Hatuey is a Swedish group devoted to music from Cuba in the Caribbean islands. The group was formed in 1987 and has 9 members who blend modern finely honed salsa with its muddy roots. It sounds good, but laid-back and playful at the same time. There is a lot of variety and the rhythm is irresistible. This is Afro-Cuban music with irrepressible energy and power which steams and boils and is as light and airy as it is heavy. Perfect suggestive dance music.

Hatuey started out playing latin jazz/fusion using the batá drums. After the first record "Songo Mondongo" the group was invited to the Jazz Plaza Festival - 91 in Havanna Cuba, the success was both great and astounding. Since 1991 Hatuey has been touring all over Europe, always met by very enthusiastic audiences. In the USA Hatueys second CD "La Leyenda" received overflowing reviews in the Latin Beat Magazine. The wellknown Max Salazar wrote "La Leyenda is arousing. You may find it difficult to believe that Swedish musicans are on the session. It´s the type of recording you can listen to forever, it´s a royal jewel. I assure you once you hear La Leyenda, you will never be the same".
Some of the songs from "La Leyenda" even climbed into the Top 20 of the US Latin Hit Parades. Since 1993 Hatuey is working together with the excellent Cuban singer Evelio Galan. "He likes to sing in the high pitches of his voice with great passion as if his life was depending on every phrase". In Cuba Evelio was the singer of the legendary Orquesta Riverside and as a result of Hatuey working together with him the music is now more salsa oriented.
In the spring of 2001 the group was joined by another excellent Cuban singer the young Lésmer Solenzar who now resides in Sweden. He was singing with the famous Cuban group Klimax. Hatueys music is mainly based on original compositions. The members of the group comes from Sweden, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia and Spain. Hatuey is not only the name of a group from Stockholm, Sweden but also the name of a very tasty Cuban beer. The name originates from a brave Indian chief who, in the 16th century, fought against the Spanish conquistadores.
In 1998 Hatuey released their latest CD "El Baile de la Paz". In February 1999 it was in 7:th place on the Latin Hit Parade by WDNA in Miami.

Presscuttings:
"El baile de la paz" is irresistible! It is steaming and boiling, sheer carnival frenzy. One of the songs is called "Quiero ser feliz" (I want to be happy). You get happy by listening to this CD! (Må Bra)

Even if you happen to be sitting in a snow-drift while listening to this band and their music, you will experience a genuine carnival feeling! (Ludvika Tidning)

Hatueys salsa is extravagent, humorous and full of sparkling warmth. It is very well played and you can find both the passion and the strong rythm that is so important for Latin American music. (Orkesterjournalen)

It can not sound more Cuban than this! But Hatuey comes from Sweden. El Baile de la paz joins razoredgesharp jazzprecision with a Caribbean partyfeeling. Best right now! (Lira)

www.hatuey.info