Buena Vista Social Club World Circuit 1996 | Alternative Fruit

Buena Vista Social Club
World Circuit
1996


Pre-revolutionary Havana nightlife was segregated, the blacks had their own music, clubs, and communities. As did the whites. The culture in the two distinct societies living side by side was unique to each, and rarely did the lines cross. That was until the revolution, when a strong message of a “Classless and colourblind society” caused all of the segregated communities to be shut down. Although great for equality, the loss of unique cultural heritage was difficult for many. Nightlife in Cuba was severely hampered as the mixed communities had little common ground to work on and the government decided to close down hedonistic venues such as nightclubs and bars.


The revival of Latin American Afro-Cubano music came to being with the release of this groundbreaking record. A whole orchestra of mostly retired musicians banded together to form a musical revolutionary masterpiece. With its surprise global success, a small tour followed which was able to inspire and involve enough people to really get the style moving again. Named after one of the many black only venues in Havana before the revolution, Buena Vista Social Club bring back to life the spirit of the arts but without the bad attitude of segregation.


With the help of American guitar player Ry Cooder, and British producer Nick Gold, the ensemble utilised their treasured techniques and sounds to make a permanent and far reaching statement of cultural history which undoubtedly helped pave the way for the huge revival of Afro-Cubano and Latin American music that the world enjoys today.