Search - Jane Bunnett :: Cuban Odyssey

A revelation

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 02/06/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"January 2003 denotes a major event in world music: two of the finest albums of Cuban-based music ever recorded were both released in this month--Mambo Sinuendo by Ry Cooder and Manuel Galbán, and Cuban Odyssey by Jane Bunnett. The first was, not surprisingly, given the huge popularity of Cooder's earlier outing, Buena Vista Social Club, a huge hit. The second has fared less well (so far, at least), although it may be an even more significant achievement.Jane "Habana Juana" Bunnett has been visiting Cuba on and off for more than a decade (being a Canadian citizen no doubt helped her get a Visa early on), and she has recorded a number of fine albums along the way. None, however, finer than this one. For me, this record stands in relation to her canon as Danca dos Cabesas stands in relation to Egberto Gismonti's canon--both attain genius as a consequence of longtime exploration, assimilation, and finally transformation of an authentic, indigenous, folkloric music, Brazilian in the case of Gismonti, Cuban in the case of Bunnett.Importantly, she's moved out of the city and into the country for the first time, visiting such outposts as Cienfuegos and Camagüey and wonderfully rendering the (far different) local musics of each environs. The first, featuring Los Naranjos de Ceinfuegos accompanied by Jane and trumpeter husband Larry Cramer, is upbeat, sunny, and probably what often first comes to mind when one thinks of traditional Cuban music. The second could hardly be more different. Featuring Groupo Vocal Descendann and sounding, perhaps, like the Bulgarian Women's Choir meets Ladysmith Black Mambazo filtered through a wicked Caribbean rhythmic sensibility (really, they must be heard to be believed), they combine a somber sadness with stunning beauty to produce mysterioso sounds almost beyond comprehension.Another major discovery here is David Virelles, an 18-year-old chops-to-burn monster on piano, blessed with incredible technique, timing, and taste. Plus, he's no slouch as a composer, judging by "Pensando en Jane," his work, and perhaps the most interesting number on the record. And who's Guillermo Rubalcaba? Gonzalo's brother? In any case, another looming presence on the piano scene.Especially since there's such a huge canvas of sounds and sensibilities here, everything works marvelously, seamlessly, effortlessly. Some have--falsely, I believe--accused Ry Cooder of being a kind of world-music carpetbagger. Nothing even remotely similar is going on here. Instead, such obvious love of Cuba--its people, its cultural diversity, its unique musical heritage--shines gloriously through every note on this absolute masterpiece of world jazz"