Barbarito Torres

As any fan of the album knows, Barbarito Torres was part of the Buena Vista Social Club crew. Unlike the others, however, he's kept a relatively low profile — this is only his second solo disc, and it appears on a small label, without a great deal of fanfare. On the basis of this, he deserves a much larger place in the spotlight. A tremendous player of the laud, an instrument like a lute or mandolin, he produces stunning solos on every song (just listen to his highly sophisticated work on "Sonero De Monte Adentro," for example, where he slides in and out of the band, adding a whole other dimension to the piece, and taking it all a notch higher), while giving plenty of room to others in the most unselfish manner. A virtual tour through Cuban styles — with plenty of emphasis on son — this gets to the music's guajira, or country, side, while still offering plenty of depth. His soft take on "Perla Marina" takes the song in a very different direction than the Buena Vista Social Club version; it is effortlessly lyrical, and a showcase for Torres' glistening talent, while "La Compasra" teams him with pianist Chucho Valdés for a duet that manages to be rooted in tradition and is effortlessly daring at the same time. It's a marvelous piece of work, the kind that makes you hold your breath to hear if they can really pull it off — and they do, in fine style. While the duet is different from the rest of the disc, it never feels out of place — and it's a testament to the virtuosity of both men. This is an album to recommend without reservation.