TOT Video: Gilles Peterson talks

It’s been 50 years since the Cuban Revolution and Cuban music keeps on capturing the imagination and ears of music lovers around the world. Gilles Peterson (UK) and Gen Ogimi (Japan), both of whom are Cuban music devotees and highly successful musicians, are virtual human encyclopedias of the Cuban musical genre. Recently, the duo sat down for an informal chat at Time Out Café & Diner and shared their ideas on the attraction of Cuban music.

Peterson began his career in London and now boasts an international following along with the love and respect of DJs all over the globe. He’s a household name in Japan, known for his “Worldwide” radio programme on J-WAVE, now in its fifth year. His new compilation album of Cuban music, “Gilles Peterson Presents Havana Cultura-New Cuba Sound” hits the shelves on October 24 and he’ll be hosting a special musical event, “J-WAVE Gilles Peterson’s WORLDWIDE SHOWCASE 2009,” held in conjunction with J-WAVE on October 23 at the Liquidroom in Ebisu.

Ogimi was the founding member of Orquesta De La Luz, the most successful salsa band in the history of Japanese music. His current musical project is Salsa Swingoza, a band representative of New York-style salsa. Ogimi is a percussionist who became fascinated by Cuban and African music at an early age. He went travelling to immerse himself in the two styles of music and the learn how to play them himself.

Pererson and Ogimi chatted for over an hour about the Cuban music scenes in Cuba, Tokyo, New York, London, their own musical experiences and what it is that makes Cuban music so appealing.

This conversation between Gilles Peterson and Gen Ogimi at Time Out Café & Diner in Ebisu will be available as a five part series on the Time Out Tokyo website.

Video 1 (Oct 12)

Video 2 (Oct 14)

Video 3 (Oct 22)

Video 4 (Nov 16)

Video 5 (Nov 16)

Video 6 (Nov 16)

J-WAVE Gilles Peterson's WORLDWIDE SHOWCASE 2009: Afro Cuban Flava

Website: www.j-wave.co.jp/topics/0906_ww.htm

When: Fri Oct 23 Open 6pm, Start 7pm

Where: LIQUIDROOM 3-16-6 Higashi, Shibuya-ku

Telephone: (03) 5464 0800