From humble beginnings, Miguel Mantovani, Archerio Mantovani and Kengo San have built Los Hermanos Cubanos - The Cuban Brothers - into a legendary outfit with a cult following. Not only the entertainment of choice for Elton John, Richard Branson and Robbie Williams, the trio has also supported James Brown, Chuck Berry, Fatboy Slim, De La Soul, Talib Kweli and performed with the likes of The Prodigy, Q-Tip, Chic, Roy Ayers and Jocelyn Brown.
Their residency at Rob da Bank’s Sunday Best parties led to The Cuban Brothers hosting the main stage at Bestival since its inception in 2004. This year alone the band has toured Australasia, hit the festival circuit hard and performed on BBC1’s Let’s Dance for Sports Relief as well as scoring parts in Plan B’s Ill Manors and Nick Frost’s forthcoming film, Cuban Fury.
Adding musical weight to new album, ‘Yo Bonita’'s soul are The CBs. Originally put together to support James Brown on one of his last tours, the band are a crack outfit of some of the finest funk players on the planet who collectively boast a CV that features a who’s who of musical greats, including Tom Jones, Mick Jagger, Nick Cave, Amy Winehouse, Edwyn Collins, Prince Buster, Pharrell Williams and many more.
A raw collection of sinewy funk and heavy beats, ‘Yo Bonita’ eschews building tracks around samples in favour of a real band dynamic, which lends the collection of original tracks and inspired covers a groove that is undeniably infectious. Giving even more depth to proceedings is a litany of unique vocalists, that include Mica Paris, KT Tunstall, Kurtis Blow, Tenor Fly and the legendary Omar.
Miguel Mantovani: “Yo Bonita! was the album started just after my first born Bonbon, I wanted to do an organic project not using any samples with the extraordinary live band I’d put together to support James Brown on one of his last tours out in Australia. The players comprise cats from Amy Winehouse’s outfit, Primal scream and so many more and they are the dopest musicians. The main idea was to do some great songs, dope beats and keep it free of gimmicks.
“With the exception of Kurtis Blow, who is just a legend of hip-hop culture and somebody I’ve always admired, the guests are some of my favourite British artists, all with their own true voice.”
‘Yo Bonita’ is released through A-Skillz Jam City on January 28th 2013.
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