Led Boots | Rukus Frankie says: This is a tune that only Vince and I, being the old men of the band, were initially familiar with, since it originally came out on Jeff Beck's 70's era Wired album. Vince had always wanted to play it in a rock band, and El Clan was it, albeit with an AfroCuban twist! So we clavesized the groove, threw in a musical shout-out to Los Papines, and voila! -- Led Boots by way of La Habana.
Heads I Win, Tails You Lose | Rukus Vince says: I actually wrote this tune ages ago, premiered at a jazz festival where I played in a duo with an incredible upright bassist. It was originally an up tempo post-bop type of tune, and we had the hardest time making it work without a drummer. I'm afraid to say it didn't quite work. I shelved it right after the festival, and it hadn't been played since, until it became clear that the newly formed El Clan Destino needed more original material. I re-envisioned the substance of the tune, added some sections, and brought it the band, who made invaluable contributions.
Salome | Rukus Penned by El Chifa. Inspired by the Biblical story of Salome, who demanded the head of John the Baptist from king Herod in exchange for her magnificent dance.
Evocacion Vince says: The individual members of El Clan Destino have very different musical backgrounds and training. We bring it all together, filtered through an Afro-Cuban aesthetic. I owe much to my classical training, and my recent interest in Spanish classical music and flamenco helped to broaden my harmonic palette. Early on, I brought to the band tunes by Spanish jazz pianist Chano Dominguez; I would later write the flamenco-flavored "Andalucia" for our CD. Part of my preparation involved studying the music of the great Spanish composer Albeniz. "Evocacion" is the first piece in his mammoth collection "Iberia". (photo credit: Beth McConnell)
Ponle La Clave live @ the King Club 11/09/06 Frankie sez: This subversive tune in 7/4 time by the great Chucho Valdez is our gauntlet in the face of barcalounge latin jazz. Once we play this one, the audience knows we ain't your mami's conjunto de salsa romantica! Vince sez: Well, Nick announces at the beginning of this tune that this is my tune, but I have to say that I wouldn't be able to play the way I play without the solid unwavering support of the band. This is one of the hardest tunes that we've had to cover, and we spent countless hours agonizing over its nature. Frank mentions it's in 7/4, but that's only in the solo sections. The top of the tune is in various shifting time signatures, played at ridiculously fast tempos. Nick, Frank, and Jamie have locked in like no rhythm section I've ever played with previously.
Obatala Outro (live on Higher Ground w/ Jonathan Overby) Dedicated to Obatala, orisha of purity and justice.
Sandunga Mandinga Mondongo (live @ Marlborough Park) A hot descarga on the hottest day in Madison of the summer of '06. Hear Nickolas bring on the AfroCuban funk!!
El Rukus | Rukus Frankie says: My goal was to write a rawer track that featured more of the pocket, and gave Nicky some love! Although Vince tears it up as usual, I wanted the percussion to be more prominent overall. The word "rukus", pronounced ROO-koos, is a Spanglish version of "ruckus", which El Clan Destino has been accused of perpetrating on occassion.