Songs From a Little Blue House

Juan Carlos Formell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 1, 1999)
• Original Release Date: May 18, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B00000IPY8
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #347,559 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Agua Dulce

2. Canto Del Delfin

3. Flores

4. Agua Bendita

5. Pajarillo

6. Cuba Sera Libre

7. Palo De Guayaba

8. Siguaraya

9. Cangrejo

10. La Vaquita

11. Boda En El Bosque

12. Mango Mangoey

13. Regreso De Jicotea

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Expatriate Cuban singer-songwriter and guitarist Juan-Carlos Formell's debut album packs a political wallop amid its lush romantic imagery and subtly cooking folk-jazz sound. "When the dictatorship ends," he sings, "I'm going to have a party... / And if it doesn't end, this song will knock it down." Although he's the son of Juan Formell, founder of Cuba's best-known dance band, Los Van Van, Juan-Carlos is more sit-down innovator than dance-floor shaker. He reinvigorates the lyrical potential of acoustic country son in songs that veil the political in the everyday. "Cangrejo (Crab)" discusses the dangerous choices of Cuba's boat people in lively call-and-response verses, and "Vaquito (Cow)" praises the simple things--a cow, a rooster, a cat--the embargoed island's poor can no longer afford. Formell's guitar playing, which shines in a trio of instrumentals, is equally elegant. Whether you agree with his politics or not, Formell is asking the right questions in a new and thoroughly captivating manner. --Richard Gehr

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wow., November 22, 1999

By 

"skyboysky" (chapel hill, north carolina, usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songs From a Little Blue House (Audio CD)

I picked up this cd on a whim based on the cd's cool cover art, and was even more impressed after hearing it at a listening station. What a wonderfully smooth, relaxing, yet inspiring and exciting album. I've loved Cuban music for some time now and have been greatly excited at all of the publicity musicians such as Cubanismo and Formell, etc., have gained recently...it's all well-deserved. Overall, a great album for either watching the sunset from your back porch, or for cruising through the country with the stereo blaring....

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The real revolution, February 27, 2004

By 

"roldan123456789" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songs From a Little Blue House (Audio CD)

"Songs from a little blue house" is a revolutionary recording -- possibly one of the only concept records that has ever come out of Cuba, and what a concept it is. Juan-Carlos Formell, an extraordinary guitarist, bassist and songwriter, had to leave his homeland in order to record these exquisite, gently-sung songs that express his poetic sensibility and profound love of country.Like Bob Dylan, Formell uses traditional and folkloric themes to express new ideas: the record is a beautifully woven tapestry of song about the essence of Cuban identity. Beginning with the joyous dolphin's song in the overture, "Canto del delfin" and continuing through a landscape of poignant and bittersweet commentary, the songs describe a journey in search of Cuba's soul -- "Pajarillo" asks "where has the little bird that carried me over the river to the cane fields gone?"; "Palo de guayaba", is about the sacred guava pole, "hard to break," a symbol of Cuban resilience. The music builds to a crescendo with "A Cuba Nos Vamos", his expression of defiance against Castro's repression that is followed by his passionate assertion of his and Cuba's ultimate survival. This record sets a new standard for Cuban and all Latin music. It is miles better than "Buena Vista Social Club" and way more innovative and interesting than the work of Brazilian songwriters Veloso and Nascimento.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like Pearls and Rubies, December 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Songs From a Little Blue House (Audio CD)

This Grammy-nominated debut recording is a miracle: flawless from beginning to end. Formell is a magnificent guitar player, and his songs are gems strung together to create a tiara of Cuban music as it has never been heard before. His voice is the prefect companion to the deceptively gentle music, that flows like a river therough Cuban music history.