All for Jazz, and Jazz for All

Two of the most beautiful-sounding cultures I’ve ever heard, and now they’ve been combined into one being, thanks in part to Jane Bunnett and Maqueque.

The word “Maqueque” translates to the fiery spirit of a little girl, which describes their kind of music perfectly. This fiery group has combined folkloric Cuban music and jazz, making this Afro-Cuban mix that is upbeat, yet relaxing. Plus, everyone in the band is a woman! The band consists of Jane Bunnett herself (soprano saxophone and flute), Melvis Santa (vocals and percussion), Mary Paz (congas and vocals), Dánae Olano (piano), Tailin Marrero (acoustic and electric bass), and Yissy García (drums).

Before the forming of this all-female band, it used to be that only men performed. Women performed as well in hotel lobbies, but they never wrote their own music, or get to leave Cuba and go on tour. “They [men] were sort of hogging it all,” Bunnett chuckles. That was until she decided to change that.

Bunnett always adored Cuba for its beautiful views and its rich culture, especially its music. She would travel to Cuba almost all the time, and bring musicians from Canada to come and collaborate with musicians in Cuba, and vice versa. In 2013 she set up a jam session in Havana with Cuba-born singer Dánae Olano, and Olano killed it. So much so, that Bunnett invited her back to Toronto about a month later to play a show, and she killed it, again. That gave Bunnett the idea and confidence to go to Cuba and make a group. Everything else is history. They’ve performed at places like the Lincoln Center, at major jazz festivals like Newport and Monterey. Bunnett herself has won 3 Grammy Awards, received The Order of Canada (the 2nd highest honor for merit in Canada), The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and The Premier’s Award for Excellence. Just goes to show the kind of success you can achieve when you combine different cultures. Don’t forget to take a look at the other end of the world, and check out the rich traditions and culture that they have to offer, and not overlook them. I’ll bet you can create something awesome with them.