Cuba Meets New Orleans in Olympia: Juan-Carlos Formell

On September 7, a rare Cuban musical treat comes to Olympia in the form of Juan-Carlos Formell. A Grammy-nominateed singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Formell has been praised for his progressive rhythms and harmonies, his virtuosity on guitar and bass, and his lyrical songwriting. His new CD "Cemeteries and Desire" is a tribute inspired by a trip he took to New Orleans and a meditation on the intertwined themes of love and death, themes infused this week with a new poignancy as the now-submerged city fights for survival.

Juan-Carlos Formell - Wednesday Sept. 7, 2005
-->live solo set @ KAOS community radio, 89.3fm, between 1-3pm (streaming live at www.kaosradio.org)
-->concert @ Traditions Fair Trade Cafe, 300 5th Ave SW, Olympia, 8pm; tickets $12 or $8 for students & low-income; info/tickets at 360-705-2819 or traditionsfairtrade.com

A romantic with a heart like a laser beam, Formell deftly mines his Cuban musical heritage for a solo set of nontrivial love songs inspired by New Orleans's 'cemeteries & desire'. Like Brazil's Caetano Veloso, Formell brings the rumba and bolero forms up to contemporary speed without tarnishing their essence."

-- R Gehr, The Village Voice