Cuba Si!
Pure Cuban Flavor
Rhino
With Ry Cooder’s Buena Vista Social Club the surprise world music hit of the year, Rhino loses no time in releasing this terrific 14 cut, 75 minute compilation of traditional Cuban jazz, most of it recorded in the past three years. Predominantly instrumental, what’s most astonishing about this infectiously rhythmic music is how little it’s changed over the years. Staccato horns, acoustic pianos, and walking bass play hopscotch with jittery congas, zinging timbales, and trilling flutes in a combination of jazz and funk which is as unique as it is irresistible.
The musicianship is uniformly stunning, the beat unstoppable, and the vibe magnetic. Just TRY to listen without tapping your feet, waving your arms, and getting caught up in the swirling, heart skipping, universal groove. You don’t need to speak the language to get the gist of this scene. Viva Cuba Si!!
Rhino Records, 10635 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025; http://www.rhino.com
