Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review
(56 customer reviews) 22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Sublime,
July 13, 2004 DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Lagrimas Negras (Audio CD)
That's pianist Bebo Valdes, one of Cuba's great jam session players of the 1950s (and still a potent force on the music scene) and flamenco vocalist Diego "El Cigala," whose half-croaked, Arabic-tinged inflections offer a fine counterpoint to Valdes's trademark sleek, supple piano runs. Cigala sounds like he, too, must be an ancient old-timer, un viejo, like all those Buena Vista dudes... But in fact he is a youngster, a ponytailed whippersnapper who just happens to channel weight of the the ages... Quite a lot of gravitas, subtlety and artistic firepower is assembled here; just to spice things up, they bring in some highpowered guests, such as jazzman Paquito D'Rivera, Milton Cardona and Brazilian superstar Caetano Veloso, who duets with El Cigala on a version of "Coracao Vagabundo," which closes the album. Also included are classic compositions by Miguel Matamoros, Maria Teresa Vera and other Latin American and Iberian legends. Mighty classy material.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Sublime,
January 22, 2004 "ildiko5" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Lagrimas Negras (Audio CD)
Lágrimas Negras is the title of a song written by Cuban composer Miguel Matamoros in the 1930s. It says: "Aunque tú me has dejado en el abandono/aunque tú has muerto todas mis ilusiones (Although you have abandoned me/Although you have killed all of my hopes..."). It is also the title track of this new album by Cuban pianist Bebo Valdés (born in 1918) and Spanish flamenco cantaor Diego el Cigala (born in 1960). These two men though born 50 years apart, and two worlds away from each other, have recorded nine passionate songs on a beautiful album. It was as emotive to listen to as it was to hear John Coltrane for the first time. Or, Vinicius de Moraes for the first time. Or Roberto el Polaco Goyeneche for the first time.This original pairing between Bebo Valdés and el Cigala is sublime. The songs are all standards, but the arrangements are not. Each song features Valdes' smooth jazzy piano melodies and el Cigala's guttural, passionate vocals. To...Read more
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Lagrimas Negras is Sublime!,
August 12, 2004 MalibuRamos "MalibuRamos" (Malibu, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lagrimas Negras (Audio CD)
This album combining two maestros from completely different disciplines is a confluence of genius and a love letter to all the composers whose songs are included. After hearing the first verse of the first track my Mother(who has sung many latin love songs in Spanish in her singing career) remarked, "This is tasty!" That summed it up perfectly. Lagrimas Negras will surprise you, seduce you, entrance you, and ultimately force you to throw away your musical preconceptions. Perhaps this is why The New York Times named it their Critics Choice Album of the Year for 2003 - perhaps it could be the album of the year for 2004 also?