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It’s amazing to think that this is really
only the third record released under the aegis of The Afro-Cuban
All-Stars. Of course prime mover, producer-arranger-trecero Juan
de Marcos Gonzalez is a man of many hats. The first ACA release
in 1997, the masterpiece “A Toda Cuba Le Gusta” preceded
a plethora of World Circuit releases spiralling out from the phenomenal
success of the Buena Vista Social Club which made veteran artists
Ibrahim Ferrer and Ruben Gonzalez as close to household names
as world music artists are likely to get. Juan de Marcos is the
single person most responsible for the high profile that Cuban
music has come to enjoy in the world today.
Step Forward is the first release on Juan de Marcos’s new
record label DM Ahora – the first independently run record
label since the revolution. In the past the music of the ACA presented
an updating of the classic 50’s Cuban sound and featured
some of its greatest veteran exponents. The music of the younger
generation was largely by-passed. Together with World Circuit
collaborator Nick Gold, Juan de Marcos has gone someway to redressing
the balance with a roster of younger musicians….excellent
vocalists such as Tirso Duarte and Leo Vera, saxophonist David
Suarez, jazz vibraphonist Tamara Castaneda, classical and Afro-Cuban
jazz pianist Dave Alfaro, violinist Luis Lang, trombonist Juan
Carlos Marin, trumpeters Carlitos Sarduy, Julito Padron and 21
year old whiz kid Tommy Lowry Garcia, conguero Adel Gonzalez and
timbalero Antonio “Pacha” Portuondo. The combined
experience of these musicians embraces collaborations with many
of the greats of Cuban music, both traditional and modern.
In common with previous ACA albums, Step Forward is a panorama
of Cuban musical styles, but this time from a more post-Revolutionary
perspective. They flavour the contours but the essence is Cuban.
Timba or songo might colour the superb Adivinador but it’s
still guaguanco to me. Boleros, ballads and cha cha cha rhythms
are all firmly in the tradition. Lo Dicen Todas is really a reworking
of the Irakere son-montuno Una Manera Espantosa. Addimo A Chango
is really Elube Chango from the first album rebadged with boogaloo
rhythms, squalling snatches of rock guitar and sax. It pumps along
in fine style.
Step Forward is definitely a jazzier affair than previous ACA
releases with some fine solos from the young cast but Juan de
Marcos’s arranging flair and that pizazzy drive are in abundance
too, revealing themselves the more you listen to the music. It’s
probably pointless comparing past glories but the die-hard purists
are invited to listen to Luis Lang’s exciting violin playing
on A Maria Le Gusta or the excellent Afro-Cuban suite Elegia A
Ruben Gonzalez which closes the disc. This is an auspicious, consistently
listenable debut for DM Ahora. Apparently Juan de Marcos is also
planning to feature rap artists on future releases. It will be
interesting to see how they fit within the broad Cuban musical
panorama. Richard Jasituowicz
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