OMARA PORTUONDO y CHUCHO VALDÉS: DESAFIOS

OMARA PORTUONDO
Apesar da longa e respeitável trajetória, OMARA PORTUONDO só veio a alcançar notoriedade fora do circuito dos iniciados em música cubana depois que integrou o BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB. (Ainda bem! Do contrário, provavelmente não receberia
"as flores em vida" de que fala o grande Nelson Cavaquinho). Neste álbum, OMARA junta sua voz ao gigante do piano, CHUCHO VALDÉS, velho conhecido dos freqüentadores do CBLJC.

(*)Para novos freqüentadores que, eventualmente, não o conheçam, recomendo que cliquem no label CHUCHO VALDÉS, para ter acesso a três albuns dos quais participa o grande Chucho.
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CHUCHO VALDÉS
The pianist, composer and arranger CHUCHO VALDÉS, (October 9, 1941), born Jesús Dionisio Valdés in Quivicán, Cuba, is one of the most important cuban musicians, ever. In 1972 he founded the group Irakere, one of Cuba's best-known latin jazz bands. Chucho's father, Bebo Valdés, also a pianist, is the former director of Havana's famous "Tropicana" night club. (Bebo Valdés, now in his 80's, is still
performing). Chucho has won three Grammy awards - one in 1978 for the album Live at Newport by Irakere, a second in 1998 for his contribution to the CD Havana by his band Crisol (formed in 1997), and the third in 2003 for his album Live at the Village Vanguard.

(*) If you are not yet acquainted to him, I recommend: check the label 'CHUCHO VALDÉS' at the blog's archive, in order to reach three albuns already posted and some more details about Mr.Valdés artistry.
(CB)
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OMARA PORTUONDO
Portuondo was born in October 1930 in Havana, one of three sisters; her mother came from a wealthy Spanish family, and had created a scandal by running off with and marrying a black professional baseball player. Omara started her career in 1945 as a dancer at Havana's Tropicana Club (following her older sister, Haydee). In 1952 they got together with two friends (Elena Burke and Moraima Secada) and formed the singing group Cuarteto D'Aida, backed by pianist Aida Diestro. The group had considerable success, touring the United States, performing with Nat King Cole
at the Tropicana, and recording an album for RCA Victor. In 1959 Portuondo recorded a solo album, Magia Negra, involving both jazz and Cuban music. This didn't, however,
mark the beginning of a solo career, and although Haydee left the group in 1961 in order to live in the U.S., Omara continued singing with Cuarteto las d'Aida until 1967. In 1967 Portuondo embarked on a solo career; alongside her solo work, in the 1970s she sang with charanga band Orquesta Aragon, and toured with them both in the Communist and non-Communist worlds. During the 1970s and 1980s Portuondo enjoyed considerable success at home and abroad, with tours, albums film rôles, and her own television series. Her international profile was due to soar, however, in 1996.
Portuondo sang (duetting with Ibrahim Ferrer) on the album Buena Vista Social Club in 1996. This led, not only to more touring (including playing at Carnegie Hall with the Buena Vista troupe) and her appearance in Wim Wenders' film The Buena Vista Social Club, but to two further albums for the World Circuit label: Buena Vista Social Club Presents Omara Portuondo (2000) and Flor de Amor (2004). She recorded in 2008 a duets album with brazilian singer Maria Bethania, named "Maria Bethania e Omara Portuondo".
(From Wikipedia - edited by CB)
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ALBUM COMMENTS
During the late 50's and 60's (last century), a variation of the bolero was developed within the Caribbean Basin (Cuba,Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Panama, Colombia..etc) and Mexico. Being countries of a highly
"boleristic" tradition, new approaches were introduced to the bolero expression. These new approaches took harmonic and melodic concepts from modern jazz and incorporate them into the bolero. The result, well...., a very rich, innovative and sophisticated way of "bolering" which was called at the time "Feeling" (pronounced "Filin" in spanish). The approach did not have much of a commercial impact, and as most avant garde efforts, remained within a group of of highly commited followers like a well guarded secret. The movement itself dilluted within the 70's due to the major shifts the musical world went through those days. Even jazz was affected. This new CD, "Desafios" is a monumental tribute to this movement. To start, is is just a voice (Omara) and a piano (Chucho). Feeling was typically played in small ensembles (not large orchestras). From here a deep sense of intimacy. Omara Portuondo, participated extensively in the "Feeling" arena in Cuba. Chucho Valdes, on the other hand is one of the premiere jazz piano players of the world today. No electronics, acoustic piano and a human voice, in a very intimate concert. Umbeatable, a collectors item....Enjoy the "Filin"!
By Omar Villarrubia (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
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MINHA OPINIÃO: Depois do excelente comentário do "boricua" Omar Villarrubia, que é "do ramo", não sobrou quase nada prá acrescentar. Omara e Chucho são "monstros sagrados", dignos representantes da grande música Cubana. Muito interessante neste álbum é a seleção de boleros raríssimos, lindamente cantados por OMARA, amparada pelo majestoso piano do mestre CHUCHO. Imperdível!
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OMARA PORTUONDO y CHUCHO VALDÉS: DESAFIOS
Audio CD (February 9, 1999)
Original Release Date: February 9, 1999
Label: Intuition

TRACKS/FAIXAS:
01. Qué te pedí
02. Indestructible
03. Si te contara
04. Cenizas
05. Lo que me queda por vivir
06. Danza ñáñiga
07. Sálvame
08. Mi mejor canción
09. La montaña
10. Como un milagro
11. No puedo ser feliz
13. En nosotros

DOWNLOAD (Parte 1) - AQUI

DOWNLOAD (Parte 2) - AQUI