"Cinco Changüiseros" is a musical documentary about Changüí - the traditional dance party music of Guantánamo Province, Cuba. Today's Salsa music and dance branched out from the vibrant tradition of Cuban Son. It is said that Changüí is the mother of the Son.
This first of five parts of "Cinco Changüiseros" features the beloved elder of the Changüí community and former marímbula player for Grupo Changüí de Guantánamo - Nino Olivares. As the foremost proponent of this unique music, Grupo Changüí has toured extensively throughout Cuba and the world. For almost 50 years, Nino was an anchor member of the group on marímbula - the large box drum with metal keys from the mbira family of instruments that plays the role of the bass in Changüí.
In December of 2004, two novice filmmakers travelled to Eastern Cuba to study and document Changüí. By knocking on doors and making new friends, some of today's best Changüí musicians gladly gave interviews in their homes and performed in intimate settings. In this way, five central changüiseros shared their personal stories and illuminated the nature of this frequently mentioned, yet seldom understood music and dance form. The full length documentary film "Cinco Changüiseros" that resulted from this journey is an up close and personal journey to Guantánamo where the Changüí is alive and well.
