and so as we’ve been promising you for the past couple months – you know those tourist t-shirts that read ‘…..went to Havana and all I got was this t-shirt’ well lucky for us our good friend (GP Sportswide) went to Havana recently and what we are getting is a pretty amazing double album ‘Gilles Peterson Presents Havana Cultura’  (check out Gilles’ Minimix in the jukebox)

After almost a year in the planning, Gilles’ whirlwind trip in Havana to make a record (or 2) at the legendary Egrem studios (Buena Vista Social Club and many many more) collaborating with top Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca and Vince Vella has resulted in 28 tracks with 20 artists over 2 albums – choc full with the new recordings of classics, future classics and some stellar choices of Cuban versions of Fela’s Roforofo Fight and dancefloor sizzler Chekere Son for example, plus an album compiled from GP faves new and old.

Gilles ever the master Worldwide talent spotter brings us the likes of a now newly discovered dynamo vocalist D’nay singing on record for the first time (think Jill Scott Gilles says),  and Doble Filo,  as well as international award winning artists such as rapper Kumar and pianist Roberto Fonseca himself.

Check out our Havana Cultura Photo Album here and experience a little behind the scenes as shot by photographers Youri Lenquette and Vincent Ferrane.

“Gilles Peterson Presents Havana Cultura – New Cuba Sound” double cd will be available worldwide from 29 October on Brownswood Recordings featuring Gilles Peterson, Roberto Fonseca, Kumar, Gente de Zona, Francis del Rio, Doble Filo, Obsesion, Ogguere, Los Adeanos, Wichy de Vedado, Free Hole Negro, Telmary, Cubanito 20.02, Harold Lopez-Nussa, Descemer Bueno & Kelvis Ocohoa, Yusa, Vince Vella, Mayra Caridad Valdes

Stay tuned here for a chance to win your own copy of this gem ! For a dynamic journey through Havana Cultura check the site, designed to give artists in Havana a global voice.