First Time Visit For Long Time Swingers

Being christened The Rolling Stones of your region can create a certain amount of artistic weight, but it’s something that sits easily with Cuban supergroup, Los Van Van.

It’s a comparison brought about by associated longevity rather than any similarity in music, although you could argue that both bands share a progressive approach to their respective genres.

“The comparison of Los Van Van to The Rolling Stones has been made for several years now,” explains the group’s founder, Juan Formell. “Although the comparison doesn't reflect on the styles of music - they are after all completely different - I do believe the comparison is based on the longevity and permanency that both the bands share. Both have been around for 40 years now and I can see why this comparison exists. Somehow we have some similarity in the quality of music we produce, but we of course infuse our music with the Afro element.”

Formell and his bandmates are currently gearing up for an Australian tour, one that will bring them to Brisbane for the very first time, but 40 years ago they never imagined their artistry would have such an effect both at home as well as internationally.

“No, I don’t believe so. The band formed on December 4, 1969 and we thought that the orchestra would be well liked with the public. But what we exposed in our song lyrics was an insight into Cuban lifestyle, describing how Cubans party, how they speak and express themselves and how they live. The band’s been going and going and going and time has literally flown and 40 years later here we are!”

In that time the music of Los Van Van has changed slightly, new blood bringing new ideas, but Formell’s presence has always granted the band a stability in sound that contributes to their unwavering popularity.

“The changes have been very few musically,” Formell says. “In reality Los Van Van's structure is the same, utilising a hot brass section, violins et cetera. The only real change is that when we began I composed 100 percent of the material and now there are other musicians that have integrated themselves into the composing, like the pianist Roberto Carlos, my son Samuel Formell (musical director and drummer), as well as singers Mario Rivera and Roberto Hernandez.

“When all is said and done it is an orchestra that has renewed itself throughout the years with younger people, but I stayed and continue in the frontline of the orchestra and I think that is what has permitted the sound not to waver but always be in some way consistent with the idea that I began with.”

Perhaps one of Los Van Van’s most notable achievements in their 40-year history is the creation of a new style of dance music, songo.

“The songo genre is based on el tumbao but utilises less brass and bells and throws in more wooden instruments. We have been fusing it with genres like timba and salsa, essentially making a mix of songo fused with these other musical genres and rhythms. Samuel, as musical director, has a lot of responsibility to keep the songo rhythm true to its name.”

While Los Van Van have always been popular in their native Cuba, the past 20 years have witnessed the gradual opening up of the country and allowed the band to capture a global audience.

“The live shows we would do in America, Mexico, every year and then in Europe and Latin America - Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Venezuela - all these gave us huge popularity. Once the crowds heard us live they felt admiration and they felt very comfortable dancing to the music, whether they were Spanish speaking or from places as far away as Japan. When non-Spanish speakers listen to our band all they say is, ‘It is funky. It is funky!’”

And slowly their music has made it to Australia. Despite Los Van Van’s global popularity Formell is still surprised that their music can reach such far-flung corners of the globe. Nevertheless, the recipe for the show will be much the same.

“That whole region is very, very far from Cuba and we've all marvelled that our music can be appreciated in cities so far away from the Caribbean and Cuba,” he says. “From time to time we have tried to adapt our music to suit different crowds, but the show is fundamentally the same and just features some very, very good music. The singers are great and they establish a connection very quickly with the crowd but we're talking about a high quality performance from the point of composition as well. It’s music that sounds international, and we establish that communication with the public very quickly.”

Los Van Van play the Queensland Performing Arts Centre Friday August 13.