A Saturday special as we compare three versions of a song made famous by the Cuban ensemble, but here with an African and jazz twist, featuring the kora, piano and more with other musicians. The song, written by Cuban trovador Compay Segundo in 1984, then recorded first in 1987, was less composed, as 'dreamt' as he puts it. The story is about a man and a woman, Chan Chan and Juanita, who are building a house, and in doing so fetch sand from the beach. Juanita puts the sand in a sieve, and shakes it, and herself, causing Chan Chan to be both embarrassed, a little sad, and no doubt aroused. It's a universal tale. The Kora Jazz Trio's instrumental version of course includes the African kora, adding the delicacy and complexity of the instrument into the mix, as well as more modern jazz elements from the piano. They feature, from Guinea and Senegal, Djeli Moussa Diawara (kora), Moussa Sissokho (percussion) and Abdoulaye Diabaté (piano). The second version, more African in flavour, but a perfect masala of that continent and Latin America, with Teté Garcia Catulra, Pancho Amat, and Mamadou Diabaté (kora), whose version was recorded as part of the Playing For Change project. Lastly, the Buena Vista Social Club version, produced by Ry Cooder, is here for comparison – a timeless tune that traverses cultures and countries.
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcané
Llego a Cueto voy para Mayarí
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcané
Llego a Cueto voy para Mayarí
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcané
Llego a Cueto voy para Mayarí
[Verse 1]
El cariño que te tengo
No te lo puedo negar
Se me sale la babita
Yo no lo puedo evitar
[Verse 2]
Cuando Juanica y Chan Chan
En el mar cernían arena
Como sacudía el jibe
A Chan Chan le daba pena
[Verse 3]
Limpia el camino de paja
Que yo me quiero sentar
En aquél tronco que veo
Y así no puedo llegar
[Chorus]
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcané]
Llegó a Cueto voy para Mayarí
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcané
Llego a Cueto voy para Mayarí
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcané
Llego a Cueto voy para Mayarí
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcané
Llego a Cueto voy para Mayarí
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcané
Llego a Cueto voy para Mayarí
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcané
Llego a Cueto voy para Mayarí.
From Alto Cedro I go to Marcané
I arrive in Cueto, I go to Mayarí
The love that I have for you
I can't deny it
I drool a bit1
I can't help it
When Juanica and Chan Chan
Were sifting sand at the sea
The way she shook the sieve
Made Chan Chan feel strange
Clean the road of straws
Because I want to sit down
On that tree trunk that I see
And that way I can't arrive
From Alto Cedro I go to Marcané
I arrive in Cueto, I go to Mayarí
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