Luis Bofill sings Nostalgia Habanera from the CD "Te Di La Vida Entera."
Miami's resident sonero Luis Bofill is well known for his fabulous nights at Hoy Como Ayer, a popular Little Havana night spot, and for promoting Cuban music in the city for over 10 years. Luis won several awards in Cuba before he moved to the U.S. and is already a veteran of 3 albums, including a tribute to superstar Juan Gabriel interpreting his romantic songs as a Cuban fusion of son, timba and trova.
About the CD "Te Di La Vida Entera" by Grupo Cafe Nostalgia. Producer, José Horta, Novel by Zoé Valdés.
"Another made-in-Miami production in a very different mood, Grupo Cafe Nostalgia's "Te Di La Vida Entera" smolders like a lipstick-stained cigarette. Far from a rousing tribute to the treasures of Cuban music's hallowed past, it points to the musical future. Echoing from the island's underbelly, Te Di la Vida Entera reeks of the beloved decadence of Havana nights.
Café Nostalgia owner Pepe Horta is the executive producer of the album, released in Europe by the French label Naive. (released in the United States in 1999.) "Te Di La Vida Entera" was conceived as a soundtrack for the novel of the same name by the young Cuban writer Zoe Valdes, who lives in Paris. (The songs are mentioned in the book.) The novel has not been published in English, which renders the concept largely irrelevant to many listeners here. No matter. Snatches of dialogue from the novel recorded between songs come off as superfluous, but not particularly bothersome. Most importantly, the music tells its own story.
The extraordinary material gathered here speaks not only of a particular era in Cuba (primarily the Forties and Fifties), but of the exchange of Cuban music with the world. Together these songs evoke the concept of displacement and exile in a transcendent way that's not only about Cubans. The album starts off with "Be Careful, It's My Heart," written by Irving Berlin and recorded in English by Cuban pianist and cabaret performer Bola de Nieve. In this version Bola's recorded vocals alternate with those of Nostalgia bassist Omar Hernandez, a Nat King Cole-Natalie Cole-type tactic that works surprisingly well. Hernandez, the album's arranger, has reworked an Edith Piaf song ("Mon Manege a Moi") into a danzon. Ariel Cumba, a man, sings it in French, retaining the female pronouns. Also included are numbers originally recorded by the infamous torch singer La Lupe, and Freddy, a husky black woman who worked as a cook before embarking on her brief singing career. "Un Cubano en Nueva York," an amusing Forties' obscurity, was perhaps the first song recorded in Spanglish.
Grupo Nostalgia and guests put on an impressive and original show. Luis Bofill cements his reputation as Miami's own Benny More. Maria Ruesga's deep lusty vocals are pure steam on "Mienteme," originally a hit for famed bolero singer Olga Guillot. Hernandez's classy arrangements sound fresh while adhering to period style. His original music on the last track, which pairs swinging Afro-Cuban percussion with chanting by Anselmo "Chembo" Febles, leaves you wanting to hear more from him. Producer Carlos Alvarez, who also produced Nostalgia's raucous live album last year, polished the band's sound but left it rough around the edges. It's as if the whole sensuous recording was soaked in rum. All together, a risky production that worked." -- Judy Cantor, The New Times
To listen and/or purchase "Te Di La Vida Entera" by Grupo Cafe Nostalgia go to:
Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000050VX8?ie=UTF8&tag=havancom-20&l...
Check out Luis Bofill's other CDs,
"Costumbres, Canciones de Juan Gabriel",
Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002AB6PJ2?ie=UTF8&tag=havancom-20&l...
iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/costumbres-canciones-juan/id316515701
New! "Made In Habana",
Prodland.de:
http://www.prodland.de/?product=CD-10929&source=home&Content=product&...
For more info on Luis Bofill go to:
http://www.myspace.com/luisbofill18
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Cuba Before Castro.wmvby USAHavana196,024 views
Este numero NOSTALGIA HABANERA es del difunto Boby Collazo, buen amigo que fue....murió añorando su Habana.
Quiero agregar que este numero fue un exito en el exilio y ha servido de fondo musical para un documental, cubano, sobre el mismo tema, grabado por el inolvidable Rolando LaSerie.
KAIROA 2 years ago
@KAIROA
Muchísimas gracias Kairoa por añadir su información.
HavanaNewYork 2 years ago