Cachao - 'Master Sessions Volume 1' CD Review

Cachao's Master Sessions Volume 1 is one of the best albums dealing with Cuban music. This 1994 work combines melodies touched by the sounds of typical Cuban music such as Danzon, Mambo, Rumba and Son.

If you are just getting into Latin music, Cachao's Master Sessions Volume 1 is definitely an album you must consider to listen to. I hope you like this suggestion.

The group of artists that worked on Master Sessions Volume 1 is responsible for making this album plain fantastic. Besides Cachao, who was an outstanding Cuban composer and bass player, this work brought together talented artists like Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros (trumpet), Jimmy Bosch (trombone), Paquito D'Rivera (saxophone) and Alfredo Valdes Jr. (piano).

The album was produced by Emilio Estefan Jr. and the famous Cuban American actor Andy Garcia who provided support in the production of it.

Danzon

Danzon is one of the most elegant Cuban rhythms ever invented and the Master Sessions Volume 1 offers a good opportunity to get familiar with this Cuban rhythm. On this album, there are two Danzon songs that are terrific.

One of them is "Isora Club," an amazing track offering very nice violin and flute arrangements. The other Danzon track is the pleasant "Club Social De Marianao," which offers an ending part filled with a slow Cha Cha Cha rhythm.

Son has shaped Cuban music in a significant way. The Master Sessions Volume 1 includes two songs that deal with this influential style. One of them is "El Son No Ha Muerto," one of the best tracks from the entire album, which includes an amazing performance by Nelson Gonzalez playing the tres. The other Son track, which is more specifically a Son Montuno tune, is "Mi Guajira," also very nice track.

Lots of Descarga

With so many outstanding artists included on this production, there is little room to wonder why the Master Sessions Volume 1 has so much jam on it. Three Descarga songs are included on this album and perhaps one of the best ones is "Lluvia, Viento Y Caña," a vibrant song offering both a unique fugue introduction and a powerful ending where Jimmy Bosch hit the trombone in a fantastic way. The other Descarga songs are "A Gozar Con Mi Combo" and ""Descarga Cachao."

Cachao's Master Sessions Volume 1 is a fantastic album from beginning to end. This is a must have album for people who are either interested or had already developed a taste for Latin music.

In particular, this album offers a good introduction to some of the styles that have shaped Cuban music. Cachao's Master Sessions Volume 1 is easily a 5 star album that I would recommend to anyone.

• "Al Fin Te Vi"
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• "Isora Club"
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• "El Son No Ha Muerto"
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• "Mi Guajira"
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• "Lluvia, Viento Y Caña"
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• "Club Social De Marianao"
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• "A Gozar Con Mi Combo"
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Record Label: Sony Music
Release Year: 1994