Omara Portuondo - Gracias
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Omara PortuondoEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown); Spanish (Original Language)
CD Release Date: 2008-12-09
Music Label: World Village
Soundtracks:
- Yo Vi
- Adiós Felicidad
- O Que Será
- Vuela Pena
- Cuento Para un Niño
- Ámame como Soy
- Tú Mi Desengaño
- Cachita
- Rabo de Nube
- Gracias
- Nuestro Gran Amor
- Lo Que Me Queda Por Vivir
- Drume Negrita
Free Music Notes for Gracias
Free Music Review: Gracias Omara!
Hit: 5 Stars
I must confess that when I bought the Buena Vista Social Club album and its many spinoff discs more than ten years ago, Omara Portuondo was the musician that interested me the least in the group. Sure I loved her voice, but I suppose my taste was more timbale than torch song. Similarly, when I saw her live in concert with Ibrahim Ferrer and Ruben Gonzalez in Washington, DC in 2001, my eyes were usually glued on the pianist and her male vocal counterpart instead of the Cuban diva. I also must say that her CDs, both on World Circuit/Nonesuch and the "Cuban Essentials" series (see my review of the latter), have made it into my 5-disc changer much less over the years than those of her compadres.
With that being said, I am now happy to report that listening to "Gracias" multiple times over the past two weeks has been one of the best musical experiences of my life! You have to realize (if you don't already know from reading any of my more than 1300 reviews on Amazon), I have nearly 5000 CDs and I feel like I never get the chance to listen to anything anymore, let alone the time to slowly savor something like I have done this past fortnight with "Gracias." In many ways this album reminds me of Johnny Cash's "The Man Comes Around" -- I know, you're saying Richman's really lost it now! In the same way that Rick Rubin captured Cash's essence by having him take a musical walk down memory lane, on "Gracias" Omara constantly revisits old topics, her past and her island home, in multiple tributes and thank yous. And even what is lost in translation (I speak limited Spanish) doesn't matter because her presentation is so passionate and direct, and the music so gorgeous, that it transcends any barriers and offers true universal enjoyment. From the heart-aching piano introduction and her delicate vocal entry on "Adios Felicidad," to the brilliant Brazilian beats of "O Que Sera," to the adorable pairing with her granddaughter on "Cachita," to the grand guitar work on the title track, "Gracias" is an absolute masterpiece. I know that this may end up being Portuondo's swan song (the majority of her Buena Vista collaborators are now dead), but here's hoping that Omara can thank us all again with another collection of songs like this in the future. And if this is it, then Omara, "Gracias" a ti.
Gracias Poster
Omara Portuondo, the Cuban diva and star of the Buena Vista Social Club among others, celebrates her 60-year musical career with a brand new album. With Gracias, Portuondo's aim is to revisit the songs that she has found most moving and to work with the songwriters she most admires, such as Silvio Rodrguez, Pablo Milans and Jorge Drexler, the latter being the composer of the album's title-song, specially dedicated to Portuondo. These are not, however, the only star guests on this recording. If the list were not already impressive enough, other great names include Chucho Valds (who performs a song composed by Portuondo's son), the brilliant African musician Richard Bona and the Brazilian maestro Chico Buarque. And what better way to celebrate such an auspicious occasion than to recruit a first-class quintet? The group consists of three musicians that Portuondo has worked with in the past - pianist Roberto Fonseca, guitarist and musical director Swami Jr. and percussionist Andrs Coayo - along with the Israeli double bassist Avishai Cohen and Hindu percussionist Trilok Gurtu.International Music CDs
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