Photo: Daimy Peña Guillén/Radio Angulo

Fernando Cabreja Debuts His New Trova Album in Holguin

This Monday, Holguin hosted the official launch of “Tenderness Is Not Enough: Singing to Roque Dalton”. The latest recording by singer-songwriter Fernando Cabreja. Best known in the musical landscape as the “Cacique” (Chief) of the *trova* tradition in Holguin.

Presented in the lobby of the Cine Martí as part of the 32nd edition of the Ibero-American Culture Festival, the album realizes a long-held aspiration of the artist. To set 11 poems by the celebrated Salvadoran writer to music.

A native of Sagua de Tanamo (1959), Fernando Cabreja Garcell is one of the most distinctive and deeply rooted voices in the Cuban singer-songwriter tradition.

With a solid four-decade career, marked by iconic venues such as his performance series “Alta Marea.” The troubadour has built a body of work in which the guitar and sophisticated, high-quality lyrics intersect naturally. He has consistently championed a meaningful, essential form of songwriting that eschews commercial artifice.

The album, which saw an initial run of 100 copies facilitated by the Cuban Institute of Music. It was supported by the Ministry of Culture and released under the Colibrí record label.

Musical direction and arrangements were handled by Yasel Muñoz Álvarez. While the overall executive production was led by Enrique Carballea. A figure well-known for his work with legendary singer-songwriters such as Silvio Rodríguez and Santiago Feliú.

The album’s visual design bears the mark of the multi-award-winning graphic designer and caricaturist ARES. While the liner notes were written by the author Ronel González Sánchez.

For Cabreja, this project is deeply rooted in his emotions. …which dates back to his student years at the University of Havana. “I was always attentive to, and constantly reading, the poetic work of Roque Dalton. I fell in love with his work, his poetics, and his authenticity,” the artist confesses. Explaining the process of searching for the melodies and harmonies intended to envelop the message of the chosen texts.

According to the artist, although Dalton’s poetry has inspired various musical interpretations in El Salvador. This production stands out for bringing these 11 poems together in a unique way within a single record.

During the event marked by a warm atmosphere and close, personal interaction. The album was presented by Adriana Pazos Tacoronte, director of Producciones Colibrí. Alongside researcher, critic, and music journalist Joaquín Borges Triana.

For Cabreja, the presence of dear friends at this gathering reinforces the significance of a work that is now available on various digital platforms, accessible to a global audience.

Thus, by once again placing song at the service of the written word, the voice of this tireless troubadour and that of the Salvadoran poet cross the Caribbean to meet in Holguin. Demonstrating that great music and authentic poetry always find new notes with which to continue their journey.

By: Daimy Peña Guillén

Radio Angulo
Latest posts by Radio Angulo (see all)