From the pages of fRoots
Catalonian singer-songwriter-guitarist Joan Manuel Serrat’s identification with democratic movements in Latin America won fans throughout the region, bringing him into contact with exponents of nueva canción or nueva trova. Serrat earned the Franco government’s ire by speaking out against the death penalty; Franco banned the sale and broadcast of his recordings in Spain, and threatened his arrest should he return (only in 1995 did the Spanish government finally honour his cultural contributions). Serrat sought exile in Mexico in 1975 and performed throughout the Americas, although his outspoken views made him persona non grata with the military dictatorships of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. This CD-DVD (“DualDisc”), winner of a 2005 Latin Grammy nomination, features 21 diverse Cuban artists interpreting Serrat, plus [in the DVD edition] an illuminating documentary on his profound influence in Cuba, featuring the many who took part in this project, with historic footage and photographs of Serrat’s many visits to Cuba.
The artists’ testimony for this “revolutionary of song with his guitar at the ready” speaks for itself. As Félix Valera (Familia Valera Miranda) notes, “The people of Latin America understand what this gentleman has to say in his songs.” Chucho Valdés calls Serrat “an incredible artist, a tremendous poet, a total original” and Pancho Amat says, “Serrat is one of the great composers, not only in his own language, Catalan, but also... for hundreds of millions of Spanish speakers.” Lázaro Valdés Rodríguez (Bamboleo) observes, “His beautiful words… are almost a part of Cuban culture.” Ibrahim Ferrer concurs, “He knows very well that here he has a little piece of Cuba.” Frank Fernández (Orquesta Aragón) concludes, “Everything is contained in the suggestive, beautiful poetry that Serrat made… There is something he sets to music that speaks of sorrow. Serrat is one of the great singer-songwriters of the twentieth century.”
The balance of the recording and video line-up comprises a roll-call of Cuba’s best: Silvio Rodríguez, Pablo Milanés, Omara Portuondo, Pio Leyva, Tata Güines, Vania, David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera, Leyanis López, Grupo Compay Segundo, Pupy y los que Son Son, Aceituna sin Hueso, David Álvarez y Juego de Manos, Somos Amigos, Haila Monpie and Trio Taicuba. No doubt, comparisons will be made with Buena Vista Social Club, but this is a different kind of project. In an affectionate portrait of Serrat and his many admirers, director Joan Minguell captures the mood of a more optimistic moment in Cuban and Latin American history, while also revealing the resilience of Cuba against all that has come since Serrat captured the imagination of a generation. — Michael Stone, fRoots
"Catalan poet and singer Joan Manuel Serrat is the kind of pan-Latin cultural giant who can make the Anglo-American global mainstream feel a touch provincial. You and I may never have heard of him, but the mere mention of this Franco-defying veteran balladeer's name was enough to bring out the cream of Cuban music for this gorgeous tribute album. Torch-queen Omara Portuondo turns the egalitarian anthem Por Dignidad into the kind of valedictory ballad Barbra Streisand would kill for, while younger chanteuse Vania belts out Tocar Madera Afro-rumba style. If Mediterraneo - voted the greatest ever song in Spanish - is rather thrown away in Frank Fernandez's instrumental version, the exquisitely world-weary Te Guste o No provides a delightful opportunity to raise a last glass with the great Buena Vista crooner Ibrahim Ferrer, who died in August. Indeed, it's all too easy to enjoy this simply as an all-star Cuban showcase. While Serrat writes wonderful full-blooded melodies, the Cubans make them so much their own that this Hispanic icon is likely to remain an intriguing enigma for most British listeners." - Mark Hudson, Daily Telegraph, UK
Cuba le Canta a Serrat (Zunzun / Discmedi)