Hanoi: Following the concert by "The Buena Vista Orchestra" at the 60th edition of the Hammamet International Festival, TAP met backstage with saxophonist Jason Duarte, director of the international tour and co-producer of the new album by the Cuban orchestra, a formation that brings together renowned artists from the original "Buena Vista Social Club" collective. According to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse, presented by the American company SSK Music (a division of The School of Sacred Knowledge), this premier ensemble, composed of musicians who have collaborated with legends such as Celia Cruz, Willie Colón, or Cachao López, is currently undertaking a major international tour across North America, Europe, and Africa. Driven by executive producers Steven Machat (co-founder of the WOMAD festival) and Debbie Machat, the project is set against the backdrop of the release of their new single "Candela", an energetic cover of Ibrahim Ferrer's classic, which was warmly applauded by the Hammamet audience. Co-produced by Jason Duarte and Juan Alvarez, their new studio album will be released this Friday, July 31, featuring a special collaboration with iconic Omara Portuondo on the legendary track "Chan Chan". Representing the new generation of creators, saxophonist Jason Duarte shares his perspective on the challenge of transmission and aligns with the recent statement by singer Angélique Kidjo, during an interview with TAP shortly before her concert at the Carthage Festival, regarding the African roots of their music. In an interview conducted backstage, Duarte expressed the honor of performing in Tunisia and emphasized the privilege of playing music that fuses African, Western, Middle Eastern, jazz, and Latin influences. He described the collaboration between older and younger generations within the orchestra as a dynamic process, highlighting the importance of fresh energy and new aesthetics brought by the younger members. Duarte also shared his views on the music's cultural roots. He noted that jazz and Afro-Caribbean rhythms have deep connections to African musical traditions, a theme echoed by producer Steven Machat's statement about bringing the music back to Africa. Duarte expressed agreement with Angélique Kidjo's assertion that jazz fusion and African music share common roots, emphasizing the unifying power of these traditions. Reflecting on the difference between The Buena Vista Orchestra and the original Buena Vista Social Club, Duarte emphasized that while they share a direct artistic lineage, their current formation is not a tribute band. Instead, they aim for an evolution and artistic affirmation, offering a fresh interpretation of the pieces rather than reproducing the past identically.