Pedro Depestre & 'Orq. Tipica Juventud' de Santiago, Cuba

"Mi Orquesta Sigue Igual" 
Vinyl LP/LD
 
5. Mi Orquesta Sigue Igual
 

"Lo Mismo Bailo un Son" 
(live en vivo)
 
1. Lola y Su Compay
Pedro Depestre; violin solo

"Presencia Cubana"
Vinyl LP/LD

7. Loco Me Llaman

"Se Va Pegando" 
Vinyl LP/LD

4. Tres Lindas Cubanas En Descarga
Pedro Depestre; violin solo

5. Popurrit De Exitos No.1 
Pedro Depestre'; violin solo

6. Que No Me Compliquen El Son

Four LP's by the late master Violinist Pedro Celestino Depestre.
Another great band that was from Santiago De Cuba, with a sound unique to that part of the island.
Pedro Celestino Depestre started playing violin at the age of five. As a 13 year old violin prodigy he joined Orq. Aragón in 1959 in order to replace his predecessor (his father) Filiberto Depestre. He formed his 'Orq. Tipica Juventud' in 1972.

The LP "Lo Mismo Bailo Un Son" is LIVE (en vivo) and is a killer with some amazing bass playing. The LP "Presencia Cubana" is a studio recording, also a killer.
Both done between '72 & '74.
Swinging "Onda Nueva" 1970's style Charanga.
His last CD "*Son Charangas y Pasiones" came out in 1999 and really showed his violin virtuosity... and his composing and arranging skills.

Pedro Depestre collapsed an died onstage after taking a solo at a concert in Basel, Switzerland in 2001.
He was 55 years old.

Pedro Depestre - "Son Charangas Y Pasiones" 1999 - Cuba

"Son Charangas Y Pasiones"
1999

'Pedro Depestre'; son of 'Filiberto Depestre' a violinist with Orq. Aragon in 1955.
Started playing violin at the age of five.
Replaced his father in Orq. Aragon in 1959, leader and director of his own band 'Orq. Tipica Juventud' de Santiago de Cuba 1970's, member of the 'Estrellas de Areito' late '70's, director of the Maravillas de Florida, director of the string section in the Tropicana Cabaret house Orq.
Music producer for Cuban radio and television.'Pedro Depestre' died at 55 years young after taking a violin solo on stage in Basel, Switzerland in 2001. (1945-2001)

"Son Charangas Y Pasiones"
Musicians:
Pedro Depestre - Violin solos, musical director, arrangements
Jose Perez Fuentes - Violin
Jose Conyedo Roman - Violin
Humberto Legat Yera - Violin
Ray Avila Serrano - Cello
Policarpio Tamayo Garriga - Flute
Jorge Leliebre - Flute
Alexis Bosch - Piano, vibraphone
Maria Hernandez - Trumpet
Alexander Brown - Trumpet
Miguel Valdes - Trumpet
Roberto Martinez Capote - Guitar, bass
Juan Pablo Dominguez - Bass
Cesar Lopez - Alto sax
Alfred Thompson - Tenor sax
Hilario Bell - Drums
Jose Manuel Urquia - Tres, requinto, chorus
Yamir Rodriguez - Guitar, chorus
Blas Egües - Timbales
Jorge Alfaro - Percussion, guiro

Tropicana Revue "La Gloria Eres Tu" 1998 live in London

"La Gloria Eres Tu"
Tropicana Revue live in London.

1998 audio CD

In 1998 the the show-revue from the Tropicana cabaret in La Habana, went to London England, where they performed several shows at the 'Royal Albert Hall'.
The number of musicians, singers and dancers total about 80.

Once a year there are auditions for prospective performers in this show and musicians and dancers come from many of the different provinces in Cuba to audition.
Only the "best of the best" are chosen to be part of the company.

In this show 'Los Papines' perform in both the CD and the Video. An amazing group of Cuban acrobats perform in the video... who are amazing and as good as any Chinese acrobats I've ever seen. The late ''Pedro C. Depestre'' was in charge of the string section at the time this was recorded. ('Pedro Depestre' was the leader of "Orq. Tipica Juventud" de Santiago De Cuba)

Every musician in the band is a killer.
(including the piccolo player!)
In fact, this band could easily rival with any Las Vegas show band'.
There were both an audio CD and also a VHS video that came from this show.
Both CD and video are no longer in print and no longer commercially available.
(The video performances are different than on the CD)

1998 audio CD


The 1998 VHS video:

The stage set was designed to replicate the Tropicana stage in Havana.

From the video:
Cuban acrobats

Rezo a Obatala, Babalú Ayé, Arará

Se Le Ve

Mi Son, Mi Son, Mi Son

Besame Mucho