Hovedøen social club
Salsa in Norwegian – Contrafactive music-history & Clasicos a lo Cubano!
Hypothesis:
- What if todays/yesterdays Norwegian popular music was transported to another time and place?
- What if “Lynni Trekrem” or “The Kids” got lost in a time-machine that ends up in the year 1950 in the rehearsal-room of the legendary Cuban pianist Peruchin? If so, their original hits would be in capable hands!
- What if, almost, forgotten Norwegian songs like “Når kastanjene blomstrer i Bygdøy Allé”, “Jeg tror på sommeren” and “La meg være ung” adopted new life with bloodstreams that swells with vitality and hips that melts with sensuality?
- Unknown possibilities, designed to moisten up the most rigid sceptic, unveils itselves on the horizon.
Hovedøen Social Club is an intriguing project put together by Sverre Indris Joner. This sextet plays popular Norwegian songs that are re-arranged and played as authentic Cuban Salsa. Hovedøen Social Club is an alternative and exciting musical research project – Contrafactive music-history!
Buy Hovedøens CDs & DVDs
Clasicos a lo cubano – New DVD/CD out in Mexico and Norway (so far…)
- Imagine Beethovens Fifth´ seemlessly fusioning with a danceable salsabeat,
or Strauss´ Blue Danube as a coquet chachacha, yet keeping the essence of the classic piece..
Apparently impossible! Doomed to be bad-taste and cheesy! Or is it?
- Sverre Indris Joner´s ingenious arrangements have refuted the prejudices and taken classical music-lovers and the latin community by surprise. As seen on YouTube, performed by KORK (Norwegian Radio Orchestra) and Hovedøen Social Club, the recordings on DVD have even reaches the #1 on the Mexican World Music Charts! Big bands in Venezuela are even doing cover-versions of his arrangements. The recording will also soon be released in the rest of Latin America and the US.
And the sole fact that the legendary bassplayer Carlos del Puerto (Irakére, Cubanisimo) is a part of the soloist group should confirm that this is more than just another ”gringo showing of his borrowed feathers”. Such adaptations require a more profound understanding of clave and cuban music…
The Band
Sverre indris Joner – piano, the research-team´s leader will take on the daunting task to channel Peruchin´s spirit and to recreate the magic and inspiration from this time. Joining him is an all-star team that deserves much respect.
Carlos Del Puerto – Bass.
Known from the legendary and innovative Cuban Latin Jazz band Irakere and Cubansimo.
Pepe Espinosa – Timbales.
Known from bands like Afro-Cuban All-Stars, Bamboleo, Klimax, Cubanismo, and many others on the 1. & 2. CD.
Tony Moreaux Charon – drums and timbales. Plays on the live-recording on 3. CD/DVD. From groups like Afro-Cuban All-Stars, Carlos Manuel y su clan and Danson.
On trumpet we found the late trumpet-player Luis Alvaro Varona from the original line-up. (CD ¡Que viva Noruega!) On 2. CD “¡Ay Caramba!” Harlem Curbelo,
on live-DVD/CD with KORK (including Clasicos a lo cubano) Jose Alberto Varona
You will also find the Cuban Oslo-citizens Eduardo Cedeño on congas and of course the singer Sergio Gonzalez on lead vocals both known from the band La Descarga.
An all-star team that destiny has placed on the northern hemisphere to spread syncopated poly-rhythms throughout the nordic ice.
