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The Recording of Son: Soul Of A Nation
It is appropriate that Sierra Maestra recorded this tribute to son in an old studio in Havana. Their last four albums were all recorded in Europe, but it was back home for this review of the glorious history of son , the style they play and have done so much to revive in Cuba. The studio is one of the state radio and television buildings, where every afternoon they record the round-table political radio show that goes out nationally, featuring journalists, academics and lots of government spokespeople, and with Fidel Castro himself sometimes dropping in. On these occasions this would mean closing off the side entrance for his arrival, and our having to use the front entrance on La Rampa. Sierra Maestra are, and feel, at home. Most live within walking distance of the studio, except Maceo, who now lives out by the airport and cycles or hitches the fifteen kilometres, and Luis, who drives in from Alamar. Due to the studio's daytime use, they're working the 5pm to 1am shift each day. Supper arrives in cardboard popcorn buckets with the woman who's cooked the pork, onions and rice – the same each day, washed down with fizzy drinks, water and black coffee, with an occasional rum to clear the throat (though very few of Sierra Maestra now drink). Only a few now smoke – how times have changed! This very same recording week, it's announced that Cuba is enforcing the no-smoking-in-public law that is so creepingly popular in Europe. In one of the world capitals of tobacco, it'll be interesting to see how it will work.
Being at home also creates a relaxed and easy atmosphere. The two studio engineers add to this. Both Gogó and Misha are not just totally into the music, but understand it and know exactly what needs to happen. Gogó regales me with his tales going back fifty years in the Havana studio scene, right back to the Beny Moré heyday. He's known them all. Both he and Misha are – like most Cubans in musical circles, at least – also wise-cracking pranksters, and the whole atmosphere is clearly conducive to the job in hand. I think you can hear the results on this album. Relaxed, with the tempos just perfect. Sierra Maestra are here making very much a Sierra Maestra record, which means that the whole production was done by them on their terms, the way they like it. If you don't like this record, then son , a style so fundamental to the whole of twentieth-century Cuban music, is not for you. It's classically done. David Flower
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