Description

A decade after the Buena Vista Social Club propelled Ibrahim Ferrer to international stardom, the Cuban singerrsquos farewell album reminds us of his incredible charisma, his supreme polish, and his disarming warmth. Mi Suentildeocelebrates Ferrerrsquos first musical love mdash the romantic, tenderly rhythmic bolero style, which has been famously described as ldquoa ballad with a little black beans on the siderdquo mdash and proves again that Ferrer, who died in 2005, was one of the worldrsquos most enchanting bolero singers. The music benefits from the sympathetic, eminently stylish support of a core band of Cuban masters Roberto Fonseca on piano, guitarist Manuel Galbaacuten, bassist Cachaiacuteto Loacutepez, and drummer Ramses Rodriacuteguez. On the stately ldquoCada Noche Un Amor,rdquo for example, Ferrer sings with poignancy and restrained passion, while Fonseca and Galbaacuten each offer exquisite, delightfully understated solos. ldquoSi Te Contarardquo and ldquoQuiereme Muchordquo boast lush and lovely string arrangements that fit the muted mood perfectly, while ldquoUnordquo and ldquoCopla Guajirardquo add subtle clarinet shadings. Perhaps most stunning is ldquoConvergencia,rdquo where Ferrer manages to be both plaintive and uplifting, with only Fonsecarsquos piano musings behind him. ldquoMelodiacutea del Riacuteo,rdquo written by the late Rubeacuten Gonzaacutelez, is a leftover from Ferrerrsquos solo debut and features the composerrsquos masterful touch on piano, and ldquoQuizaacutes, Quizaacutesrdquo is a hearttugging duet with Omara Portuondo. Ibrahim Ferrer LP is available for home delivery from Vinyl Records London, only £19.99