Gracias [Import]

Critique OMARA Portuondo is the great survivor of Cuban son: the only woman to be admitted to the otherwise all-male Buena Vista Club, whose vocal presence beautifully complemented the sound of the late Ibrahim Ferrer. Her own sound is now inevitably a bit exiguous in live performance after all, she is in her seventies but in this collection of her favourite melodies she can be heard in pristine form. So "gracias" to her as well, for all the music she has given us. --Michael Church, The Scotsman, 31 October 2008 For Western audiences, she's the woman who suddenly popularised her country's music a decade ago, as the female star of the Buena Vista Social Club. But for Cubans. Omara Portuondo means far more. She is the best known of the club's lineups because she has an extraordinary history, from her early career as a dancer in the famous Tropicana cabaret, back in the 40s, through to her intimate, emotional vocals with the Quarteto Las d'Aida and Orchestra Aragon. She's now 78, but her singing is still personal, distinctive and gently passionate...The set is dominated by thoughtful ballads, with suitably sensitive backing by the likes of pianists Roberto Fonseca and Chucho Valdes. Even now she is still experimenting, as shown by her jazz-tinged duet with Richard Bona, the bass player and percussionist from Cameroon or (best of all) her laid-back, gently swinging collaboration with that great Brazilian veteran Chico Buarque. Omara Portuondo is still Cuba's great diva. --The Guardian, 28th September, 2008