Hanine Y Son Cubano is a music group formed in 1999 that merges Cuban music and

Arabic music Arabic music or Arab music ( ar, الموسيقى العربية, al-mūsīqā al-ʿArabīyyah) is the music of the Arab world with all its diverse music styles and genres. Arabic countries have many rich and varied styles of music and also man ...

. It was in the early 1990s, when he lived in

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

, that Greek- Lebanese music novelty-wiz and avant-garde producer, composer and arranger

Michel Elefteriades Michel Elefteriades ( ar, ميشال ألفتريادس; el, Μιχαήλ Ελευθεριάδης; born 22 June 1970) is a Greek- Lebanese politician, artist, producer and entrepreneur. He is noted in the Arab world for his unorthodox beliefs ...

came up with the groundbreaking music concept that led, a few years later in 1999, to the formation of Hanine Y Son Cubano, the now seminal Arabo-Cuban music genre. It was while he was sitting in a cafe in Havana, surrounded by Afro-Cuban sounds, that Elefteriades began singing a classic of the Arabic music, "Ya Habibi ta ala" of the Arab diva

Asmahan Amal al-Atrash ( ar, آمال الأطرش ', North Levantine ; November 25, 1918 – July 14, 1944),

. The idea of a fusion of Cuban and Arabic music genres came instantly to his mind. Michel Elefteriades spent two years trying to achieve this project. He selected seven of the best Cuban musicians, he chose the legendary vocalist Marcelino Linares, who died in 2000, two days before launching the concept. He auditioned hundreds of singers before choosing Hanine Abu Chakra, young singer from

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...

who was comfortable singing classic Arabic music and had just finished her last year at the Conservatoire. The project experienced a dazzling success. The Arabo-Cuban music was born. The band’s fulgurating success story gave birth to a few best-selling albums, namely "Arabo-Cuban" distributed worldwide by international production company “Warner”, "10908 km", which have become referential in the realm of World Music and "The Festivals Album: Baalbeck & Beiteddine".

Discography

*''Arabo-Cuban'' (2002) includes pieces from Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Abdel Halim Hafez,

Farid El Atrache Farid al-Atrash ( ar, فريد الأطرش; October 19, 1916 – December 26, 1974), also written Farid El-Atrache, was a Syrian-Egyptian composer, singer, virtuoso oud player, and actor. Having immigrated to Egypt at the age of only nine ...

Fairouz Nouhad Wadie' Haddad ( ar, نهاد وديع حداد, ; born November 21, 1934), known as Fairuz ( ar, فيروز, ; also spelled Fairouz, Feyrouz or Fayrouz), is a Lebanese singer. She is considered by many as one of the leading vocalists a ...

and

Asmahan Amal al-Atrash ( ar, آمال الأطرش ', North Levantine ; November 25, 1918 – July 14, 1944),

rearranged in

salsa Salsa most often refers to: * Salsa (Mexican cuisine), a variety of sauces used as condiments * Salsa music, a popular style of Latin American music * Salsa (dance), a Latin dance associated with Salsa music Salsa or SALSA may also refer to: A ...

Bolero Bolero is a genre of song which originated in eastern Cuba in the late 19th century as part of the trova tradition. Unrelated to the older Spanish dance of the same name, bolero is characterized by sophisticated lyrics dealing with love. It has ...

and

cha-cha-cha Cha cha cha may refer to: * ''Cha-cha-chá'' (music), a style of Cuban dance music * Cha-cha-cha (dance), a Latin American dance accompanying the music Film and television * ''Cha Cha Cha'' (film), a 2013 Italian crime film * ''Cha Cha Cha'' ...

… ''Arabo-Cuban'' was number one in Lebanon for a year, and has met with a similar success in the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...

and other Mediterranean countries. #La llave - “Albi W Mouftahou” #Afro blue/Zum Zum - “Ana Wel Azab We Hawak” #Cuando - “Emta Ha Taaraf” #El mambo de los recuerdos - “Aala Bali” #El huerfanito - “Ya Habibi Ta'ala” #El gallo - “El Helwa Dih” #La flor - “Ya Zahratan Fi Khayali” #El dia feliz - “Kan Agmal Yom” #Descarga Arabo-cubana #Pot Pourri #El mambo de los recuerdos “Aala Bali” (remixed by Michel Eléftériadès) #Presentations : Hanine, Marcelino Linares, Michel Elefteriades #Bonus : phrase "Ya se me acabo el repertorio" + rires *''10908 km'' (distance as the crow flies from

Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...

to Havana) #Baladi (salsa salsita) #Zourouni (visita me) #Lama aa tarik el ein (la fuente) #Chaghalouni (ojos del alma) #Zeh’ani (soledad) #Bhebak w menak khaifi (no llores) #Imlali (llena me la copa) #Arabo-Cuban improvisation *''The Festivals Album'' ( Baalbeck & Beiteddine Festivals) #Rosana #Huwwara #Dal'ouna #Ghzayyil #Rahou #Tutti Frutti #Lama Aa Tarik El Ein #Na'eeli Ahla Zahra #Salsa Salsita #Ya Lalah #Aala Nari #Rjeena #Pot Pourri

References

External links

*http://www.elefteriades.com/hanine.htm *https://web.archive.org/web/20081022025308/http://hanine.calabashmusic.com/ {{Authority control Musical groups established in 1999 Lebanese musical groups 1999 establishments in Cuba