Ibrahim Ferrer

It was a pretty tall order to even attempt to transform a cavernous, albeit packed Point Theatre on a blustery November Monday evening into something approximating a 1950’s Havana nightclub. But somehow the 72-year-old Cuban legend Ibrahim Ferrer backed by a truly outstanding 17-piece band managed to pull it off.

The band featured some of Cuba’s most renowned players including, ‘Guajiro’ Mirabal on trumpet, Jess ‘Aguaje’ Ramos on trombone and the animated musical director and trombonist Demetrio Muóiz. For about 20 minutes they warmed an initially coy audience with a selection of Mambos, Salsas, Boleros and sundry other Latin flavoured instrumentals, even throwing in a version of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’. If at times it felt like a heat of Come Dancing, the quality of the playing and the dynamics created by the large brass section was infectiously entertaining. When Ferrer entered the fray grinning and dancing his way across the stage, the place erupted in a spontaneous show of unbridled adoration.

Performing songs from the original Buena Vista Social Club album and his World Circuit solo release Ferrer’s flawless singing and sincere delivery won even more plaudits from the crowd, most of whom remained on their feet for the remainder of the show.

Pure magic!