Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Chan Chan
2. De Camino A La Vereda
3. El Cuarto De Tula
4. La Enganadora
5. Buena Vista Social Club
6. Dos Gardenias
7. Quizas, Quizas
8. Veinte Años

Disc 2:

1. Orgullecida
2. Y Tu Que Has Hecho?
3. Siboney
4. Mandinga
5. Almendra
6. El Carretero
7. Candela
8. Silencio

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1691 in Music
• Released on: 2008-10-13
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Live

Daily Mail, October 10, 2008
(5 stars) This live rendition is, if anything, even better...Regardless of genre, this is live music at its most vibrant.

Uncut, (John Lewis), November 2008
(4 stars) Captures the gang in their finest two hours...reveals many (until-now) hidden delights that we can enjoy in full.

The Observer Music Monthly, (Peter Culshaw), October 12, 2008
(4 stars) Offers another take on those great songs...one of only two concerts by the full ensemble...a global phenomenon.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic live recording.....
This really is a fantastic double live album - beautiful package, and the extensive liner notes are an interesting read - a really nice supplement to the music. Even if you are familiar with the Buena Vista story, the extra info really brings home how historic the appearance of all these Cuban musicians at Carnegie Hall really was.

The recording is exuberant and really captures the atmosphere, great musicianship and spirit of the event. I can't recommend this highly enough.....if you loved the original BVSC album you will find something new to appreciate in these live performances!

Even better than original?
If you have found this then i imagine you are already familiar with the original...this is a longtime coming then- the album opens with 3 of arguably the best, and certainly most lively in this case, tracks on the original album, Chan Chan, De Camino A la Vereda, y El Cuarto de Tula--the energy and vibrancy from the off is incredible, it sends shivers down your spine. Ibrahim Ferrer is in absolutely amazing form, as are everyone else; you can tell they are all enjoying it immensely. And the enery and rapture from the audience only adds to it. Just buy it and see.

Viva La Vida? - no Viva BVSA! Viva Cuba!
I'm not sure why it has taken so long to release this live CD (it was recorded in 1998 and previously fans have had to make do with the highlights in Wim Wenders film 'The Buena Vista Club') but at last, here it is, in all its glory!
All the musicians featured were also on the studio album. They may be in their 70's, 80's and 90's. Some of them even retired, but here they all are making their US debuts and this recording shows what we've been missing.
The concert is structured around the studio album featuring favourites like 'Candela', 'El Carretero' and 'Chan Chan' but there is plenty of opportunity for them to improvise and there are some superb solos as well. The piano playing by the late, great Ruben Gonzalez is worth the price of the CD alone! The quality of the musicianship is outstanding throughout and puts many younger ones to shame.
It is a fitting tribute to these remarkable musicians, some of whom have sadly passed away. This CD and its studio album was made for the love of music, not because a record contract stipulated they had to be in the studio to make it. Surely that is the rarest quality of all.
Viva La Vida? I don't think so, Viva BVSC! Viva Cuba!