|  | | | Customer Reviews: | | | Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
 Elegant, but rocks Dec 04, 2008
Ruben Gonzalez looked frail in "Buena Vista Social Club" but, man, when he started playing he turned into a powerhouse! Elegant stylings that rock with the soul of Cuban rhythms are all over these cuts. The best may be the kickoff tune "Chanchullo," a fierce jam that's an instant Latin jazz classic.
Many of these melodies are familiar to those of us who grew up with Cuban music, including "El Bodeguero" and "Quizas, Quizas," but others are new discoveries. It's amazing how this wonderful pianist scored such a huge triumph late in his career after being retired for many years. He plays with the vigor and passion of a young man at the top of his game.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Another Stunning Release From the Buena Vista Label....!!! Nov 23, 2005
Ruben was amongst the key figures in one of the albums that alerted the rest of the world to the brilliance of Cuban, Latin Jazz, Afro-Cuban & Rhumba music, via The phenomenal 'Ry Cooder' produced "The Buena Vista Social Club". And thus signalling to the rest of the world that Afro-Cuban music was very much alive and kicking in Cuba. And although purists may argue that such successes, diluted a little of the spirit of the music, but it also successfully launched the careers of "Compay Segundo", "Ibrahim Ferrer", "Omara Portuondo", and Rubén himself. Rubén was one of the last great Cuba piano players who has a delicate and laid-back approach to piano playing. Undeniably gifted, his album is a rustic and organically free-flowing album that has an almost bittersweet melancholic flair that skillfully blends jazz, mambo & Latin, with a certain amount of confident playfulness. Which is something that aptly reflects the premise behind their music, in that music became a way of life for the players involved in the Buena Vista Club album a long time before they became famous, and the fact that the album made them stars, was never initially part of the plan, but arguably a nice payback for artists that played for many, many years in their home country with very little outside recognition.
Chanchullo, is Rubén's second solo release for the world circuit label and much like the first album, its an album that plays impressively to the strengths of Ruben's sublime piano performances. There is a definite band feel on this album, as various percussionists, keyboardists, rub shoulders with Trombone, flutes, trumpets, which all complement each other and make for some utterly captivating listening from a unbelievably charismatic and talented musician, that is able to create quick tempo and agreeably lush piano arrangements one minute, and then shift into introspective and almost hauntingly beautiful tracks that leave an impression long after the CD has been ejected from the CD Player (for this check out his stunning performance on "Central Constancia"). And the reason why this album is such a resounding success is the fact that Ruben's vitality simply resonates throughtout the album, lifting it up into a remarkably distinctive sounding album, and also bringing it into line with the flamboyant and spirited ethos of Cuban music. And the performances here are exemplary with the ensemble performing perfectly and providing superb support to Rubén's amazingly nimble piano compostions, and showing a surprising talent for melody and a highly developed improvisational style, that simply stuns with it's overally brilliance.
Those that were seduced by the 'Buena Vista Social Club' album, and need a new musical romance to fall in love with, should immediately pick up a copy of this album, as it, like Buena Vista...beautifully encapsulates the passionate growth of Cuba's musical history. And for those of you that (Like Me) loved Rubén's first album (the magnificent "Introducing .....Rubén González"), and were unsure as to whether or not to buy this, rest easy, that you can buy this in the confidence that the extremely high standards on that debut have been thoroughly maintained for this album. Purists will probably argue that, the moment these artist's music was sold to the western world as an ongoing 'franchise', a little part of the ethos behind the music was lost. And they are probably right to some degree....(*But, for the sake of this review, let's just ignore those people shall we??*), and the only reason I can reasonably give for not getting this album, if you're interested in Cuban music, is that you DON'T already have "The Buena Vista Social Club" album (in which case get that first), otherwise consider this, another truly remarkable (and essential) release from the Buena Vista guys.
R.I.P Rubén González (1919 - 2003)
2 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Farewell to Ruben Gonzalez Dec 10, 2003
On Monday, December 8, 2003, Ruben Gonzalez died at the unregretful age of 84. Farewell to an unbelievably charismatic and talented musician! His death is the sad realistic reminder that as great musicians like him grow old and die, so does a priceless era of music that will never be emulated.
The Past Re-Introducing Itself to the Ever-Emerging Present Aug 22, 2003
Ry Cooder once described Ruben Gonzalez as, "A Cuban cross between Thelonius Monk and Felix the Cat." Ruben Gonzalez is no Thelonius Monk...and I cannot really say if he is Felix the Cat...but he is definitely an extremely rare piece of jazz history...an "endangered species" of sorts in comparison to today's lacklustre jazz scene. Thanks to the re-emergence of mostly forgotten Cuban musicians in the late 90's through such vehicles as the Afro-Cuban All-Stars and the Buena Vista Social Club, the world...or at least a portion of it...has had the opportunity to experience a truly unique skill and sound that once flourished. This description of Ruben Gonzalez's music cannot do him justice. When you listen to him either pounding out or softly lifting notes off the piano keys, feelings of excitement, nostalgia, appreciation, comfort, and reflection can all rise to the surface. His skill is difficult to match; his love of music nearly impossible to emulate. Ruben Gonzalez "is" the music he creates and plays...a living example of the musical past re-introducing itself to the ever-emerging present.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Wonderful music Jul 11, 2002
If you reading reviews on this record, you have probably heard Ruben Gonzalez play with 'Buena Vista Social Club' and/or on his first record 'Introducing'. Here he is again with eleven fantastic songs. I most enjoyed listening to the 'cha cha cha' songs, which are two on this CD. Ruben truly is a master of 'cha cha cha'. Another great thing about this record, is that other musicians also take great solos. Most of the songs include a solo by the trumpet player Manuel Mirabal, who was also with 'Buena Vista Social Club'. Jesus Ramos the trombone player, and also the musical director of this CD, also takes one or two solos. The only thing I keep wondering is why Ry Cooder is on this record playing the tres. It just doesn't feel right with Cuban music. Anyway. Five stars.
|
| |
|
![Up (4 Disc Combo Pack with Digital Copy and DVD) [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51V%2Beipy8-L._SL75_.jpg "Up (4 Disc Combo Pack with Digital Copy and DVD) [Blu-ray]")
![Across the Universe [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51T24FuHPEL._SL75_.jpg "Across the Universe [Blu-ray]")
![Underworld Trilogy (Underworld / Underworld: Evolution / Underworld: Rise of the Lycans) [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51F27VzUl%2BL._SL75_.jpg "Underworld Trilogy (Underworld / Underworld: Evolution / Underworld: Rise of the Lycans) [Blu-ray]")
![Shakira: Oral Fixation Tour [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RQUEopdlL._SL75_.jpg "Shakira: Oral Fixation Tour [Blu-ray]")
