Until recently vibrant and prolific, Cuban music fell headfirst into the fate of an industry dominated by a communist government. Most local acts of promise were either over-regulated and not allowed to flourish on their own terms, or were snapped up by foreign imperialists and brought away from their homeland. Then came the Buena Vista Social Club. Juan de Marcos teamed up with executive producer Nick Gold in 1997, and with the help of Ry Cooder and some very important Cuban musicians, they realised a musical dream.
It was an album, and docu-film, that fundamentally altered the topography of ‘world’ music by becoming one of the global success stories of the decade. Eight years on, the project that launched a thousand salsa CDs has provided de Marcos (who arranged & conducted BVSC) with the resources to set up the first internationally competitive Cuban record label: DM Ahorha! After an already outstanding career founding seminal ‘son’ outfit Sierra Maestra, working with momentous musicians like Ibrahim Ferrer and Pedrito Calvo, and always nurturing indigenous talent, Step Forward is the debut release on his new label.
Coming from a self-titled ‘big band’, the influence of the ‘50s heyday of Cuban music is obvious on tracks like ‘Barbaridad’ with its soft textures and use of brass, and on instrumentals like ‘Glicy’s Mood’, a tune that reminds the listener of a Latin Burt Bacharach through its floating flutes, tiered strings and playfully tinkled lead- organ. My preference, however, leans towards the less immaculate; songs that speak of the raw, working class environments in which they were composed. Songs like ‘A Maria le Gusta’ and ‘1332211185’ make for a less passive listen and evoke deeper feelings which, for me, is a big reason to listen to music derived from a totally different culture to your own.
All in all, loyal fans of the ever increasing BVSC canon, and all who adore the classic Havana sound, will not be disappointed.