Abelardo Barroso – Cha Cha Cha

Reissued in November 2014, this red-hot disc of fourteen of the legendary Cuban singer Abelardo Barroso’s cha-cha-chas still has the power to light up the airwaves. Recorded in the mid 1950s, these cha-cha-chas relit Barroso’s career and it’s easy to see why. His sea-salty vocals have a deep charisma tat transcends their era, and the breezy Caribbean music that accompanies him sounds like the picture perfect orchestra you’d imagine. Swirling flute lines and sharp-edged violins dance through a haze of tobacco smoke, but always Barroso’s voice is there, guiding you home. It’s no wonder he became a legend in West Africa long after he was no longer able to sing. This is the kind of music that lasts forever.