BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB:

“the concert was a joy to behold – had us out of our seats and dancing” The Sun

“a pulsating display. This is music that unquestionably still lives and breathes” The Times

“turned the rusting hunk of an old Havana Cadillac into the suped-up sexy automobile it once was” The Independent

Cachaíto López and Guajiro Mirabal are two of the original members of the hugely successful Buena Vista Social Club™. Together with Aguaje Ramos and Manuel Galbán, they have performed on many of the subsequent Buena Vista Social Club Presents series of albums and tours over the past 10 years. This March saw them play a 22-date sell-out tour of the UK, where once again audiences couldn’t get enough of the Cuban masters. Following their successful summer dates the group return to Europe in October for their eagerly awaited winter tour.

The ‘heartbeat of the Buena Vista Social Club™’, brilliant bass player Orlando 'Cachaíto' López is the only musician who has played on every track on every album in the World Circuit Buena Vista Social Club™ series. Cachaíto’s groundbreaking debut album on World Circuit ‘Cachaíto’, which won a BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music in 2002 and was hailed by (The Independent) as “a masterpiece.” Although the music remains essentially Cuban, the album marked a departure from the established Buena Vista style – a new sound, a new instrumentation and a new approach: “Cachaíto weaves seamless, atmospheric magic from strands of suave Cuban son, funky modern jazz, and tasty hip-hop grooves.” (Rolling Stone).

Guajiro Mirabal’s distinctive trumpet sound and characterful playing has earned him the moniker ‘The Trumpet of Cuba’. His blistering tribute to the son conjuntos of the great Arsenio Rodriguéz, ‘Buena Vista Social Club™ Presents Manuel Guajiro Mirabal’ was nominated for a GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY and its release was met with widespread praise: “Mirabal’s stunning performances recapture the bonhomie and verve that endeared the son montuno style to all within earshot.” (The Wire), or more simply: “brilliant” (New York Times).

Jesus ‘Aguaje’ Ramos’ trombone has been an integral part of World Circuit’s Cuban recordings for the past decade, and both his playing and band leading skills have also made him a key feature on various Buena Vista Social Club Presents tours. As musical director for Omara Portuondo and Rubén González he gained attention on the international stage: “he understands how to truly make the trombone sing” (Boston Globe).

Guitarist, pianist and organist Manuel Galbán made his name with seminal 1960s Cuban doo-wop group Los Zafiros. With Galbán leading, the band created a distinctly Cuban sound, an eclectic mix of doo-wop, ballads and boleros, soul and samba, tumbas and twists. In recent years he has appeared on a number of albums in the Buena Vista series bringing his unmistakable twang to the mix. His duets album with Ry Cooder ‘Mambo Sinuendo’ won a Grammy in 2004.

Each of these artists has their own take on the gamut of Cuban music, and they’ve put their individual stamp on son montunos, danzón, cha cha cha, boleros, and Cuban jazz. Having honed their skills over many years their passion for the music has remained undimmed, and this remarkable group of musical giants perform with an exuberance that is as vital as ever.