V.A. - The Rough Guide To The Music Of Louisiana (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Louisiana has one of American's richest heritages -- the cradle of jazz, New Orleans, Mardi Gras, Cajun, and Zydeco music. It's impossible to capture it all in one disc, and this doesn't try -- which is both a good and a bad thing. The disc does have some Cajun and Zydeco (from Beausoleil and Buckwheat Zydeco, among others), and nods toward New Orleans jazz with Dr. Michael White and Kermit Ruffins, from the Rebirth Brass Band -- which also handily takes in the New Orleans brass tradition. And, to be fair, "You Are My Sunshine," written by the late Louisiana governor Jimmie Davis, is here. So yes, it's impossible to fault the music here on its own terms, although the fusion of Cubanismo with John Boutté and the Yockama All-Stars is at best only half-Louisiana. Yes, Dr. John is here (although hardly at his best) and Champion Jack Dupree -- but if you're going to have piano, how can you ignore Professor Longhair? And if you're dealing with jazz, why not go to the source, and include Louis Armstrong? Where's Allen Toussaint, one of music's legendary figures, or Fats Domino (whose "Walking to New Orleans" does appear here, by Buckwheat Zydeco)? The bottom line is, as a representation of Louisiana, it's very, very far from being either satisfying or definitive. by Chris Nickson
Tracklist:
1 Dr Michael White – Louisian-i-a 6:48
Written-By – Joe Darensbourg
2 ¡Cubanismo! Feat. John Boutté & The Yockamo All-Stars – Marie Laveaux 4:45
Written-By – Glenn Patscha, Mark Bingham
3 Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys – La Danse De Mardi Gras 3:51
Traditional
Arranged By – Mamou Playboys
4 Beau Jocque & The Zydeco Hi-Rollers – Mardi Gras Blues 6:21
Written-By – Beau Jocque
5 Kermit Ruffins – Bye And Bye 4:41
Traditional
6 Champion Jack Dupree – Give Me The Flowers While I'm Livin' 4:57
Written-By – William Jack Dupree
7 Dr John – Waiting For A Train 3:18
Written-By – Jimmie Rogers
8 Buckwheat Zydeco – Walkin' To New Orleans 4:32
Written-By – Domino, Bartholomew, Guidry
9 John Delafose & The Eunice Playboys – Slow Motion Zydeco 3:20
Written-By – Geno Delafose
10 Beausoleil – Bunk's Blues 4:14
Written-By – Michael Doucet
11 Mack Manuel/Jesse Legé & The Lake Charles Ramblers – Allons A Lafayette 3:45
Traditional
Arranged By – J. Legé
12 Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas Feat. Michael Doucet – Black Snake Blues / I Can't Go Home No More 6:11
Written-By – Clifton Chenier
13 Zachary Richard – Iko Iko 3:54
Traditional
14 Irma Thomas – Hold To God's Unchanging Hand 3:05
Arranged By – Dwight Franklin
Written-By – F.L. Eiland, Jennie Wilson
15 Magnificent Seventh's Band – You Are My Sunshine 5:30
Written-By – Charles Mitchell, Jimmie Davis

PAQUITO D' RIVERA - Portraits of Cuba (1996-2005) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Because Paquito D'Rivera is such a compelling improviser, one greets a heavily arranged and orchestrated session like Portraits of Cuba with some apprehension. But as it turns out, such apprehension is unwarranted, for the Cuban saxman/clarinetist still has enough room to solo and say what needs to be said. With this 1996 session, which was arranged and conducted by Carlos Franzetti and finds D'Rivera backed by combinations of up to 14 musicians, D'Rivera envisioned an Afro-Cuban equivalent of Miles Davis' Sketches of Spain -- and, to be sure, there are some parallels. Franzetti's classical-influenced arrangements recall Gil Evans' work with Davis, and D'Rivera paints an orchestral jazz picture of Cuba much as Davis painted an orchestral jazz picture of Spain. The key phrase here is "jazz picture" -- D'Rivera approaches famous Cuban songs like Ignacio Pineiro's "Echale Salsita" and Ernesto Lecuona's "Como Arrullo de Palmas" from an instrumental jazz perspective; this is jazz with both Afro-Cuban and classical elements, but it's jazz first and foremost. Recorded in New York around the time of the infamous Blizzard of 1996 -- which dumped up to three feet of snow on parts of the Northeastern U.S. -- Portraits of Cuba is among D'Rivera's most essential recordings. by Alex Henderson 
Tracklist:
1 La Bella Cubana 5:19
Written-By – Jose White 
2 The Peanut Vendor 4:38
Written-By – M. sunshine, M. Simmons, W. Gilbert
3 Tu 5:34
Written-By – Eduardo Sanchez De Fuentes 
4 Tu Mi Delirio 6:31
Written-By – Cesar Portillo De La Luz
5 No Te Importe Saber 5:41
Written-By – Rene Touzet 
6 Drume Negrita 4:18
Written-By – Ernesto Grenet
7 Portraits Of Cuba 5:04
Written-By – Paquito D'Rivera
8 Excerpt From "Aires Tropicales" 0:48
Written-By – Paquito D'Rivera
9 Mariana 5:30
Written-By – Carlos Franzetti
10 Como Arrullo De Palmas 3:22
Written-By – Ernesto Lecuona
11 Echale Salsita 5:05
Written-By – Ignacio Pineiro 
12 Song To My Song 5:22
Written-By – Paquito D'Rivera
13 Theme From "I Love Lucy" 3:32
Written-By – E. Daniel, H. Adamson
Credits:
Paquito D'Rivera – Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone
Carlos Franzetti – Arranged By, Conductor 
Gustavo Bergalli – Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Andres Boiarsky – Clarinet, Flute, Sax (Tenor)
Thomas Christensen – Flute, Sax (Tenor)
John Clark – French Horn
Dario Eskenazi – Piano
Lawrence Feldman – Flute, Sax (Alto)
David Finck – Bass
Allison Brewster Franzetti – Piano
Bob Millikan – Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Dick Oatts – Flute, Sax (Tenor)
James Pugh – Trombone
Roger Rosenberg – Bassoon, Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Baritone)
Pernell Saturnino – Percussion
Lew Soloff – Flugelhorn,  Trumpet
David Earl Taylor – Trombone (Bass)
Diego Urcola – Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Mark Walker – Drums

IRAKERE - Misa Negra (1987-1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Irakere has been heralded as one of the best big bands in the world. Propelled by a driving rhythm section and potent horn section, this Cuban band won the Latin Grammy Awards in 1979 and 1980. On this 1986 recording, the band sinks its collective teeth into a few originals, including the 17-minute, four-part title track, as well as a cover of Dave Brubeck's "El Duke." In his liner notes, Luis Tamargo states: "The vigor of Irakere lies within each individual performer, and there are no weak loops in the band's musical chain." by Roundup Newsletter
Tracklist:
1 Concierto para Metales 8:47
2 Misa Negra 17:05
3 Samba para Enrique 6:08
4 El Duke 8:54
Credits:
Bass – Carlos del Puerto
Congas – Jorge Alfonso
Drums – Enrique Plá
Guitar – Carlos Emilio Morales
Percussion – Oscar Valdes
Piano, Keyboards – Chucho Valdés
Saxophone, Flute – Carlos Averhoff, Germán Velazco, José Luis Cortés
Strings – Stuttgarter Symphoniker (tracks: 2)
Trumpet – Jorge Varona, Juan Mungula

CHICO O' FARRILL - Cuban Blues : The Chico O' Farrill Sessions (1996) 2CD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For any and all Latin jazz collectors, casual or serious, this is a fabulous deal, for it gathers together no less than six exceedingly rare Chico O'Farrill Clef and Norgran 10" albums, plus one under Machito's name, onto a slimline two-CD set. It will also come as a revelation to anyone who might scoff at anything associated with the 1950s mambo craze, for these discs reveal O'Farrill as a sophisticated, even daring arranger/composer who reached beyond merely providing a beat for dancers. Many of these charts -- whether for the brief, dance-oriented Latin numbers; ultra-familiar standards like "Malaguena" and "The Peanut Vendor"; or jazz tunes -- are loaded with intricate figures and striking harmonies obviously gleaned from classical study, all crisply executed with a brash, shiny edge by his Afro-Cuban groups and bands staffed by American jazzmen. Occasionally, he even conjures a delicate, classical ambience from a number like "Angels' Flight" (named after Los Angeles' legendary downtown funicular). The apotheosis of O'Farrill's experiments are his two full-blown, groundbreaking Afro-Cuban jazz suites. The first features Flip Phillips and the redoubtable Charlie Parker as soloists within the Machito band, and the second is even bolder in its zigzag journey through the classical, Latin, and jazz camps. Yet for all of his erudition, O'Farrill never forgets to ask for madly percolating Afro-Cuban grooves from his rhythm teams -- which clinches the deal for any Latin music fan. by Richard S. Ginell 
Tracklist 1:

1 Avocadoes 2:43

Composed By – Marco Rosales, Sylvia Rosales
2 Taboo 2:52
Composed By – Margarita Lecuona
3 JATP Mambo 2:46
4 Duerme 2:45
Composed By – Gabriel Luna de la Fuente, Miguel Prado
5 Almendra 2:38
Composed By – Abelardo Valdés
6 The Disappearance 2:56
7 Cuban Blues 3:05
8 Sin Titulo 2:27
Composed By – Pepi del Río, Rojas Berríos, Valencia Castro
9 Dance One 3:14
10 Bright One 2:34
11 Flamingo 3:36
Composed By – Edmund Anderson, Theodor Grouya
12 Last One 2:54
13 Tierra Va Temblá 3:01
Composed By – Mariano Merceron
14 Vamos Pa La Rumba 2:39
Composed By – Delgrado
15 Mambo Korula 3:07
Composed By – Bobby Escoto, Chico O'Farrill
16 Frizilandia 2:27
Composed By – Beque
17 Peanut Vendor (El Manisero) 2:33
Composed By – Moises Simons
18 Ill Wind (You're Blowin' Me No Good) 2:48
Composed By – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
19 Malagueña 3:14
Composed By – Ernesto Lecuona
20 Castígala 3:12
Composed By – Bobby Escoto
21 The Second Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite 16:46

Tracklist 2:

1 Havana Special 3:03

2 Carioca 3:05
Composed By – Edward Eliscu, Gus Kahn, Vincent Youmans
3 Fiesta Time 3:16
4 Heat Wave 3:35
Composed By – Irving Berlin
5 It Ain't Necessarily So 3:14
Composed By – DuBose Heyward, George & Ira Gershwin
6 Guess What 2:57
7 Cry Baby Blues 2:49
8 Lamento 2:39
Composed By – Antonio Carlos Jobim
9 You Stepped Out Of A Dream 2:35
Composed By – Gus Kahn, Nacio Herb Brown
10 Cachita 2:34
Composed By – Rafael Hernández
11 Rumbonsito 2:18
12 Te Quiero Dijiste 2:21
Composed By – Maria Grever
13 Siboney (Orig. Canto Siboney) 2:48
Composed By – Ernesto Lecuona
14 Angel's Flight 2:27
15 Tres Palabras 2:26
Composed By – Osvaldo Farrés
16 No Te Importe Saber 2:18
Composed By – René Touzet
17 Vaya Con Dios 2:57
Composed By – Buddy Pepper, Inez James, Larry Russell
18 Pianarabatibiri 2:20
19 L.A. Mambo 2:11
20 Quiéreme Mucho 2:28
Composed By – Gonzalo Roig
21 More Mambo 2:50
22 Mambo For Bunto 2:13
23 Botellero 2:39
Composed By – Gilberto Valdés
24 Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite 17:14
Performer, Featuring – Machito & His Afro-Cubans
Credits:
Arranged By, Conductor – Chico O'Farrill
Performer – Chico O'Farrill And His Orchestra

BEBO VALDÉS & JAVIER COLINA - Live at the Village Vanguard (2007) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Bebo Valdés has been one of the giants of Cuban music since the 1950s, though he has lived in Stockholm since the early '60s. This live recording, his very first, was made in 2005 over several nights at the Village Vanguard, with Valdés at the age of 86. The pianist's powerful left hand makes it superfluous for him to have a percussionist; his sole accompanist is bassist Javier Colina, a gifted partner who weaves intricate lines with Valdés. Though the music is dominated by Cuban rhythms, this live CD is hardly one-dimensional in scope. Valdés' rhythmic composition "Con Poco Coco" works in quotes from "Old Devil Moon" and "Salt Peanuts." His dramatic rendition of the standard "Yesterdays" is pure mainstream, with a few flourishes added, while his lovely setting of Bill Evans' "Waltz for Debby" is very playful. Of course, the bulk of the disc focuses on Latin gems, including a lighthearted take of Ernesto Lecouna's "Andalucía" and a sauntering version of Lecouna's "Siboney." If there had been room in the packed nightclub, the audience would have likely been up dancing to the lively "Bilongo," though they do chant the lyrics along with the musicians. Highly recommended. by Ken Dryden

Tracklist:

1 Con Poco Coco 6:29

2 Sabor A Mi 3:34

3 Ritmando El Cha-Cha-Cha 5:50

4 Rosa Mustia 6:28

5 Andalucia 2:29

6 Siboney 4:11

7 Tres Palabras 2:41

8 Aquellos Ojos Verdes 3:54

9 Bilongo 5:48

10 Si Te Contara 4:30

11 Bebo's Blues 4:44

12 Yesterdays 4:15

13 El Manisero 5:26

14 Waltz For Debby 4:48

Credits:

Double Bass – Javier Colina

Piano – Bebo Valdés

JESUS CHUCHO VALDÉS - Lucumi (1988-2006) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Lecumi is an often-thoughtful solo recital by pianist Chucho Valdes. Part of the time he comes across as a Latin Ray Bryant, displaying his two-handed style and a tie to the swing tradition; at other times the pianist recalls McCoy Tyner. Valdes' nine originals are full of rich melodies, are often wistful, and are explored with taste and subtle creativity. A tasteful effort. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Jica 5:22
2 Dembo 6:21
3 Moane 5:12
4 Mambo Influenciado 6:16
5 Jessica 1:49
6 Osun 7:43
7 Adiva 3:20
8 Oyambo 7:47
9 Amanecer 3:29
Written-By – Chucho Valdés

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB PRESENTS (1997-2004) 4CD / APE / FLAC (image+tracks+.cue), lossless

Buena Vista Social Club Less a band than an assemblage of some of Cuba's most renowned musical forces, Buena Vista Social Club's origins lie with noted American guitarist Ry Cooder, who in 1996 traveled to Havana to seek out a number of legendary local musicians whose performing careers had largely ended decades earlier with the rise of Fidel Castro. Recruiting the long-forgotten likes of singer Ibrahim Ferrer, guitarists/singers Compay Segundo and Eliades Ochoa, and pianist Rubén González, Cooder entered Havana's Egrem Studios to record the album Buena Vista Social Club; the project was an unexpected commercial and critical smash, earning a Grammy and becoming the best-selling release of Cooder's long career. In 1998 he returned to Havana with his son, percussionist Joachim, to record a solo LP with Ferrer; the sessions were captured on film by director Wim Wenders, who also documented sell-out Buena Vista Social Club live performances in Amsterdam and New York City. (Wenders' film, also titled Buena Vista Social Club, earned an Academy Award nomination in 2000.) The public's continued interest in Cuban music subsequently generated solo efforts from Segundo and González, as well as a series of international live performances promoted under the Buena Vista Social Club aegis. A concert CD, At Carnegie Hall, drawn from the same triumphant show that Wenders featured in his documentary, was released in 2008 -- a few years after the deaths of Segundo, Ferrer, and González. In the spring of 2015, Nonesuch/World Circuit released Lost and Found, a collection of unreleased tracks from the 1996 Egrem and 2000 recording sessions, as well as live tracks. A group containing some of the original members called Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club continued to tour, and their farewell tour took place that year.   by Jason Ankeny

 Buena Vista Social Club (1997)

This album is named after a members-only club that was opened in Havana in pre-Castro times, a period of unbelievable musical activity in Cuba. While bandleader Desi Arnaz became a huge hit in the States, several equally talented musicians never saw success outside their native country, and have had nothing but their music to sustain them during the Castro reign. Ry Cooder went to Cuba to record a musical documentary of these performers. Many of the musicians on this album have been playing for more than a half century, and they sing and play with an obvious love for the material. Cooder could have recorded these songs without paying the musicians a cent; one can imagine them jumping up and grabbing for their instruments at the slightest opportunity, just to play. Most of the songs are a real treasure, traversing a lot of ground in Cuba's musical history. There's the opening tune, "Chan Chan," a composition by 89-year-old Compay Segundo, who was a bandleader in the '50s; the cover of the early-'50s tune "De Camino a la Verada," sung by the 72-year-old composer Ibrahim Ferrer, who interrupted his daily walk through Havana just long enough to record; or the amazing piano playing on "Pablo Nuevo" by 77-year-old Rubén González, who has a unique style that blends jazz, mambo, and a certain amount of playfulness. All of these songs were recorded live -- some of them in the musicians' small apartments -- and the sound is incredibly deep and rich, something that would have been lost in digital recording and overdubbing. Cooder brought just the right amount of reverence to this material, and it shows in his production, playing, and detailed liner notes. If you get one album of Cuban music, this should be the one. by Steve McMullen   
Tracklist
1 Chan Chan 4:18
2 De Camino A La Vereda 5:03
3 El Cuarto De Tula 7:25
4 Pueblo Nuevo 6:06
5 Dos Gardenias 3:04
6 ¿Y Tú Qué Has Hecho? 3:15
7 Veinte Años 3:31
8 El Carretero 3:30
9 Candela 5:29
10 Amor De Loca Juventud 3:23
11 Orgullecida 3:19
12 Murmullo 3:51
13 Buena Vista Social Club 4:52
14 La Bayames 2:54
Credits
Musician – Alberto "Virgilio" Valdés, Barbarito Torres, Benito Suarez Magana, Carlos González, Compay Segundo, Eliades Ochoa, Ibrahim Ferrer, Joachim Cooder, Juan de Marcos Gonzàlez, Julienne Oviedo Sanchez, Julio Alberto Fernandez, Luis Barzaga, Lázaro Villa, Mañuel 'Guajiro' Mirabal, Manuel 'Puntillita' Licea, Omara Portuondo, Orlando "Cachaíto" López, Rubén González, Salvador Repilado Labrada
Producer – Ry Cooder
FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Buena Vista Social Club Presents : Ibrahim Ferrer (1999)

When the Buena Vista Social Club album was released to great acclaim in 1997, it revived the careers of quite a few incredibly talented aging Cuban musicians. Like Ibrahim Ferrer, most of those musicians (who had been legendary in the '40s through the '70s) hadn't been performing professionally in decades. With the success of the Buena Vista Social Club, everything changed; they toured the globe, and plans for follow-up albums followed. Ibrahim Ferrer's was the second of what became a line of Buena Vista releases, all hoping to cash in on the success of the first. Ferrer's album is pleasant, the kind of album you could put on during brunch on a sunny morning. The album features many classic Cuban compositions. Original arrangers, musicians, and bandleaders were involved whenever possible. One standout is "Mami Me Gusto," a rolling upbeat tune by the legendary Cuban composer/bandleader Arsenio Rodriguez. On that tune Ferrer is lively and loose, and he is joined by Rodriguez's original pianist, the masterful Ruben Gonzales. The rest of the album is nice, but rarely as inspired or joyous as the original Buena Vista release. This is a much more romantic sounding album and on the right tunes, like "Aquellos Ojos Verdes," they really hit the mark; Ferrer shines and Gonzales sends glistening piano lines cascading down the keys. At age 63-plus, Ferrer was long overdue for a debut album, and as a result the disc communicates a feel of easy satisfaction. If you're looking for classy cocktail party music that will hold the attention of music fans, and won't bother the uninterested, look no further.  by David Lavin   
Tracklist
1 Bruca Maniguá 4:44
2 Herido De Sombras 4:11
3 Marieta 5:51
4 Guateque Campesino 5:06
5 Mamí Me Gustó 5:04
6 Nuestra Ultima Cita 3:56
7 Cienfuegos Tiene Su Guaguancó 5:20
8 Silencio 4:35
9 Aquellos Ojos Verdes 4:51
10 Qué Bueno Baila Usted 4:35
11 Como Fue 3:33
Credits
Conductor – Juan De Marcos González
Featuring [With] – Babarito Torres, Eliades Ochoa, Ibrahim Ferrer Jr., Manuel 'Puntillita' Licea, Omara Portuondo, Orlando 'Cachaito' López, Pio Leyva, Rubén González, Ry Cooder, Teresa Garcia Cartula
Producer – Ry Cooder
APE (image+.cue), lossless

Buena Vista Social Club Presents : Omara Portuondo (2000)

A beautifully executed and produced album by Omara Portuando, the only woman to appear on the original Buena Vista Social Club recordings. Portuando, who is one of Cuba's most acclaimed musicians and a featured performer at the Tropicana, has shown here that, at 70, she still possesses the qualities that helped develop her stardom on her native island. This recording, which covers a variety of traditional musical styles, from son to guajira to bolero, makes it easy to see why critics have called her the Edith Piaf of Cuba and "The Fiancée of Feeling." The style, especially on the second track, "He Perdido Contigo," evokes a nostalgic, old-fashioned sentiment, and the songwriting is classic. Featured performers include Rubén González on piano, Eliades Ochoa and Compay Segundo on guitar, and a full string section including Angel and Arelis Zaldivar. The performances are lively and tight, creating an album that feels nearly perfect. A full set of liner notes, including English translations of all of the lyrics, makes the album even more accessible.  by Stacia Proefrock
Tracklist  
1 La Sitiera
Guitar – Eliades Ochoa
Written-By – Rafael López
2 He Perdido Contigo
Guitar – Eliades Ochoa
Written-By – Luis Cardenas, María Teresa Vera
3 ¿Dónde Estabas Tú?
Written-By – Ernesto Duarte
4 Mariposita De Primavera
Claves – Alberto "Virgilio" Valdés
Written-By – Miguel Matamoros
5 Canta Lo Sentimental
Guitar, Arranged By [Co] – Manuel Galbán
Vibraphone – Roger Beaujolais
Written-By [Lyrics] – Y. De La Fuente
Written-By [Music] – Urbano Gómez Montiel
6 Ella Y Yo
Arranged By – Francisco Repilado
Clarinet – Haskell Armenteros, Rafael Lázaro Inciarte
Guitar – Benito Suárez, Compay Segundo
Vocals – Pío Leyva
Written-By – Oscar Hernández
7 No Me Vayas A Engañar
Written-By – Osvaldo Farrés
8 No Me Llores Más
Tres – Gilberto 'Papi' Oviedo
Vocals – Ibrahim Ferrer
Written-By – Arsenio Rodríguez
9 Veinte Años
Written-By [Lyrics] – Guillermina Aramburu
Written-By [Music] – María Teresa Vera
10 El Hombre Que Yo Amé (The Man I Love)
Translated By – Humberto Suárez
Written-By – George & Ira Gershwin
11 Siempre En Mi Corazón
Arranged By – Juan De Marcos González
Bongos – Carlos González
Written-By – Ernesto Lecuona
Credits
Alto Saxophone [Solo] – Panteleón Sánchez
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Javier Zalba
Backing Vocals – Dania Valdés, Teresita Garcia Caturla, Xiomara Valdés
Baritone Saxophone – Ventura Gutiérrez
Bongos – Filiberto Sánchez
Cello – Arelis Zaldivar, Roy Avila Serrano
Claves, Backing Vocals – Lázaro Villa
Congas – Angel Terry Domech
Double Bass – Orlando "Cachaíto" López
Guiro – Roberto García
Maracas – Alberto "Virgilio" Valdés
Tenor Saxophone – Antonio Jiménez, Carlos Fernández, Rafael "Jimmy" Jenks
Timbales – Amadito Valdés
Trombone – Antonio Leal
Trombone [Solo], Backing Vocals, Conductor – Jesús "Aguaje" Ramos
Trombone, Conductor, Arranged By [Strings & Horns] – Demetrio Muñiz
Trumpet – Alejandro Pichardo, Daniel Ramos, Yanko Pichardo
Trumpet [Solo] – Manuel 'Guajiro' Mirabal
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Yaure Muñiz
Viola – Angel Zaldivar, José Marón, Rafael Cutiño, Roberto Herrera
Violin – Aeyoth Marichal, Ariel Sarduy, Augusto Diago, Gerardo Garcia , Hugo Cruz, Humberto Legat, Julián Corrales, Pedro Depestre González, Rogelio Martínez
Vocals – Omara Portuondo
FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 Buena Vista Social Club Presents : Manuel ''Guajiro'' Mirabal (2004)

The 1997 runaway smash BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB is the gift that keeps on giving. In the wake of the album's success, a number of its key performers, including Ruben Gonzalez and Ibrahim Ferrer, released solo albums, and in 2005, trumpeter Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal added his name to that distinguished list. Like his cohorts in the Buena Vista project, Mirabal embodies the musical traditions of Cuba, specializing in classic conjunto, with traces of mambo, rhumba, and bolero in the mix. At the time of this recording, Mirabal's first solo album, he was 71 years old.

Though Mirabal has played in countless orchestra and ensemble since the '40s, and has likely run through the entire Afro-Cuban repertoire in that time, this album is devoted almost exclusively to the music of pioneering Cuban visionary Arsenio Rodriguez. Rodriguez cast the die for modern salsa conjunto, and the instrumentation Mirabal chooses--three trumpets, piano, tres, guitar, percussion, and a rotating roster of lead and backing vocalists--is a classic conjunto configuration. Mirabal evokes the sound of a '40s Havana dancehall, and the playing is superb, with danceable polyrhythms, impassioned vocals, and plenty of dazzling brass work. This is another score for BUENA VISTA fans. by AllMusic 
Tracklist
1 El Rincón Caliente 4:46
2 Para Bailar El Montuno 4:17
3 Deuda 5:22
4 El Reloj De Pastora 3:49
5 Me Boté De Guaño 4:24
6 Mi Corazón No Tiene Quien Lo Llore 3:16
7 Tengo Que Olvidarte 4:37
8 Canta Montero 4:12
9 Chicharronero 4:09
10 No Vuelvo A Morón. Las Tres Marias. Apurrúñenme Mujeres Medley 5:03
11 Dombe Dombe 2:16
FLAC (tracks), lossless

ESPERANZA SPALDING - Junjo (2006) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The debut recording by acoustic upright bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding, a native of Portland, OR, residing in Boston, MA, is an exercise in joy and freedom. Well rendered for such a very young musician, it's quite notable, considering the certainty of her concept and clarity of her vision. While steeped in contemporary jazz, there are Latin flavors, unabashed free moments, and some implied and direct swing. Further, it is an expression of her well-being, optimism, and future hope for her life in this music. Also in her peer group, pianist Aruan Ortiz and drummer Francisco Mela add a hundredfold to this music and establish themselves as leaders-to-be, and are quite capable partners for Spalding's wonderful sounds. The first piece, a take of the Jimmy Rowles evergreen "The Peacocks," lets you know something special is going on. Spalding's bass leads out with the probing piano of Ortiz as wordless vocals and a modal jam all precede the melody, followed by a free section. The imagination quotient of this interpretation is off the charts. "Mompouana" is a most impressive circular tune surrounding the sweetness and light of Spalding's voice in a 9/8 time signature, choppy piano motifs, upper to midrange drama, and thoughtful, intricate secondary lines. In their ultimate playful state, "Perazuán" and "Perazela" show Spalding's ability to scat, with Ortiz on the former and furiously alongside Mela on the latter track. The other covers are a darker-than-the-original rendition of Chick Corea's neo-bopper "Humpty Dumpty" and the personable, lighthearted "Loro," written by Egberto Gismonti. "Two Bad," with a feeling reminiscent of the standard "Alone Together," is a brittle, quirky, and unpredictable tune that is the only instrumental of the lot. Spalding sings no lyric content whatsoever; her style is all natural, sensual, and precious. Whether she is coerced to sing songs in the future is to be determined. For sure, she is an accomplished bassist, musician, and original thinker. Junjo is an auspicious beginning that should catch the ears of any lover of great music. by Michael G. Nastos 

CHUCHO VALDÉS - Bele Bele en La Habana (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Issued just after his landmark two-week June 1998 gig at the Village Vanguard and subsequent U.S./Canada tour, Chucho Valdés' first album for Blue Note bears out a lot of the hype surrounding this hugely gifted Cuban pianist. Unlike many of today's younger Cuban keyboard hotshots, Valdés not only has great technical chops and musical erudition, he manages to stay closely tied to his Cuban rhythmic roots. Thus, he employs a Cuban percussionist Roberto Vizcaino Guillot along with the standard bass (Alain Pérez Rodriguez) and drums (Raúl Píñeda Roque), which dramatically increases the possibilities for rhythmic experiments. Valdés more often than not is all over the keyboard, comfortable with everything from Ravel-ian classical complexity to Bill Evans' introspection to Cecil Taylor-like crunches. But there are surprisingly few wasted motions; all of the notes fit. He creates tremendous excitement on "Con Poco Loco" (which ends with a sly steal from "Giant Steps"), and suddenly breaks into a cornucopia of European stream-of-consciousness fireworks before returning to Cuba on "Son Montuno." However, the best moments on Bele Bele en La Habana come when Valdés hooks his fire-eating technique into the groove and doesn't let go. "El Cumbanchero" contains some sudden rhythmic shifts that will have you leaping out of your chair, and "Tres Lindas Cubanas" gradually builds a great head of steam. This CD will give you a much better idea of Valdés' pianistic capabilities than any of his records with Irakere. On a political level, it is interesting and disheartening to note that Valdés recorded this album in Toronto under the auspices of EMI Music Canada; a direct signing with Blue Note would have exposed the American company to charges of trading with the enemy. Obviously, as of 1998, the Cold War was not completely over. by Richard S. Ginell  

Tracklist
1 Son Montuno 7:12  
Chucho Valdés
2 Lorraine 5:41 
Chucho Valdés
3 But Not for Me (Pero No Para Mi) 3:07 
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
4 Con Poco Coco (Without Much Thought) 8:35 
Chucho Valdés
5 El Cumbanchero (The Rumba Dancer) 6:54
Rafael Hernández
6 Tres Lindas Cubanas (Three Pretty Cuban Girls) 6:29  
Guillermo Castillo
7 La Sitiera (The Small Farm) 8:44
Chucho Valdés
8 Los Caminos (The Pathways) 9:30
Pablo Milanés

 

GIOVANNI HIDALGO - Hands of Rhythm [1997]

Could a collaborative effort between Dominican piano virtuoso Michel Camilio and Giovanni Hidalgo, who is commonly known as the finest living conguero, possibly live up to the expectations? The answer Hands of Rhythm offers is nothing short of "All that and them some, baby." The beautiful thing about hearing both Camilo and Hidalgo in a rare duo format is that unlike larger band contexts, their genius does not compete for sonic space with anyone. Every note, every stroke is clearly audible, and crystal clear. Almost as fantastic as the instrumental performance was the repertoire chosen. In fact, the overall flavor is not what one might expect from two players known well for blistering speed. A haunting, sensitive rendition of "Footprints" and the reminiscent "En Mi Viejo San Juan" are welcome surprises from a percussion lead duo. "Softly as in the Morning" and "Blue Monk" are swinging from start to finish. With these jazzy selections, the bossa nova-at-its-best "If You Knew," and the merengue "Papa Boco," Hands of Rhythm shies away from the clave-driven music that made these two men famous. And yet, they prove themselves as adept in any one idiom as the other. Hidalgo and Camilo make up for their small numbers with both taste and sheer brilliance. Hands of Rhythm is required listening for both these musician's loyal fan bases, and the Latin jazz listening public alike.  by Evan C. Gutierrez  
Tracklist 
1  And Sammy Walked In  5:53
Michel Camilo
2  Footprints  5:07
Wayne Shorter
3  Amo Esta Isla  4:22
Pablo Milanés
4  Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise  4:15
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg 
5  My Soul Beat  4:10
Giovanni Hidalgo
6  Papa Boco  4:50
Manuel Sanchez Acosta / Acosta Chapuseaux / Jose Ernesto Chapuseaux 
7  Blue Monk  3:47
Thelonious Monk
8  If You Knew...  5:14
Michel Camilo

9  En Mi Viejo San Juan  4:05 

Noel Estrada

10  Hello And Goodbye  6:17
Michel Camilo

11  Hands In Motion  3:02 

Giovanni Hidalgo
Credits
Michel Camilo : Arranger, Composer, Guest Artist, Performer, Piano, Primary Artist, Producer 
Giovanni Hidalgo : Arranger, Art Direction, Bongos, Chimes, Composer, Congas, Cowbell, Cymbals, Floor Tom, Guiro, Jawbone, Pandereta, Primary Artist, Producer, Timbales, Wood Block 

GIOVANNI HIDALGO - Hands of Rhythm

 [1997] RRM / CBR320 / scans

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