Customer Reviews

Ahora Si (Bonus Dvd)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been listening to Cachao for years and I have all his music. I think this is his best album to date. Yes, I love Master Sessions I and II, but this album gets the most playing time at my house, my car, and my office. Cachao's rendition of "Si me pudieras querer" is just plain beautiful, and "Una Descarga a Cachao" gets my wife and me dancing every time. This is a great album of Cuban music, so enjoy it!

I would agree with the reviewer Marcos, Andy Garcia seems to be producing tributes to himself with these cd's and especially with the bonus DVD in Ahora Si. Having said that, it's a good thing that Cachao had the chance to make these recordings. Ahora Si may be very similar to the Master Sessions and Cuba Linda, but the music is still hot. He will be missed.

Alright. Cachao has a new one. I have loved his music since I first heard him around 10 years ago. On this album, he is doing what he has always done - nothing really out of the ordinary. It has been done before, and just as good. But, for some reason, I do not get tired of it. The power, the swing of the music is still as compelling as ever. And, as opposed to the other reviewer, I don't think the production is bad at all. Cachao's previous CD, "Cuba Linda" sounded great, and so does this one. If you like Cachao, you will like this album. While it offers nothing new, it is still worth a try, especially because of the DVD. I found it to be quite good in offering an inside look at the conception of the music, and the performances are great. Cachao may not be breaking new ground, but no one can deny he is still the master of Afro-Cuban styles he helped create. Cachao is the uncle of Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez, who made quite a unique CD you should check out. As for Cachao,Sr., he is still making what he does best, and I am grateful for that.

This is another production with the ever ubiquitous Andy Garcia, this time with Andy appearing all over the accompanying DVD as well. It even contains a descarga track written by Andy, which, without surprise, is the worst track on the CD. I dislike Andy Garcia's musicianship so much I never even listened to the conga track on Cachao's Master's Session Volume I CD because it has a spoken intro by Andy "emotionally declaiming" poetry in tribute to his father. (But Andy's rain stick solo on Master Sessions Volume I is like the standout of the CD though.) Okay, okay, somebody stop me, enough with the Andy Garcia bashing. Two things I can say I like about Andy Garcia are that there would be no Cachao renaissance and no Master Sessions Volume I and II without Andy Garcia making it happen, and, his movie set in Cuba was absolutely wonderful.
The problem with this CD is that it is sloppy, lacks the great musicianship on display in Master Sessions Volume I and II, and suffers from poor song selection. There are a few pretty good tracks, but a lot of it consists of the mambos, son monuntos, and rumba/congas that we have already heard everyone else do, and heard Cachao himself do way better. I would save your money on this one, Master Sessions Volumes I and II are way better, as is Cachao's original late 50's descarga sessions.

There is no dropoff in quality here. I have yet to hear any of Cachao's performances that are of the two or three star variety. That, frankly, is insane.

Song titles include:

Mambo Cambio De Swing-Intro
Mambo Cambio De Swing
Queja Africana Protesta Abakua
Si Me Pudieras Querer
Una Descarga A Cachao
Aurora
Ahora Si!
No Tienes Por Que Llorar
Guajira Clasica
El Tiburon

Musicians include:

Israel Lopez "Cachao" Musical director and bajo
Alfredo Valdes Jr. Piano
Orestes Vilato Timbales
Luis Conte Congas
Andy Garcia Bongos, cowbell
Richie R. Marquez Guiro
Nelson Garcia-Marquez Clave
Nelson Gonzalez Tres guitar
Federico Britos Violin
Danilo Lozano Flauta
Jimmy Bosch Trombon
Feliciano Gomez "Pachu" Trompeta
Rafael "Tata" Palau Saxo tenor
Justo Almario Saxo tenor
Giovanna Moraga Cello
Lazaro Gallaraga Voz principal
Cecilia Noel, Iris Sandra Cepeda, Andy Garcia, Lazaro Gallaraga, Nelson Garcia-Marquez, Richie R. Marquez, Nelson Gonzalez, Jimmy Bosch, Luis Conte, Orestes Vilato, Feliciano Gomez "Pachu", Alfredo Valdes Jr. Coros

Este disco de musica tradicional Cubana trae mucho sabor. Los musicos son de gran calidad y los areglos muy buenos. Mi otro disco de Cachao es Master Sessions 1 y ese definitivamente es mejor. Si tienes ese disco quizas encuentres, como yo, que este no tiene la misma pasion.
Andy Garcia esta demasiado metido en este disco para mis gustos, la composicion de Andy, "Descarga a Cachao" no fue tan interesante como las otras canciones, pero al menos es salvada por los musicos talentosos. Lo unico interesante del DVD es ver a Cachao tocando el bajo, mucho de lo demas es un poco aburrido.
"Protesta abakua" es mi tema favorito, ya que tiene un sonido muy diferente de la musica latina contemporanea que es bien relajante con una buena parte para la flauta. Pero honestamente todos los temas tienen algo bueno.

Disappointing

"Ahora si" is disappointing, the production values of the recording are very limited and
the record sounds like another desperate intent to do something with Cachao. The only
good thing still Cachao's bass and fire to play his music, the rest is very average. I collect
Cachao's records and for sure, this is one won't get lots of play time.

This album is good. The music is timeless and it's just as good as all of Cachaos other albums. I also recommend Angel Melendez and the 911 Mambo Orchestra's self titled debut for something a little more refreshing.