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Omara Portuondo was, undoubtedly, the star of the Buena Vista concerts in the late 90s, impressing with her controlled, cool voice, suggesting a whole unsung subtext of emotion. If you liked the original
Buena Vista Social Club album, then you'll certainly like this: 11 tracks of Omara Portuondo singing the lead, occasionally sharing the foreground to sing duets with Ibrahim Ferrer (as on the classic "No Me Llores Mas"). The rest of the Buena Vista Social Club are all present and correct; Ruben Gonzalez, Compay Segundo and Cachaito López are among the musicians, alongside Manuel Mirabel on trumpet who plays as if he's on fire. There's a string section on board too, giving this a fabulous Old Habana cabaret edge. But this is never camp: it treads the is-it-sad-or-is-it-happy? line of much successful Cuban music beautifully. Alongside notable songs such as "Donde Estabas Tu", with its beautiful trumpet and fiery percussion, there's the classic "No Me Llores Mas", a melancholic "Chan Chan "-like lament with absolutely splendid horns which remind the listener how special the Buena Vista Social Club is. --Neil Bennun
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