After 18 months after the their last CD, Sunlightsquare unveil a first single from their new and astonishing studio album! Recorded during a long session in Havana, Ochosi offers a rare glimpse into the real world of contemporary Santeria. Producer, composer and band leader Claudio Passavanti sits down with a group of 30 musicians all involved in the cult of Yoruba and carefully carves a modern and amazingly relevant piece of dance music. The London based label also release an incredible documentary videoclip on the making of this track... Unmissable! With a shocking 6/8 Afro House remix form the amazing Jose Marquez, Ochosi is first released on a limited edition 12inch vinyl, for the die-hard collectors.
Sunlightsquare is a London based project created by award winning pianist, producer and DJ, Claudio Passavanti. In 2010 Sunlightsquare's salsa version of I Believe In Miracles (from the CD Havana Central) became a cult success in the Latin circles worldwide, with the support of DJs in the likes of Gilles Peterson, Louie Vega, Jazzie B, Tony Humphries, Joey Negro to name but a few. Claudio's long affair with Afro-Cuban music got him to produce several recordings in Havana, in collaboration with percussionist Giovanni Imparato. Today Sunlightsquare Records release several projects including trumpet player Quentin Collins and saxophonist Brandon Allen, a 10,000-downloads-a-month podcast, as well as producing remixes for record labels worldwide. Sunlightsquare's 5th album Britannia Shing-A-Ling, a 25-piece band live studio recording released in 2011, has been defined by BBC Music as 'A triumph' (www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/zg8r). In April 2012, Brownswood Recordings released a Sunlightsquare remix of Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band's Agita, feat. El Micha & Osdalgia. Today Claudio is also a recognised DJ, performing often at Ronnie Scotts (London), WMC (Miami) and in several venues across the world, as well as contributing as a presenter for Jazz FM.
Produced, arranged and mixed by Claudio Passavanti
Recorded @ Istituto Cubano de Radio y Television (Havana - Cuba).
Mixed @ Sunlightsquare Records (London - UK).
Tracklisting:
SIDE A: OCHOSI (Original Mix)
SIDE B: OCHOSI (Jose Marquez Mix)
Release date: 25th March 2013