Sarah Willis, horn-player of the Berliner Philharmoniker, teams up with the Sarahbanda for a a celebration of the vibrant Cuban Christmas rhythms. The album injects the colourful, contagious energy of Cuban music into a selection of timeless holiday classics – some featuring vocals from Carlos Calunga, of Buena Vista Social Club fame. It also includes works by Bach and Tchaikovsky – these too reimagined with Cuban flair. “The result”, says Willis, “is a joyful mix of favourites like Jingle Bells and Silent Night, all infused with the irresistible grooves of salsa, mambo, bolero and so on. And for something extra special, we’ve given Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 a true Havana heartbeat.” “Cuban Christmas is a celebration of culture, connection, and the music that makes the season magical,” says Sarah Willis. “I truly hope it brings as much happiness to your home as it brought to mine while creating it.”
