Introduction

PRESS RELEASE
OMARA PORTUONDO

NEW ALBUM
Flor De Amor (WCD068)
Released 3rd May 2004

‘Flor De Amor’ (Flower Of Love) is the second solo album for World Circuit by Cuba’s leading female vocalist and Buena Vista Social Club™ star, Omara Portuondo. Her heartfelt vocals on a collection of musical love letters are backed by a combination of Cuban and Brazilian influences to give the album its distinctive style.

The album was recorded in Havana’s legendary EGREM studios with a stellar cast of musicans. The richly textured sound reveals Omara to be a singer of great warmth and pathos as she reminisces through a varied set of Cuban pieces culminating in her tender Portuguese vocal on ‘Casa Calor’, specially written for her by the Brazilian Carlinhos Brown.

The core band features a small group of guitarists from diverse backgrounds; Papi Oviedo on tres (traditional Cuban guitar), Manuel Galbán (fresh from his duet album with Ry Cooder) on rhythm, Swami Jr from Brazil on seven string, and Irakere’s Carlos Emilio and Jorge Chicoy on acoustic and electric guitars. The rhythm section is amongst the world’s best, with Cachaíto López on bass, Roberto Fonseca on piano, and a percussion section combining the Cuban maestros Miguel ‘Angá’ Diaz on congas and Ramses Gonzáles on drums together with some of Brazil’s finest musicians. This group is complemented by female harmony vocals, which hark back to Omara’s as a member of the ground-breaking vocal group Las D’Aida, string and clarinet sections, keyboards and a variety of soloists.

The album moves through a variety of styles from the atmospheric opening afro-rhythm ‘Tabú’ with clarinet and traditional Cuban bata drums; the bolero ‘Amore de mis Amores’ with string section and trombone solo from Jesús ‘Aguaje’ Ramos; the son ‘Mueve la Cintura Mulato’ with its charanga strings, Brazilian guitar and Cuban flute solos; the bolero cha ‘El Madrugador’ featuring Orquesta Aragón and laoud by Barbaríto Torres; the tribute to her home town ‘Hermosa Habana’ with Brazilian pandero percussion; the intimate ‘Amorosa Guajira’ accompanied only by tres guitar; the guajira ‘Flor De Amor’ with keyboards and clarinet section; ‘Haberna Ven’ with its electric guitar and violin solos; the danzones ‘Juramento’, with its classic piano backing and ‘Se Llego a Besarte’ with its tango flavoured accordion.

The production on ‘Flor De Amor’ was very much a collaborative effort, with Nick Gold and engineer Jerry Boys, who have worked on all of World Circuit’s Cuban titles, and Demetrio Muñiz the renowned Cuban arranger and musical director of Ibrahim Ferrer’s band. They were joined by innovative young Brazilian Alê Siqueira, famous for his production work with Carlinhos Brown and Caetano Veloso.

The expressive nature of Omara’s voice, and the subtle nuances of her vocal technique are given the chance to shine, showing a more reflective side of Omara’s personality. Her experiences as an artist add a more heartfelt sincerity to her performance on this album. On ‘Flor De Amor’ Omara Portuondo demonstrates that she has mastered her art, and sings with an authority, knowingness, and a depth of emotion that makes each song sound that it was written specially for her.

Management for Omara Portuondo:
Montuno Producciones y Eventos
Tel +34 93 363 3600 – Fax +34 93 363 3450
Email HYPERLINK "mailto:info@montuno.com" info@montuno.com Web HYPERLINK "http://www.montuno.com" www.montuno.com