Casa de Trova: Cuba 50s

A decade or so ago, this album would have been one among dozens. With the decline of the CD trade, however, and the passing of the international vogue for Cuban music, it’s a brave reminder of the plethora of old musicians still working across the island, and of the admirable persistence of Tumi Music in continuing to record them. According to the rather confusing liner notes – the English information provided is different to the Spanish – Alejandro Almenares is a songwriter, a player of tres and requinto guitars, one of the last of the classic generation of pre¬revolution trovadores and a stalwart of the ranks of picturesque old codgers chomping on cigars and charming tourists in Santiago’s Casa de la Trova.

This amounts to the familiar mix of son and boleros rendered by gentle percussion, acoustic strings and bass and the voice of singer Tony Rodon.

The second CD puts into practice a rather unusual idea: the same tracks are featured but in different order, without some of the vocals but with added solos on instruments such as violin, flute and sax. It’s all thoroughly engaging, however. Long may Señor Almenares continue to strum and chomp.