Rubén González -Chanchullo (2000)

After the 1997 release of the Buena Vista Social Club movie and album, there was flurry of solo releases by members of the group. I'm sure the impetus behind this flurry was money, but the record company involved (Nonesuch) did us all a big favor by recording these great artists while they were still living. Legend has it that González hadn't owned a piano in over ten years when Ry Cooder found him and got him playing again. After hearing such fluid technique and deft touch, I'm thankful Cooder looked him up and got him in front of a piano. This whole album is a delight - you can tell González is having a blast, and even though he was an octogenarian when this was recorded, his performances are fantastic. Great, authentic takes on Afro-Cuban standards. There's nothing groundbreaking here and sometimes there's some sloppy playing, but I could care less. Truth be told, I prefer González's solo albums and his work with the Afro-Cuban All Stars to the Buena Vista Social Club stuff (although that fact won't keep me from digging out my BVSC DVD and re-watching that movie this afternoon).

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart:  Did not chart

Tracks:  It's all good stuff, I particularly like the descarga (jam) tunes: Chanchullo, La Lluvi, and Pa' Gozar. My least favorite tunes are Central Constancia and Isora Club, but they add a welcome bit of variety to the album, so I rarely skip them.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Introducing Rubén González (1997)

Rubén González - Introducing Rubén González (1997)

From mid-'90s to the early '00s, I had a fascination with Afro-Cuban music, which I particularly enjoyed listening to while smoking a cigar, imagining I was on the Havana coast. Of course, many Americans were discovering Afro-Cuban music at that time through the film "Buena Vista Social Club." Rubén González was part of that film and group. I'm glad I grabbed this CD today because I haven't listened to any of this genre in quite a while. I love the authenticity of this music. I can't be sure, but I believe I saw González with the Buena Vista Social Club at Houston's Jones Hall in February 2000. He recorded this, his first solo CD, when he was 77 years old. He passed away in 2003.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: I think I would understand the music more if I understood the lyrics, but my Spanish is limited. Musically, I like Cumbanchero, Mandinga, and Tumbao. Much of the music sounds the same to my gringo ear. González is a master of sequencing motives in his solos, almost to the point where he doesn't stop until he runs out of keyboard. But that's his thing and he knows how to work it.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None I can think of. Any Afro-Cuban music reminds me of my friend Richard who introduced me to it and of another friend, Jim, who listened to a lot of it with me while we smoked cigars.