Americans seem to have a fascination with things which are forbidden. Since the Revolucion, the Republic of Cuba has existed in a virtual state of invisibility for North Americans. Music from Havana would appear once in a while, usually in reruns of I Love Lucy with Desi Arnaz pounding the congas! A couple of important visits to the island made a major impact in spreading the music more widely. In 1977 jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie stopped in Havana while on a tour of the Caribbean, with saxophonist Stan Getz. Their driver turned out to be Arturo Sandoval, and this connection with Dizzy enabled Sandoval to escape the regime and move to the USA. In 1996 California guitarist Ry Cooder travelled quietly to Havana to meet some African musicians and work on a true Afro-Cuban fusion. The Africans were held up with visa problems and Cooder and Nick Gold, with the assistance of local bandleader Juan De Marcos, turned adversity into a major hit with the Buena Vista Social Club.
A series of successful albums emerged under this banner, and there is the possibility that the typical listener might think that if it isn’t headlined with the BVSC logo, it isn’t any good. This is not the case. Switzerland’s RealRhythm Records has introduced a Cuban series of recordings, and, based on these examples, they are as marvelous as anything Nick and Ry have done.
Conjunto Casino is a legendary orchestra that has been playing Cuban dance music since 1937. In the ’50s, this band was awarded the title of “Best Cuban Dance Band” several times and was allowed to tour internationally. By continually updating their players, Conjunto Casino was able to continue the tradition and to remain current. It has been a long time between recordings, but Montuno en Neptuno #960 picks up where they left off and moves into the future. Unlike the Buena Vista bands which are heavily guitar based, Conjunto Casino is a brass band, with no strings. Trumpets, trombones and a strong piano, with loads of percussion is the sound of the day here. If you can keep your feet still while this album is playing … you’d better check your pulse. Seventy-year-old singer Jesus 
Navarro Jimenez has a remarkable voice that belies his years. There must be something in the water in Havana. Or maybe it’s the cigars!
David Alfaro joins with 30-year-old trumpet sensation Julio Padron for the second album from RealRhythm. Alfaro replaced Ruben Gonzalez, the amazing 80-year-old arthritic pianist, in Juan de Marcos’ Afro-Cuban All Stars. Descarga Santa is a different kind of Cuban music. It is virtually straight ahead jazz, fused with Afro-Cuban rhythms, very much like, one imagines, what Dizzy Gillespie found (or created) during his historic visit. Alfaro is a nimble pianist, not playing the “Felix the Cat” style of Ruben Gonzalez, but blocking chords and choosing his notes carefully, rhythmically complementing the percussionists. David Suarez on tenor sax, is a fine soloist. He obviously admires Gato Barbieri but keeps the honking to a minimum. Juan Carlos Marin is the trombonist, and he also wrote three of the tunes featured on this disc. He’s a melodic writer, and when his melodies mix with the swirling rhythms laid down by drummer Lukmil Perez and percussionist Alexis Cuesta (not to mention bass player Raul Gil Garcia) some exciting music is created.
Cuban music was unknown, or only hinted at for many years, and we owe a debt of gratitude to courageous companies like RealRhythm (and World Cicuit/Nonesuch) who provide these great musicians with an outlet. They provide us with hours of enjoyment as well.
(RealRhythm Records, 1999)
(RealRhythm Records, 2000)
