It’s finally happening - Rafael is launching his own band, which he has called... wait for it... Maferefún Yemayá - which is Yorùbá, a Nigerian language and religion brought to Cuba with the slaves, for “Praise to my ancestor Yemayá - the Mother of all Mothers and the Seven Seas”. The band pays tribute to Rafael’s Afro-Cuban heritage and is dedicated to all mothers, but especially to his own mother who died in Cuba in March this year.
Featuring Andre Paris on saxophone, Ben Hunt on trumpet, Miguel Arñedo-Gomez on congas, Ben Wilcock on keyboard, Mostyn cole on bass and Rafael Ferrer Noel on timbales/vocals Maferefún Yemayá plays Afro-Cuban (very danceable) jazz.
Here is YouTube link to the video that goes with the Maferefún Yemayá photo featured on our website.
And here is YouTube link to a video from the launch on Sunday 9 May 2010 - Mother’s Day @ The Southern Cross.