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Looking for a morale-booster? Forget the prozac. There's a better way to literally "beat" the blues. Putumayo World Music produces CDs "guaranteed to make you feel good" or your money back. I feel better already. Especially once I'd played Putumayo's latest release, "Cuba". This is one guarantee that delivers. "It didn't let me down. In fact, it picked me up."
The country of Cuba has long been a source of worldwide "feel good" dance crazes such as mambo, cha-cha-cha, and salsa. However, since the 1959 Cuban Revolution and that country's subsequent political isolation, contemporary Cuban music has been a mystery, leaking out in bits and pieces over the years. While Putumayo has included many artists from Cuba on previous CD collections, the new Putumayo World Music compilation, "Cuba" marks the first time the music company has dedicated an entire collection to Cuba's wonderful music. And I for one am absolutely delighted with the results. This selection of classic Cuban "son" is a fantastic way to buoy your spirits. "Son" is the name for the rootsy genre of music that serves as the foundation for modern "salsa". "Son" developed on the eastern side of the island in El Oriente during the early part of the 20th century. Marked by syncopated bass lines, driving percussion and seductive melodies, "son" remains a fundamental popular Cuban music style. What makes this CD something extra special is that most of the tracks on "Cuba" have never been released in the United States. Beyond music, the CD is a total cultural experience. The informative liner notes, in both English and Spanish, include song translations and artist biographies, as well as a pronunciation guide, a glossary of Cuban musical terms, a recipe for Cuban rice and beans, and suggestions for listening to future explorations of Cuban music. Wait, there's more. A portion of the proceeds to the "Cuba" CD will be donated to "Global Exchange", an organization that promotes cultural and intellectual exchange between Cuba and the United States. "Cuban" is scheduled for release May 25, 1999 ($15.98 US). In this reviewer's opinion, "Whether you buy it now, or buy it later, this music CD will always be HOT". Putumayo World Music is online at: www.putumayo.com Photo credit: Putumayo World Music. |
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