Fuego de Cuba is, chronologically, the fourth of the trios that are still in force in our province. Like each of the previous ones, it has sound peculiarities that identify it. They emerged in Ranchuelo, Villa Clara in 1996, with the name of Trio Ocasión; precisely because it was created to serenade during the Ranchuelera Culture Day. At first it was a duo formed by Eduardo Machado and Daniel Aparicio, then they included Agustín Socorro as a third voice. From then on, they auditioned at the Music Center of Villa Clara and becoming official as professionals, they began to work in several locations in the province, such as the Motel Las Tecas, the Cañada de Camajuaní and the Hanabanilla Hotel.
In September 2000, they settled in Cienfuegos, where they remain until today. In December of that same year they recorded their first CD, Cuban Fire, at the Eusebio Delfín studio. This material was intended, due to its producers, to be marketed in Canada, which also explains why the name of the trio was chosen as the name of the phonogram. Its Spanish translation,Fuego de Cuba would then be used to identify them in our country.
From this production, they traveled seven times to the region of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They made several concerts in Whistler BC, Grandfork, Kelowna, where they also performed on a tour boat on Okanagan Lake; at the Hot Sorings Festival in Vancouvery, Duncan; at the Butchart Gardens BC, Victoria. They performed on Vancouver's radio station, in various restaurants and nightclubs, all with a magnificent reception by a select and very demanding audience.
This is a trio composed of two guitars and percussion, in the style of the Cuban format. It has the singularity that in addition to the requinto that is normally used in the trio, they add a tres for the interpretation of our autochthonous music. For the instrumentals they use the recorder, which is played by the same musician who plays the requinto, Orgly Rodríguez, who is replaced by Agustín Socorro and will be in charge of the trio's musical arrangements. Nelson Arteaga is currently the lead vocalist.
They record a second album in Canada with the title: Costa Norte, Costa Sur. Although there are three songs by the band director, the rest are the work of the producer, the Canadian Cuban Alex Cuba. It also features the participation of Cuban musician Adonis Puentes, also based in Canada. Videos of this production can be found on the Internet under the name Cuban Fire and Cuban Fire Trio, or on the webwwwcubanfire.ca.
Their third CD was released in our country independently, under the name Con Sabor a Cuba. The production was in charge of Orgly Rodríguez. Among the songs are Qué manera de Quererte, Pensamiento, Tú sabes, Blue Spanish Eyes; Kelowna Chachachá, written by Orgly and Daniel; the Peruvian waltz El Camino de la vida, accompanied by eleven guitars, almost all recorded by Orgly, and closes with Longina, which they do a capella. (vocals only).
Regarding what defines them sonically, their director Daniel Aparicio comments: "When we put together a song we don't do it like the original, we almost always add our own stamp to it. In the vocal work we use fourths, in addition, of course, to traditional harmony and jazz chords at some points. All this, and the introduction of the Cuban tres, is what identifies us".
Fuego de Cuba, in addition to songs by Aparicio and Orgly, has in its repertoire works by emblematic Cuban and international composers. Among the genres they defend are guarachas, sones, boleros, mambos, chachachá and the whole range of Cuban music.
They bet on another vision when working with the concept of the trio, which is enriching for the format. The versatility and audacity, together with the talent of these musicians, have earned them a place in stages inside and outside the island.
(Taken from 5 de Septiembre
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)