[222.1] FROM HAVANA WITH LOVE

It may be that the renaissance in British and European jazz over the past ten years or more has still barely seeped below the surface of US culture, but in a remote nearby island things are apparently different. Ibrahim Ferrer, one of the unlikely heros of Wim Wenders' marvellous film The Buena Vista Social Club is interviewed in the Metro this morning. He comments:

"Cubans are curious by nature... They are also very knowledgeable about jazz, so [when I return from a trip] they'll ask me about Courtney Pine or Andy Sheppard. They also have fond memories of the late Ronnie Scott, who helped to organise one of the first Havana Jazz Festivals - so he will get a mention too. But me? I usually get left alone."

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