This excellent, sprawling collection opens with an 80-year-old recording of
Trio Matamoros performing "Son de la Loma." Although it was made during the early days of recording technology, the recording is strikingly clear and defined, and both the singing and playing are spectacular. Whether intentionally or not, this track serves as something of a symbol for Cuban music in general: despite various kinds of repression and privation throughout its history, that tiny island country has managed to produce some of the sweetest, most lovely, and most complex popular music in the world. A Night in Cuba illustrates that truism with recordings made as long ago as 1928 and as recently as 2003. In some cases, it's not even known when the recording took place -- and some strains of Cuban music have changed so little over the decades that the music itself gives little clue. El Original Cuarteto d'Aida's brilliant "Yenyere Cumae -- El Bombo de Elena" is one such track, and it's one of the highlights of a consistently excellent program. Other highlights include
Beny Moré's "Bonito y Sabroso," on which the vocals are especially nice, and a fine recent recording by
Arturo Sandoval of
Dizzy Gillespie's "Manteca." Even
Gloria Estefan makes an appearance here, with the horn-heavy "Montuno."
Hansel & Raul's "Como Roca" is a bit too much on the smooth jazz side, and
Albita's "Habrá Musica Guajira" is a bit emotionally bombastic even by Latin standards, but overall this disc is a complete delight. ~ Rick Anderson