VA - Cuba Son, Les Enregistrements Fondateurs Du Son Afro-Cubain 1926-1962 [2019] (3 x CDs)

LATIN

VA - Cuba Son, Les Enregistrements Fondateurs Du Son Afro-Cubain 1926-1962 [2019] (3 x CDs)

This 3-CD set from Frémeaux & Associés isn’t just a compilation—it’s a time capsule. Cuba Son gathers 64 foundational recordings that trace the evolution of Afro-Cuban son from its earliest shellac sides in the 1920s to its golden maturity in the early '60s. Curated by Bruno Blum, the set offers a panoramic view of Cuba’s most influential genre, blending West African rhythms with Spanish melodies to form what many consider the island’s soul music.

The tracklist reads like a who’s who of son pioneers: Sexteto Boloña, Septeto Habanero, Arsenio Rodríguez, Conjunto Casino, and Celia Cruz all appear in their formative phases. You get Abelardo Barroso’s “El Manisero,” Chano Pozo’s explosive “Sácale Brillo al Piso Teresa,” and Compay Segundo’s early work with Los Compadres. These aren’t polished studio artifacts—they’re raw, vibrant, and often pulled from aluminum and acetate sources, giving the set a tactile sense of history.

What makes this release special is its scope. It doesn’t just spotlight Havana’s big names, it reaches into Santiago, Matanzas, and beyond, capturing regional variations and lesser-known ensembles that helped shape the genre. The liner notes (in French and English) dig deep into the political and cultural backdrop, including how son was once suppressed for its Afro-Cuban roots before becoming a national symbol.

For archivists, it’s a goldmine. For listeners, it’s a journey through the heartbeat of pre-revolution Cuba. And for anyone chasing the roots of salsa, rumba, or Latin jazz, Cuba Son is where the story begins. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Sexteto Bolana - Quiereme, Camagueyana 3:11

02 Sexteto Habanero - Eres Mi Lira Armoniosa 3:35

03 Septeto Habanero - El Tomatero 3:17

04 Orquesta Casino De La Playa - Bruca Manigua 3:10

05 Chano Pozo - Sacale Brillo Al Piso Teresa 2:33

06 Conjunto Casino - Ay! Nicolas 3:10

07 Arsenio Rodriguez - Adivinalo 3:11

08 Arsenio Rodriguez - No Me Llores Más 3:20

09 Arsenio Rodriguez - Llevatelo Todo 3:24

10 Bienvenido Granda - El Velorio 2:53

11 Celia Cruz - El Cumbanchero 2:47

12 Dúo Los Compadres - Yo Canto En El Llano 3:04

13 Myrta Silva - Que Corto Es El Amor 2:53

14 Conjunto Chapottin - Mentiras Criollas 3:01

15 Celia Cruz - Burundanga 2:40

16 Conjunto Casino - Alto Songo 3:07

17 Conjunto tipico Habanero - El Huerfanito 2:44

18 Conjunto tipico Habanero - Galan Galan 2:43

19 Sexteto Tipico Habanero - Elena La Cumbanchera 2:50

20 Ignacio Pineiro - Echale Salsita 4:01

21 Ignacio Pineiro - Esas No Son Cubanos 3:24

22 Celia Cruz - Caramelo A Kilo 2:42

23 Maria Teresa Vera - Ella Y Yo 2:42

24 Bienvenido Granda - Que Es El Amor 2:51

CD2

01 Celia Cruz - Nuevo Ritmo Omelenko 3:02

02 Bienvenido Granda - Bailaras 3:00

03 Laito Sureda - Cancaneito Can 2:54

04 Celia Cruz - Juancito Trucupey 2:44

05 Trío Matamoros - Mama, Son De La Loma 3:38

06 Celia Cruz - Mi Soncito 2:41

07 Celia Cruz - Sandungueate 2:42

08 Abelardo Barroso - El Manisero (The Peanut Vendor) 3:09

09 Ignacio Pineiro - Canta La Vueltabajera 4:22

10 Nelson Pinedo - Sixto El Caramelero 2:46

11 Orquesta Sublime - Saca la Lengua 2:43

12 Fantasmita - Gueita Caiman 2:32

13 Conjunto Casino - La Quija 3:11

14 Joe Valle - Felicidades 2:50

15 Conjunto Marquetti - Que No Muera El Son 2:39

16 Conjunto Marquetti - Por Que Me Siento Cubano 2:45

17 Conjunto Casino - Goza Mi Son Montuno 2:51

18 Orquesta Rey Díaz Calvet - Mulata Linda 3:13

19 Grupo Campay Segundo - San Luisera 2:47

20 Grupo Campay Segundo - Voy Pa' Mayari 3:06

21 Conjunto Marquetti - Aprietala En El Rincón 2:49

22 Bienvenido Granda - Eso Se Hincha 2:54

23 Orquesta Novedades - Echale Grasa 2:43

24 Chapottín y sus estrellas - Mentiras Criollas 2:59

CD3

01 Los Compadres - Amor Silvestre 3:08

02 Los Compadres - Linda Sobedia 2:04

03 El Indio Nabori - Guajira Guantanamera 3:22

04 Miguelito Cuni - El Diablo Tun Tun 2:46

05 Chapottín y sus estrellas - Nico Cadenon 3:02

06 Chapottín y sus estrellas - Mariquitas Y Chicharrones 2:51

07 Cheo Marquetti - Sonero 2:55

08 Celia Cruz - El Congo 2:34

09 Celia Cruz - Ven Bernabe 2:52

10 Pío Leyva - Pescadores De Camaron 2:54

11 Celia Cruz - Resurge El Omelenko 2:49

12 Pío Leyva - A Comer Chicharron 3:13

13 Pío Leyva - El Pio Mentiroso 3:07

14 Septeto Cubano de Ayer y de Hoy - A La Loma De Belen 2:30

15 Pío Leyva - Carinoso Si Mentiroso No 3:04

16 Roberto Espí - La Malanga 3:01

17 Celia Cruz - Juntitos Tu Y Yo 2:44

18 Pío Leyva - Dime Adios Carmelina 2:22

19 Pío Leyva - Oye Como Suena 2:13

20 Conjunto Sones de Oriente - La Botijuela De Juan 2:15

21 Ignacio Pineiro - Mayeya No Juegues Con Los Santos 2:59

22 Ignacio Pineiro - Suavecito 4:10

23 Beny More - Me Gusta Más El Son 3:03

24 Cachao Y Su Combo - Tres Lindas Cubanas 4:30

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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