Cuban Originals [Original recording remastered]

Orquesta Aragon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 28, 1999)
• Original Release Date: September 28, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony U.S. Latin
• ASIN: B00000K577
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,456 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #22 in Music > World Music > Caribbean & Cuba > General
  • #22 in Music > World Music > Caribbean & Cuba > General AAS
  • #47 in Music > World Music > Caribbean & Cuba > Cuba

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The violin is an instrument few people would associate with Cuban music. Yet, beginning in the 1940s, Orquesta Aragon made massed fiddles synonymous with a dance-music style called charanga, which added a dose of urban sophistication to the more pastoral, flute-led danzon genre. Orquesta Aragon rode a gliding, polished sound based on the interplay between the string section and the effervescent flute of Richard Egües, more recently heard backing Senegalese singer Cheik Lô on his breakaway disc, Bambay Gueej. Though charanga would seem to be at odds with tougher, more rhythmically charged Cuban dance music, the Orquesta put the mambo-derived cha-cha on the map with Egües's composition "El Boduguero," which Nat "King" Cole later took to the top of the American charts. Famous members of this world-class ensemble include Rafael Lay, who arranged the songs with Egües, and Buena Vista Social Club alumnus Pio Leyva. The band remains together, but this disc traces the glory days of the late 1940s to the early 1950s. --Bob Tarte.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Thing!, August 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Cuban Originals (Audio CD)

The Orquesta Aragon, the original Orquesta Aragon, was the ultimate dancing orchestra during the cha-cha-cha period. None other, not even Fajardo y sus Estrellas, could compete with the Aragon's style. But, unfortunately, there are too many CD's around that pretend to the Aragon's fame, without its ability. Making matters worse, the new Orquesta Aragon (which doesn't sound at all like the original) is recording many albums too. But THIS IS THE REAL THING! Buy it and enjoy every old song in the original style.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Memories from the past - priceless, May 22, 2008

By 

O. Adler "Oni" (Miami,Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cuban Originals (Audio CD)

This CD has all of the music that brings me back memories from my youth.
Not only do I enjoy it when I play it in my backyard the neighbors ask me to higher the volume. It's great dancing, fun music.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars After many years Orquesta Aragon will celebrate their 70th Anniversary at Zellerbach Hall 8-13-10, July 21, 2010

By 

Shabnam Samoohi "Shabi" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cuban Originals (Audio CD)

After many years Orquesta Aragon will celebrate their 70th Anniversary at Zellerbach Hall 8-13-10

Tickets, music player, and videos at [...].
Direct from Cuba-Orquesta Aragón-70th Birthday Celebration at Zellerbach Hall
Friday, Aug 13 8:00p
at University of California at Berkeley: Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley, CA

Direct from Cuba-One Night Only
Celebrating their 70th Anniversary at Zellerbach Hall

As the cultural door between the U.S. and Cuba opens again, Orquesta Aragón, with over 100 albums recorded, returns after many years for their 70th Anniversary Celebration at the University of California, Berkeley,