Buena Vista Social Club

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In 1996, composer, producer, and guitar legend Ry Cooder entered Egrem Studios in Havana with the forgotten greats of Cuban music, many of them in their 60s and 70s, some of them long since retired. The resulting album, Buena Vista Social Club, became a Grammy-winning international bestseller. When Cooder returned to Havana in 1998 to record a solo album by 72-year-old vocalist Ibrahim Ferrer, filmmaker Wim Wenders was on hand to document the occasion. Wenders splits the film between portraits of the performers, who tell their stories directly to the camera as they wander the streets and neighborhoods of Havana, and a celebration of the music heard in performance scenes in the studio, in their first concert in Amsterdam, and in their second and final concert at Carnegie Hall. The songs are too often cut short in this fashion, but Buena Vista Social Club is not a concert film. Wenders weaves the artist biographies with a glimpse of modern Cuba remembering its past, capturing a lost culture in music that is suddenly, unexpectedly revived for audiences in Havana and around the world. Wenders makes his presence practically invisible, as if his directorial flourishes or off-screen narration might deflect attention from the artists, who do a fine job of telling their own stories through interviews and music. It's a loving portrait of a master class in Cuban music, with a vital cast of aging performers whose energy and passion belie their years. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL REVIEW.......2007-09-09

EXCELLENT MOVIE FOR LOVERS OF CUBAN MUSIC.

RY COUTER AT AL DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN SEARCHING FOR SOME OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS AND FINDING SUITABLE NEW ONES TO MAKE A GREAT DVD.

JASCONS

Intro to the people behind the music.......2007-08-01

The music has been beautiful, but this DVD gives you the ability to see the people and faces behind the music. We enjoyed it very much.

Buena Vista Social Club video.......2007-07-04

I'm a fan of old Cuban music, and I found it amazing how this incredible talent was reawakend to full bloom instantaneously when Ry Cooder put it together in this documentary. I had enjoy the CD, but had not had the opportunity to watch and enjoy the old timers in the video. Compay Segundo has been a Cuban legend since he first appeared in the scene in the '30s. I had no idea he was still alive. Thanks to Mr. Cooder for giving him a few days of happiness, and sharing him with us one more time. The greates revelations for me though was Rubén González at the piano who seemed to have not lost one ounce of his brilliance after all these years even with arthritis and little practice, and Ibrahim Ferrer whose voice kept as fresh as when he was a teenager. Simply amazing!

cuba!.......2007-05-30

this is a wonderful documentary bringing even more of a voice to those giving us this wonderful music! some parts use subtitles. presents a nice history of the time.

Essential for anyone who loves music .......2007-05-10

Essential for anyone who loves music. Ry Cooder is to be complemented for his work in bringing the musicians together back then. I saw the BVSC live about 6 years ago, and it was one of the most amazing and inspiring performances I have ever seen. The movie is a bit slow in parts, and the music is somewhat brought down by Ry Cooder unfortunately. I have the greatest respect for him as a master guitarist (his other collaborations are outstanding) but here he looks hopelessly out of place as the BVSC chugs on with their amazing brand of rootsy lightness. Cooder sits around producing a melancholy wail once in a while from his slide guitar, and that's about it. Pity. But still, if you are into music - and particularly Latin music - you HAVE TO SEE this film :)

Average customer rating:

Excelente musica cubana !!!
I kept asking myself "what was missing" after watching
Rest in Peace, Pio!
How could it be?
What a disappointment!

Soneros de Verdad - Sounds of Cuba
Starring: Soneros de Verdad
Manufacturer: Standing Room Only
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Cuba | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music

General | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Latin Music | Styles | Music

Bolero | Latin Music | Styles | Music

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

International | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

ASIN: B0006SSQ2A
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Description

Soneros de Verdad (Sounds of Cuba) is a full-length live performance featuring the stars of the Buena Vista Social Club including Pio Leiva, Guillermo Rubalcaba and Julio Fernandez that blends traditional Spanish sounds with fiery Afro-Cuban rhythms. Songs include: Chan Chan, Francisco Guayabal, Danzon y Son (instrumental), A Buena Vista Barrio de la Habana, Instrumental y Bolero, Pena me da, El Cuarto de Tula

Customer Reviews:

Excelente musica cubana !!!.......2006-08-25

Program:
1- Chan chan
2- Francisco Guayabal
3- Danzon y Son
4- A Buena Vista Barrio de la Habana
5- Instrumental y Bolero
6- Pena me Da
7- El Cuarto de Tula

Luis Frank is the host and leader sonero. Guillermo Rubalcaba is excellent at the piano, in a style similar to the late Ruben Gonzalez. Another great pianist, Jesus Rubalcaba, makes a short appearance. Daniel "Gordo" Ramos does a good job at the trumpet, and Jose Angel Espinosa plays the tres. This could have been one Pio Leyva's last appearances. The setting at Habana's Club Chan Chan highlights the traditional architecture. Highly recommended !!! I'm sad it's only 60 minutes long ...

I kept asking myself "what was missing" after watching .......2006-08-18

Then it struck me: there was no happiness on this video; none of the joy of Buena Vista is here.

Pio, clearly not in the best of health, does not seem to want to be there, and only performs one full song. It seems, as Ibrahim's family claimed was done to Mr. Ferrer shortly before his passing away, that poor Pio was "encouraged" to perform more than was advisable for his waning health in order to generate hard currency.

The musicians,well, it's about what you'd expect from Cubans. All done with no cuts, do-overs, etc., improvised on the spot, etc., but Cuban music is judged to different standards, and by those standards this is lacking a certain flair. The musicians were there, but so much of the emotion wasn't. I get the feeling Pio's condition was felt by the rest of the guys. How else could it be, when Cuban music is so driven by the instant communication of emotions between the artists?

At the beginning of the video, Pio is asked about his health, and he gives the international hand-signal for 'so-so.' The pretty much defines this release.

KP

Rest in Peace, Pio!.......2006-03-25

I'm not quite sure what the other reviewer was watching but I know this, he must not have been coherent. This is an amazing piece of musical history and EVERYONE should check it out. Amazingly skilled musicians is all I hae to say. Rest in peace...Pio!

How could it be?.......2006-02-09

I have the CD "A Buena Vista: Barrio de la Habana" by Soneros de Verdad and can only recommend it to lovers of Cuban music. It has songs in all the subgenres of Cuban music - son, bolreo, afro, guajira ... all in superb quality of musicianship. Additionally it has nice thick booklet with details on musicians, photos, and all the lyrics. Plus it's both in Spanish and English - very valuable for someone like me who's learning Spanish.

I have not seen the DVD yet, however I strongly doubt whether the same group of musicians that produced such a nice album could be so bad in concert as previous reviewer suggests.

Of course, if one wants just one album / dvd of Cuban music in his "world music" collection, the "Buena Vista Social Club" will do, but to say that songs are "original" only as performed on that particular album is just plain wrong.

What a disappointment!.......2005-07-03

This DVD is terrible! All the songs are from the Buena Vista Social Club but are butchered. The musicians are constantly missing notes, they bring on "special" guests who can barely play their instruments. Save yourself the expense or at least rent this botched effort before you buy it.

Average customer rating:

Buena Vista Social Club [Region 2]
Starring: Lázaro Villa , Manuel 'Puntillita' Licea , Alberto 'Virgilio' Valdés , Pío Leyva , and Benito Suárez Magana
Director: Wim Wenders
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004VYF4

Average customer rating:

Buena Vista Social Club
Starring: Ry Cooder , Ibrahim Ferrer , Omara Portuondo , Compay Segundo , and Ruben Gonzalez
Manufacturer: Libros Sin Fronterras
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Average customer rating:

Buena Vista Social Club
Starring: Ry Cooder
Manufacturer: Libro Sin Fronterras
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0009NZ6XE
Release Date: 2005-03-01

Average customer rating:

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL REVIEW
Intro to the people behind the music
Buena Vista Social Club video
cuba!
Essential for anyone who loves music

Buena Vista Social Club [Region 2]
Starring: Manuel 'Guajiro' Mirabal , Amadito Valdés , Julio Alberto Fernández , Juan de Marcos González , and Luis Barzaga
Director: Wim Wenders
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

ASIN: B00004R81X

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL REVIEW.......2007-09-09

EXCELLENT MOVIE FOR LOVERS OF CUBAN MUSIC.

RY COUTER AT AL DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN SEARCHING FOR SOME OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS AND FINDING SUITABLE NEW ONES TO MAKE A GREAT DVD.

JASCONS

Intro to the people behind the music.......2007-08-01

The music has been beautiful, but this DVD gives you the ability to see the people and faces behind the music. We enjoyed it very much.

Buena Vista Social Club video.......2007-07-04

cuba!.......2007-05-30

this is a wonderful documentary bringing even more of a voice to those giving us this wonderful music! some parts use subtitles. presents a nice history of the time.

Essential for anyone who loves music .......2007-05-10

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose (August 9, 2000)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

In a rebroadcasted interview that originally aired September 29, 1999, musician and producer Ry Cooder and filmmaker Wim Wenders discuss their documentary Buena Vista Social Club, which captures a group of elderly Latin jazz artists assembled by Cooder in Havana in 1996.||Later, a rebroadcast of an interview with singer Marc Anthony, who talks about his career and his new self-titled CD, which is his first major album to feature primarily English compositions.This segment originally aired October 18, 1999.||Finally, a rebroadcast of an interview with Enrique Iglesias, best-selling Latin recording artist in the world, on his rise to stardom and releasing his first mixed language single last year, followed by his first English-language album, Enrique. This segment originally aired April 3, 2000.

Charlie Rose with Steve Reddicliffe, Bill Carter & Ken Tucker; Ry Cooder & Wim Wenders (September 17, 1999)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Steve Reddicliffe, Bill Carter & Ken Tucker; Ry Cooder & Wim Wenders (September 17, 1999)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

A discussion with television critics Steve Reddicliffe of TV Guide, Bill Carter of The New York Times, and Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly on the upcoming season's returning and new shows. They also discuss the recipients of the recent Emmy Awards. Then, guitarist Ry Cooder and director Wim Wenders speak about their prize-winning film about Cuba, Buena Vista Social Club. The movie tells the story of the resurgence of a jazz music group in Cuba whose popularity had declined with Castro in power.

Average customer rating:

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00004RYZ1

Down from the Mountain / Buena Vista Social Club

Average customer rating:

Arte en su esencia
I wish I was a Carnegie in '98 to See them
Poor Camera and Audio work Diminishes Documentary
lo mejor de lo mejor

Down from the Mountain / Buena Vista Social Club
Starring: Lázaro Villa , Manuel 'Puntillita' Licea , Alberto 'Virgilio' Valdés , Pío Leyva , and Benito Suárez Magana
Director: Wim Wenders , Chris Hegedus , and D.A. Pennebaker
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0000639F4
Release Date: 2002-04-23

Amazon.com

Down from the Mountain
If you love the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, D.A. Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus, and Nick Doob's exhilarating concert film Down from the Mountain will be sheer heaven. And if you're new to bluegrass and "old-time mountain-style" music, the performances will be a revelation. John Hartford, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch, the Cox family, the venerable Ralph Stanley, and other traditional and alt-country artists who contributed the music to the Coen brothers' spaced odyssey gathered onstage in May 2000 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium to benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame. Interviews and rehearsal footage set the stage for this stupendous concert, highlights of which include "(Didn't Leave) Nobody but the Baby" by the sirens Harris, Welch, and Krauss; the Coxes' "(Will There Be) Any Stars in My Crown"; and Stanley's haunting "O Death." As one performer recommends, "Just ease in, sit down, and listen." It could be your salvation. --Donald Liebenson

Buena Vista Social Club
In 1996, composer, producer, and guitar legend Ry Cooder entered Egrem Studios in Havana with the forgotten greats of Cuban music, many of them in their 60s and 70s, some of them long since retired. The resulting album, Buena Vista Social Club, became a Grammy-winning international bestseller. When Cooder returned to Havana in 1998 to record a solo album by 72-year-old vocalist Ibrahim Ferrer, filmmaker Wim Wenders was on hand to document the occasion. Wenders splits the film between portraits of the performers, who tell their stories directly to the camera as they wander the streets and neighborhoods of Havana, and a celebration of the music heard in performance scenes in the studio, in their first concert in Amsterdam, and in their second and final concert at Carnegie Hall. The songs are too often cut short in this fashion, but Buena Vista Social Club is not a concert film. Wenders weaves the artist biographies with a glimpse of modern Cuba remembering its past, capturing a lost culture in music that is suddenly, unexpectedly revived for audiences in Havana and around the world. It's a loving portrait of a master class in Cuban music, with a vital cast of aging performers whose energy and passion belie their years. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Arte en su esencia.......2006-02-08

Este es una experiencia unica, si eres un amante de la musica y el arte. Es increible lo que estos seres humanos pueden hacer con tan pocos medios, la unica explicacion que yo puedo encontrar es su amor a la musica

I wish I was a Carnegie in '98 to See them.......2004-05-18

I wish was could have been a Carnegie Hall in '98 to see this group. I watched this DVD with tears in my eyes because I knew this was era and a set of legends that will fade into time. I will try to teach my children of their contribution to the spirit of music in my life time and a culmination Afro-Cuban but most of all the spirit of the Americas!!!

Poor Camera and Audio work Diminishes Documentary.......2003-05-13

Unfortunately, the filmmakers failed to follow a few cardinal rules: #1- Don't move the camera incessantly unless absolutely necessary. #2- Don't zoom in and out on a subject. #3- Audio is what often keeps people watching a film; therefore, audio quality is very very important.

I love the CD, I am a big fan of the music and even play it, yet the over-use of the StediCam (a camera mounting device that allows for smooth, steady camera operation of a hand-held camera) is at times dizzying.

Lastly, at times they pay little attention to the music. Some of the scenes (such as the piano player with the ballet class) are contrived. One can only imagine what it was like to be interviewed as the camera person circled you endlessly.

I am so disappointed by this DVD that all I can say is buy the CD and forget this film was ever made. The only reason I don't give it a "1" is because that's unfair. My criticisms are stylistic; however, they do render the film difficult to near impossible to watch.

lo mejor de lo mejor.......2002-07-07

es una fina muestra de la incomparable musica cubana, a la que la mayoria de nosotros no tenemos acceso. este es una obra maetra de la musica universal, contemporaneadelicada y deliciosa. musicalmente tiene ritmo, cadencia, cuerpo y melodia. si te gusta la buena musica, este dvd es un deber.

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