Project brings Cuban and Jamaican music stars together in an unmissable cultural meeting!

Nothing but a sliver of the refreshing Caribbean Sea separates the island nations of Cuba and Jamaica. In fact, from one point to the other, Havana, the Cuban capital, is closer to Kingston in Jamaica than Melbourne is to Sydney, in Australia. However, despite their proximity, each country displays its distinct and particularly fantastic musical traditions. Until now.

HAVANA MEETS KINGSTON

In an unprecedented endeavor, Jake "Mista" Savona traveled to Havana in 2015 with a band of carefully selected Jamaican musicians and successful partnerships, including Sly & Robbie (Peter Tosh, Sean Paul, Grace Jones), percussionist Bongo Herman (Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, The Abyssinians) and Winston 'Bopee' Bowen (Roots Radics, Inna De Yard) – to record the pioneering musical event "Havana Meets Kingston" (Havana meets Kingston) together with some of the best and brightest names in Cuban music and world music. Among the musicians who joined Savona and his Jamaican collective in Havana are the celebrated percussionist Changuito (Los Van Van) and musicians from Buena Vista Social Club Barbarito Torres and Rolando Luna, along with Félix Baloy (Afro-Cuban All Stars) and dozens of others. In total, "Havana Meets Kingston" brings together the swinging talents of more than 50 musicians from half a dozen countries. "Havana Meets Kingston" will be released worldwide in two parts, with album No. 1 released in November 2017 and album No. 2 around mid-2018. Accompanying the release of the second album will be an immersive indie documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Rick Mereki (MOVE, EAT, LEARN), from producer Lauren Rosa Beck and photographer Lara Merrington following the recording process and getting to know the lives of many of the musicians who participate in this album.