On Friday, April 1, the 15 piece Afro-Cuban All-Stars, led by Juan de Marcos Gonzalez, blew onto Vanderbilt University's campus, like a balmy and elegant tropical breeze. Among the many highlights of the evening, was the appearance by Evelio Galan, considered by many as one of the finest Cuban singers. For nearly two hours, the Afro-Cuban All Stars had the audience on their feet, singing and dancing in the aisles, in their seats, and in the case of two very "enthusiastic" young ladies, on stage. Three encores later, the Langford Auditorium was still swaying in their wake.The Nashville appearance by the Afro-Cuban All Stars, was the seventh stop on a rare 17 city U.S. tour that started March 23rd, taking the ensemble across the country from Vermont to Hawaii, ending April 19 at in California at UC Berkely.
If you missed the Nashville performance, and don't get to catch them on their U.S. tour, "Absolutely Live" a combination CD/DVD on Juan de Marcos' DM Ahora! Records is available. The package includes DVD footage of a concert at Tokyo's Zepp, and an audio CD/DVD of a previously unreleased concert, recorded at The Staaten Hal during The Hagues' North Sea Jazz Festival. It is available at your local f.y.e., Borders, or online at www.descarga.com
(from Wikipedia) The Afro-Cuban All-Stars is a Cuban band led by Juan de Marcos Gonzalez (formerly tres player for Sierra Maestra). They are a unique orchestra that has always been devoted promoting the full range of Cuban music, one that embraces several generations and all music styles, including bolero, chachacha', salsa, son montuno, timba, guajira, danzon, rumba, and abakua. They are known internationally for their 1997 album A Toda Cuba Le Gusta, which was recorded at the Buena Vista Social Club sessions. Members have included Ruben Gonzalez, Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez, Ibrahim Ferrer, Raul Planas, Pio Leyva, Manuel "Puntillita" Licea, Yanko Pisaco, Guillermo Rubalcavan, Manuel "The Guajiro" Mirabal, Caridad Hierrezuelo and Pedro Calvo.
The genesis of the Afro-Cuban All Stars has its roots early in the 1990's. At this time the son ensemble Sierra Maestra, headed by Juan de Marcos, received a lot of international exposure. After a couple of very successful tours in Europe, de Marcos got the go-ahed by World Music Records label president Nick Gold, to do an album celebrating the classic Cuban sound of the '50s - a recording whose personnel would feature many great musicians that de Marcos knew.
In March of 1996 they recorded the album A toda Cuba le Gusta, featuring nearly 60 performers. The, with the addition of celebrated artists such as Compay Segundo, Omara Portuondo, Eliades Ochoa, and American guitarist Ry Cooder, what became the legendary Buena Vista Social Club CD was recorded. It was also during these sessions that the first solo album of Ruben Gonzalez, Introducing Ruben Gonzalez was recorded. This resulted in one of the most successful of the "Buena Vista" series of recordings.
