An excellent in-depth view of Cuban music and Society, 17 May 2002

By	R. Grant (Coimbra, Portugal) - See all my reviews

Stephen Foehr has spent long enough in Cuba to have an insider's knowledge: he meets musicians of all ages and genres, who lead him - and us, the readers - to a fuller understanding of the history and characteristics of the different styles - with just the right amount of technical detail - and also of the challenges faced by musicians in a country whose music business is very different from that which we know in the capitalist west.

But it's not just about music. Foehr's journey leads him to muse thoughtfully on
Cuba's economic and political situation - and to question some of the things we take for granted in our consumer-based society. The awakening referred to in the title is the realisation that Cuba is not the repressive communist monstruosity that some people would have us believe it is. Stephen Foehr's Cuba is a country whose people are struggling to retain their independence in the face of severe pressure from outside. Foehr's Cuban's are a people who succeed, despite considerable hardship, in maintaining their good-nature and their sense of humour. It is a picture that anyone who has visited the island will recognise.

If you enjoyed Stephen Smith's 'The Land of Miracles' and would like to go a bit deeper, this is for you. Highly recommended!

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