Tribute to Brazilian Musician Gismonti in Havana

The National Culture Distinction, an award conferred by the Republic of Cuba, was imposed on Brazilian musician Egberto Gismonti, confirmed on Friday the Office of Leo Brouwer.

"Only in Gismonti, the great Brazilian spirit of Camargo Guarnieri or Heitor Villalobos from the first half of the twentieth century, is kept alive. That is why I consider this award very fair", stated Brouwer, referring to the South American pianist, guitarist, flutist and cellist.

Brouwer, an internationally renowned composer and author of The Eternal Spiral, expressed satisfaction over the presence of the composer and performer in the second edition of the Chamber Music Festival that bears his name.

During a concert in Guarnieri’s honor, he receivde from Ciro Benemelis, president of Cubadisco, the Honor Award for life achievement in discography, awarded by that international fair.

In that night's concert, on the lower basilica of San Francisco de Asis, La Habana Vieja, Victor Pellegrini, Marcelo de la Puebla, Miguel Trápaga and Ali Jorge Arango along with the String Quartet of Havana premiered in Cuba "Gismontiana", for four guitars and orchestra, by Brouwer, in the 2010 version.

Cuban Artists: Latin Grammy Nominees

Cuban artists Silvio Rodríguez and Leo Brouwer, and the groups Septeto Habanero and Sierra Maestra, were nominated to the 2010 Latin Grammies, and the winners will be announced on November 11.

Silvio Rodriguez will compete for the Award of Best Songwriter, against others such as Panamanian Ruben Blades, Uruguayan Jorge Drexler, Dominican Pavel Nuñez, Brazilian Maria Gadu and Colombian Santiago Cruz.

This is the second time Silvio Rodriguez is nominated to the Latin Grammies. In 2007, he was nominated, with a song called "Erase", to compete in the same award.

Leo Brouwer is considered among the world’s five best guitarists, and is now a competitor for the Award for Classic Music, with a CD called "Integral Cuartetos de Cuerda", with the participation of a Cuban quartet.

Septeto Habanero and Sierra Maestra are two of the oldest groups in Cuba. For Septeto Habanero, specifically, this would be its first Grammy Award if it becomes a winner finally, after 90 years of uninterrupted work.

Young Cuban composer Decemer Bueno also appears among the nominees, looking for the triumph at the competition for Best Song of the Year, with a song called "Cuando Me Enamoro" that has been performed by Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias and Dominican songwriter and singer Juan Luis Guerra.