Robin Denselow 

Manuel Galbán: Blue Cha Cha – review

Galbán was one of Cuba's best and best-loved guitarists and this last set of classy late-night songs show us why, writes Robin Denselow
  
  


These are the final, gently classy recordings from one of Cuba's finest and best-loved guitarists, who died last year at the age of 80. Manuel Galbán enjoyed a long and diverse career, using his distinctive twangy electric guitar style to back a wide range of artists, starting in the 1960s with Cuban pop stars Los Zafiros. Later, he played a key role in several Buena Vista Social Club projects, and in 2004 he won a Grammy for the guitar duet album Mambo Sinuendo, recorded with his admirer Ry Cooder. This set provides reminders of both his solo guitar work and his skill as an accompanist. The instrumentals include slow, gently jazzy late-night mood pieces and the gently swinging Alma De Roca, while the collaborations include the Latin-blues title track, on which he is joined by Eric Bibb, and a gently upbeat duet with African kora star Ballaké Sissoko. Elsewhere, there are gently swinging vocals from Trio Esperança, and – best of all – a reunion with Buena Vista star Omara Portuondo on the breathy and passionate ballad Duele.

 

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