Buena Vista
Saturday, August 7th, 2010What a classy old man. Ibrahim Ferrer of the Buena Vista Social Club. I always get this picture of a few well-dressed old men jamming under the palm trees of Cuba without a care in the world.
Couldn’t be farther from the physical truth. Buena Vista Social Club is not a traditional band of people; it’s a collective of musicians. There was an actual member’s club in Havana, Cuba that held dances and musical performances in the 40′s. The club closed in the 50′s, but in the 90′s a record was made inspired by the club’s history.
After the international success of these traditional Cuban musicians (some of whom did play at the club), many other Latin musicians began working with these musicians to release solos or collaborations, and these were also under the “Buena Vista Social Club” banner.
There was an intention to collaborate with African musicians as well, but visa problems got in the way.
There was a documentary on the Club that received an Academy nomination, directed by Wim Wenders.
Visiting Cuba has always been on my life wish-list. I wonder why they don’t re-open the place.
Graceee
