Cuba’s All-Female Band Anacaona to Perform as Closing Act at the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival in Aruba

Anacaona will be the final top act of the upcoming Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival. It is the name of the popular Cuban, all-female band that is undoubtedly going to leave a lasting impression on festival goers of the event, which takes place on September 4 and 5. Anacaona is the final act of the fabulous international and local lineup of the 2009 festival.

Named after an Indian queen, the band was founded in the 1930’s in Havana by Cuchito Castro. Together with her sisters she formed a septet, playing her music, challenging this male dominated kind of music. Before long, however, all eleven sisters joined the band, and soon they started to enjoy international fame.

Earlier in the 1930’s the political situation in Cuba led to university closings, forcing Cuchito Castro to abandon her studies and plans to start a dental practice. Instead she formed a band with which she performed on the radio and at open-air cafés.

The international break-through came in 1938 with concerts in New York and in Paris. Unfortunately, the Cuban Revolution caused the group to fade into obscurity until it resurfaced years later.

Anacaona was reorganized in 1988. Five Castro sisters left the band, which is now led by bassists Georgia and Doris Aguirre. Three CD’s have come out: Ay! (1992), Como un Milagro (1995) and Lo que tu Espereabas (2000). Expectations are running sky high for the performance of this most unusual band at the 2009 Caribbean Jazz Festival.