Search - Eliades Ochoa :: Son De Santiago

ELIADES' BEST EFFORT

Matthew Dubuque | San Francisco, CA USA | 02/27/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a friend of Eliades and somebody who is very familiar with his work, I can only say that this CD is by far his best work readily available in the United States.It was recorded after A Una Coqueta, but before The Lion is Loose and Sublime Illusion.This is the real thing. No attempts to broaden his appeal to the Mexican demographics by repeatedly throwing in stereotyped mariachi trumpet lines which detracted from an otherwise very fine Sublime Illusion CD.Unlike A Una Coqueta and The Lion is Loose, this CD was recorded in the Santiago EGREM studios and Eliades is clearly more comfortable here; after all, it's only a short walk from Casa de la Trova!This CD features and highlights Ochoa's virtuousity on the armonico (often mistaken for a tres), an instrument invented by Compay Segundo of Duo Los Compadres fame.Several Los Compadres cuts are featured on this CD, including Las Mujeres de Mayari and the hilarious Rita La Camaina ("how she dances like a little crocodile!").Although his guitar work is clearly excellent on the three CDs mentioned previously, his work here is clearly a cut above. There is also some nice bongo work on a few of the cuts.Contributing to the full rich trova sound on this CD are the backup vocals of his brother which give the CD a bit of a Vieja Trova Santiaguera feel.An essential purchase for any person interested in something different than the Havana pablum they are foising on the market nowadays!Enjoy, and let me know what you think at bongoman1@webtv.net!"