Orlando Cachaíto López Cachaito

Orlando Cachaíto López

Cachaito (Nonesuch)

A member of Cuba's celebrated Lopez family, 68-year-old Buena Vista Social Club bassist Orlando Cachaito Lopez is one of the outstanding Latin American bassists to emerge in recent decades. On his solo debut, the only musician to play on all the franchise BVSC releases boasts a band that's comprised of a mixed bag of instrumentalists, including the brilliant percussionists Anga Diaz and Amadito Lopez. There's also Bigga Morrison on Hammond B-3 organ, and the rock influenced guitarist Manuel Galban. Among the horn soloists are trombonist Aguaje Ramos and tenor saxman Pee Wee Ellis. Fine veteran performers, all of them. Given that, it's appropriate that much of the playing here is jamming, with the rhythm section laying down a masterful groove and instrumentalists riding it like one of those old American roadsters that fill the streets of modern day Havana. It works well. Cachaito, Diaz, and Amadito are masters, beyond merely showing off. They get something going and the others fall in with tasty statements. It's also nice that there's some charanga influence here, with violinist Pedro Depestre and flutist Polo Tamayo adding their comments. Nothing spectacular happens per se, but all of the tracks have that same certain magic that permeates almost all the BVSC albums, and this one is no exception.