Late Night Sessions

Caravana Cubana | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 15, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• ASIN: B00000JBV5
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #463,947 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Recorded in Los Angeles as a tribute to the late pioneering Cuban American DJ Emilio Vandenedes, the Caravana Cubana crew invites comparisons with Ry Cooder's Buena Vista Social Club franchise insofar as it brings together such Cuban musical veterans as pianist Jesus "Chucho" Valdés and 83-year-old singer Pio Leyva with young upstarts like trombonist Jimmy Bosch and conguero Miguel Anga Diaz. But it's a more lively project than the suavely dignified BVSC records thanks mainly to a ferocious percussion section that maintains a sizzling flame under material ranging from traditional Santeria ceremonial music to the head-spinning drumming of "Una Rumba con Dos Tres" to a handful of jazzier jams kicked off by former members of Dizzy Gillespie's legendary 1940s Latin jazz band. --Richard Gehr

Product Description

A joyous reunion of Cuba's best known musicians with their friends in the United States. Jesus "Chucho" Valdes, Bamboleo, Miguel Anga Diaz, Orlando "Maraca" Valle, and the 83 year-old Pio Leiva join with LA-based Jose Caridad "Perico" Hernandez (one of Cuba' s greatest musicians according to Chucho Valdes), Lazaro Galarraga, Carlos Del Puerto, Jr., Francisco Aguabella, and others. An added bonus is the presence of Raul Travieso Rodriguez, brother of the Cuban music legend, Arsenio Rodriguez. This is Raul's first recording since his brother's death in the early 1970's. These are original recordings throughout the summer of 1998.
BAND MEMBERS:
Francisco Aguabella
Bamboleo
Jimmy Bosch
Carlos Del Puerto, Jr.
Miguel Anga Diaz
Lazaro Galarraga
Jose Caridad Perico Hernandez
Pio Leiva
Al McKibbon
Raul Travieso Rodriguez
Jesus Chucho Valdes
Orlando Maraca Valle

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Opening the Doors to Cuba........., January 28, 2000

By 

M. M. Berliner (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Late Night Sessions (Audio CD)

While not as joyous and buoyant as "A Toda Cuba Le Gusta," this album is a good cross-section of Cuban and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Outstanding vocals by the legendary Pio Leyva (Leiva, here)and Perico Hernandez, and great percussion (to be expected). Chucho Valdes' piano solo on "Chuco Carabali" is an eclectic mix of great jazz and soulful Cubanismo. The album isn't the best of the genre, but five or six of the eight tracks are still far above average. Surely worth your time!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Explosive Blend of Afro-Cuban Roots of Salsa, July 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Late Night Sessions (Audio CD)

After hearing this album I was amazed at the craftmanship of these Cuban Masters. They definately took me on a 'caravana' journey of the sounds of Cuba. The inspirations of vocalist Lázaro Galarraga and the bass legend Al McKibbon blew the roof off of my house with their sounds. If you love Buena Vista Social Club you will not go wrong with this album!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A beginner..., December 4, 2000

By 

Jess H. Lord (Havertown, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Late Night Sessions (Audio CD)

I write this review from the perspective of an extreme novice of the genre. I actually listened to this CD at a Borders and was absolutely taken in (especially by the infectious beat and tempo of the first track). I had been inspired to check it out by the popularity of Buena Vista Social Club and actually found myself enjoying this CD more. At the most basic level, I enjoy the range of songs on this album and the incredible musicianship. Going beyond this, it seemed to me to be a good introduction (in part because of the range of songs but also because of the range of musicians) and I feel like I have already learned a lot. I cannot comment, obviously, in reference to other artists or albums in this genre, but I can assert unequivocally how much I ENJOY this album. It has worn very well and I suspect will give me a great deal of upbeat listening pleasure for a long time to come.