Customer Reviews

Master Sessions 1

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

POWERFUL! ... TOP NOTCH ARRANGEMENTS! ... In this album, you get a truly masterful performance from Cachao and company. In this offering he is surrounded by a roster of talent that has only been equaled twice before in the very rich history of latin music. Those other recordings are as follows; 1. "Estrellas Areito vol. 1 - 4", Areito label and 2. Grupo Folklorico y Experimental Nueyorquino vol. 1 - 2", Salsoul label. To say that it is the among the very best Cuban music EVER recorded is truly an understatement, from the opening track to the very last one, what one gets is Afro-cuban music played with a pure passion and love. It is obvious just by listening that the musicians in this album played with their hearts exposed. I was not present at the recording but i know that the head charts and arrangements were used only to begin each session. It is phyically impossible to write and then have each member play the music contained in this recording. An improvisers paradise. It is very rare for musicians to find themselves in a setting where all of their emotions flow with electrically charged passion as with this album. As a collector of Cuban music, I have heard most of what has been recorded. This ranks among the very best of them all (...and there are 1000's of excellent records of Cuban music). If you are just discovering Cuban music, this is a perfect place to begin exploring. For those already baptized, GET THIS ONE!

This CD should be in the collection of every latin music lover. It should be a required study material for those who want to make salsa. No, it's not salsa but rather father mambo, mother guajirra, aunt descarga, and grandma rumba.
The musician lineup is spectacular including Jimmy Bosch(trombone) and Nestor Torres(flute). And all of these under the man who created mambo and descarga. Cachao masterfully utilizes the skills of these experts to redo some of his old songs, and perform new ones.
Unfortunately the complexities in the music can only be heard in a high end sound system, so don't buy this CD to listen to it while you drive to your favorite latin club, unless you own a Benz. Another detail that makes it different is that the songs flow for as long as they must rather than be rushed to the four minute industry standard.
For those who are only aquainted with modern latin music, expect the same instrumentation as Salsa, but with a more classical feel where vocals come second to the instruments. After listening to this CD you will be able to dissect most Salsa and further understand where it falls stylistically.

The quality of the sound and the magical expertise of some of the best musicians from Cuba come together in this album.
This is what we call "the real thing"... as real and as good as it can possibly be...
This is definitely a must have album for anyone, like me, who treasures the tropical music of the Caribbean and Latin America.
I also recommend the Volume II of the Master Sessions just as highly. These are some of the best collector's CD's money can buy...
If it was possible, I would give it six stars out of five!

How can you embody a lifetime of music into one CD? You can't, that would be for the naive. This CD however, kicks $%%#@!. Emilio Estefan (Gloria's husband) and actor Andy Garcia produces; many, many artists contribute, and all you have to do is listen, dammit.

First of all, I love the bass. Second of all, I love Latin music and Latin jazz. Well, that means that his album is one of my all time favorites -- it swings! Not only is every track great, the recording is very high quality and will highlight any audiophile system. I have scores of great Latin music, but this is one of the CDs I keep coming back to time after time. Israel Lopez is one of the world's greatest living bass players (his nickname is Cachao) -- I've been meaning to buy volume 2 as well which should be just as good. This one is a winner.

POWERFUL! ... TOP NOTCH ARRANGEMENTS! ... In this album, you get a truly masterful performance from Cachao and company. In this offering he is surrounded by a roster of talent that has only been equaled twice before in the very rich history of Latin music. Those other recordings are as follows; 1. "Estrellas Areito vol. 1 - 4, on the Areito label and 2. Grupo Folklorico y Experimental Nueyorquino vol. 1 - 2", on the Salsoul label. To say that it is the among the very best Cuban music EVER recorded is truly an understatement, from the opening track to the very last one, what one gets is Afro-Cuban music played with a pure passion and love. It is obvious just by listening that the musicians in this album played with their hearts exposed. I was not present at the recording but I know that the head charts and arrangements were used only to begin each session. It is extremely difficult to write and then have each member play the music contained in this recording. An improvisers paradise. It is very rare for musicians to find themselves in a setting where all of their emotions flow with electrically charged passion as with this album. As a collector of Cuban music, I have listened to a large chunk of what has been recorded. This recording ranks among the very best of them all (...and there are 1000's of excellent records of Cuban music). If you are just discovering Cuban music, this is a perfect place to begin exploring. For those already baptized, GET THIS ONE!

Cachao leads a group of all-stars on this well-executed CD. My favorite track has to be #4 El Son No Ha Muerto showing the whole new school that El Son is still alive and well. You gotta love the tres player, who was very outstanding.

this is my third copy bougth on this ALBUM and the music is still frech, like taken out of the island for the first time, even tought i have not been there, Cachao's music takes you there by the sounds and the rithm. i always gonna be a fan and continue to hear his music.

Don't expect a typical salsa album with this one. This is Cachao, Cuba's master bassist, painting a picture of Cuba's various sounds as Picasso would a masterpiece. The music is wonderful, varying from Danzón, to Son Montuno, Guaracha, Descarga, Cha-Cha, and Guaguancó. These are the rhythms the Maestro loved and knew best, and this album certainly reflects his passion for them.
The cut, "Lluvia , Viento, Y Caña", (Rain, Wind and Sugar Cane) alone, is worth the price of the disc. The trombone solo leads this simmering Montuno into a jam so sensuously irresistable that you'll find yourself involutarily dancing to its beat. The arrangement, which layers the horns, woodwinds, and chorus over one another, is pure Cachao genius. In fact, you'll shake your head wondering how something so deep could originate in the mind of a mere human. But remember, this is Cachao!
Some top notch percussionists, like veteran Orestes Vilato, add to the overall perfection of this disc and the tunes are all great. Excellent sound quality too. Highly recommended.

This recording fits in more as a classic of Cuban music rather than as a popular musical offering. The music is subtle and therefore will not appeal to the mass public. However, this recording represents Cuban musical tradition interpreted by a master musician and is an excellent album. I have listened to the recordings many times and each time I hear another layer, like an excellent piece of literature.