By Jill Hickson
SYDNEY — Juan Jacinto Herrera, a Cuban percussionist, singer, pianist and composer has teamed up with some of Sydney's top Latino musicians in Cubana-Oz for a Cuba-Australian experience at the Latin American Dance Fiesta at the Harbourside Brassiere on August 6.
Herrera, with degrees in music, education and history has a comprehensive background in arts education, composition, music theatre, dance, recording and performance. He has been lecturing on the current directions in Cuban percussion and culture at the Canberra School of Music where he was artist-in-residence.
Herrera brought a number of instruments with him including the bata or drum, a traditional Cuban percussion instruments which, until recently has only been played by men in religious ceremonies.
The bata is a long instrument with two sides. It is rested on the lap of the player and held in place with a harness. The player uses one hand for each side and the two hands employ different techniques. More than 200 variations of bata music exist.
Until recently, to learn the instrument in Cuba, one had to become religious. Herrera points out that people in the arts do not share this religious attitude.
Herrera has been involved, both as a judge and as a musician, with many music festivals in Latin America and the Caribbean. He has been touring Australia since March and has performed in most cities. Herrera says he feels privileged to be the first Cuban music teacher to come to Australia.
The August 6 Fiesta will also feature Papalote, a well-known Sydney Latin American dance band and Canto Libra, an acoustic band which plays traditional Latin sounds from South America using wind pipes, guitars and percussion.
The evening is organised by the Committee in Solidarity with Latin America and the Caribbean and the Democratic Socialist Party. Proceeds from the event will go to CISLAC's developmental assistance project in the northern Nicaraguan town of Matagalpa which involves the training health workers, the construction of 100 toilets and the development of community gardens in five communities. Some of the proceeds will also go to Green Left Weekly's fund appeal.