Search - Omara Portuondo :: Buena Vista Social Club Presents Omara Portuondo

Omara Portuondo's enchanting voice will get you addicted

07/27/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I watched Buena Vista Social Club, I especially loved the studio recording of "Silencio" with Ibrahim Ferrer and Omara Portuondo and also "Veinte Anos" from the Carnegie Hall concert. When I listened to this CD for the first time, I couldn't believe just how good Omara Portuondo really sings. In a variety of Cuban styles (Guajira, Bolero, Mambo, Son, ...) she sings about lost love. But even though the themes of the songs are similar, the music is always completely different (sometimes even Jazz-like). I think at least half of the songs on this album are my favorite songs now. In case you just watched the movie but don't have the soundtrack, you should be aware that the version of "Veinte Anos" is very different from the version on the Buena Vista Social Club album (the movie soundtrack). It's much slower and has - except for the lyrics and tristess - not much in common with the "original". Beautiful music!"

Worthwhile for the collector of Cuban music

M. H. Bayliss | 06/13/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For those who are expecting dance music, this is definitely not your CD. The Billie Holiday comparision is apt in some ways: this is melancholy music, not your high charged son montuno or salsa. If you are looking for that type of music, go for some of the other BVSC discs. Some of these tracks are incredible -- and you don't have to listen to Ry Cooder's grating slide on every track. My personal favorite is "no me llores mas." This disc brougth back memories of one of my favorite singers of this type of mellow-er music: Esther Borja. Her CD's are out of print (many of them), but Portuondo sings many of the same songs that Borja sang, but with a much huskier voice. If you enjoy the more ballad-like side of Cuban music, you will not be able to get enough of this CD."

Great work

Luigi | Pavia Italy | 05/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The album of Omara Portuondo is superlative. The atmosphere andthe sound are similar to those of the album of Ibrahim Ferrer, but themusical arrangements are better balanced, and allow the listener to better appreciate the beautiful voice of Omara Portuondo. You will listen lot of different styles including mambo, bolero, son, and a composition of Gerschwin that is appropriate to justify the comparison of Omara with Billie Holliday. I hope this album will sell lots of copies, even if it's completely different from the bunch of stupid commercial latin-pop music that is invading the markets. Allow me to say that I suggest to listen this album to all the Cuban living in USA and those living in Cuba as well. This music is so nice that may help to conciliate the souls of the two communities and find out again the rich common cultural background."