Juan-Carlos Formell
SONGS FROM A LITTLE BLUE HOUSE
Wicklow/BMG - 63452
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also available on Amazon
This is one of the most beautiful discs to come from the numerous Cuban musicians loosely grouped around and associated with The Buena Vista Social Club. The beat and the tropical Latin rhythms of the Caribbean are there but there is a soft tender side that only occasionally shows up on other discs that predominates here. It is the music of a man who has reconciled himself to not seeing his homeland but is still missing the people, the pace and explosion of life that is there. Because the music, though quiet, is explosive in its touch upon the ear. It is basically performed with great feel by the musicians. There is a rhythm that is common and speaks to all no matter where they come from. This is that crossbred music that combines the improvisational feel of jazz with the rhythms of the Cuban people along with the yearning for what will never be again, and the remembrance of what once was. It is music born of the streets and hard times where music was what saw you through the days until the softer times came again. It is beautiful and uplifting while at the same time reflecting the sorrow of the whole story. This is one of the most tastefully done discs I have seen in a long time. Every bit of it from the booklets and notes ( done both in Spanish and English) to the packaging doing what it can do to enhance the music. A grand hurrah to Wicklow for a stunning job on this disc. This is a disc that should be in every household for the sheer beauty and love it contains.
Produced by - John Fishbach
Songs and times - Juan-Carlos Formell wrote all the songs except MANGO MANGUEY however I have not credits on who wrote that one.
1 AGUA DULCE - 1:52
2 CANTO DEL DELFIN - 5:26
3 FLORES - 2:36
4 AGUA BENDITA - 3:32
5 PAJARILLO - 5:59
6 CUBA SERA LIBRE - 4:23
7 PALO DE GUAYABA - 2:46
8 SIGUARAYA - 3:04
9 CANGREJO - 3:03
10 LA VAQUITA - 4:44
11 BODA EN EL BOSQUE - 2:05
12 MANGO MANGUEY - 7:30
13 REGRESO DE JICOTEA - 2:27
Musicians:
Juan-Carlos Formell - lead vocal and guitar - bss on PAJARILLO, CUBA SERA LIBRE, PALO DE GUAYABA, SIGUARAYA, LA VAQUITA AND BODA EN EL BOSQUE
Lisandro Arias - congas, bongo, maracas, clave and shekere
Charles Flores - electric bass on FLORES, AGUA BENDITA, MANGO MANGULEY and A CUBA NOS VAMOS
Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez - maracas and conga on PALO DE GUAYABA and clave on CANGREJO
Pedro Pablo Martinez - bongo on CUBA SERA LIBRE
Nestor Sanchez - coro
Guests:
Lewis Kahn - trombone on LA VAQUITA and violin on PALO DE GUAYABA
Brian Lynch - trumpet on FLORES and CUBA SERA LIBRE
Mario Rivera - soprano saxophone on CANGREJO and A CUBA NOS VAMOS
Harvie Swartz - acoustic bass on CANTO DEL DELFIN and CANGREJO
Mark Whitfield - electric guitar on AGUA BENDITA