News - Orquesta Buena Vista Social Clubm, 2009-04-24 19:30, Budapest, Palace of Arts
The music of Cuba became fashionable in the 1990s and this fever reached its climax with the Grammy prize-winning Buena Vista Social Club record, which sold over fifty million copies. This album was not just one of the most remarkable stories of world music but spawned solo records, tours and a host of different project: the Buena Vista Social Club has become a trademark.
But no matter which performer is involved, the essence is always the same: “Refined elderly musicians play classical Cuban songs, probably as they were played twenty years ago, or might have been played”.
At the Palace of Arts, we will meet four old acquaintances, all refined elderly musicians. Cachaíto López is sometimes called the “heart beat” of the Buena Vista Social Club. During the course of his career, he played serious music, jazz and dance music with equal passion, performing with virtually everyone who was anyone in Cuban music. Guajiro Mirabal has also been a mainstay of the Buena Vista Social Club since its beginning. As a member of the Tropicana Club, the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna, the Conjunto Rumbavana and the Swing Casino, he learnt everything about American jazz and Cuban style, but he only made his debut as a soloist in 2004 with his debut solo album.
Jesús “Aguaje” Ramos moved to Havana in 1979 and soon became one of the most in demand wind players. By contrast, Manuel Galbán played with the Los Zafiros doo-wop vocal group in 1962. He joined the group at the time when Ibrahim Ferrer was recording his first solo album and since then has been an absolutely central figure. His joint album with Ry Cooder Mambo Sinuendo won the Grammy Award in 2004.
Cachaíto López, Guajiro Mirabal, Jesús „Aguaje” Ramos, Manuel Galbán (Cuba)
Manuel “Guajiro” Mirabal – trumpet, Orlandó “Cachaíto” López – double bass, Manuel Galbán – guitar, keyboard instruments, Jesús “Aguaje” Ramos – trombone, Barbarito Torres – lute, Amadito Valdés – timbales, Idania Valdés – vocals, percussion, Rolando Luna – piano, Filiberto Sanchéz – bongo drums, Angel Terry – conga, Carlos Calunga – vocals, Luis Alemañy – trumpet, Raúl Nacianceno – clarinet, flute, saxophone
Source: www.kulturinfo.hu
