The Bottom Line
Gracias is Cuban Omara Portuondo's 3rd solo album and filled with nostalgic, sentimental ballads that are some of her favorites. There are a few upbeat numbers, but mostly this icon of the Buena Vista Social Club has made a personal album that's beautifully produced and well-accompanied by a roster of great musicians.
Pros
- Amazingly well sung for an artist approaching her 80th year
- Lush orchestra that includes Pablo Milanes, Chucho Valdes & others
Cons
- Not your typical Cuban or Buena Vista Social Club track list
Description
- 13 tracks from Cuba's Portuondo, a Buena Vista Social Club favorite
- With Pablo Milanes, Chico Buarque, Jorge Drexler, Chucho Valdes
- Also appearing: Cachaito Lopez, Richard Bona, Trilok Gurtu, Avishai Cohen
- Released December 2008 by World Village
Guide Review - Review: Omara Portuondo - 'Gracias'
But it wasn’t until she joined the club and participated in the Buena Vista Social Club recording that she was catapulted to international recognition, along with fellow BVSC artists.
With 60 years of making music, Gracias is only Portuondo’s third solo album. Recorded in 2007 in Havana, it was made at the behest of producer Ale Siquiera who basically asked her “what would you like to sing?” The tracks on this album are her answer as well as a ‘thank you’ for the decades of music she’s been blessed to share.
And once you’ve listened to the album, you’ll find that Portuondo loves nostalgic and sentimental tunes. This track list is not the standard boleros and sones that one associates with the BVSC franchise. Rather, many of the tunes are those you might hear at an upscale, torchy lounge, although there are a few upscale moments with “O Que Sera”, a samba duet with Chico Buarque, “Amame Como Soy” with Pablo Milanes and the Brazilian rhythm-based “Gracias” which Jorge Drexler wrote for Portuondo.
The production is lush, the musicianship impeccable and Portuondo vocally holds her own, sometimes sounding like a young girl, though age seeps through on a few of the numbers. For Portuondo fans and those who want a change of pace from BVSC fare, this is an album you’ll enjoy. For those looking for a Cuban café sound, you’ll be disappointed.
