Lico Jimenez: The Ebony Liszt

Lico Jimenez: The Ebony Liszt's Fundraiser

The Father of Cuban Art Song image

The Father of Cuban Art Song

Lico Jiménez the Ebony Liszt documentary

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PRODUCER'S STATEMENT: THE MUSIC ENDURES:

This film tells the story of the enduring power of one man's music compositions that barely survived specific horrors of history. My passion for this project started when my late mother gave documentary film director, Isidro L. Betancourt Benítez, MA, the surviving music scores of my great grandfather, Afro Cuban post romantic composer Josè Manuel “Lico” Jimènez Berroa.

Most of Lico's music compositions burned during Operation Gomorrah in World War II when Hamburg was totally bombed in 1943 by the United States and England, twenty days after my mom and grandmother fled to Spain but they carried with them the music compositions we have today.

Isidro L. Betancourt Benítez, MA republished them for the first time in 120 years through the Spanish music publisher Dos Acordes and recorded the Art Songs and Piano Solos through the French indie music label Capita and Navia. The album HOMMAGE stars Gabriel Urgell Reyes (piano), Teresa Novoa (soprano), Jessica Sanchez (piano).

Thanks to the expert cinematography, sound recording and editing of our producers Jaime Fernández Cuña and Mario Rodríguez Cuevas’ Malditos Artistas, we are about to wrap principal photography.”

Julie Carmen, MA - actress, producer and great granddaughter

WHAT’S NEXT:

  • Your donation will help us EDIT OUR FIRST ROUGH CUT. We are extremely grateful for donations of any amount to help us edit this passion project in time for early 2025 submission deadlines.
  • Your donation will help us fund the ANIMATION of four essential segments

ALREADY COMPLETED:

  • Interviewed 23 living descendants in 16 cities and 5 countries
  • Filmed the recording of Lico’s album HOMMAGE in A Coruña, Spain. Coming soon via Capita and Navia label.
  • Filmed the premiere of Lico’s symphony at Miami Dade Auditorium which SOLD OUT
  • Filmed the launch of Lico Jiménez Art Song Salons at Malibu Coast Music Festival which SOLD OUT
  • Filmed interviews with stars Chucho Valdes and Tania Leon
  • Retraced Lico’s family and music roots in Trinidad, Cienfuegos and Habana, Cuba
  • Retraced Lico’s studies and performances in France and Germany
  • Insiders' Music & Art Cuba Tour in December 2024 with 32 guests SOLD OUT

TESTIMONIAL: "I never understood why his name didn't appear at the level of other great names." Chucho Valdes - Grammy winner

IMPACT CAMPAIGN GOALS:

  • We will launch and promote LICO JIMÉNEZ ART SONG SALONS and MASTER CLASSES - Concerts and master classes including experts: Isidro Betancourt, Gabriel Urgell Reyes, Teresa Novoa, Jessica Sanchez, will popularize Lico’s ART SONGS - January 2025 PARTIALLY FUNDED
  • We will PUBLISH the biography by Dr. Olavo Alèn and Dr. Gudrun Weber in English (currently only in German and Spanish) and distribute it to university Music, Black and Afro Latino History Departments.
  • We will continue distributing CLASSROOM PACKS of Lico’s music scores to orchestras and performing arts schools - PARTIALLY FUNDED by family foundation donations

Con Cariño, Julie Carmen, Writer / Producer www.LicoJimenez.com