional.
In Havana, they’ve played plenty of nightclubs, like the Scheherazada, Atelier, Karabali, Karachi, and La Madriguera. They have left their mark while reproducing classic sounds and experimenting with metal and jazz influences as well.
So now you know that there is a little more to the Havana music scene than just salsa. Here are some videos to get better acquainted with Magical Beat’s sound:
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