Customer Reviews

Cafe Ole

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have purchased many CD's of this type of music and from many different artists (Ottmar Liebert, Jesse Cook, Oscar Lopez, Johannes Linstead, Govi, Armik, Lara and Reyes, Bendetti and Svoboda, etc.) and this one is definitely one of the best!!! If you like this type of music you have got to have this CD!! All of the selections have a unique, original sound, lots of rhythm and excellent latin percussion. You won't be disappointed!!!!

Listening to this brilliant series of tunes is like taking a long breath of fresh air. It truly touches the soul. I bought the CD on "spec" after hearing a couple of tracks about 5 months ago. Smart move! Over time, it has become the A, number one listening choice for almost everthing I do. There is true beauty and depth in each track. It is well worth the money spent. I'm looking for anything else Luis and the UN band might have recorded. Don't hesitate. you won't be sorry.

OK, so I like a lot of this genre... Govi, S&F, W&L, Encinas, etc., but this one is great background for relaxing drives. You may find yourself driving a bit too fast for a couple of the tracks though. I call it "light" as it doesn't extract as high a toll on the listener as most new flamenco does...

This is another one that I give away to people because I like the way it makes me feel.

I love all these songs and listen to them at work when the noise level gets too loud around me. New Moon is the best but there is not a single song on this CD that I don't like.

I wish all the songs in this CD were as beautiful as song number twelve "New Moon," which is the reason I bought it.

I've listened to much Latin music, trying to find the one tape that would finally have just the right amount of Latin flavor, a sensual dance rhythm, in a nice relaxing setting, that I've been seeking. And Luis and his band do it just right. It is perfect music to listen to while sitting outside on a still summer night. It is just absolutely the perfect tape.

I am a huge fan of this band. I've seen them so many times but never do I tire of watching and listening. Their music is a treat. Sitting in on some of the CD recording-session tunes are Abe Laboriel, Mitchito Sanchez, and Gregg Bissonnette, to name just my favorites. The tunes are wonderfully written and the background strings on the slow numbers are breathtaking in their simplicity and texture. Can you tell I like this album? More, Luis.

I am an audiophile and music lover, of many years. From start to finish,this CD captivates my mind soul and body.Luis, please do not let this be your last!

Review of the CD, Cafe Ole, by Luis Villegas and the United Nations Band, released in 1998 on Domo records.

One might think that this is just another latin dance album but once it kicks off with Baby Elephants it is creamy and surprisingly listenable. As it moves onto the second track, Banana Bay, it is hard and green -- in a few years this will be terrific. Luis and the United Nations band simply have lots of character and breeding. They are not as intense as some but more serious than others. The next few tracks are young and surprisingly light, richer and fruitier than most, but with some seriousness of purpose. Getting to the fifth and sixth tracks bring songs that are aggressive, big, and rough-hewn. Simply big and warming. Luis shows traditional depth in his music, and he is proud to be a bit rough. The United Nations band is obviously comfortable being what it is; uniformly a bit biting, leathery and chewy. This album is a keeper and will stand the test of time. Definitely worth hiding in the closet for a few years. As I listened to the seventh track, inside, I thought of big white rocks reflecting the intense sun. It was good, unpretentious, but well made. It would make you warm on a cold night. The eighth track does not have the guts of some but it is righteous. A well recommended full-bodied album to be enjoyed with any course.

Luis Villegas and the UN are a GREAT BAND! I can't recommend them enough. If you love latin jazz, salsa, flamenco music, then you MUST get this CD. Their sound is a mix of the Gipsy Kings, Strunz and Farah and Ottmar Liebert, but more energetic. The band itself is amazing. They are the friendliest guys you will ever meet. They are not star struck. They are like your best friends and always willing to talk in between sets. Pick this CD up and I can guarantee you will be dancing in your car/home and/or taping your feet to the music. If you live in the Southern California area be sure to check out one of their live shows each month!. Their website is: http://www.luisvillegas.com