I’m planning a return trip to Cuba in September/October 2013 to continue photographing the endemic birds of Cuba. I thought I would check to see if I might catch the legendary Buena Vista Social Club while I was there, and to my amazement, they’re beginning a U.S. tour next month, starting in Tucson! Incredible!!! I postponed my Cuba trip a few days to make sure I would not miss these legendary musicians.
The 15-member lineup includes Latin Grammy Award winners Omara Portuondo and Eliades Ochoa, the incredible trumpeter Guajiro Mirabal, and laúd virtuoso Barbarito Torres, all of whom are original members of Buena Vista Social Club. Opening for the Orquesta will be one of Havana’s most highly praised pianists and one of the hottest rising stars on the international music scene, Roberto Fonseca. Performing with his quintet, Fonseca has just released his latest album Yo.
Here’s a great interview of Fonseca:
http://www.havana-cultura.com/sk/sk/cuban-music/roberto-fonseca/cuban-jazz
If you’re not familiar with Guajiro Mirabal, you’ve missed one of the greatest trumpeters of all time. Classics include El Reloj de Pastora and Deuda.
Buena Vista Social Club presents Manuel Guajiro Mirabal.
Eliades Ochoa is a legendary tres player and singer. He is considered one of the most important Cuban ‘soneros’ of all time and guardian of traditional Cuban music, and he plays regularly to sold-out shows worldwide.
Barbarito Torres provided one of the many unforgettable musical moments on The Buena Vista Social Club album, namely, his laúd solo on the classic “El Cuarto de Tula.” The laúd is a 12-string instrument of the lute family, emitting, especially on its high register, a piercing, metallic tone that is perfect for fast, single-note improvising.
Good times!!! For more information on the U.S. tour, click here:
http://www.nonesuch.com/journal/orquesta-buena-vista-social-club-tour-us-2013-07-22
