Multiple LATIN GRAMMY Winner ALEX CUBA’s New Album Mendó (“The Substance Of The Soul”) Soars To #6 On KCRW’s TOP 30 Chart
The Critically Praised Cuban Canadian Multi-Instrumentalist Lands The Only Latin Music Release On This Week’s Chart From The Influential Los Angeles NPR Station
Watch Hablando x Hablar
Watch H x H
“It’s always exciting to unpack the latest music by Alex Cuba! His work is divine from start to finish, the production is outstanding, his themes are universal, and his voice is luscious! We’ve all gone through a dark year, so every moment of beauty has been especially poignant and ‘Mendo’ has been a steady companion.” – Ariana Morgenstern – KCRW–Executive Producer, Music Department.
Alex Has Also Just Released Videos For The Album’s TWO Unique Versions Of Hablando x Hablar -His Standout Collaboration With CIMAFUNK – Giving You A Choice To Enjoy Your Bass Funk Groove Straight Up – Or With A Power Blast of Horns Courtesy of Joaquín Betancourt & Su Joven Jazz Band
Alex Cuba is back with another collection of killer songs… some of his best songs in a career filled with brilliance… It’s not for no reason that this completely indie artist has multiple Latin Grammy nominations to his credit… On Mendó, he reached out across the digital universe to collaborate with some of Latin music’s biggest names for 10 new tunes that range from funk to flamenco, nuevo canto to bossa ballads. Naturally, all of these songs bear the distinctive Cuba stamp of pristine production, instrumental prowess and silky singing that just seduces the listener… each track is like a single designed to evoke a unique mood and emotional reaction. Cuba usually plays everything on his homemade records. And why not, when you can bring a personal touch to any instrument you come into contact with? But a special place is reserved for his spectacular dexterity on the standup bass. opening track Hablando x Hablar (feat. Cimafunk). is blown wide open by Cuba’s slapping, rubbery bass lines coupled with sparse handclaps and layered choruses…. H X H (feat Cimafunk, Joaquin Betancourt & Su Joven Jazz Band). this swinging big-band arrangement makes clear that somewhere down the way, Cuba needs to cut an album backed by a full orchestra. The baritone saxophones loop that underpins the whole tune is just so incredibly deep that it’s impossible not to tap along with it. This deserves a big extended remix by some ace Miami scene dance DJ, because it’s got packed dance floor stamped all over it.” – Vancouver Sun
“Bringing his distinctive folk, funk and rock hybrid to life, the four-time Latin Grammy winner presents his new album Mendó, a testament to the respect other artists have for Alex. On this set, Cuba collaborates with renowned artists including Antonio Carmona, Cimafunk, Lila Downs, Gian Marco, Raul Midón and Gilberto Santa Rosa.” – Billboard
“A while back I had to ask myself ‘Is it me or do I actually like everything Alex Cuba releases?’ So far, the answer is: Very much! …The four-time Latin Grammy winner’s brilliant discography has evolved from Afro-Cuban music to world music, rock en español, salsa, alternative Latin and Latin crossover blends of pop, soul and jazz. And it just gets better… Irresistible, superbly minimalistic yet profoundly full …a sensory upload of sublime playing, creative arrangements and melodic delight.” – NPR
“Fresh off his most recent Latin Grammy nominations (seven along with four wins), and notable performance on the November 2020 broadcast… and in advance of his upcoming eighth studio album… Alex Cuba, is releasing new single ‘Hablando x Hablar’ with Cuban breakout star, Cimafunk. ‘Hablando x Hablar’ is a fun and funky upbeat track that questions what we think we know to be true in society… a brave musical concept using only one physical instrument (an upright bass), handclaps, and vocals, ‘Hablando x Hablar is a bold, full bodied song, completely universal in nature, that feels like a giant production without getting bombastic… high energy performer Cimafunk has been rated by Billboard as a ‘top 10 Latin artist to watch’ with his Afro-Cuban funk-soul music style…. [While] Alex carries his Cuba within, incorporating subtle jazz influences, and tasteful, sophisticated chords and lyrics expressing his poetry in an undeniably Cuban way. His growing body of work defines a unique musical place in the Latin diaspora.” – Cashbox Canada
ABOUT ALEX CUBA
Alex Cuba is a Latin Grammy/Juno winner, singer-songwriter who is not tied to tradition; Alex has a vast musical vision. His sugarcane-sweet melodies, pop-soul hooks and powerful guitar riffs, relinquish a conventional stereotype that exemplifies much of the Latin music landscape. Born Alexis Puentes in Artemisa, Cuba, was immersed in music at a very young age, joining his father’s (respected guitarist and teacher Valentin Puentes) group of 24 guitarists. Alex then went on to study electric and upright bass and touring and recording nationally and internationally. Relocating to Canada in 1999, Alex went on to record his solo debut album Humo De Tobaco (produced by Martin Terefe), which earned him a Juno award for World Music Album of the Year in 2006, with tours in Canada, Japan and the US.
In 2007, Alex released Agua Del Pozo earning him another Juno award for World Music Album of the Year in 2008. From there, Alex released his third album, a self-titled project Alex Cuba in 2009, playing shows in the US, Canada and Spain. And features his first ever English track titled “If You Give Me Love”. The album gained recognition on an international level. In 2010, Alex took home the award for Best New Artist at the 2010 Latin Grammy Awards, where it was also nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Album. It also followed a nominated for Best Latin Pop Album at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards and in 2011 Alex took home a BMI Latin Award for his songwriting on Nelly Furtado’s #1 Spanish hit “Manos Al Aire”. In 2012, Alex released his fourth album Ruido En El Sistema, which Alex received his second Socan Hagood Hardy Award for outstanding achievement in Jazz and World Music. He also won his second Latin Grammy Award – this time as a songwriter, alongside co-writer Yoel Henriquez received the award for Best Tropical Song for the Milly Quezada’s single, “Toma Mi Vida”. In 2013, he brought home a Latin Grammy for the video “Eres Tu” from Ruido En El Sistema, a video produced entirely in his hometown of Smithers.
Alex Cuba’s 5th studio album, Healer, was recorded using a live rhythm section, trading in horns for guitars and vocal harmonies. With five duets with singer songwriters, four being Canadian, Ron Sexsmith, David Myles, Alejandra Ribera and Kuba Oms as well as New Yorker Anya Marina. The album won a Latin Grammy for best Singer-songwriter and nominated for a Grammy as best Latin Pop in 2016. In 2017, his 6th album Lo Unico Constante was released, Looking at the filin movement in Cuba of the forties that fused jazz and trova together with emotional lyrical content. Nominated for both a Latin Grammy in the singer songwriter category and Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album Alex continues his independent journey in music.
His most recent album, Sublime, incorporated the feel of Lo Unico Constante with 6 duets alongside Latin American Singer-songwriters celebrating a contemporary or Neo folk expression of the Canción Latinamericana. The release continued Alex’s recognition form his musical peers garnering his third consecutive Latin Grammy Nomination for Best Singer-Songwriter Album, and another performance slot on the global telecast.
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