Vocal Sampling
Videos
About
Everything began in 1989, as a game in their leisure at Havana Arts University, when they simulated the sound of different 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.
Press
“They are the real deal”
– Quincy Jones
“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, UK
“Musical Magic. Vocal Sampling must rank as one of the most extraordinary groups in the world… So effective is it that, initially, you think they must be using backing tapes, or that the real musicians are hidden offstage. They are not, and even the brass and flute parts are created only by their six voices. Their timing was impeccable, their presentation theatrical and their repertoire imaginative.”
– The Times, UK
“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 stuff and should be a highlight of tonight’s Cuban-themed late-night Prom.”
– Evening Standard, UK
“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, US