Performance

When Tuesday, 24 October 2006
Where National Concert Hall, Dublin, Main Auditorium
Presented by Waltons New School of Music
Supported by RTÉ lyric fm, The Irish Times, Brooks Hotel

This concert was recorded for broadcast on RTÉ lyric fm.

Buena Vista Social Club

Guajiro Mirabal • Trumpet
Cachaíto Lopez • Double Bass
Manuel Galbán • Guitar & Organ
Aguaje Ramos • Trombone

with

Roberto Fonseca • Piano
Luis Alemany • Trumpet
Javier Zalba • Saxes, Clarinet
Idania Valdez • Vocals
Carlos Calunga • Vocals
Terry Domech • Congas
Filiberto Sanchez • Timbales & Percussion

Guajiro Mirabal

Manuel ‘Guajiro’ Mirabal’s distinctive trumpet sound has accompanied virtually every Cuban star you could mention, with his distinctive playing earning him the monicker ‘The Trumpet of Cuba’. His blistering tribute to the son conjuntos of the great Arsenio Rodriguéz, Buena Vista Social Club Presents Manuel Guajiro Mirabal, was nominated for a Latin Grammy, and its release was met with widespread praise: ‘Mirabal’s stunning performances recapture the bonhomie and verve that endeared the son montuno style to all within earshot’ (The Wire), or more simply, ‘brilliant’ (New York Times).

Cachaíto López

The ‘heartbeat of the Buena Vista Social Club’, bass player Orlando ‘Cachaíto’ López’s groundbreaking debut album on World Circuit, Cachaíto, won a BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music in 2002 and was hailed by The Independent as ‘a masterpiece’. The album marked a departure from the established Buena Vista style – a new sound, a new instrumentation and a new approach. It incorporated a wide variety of influences (‘Cachaíto weaves seamless, atmospheric magic from strands of suave Cuban son, funky modern jazz, and tasty hip-hop grooves’ – Rolling Stone), while the music remained rooted in the deep tradition of Cuban rhythms.

Manuel Galbán

Guitarist, pianist and organist Manuel Galbán made his name with seminal Cuban doo-wop group Los Zafiros. With Galbán leading, the band created a distinctly Cuban sound, an eclectic mix of doo-wop, ballads and boleros, soul and samba, tumbas and twists. In recent years has appeared on a number of albums in the Buena Vista series, bringing his unmistakable twang to the mix. Galbán’s duets album with Ry Cooder, Mambo innuendo, was ‘an elegant return to the fifties sound where infectious Latin American rhythms collided with North American jazz and the ebullient guitar of Duane Eddy’ (The Independent). The album won a Grammy Award in 2004.

Aguaje Ramos

Jesus ‘Aguaje’ Ramos’ trombone has been an integral part of World Circuit’s Cuban recordings for the past decade, and both his playing and bandleading skills have also made him a key feature on various Buena Vista tours. As musical director for Omara Portuondo and Rubén González, he gained attention on the international stage: ‘he understands how to truly make the trombone sing’ (Boston Globe). Aguaje’s debut solo album was recorded in Havana’s legendary EGREM studios and features the cream of Cuba’s musical talent.