Rubén Gonzalez: Introducing… Rubén Gonzalez

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Juan de Marcos González (v)
Manuel ‘Puntillita’ Licea (v)
Orlando ‘Cachaito’ Lopez (b)
Ruben Gonzalez (p)
Carlos Puisseaux (guiro)
Carlos Gonzales (perc)
Amadito Valdes (perc)
Alberto ‘Virgilio’ Valdes (maracas)
Manuel Guarijo Mirabel (t)
Antonio ‘Maceo Rodriguez (v)
Roberto Garcia (perc)

Label:

World Circuit

August/2017

Catalogue Number:

WC049

RecordDate:

1997

Can it really be 20 years since the Buena Vista Social Club cha-cha-cha-ed their way to world domination? Since Cuban septuagenarians including crooner Ibrahim Ferrer and the ever-dexterous Cachaito - here on bass - showed the young bucks how it's done? Remarkably, this sublime album is the debut recording by the pianist Gonzalez, who'd been a central figure in the heyday of danzon and guaracha, starring alongside the likes of Arsenio Rodriguez and honing a playing style as darting and quixotic as it was mellow and free-jazzy. Fifty years on, and recorded live in two days at Egrem Studios in Havana on the heels of that BVSC album, this flawless display of dazzling playing feels both crafty and god given. Classic boleros, danzons, guarachos are played ever-so-slightly behind the beat; solos flow like poetry. This welcome reissue, mastered at Abbey Road, includes a previously unheard track while two others are given unedited free rein. A maestro still, wherever he is.

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