The opening tracks of
Romantic Cuba
are culled from the November 1975 sessions where master trombone player
Juan Pablo Torres
puts his instrument down to orchestrate and direct
the EGREM Orchestra
in a compelling and substantial way. It's as exotic and exhilarating as the best moments of
Paul Mauriat
, heavy orchestration over the piano of
Pedro Coto
. Why this material wasn't exported to the world is the real question, significant "space age bachelor pad" music that would make
Esquivel
proud (though sans any of his experimentation and with none of
Ferrante & Teicher
's playfulness).
"Cuenta Conmigo"
is as invigorating as
"Terrible Sueno"
is stimulating, the percussive precision as no-nonsense as the guitar, piano, and strings. Marvelously inspiring track after track, these once hidden sounds recorded in San Miguel, Havana, delight in the same way that
Percy Faith
's
"Theme from a Summer Place"
and
Peter Nero
"Theme from Summer of '42"
are immortal memories for fans of pop radio in the early '60s and early '70s, respectively. This music made a mere four years after
Nero
's 1971 hit is like an undiscovered sequel. Don't expect the type of music found on the
Algo Nuevo: Super-Son/Con Todos los Hierros
compilation, also released on the
Malanga Music
label, to show up on the first half of
, which is the re-release of the orchestrated
Mangle: Instrumental
LP. It's the second half of the disc -- a re-release of the album
Grupo Algo Nuevo
-- that returns listeners to the traditional trombone-meets-percussive sounds found on
Super-Son
. And in this context it works very well, the superb orchestration a not-so-odd doppelgaenger to this rhythmic Cuban excursion, at times displaying a bit of what made
Hugo Montenegro
such a splendid moviegoing experience. The packaging is excellent, with detailed liner notes by
Helio Orovio
, full-color LP cover reproductions inside the booklet, and flawless sound on the CD itself. A definite treasure. ~ Joe Viglione