The Essential Cuban Anthology
Along with rum and cigars, the music of Cuba has proved a hugely successful export for many a year. The early decades of the last century saw bands from the island playing for the socialites of New York and Paris, a period when terms like rumba, mambo and cha-cha-cha entered the international vocabulary. Featured here are 50 tracks by the cream of the Cuban artists, incuding many artists that would later form Buena Vista Social Club. Buena Vista translates as ‘Beautiful View’ – this is beautiful listening in any language.