The musical kingdom’s illusionists
Close your eyes and listen !
Fresh and seductive as the waters of Cuba ́s beaches,
melodic and rhythmic as the wind which moves its palms and people,
this is Vocal Sampling !
The Cuban group that made musical instruments from their voices, becoming the illusionists of the musical Kingdom.
Attending a concert of Vocal Sampling is like participating in a magic show.
The unbelievers look for the trap. They do not want to believe that the group of sounds and the excellent melody they hear comes from the musicians ́ voices.
Meanwhile, the experts applaud because they know there are no deceits or tricks, just brilliance and harmony !
Aware of their cultural roots, with an unquestionable and undeniable stamp that characterizes Cubans, these six men, with nothing else but their voices, move very comfortably among the most dissimilar rhythms, from the so-called art music to the popular one.
With strokes of originality and talent, these six wizards have been leaving us open-mouthed at every concert.
LATEST ALBUM
Así de Sampling
Release February, 17 2017
“The Latin Grammy nominated VOCAL SAMPLING are back and just as remembered – Diverse, international but still terribly Cuban! The six magicians of the vocal cords release their sixth and latest album ASI DE SAMPLING (literally SO SAMPLING) on the 17 February 2017.
This unique A CAPPELLA band who worked with no less than Quincy Jones and Bobby McFerrin, o;er us 14 tracks of danceable tunes, romantic ballads, picaresque guarachas, poetic & philosophical songs, boleros, trovadas and some huge cover songs (Frank Sinatra, Sting, Bob Dylan, Ruben Blades…).
« Our purpose is to voice popular music while connecting it with the essence of the original message, from traditional and native to modern and transnational » says René Baños, the band leader.
ASI DE SAMPLING is a nugget made of meticulous care for tuning, impasto, repertoire, arrangements, orchestrations and timbres. All these features act as complements to a higher goal… a better interpretation….
a fundamental connection with the listener.
Such precise inDections, intentions & emphases, VOCAL SAMPLING proves once again that they are still musical kings of the illusion making
us believe these six wizards are a full grand orchestra.”
BIOGRAPHY
Everything began in 1989, as a game in their leisure at Havana Arts University, when they simulated the sound of di;erent instruments with their voices.
This way and, little by little, they went tuning their throats to the sound of the metals, the percussions and the strings and created the unique sound of Vocal Sampling.
1993 “Una forma mas” was their debut album. Henceforth, the sextet conformed by professional musicians has been protagonist of a beautiful musical career that has taken them to the most important and diverse scenarios all over the world.
The group have gained the attention of artists such as Bobby McFerrin, Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon.
In 1996, at the artists’ invitation, Vocal Sampling performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival alongside artists such as Chaka Khan, Phil Collins, Mick Hucknall and Toots Thielemans to celebrate Quincy Jones’s 50 years career.
Vocal Sampling has had a very busy tour schedule. Every year they have been present in the most important circuits of the World Music and Jazz of Europe, as well as Japan, Latin and North America….
Explanade Hall in Singapore, Ronie Scott Club in London, New Morning Club in Paris, Vienna Opera House, Opera Theatre in Tel Aviv, Hollywood Bawl in L.A., among others, have brought their music to all kind of audiences, as well as festivals like WOMAD Festival in England and Spain, Montreux Jazz Festival, Vienna, Vancouver, Paris, New York, Miami, WOMEX in Berlin, Paleo Festival Nyon in Switzerland, Festival Printemps de Bourges in France, April Jazz in Finland,. ..Following a hugely successful tour of the United States in 1995 they have continued to tour throughout Latin America, Europe and Japan.
In August 2000 during the BBC Proms, Vocal Sampling made a huge impact when they performed in a sold-out Royal Albert Hall.
On the back of this success, in 2001 the group released a very successful album, “Cambio de Tiempo” that got 3 nominations for the “Latin Grammy Awards 2002 ” on the categories of “Best Recording Engineering”, “Best Tropical Music Album” – “Producer of the Year and Best Produced Song”.
2006, release of the album “Akapelleando”.
2013, on December, they performed at the Shanghai’s World Music Festival.
2014, they made a tour around Europe and Asia, including festivals in Madrid, Canarias and Borneo. During that summer, they performed in festivals in Brazil and Mexico. On December they were nominated in Cuba to the Luca’s Award for their most recent video “El lunes que viene empiezo” which will be included in their next CD that is already in progress.
Vocal Sampling has performed in two of the three editions of the Festival Leo Brouwer de Música de Cámara that has taken place in Havana.
2015, a new show “So Sampling” will be presented with concerts in Mexico and China….
2017, their latest album “Así de Sampling” has been launched.
LINE UP
René Baños PascualDirector, composer, arrangementsLead & backing voices Oscar Porro Jimenez Bass voice
Reinaldo Sanler Maseda Lead & backing voices
Pedro Guillermo Bernard Coto Percussion voice
Luis Alberto Alzaga Mora Lead & backing voices
Ruben Dario Perez Guerra Lead & backing voices
WHAT PRESS SAYS
“Six funky guys sashaying to their own rhythms and not an instrument in sight…I will unashamedly groupie along to every show.” THE SCOTSMAN
“You can’t get much closer to pure entertainment than Vocal Sampling, six Cubans famed for being able to recreate a hot Latin orchestra, a trompe l’oreille achieved with voices and mics.” THE GUARDIAN
“Musical Magic. Vocal Sampling must rank as one of the most extraordinary groups in the world… So e0ective is it that initially you think they must be using backing tapes, or that the real musicians are hidden o0stage. They are not, and even the brass and 1ute parts are created only by their six voices. Their timing was impeccable, their presentation theatricalandtheirrepertoireimaginative.” THETIMES
“I can’t give them higher praise or I would… They do it not only with artisty; they make it both thrilling and fun… It is hard not to move with and be moved by guys this talented having this much fun… Really, see them. You’ll thank me for it.” THE DAILY YOMIURI
“Vocal Sampling’s set… showed the power of talent to create magical moments out of nothing… No matter how well you decide what Vocal
Sampling does, it won’t sound as good on paper as it did on the glittery stage….The group’s warmth and inventiveness made this the year’s most memorable Latin show so far.” LOS ANGELES TIMES
“a sixman a cappella group with boundless vitality and ingenuity.” NEW YORK TIMES
“Shut your eyes at a Vocal Sampling concert and you’ll believe they’ve got guitars, trombones and percussion tucked into their sharp suits. Actually, this a cappella sextet is creating the sound of a salsa band with just mouths and hands. It is jawdropping, crazy stu0 and should be a highlight of tonight’s Cubanthemed late night Prom.”
EVENING STANDARD
“The most exciting a cappella group to hit the scene in years… The purity of their voices is immaculate and there isn’t a part missing nor gap to be 7lled. It’s di8cult to distinguish the di0erent voices as they seem to 1ow from one, bringing together a united body of tight, rhythmic and melodic concoctions.” NEW YORK LATINO
“An impressive tour de force… The e0ect was dazzling.” MIAMI HERALD
“Vocal Sampling’s music transcends novelty. They are masters of rhythm and harmony as well as being spirited showmen. Performing crisp, intricate arrangements by bandleader René Banos, they prove to be serious musicians.” MIAMI NEW TIMES
“An outpouring of joyful noise; the euphoria in the hall matched that of a gospel summit… The soldout twohour show was a smash by any measure.” MIAMI NEW TIMES
“The singers of Vocal Sampling de7nitely have the legs to go as far as their tonsils will take them.” STYLE, WASHINGTON
ALBUMS
Así de Sampling CD2017
Otra forma mas DVD2013
Live concert at the National Museum of Bellas Artes in Havana
Akapelleando 2006
Awarded as “Best Vocal Album” and “ Special Grand Price” for Cubadisco 2007
Cambio de tiempo 2000
Awarded as “Best Vocal Album” and “Best Recording Engineering” for Cubadisco 2001 Nominated as “Best Production” for Cuba disco 2001
3 nominations for the “Latin Grammy Awards 2002 ” on the categories :
“Best Recording Engineering” ,
“Best Tropical Music Album” “Producer of the Year” “Best Produced Song”
Live in Berlin 1999
De vacaciones 1997
Nominated for “Best Pop/Rock Album” and “Best Pop/Rock Song” (La Fiesta Ya Empezó ) for the Contemporary A Capella Society of America in 1998.
Una forma más 1993
Awarded as “Artist Of The Year” and “Best Foreign Language Song” (Una Forma Más) in 1996 for the Contemporary A Capella Society of America