press

Press Coverage of debut CD “CACHAITO”
(2001 World Circuit Records)

“The most exciting record to come out of Havana in a long time” The Times

“a hugely rewarding adventure” Q Magazine

“One of the funniest, most good-humoured albums to come along for a while. It has the breezy spirit of a Sunday-afternoon jazz workshop blow from another planet “
The Guardian

“like the haunting soundtrack for an imaginary film….the album as a whole hangs together magnificently as a portrait of an extraordinary contemporary Cuban musician“ Ronnie Scott’s magazine

“daring musical departures….a masterwork” What’s On

“In its eccentric vision I think it may be something of a small masterpiece” Get Rhythm

“A musician of immense openness” The Guardian

“ a record that surprise with its musical variety and rhythmic imagination “ ECO, Spain

“His own unique music on a weird and wonderful debut album” Musikmarkt, Germany

“Nothing less than a funk and hiphop rereading of popular Cuban music” Le Figaro

“A high-flying exercise, fizzing with ideas and invention”. Le Monde

“a great jazz record, somewhat intoxicated and very exciting, mixing Cuban syncopations with jazzy improvisations”. A Nous Paris

“an astonishing mixture of country roots, jazz influences, dub, soul and hip-hop”
L’Humanité

“Are we witnessing the emergence of a new salsa giant?” Telerama, Paris

“Unequivocably Cuban, but genuinely contemporary” El Pais, Spain

“ a magnificent record, that makes the link between the great work of the Grupo Folklorico y Experimental Nuevayorquino with the tremendous descargas of Cachao. And siempre son swing” Rockola, Spain

“one of the greatest works ever recorded by a Cuban musician?“ Batoncal, Spain

“a sophisticated but at the same time instantly accessible, direct and complex record. For me among the best records I have heard in the new century'” Gúia del Ocio, Spain

“Poised, passionate and simply stunning, it’s a genuine modern diaspora masterpiece” Baltimore City Paper, USA

“ A free-range, continent-straddling big idea.” Miami New Times

“ a gorgeous, mixed-up masterpiece” Bob Tarte

“Unique, fresh, interesting and masterful” NOVA, Australia

“Music that you can’t catalogue” Primera Fila, Mexico

MANUEL ‘GUAJIRO’ MIRABAL

Buena Vista Social Club™ presents Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal
(World Circuit 2004)

Press comment on his CD

 

“the delirious brass arrangements are truly exceptional. A fabulous record and one of the best of the World Circuit series” Songlines

“gorgeously insistent album” Metro

“a heartwarming set” Musicweek

“A tour de force, this album’s salute to a golden era of Cuban music has a bittersweet feel, underscoring as it does the legacy of Rodriguez and the passing of both Ruben González and Pichardo only shortly after completing this session” FRoots

“Scintillating solo debut” HMV Choice

“the BVSC franchise scores another triumph” Chicago Sun Times

“trumpet player delivers a scorcher of an album celebrating the legacy of bandleader Arsenio Rodríguez” New York post

“Mr Mirabal, the trumpeter, had a glorious career in Latin music before he became more visible as part of the Buena Vista Social Club band; this tribute to Rodriguez is his first solo album” New York Times

“another instant classic” Newsday , New York

 

Press Reviews of “MAMBO SINUENDO”
by MANUEL GALBAN and RY COODER
(Nonesuch 2003)

 

“Galbán is at his echo-laden best on oldies like ”Patricia” and the ‘50s ballad “Secret Love”; he shows off handsome keyboard chops as well. Cuban music and guitar aficionados should devour this splendid set.” Billboard

“the album is a platform for Galban and, at its best, a reminder of Cooder’s genius”
The Glasgow Herald

“an album of warm breezes, easy grace and wistfulness” The Observer

“a set of real beauty. Lovely stuff” Sunday Times

“A lively occasionally humorous, always elegant return to the kind of pop-jazz crossover sound of such as Perez Prado. Another superlative job by Cooder”  The Independent

“Think the twin-guitar harmonies of ’Hotel California’ or the “Boys are back in Town’ played in Havana in 1959, and you’re halfway there. Beautiful stuff” Time Out

“a rollicking feast of twangy mambo jazz” Irish Times

“their spare, tremulous playing style sways with the delicate grace of a grandfather on the dance floor”  Time Out New York

“a perpetually summery album… a sunny delight”  The Scotsman