Customer Reviews

Buena Vista Social Club presents Ibrahim Ferrer

5 star:		(78)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

From the beginning of the delicious 'son' titled "Bruca Maniguá" it's impossible not to be dragged into an album that's like a trip through yesterday's Cuba, courtesy of Ibrahim Ferrer and Buena Vista Social Club.

The album is a very successful and contagious combination of 'sones' (happy and rhythm filled pieces) and 'boleros' (the name for Latinamerican ballads). The two most successful samples for each, in my opinion, are "Mami Me Gustó" and "Aquellos Ojos Verdes." The first one, a 'son' composed decades ago by Arsenio Rodríguez, same composer of two more tracks in the album, includes a very upbeat piano solo by Rubén González, followed by a divine solo played by Papí Oviedo on the 'tres' (a three-string instrument from the Caribbean). "... Ojos Verdes" instead, a classic but ageless 'bolero', can bring the most tender memories of an age long gone, where seranading the loved one was the norm, rather than the exception.

When you're done with the CD nostalgia mixes up with happiness, for the fact that Ry Cooder (producer) was able to discover Ibrahim Ferrer's exceptional musical talent. It's so ironic to think that this former Beny More bandmember ("Que bueno baila usted") actually made his record debut hereby, a man born in 1927, but with a sense of romance and rhythm that defies age and any stereotype.

As for the comments some reviewers make, criticizing Ry Cooder's slide guitar playing, I don't agree with them, but then again, it's largely a matter of personal preference.

Final Note: Luckily enough for listeners who don't speak or understand Spanish, the English translation of the lyrics is included.

From the beginning of the delicious 'son' titled "Bruca Maniguá" it's impossible not to be dragged into an album that's like a trip through yesterday's Cuba, courtesy of Ibrahim Ferrer and Buena Vista Social Club.

The album is a very successful and contagious combination of 'sones' (happy and rhythm filled pieces) and 'boleros' (the name for Latinamerican ballads). The two most successful samples for each, in my opinion, are "Mami Me Gustó" and "Aquellos Ojos Verdes." The first one, a 'son' composed decades ago by Arsenio Rodríguez, same composer of two more tracks in the album, includes a very upbeat piano solo by Rubén González, followed by a divine solo played by Papí Oviedo on the 'tres' (a three-string instrument from the Caribbean). "... Ojos Verdes" instead, a classic but ageless 'bolero', can bring the most tender memories of an age long gone, where seranading the loved one was the norm, rather than the exception.

When you're done with the CD nostalgia mixes up with happiness, for the fact that Ry Cooder (producer) was able to discover Ibrahim Ferrer's exceptional musical talent. It's so ironic to think that former this Beny More bandmember ("Que bueno baila usted") actually made his record debut hereby, a man born in 1927, but with a sense of romance and rhythm that defies age and any stereotype.

Final Note: Luckily enough for listeners who don't speak or understand Spanish, the English translation of the lyrics is included.

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Desde el momento en que se inicia el sabroso son "Bruca Maniguá" uno se adentra durante el album entero en un exquisito paseo por la musica de la Cuba de antaño, cortesía del cantante Ibrahím Ferrer y Buena Vista Social Club. Desde las estrofas iniciales al sabroso coro "Yenyere Bruca Maniguá", la canción hace irresistible el deseo de seguirla sea con el pie o con la cadera.

Complementando los sones están "Marieta" pieza que posee el mismo don de la canción inicial, levantando a todo el mundo de su asiento con las vibrantes notas que se le meten a uno por el cuerpo. Sumamente especial resulta el solo de guitarra de Eliades Ochoa; y "Mami Me Gustó", son Montuno compuesto por Arsenio Rodríguez (el mismo compositor de "Bruca Maniguá") tiene un solo de piano de proporciones difíciles de describir sin quedarse corto, interpretado por Rubén González, seguido de un divino solo de tres (instrumento de tres cuerdas) de Papí Oviedo.

En cuanto a los boleros, están "Silencio" con Omara Portuondo, quien ya tiene su propio álbum de la serie Buena Vista... Una pieza de increible belleza, con un conjunto de cuerdas acompañando a la pareja cantante de una forma que simplemente va a dejar sin aliento y seguramente podrá arrancarle más de una lágrima a uno; y "Aquellos ojos verdes", una canción clásica, que toda persona que haya crecido en Latinoamérica en algún momento ha escuchado. A algunos podría recordarles a la abuela, pero a otros quizás pueda servirles para dedicarle una serenata a la persona amada.

Cuando uno ya está listo para catalogar este álbum como un clásico de una vez, suena la poderosa pieza "Que bueno baila usted", legendario son de Benny Moré, de cuya banda Ibrahim Ferrer formó parte...

Cerrando con broche de oro, suena el delicioso bolero "Cómo fue", para dejarlo a uno con una mezcla de nostalgia con alegría por el descubrimiento musical que hizo Ry Cooder al grabar a este excepcional cantante, nacido en Santiago de Cuba en 1927... ¡Quién se iba a imaginar un debut a esa edad! ... gracias a Dios no se perdió sin ser grabada su melodiosa voz y su talento al frente de una banda.

I have listened this album several times before being able to judge it. At the first times it seemed good but not fantastic, just a bit too traditional if compared to BVSC. But after, I have gradually changed my opinion: this is surely a very good work, with the voice of Ibrahim Ferrer that shines. It is as worthy as the first BVSC album. My preferred songs are "Guateque Campesino" and "Bruca manigua".

I first heard the original Buena Vista Social club during the summer of 1998. I learned to salsa dance to that CD. I never thought I would be saying this but Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer is even better than the debut CD. What an amazing and talented group of musicians. The music is full of emotion, incredible talent, and strength. I am in complete awe of these musicians.

This CD is a "MUST HAVE" for its cultural and social values. This CD is the heart and soul of Cuba. The smoothness of Ibrahim's voice is truly a mental orgasm, it is smooth, meaningful, seductive it is the mate to your musical soul. Purchase this CD, share it, shout of it to the world! Thank the Creator for blessing us with the Buena Vista Social Club. I personally want to travel to Cuba to absorb more of this magic. The Social Club will be appearing in Los Angeles at the Wiltern Threate on 2-18-2000, See you there...

I have rated this CD at 4-stars rather than 5-stars for one reason only -- that it is (in parts) haunted by Ry Cooder's annoying and inappropriate slide guitar. Much as I appreciate Cooder's role in exposing Ibrahim Ferrer to the world outside of Cuba, his guitar work grates on my nerves.

Despite Cooder's guitar, this CD rates as many stars as the midnight Montana sky can hold.

Of all the talented and loveable personalities surrounding the Buena Vista Social Club recordings, Ibrahim Ferrer remains my favorite for reasons beyond the music itself.

Ry Cooder describes him as "walking into the studio sounding like a Cuban Nat King Cole", but I disagree. His voice may share the soft, mellow quality of Cole's, but the similarity ends there. Just below the surface of Ferrer's gentle veneer is a fiery passion that leaves Nat King Cole (in my opinion) looking like Pat Boone with an overdose of skin bronzer!

My favorite tracks are "Bruca Maniguá", "Mamí Me Gustó", "Cienfuigos Tiene Su Guaguancó, and, of course, "Silencio". That said, I love every track on the album.

I strongly recommend that purchasers of this CD invest in a copy of the Buena Vista Social Club video (tape or DVD). The video documents the production of this CD and will GREATLY enhance your enjoyment of it, as the video includes recording sessions and background on the participants from their own mouths.

The video concludes with Ibrahim Ferrer standing on stage at New York's Carnegie Hall in 1998 to a wild standing ovation. He seems amazed at the reception, unable to comprehend what might have provoked it. This frail and humble man's extraordinary gift had been hidden from the world outside Cuba for decades. But thanks to the Buena Vista Social Club project, millions have fallen in love with this man and his music.

Nor is Ferrer the sole reason for all the excitement. Francisco Repilado (aka Compay Segundo), Rubén González, Omara Portuondo, Eliades Ochoa, Orlando López, Manuel Mirabal, Amadito Valdés, Juan de Marcos González and many, many others add their unique talents to this bewitching brew.

It is a magical experience and, whether you understand Spanish or not, you are sure to be profoundly moved. If Ibrahim Ferrer can't move you, you have no soul.

Ry Cooder has always been way ahead music wise. This newest find is a must have for any audiophile. We were able to see the artists at their finale performance in Vancouver, BC this past week and it was a visual treat to see them perform live. It was at the Opherum, an old but modernized theater in downtown Vancouver. It just added to the sensual and colorful beat of the music. There were no guitars nor Ry. Still a once in alife time thrill to see them. Too bad there wasn't a dance floor, it would have been packed and the performers would have play way past the 3 hours that they did that night. May they all live to be 100 years old, it comes from a forgotten time and place that will never exist again.

In a nutshell buy this CD and then go out and buy 10 copies for your best friends, you (and them) will not stop playing this wonderful music. I was lucky enough to attend the BVSC concert in Santa Fe, NM on November 9 and met both Ibrahim and Ruben Gonzalez. As if their music was not good enough, they are also terrific people. Can't wait for the next one.

Fans of the Buena Vista Social Club movie will enjoy this CD because the recording of these songs that was the structure of the movie (they recorded the BVSC CD two years earlier). Ferrer is an enjoyable song stylist. His version of "Que Bueno Baila Usted" is every bit as lively as Beny More's original and stands out as one of few upbeat numbers on the CD. I am sad that they did not show the recording of that song in the movie because the studio was probably hoppin'. Ferrer went from shining shoes and trash removal to international superstar in two years and at 73 years old. That's enough right there to buy the CD.

The sound quality of the CD is poor. That's surprising since even Cuban CDs recorded at EGREM, the state run studio usually are of very solid quality. On some songs, you hear a hiss that is reminiscent of the Dolby B days of tape recorders. That's a shame.

I dont have words for the greatness of this cd.I have deep emotions for these beautyfull talented people and how the world kept them silent for these many years,a holocaust of Cuban talent.May there music live forever.