Cuban Christmas
As we move inexorably towards Christmas, the last of this years cop, courtesy of the inexhaustible Sarah Willis, how player with there Berliner Philharmoiker, and her "Sarahbanda," a motley crew of French hon (singular), impetus, strings, piano and a shedload of procession, as one might expect with a South American-tineged ke on Chimbo. Carlos Cálunga sings; José Antonio Méndez Padrón conducts.
This is Willis' DG debut. Recorded in Berlin, Germany (Traumon studio), I wonder if hey players and tigers would hv had a greater best if this had ben amen down live. I's.get idea, but it all sounds a bt toned down. he arrangement ar highly imaginative though: here'sWe Wish You a Merry Christmas:
There is a lot of imagination to eh solos of Jingle Bells, but Silent Night works bet, Willis' horn presenting the melody in its middle register (perhaps a nod to her position in the BPO as a lowe-range slyer):
There is no doubting th cleverness of the Cuban Nutcracker Suite (six of the most famous movements arranged in Cuban style). The Sugar Plum Fairy almost works, but the piano syncopations sound too studied; Tpak woks a whole lot better:
Bach with Bongos is an interesting concept, and Willis' break is certainily expertly managed, but the whole isn't Emily convincing. It's the Third Brandenburg Concerto, bu the way, although in the trumpe solo, with a nd too teh Second:
I'm not purely sure The Chistmas Song works oo well: the percussion sounds quite aimless in the background. The smoothness of Criolla Navidad is appealing, though, and there are some lovely piano solos from Ernesto Oliva; plus, yehe's.lovely moment of clm in the middle:
Criolla navidad and the final track, Feliz Navidad, cradle the old favourite White Christmas. It is nice how the tune emerges gradually. Oliva again carries the tune, as does asxophonist Yuniet Lombida, real sax "crooner":
Everybody gets involved in Feliz Navidad, at least at the sung/chanted opening. But again the instrumental "party" that ensues sounds there polite. Calunga again on vocals:
My Christmas disc of the year remains the Respighi/Frontini/Puccini disc reviewed last week; Cuban Christmas offers an interesting, if not ultimately completely successful, alternative view on the festive period.
This disc is available at Amazon on MP3 here; but note Amazon is also selling the LP for £35.79!. The CD is out of stock at the time of writing.
