Search - Guillermo Portabales :: Aquellas Lindas Melodias

THE BEST -LA CREMA Y NATA- DE LA RUMBA DE SALÓN Y EL SON!

Jaime Flores Montiel | Mexico, Distrito Federal Mexico | 08/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"IF YOU LIKE CUBAN MUSIC, SON MONTUNO, TRIO MATAMOROS,RÚMBA DE SALÓN, THE VOICE AND GUITAR FROM PORTABALES IS -MYPOINTOFVIEW- LIKE THE FINEST RHUM AGED 30 YEARS IN OAK. THOUGH HE LEFT CUBA BY THE REVOLUTION, HE KEPT THE TRADITION OF SINGING THE BEST FROM THE GREAT TRIOS-MATAMOROS-(just listen to the last song ENTRADA AL SILENCIO,maybe hommage to Miguel Matamoros'death: -"compay que triste está el rio, cómo solloza la pálma. Para siempre se fué el alma del guateque en el bohío"- AND SEPTETOS LIKE THE HABANERO,IGNACIO PIÑEIRO, "MI SEGUNDO" (¿compay segundo?)

My father got from a cuban exiliate friend, a reel-to reel copy this LP. Since then, early sixties, I've searched and happily found-BENDITO AMAZON!- more recordings from Portabales.Being "AQUELLAS LINDAS MELODÍAS" still the best of them all.But I highly recommend as well "VIVA PORTABALES", "AMOROSA GUAJIRA" And the ones he sings along with the "GUARACHEROS DE ORIENTE".

Modern versions and interpretations of this old Classic cuban songs sound

"soulless" to me after Portabales. Although you listen to just one voice, one guitar, some congas and no big orchestra.Like Robert Johnson to the blues n'rock, I consider Guillermo Portabales like one Grandfather interpreter of Cuban SON. Miguel Matamoros being it's greates composer."