Buena Vista Social Club At Carnegie Hall (World Circuit/Nonesuch, 2008)
In 1998, the Buena Vista Social Club gave an unforgettable and unrepeatable performance at New York’s Carnegie Hall. The group was at its prime, featuring all the legendary Cuban stars (Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén González, Eliades Ochoa and Omara Portuondo) that made it famous, along with their American compadre Ry Cooder. Ten years later, a double CD captures that magical night, showcasing the best of Cuban music, ranging from son to mambo, bolero and música guajira.
Buena Vista Social Club At Carnegie Hall includes numerous Cuban classics, including all the favorite songs of Buena Vista Social Club, such as the captivating "Chan Chan," which opens the album, as well as "El cuarto de Tula," "Dos gardenias," "Siboney," "El carretero," and many more. The quality of the live album is outstanding. It was mixed by Ry Cooder and Nick Gold, the head of World Circuit Records, the label that produced the original 1997 recording.
Sadly, the concert is unrepeatable because several of the Cuban masters (Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén González) passed away in recent years. Thankfully, the veteran musicians were able to relive a well deserved second golden age in their latter years and left us with a relatively small but exquisite collection of musical treasures.
Buy the album:
- In North America: Buena Vista Social Club At Carnegie Hall (2 CD). Other recordings available: Buena Vista Social Club (original CD), Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer, Buena Vista Social Club Presents Omara Portuondo, and Buena Vista Social Club Presents: Manuel Guajiro Mirabal
- In Europe: Buena Vista Social Club at Carnegie Hall. Other recordings available: Buena Vista Social Club (original CD), Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer, and Buena Vista Social Club Presents Manuel Guajiro Mirabal
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
