Havana '58

CD review – Buyu RecordsA very good recording, which has excellent clarity. The percussion has a beautiful timbre as does the guitar which is very redolent of the 1950’sThe star of the show are the varied vocals and the many different types of percussion which constantly add new sounds, beats and tones. The music has a real Latin swing and flavour. A worthy addition any collection.I have not set out to write reviews of the music content as “beauty is in the ears of the listener”. These reviews are about the quality (or not) of the recorded sound. To read about how the reviews are done please see my profile. • Clarity – excellent, very open, transparent, sounds as if the musicians are with you • Channel separation – very good, clear left and right • Channel balance – excellent, clear instrument placement, vocals are static very front and centre. The drums are behind the vocalists, the other instruments are clearly left or right • Sound Stage – wide, not particularly deep but projects well forwards • Distortion – non audible • Compression – good frequency and volume range. It is however loud recording but all the individual elements are clearly audible • Atmosphere – languid, cool, like a large spacious club. The reverb and echo are used a bit over zealously, but it does feel like a front row table in a club • Bass – low frequencies – overall very tight and punchy, just falls short of slamming but the drums have a well defined punch and thump. The bass guitar has lost a little definition. The drums and other percussion are excellent. The tones and timbres are very lifelike. Some of the bass horns have a delicious real “growl”. • Treble – high frequencies – very good across the range, the jazz guitar is very clear and has excellent tone. The percussion has a realistic tone, wood blocks been struck, the cymbals are clear but a little far back in the mix. Piano and keyboards have good note decay. Echo is a little overused but as the mix balance is so good the effect works well • Vocals – blend and well integrated into the performance of which they are a key part. Vocals and the singers are clear and project well. They neither swamp or sway the other players.As a general rule of thumb recordings from the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s are nearly always better on the original vinyl. Remasters often fail to please as it’s just not possible to make a silk purse from a sows ear, i.e. the original recording lacks the necessary detail to be processed digitally and show an audible improvement. Indeed such processing can make the sound worse.Modern recordings which have been processed digitally from start to finish can be as good as vinyl. CD’s are often unfairly criticised for being poor quality. This is not the case, it is the original recording or the process which is to blame. Modern “remasters” can both enhance and degrade a recording. The statement GIGO (Garbage In Garbage Out) is the limiting factor. Ignore this at your cost.

Fantastic album, full of scintillating tunes and smokey atmospheres......love it! ❤️

This is a great jazz fusion CD. I bought it for the music but not for the romanticizing pre revolutionary Cuba which is the very last thing I would credit this CD for.

Very nice music!!!

Unerwartet schnelle Lieferung

Pour ceux qui, comme moi, ont déjà acquis les autres CD de cette série, restent toujours conquis par ces rythmes et cette ambiance de fêtes.On sent toute la joie des compositeurs.

Hat alles prima geklappt!

Was für eine Scheibe! Ich kenne kaum ein anderes Album, das mit so viel Liebe zum Detail produziert wurde. Eine Vintagesound Auslese der Extraklasse kombiniert mit zeitgemäßer Sample-Ästhetik. Top Grooves, Top Vocals, Top Instrumentalisten, Top Artwork, Top Video. Klare Kaufempfehlung! Die Vinyl-Version werde ich mir auch noch holen!

Seit 2 Tagen habe ich jetzt die CD und ich höre sie permanent. Mein Favorit: Let God ft. Olvido Ruiz. Wer die anderen Bahama Soul Club CD's kennt und schätzt wird um diese nicht herumkommen.