finetune artist: Afro-Cuban All Stars

This Cuban big band was specially assembled by Juan de Marcos Gonz lez of Sierra Maestra to participate in a two-week recording session at Egrem studios, Havana, in March 1996. The line-up spanned three generations of Cuban musicians, from 80-year-old flute player Richard Eges, to 14-year-old percussionist Julienne Oviedo Sanchez. A Toda Cuba Le Gusta (All Of Cuba Loves It) was recorded in the first six days of the session, following which the debut album by Rubn Gonz lez (the All Stars' 77-year-old pianist) and Ry Cooder's Buena Vista Social Club were both also completed. Cooder adds stinging blues guitar to "Alta Songo", one of the stand-out tracks on A Toda Cuba Le Gusta. Other non-Cuban elements include a baroque classical piano solo within a son (i.e., Cuban song style) arrangement on "Clasiqueando Con Ruben", and the closing "Elube Chango", which is sung in the Yoruba language of Nigeria. However, much of the album joyously echoes and updates the sound of the great Cuban "orquestras" of the 40s and 50s (in which the older members of the group all played), using classic songs from that era as well as newer tunes that suit the overall feel. To coincide with the release of the album, the All Stars undertook a well-received 40-date tour of Europe in the spring of 1997.

Listen to Afro-Cuban All Stars at Finetune.

Amor Verdadero
Alto Songo
Maria Caracoles
Homanaje a Martha Valdes