Customer Reviews

Sublime Ilusion

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Dear reader, I have taken my own group down to Santiago de Cuba twice and enjoyed masterclasses in traditional Son by some of the most talented people I have ever met. What is exciting is the enormous joy Cuban musicians seem to derive from teaching others their beloved music.

The most talented of all in my view - is Eilades Ochoa. I had the pleasure of speaking to him in Santiago and try and catch every concert he gives in our area. His album "Sublime ilusion" captures the Guajiro feel of his own mountainous homeland. Not only is his Son traditional, it is "Country Son". He is the Cuban Cowboy amongst his peers. His style of playing seems incredibly laid back but don't be fooled. The syncopated instruments: guitar, double-bass, harmonica (7 string guitar) bongo, maracas, claves and voice all follow eachother around, creating the "horsebackriding" feeling he is so well-known for.

What makes the album a jewel amongst all other Cuban sequels is the playfull inclusion of several Spanish pieces in traditional songs. "Saludo Compay" combines a bullfight scene (trumpets) with pure Son.

His voice is what distinguishes him from most traditional singers. Crude, experienced and always heartfelt. This is most felt in the confrontation the listener has on his solo piece "pedacito de papel". Just a guitar, his voice and you. In my case tears were the result (if you understand the words....)

Sublime Ilusion is just as its title. A MUST HAVE for all you Son lovers out there!!

If you're looking for traditional Cuban music that really gets under your skin, this is a no-brainer. Exceptional guitarplay and very tastful arrangements and atmosphere, very good soundquality. This album is absolutely as good as the famous Buena Vista Social Club.

Okay, how to write a review about this very talented and gifted individual. Let me start by saying how I was introduced to the music. Believe it or not, I never saw Buena Vista Social Club. Heard of it but never gave it a thought. Also, I'd like to add that my main interest in music is Ska/Reggae, Alternative Rock, Metal, punk. So, yeah, this is a very weird but wonderful experience for me. I haven't felt my soul stir like this since first getting into Bob Marley, Peter Tosh etc.
I just happened to catch the film "Real Women Have Curves" on HBO just about a week ago. A wonderful film!! I suggest you watch it. I loved the soundtrack with the film and wanted to get it since there was one song I loved and wanted. A latin-ska number from who I don't know. I got the soundtrack the next day. Turns out the song I was looking for wasn't on the soundtrack. I was a little upset but decided to listen to the rest. There was one song on there I recognized from the film I liked but never fully listened since I was really concentrating on that one ska song. The song was "Si En Un Final" by someone named Eliades Ochoa.
I could not help but listen to the guitar ebb and flow through the song. Plus the mournful vocals give it a depth I've never heard before. I'm not too experienced in guanjero-style and I have listened to spanish guitar music also. But there was something in Eliades Ochoa's style of playing that I know has never been done before. It's hard for me to describe it. Especially since this is my first time being introduced to the traditional Cuban sounds.
So, my interest being piqued, I decided to look further into the artist's repetoire. I got two albums..."Sublime Illusion" and "A Tribute to Cuarteto Patria". WOW!!!! I can't stop playing these albums. His guitar playing is phenomenal!!! You can literally hear two..three notes at a time. Maybe even four. He's a virtuoso among Guanjero, Bolero style as Robert Johnson was to the Blues. He doesn't have much of a vocal range but it adds character and depth to his songs. You can also tell from his voice that this man has been through "Hell and back." He knows what it's like to suffer. Cuatro Patria, the band he leads, is also amazing. Very tight but yet gives energy and verve to Eliades' playing.
I know I haven't written the best review. All I can say is for you to get his discs and listen!! Especially listen for his guitar!! Just as I thought Bob Marley changed me...Eliades Ochoa has shown me another path to walk. Gracias, Senor Ochoa!!

Oh yeah, and that latin-ska song I was looking for. I think that can wait!!!

I only wish that I had been exposed to this fabulous music a few years ago! ELIADES OCHOA has one dreaming about Cuba's countryside with his touching lyrics and moving armonic playing. It is very interesting to note that along with doubling the G and D strings, he capos up several frets to achieve a truly unique sound. As Americans, we have been cut off from this wonderful style of music, just as we have from the beauty and uniqueness of the largest island in the Antilles. Listening to this CD has been the second enlightening experience I have had recently; the first was seeing Buena Vista Social Club. Better late than never! Commercialism has not reached Eliades Ochoa's playing in my opinion, and I hope it never does. Kudos to Ry Cooder and Nick Gold for making this all happen initially!

The "BVSC" introduced most Americans to "Eliades Ochoa" and what an unforgetable introduction it was. "Ochoa" has a voice that is very unique and once heard you will want to seek out more of his music. The guitar work employed by "Ochoa" is part of his successful sound as it has a lingering effect. The plucking of the steel strings are quite amazing and all his years experience really demonstrates his mastery. His voice is one of the most soulful in all of music. This is music that touches your soul, the only way you cannot be effected by the music is if you have no pulse. "Pintate Los Labios Maria" is a song that will leave you singing the chorus after your first listen. Great dance music, excellent listening to music but you gotta move upon hearing this song. The horns are perfectly harmonious and the polyrhythmns are syncopating to a beat that won't let you sit still. This is feel good music on a rainy day, a sunny delight no matter what the weather. "Ochoa's" voice is rootsy, like well worn gravel that has been smoothed on a mountain road. When he sings a bolero(romantic song) the voice is full of anguish and he hits a baritone-ish tone that is reflective and full of emotion. All the songs are excellent and this CD will get lots of play on your deck as you will want to hear it many times over and over. Years from now this CD will sound as good as it does now. While traveling in Mexico recently I picked up an interesting CD by "Ochoa y Cuarteto Patria" teamed up with the Cameroon saxaphonist "Manu Dibango" that was recorded at a French music festival. If you come across it pick it up as this is an excellent collaboration. Anyway "Sublime Illusion" is an album not to be missed, you won't regret your purchase but beware as you'll spend more money on some of his other releases.

I really enjoy listening to this entire array of Cuban music. From Son to Guaracha to Bolero this CD has it all. The beautiful guitar playing and singing get better and better each time I listen to this albulm. Eliades Ochoa is trully a mega talent who deserves the ears of all generations of music lovers. You can't go wrong buying this work of art!

WOW, Eliades Ochoa Guitar on this cd has a voice off it's own. This cd combines cuban and mexican culture with the richness of cuban music and a guitar player that has to be the best in the business. Eliades Ochoa started playing music on a street corner in cuba and now he has become one of the best musicians in cuba. Listen to this cd from start to finish, you will not want to stop listening, i now love cuban music because of this album and Buena vista social club. you will listed to this and you will want to go to cuba, to his little street corner. but close your eyes and you can be there too.....

THE GREAT THING THAT "THE BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB" RECORDING ALLOWED WAS THAT MOST OF THE INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS GOT TO RECORD "SOLO" ALBUMS.IBRAHIM FERRER'S SOLO RECORDING IS GETTING MOST OF THE ATTENTION,JUSTLY DUE BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT RECORDING FROM A GREAT ARTIST.HOPEFULLY,THIS RECORDING WILL NOT GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE,BECAUSE THIS IS THE BEST OF THE LOT. OCHOA'S VOCALS ARE NOT AT SMOOTH AS FERRER'S BUT JUST AS PASSIONATE AND HIS GUITAR WORK IS SUPURB! THE SONGS,BOTH HIS COMPOSITIONS AND THE TRADITIONAL SONGS WHICH DOMINATE THE ALBUM ARE CLOSER TO THE CUBAN ROOTS OF SON THAN ANY OF THE OTHER RELEASES.DON'T MISS THIS ONE!!!

This is an elegant and beautiful album. Whether you have seen the "Buena Vista Social Club" or not, this album is soothing and wonderful. Buy it and hear for yourself.

This is fantastic, infectious, addictive like a drug taken in through the ears. The mercy of the trumpets like a balm in Pintate Los Labios Maria. Pintatelos, Maria! Por Dios! The tropical humidity of the drums. His guitar jumping all over you, nipping at you. And the perfect crispness of the chords of the chorus like gin or cold sake. And then the trumpets again, exuberant and in perfect control.

his voice is great at times (God forgive me) I wonder if Clapton could play this