Buena Vista Social Club Carnegie Hall: Review

A musical Cuban celebration of life

The original Buena Vista Social Club recording was, and still remains, a huge commercial success. We listen to it often - or we watch the DVD. We both fell in love with it many years ago.

Now a new concert recording

When these musicians performed at the famous Carnegie Hall and that was released,we wondered if there was any point in buying it - we loved the original and thought it couldn't be bettered. We were wrong.

The story behind this incredible music

It begins in 1996 guitarist Ry Cooder went to Cuba to record the music of musicians from Mali. Luckily (for us) the musicians weren't allowed into Cuba because of immigration difficulties and this is when Cooder made his fabulous discovery...

The Buena Vista Social Club

Yes, this had been a genuine social club back in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. It was a popular meeting place for musicians. Ry Cooder discovered that many of these people were still alive - so his project was born.

Music for everyone

I'd never known much about Cuban music. I wasn't attracted to this by a fondness for the genre. This is, quite simply, music that will make you happy.

These musicians hadn't had an easy life and now, they were old people. I believe that the oldest, at the time of the original recording, was in his late eighties.

Many, despite their age, had to work doing menial jobs - several used to work on the streets shining shoes - and we all know about the privations that exist in Cuba.

Nevertheless, they had (and in the cases of those who are still living, still have) an amazing joie de vivre. This is very evident when you watch them perform and this celebration of life comes across completely in their music.

Meet just one of the musicians in his solo album.

Now this is just amazing - watch a 92 year old guitarist.

From the Carnegie Hall concert.

The documentary's trailer.

To coin a phrase, these amazingly talented people were on the scrap-heap. They were old, probably felt useless and largely ignored.

What they achieved demonstrated to people everywhere that we all - whatever our age may be - have something to contribute to society.

I think that's a wonderful thing. Let me know what you think about this aspect, plus the music of course, in the comments section below. I look forward to hearing from you.