Almost 20 years after their unexpected rise to stardom, the famed Cuban musicians are embarking on their final tour, but hope they’ve created a melodic legacy that will outlive them.
“It will never be old. It will never die. Because of the energy it produces... the melody... and it has lots of sex appeal.”
At 84-years-old, diva Omara Portuondo is the embodiment of the sizzling Cuban sound, forged in the pre-revolutionary furnace of the 40s and 50s, widely regarded as Cuba’s golden age of music.
She’s one of BVSC’s original members, outliving Compay Segundo (95), Rueben Gonzales (84) and Ibrahim Ferrer (78).
“Younger” players in their fifties, sixties and seventies have stepped up to carry on the tradition.
Laud player Barbarito Torres is a sprightly 58-years-old, and credits his pep to walking at least three kilometres a day at a cracking pace, often lugging his instrument with him.
“I have a body age and a different mind age,” he says.
“In my head I am 18 years old.”
'It will never be old. It will never die, because of the energy it produces'
It’s this infectious energy that’s set to grace Australia in coming weeks, from the Womadelaide world music festival to performances along the east coast, a schedule that would daunt artists half their age.
But they say they’re buoyed by the enthusiasm of audiences who revel in the band’s cultural authenticity.
“We are Cuba, not just a part,” Ms Portuondo says.
“We are completely Cuba. We like it, we love it.”
Mr Torres adds “yes, yes, we are ambassadors who take the music to the world.”
“For us all of this is magnificent, it's a gift nature gives to us - being able to take our music and our culture all over the world, and being accepted,” Omara Portuondo concludes.
“Because if it wasn't like that, it would be devastating.”
The Buena Vista Social Club’s genesis was a happy accident.
These already retired musicians were pulled from the obscurity of shining shoes, playing termite infested pianos and busking on Havana street corners by noted US roots musician Ry Cooder and UK producer Nick Gold.
'We are completely Cuba. We like it, we love it'
“At home they were regarded as past their prime, but not to the rest of the world” Mr Gold says.
“We knew we had something amazing and wonderful to get out there and try and share with the world, so we did what we could and the successful was incredible. We had no idea of the phenomenon that was awaiting it.”
Stardom really kicked in following an acclaimed self-titled documentary - it helped propel their album sales to more than 8 million.
But Mr Gold says 16 years of international touring is now drawing to a close as Buena Vista prepares to say hasta la vista.
“A lot of the musicians were in their senior years to start with, and a lot of musicians have passed on during the time, so there’s the obvious factor of the musicians getting older and wanting to end with a dignity and elegance.”
They’re leaving their fans with the musical gift of an album which goes back to their earliest sessions, aptly titled Lost and Found.
'Adios doesn’t literally mean goodbye'
“The last album is a present even to ourselves, because it gives us the opportunity of using all that music kept by Ibrahim, Ruben, Omara... all of those years we'll live them again,”trombonist Jesus “Aguaje” Ramos says.
“There’s no sadness at all, but no happiness either. We've been 20 years taking traditional Cuban music (to the world) and I think that legacy will continue.
“The new generations, the new projects, the new stories. It's a seed we planted that is still giving fruits.”
Then he smiles.
“Adios doesn’t literally mean goodbye – it’s more farewell, see you later, so…”
He shrugs and spreads his hands as his smile widens.
“Who knows?”
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