Customer Reviews

Distinto Diferente

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

WARNING: The Afro Cuban All Stars' music is NOT your father's Desi Arnaz albums!

Having both this CD and "A Toda Cuba Le Gusta", I just don't know which I like best. This stuff is highly "picante" --"chiles habaneros" put to music!!!

To Juan de Marcos González, the REAL driving force behind the "Buena Vista Social Club" phenomenon and now "Afro Cuban All Stars", an enormous debt is owed by all who appreciate truly GREAT music. He's a modern musical HERO.

This man, with endless energy, profound passion and a winning smile, has probably done more in recent years to promote both traditional and modern Cuban music beyond Cuba's borders than any human being alive. I can't express the depth of my gratitude to this brilliant and enterprising man. Without him, who among us would have had the good fortune to enjoy Ibrahim Ferrer's magical voice?

Long before I discovered Cuban music (via BVSC), I was deeply in love with Mexican music of all genres, modern and traditional.

But Cuban music has a place of its own in the world of music. For, much like our own music in the United States, Cuban music is a fusion of European music with an African influence of great variety and, presumably, that of the indigenous populations. I have read that African slaves once accounted for 40% of the island's population, representing more than 100 tribal groups of the African continent. Because Cuba's European cultural influences differ from those of the United States, the resulting music is not the same. We have our blues and jazz; Cuba has its son montuno, guajira, guaracha, rumba, danzón, bolero and chachachá, to name only a few. A musical treasure chest!!!

It is precisely the richness of this Cuban musical heritage that Juan de Marcos understands, appreciates and celebrates like nobody else! And nobody else has been so generous in sharing this precious gift with the rest of the world.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Juan de Marcos González!

If you liked the first album by the Afro-Cuban All Stars, this one will really hit the hot spot. It's really great! Well-produced and bigger band sound on many cuts with some of your favorite BVSC 'super stars' (Ibrahim, Barbarito). Juan de Marco should get the Grammy this time!

This music is absolutely addicting! Great to listen to while whipping up dinner or whatever else. However, DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS WHILE DRIVING! You won't be able to sit still and you and your car will be dancing all over the road. I can't wait to hear more from this very talented, sexy, and lively bunch!

This is different from the first recording by the Afro Cuban All Stars, but equally lively. We saw these artists at a show in Baltimore, MD. and by chance met them the next day. These guys are so humble and actually suprised at their success here in the U.S. They really deserve a chance!

Juan De Marcos is obviously reaching for more diverse audiences with this recording, and unlike Ry Cooder and friends, knows how to appeal to more diverse groups without losing the essence of Cuban Music to slide guitar solos. This is a great successor to their first all-star album, and belongs on every cuban or latin lover's shelf.

Found this CD almost by accident. This was my first Cuban music purchase and I loved it at first listen. I brought it to the office and found filing to be a lot more fun with that Cuban hip-thing going as I could not stand still with that wonderful beat. A must-try for anyone. You don't have to be Cuban or even Hispanic to love this music.

This is simply wonderful music. I consider the first Afro-Cuban All Star album, A Todo Cuba Le Gusta, to be one of my all time favorites. After the close of the first track on A Todo Cuba Le Gusta, I was asking myself, Where have you been all my life? I had no clue that I liked Cuban music but this is just amazing and it made me want more!

I don't feel quite that way about this album. It is a touch less fiery and a wee bit closer to mainstream tastes but believe me, there is nothing mainstream about it. The musicianship is fabulous despite the stylistic change. It is well worth buying and a great introduction to Cuban music.

If you are new to Cuban music and your tastes lean toward the metallic side of rock, you might enjoy the first album more. If you enjoy things a bit calmer than a frenzy but want still plenty of excitement, try this one!

I bought this CD 20 days ago and since then no other has been inside my CD player! "El guapacha, que sabrosito es!"

Pure magic, my dear ladies and gentlemen, pure magic. I smell cigar smoke whenever I go past the CD tower.

Se mantiene el timbre del Son Cubano intacto pero en algunas de sus canciones la letra haciendo alegorias a la dichosa revolucion extravia un poco la excelente calidad del Disco.