The sound-world that lies between classicism, world music and jazz has long been Anette Maiburg’s artistic home territory. Her beginnings were entirely classical: she was a flautist with the Hagen Philharmonic Orchestra, on tours and recordings with the Bamberg Symphoniker, the WDR Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra and the orchestra of the Beethovenhalle, Bonn, while also teaching at the Musikhochschulen of Cologne and Lübeck. She has now given up her permanent appointments to focus on the expressive power of the solo flute. With her instrument she is passionate about exploring and trying out unusual sound-worlds and rhythms. Her numerous encounters with musicians of many other nationalities gave rise to the CD series “Classica…”, created in collaboration with the MDG label.
The first CD of the series, “Classica Cubana”, was hailed enthusiastically by audiences and critics alike, and received the presigious ECHO-Klassik Prize in 2008. In this recording, the Cuban folk tradition, mixed with elements of jazz and poured into chamber music structures, is blended with a pinch of rumba, cha-cha-cha and mambo. This recording is a declaration of love to Cuba and a homage to the “Son Cubano”. Together with guitarist Joaquin Clerch, Anette Maiburg brought together a hand-picked group of Cuban musicians including the world-famous tres exponent from Havana, Pancho Amat. Amat reveals that his instrument – the tres, a small guitar with a metallic tone, first found among workers on the sugar plantations – had been given him by his father when he was a child; he said in an interview: “It became my friend, with it I got to know the country and its people, and through it I found my great love.” Most of the pieces on this CD are arrangements by Joaquin Clerch and Pancho Amat, who are both masters of their own instrumental parts, but who in addition lend the music a special magic through their own voices. One song by Pancho Amat deserves particular mention, “Maria Eugenia”, dedicated to his prematurely deceased wife.
Photograph: Markus Nass.