Search - Juan-Carlos Formell :: Las Calles Del Paraiso - The Streets of Paradise

The Exile Looks Toward Home

James Carragher | New York | 11/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Juan-Carlos Formell remembers or makes up a day, night, and dawn in Havana in this song cycle. I've been to Havana, seen waves crashing over the Malecon like the one on the cover of this CD, but have no idea if what's portrayed in song here ever existed, can exist in Castro's Communist "paradise," or will exist once Cuba is finally freed of him. Real or not, it's a unique, evocative sound, a natural evolution from the traditional Cuban music like that of Buena Vista Social Club. The rhythms are softened, extended, and often jazz-infused through judicious use of trumpets and trombones; the near-instrumental La Extrema Tristeza de la Tarde is a fine example. Formell's singing, sometimes almost spoken word, adds to the mood, particularly in the night songs where it can be both quietly insistent like the late breezes that come up on certain Caribbean nights and desolate with the longing those same nights can also inspire (Los Aretes de la Luna and, the single best song on the CD, Cuando Hable de la Noche).This is simply a transporting CD, never more so than on this bleak, rainy Washington November day."

A Musical Milestone

James Carragher | 08/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Poignant, passionate and very beautiful, Juan-Carlos Formell's music sweeps you away into new territory.He is probably of one of the world's great guitar players, and his band is perfection, This is a different perspective on Cuban music: innovative, yet rooted in tradition, "Las Calles del Paraiso" is a musical milestone - the "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band" or "Magical Mystery Tour" of Latin music."

A New Wave of Cuban Music

consuelo velazquez | Denver, Colorado | 08/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, we know about the wonderful old-timers of Cuban music -- but what are the younger musicians up to? Singer/songwriter/guitarist Juan-Carlos Formell is in the vanguard of a new generation of Cuban musicians who are taking the music to the next level, by returning to the original acoustic sound of Cuban music, but in a completely new way that's dazzling in its originality. At a time when most Latin music is just party wallpaper, Juan-Carlos could be thought of as the James Taylor of Cuban music, with gorgeous songs, a subtle gentle voice, and amazing guitar work. His band is perfection: Jimmy Branly (from NG La Banda) on drums, Wicly Nogueras (also from NG) on congas, Carlito Puerto on acoustic bass, and Juan-Carlos on electric bass. Add to that the innovative inclusion of the great cajun accordianist Zachary Richard and pedal steel virtuoso Tommy Moran (of Dr John Fame) and you got a jewel of a recording that's in a category of its own. Try "Sweet Baby James" meets "Astral Weeks". I can't stop playing this record!"