Son
The name PICASON combines the two Spanish words picante (spicy) and son (traditional Cuban music). Founded in 1985, the Swiss Band started as a rather acoustic conjunto and was inspired by Cuban songwriters Arsenio Rodriguez, Miguel Matamoros, Ignacio Piñeiro or Beny Moré. The first album Picason was one of the first European son records and attracted international attention.
In 1987 - 88 PICASON was invited to Cuba to play at the Festival del Son , the Festival de la Charanga and on Cuban television, making an impact on audiences in Santiago de Cuba and even in the world-famous Tropicana in Havana.
Salsa
Over the years the band's line-up has changed a lot. Meanwhile, a new style called salsa was developed by latino orchestras in New York who mixed Cuban rhythms with elements of fusion and jazz music. In 1991 PICASON invited the Cuban trumpet star Arturo Sandoval to tour all over Europe. The Swiss orchestra’s success was even noticed in Cuba, and after another tour through Cuba, El Salvador and Mexico, PICASON continued working closely with musicians of Cuban top orchestras Irakere (Juan Munguia, Orlando 'Maraca' Valle) or NG La Banda (José Luis Cortés, Calixto Oviedo).
Right after hearing a PICASON concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival (with Ray Barretto) the outstanding flute player Orlando 'Maraca' Valle started to write a new repertoire especially for PICASON. The results of this collaboraton are the two albums Un estilo diferente(1997) and Timba (2001).
Timba
Charismatic lead singer Ernesto Manuitt joined the band in 2001. Formerly a member of the leading timba band 'Klimax', he is considered to have one of the most outstanding voices in Cuban music.
A lot of different influences make a good timba: Cuban tradition is extended by jazz, hip-hop and funk elements without losing its strongly Carribean character. The rhythms have become more complex, lyrics more fresh, the sound more brilliant – but still a highly danceable mixture of authentic and fresh Cuban love of life!
Que felicidad was the title of the next PICASON album released in 2006.
The music was written for PICASON by Orlando 'Maraca' Valle, Marcos A. Fernandez (Eliades Ochoa) and the bass player Yadam Gonzalez.
Today
PICASON is still networking with the international Latin scene. The music for the latest album Echando Candela(2013) was written by Jorge Gali or Ivan 'Melón” Gonzalez (Issac Delgado) and was recorded by José Mendoza (Issac Delgado, Paulito F.G. and others).
Additionally, PICASON’s bass player André Buser has composed and arranged songs to complement the band's strengths. This makes Echando Candela the most personal and melodic album so far.
PICASON sounds more dynamic and catchy than ever!
Diskographie
1988 „Picason“
1990 „Son de los alpes“
1995 „Un estilo diferente“
2001 „Timba“
2006 „Que felicidad“
2013 „Echando Candela“
Musicians who have played with PICASON through the years:
Arturo Sandoval, José Luis 'El Tosco' Cortes (NG La Banda), Tony Martinez, Calixto Oviedo (NG La Banda), Juan Munguia (Irakere, Issac Delgado), Tomas 'El Panga' Ramos Ortiz (Paulito F.G., Cubanismo), Tony Moreaux (Afro-Cuban-All-Stars), Amik Guerra (Afro-Cuban-All-Stars, Horacio 'El Negro' Hernandez), Carlos Perez (Issac Delgado) Matthieu Michel, Hans Feigenwinter, Christoph Baumann, Willy Kotoun, Sebastien Gagneux, Michael Wipf, Reto Manser, Oscar Olano, Alcides Toirac, Thomas Mäder among others.