Primo Cubano

Where Primo Cubano goes, people dance. For the better of two decades, they have been bringing the infectious rhythms, rich harmonies, and lively improvisation of Cuban music to the Northeast—playing festivals, clubs, parties, weddings, and other private events.

The band was born out of a trip organized by the Brunswick-Trinidad Sister City Association, one of many organizations established to promote goodwill between the United States and Cuba. In 2004, an association trip brought Maine artists down to Cuba to share musical traditions between the two cultures. Singer, guitarist, and fiddler Paul D’Alessio, already well-established in Maine for playing folk music of the U.S., French Canada, and the Maritimes, went along and became inspired to learn the tres cubano—a guitar with three pairs of strings and the national instrument of Cuba. In 2007, he formed Primo Cubano back in his home state of Maine, bringing the palms to the pines.

Paul managed to find like-minded musicians who had also been bitten by the bug—who, despite growing up in Maine, were drawn to the music. They have studied, collaborated, and performed with musicians in the local area, such as drummers and noted ethnomusicologists Norm Bergeron and Andrés Espinoza. They have also traveled to study with Cuban musicians such as percussionist Rolando Salgado Palacios (aka El Niño Mentira), singer and dancer Reynaldo González, Jorge Salazar, tresera virtuoso Yarima Blanco, drummer Hugo Cruz, Lesster Castillo, changüisero Antonio Duvergel, and many other veteran Cuban musicians who have become lifelong teachers and friends.

While individual members were able to travel to Cuba at various times over the years, the band had the privilege of playing the Jazz Plaza Festival in Havana in January of 2024. They participated in workshops and private lessons with world-class Cuban musicians who took them under their wing and with whom they subsequently shared the stage at the weeklong festival, which features many of Cuba’s premier groups. This experience was an honor for the band, only matched by the incredibly warm and supportive reception of the Cuban public. They returned home feeling more connected to and inspired by Cuba and its people than ever.

 

Paul D’Alessio

Paul D’Alessio is the founding-member, and very heart and soul of the band. He's a vocalist and plays the tres cubano. Paul is a long-time veteran of the Maine music scene, singing and playing guitar and fiddle in bands such as the Dani Tribesman, the Holy Mackerels, and Los Nietos del Son.

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Duane Edwards

In constant dialogue with the tres is Duane Edwards, playing the syncopated bass lines known as tumbaos that give Cuban music its distinctive, danceable feel. Duane has released two records of highly original jazz compositions in recent years under his own name.

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Marc Chillemi

Marc Chillemi, on trumpet, brings a fiery energy to the stage, with a sound harkening back to the golden age of Cuban music—inspiring cries of “¡Chappotín!” from Cubans who hear the unmistakable influence of legendary bandleader and trumpet player Félix Chappotín. You can also find Marc performing with his jazz quintet, and leading the highly innovative band, Raging Brass, which plays music from across the African diaspora and Caribbean.

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Eric Winter

Eric Winter’s love of Spanish, singing, and drumming set him on a path that inevitably pointed to Cuba. He brings a theatrical energy to the stage, improvising lyrics in Spanish in the tradition of the great soneros such as Beny Moré, Celia Cruz, Miguelito Cuní, Félix Baloy, Mayito Rivera, and countless others.

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Lenny Hatch

Lenny Hatch, percussionist, navy veteran, painter, and hunter—at 87 years of age—plays congas in the band, perhaps the most physically demanding job in the ensemble. He is an absolute workhorse of a man and will gladly partake in the time-honored Maine tradition of discussing with you in great detail all the possible ways of getting from point A to point B.

Rafael Kielt-Freyre

Rafael Kielt-Freyre, is a multi-instrumentalist; depending upon the night or the song, he performs as a vocalist, percussionist, bassist, or tresero. In addition, Rafi is the co-founder of the Portland-based band, xoplanet. Also, when you check out Raging Brass, you’ll see him holding it all down on tuba. Off the stage he is a Master Plumber and Renaissance Man - creating art, casting bronze and even building houses.

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Rion Hergenhan

Rion Hergenhan, percussionist and artist, keeps the fire burning bright on timbales in Primo Cubano with his big smile and endlessly positive energy. Along with Rafi, he is a co-founder of the band, xoplanet. When not on stage with the band, you might encounter him manipulating larger-than-life puppets or doing tarot readings.

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Extended Family

Elspeth Trejo Savani

Elspeth Trejo Savani grew up in Boothbay Harbor and earned her BA in Music at Wesleyan University. She was mentored in the Pacific Northwest by Roberto Borrell, and performed with Orchestra Zarabanda, Kiki Valera y su Son, and many others. After returning from the Westcoast, Elspeth connected with Primo Cubano, quickly becoming a Cuban cousin with the band. Elspeth currently leads her band, Los Nietos del Son, in Maine.

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