CubaPLUS Magazine

Kono y Los chicos de Cuba was one of the participant groups in the 33^th edition of the international Festival Jazz Plaza which close in this Caribbean country. 

In exclusive interview to Latin Press, Haruhiko Kono, director of that grouping made up by five artists, commented about his experience and the significance that he confers to this meeting celebrated every year in the biggest island of the Antilles. 

Kono, a Japanese residing in Cuba, asserted that this country has the privilege of to create and consume jazz, as far as that’s concerned, the Festival contributes to the encouragement and defense of the genre. 

Also, he emphasized that the Jazz Plaza is awarded with the best of the national jazz music and by great figures of this genre from the United States and other nations who arrive to this event yearly. 

Kono and Los chicos de Cuba had the first presentation in the Culture House of the Plaza de la Revolucion municipality in this capital, and to the grouping’s director was a privilege to return now to this historical jazz place, where two years ago they debuted as group. 

According to Kono, the concert was accomplished and he was very moved by the warmth of the audience. 

During the show, Kono and his group perform songs of their recent record Parallel Universes, belonging to the Unicorn record label of Abdala Productions. 

Parallel Universes album is the fusion of the Cuban and Japan’s traditional music, and it demonstrates a high sense of belonging for both nations. 

According to Kono, the audience’s welcome was given by the peculiarity with that the musicians perform each song of the album. 

This Japanese percussionist has resided in Cuba for more than 30 years, and he is devoted to study the island’s music, something expressed a lot in his record Parallel Universes.