Given the eccentricity of themes around which albums can be (and have been) organized -- a particular model of sports car, a dinner menu, for instance -- a collection of music about cigars does not seem especially far-fetched, and when the artists are the estimable conductor
Paul van Nevel and the early music group
Huelgas Ensemble, the enterprise gains considerable music credibility, regardless of the listener's views on cigars per se. In spite of its outstanding level of musicality and professionalism, the whole undertaking has a whimsical air.
Huelgas Ensemble is here identified as the
Huelgas Havana Club, and there is considerable wit in the program notes, illustrations, and quotes by famous cigar aficionados. The pieces range from the silly ("Tobacco is a dirty weed, I like it, I like it. It satisfies no normal need, I like it, I like it,") to the earnestly mournful My last cigar. Most are musically lightweight, but highly enjoyable.