Cubanocast

This excellent CD is from 1959. In January of that year, optimism and uncertainty accompanied every Cuban as he walked along the beautiful countryside or teeming Havana. Fulgencio Batista had just decided that his position was no longer tenable as he lost support from the United States who had decided to refuse him any way of acquiring arms as well as most Cubans who wanted cleaner government. "Los Barbudos" or the "bearded ones" led by the suitably unshorn Fidel Castro easily filled the vacuum in the politically abandoned capital. It was only later that Castro declared his intention to "progress" Cuba to the state it's in now.

The songs on this album provide one with the optimism prevalent in the beginning of the revolution like the song here. Other songs are called things like "land reform." The Tumbao All-Stars was a group truly worthy of the name. It featured top-notch musicians like Orestes Lopez and R. Azpiazu. If you have any interest in Cuban music, Jazz, Swing, or anything related, this is a great album to have.

Cuban Big Band Sound: Tumbao Cubano