Buena Vista Social Club at Carnegie Hall is the new two-CD recording of the unforgettable 1998 performance by the legendary Cuban group offers Cuban vocals and instrumentals.
At Carnegie Hall is the subject of a feature in the Wall Street Journal by writer Larry Blumenfeld. 'By the time Mr. Ferrer, Compay Segundo, Rubén González, Eliades Ochoa and their Cuban partners arrived on 57th Street for their only U.S. performance as a group,' the article states, 'they belonged at Carnegie Hall as much as anywhere else. On the new release, just a few chords into 'Chan Chan,' Carnegie's packed-house audience roared as if cheering a familiar radio hit.'
Blumenfeld calls the concert recording 'another chapter in the success story' of the Buena Vista Social Club, as the two discs 'stir memories of that night At Carnegie Hall: Rubén González's blend of elegance and showmanship; Barbarito Torres's inventive improvisations on the laúd (a 12-string lute); the virility of Pío Leyva's vocals, and the tenderness of 'Silencio,' sung in duet by Mr. Ferrer and Omara Portundo. Six original Buena Vista members have died since 1998, making this a touching coda to the Buena Vista tale.'
With the passing of those musicians, and given the outgoing administration's restrictive policy towards Cuba, the concert truly was an experience that can not be repeated. Blumenfeld concludes:
'Countless bands have been promoted as 'the next Buena Vista Social Club.' None have replicated the group's success. Neither a definitive nor entirely pure statement of tradition, Buena Vista Social Club remains a potent example of Cuban music's power and reach—not to mention the promise of future collaborations, policy permitting.'
And . . .Buena Vista Social Club®, the album produced by Ry Cooder, is the biggest selling world music album ever, with over 8 million records sold.
Now for the first time comes the recording of the historic performance at New York's famous Carnegie Hall, which became the centre-piece of the hugely successful film directed by Wim Wenders. This is only the second album ever by the original Buena Vista Social Club®.
Produced by Ry Cooder, At Carnegie Hall features brilliant and unrepeatable performances by legends including Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, Ruben González, Eliades Ochoa, Omara Portuondo, Cachaíto López and Guajiro Mirabal.
Enjoy Buena Vista Social Club at Carnegie Hall CD? See below for more Cuban music.
