Afro-Cuban All Stars

artist: Afro-Cuban All Stars
track: Amor Verdadero (True Love)
recording: A Toda Cuba Le Gusta (1997)

www.goyo.net/musicaluni/afas-av.mp3

artist notes
Pasión. Carisma. Machismo. Energía. The Afro-Cuban All Stars spans four generations of musicians ranging from 13 to 81 years of age. Their 1997 album, A Toda Cuba Le Gusta, was the first to be recorded during the now-legendary Buena Vista Social Club sessions. Nimble drumming, graceful piano and bass lines, a horn section that peels paint right off the walls, delicate poetry — this is salsa at its very best.

track notes
“Guajira, el son te llama a bailar, a gozar…” (The music calls you to dance and have a good time…) Guajira-Son is blues music from the Cuban countryside. With a focus on lyrics rather than melody, the singer becomes poet, with lyrics often improvised. In “Amor Verdadero” a man tells his story of heartbreak, misfortune, and the undying love of (and for) his mother.

However, it’s hard to focus on the lyrics with all this juicy instrumentation. The percussion parts are numerous and exquisite — pay particular attention to the cowbell player (yes, cowbell) who sets up key transitions throughout the song (examples at 2:15, 4:43). Montunos (repetitive patterns in the piano, guitar and bass parts) create a solid harmonic structure. And those wetter-than-wet, fatter-than-fat horns — VERY yum.

Pianist Rubén González unfolds a classically-styled solo which plays as a faithful homage to composer Ernesto Lecuona. Then lute (not guitar!) virtuoso Barbarito Torres takes over, declaring a solo with over-the-top exuberance belying his maturity.

In terms of intricacy, this track is an absolute treat. The horns and percussion parts thread in and out, there is fabulous syncopation (accented patterns) everywhere. And feel how the horns “push” the beat while the rhythm section keeps “pulling” the groove back. Simply exquisite.