Barbarito Torres - guitarrista; conducta de vida - TT: Barbarito Torres - TA: guitarist; conduct of life - Artículo Breve

Latin Beat Magazine, June-July, 1999

Havana Cafe

(Atlantic)

In Wim Wender's beautiful documentary on the "Buena Vista Social Club," one realizes what a special family Ry Cooder assembled for this much acclaimed project, Folk guitarist Barbarito Tortes is part of that clan and featured in the film with scenes that include him playing his small multi-stringed Spanish "Laoud" guitar behind his back, as well as explaining about this ancestor to the Cuban tres guitar. It is an evolved relative of the Oud brought to Spain by the Moors and transplanted in medieval times to the new world by early colonial minstrels, and Tortes brings an impressive portrait of its musical powers with a virtuoso approach to traditional Afro-Cuban guajiro son, With a repertoire of classics by Arsenio Rodríguez (Corazón De Chivo), end Maria Teresa Vera's (Sarandonga) and others, it's not a radical departure from the acoustic layers of the Buena Vista and includes legends from this exclusive club like singers Pio Leyva, Omara Portuondo, and Ibrahim Ferrer, as well as top-notch guest instrumentalists like flautist Richard Egües. This is Afro-Cuban bluegrass at its best. (JV)