La Musica de Cuba

PEREZ PRADO AND HIS ORCHESTRA - "Havana, 3 a.m."

If you only listen to one mambo CD, this has got to be it. The music transports you to a Havana club in 1956, with the legendary Perez Prado on piano and leading an orchestra that includes Maynard Ferguson on trumpet and Modesto Duran on percussion. Included are inspired mambo versions of "El Manicero" and "Besame Mucho" as well as Prado's own "Freeway Mambo" and the eight-minute version of "Mosaico Cubano." A masterpiece that defines the mambo.

ERNESTO LECUONA - "THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION" 2 CD SET

A wonderful collection of songs with Lecuona himself playing the piano. Many of these songs have become standards, played to this day by just about everyone. "La Comparsa," for example, sounds just as playful and energetic here is it does in Perez Prado's mambo style. A rare, wonderful treat.

SABU - "PALO CONGO"

This Blue Note re-release features Arsenio Rodriguez as a guitarist and drummer. Recorded live in Manhattan, 1957 (the same year I was born). This music takes me back to my youth. The African connections are deeper here than in many of the Cuban acts that played the U.S. at the time.

CACHAO - "MASTER SESSIONS, VOL. 1 & 2"

Produced by actor Andy García, these two CDs present the heavy, soulful sounds of Israel "Cachao" Lopez. To some, Cachao is known as the Cuban Mingus, to others he's just a master musician adding a distinctive signature to Cuban music. Both CDs are packed with great recordings of Cachao classics that tend to appeal to jazz and salsa fans alike.

RUBÉN GONZÁLEZ - "INTRODUCING…"

If you liked the Buena Vista Social Club, you'll be very happy with this solo effort by one of the musical treasures re-discovered by Ry Cooder's Cuban masterpiece. González puts his spin on classic songs such as "Siboney" (by Lecuona) and "Cumbanchero." We also get various original compositions such as "Melodia del Rio," the elegant "Tumbao," and the melancholic "Como Siento Yo." You can't go wrong here.

CHUCHO VALDEZ - "SOLO PIANO"

If you're reading this you may already be familiar with the great Cuban band IRAKERE, for which Valdez plays piano. This solo effort features some of the tastiest solo-piano pieces you'll hear in any language, as well as some similarly inspired trios with bass and drums. I've given various copies of this away as presents to people that normally don't know (or like) Cuban music, which shows my confidence in the material.

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