Skip to main content

Maverick Ad

Home

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Cover Stories
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Legacy Awards
  • Past Covers
  • Weekly Archive
Jane Bunnett & Maqueque Release Playing With Fire

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • Jane Bunnett & Maqueque Release Playing With Fire
Jane Bunnett & Maqueque
Fri Jan 20, 2023
Cashbox Canada

Playing With Fire could refer to the feeling emanating from any member of Maqueque, the all-women band formed by veteran Toronto jazz musician Jane Bunnett with young female grads of the Cuban conservatory.

Check it out on YouTube here:

 A decade ago, Bunnett met the core of the band at a jam session with her band Spirits of Havana, at the Cohiba Hotel in that city. Ten years later, Maqueque has created opportunities for composing and performing extraordinary jazz that has taken the pioneering ensemble around the world. It has expanded to include not only women players from Cuba, but also the brilliant vocalist Joanna Majoko (from Zimbabwe) and musicians from the Dominican Republic, Latin America, Spain and Lebanon.

On Playing With Fire, much of the heat comes from new guitarist Donna Grantis. Donna, who also hails from Bunnett’s home of Toronto, performed for many years with Prince as a member of 3RDEYEGIRL in the 2010s. Three pieces in particular feature Donna’s contribution to the recording process: “A God Unknown,” “A Human Race” and “Sierra.”

Maqueque has won a Juno Award, was nominated for a Grammy and annually tours Europe, Latin America, the U.S. and Canada. Downbeat magazine picked them as one of the Top Ten Touring Groups of 2019. NPR has featured the band on Tiny Desk Concert. Maqueque has been wildly successful in its mission, which is to elevate the profile of women musicians in Cuba. “There was so much creative energy there,” says Bunnett, “but not many outlets. We also realized that many of the girls at the conservatories were not really encouraged to ‘take the stage’ in a male-dominated scene. We witnessed this first-hand while taking technicians, jazz materials and instruments to Cuban conservatories — that the best way to solve this issue was to create a performance opportunity, which became an all-female ensemble.”

Maqueque continues to evolve and welcome new generations. Playing With Fire marks the debut of 19-year-old violinist Daniela Olano, sister of the band’s co-founder and pianist, Danae Olano. Her composition “Daniela’s Theme” is a highlight on the new recording. In addition to new compositions, the collective also reimagines two jazz classics: “Tempus Fugit” by pianist Bud Powell and “Jump Monk” by Charles Mingus.

Playing With Fire is the first Maqueque album to feature vocalist Joanna Majoko. The Zimbabwean took the music to new heights, improvising with a creative power in the studio that inspired everyone. The electrifying rhythm section — including the two founding members, pianist Danae Olano and drummer Yissy Garcia, along with bassist Tailin Marrero (who wrote the track “Bolero”) and percussionist Mary Paz — is the foundation that the music is built upon.

“Playing with Fire is a stunning example of the strength and beauty of the evolution of Jane Bunnett and Maqueque.”  -The Boston Globe’s Jon Garelick.

Tracklisting

  1. Human Race 6:30
  2. Tempus Fugit 3:23
  3. Sierra 7:29
  4. Daniela’s Theme 3:20
  5. A God Unknown 6:42
  6. Turquoise/Turquesa 2:57
  7. Bolero a un Sueño 5:24
  8. Jump Monk 2:51
  9. Tomorrow 4:11
  10. Playing With Fire 3:25
Reviews
Album
Jane Bunnett
Jane Bunnett & Maqueque
Month: Mar 2023
The Maple Blues Band The Maple Blues Band Releases “Savona Shuffle” Single And Video From Their…
Victa Ottawa-Based Victa Releases Pop Single “Where Did You Go?”
Kari Lyn Toronto Folk-Rocker Kari Lyn Explores the Duality of Comfort and Grief on “Anyways…
Aaron Wylder Folk Rocker Aaron Wylder Releases “Don’t Let Me Down”
Christine Graves Ottawa Folk Artist Christine Graves Releases “Keep In This Mind’ Single
Dany Horovitz Rocks Out On “Don’t Look To Me” Dany Horovitz Rocks Out On “Don’t Look To Me”
Guelph, ON-Based Blues Artist David Deacon Returns to Music with Philosophical, Humbly Accepting “Arc Of Life” Guelph, ON-Based Blues Artist David Deacon Returns to Music with…
Paige Rutledge’s Releases Personal  Tribute to Family and Loss with “Gone Ain’t Really Gone” Paige Rutledge’s Releases Personal Tribute to Family and Loss with “Gone…
Tonia Cianciulli Tonia Cianciulli Returns With Emotional “Thousand Cries”
Valentina Cherico Pittsburgh-Based Pop Singer Valentina Cherico Releases "Teach Me How To…
Month: Apr 2023
Aruna & the Sirens Rising Folk/Roots Group Aruna & the Sirens Release “Have You Seen My Sister?”
AZËE Montreal-Based EDM/Pop Producer AZËE Grants Sweet Dreams In "Close Your Eyes…
Toronto Rock Trio Berner Trail Release “Sleep Til The Afternoon” Toronto Rock Trio Berner Trail Release “Sleep Til The Afternoon”
Emily Mac 25,000 Streams In A Week – Toronto Rocker Emily Mac Raises The Stakes With “…
Keisha Christian Keisha Christian To Launch New Album 360 Love Live at El Mocambo

Pagination

  • First page « First
  • Previous page ‹ Previous
  • …
  • Page 91
  • Page 92
  • Page 93
  • Page 94
  • Current page 95
  • Page 96
  • Page 97
  • Page 98
  • Page 99
  • …
  • Next page Next ›
  • Last page Last »

CEO/PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF
SANDY GRAHAM

email:sandygrahamemg@gmail.com 

Canadian Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Don Graham
email: dongrahamwriter@gmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Lisa Hartt
email: lisahartt87@hotmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada 
Michael Williams
email: greydread@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

International Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Malin Osth
email: malin@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Jonas Tancred
email: jonas@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - USA
Rob Durkee 
email: rockster2746@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web Developer/Technical Support
Chris Wardman

email: info@chriswardman.com
website: chriswardman.com

Cashbox Cover Design and Graphic Artist
Jain McMillan

email: jainmcmillan@gmail.com

Contributing Photographer 
Tracey Savein - South Paw Productions
southpawproductions@rogers.com

 

 

 

Footer menu

  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Archive
  • Issue Archive
  • Past Covers