Album of the Week: Buena Vista Social Club

This week's album is Buena Vista Social Club (BVSC). Now, this is a relatively short recommendation because, truth be told, I haven't even listened to the whole thing yet. I picked it up from the used world rack at the Electric Fetus just last night. But just listening to the first track, "Chan Chan," I know this is something special and to be recommended.

One mark of quality music I feel, is the ability for it to instantly transport the listener into a completely different frame of existence. If you listen to say, the Newport recording of "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue," you can't help but be transported back to 1956, clapping and stomping along with the tenor sax solo. You listen to the first track on BVSC, and instantly you feel like you are in Havana. The group, which is composed of aged Cuban maestros who were active in the 1930's-50's, plays with such sheer joy. For those of you who wonder how I know so much about a group who I just learned about yesterday, I reply with one word. Wikipedia.

I'd really be surprised if these people cared about getting paid, or anything traditionally associated with cutting a record. Apparently they just collected what is essentially a Cuban music all-star team, set them up in a recording studio straight out of 1950, and just let them loose. It's an incredible effect. You get the feeling that the musicians would more likely be paying just to play their music, such is the devotion to the art. There is no pretentiousness here, no selfishness or pomposity. I suppose it's hard to be selfish and pompous when you're 90 years old and really don't give a shit about anything except playing the piano. It's a creation of a whole, similar to Captain Planet when all the rings come together.

Additionally, I think this is a great way to get into some Afro-Cuban music without getting bombasted by the more common latin jazz. Not saying that music is bad, but this stuff is like, the essence of what people think when they think of Havana. It makes you crave a cigar and a cerveza in a run down cafe.

This was a shitty review, but no matter. Buena Vista Social Club = highly recommended = go out and listen.