Horns start> Reviewed: 2019-10-30
Genre: World
FCCs: none
Review: Son Cubano is a genre of music and dance originating from the hill country of eastern Cuba during the 19th century. Its origins are a blend of African and Spanish influences. Son vocal style and meter are of Spanish tradition, while its identifiable clave rhythm, call and response, and percussive elements are of Bantu origin. This disc contains> twelve finely crafted original tunes played exquisitely throughout this recording. The innovative improvisation on the 8-string cuatro by Valera transcends traditional dance forms, and elevates him to be mentioned with the great masters. Lead vocalist Coco Freeman sings from a very deep, soulful place, exhibiting superb range and intonation delivered with a passionate call and response
If You Like: Buena Vista Social Club,
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
**1/ Mi Son (6:05) – guitar starts> uptempo song> chorus joins & swells in volume> cuatro solo with percussion> instrumental break> uptempo jam with chorus> quick fade on vocal
*2/ El Caballo DeCuringo (5:20) – cuatro starts> uptempo song> chorus joins> instrumental break> uptempo song> quick stop
***3/ El Perro De Juan 6:06) – horns start> uptempo song> instrumental break with chorus> instrumental break> cuatro solo> horns jam> uptempo song with chorus> quick stop
**4/ Ferecia (4:08) – chorus starts> uptempo song with chorus> instrumental break> cuatro solo> uptempo song> slow fade
*5/ Se Quema La Chumbamba (3:47) – cuatro starts> uptempo song with chorus> trumpet solo> percussion jams> horns join> uptempo song with chorus> quick stop
6/ Desenfreno (6:50) – uptempo song with cacophonous choru> instrumental break> chorus joins> uptempo song> quick stop
*7/ Dejame Al Menos (3:29) – bass/percussion starts> midtempo song swells in volume guitar solo> midtempo song to quick fade
***8/ Homenate A Panchita (4:02) – horns start> fast tempo song> chorus joins> instrumental break> fast tempo song with chorus> quick fade
**9/ Para Continuar (7:33) – percussion starts> mellow uptempo song> swells in volume> chorus joins> cuadro solo> uptempo song with chorus> quick stop
*10/ El Sinsonte (4:41) – cuadro starts> midtempo song slowly builds in volume> cuadro solo> midtempo song with chorus> quick fade
**11/ Vivencias (6:55) – full band starts> uptempo song> chorus joins> instrumental break> uptermpo song> cuatro solo> uptempo song> quick stop
***12 Quimbombo (5:46) – full band starts> uptempo song> instrumental break> uptempo song> chorus joins> cuatro solo> horns join with vocals> uptempo song with chorus> crescendo end
**13/ Mi Son (radio edit) 3:54) – cuatro starts> uptempo song> chorus joins & vocals swell in volume> melody shift> uptempo song with soaring vocals> cuatro solo> uptempo song with chorus> quick fade