El ultimo trago (Alemania) (con la colaboracion de Chucho Valdes)

Album review

The pairing of Afro-Majorcan vocalist Concha Buika and Afro-Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés has apparently been a long time coming. But they are here together on this lovely recording, featuring songs from a wide variety of composers, in a handful of duets, or with the Valdés' band backing them. El Ultimo Trago -- translated as "The Last Drink" -- is as much a tribute to Mexican singer Chavela Vargas, a major influence on Buika. She's a passionate singer with a dusky, slightly raspy, thin, and gritty voice, but she sure can belt out a song like a great blues singer, or Cape Verdean contemporary Césaria Evora. While coming from the land of flamenco, this music retains the son quality of Afro-Cuban music, in great part due to the professional expertise Valdés adds to the musical arrangements, not necessarily the lyric content. Those expressions come from a romantic context, telling tales of lessons in life sung in Spanish, mostly brief and to the point, made more elegant by the legendary pianist, who as usual can do no wrong. The consistency of these recordings from track to track reflects the romantic notions of these great musicians, from the slow, sultry cha-cha form of "Soledad" and "Sombras," to the light son "Cruz de Olvido" with the magnificent, regal, traditional-styled piano playing of Valdés, "Se Me Hizo Facil" where Buika's singing is at times exuberant, or the bolero type "Somos" with chiming chords from the pianist. The uptempo clave beat of "El Andariego" incites a more animated Buika and instills Valdés to jump into a montuno bridge, and a very lively "Luz de Luna" is pushed along by the skilled trumpet playing of Carlos Sarduy. Bassist Lazaro Rivero Alarcón, percussionist Yaroldy Abreu Robles, and drummer Juan Carlos Rojas Catro lay out on several selections, as Buika and Valdés go it alone for the passionate "Las Cuidades," the short, quaint, classic waltz "En El Ultimo Trago," the lilting "Las Simplas Cosas" that bears resemblance to the croon tune "Besame Mucho," or the delicate closer "Vamonos." Clearly a chemistry exists here, beautifully exotic, with Buika as the shining star to be discovered and fully illuminated, with Valdés as her colorful spotlight technician. It's unlikely you'll find a better pairing of an amazing singer and accompanist anywhere else, no matter the music type, but if you enjoy the classic Latin song performed with every ounce of emotion available, this recording will be impossible to resist.

© Michael G. Nastos /TiVo