Los Van Van

(CU)

In 1969, the sound of Havana’s streets pulsed with a blend of tradition and hope. Juan Formell, who had previously been part of the Orquesta Revé, set out to create an orchestra that would translate everyday Cuban life into music. He drew inspiration from the classic charanga ensemble, consisting of flutes, violins and a light rhythm section, but also added electric bass, drums and keyboards. The result? An irresistible hybrid: the modern charanga , which transformed the island’s musical landscape. The very name ‘Van Van’ echoed the popular slogan of the time, ‘¡Vamos a andar!’. A symbol of movement, progress and vitality inspired by the iconic Soviet ‘van’ trucks of that era.

Since the 1970s, Los Van Van have become much more than just a band: they have become a national institution and a transcontinental phenomenon. They were pioneers of songo, a genre that blended traditional flavour with the electric pulse of pop, funk and jazz.

The arrangements of Juan Formell and his charismatic trombonist Pupy Pedroso, combined with the raw, street-wise voices of Pedro Calvo, Mayito Rivera and so many others, defined a musical identity that has influenced orchestras and salsa musicians all over the world. From NG La Banda to Irakere. In New York and Cali, salsa musicians admit that Los Van Van changed the grammar of Latin American dance music.

In 2014, following the death of Juan Formell, his son Juan—who had already been musical director of Los Van Van for a decade, took up the baton and modernised the orchestra without losing its authentic groove, incorporating subtle samplers, more pop-inspired harmonies, and an energy that transforms the stage into a universal dance floor.

Los Van Van are an orchestra that does not rest on its laurels. They possess the rare gift of sounding both classic and forward-looking at the same time. To see them at the MED is to witness the living memory of Cuba in its entirety. It is to feel the pulse of Havana, the murmur of the Caribbean and the DNA of the Latin groove passed down from father to son.