Search - Ry Cooder, Manuel Galban :: Mambo Sinuendo

Ry Cooder's greatest achievement

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 01/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Has any musician, dead or alive, appeared in a wider variety of musical settings than Ry Cooder? None comes to mind. The amazing thing about his cross-culturalism is how effectively he picks up the basic vibe of the music he's exploring while still putting his own stamp on the proceedings, all the while maintaining a deep (yet not slavish) respect as he playfully deconstructs and reassembles it.His latest, Mambo Sinuendo, a dual project with Cuban guitar legend Manuel Galabán, strikes me as the finest Cooder record to date. I've listened to this remarkable album many times, and each listen has revealed something new: Cooder's tuba-like sound on "Bodas de Oro"; the nimble acoustic bass of Orlando "Cachaíto" Lopez, always establishing the perfect rhythmic underpinning; the deep swing melded to relaxed yet intense interaction that suffuses the whole record; the tricky rhythmic shifts that relocate a piece from Latin America to the American Southwest to Hawaii. It's because Cooder has (seemingly effortlessly) acquired such a broad and deep musical vocabulary that he's able to musically jet, as it were, from country to country with such ease. Highlights for me include a very tender reading of the chestnut "Secret Love," the Al Caiola-meets-Sonny Chillingworth vibe of "Drume Negrita," "Los Twangueros," with Ry making his recorded debut on vibes (!) and sounding, if I may say so, like an inebriated south of the border denizen in hat and sneakers, the old Pérez Prado number, "Patricia," given an affectionately funky reading and coming across, strangely, at once hoary and impossibly modern, "Caballo Viejo," a cumbia-like piece featuring some very tasty farfisa-organ-sounding guitar and killer drum work by the dual drum team of Jim Keltner and Joachim Cooder. The title cut shines brightest, with some way whacked-out organ, tasty chick background vocals, a guest appearance by Herb Alpert (who sounds surprisingly nimble), and Joachim all over his drum kit. But it's all good. One small irritation: I don't think all the musicians are listed. For example, I can clearly hear an uncredited piano on "Bolero Sonámbulo." But that's a small matter, certainly not enough to topple this astounding record from the position it holds for as the premier release of the millennium so far."

A music experience that is like a much needed vacation

R. Klein | Gulf Breeze, Fl United States | 02/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Being a longtime fan of Ry Cooder, I know that any project that he emerges with will be well worth the wait and result in something special. From the beginning project with 1997's Grammy winning "Buena Vista Social Club" project, the world has come to know the richness of Cuba's almost forgotten music. Each musician has come to record a solo project from these sessions.
This new project, "Mambo Sinuendo" features a small combo sound, a sound that was alive in the late '50's, early '60's. This setting does not showcase the big Buena Vista Social Club brass or vocals. This project is a stripped-down, seductive twangy guitar sound, featuring the guitar work of Manuel Galban up front & center. Manuel Galban is a masterful Cuban guitarist, whose style is like American guitarist Duane Eddy, one of Ry Cooder's influences.
Ry Cooder plays the harmony guitar parts, weaving dreamlike rhythms and occasional hawaiin steel guitar and organ throughout, adding texture. The drums & percussion are shared by Ry's son Joachim and Jim Keltner, one of the world's best drummers. The bass is played by Cuba's "Cachiato" Lopez, and along with a couple songs with congos and background vocals, the set is almost entirely an instrumental affair.
This is a lovely set of peaceful music, that is great to listen to again and again. Ry Cooder has been on vacation in Cuba, making some of the finest music of his career, and he has taken us all along with him. I enjoyed this project, as the guitars sound so dreamy and seductive. Throughout this set of songs I have felt so relaxed and taken in by this great music. When the last notes drift into silence, it's like realising that vacation is over and it's time to go back to the grind.
I have my personal faves on this recording. "Patricia" is a joy. The uptempo beat, duel guitar interplay is great. There are many soothing songs, and a couple of uptempo songs. But of the soothing slower ones, "La Luna En Tu Mirada", is so hypnotic, that I find myself so envolved that I was almost in Cuba with them, resting on the beach at sunset. When the song ends, and I come to my senses, I relise that it was a only a dream.
I highly recommend this cd, as it will not only remind you of how great Cuban combo music was in it's heyday, but will let you escape the grind and stress of your modern day. When it's over, as the last note fades into silence, you long for more. Hopefully there will be.... Rob."

Latin rhythms with Ry's guitars

William Merrill | San Antonio, TX United States | 01/29/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Often when Western musicians pair up with "world music" artists, the results sound like the Western person is almost completely submerged within the musical identity of the "world" person. That happened with Henry Kaiser & David Lindley's Norway & Madagascar albums, and with various things Michael Brook has done. Not here. Ry Cooder's rootsy guitar is just as much a character in this music as Manuel Galaban and the different Cuban musicians he worked with on Mambo Sinuendo. The tunes all have a Latin flavor, but filtered through various American mid-20th Century styles. I was reminded of Esquivel as well as some of the Los Lobos side projects like the Latin Playboys and Los Super Seven. The album is a real pleasure to listen to. I probably would have enjoyed it even more if there were a few more cuts with vocals. The female background vocals on the chorus of the title track are real cool."