Best Cuban Salsa
This Grammy award winning album features legendary guitarist Ry Cooder on assorted guitars with the cream of Cuban's finest musicians.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Most haunting to me is their version of the classic El Carretero."
"What a gem!"
"Who knew?"
"Ry Cooder opens another almost forgotten door into world music Thankyou Ry this great stuff!!!!!"
"This is one of the classic original musicians from the land of international music Cuba if you know about history you'll be amaze how humble this people were dispite of having Great talent as musicians where people just forgot about them do to the political cituation of the country!"
The sleeve photo of a crocodile's eye with a faint image of Rodrigo and Gabriela superimposed, suits the artists' desire for something which didn't shout "Mexican guitarists" or "Couples." Orion - This epic reworking of the Metallica song is the second time Rodrigo y Gabriela have covered Messrs Hetfield, Ulrich & Co: "A tribute to the style of music we love, it's what kept us playing the guitar through all those Spinal Tap years". Enter Mr John Leckie, legendary producer of Radiohead, The Stone Roses and Muse, to name but a few; to midwife Rod & Gab's musical vision into what you hear today. The story begins back in their homeland, where Rodrigo Sanchez (lead guitar) and Gabriela Quintero (rhythm and guitar-top hand percussion) met as teenagers. And no wonder -- their eruptive mixture of Central and South American folkways, with its propulsive rock rhythms, plus grooves reminiscent of The Gipsy Kings' crowd-pleasing Catalan rumbas, is incredibly infectious. "Ixapa," in which the pair are joined by noted Hungarian Roma (Gypsy) fiddler Roby Lakatos, has a wicked, pan-European swing, while the impossibly fleet "Juan Loco" should delight all comers -- once they catch their collective breaths! Produced by John Leckie (Radiohead, The Stone Roses, Muse), the USA release includes a DVD containing interviews, live performances and other extras.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Personally like 11:11 more."
"Considering I paid no more than $9.00 for the CD DVD all original in packaging that's pretty awesome. That is why I will always prefer Amazon because you can buy the hardcopy music and enjoy it how you like."
"Rod mostly solos with a pick and plays scalar melodies over Gab's percussive/harmonic expressions. I'm very happy I bought this, both for the music and for the DVD that came with it which offers, among other things, an entertaining glimpse of Gabriela's -- ehm -- "irreverent" character."
"So album is good, bonus dvd is good."
"Their work is almost impossible to categorise with aspects of flamenco rock and jazz present."
"Their albums include their individual spin on classics such as "Stairway To Heaven" and "Take Five" as well as their own original heart thumping & sometimes tender creations."
"While Rodrigo provides the melody and lead, Gabriela, in my opinion, is actually the more talented of the two, provides both support and all of the precussion without anything but her guitar."
"These maestros definitely know their stuff...and they take acoustic guitar playing to the next level, by incorporating metal guitar riffs and bits and pieces from just about everywhere-from jazz, rock, classical guitar, and flamenco, into their repertoire."
Includes four cds and a book.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A good booklet with biographical details and some nice photos of Benny and the bands rounds out a well presented package."
"This music is so awesome I can't live without hearing it for more than 48 hours, else I get withdrawals."
"He was offered a job with Celia Cruz' band, the Sonora Matancera, but didn't like its tame sound and, instead, assembled the rocking, world-class band you hear on Maracaibo Oriental, blazing a unique trail with a harder, more instrument-centered sound."
"Benny was a man that was more popular than Celia Cruz, and his music for those that have enjoyed for generations will stay in the No.1 of the charts."
Best Cuban Big Band Music
Disc one has 13 Tracks. Each disc is dedicated to a genre: Cuban Invocations (Afro-Cuban religious music), Cantar en Cuba (songcraft), Bailar con Cuba (dance music), and Cubano Jazz (jazz).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In fact, if you can get it at a nice price, jump on it!"
"IF you can get this CD set, it will bring the island of Cuba to you."
"Received as advertised, in new and excellent condition."
"Of course, it does not include the classical compositions of Ernesto Lecuona (I recommend Lecuona plays Lecuona,) amongst other Cuban musicians of different genres."
"I don't claim to be an expert on Cuban music."
"However, while the well illustrated booklet that accompanies the set discusses at length cultural and religious influences on the music, basic information such as recording dates and personnel is completely absent."
"I WOULD LIKE TO BUY "PEDRO SIMON" FROM ORQUESTRA COLON."