Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club > Reviews > Join the club

Author's product rating:   

Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency of tracks
Value for Money

Advantages:	Romantic, makes you think of summer holidays
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This album was first Cuban music album I bought - and it has totally turned me on to the 'World music' genre.
Ry Cooder produced, the album resurrected several greats of the Cuban music scene, musicians whose heyday had been in the 50s and 60s, even the 40s in some cases. Importantly, Cooder definitely does not take over, and the artists are allowed to perform songs that are important to them, in the way they know best. There is some wonderful guitar playing from Cooder, but it is perfectly suited to the songs.
There are many excellent musicians in the band, but best are pianist Ruben Gonzalez (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 extremely well, but those two musicians play particularly well together.
Featured vocalists are Company Segundo, (89 years old), Omara Portuondo (the only female vocalist on the album), and Ibrahim Ferrer (70 years old), who is my favourite on vocals.
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".
The lyrics, with English translations (all songs are, quite rightly, sung in the native language), are in the excellent booklet, but the songs so beautiful, it really doesn't matter about understanding the lyrics.
The perfect introduction to Cuban music.