Music Review: Albita - Cuba: Un Viaje Musical with Rey Ruiz / Donato Poveda

A wonderful album from Cuban Miami-based trio Albita Rodriguez, Rey Ruiz and Donato Poveda. Cuban music in a variety of rhythms & styles from some older standards to newly composed numbers, each representing a different area of Cuba. This album is a must for Cuban music lovers.

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With the ever increasing number of Cuban artists settling in the U.S., it's not surprising that some of the finest Cuban music somes to us from Miami. A case in point is Cuba: Un Viaje Musical, delivered by 3 first-class Cuban expatriates. Leading the trio is Albita Rodriguez, one of today's prime interpretors of Cuban son. She's joined by salsa's Rey Ruiz and trova singer/songwriter Donato Poveda of 'Donato & Estefano' fame.

Their musical voyage through Cuba is magical. A mix of traditional numbers and newer compositions, each is a gem of vocal artistry and instrumental excellence as the 3 main artists take turns leading a number or simply sing in glorious harmony.

Tracks like "Marianao" and "Santa Isabel de Las Lajas" are among the traditional tracks; Donato Poveda has penned a engaging new piece with "Changui De Alto Songo". Another famous Miami artist, Willy Chirino, joins the trio on "Hablenme De Jatobonico". The album ends with "Carnavales De Oriente", starting out with a very Oriental sounding reed intro that bursts into Afro-Cuban rhythm when the drums jump in.

For my taste, the most notable tracks - on an album that contains only great tracks - are the album lead-in "Conozca A Cuba Primero" and a beautiful "Hermosa Habana" with really excellent vocal harmonies, not to mention vocal instrument mimicry ala Vocal Sampling.

If you love Cuban music, you're going to love this album.