Customer Reviews

Recordando A Cuba

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These guys do the sound of Son Montuno, created by Arsenio Rodriguez in the fifties. There is certainly little modernity here, and by modern I mean the inovation made to latin music since the 70s.

So what you will hear with this band are great interpretations of Cuban classics with the high quality of a modern NYC studio. This is one case in which the originals will sound nowhere near as crisp and clear. I think this could have been a truly great CD if only they had made more of their original compositions. Or even if they had done as many modern Cuban bands do and incorporate some of the lyrics, rhythm, and melodies of old songs but change them enough to make them relevant to today's listeners. But alas, the intent here was to remember Cuba as it was decades ago. And the album excels in that purpose.

Last Saturday it was my pleasure to hear Papo Ortega's CubanoSon perform live at the Westgate Lounge, a popular Latin music and dance club in Westchester, New York, that features the best Latin bands including the best of the new. CubanoSon performed songs from their new CD Recordando a Cuba. This new recording brings a fresh interpretation to a highly danceable style of music known as the "Son". The Son originated in Cuba in the early part of the 1900's and was popularized by orchestras like Arsenio Rodríguez y Su Conjunto, La Orquesta Aragon, Sonora Matancera and José Fajardo y Su Orquesta. This musical style spread like wild fire throughout the world and gave birth to El Son Montuno, and along with El Punto Cubano, is the origins of what we now know as Salsa and Charanga. Here is proof of the Son's powerful influence on Latin music today. Take a wonderfully fresh and modern musical journey through the heart, soul and rhythms of Cuba. Bravo CubanoSon!