Customer Reviews

Routes of Rhythm, V. 3

5 star:		(3)
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It's kind of dissapointing not to see anything written on one of the most important releases in latin american musical history (of course, this is my "knowledgeless" opinion). As good and important as Buena Vista Social Club, this cd is a "must" for those who seek a little of the unknown past of today's Salsa. This is not "urban" SON, it's "country" SON, where the SON is originally from and where it all started. Thanks.

Years ago when CDs, players and burners were either non-existent or in infancy, I would take the bus to Philly and meet with a friend who had Isaac Oviedo records that he bought in a cafe in Santiago. He would make a fresh cassette recording for me and then put the records away until my next visit. Years have passed, movies were made and yet no mention of him ever reached the surface. Of course, almost no recordings have been remastered for CD. I'll take this offering and enjoy every second. It's just a shame that the world may never hear the haunting beauty of the recording I am presently listening to. It's a live recording with friends and family at a party shortly before his death. He still played the tres like an extension of his soul, and his raspy voice rose above the drums and horns to eternity.

This CD is disappointing in the sense that production values are non-existent, it was recorded by music researchers using lousy field equipment, some of it outdoors. So much for up to date, slick studio production values that would vastly increase market appeal of the music in this CD.

On the other hand...Isaac Oviedo was one THE masters of the cuban tres. His son, Papi Oviedo appears on some songs, he is also a master of the instrument. There are a number of songs that are described as 'son-afro', I think this is the country music the other reviewer describes. These songs are well worth study by anyone interested in Cuban folk music. Another great song on the CD is a huapango (Mexican folk style in 6/8) on which both Isaac Oviedo and Papi Oviedo play tres. A very impressive performance, which those guys probably took for granted, seeing that they played together all the time, whether a reel to reel was running or not. Its hard to describe the level of musicianship recorded on this CD but to say the tres playing is among the best you will ever hear.

The real disappointment I have is that there is almost no recordings of Isaac Oviedo available in the United States. He playing was so good that he supported himself and his family his entire life playing the tres.