Search - Sierra Maestra :: Dundunbanza!

The Best Afro-Cuban CD I Have Ever Listened To

11/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't make this claim lightly, but having listened to Cuban inspired music for many years, I stronly believe that this is the best album I have ever heard in the genre. In terms of authenticity, sound quality, musicianship, I have not heard anything that compares.
In the past few years more salsa CD's have been recorded than any time in history. So much of it is un-inspired and boring, the product of producers and washed up musicians trying to cash in on the craze. But this CD reafirms that the great tradition of Cuban music is alive in a modern setting, with modern recording techniques, without the need to rely of 90 year old musicians.
The sound quality should be the model for these types of CD's. In fact, it is superior in warmth and cohesion to Tibiri Tabara, recorded a few years later by Sierra Maestra with the same company.
The only thing that may contrain this from being the perfect CD is the rather weak arangements of Juan DeMarco Gonzales (who in other projects with other bands is even less inspired). Arsenio Rodriguez would never have been as repetitive in his interpretrations; I don't know why his arangements were not copied.
But this is a small complaint, for there in hardly an off moment to be found on this CD. Can't recommend it enough and, if I had to have one salsa/afro-cuban CD, this would be it."

Desert Island disk #1

fernandesdj | Chicago, IL United States | 02/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard Dundunbanza in a dance club in Melbourne, Australia, and after seeing the effect this music had on the girls in the club, I bought the album. Wow. This album has so much going right for it, the rhythym, the humour, the sheer fun of their songs. It is a real pity the label is out of stock."

Gran momento

Daniel Ackerman | Buenos Aires,Argentina | 03/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Esta grabacion es el referente de esta excelente banda cubana. El resto de los discos de Sierra maestra es bueno,pero en Dundunbanza,tuvieron su mejor momento.Grabado en Londres,con excelente sonido,es una recomendacion de mi parte que no falte en cualquier coleccion de musica cubana que se precie."