Join the club (Buena Vista Social Club)

Member Name: cswann

Product:	Buena Vista Social Club
Date:	06/09/00 (91 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Romantic music you can salsa to

Disadvantages: None

The "Buena Vista Social Club" album really started something. It made Cuban music truly popular for Western audiences, and also helped to attract many more people to the 'World music' genre.

Ry Cooder produced the album, which resurrected several greats of the Cuban music scene, musicians whose heyday had been in the 50s and 60s, even the 40s in some cases. Huge record sales led to a tour for the band (including Ry Cooder, and his son Joachim on drums) of select venues (e.g. New York Opera House), a movie, and a stream of further CD releases from the various musicians involved.
The first important thing is that Ry Cooder definitely does not take over. The band is allowed to perform songs that are important to them, in the way they know best. There's some wonderful guitar playing from Cooder, but it is perfectly subdued and suited to the songs.

There are several excellent musicians on here, but best are Ruben Gonzalez on piano (as demonstrated on the songs "Pueblo Nuevo" and "Murmillo"), and Oriando 'Cachaito' Lopez on bass. The whole band (over a dozen musicians on some songs) gel together brilliantly, but those two in particular complement one another. There's a distinctly 'live' feel to everything, too.

Featured vocalists are Company Segundo, (89 years old), Ibrahim Ferrer (70 years old) and Omara Portuondo (the only female vocalist on the album). I especially love the quality of Ferrer's voice - his own solo album is also well worth purchasing.

The overall flavour is one of romantic dance (salsa) / party music, with some lounge music ("Dos gardenias") in there, even a little hint of country music with the steel guitar on "Orgullecida".
All the songs are great, the tunes are memorable - not the words, for me, as they are all in Cuban. The lyrics, plus English translations, are all in the booklet, for anyone who needs to know wha
t the songs are about, but they are beautiful enough just to listen to.

If you've ever fancied dipping into a little Cuban music, this is the perfect introduction.

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