Brighten up your February with a musical excursion to Cuba

February is not most people's favourite month in the UK. The festive season is past, but spring is still a way off. It's cold, dark, and wet. Well, we have the perfect antidote to the February blues!

Pitchblend are teaming up with Bombo Productions to bring you a fiesta of:

Coro de clave is an Afro-Cuban choir tradition that proliferated in the black communities of Western Cuba from the last part of the 1800s until around 1920. They were mobile ensembles, often amassing over 100 members and would compete with other neighbouring groups. This choir tradition combines pleasingly simple harmonies with rich rhythm and percussion. Just the thing to brighten up those dreary winter days.

Workshop series
We will be holding workshops over three consecutive Saturdays at Hamilton House, in Bristol. The workshops will be suitable for singers of all abilities, and the music will be taught by ear, with no need to read music.

Learning material will be provided in advance so that participants can practise at home between sessions. Online teaching will also be provided. In order to get the most out of the workshop series, it will be necessary to do some independent learning, and to attend at least two out of the three in person sessions. This will enable the group to reach the goal of performing as a scratch choir at the grand finale:

An evening of Afro-Cuban music, song, and dance
On Saturday 18 February we will be joined by singers from London, who will also have learned these songs. We will spend our final session practising together and getting to know each other, before performing as a scratch choir as the opening act in a full evening of Afro-Cuban music.

Music leaders
Established in 2007, Bombo Productions is a community arts organisation that believes in the power of community music to improve people’s lives. They specialise in Afro-Latin American music. The workshops will be led by two hugely experienced teachers and musicians:

Victoria Jassey
Founder and musical director of Bombo Productions, Vicky Jassey is a singer and percussionist who has specialised in Afro-Cuban drum and song music for twenty years in both secular and religious settings. She holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology, which focused on Cuban batá drumming. Vicky is also the director of Moving Voices UK, an organisation that provides support and group singing for female survivors of human trafficking.

David Pattman
David is one of the UK’s leading Latin musicians. He is a percussionist, arranger and composer who has worked with Paul McCartney, Jacob Collier, Omara Portuondo and Cachaito from the Buena Vista Social Club, Bebo Valdez, Tindersticks, Snowboy and the Latin Section, Cubanismo and many more.

David Pattman and Vicky Jassey have, through their combined experience, developed a teaching style which attempts to unlock the mysteries and complexity of Afro-Cuban music, making it accessible to all levels of experience and ability whilst conveying the profound musical beauty and transformative qualities of these culturally rich musical traditions.

'Highly recommended for anyone interested in Afro Cuban folkloric music...Dave and Vicky have figured out the perfect formula to share their very deep knowledge in a really fun and relaxed but also intensive and challenging way. Only thing to be aware of is that this might be addictive.'

'Dave and Vicky are wonderful teachers and people, who love sharing their knowledge and passion for music. I feel so much joy and gratitude after every class I take with them! I can’t speak highly enough of Dave and Vicky’s classes...Thank you, thank you, thank you!'

'10/10 Over the years I've done workshops with Dave, and it's always been a great and rewarding experience. Very warm, friendly and energetic teacher, with extensive knowledge of this music. Can't recommend the course enough...this side of Havana,  Bombo productions is the place to go if you want to learn the real essence of Afro Cuban drumming, music and culture.'

Dates
4, 11 and 18 February
13.30-17.30
Hamilton House
80 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3QY

Price, workshop series
£120, £95 (concessions)

£15 earlybird discount!
Until Midnight on 31 December. Just enter the promo code 'Bombo' when booking. (NB: code is case sensitive)

Staged payment
We understand that some people may find it easier to pay in installments. If you wish, you can pay a non-refundable £50 deposit, with the balance due prior to the event. If opting to do this, you can also use the earlybird discount code until Midnight on 31 December.

If you wish to pay in two installments, please follow the ticket links to make your deposit, then contact us for instructions and the access code to pay the balance.

Performance and after party
There will be no entry charge for the scratch choir performance, but guests will be invited to make a donation to cover costs.