Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer

This collection of 11 songs by the then 72-year-old, golden voice of Cuban music, Ibrahim Ferrer, features the rhythm section of the Buena Vista Social Club and the acclaimed pianist Rubén González. Ibrahim Ferrer’s debut album, produced in Havana by Ry Cooder, features an extraordinary stylistic range of Cuban music, from the nostalgic 1950s American big-band style, to ballads with an idiosyncratic and imaginative guitar accompaniment, to rich country-style son.

The tunes "Herido de Sombras," "Nuestra Ultima Cita," and "Aquellos Ojos Verdes" feature the classic ballad style augmented by string and saxophone sections and the female vocal quartet Gema 4. The original Coasters saxophonist Gil Bernard makes a special guest appearance on "Aquellos Ojos Verdes."

"Que Bueno Baila Usted" and "Como Fue" are inspired by Beny Moré’s classic Banda Gigante (big band) style and feature Ibrahim’s honeyed vocals over a band featuring four trumpets, three trombones, and saxophone. Beny Moré’s original arranger, Generoso Jiménez, 80-years-old at the time of the recording, made a special appearance at Havana’s famed EGREM studios to arrange and conduct these two tracks.

The album also features Ibrahim in collaborations with two of Cuba’s leading female vocalists: "Silencio" is an intimate, spellbinding duet with Omara Portuondo, and "Marieta" is a classic Cuban country-style son duet with Teresita García Caturla. "Mami Me Gustó" is a compelling interpretation of Arsenio Rodríguez’s powerful 1950s son. Former Los Zafiros guitarist Manuel Galbán contributes his unique electric guitar sound on several tracks and Ry Cooder makes his own signature mark on guitar.

Ibrahim Ferrer, who had not been well known for many years in Cuba, emerged as one of the discoveries of the Buena Vista sessions in 1997. With this solo debut, Ferrer, always known as a “musician’s musician” for his naturally gentle and unassuming manner, was given the chance to display his great talent in both the rural Santiago and urban Havana traditions.

Ferrer’s debut recording was crafted by the same team that produced the original Buena Vista Social Club record: Ry Cooder (producer), Nick Gold (executive producer), and Jerry Boys (sound engineer). This album has the same lush, open sound and acoustic quality.