A few hours before their appearance on stage, the duo is sitting on a bench at the intersection of 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue, one of the multiple entrances to the most famous park in the world, Central Park. The two sisters are smiling, chatting with passers-by and enjoying the August sun in the most multicultural city in the world.
Some fans recognize them and exchange with her. The Franco-Cuban duo Ibeyi is one of the headliners of the SummerStage festival, the biggest of the year in town, which rocks the Big Apple by organizing concerts in mythical places like Central Park, Flushing Meadows in Queens and the Brooklyn Bridge, all summer long. Artists like Regina Spektor, the famous rapper Rakim but also Kool and the Gang come to thrill the locals, but also the very many tourists who can take advantage of these hundred free concerts.
“It’s a popular initiative, within everyone’s reach, because the concerts are free, so we take advantage of it! The program is attractive, and when we saw that Ibeyi was on the program, we didn’t hesitated to take our evening to see them in a setting as splendid as Central Park” smiles Maria, daughter of Cubans living in New Jersey and who has lived in Paris for her studies in literature.
A stage in the shape of an arch placed between the trees, greenery as far as the eye can see in the middle of Manhattan, and an ideal climate: the scene is set for the Franco-Cuban duo, who delight their fans, and seduce those who do not know the artists, including Joana, a great fan of Latin sounds and who came with a friend, Pedro, who wanted to discover the daughters of Anga Diaz. “Their father marked me for life, because it was thanks to a meeting with him, almost 30 years ago, that I began to learn to play on congas, and that changed my life” smiles- he, before adding: “I come from the eastern part of Harlem, Spanish Harlem, where Celia Cruz, Tito Puente and Ray Santos grew up, and we don’t have much choice to do what we wants (laughs), I learned to play congas after I met Anga, and it saved me from hanging out in the streets and having problems. They are the daughters of the man who saved me life! (Laughs)”.
The concert starts with the presence of a good thousand people, who feel all the contagious energy of Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi, who give their all for almost an hour and fifteen minutes, delighting the crowd with their classics Me Voy, Recurring dream , as well as tracks from their latest album, Spell 31, including Sister 2 sister and Made of Gold.
Fans are hooked, and those who discover them are spellbound. “To be honest with you, it’s THE discovery of the year for me, and I’m going to attend more than 50 concerts a year, it’s my passion!” smiles Matthew, who has fallen under the spell of the duo and their creativity, which according to him, “is a subtle blend of very suave jazz, with a Latin touch and references to Yoruba which gives them a dimension, a rather unique spiritual presence and which soothes the soul. It’s a unique experience that I had. They live the music as they like it. They are one with their music and their world, it’s quite fascinating and really very rare among artists nowadays who often have a formatted discourse, a basic and tasteless presence”, he adds.
A tribute to their father, in a New York with a very strong Cuban accent
In the midst of a very diverse crowd, young and old, Latinos, but also African-Americans, we also find lovers of Anga Diaz, the father of the twins, who had left his mark not only on the New York’s Latina scene thanks to his collaborations with Afro-Cuban All Star, Omar Sosa, and Irakere, but also the hyper-competitive sphere of music in Uncle Sam’s country, winning the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album with Roy Hargrove’s Habana album in 1998.
“Seeing his two daughters reminds us of Anga, they give off the same energy as him, it’s just impressive,” says Royanta Davis, a native of Harlem and a great admirer of the head of the Diaz clan, who died suddenly in 2006 in Spain. “They have their own identity, but they pay homage to their father through their art, and I think that’s the most beautiful way to show someone your love. I’m sure from up there it must be so proud of them” pointing his finger to the sky.
The spirit of Anga Diaz is present here, and Lisa-Kaindé always feels a special emotion when she comes to play in New York, against the backdrop of her father’s Cuba, the Cuba of her heart. “It’s a very special place, that’s for sure, because we have a bit of Cuba here, and the fact that my father worked so much with artists who shone here, it gives a special flavor to our shows in this city”, she underlines, before adding “the energy that the public gives off here is quite unique, because they are curious people by nature, who always want to learn and for those who do not know us, want to know more, dance, share concerts with us to the fullest. It is very interesting in terms of human experience to share, to live a concert in this part of the planet”.
The multicultural megalopolis par excellence also appeals to the duo, who love to play in front of a diverse audience, with the varied profiles that form the face of New York. “This diversity is a real pleasure, it’s great to see that people who come from all over the world live in the same city, but also come to see us and take advantage of a concert to mix and learn about others”, says Lisa-Kaindé, “with my sister, we also make music to bring people together, to unite in a society that is pushing more and more towards division, to tension between people” .
The public appreciates the flow of the two young women, and several “Que Viva Cuba!” come to give a smile to a good part of the crowd present. The show ends and the applause of a crowd conquered by Ibeyi is very strong and prolonged, the good mood and the feeling of having enjoyed a unique moment with an original duo of artists dominate.
“Honestly, I will continue to listen to their music, I will follow them closely and I have already downloaded all their albums on my phone as soon as the concert is over!” smiles Ariana, a young music student at the famous Julliard School, on the campus of Columbia University, “these are the kind of artists who make you see things differently, and their authenticity is very inspiring. They mark the spirits, it’s clear !”.
The duo leaves the stage and also concludes, with this concert, their world tour, coming full circle after long months on the road and in planes to the four corners of the planet. “New York is the perfect place to end our tour, and we feel like we’ve done it. It’s great to come here, and we can’t wait to come back and play again a beautiful moment with the New Yorkers” concludes Lisa-Kaindé, filled.
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2023-08-07 08:52:47
#Ibeyi #sounds #Cuba #York
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