Putumayo Presents: Cafe Cubano [PA] (CD - 2008)

Illustrator: Nicola Heindl.

Translator: Karine Lalèchére.

Like most Putumayo samplers, CAFÉ CUBANO offers a tastefully chosen introduction to the dazzlingly rich musical traditions of a culture that may not be immediately familiar to Western listeners. CAFÉ CUBANO explores the café music of Cuba, from sones to boleros to mambos to "nueva trova" (which marries folk styles to lyrical poems). Included on this compilation are the balladeer Armando Garzon, former Orchestra Reve vocalist Felix Baloy, and 1960s songwriter Pedro Luis Ferrer, making for a delightfully well-rounded sojourn into the musical world of Cuba.

Moving along their trail of café music from around the world, Putumayo put together a compilation of relaxed, sentimental Cuban music that packs a pretty serious punch. There are a few heavy hitters on the album, but very few will have any name recognition outside of a few dedicated aficionados. After an opening track from Miami-based José Condé, Afro-Cuban All Star Ignacio Carrillo dusts off a beautiful old Miguel Matamoros number with a perfect tone. Pedro Luis Ferrer (now making a name on the world market) contributes a number, as does Rene Ferrer, with an outstandingly touching bit of nueva trova. After a quick Buena Vista-style piece featuring Adriano Rodriguez, German Obregón contributes a lilting guajira, with its characteristic string work. Armando Garzón's bolero evokes the nightclub exoticism of the 1950s, the younger Asere contribute a mix of bolero and son, and one more bolero in the vein of a Beny Moré track brings the album up to the end of the classic stylings. To finish off the rounds, Kelvis Ochoa presents something more in the realm of the singer/songwriter style gaining ground in Cuba bit by bit. It's a completely relaxed album, and a completely relaxing one, with outstanding musical quality throughout. This isn't the Buena Vista Social Club sound that many may be expecting from a compilation of Cuban music -- there is very little son, and essentially no rhumba. Just plenty of soul. ~ Adam Greenberg minimize