Customer Reviews

Rhythm & Smoke: Cuba Sessions

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

 

 

This CD is the true Cuban sound of the Island today. It has all the Nueva Trova, Timba, Son Montuno, Guanguanco and more. These talented musicians are not known outside the Island, and the only place that comes close to this music is "La Casa de Pepe" in Key West. After the 911 incident I was sent to Key West to work in support with the local law enforcement agents. During my stay of one year in Key West, I had the pleasure to meet the owner (Pepe) who was very nice to my troops. This Cuban restaurant is a riot on the weekends especially with the entire tourist that come off the cruise ships to dance to the beat of the Latin band that plays all night long. The food is delicious and you will like the atmosphere. I became a regular customer their after I met the manager Anna (La Italiana) and was invited to play with the band on several occasions. If you are visiting the area, two things you must do 1) Have a Tattoo made 2) check La Casa de Pepe if you like the Latin Beat and want to enjoy yourself and dance dirty with the Cuban music. Pepe was so nice to us (the soldiers) that he took a picture of the entire group to remember us before we returned to Miami. Pepe tells me that the picture is still hanging on the wall in the restaurant. Although currently I'm no longer residing in Miami, I still keep in touch with my friends from the Keys. And every time this CD is played here in Eastern Europe we dance to the Cuban beat and remember the good old days in La Casa de Pepe in Key West. Buy this CD for the price is worth it and Mr. Pleasures will not lie to you!

This is one great album. You can't really compare it Ry Cooder's Buena Vista Social Club, because that was really a step back into the elegant 40's and 50's with a bunch of amazing older guys who hadn't lost their touch. This album is bouncing contemporary afro-cuban energy, well executed and irresistable.

Sorry, but this album is a PLASTIC imitation of real Cuban music. If you like music that makes you laugh, makes you cry, or inspires you, you WON'T find it here. These kids lack the experience, the lifetime of joy and sorrow that is packed into the music of old guys like Compay Segundo (get "Lo Mejor De La Vida") and Eliades Ochoa (try "Sublime Illusion") and Ruben Gonzalez (get "Introducing Ruben Gonzalez").

If you want to be blown away by Cuban music, see the movie "Buena Vista Social Club". The music in the movie is UNBELIEVABLE. The stunning soundtrack is not yet available (I PRAY they'll release it so I can buy copies to turn on all my friends!), but the video will be released in December and you can buy it here at Amazon.

But THIS album is sterile. It is recorded well, and the performances are tight, so I give them one star for that. But there is no FEELING, just perfectly recorded expressions of nothing. Their version of "Chan Chan" is laughable compared to the Buena Vista movie version. I'm sure if these kids keep at it, they will surely amount to something after they've experienced a few more years of living.

I recommend this CD to anyone thats love to dance cha cha, cumbias. Even if you don't know how to dance you will get up and "Get Your Grove On". A friend of mine gave me this CD to listen to and I could not sit still. On Christmas Eve I played it for my friends and family, and everyone in the house started dancing, even the children. Buy it, you won't regret it

As with any compilation CD, you can't expect to love every single song, every single artist. But the good songs on this CD make it worth the $$. The songs by Cantores De Rosario and Arte Mixto stand out as some of the most beautiful and well arranged cuban music I've heard. I've been to Cuba, and studied under several of the artists on this compliation, and this CD represents a good sampling of the many types of Cuban music. Granted, some of the songs are annoying, others heavenly.
To address the concerns of those who wish to compare this or any other Cuban CD with Buena Vista Social Club, I say this: This is a compilation containing many genres and many artists, not just Son/Guajira. The artists here have not been produced for American ears, and this album represents Cuba in a way that some of the Buena Vista stuff does not. If you don't like any of this music, you're probably not a fan of Cuban music in general. (My point to the reviewer who panned Rhythm & Smoke-- don't judge all of Cuba by one album produced by Ry Cooder) Buena Vista is great, but try some other genres if you're ready.

Folks, I'm new to "La Junta" but I have to say after having listened to samples of the Afro-Cuban All Stars, Ry Cooder, Ruben Gonzales, Cuba: I Am Time, Various Artists, and Conjunto Cespedes that this album is far superior. It is crisper, cleaner and fresher than any of the above. The first song, Cantinero De Cuba as well as the last Chan Chan, both by Cubamar (this group should have their OWN album) are superb. I happened to listen to Chan Chan, and within 5 seconds I said to myself, "SOLD". I compared their version with Ry Cooder's on Buena Vista Social Club...NO COMPARISON. Cubamar rules. This album is unbelieveable. It grows and grows on you. Even if you can't dance you will when you listen to this album. I played it for my rock and roll fan students at the high school where I teach and many started dancing and asking where I got the album. This is not the greatest album on the planet (that's reserved for Gato Barbieri's masterpiece, Que Pasa?), but it is one of the top performances in years.