A Berklee Professor Dives Into Cuba's Vast Music Scene

[naaman fletcher]

Berklee College of Music professor Bill Banfield knew he’d find music on the streets of Old Havana, he just didn’t know how much. On our first full day we run into a guitarist singing about the Cuban Revolution. Bill saddles up next to him and does his best to sing along.

http://www.wbur.org/2013/01/16/a-berklee-professor-dives-into-cubas-vast-music-scene

[2naSalit]

1. That would be soooo much fun!

Being a musician myself, I would love to do something like that.

[naaman fletcher]

2. me too

I haven't decided yet though if I am going to risk going to cuba or not.

[Mika]

3. Don't go. Castro's goons will follow you and watch your every move.

Just kidding.
The Cubans will love ya, but, the Canadians won't.

[naaman fletcher]

4. thanks..

I'm not worried about the Cubans. I'm worried about OFAC.

[flamingdem]

9. They aren't interested in enforcing anything, word is that

you can go, write Cuba on your countries visited and no one will blink.

no $ for enforcement for one, they never have enforced it really

[2naSalit]

5. Impromptu music is such a gas though.

I have often thought that going to Cuba and check it out would be kind of fun but my best friend, from a former communist, eastern European country, told me it is really a scary place after she went there last year. And she's a pretty open-minded Anthropologist. But the music scene has to be interesting at the very least.

[naaman fletcher]

6. Cuba scary as in unsafe?

I have a hard time believing that.

[2naSalit]

7. Her definition was mostly about human conditions

and that getting "followed" is a real thing. Not sure what else. Another friend, much younger, during the Bu$h years went there to conduct research but actually had to go in the guise of a nun to be able to do her research unmonitored. I suspect that going as a tourist would have many benefits but I wonder about what others see and what I might see and how it would be different than their perspectives. My best friend was a tourist, world traveler and very well informed. I think she didn't like the political aspects as well and the abject poverty. The researcher had some rather circumspect views that I appreciated, she was studying the health concerns of the prostitute population. She said they have the best healthcare she had seen in any country because it's socialized and since their trade is recognized, they are well tended to. Interesting stuff but I am getting old and not so inclined to take certain risks when traveling. But I love to go where the music is good!

[naaman fletcher]

8. I'm sure it's fine

I've been to South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Guatemala, and many places that actually are unsafe at some level.

So some state security dude watches me drink Cuba Libre's and smoke a fat cigar? Doesn't bother me.

[2naSalit]

10. Good point.

I just don't get out much anymore. I guess my perspective could be a bit colored by that.

[flamingdem]

12. You should go, I've been there a ton of times

without too many problems and tons of great memories.

I LOVED hanging out with the street musicians, and the other musical offerings are amazing.. there aren't enough words to describe how rich and varied the music scene is in Cuba.

[naaman fletcher]

14. thanks

I'm mostly living in panama city now and there are regular flights. ill consider it for sure.

[flamingdem]

16. You're lucky, I was pricing flights today and

the flights out of Cancun are higher than I thought - 400 rt more than ever. It's not much more from Central America and you can do it in one flight.

By the way there is an outbreak of Cholera at the moment that I assume will be under control within a couple of weeks since it's mostly brought in from the East and (just 50 people only 1 death), from Doctors who were in Haiti who got it from Nepalese volunteers, so sad. That part about Haiti is breaking news on NPR and a cover up is being claimed since 8 thousand have died in Haiti. I just learned that it was the first outbreak in a century for both countries.

[naaman fletcher]

17. ugh

Haiti would be so much better with out the "help".

In any event, I probably couldn't do this until march or april anyway.

[flamingdem]

13. You won't have a problem

The government doesn't want problems with tourists. Unless you look for trouble you'll be okay. With that said there is quite a bit of trouble to get into if you get very involved with the lives of Cubans who make their living off of tourists, even there if you are careful you can have very good guides and make friends if you set boundaries.

[naaman fletcher]

15. hmm.. what do you mean?

[flamingdem]

18. Most tourist quickly learn about touts who are very skilled

and roam the tourist zones (jineteros). I know many people who have married them and I am good friends with more than a handful, the majority have left Cuba. Many professional Cubans end up engaging in jineterismo, google it for more information. Mainly it's about getting kickbacks in restaurants, casas, and if you help someone or act as their guide getting a payment or at least gifts. Of course there are men and women who take this more into prostitution and some who really are prostitutes but it's a a continuum and not as clear cut as in many societies. As I said I know a lot of people who have married those they met on their first trip, and they are still together. It's not as likely you'll meet them if you are with others or you don't like company but they are there to help in a sense because certain things, like information about what's going on and where, is hard to find. You can "rent" their time, they don't usually put a price on it but they should be tipped etc.

[naaman fletcher]

19. OK that's what I thought you meant..

Africa is the same way basically

[joshcryer]

20. Wow.

[flamingdem]

11. Cuba is not unsafe compared to many destinations but

you do have to be careful about petty theft as a tourist. The usual precautions apply.