With the executive production of "Empresa de Grabaciones y Ediciones Musicales (Egrem)", the documentary José Loyola. Con la charanga en la sangre, dedicated to this notable exponent of Cuban music, founder of the Charanga de Oro, who was born in Cienfuegos on February 12, 1941 and celebrates its 80th birthday today.

Bárbaro Cabezas García, director and assistant director of the audiovisual, said that in 2018 the idea of filming it arose to leave a record of Loyola's legacy to the Cuban sound panorama and cultural imaginary, from his contributions to the flute, to the classic format of the charangas, as well as to concert or academic music.

                                                                                  

                                              José Loyola. /Fotos: Cortesía de Bárbaro Cabezas

Through Egrem we gained access to the artist's whole story and conditions are already being prepared for its upcoming premiere in Havana, and then in Cienfuegos. The documentary is directed by another Cienfuegos native, Alberto Padrón, and features music by Kiki Corona," he added.

This week the filmmakers were putting the final touches to the work, which was produced under unusual circumstances. The Covid-19 pandemic forced the team to keep in touch and work on some video cuts through social networks, with the same seriousness even though it took much more time.

Cabezas García stated that this film product connects with Las huellas de un charanguero, a previous audiovisual that delves into the life and artistic career of Efraín Loyola, one of the architects of the distinguished Orquesta Aragón and father of José Loyola.

"The intention of the record company -he said- is not only to make it a piece of historical and patrimonial value for the new generations; it also values the possibility of commercializing it in Cuba and abroad due to the interest aroused by the figure to whom it is dedicated, a reference for great flutists of the country such as José Luis Cortés, Orlando "Maraca" Valle and René Herrera".

After eight decades of life, José Loyola transcends as one of the most important musicians of the island. He was the creator and president of the Boleros de Oro International Festival, professor at the Instituto Superior de Arte (Isa), and is one of the few doctors in Music Theory in the nation.

(Taken from 5 de Septiembre