introducing...RUBÉN GONZÁLEZ

RUBÉN GONZÁLEZ - piano

MAÑUEL 'Guajiro' MIRABAL - trumpet

ORLANDO 'Cachaíto' LÓPEZ - bass

AMADITO VALDÉS - timbales

ROBERTO GARCÍA - bongos,güiro, cowbell

CARLOS GONZÁLEZ - congas

ALBERTO 'Virgilio' VALDÉS - maracas

JUAN DE MARCOS GANZÁLEZ - chorus vocals

MANUEL 'Puntillita' LICEA - chorus vocals

ANTONIO 'Maceo' RODRIGUEZ - chorus vocals


RICHARD EGÜES - flute on 'Tres Lindas Cubanas'

JUAN DE MARCOS GANZÁLEZ - arranger and conductor









Home 		'The greatest piano soloist I have ever heard in my life. A Cuban cross between Thelonious Monk and Felix the Cat.' Ry Cooder
This is the debut album by one of Cuba's national treasures. Made over fifty years after his first classic recordings with the great Arsenio Rodríguez, it was recorded 'live' with no overdubs in two days at Egrem studios in Havana.
In a dazzling and spontaneous display of inspired piano playing, Rubén is accompanied by a group of incredibly talented Cuban musicians. This album was made at the end of the Ry Cooder produced recording session of 'Buena Vista Social Club'. After the album had been completed Rubén was still at the piano. With his friends around him, he started to play a tumbao. Cacahaíto joined him on bass, then the rhythm section and it was good. When the lights went up, he thought he'd have to leave but he was asked to stay. Not only that! He was invited to record his own album; choose his own repertoire and musicians and play as long as he wanted. After two weeks Rubén was on fire and with no rehearsal the band played on and this album was recorded. A remarkable work.
  1. LA ENGAÑADORA (cha cha cha)
  2. CUMBANCHERO (guaracha)
  3. TRES LINDAS CUBANAS (danzón)
  4. MELODía del r&iaCUTEo (bolero)
  5. MANDINGA (guaracha/son)
  6. SIBONEY (canción/afro)
  7. ALMENDRA (danzón)
  8. TUMBAO (son montuno/tumbao)
  9. COMO SIENTO YO (canción)
Songs 4, 8 and 9 composed by Rubén Gonzálo