Grabaciones Completas 1925 - 1931

Sexteto y Septeto Habanero

TCD 300

In 1920 the Sexteto Habanero was born out of the Cuarteto Típico Oriental, an event Felipe Neri Cabrera recorded in his son Guantánamo. By 1925, when the first of the sides presented here was cut, they were the most popular group in Cuba. Their career has continued uninterrupted to the present day some 75 years later.

In compiling this set Tumbao Cuban Classics consulted the original Victor catalogue and found that 100 matrices were cut in 18 sessions between 29/10/1925 and 28/2/1931. Of these they have recovered an astonishing 98, presented here in a magnificent 4 CD boxed set complete with discography and a booklet on the roots of the son written by Senén Suarez. As you might expect of such old recordings the sound quality is variable but restoration on CEDAR has produced impressive results.

A full review of these immortal sones is really beyond this reviewer - you will have to listen to them yourself - but the first thing you notice in these old recordings is the much greater emphasis given to rhythm: the strong presence not only of the clave but most especially of the bongo. As they used to say in Cuba, sin clave y bongó, no hay son.

Many of the sones included here such as Tres Lindas Cubanas and Cómo Está Miguel remain classics to this day. Treat yourself to this timeless music: it's like medicine for the soul.

- Mike Lavocah

Recordings made on the Victor label in La Habana and in New York 1925 - 1931

Track list

Disc One

Maldita timidez; Chaparrita; Loma de Belén; No me desprecies mujer; Cabo se guardia, siento un tiro; Se fue; Quisiera ser mi estrella; Tres lindas cubanas; Soy tu quieta; Carmela mía; La sabia naturaleza; Y tú ¿que has hecho?; Andar, andar; Galán, galán; Yo no tumba caña; Caballeros, silencio; Un meneíto suave; Las cuatro milpas; Recuerdos del pasado; Son las dos... china; Sexteto Habanero; Mujeres que gozan; Alicia; La chambelona; Aquella boca

Disc Two

Diana "Habanero"; Cómo está Miguel; Errante por el mundo; Rosa que linda eres; Pájaro lindo; Trigueña; Elena la cumbanchera; Romántica mujer; Africana; El florero; El pobre adán; Ésas no son Cubanas; Pa cantón; Qué dirán; Rosa roja; Eres mi lira armoniosa; Divina silvia; India inglesa; Berta; Cruel desengaño; Las cuatro palomas; Nieve de mi vida; A Portugal muchachos

Disc Three

Tin cun tan; El bongó del Habanero; Alza las pies congo; Recuerdo imperecedro; Amparo; Estela; ¿Donde estás corazón?; Dora; Oye Teresa mi amor; Por un beso de tu boca; Olvido; Mamá Inés; Criolla Carabalí; No juegues con los santos; Alma guajira; Quiero que tú me des un besito a mí; Tribilín cantore; Mi guitarra; Romerillo (yerbero bueno); La campana; Coralia; mujer mariposa; No me maltrates nena; Gloria a mis claves

Disc Four

Bun bun pa' mi china; Las maracas de neri; Debajo de la mata; De mi cubita es el mango; Preludio de godínez; De la boca al corazón; La diosa; Qué hay, qué hay; Espabílate; Guantánamo; No hay quien pase; Junto al río; Lamento esclavo; Déjate de bobería; Vi una vez; Las penas mías chiquita; Ahora sí; Criollo Jaragán; El tomatero; El sonero; Sacudiendo mis maracas; Mi tres, mi clave y mi bongó; La malla de un traicionero; No trago; Chelín