The Spirit of 77

It may come as a shock to any who have been sufficiently blessed to see, or even partner, me swivelling my hips on a dancefloor but I have never really been much of a one for Latin music. To my mind there was always something earthier and more direct in African music and rhythms, something a bit less flashy*.

When Mrs 1537 bought the Buena Vista Social Club album on CD, way back in 1997 I was, very ignorantly, a bit sneery about it. Over the next week or two I found I liked bits of it, the piano led bits especially, and these were the work of Rubén González. So I bought a CD of my own**, Introducing Rubén González which I quickly became obsessed with.

Rubén González was 77 years old when he cut Introducing in studio time tacked onto the end of the BVSC sessions in Havana. A grand old man of Latin music his storied life involved playing with the very inventors of musical forms such as the cha-cha-chá and decades touring throughout South America.

Retired and suffering from that pianist’s curse, arthritis González did not even own a piano in 1997; which is a fact that really saddens me. Introducing was born when producer Nick Gold recorded him playing after the Buena Vista recording sessions, just for the joy of it.

What better genesis can there ever be for an LP?

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As you may suspect from my initial ignorance hereabouts I am afraid I am not learned enough in my Latin to differentiate between son, guaracha, cha-cha-chá,

As you may suspect from my initial ignorance hereabouts I am afraid I am not learned enough in my Latin to differentiate between son, guaracha, cha-cha-chá, canción or a bolero, so many of the technicalities hereabouts will just fly straight over my head. Hopefully I can offset with my natural brio, snakelike sway and general corazón.

There is something wonderfully formal and stately about opener ‘La engañadora’ (the deceiver), like the beginning of a formal courtship. Then it’s full tits-to-the-wind on my favourite track here ‘Cumbanchero’, which is a wonderful horn led prance through all manner of exotic scenery, It all gets very uninhibited at one point, possibly a track to keep away from any impressionable maiden aunts or spinster librarians of your acquaintance; or not.

Necessarily ‘Tres Lindas Cubanas’ returns the listener’s pulse to its resting rate, being a delightful curlicue of a tune, tea on a sun-dappled terrace with a jolly lady in a floral frock; without any unseemly gyrations. ‘Melodia Del Rio’ is even better and more laid back, all sumptuous and swoonsome.

The 8-minutes of ‘Mandinga’ fly past all impeccable footwork and jerky-smooth rhythm. Early on González plays possibly my favourite ever piano solo, starting low and working right through the whole keyboard, all without sacrificing a nano-beat of the rhythm despite the pyrotechnics on show. That’s where 70 years of playing gets you, I’d imagine, it is absolutely masterful.

After the down low lyricism of ‘Siboney’, we get the jazziest offering on Introducing ‘Almendra’, where to the accompaniment of a gently tapping rhythm section, González sets off melodies and counter melodies, setting tonality against occasional atonality. Odd as it may sound I can hear elements of Liszt in there too, which is much to be welcomed^. It is really quite a thing.

I would have placed ‘Almendra’ as the LP closer, as it overshadows the bustling ‘Tumbao’ to the point where it fails to register. I am overall less keen on the rather melodramatic ‘Como Siento Yo’ which brings proceedings to a halt …

… but not on vinyl. We discerning disciples of decadence and dance get an extra track ‘Descarga Ruben y Cachaito’, which is essentially a jam session featuring Mr G and bassist Orlando “Cachaíto” López. They serve us up a fiery little number here, bringing the hammer down on Introducing.

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Sadly 27 years on from recording mortality has taken its toll on the players on Introducing, including Rubén González who died in 2003. The verve, virtuosity and vitality of all concerned here is a towering testament to their talent and quality. It was all recorded live in the studio in 48 hours without any overdubs and producer Nick Gold deserves praise indeed for its capture.

I like being confounded by an album, having my prejudices knocked around and confronted and I will never regret being introduced to Rubén González.

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Released on vinyl for the first time in 2017 to mark a twentieth anniversary, Introducing Rubén González is a high quality release^^. Not only is the pressing impeccable, two tracks are extended and it has the aforementioned extra track. It is just a pleasing object to fondle and the obi strip and 20 page booklet are classy touches. Buy this LP, you will never regret it.

1175 Down.

*gross simplification claxon alert: yeah I know the disco I love came from salsoul but that was with an injection of technology too. At all the various WOMADs I went to it was the Latin stuff that left me a bit cold.

**no vinyl available then folks.

^my all-time fave classical dude and cameo appearance maker in Proust’s À la recherche du temps perdu. My posts don’t get any more cultured than this, droogs.

^^always the case with World Circuit, they’re an excellent company.