Maykel Elizarde Ruano - South County: Music of Cuba (2017)

OVERVIEW
Maykel Elizade’s SOUTH COUNTY makes the case for becoming the definitive collection of son cubano. Building on a Cuban tres foundation, this recording takes listeners on a sonic tour of the island nation. Cultural standards “Corazon Rebelde” and “Gracias a La Vida” are interwoven with Elizarde’s own compositions including the “Condado Sur.” The album opens with a spoken intro asking listeners to compare the music to an ajiaco –a traditional Cuban stew—in which many ingredients blend together to create a common taste, and with South County, a common vision.
An immensely talented player of the Cuban Tres, Maykel once thought the instrument was meant to be played only by elders. This changed for him later in life as he became one of the instrument’s signature players. In 1998, he formed Trovarroco and later Maykel’s Quartet, combining jazz and other forms of Cuban music. He is a 2010 recipient of Cuba’s National Culture Distinction. South County is Elizarde’s first release on Ansonica.

Cecilia Ruano Payrol (narrator), Juan Manuel Campos Martínez (violin), Leannee Veitía Mestres (violin), José Carlos (percussion), Yoandry Guerra Delgado (guitar), Alejandro Yera Tejeda (clarinet)

Tracklist:
1.01 - Maykel Elizarde Ruano - Intro (Music of Cuba) (1:58)
1.02 - Maykel Elizarde Group - Condado sur (5:10)
1.03 - Maykel Elizarde Ruano - Picaflor (5:46)
1.04 - Juan Manuel Campos Martínez - Cecilia (6:16)
1.05 - Yoandry Guerra Delgado - Influencias (7:55)
1.06 - Maykel Elizarde Ruano - Corazón rebelde (6:37)
1.07 - Alejandro Yera Tejeda - Buenos Aires (5:10)
1.08 - Violeta Parra - Gracias a la vida (5:14)
1.09 - Consuelo Velazquez - Besame mucho (4:40)
1.10 - Maykel Elizarde Ruano - Toca sonero (5:26)