Bebo & Cigala - Lágrimas Negras - 2003

Lagrimas Negras, produced by Fernando Trueba and Javier Limón, gathers the extraordinary meeting of the flamenco singer Diego "El Cigala" and the legendary Cuban pianist and arranger Bebo Valdés, in an absolute rapport where each one stimulates in the other the best of his art . A trip to the essence of the Ibero-American love song, with stops in Cuba, Central and South America and Spain.

The album Lágrimas Negras is a project of Calle 54 Records, with Fernando Trueba at the helm, which means that it is a story of passionate feelings, especially Trueba towards Latin music and jazz (in fact, he directed the film "Calle 54" and he has just presented, with Javier Mariscal, "Chico & Rita"). Diego's crush "El Cigala" with Bebo Valdés and the song "Lágrimas Negras" is recounted by the filmmaker in his particular "session diary" of the recording (which is included in the album's libretto). The text is enriched by the beautiful introduction written by the poet Ángel González: "... the result is an extraordinary amalgam in which the Antillean song sounds like cante, and vice versa".

The result is the record of an 84-year-old Cuban pianist, who was counting at that time, and a Spanish cantaor fifty years younger. The album contains nine songs that are classics, with the participation of top-class musicians: double bass player Javier Colina and percussionist Israel Porrina "Piraña" leave their mark on almost every song. But there are also the sax of Paquito D´Rivera, the congas of Tata Güines, the timbales of Changuito and the shekere of Pancho Terry in the song "Lágrimas Negras". There are also boleros such as "Unforgettable", "I forgot that you forgot" or the "Crazy heart" popularized in his day by Antonio Machín and in which El Niño Josele participates on flamenco guitar.

The Brazilian CaetanoVeloso recites "Coraçao vagabundo" (one of his first songs) in "Eu sei que vou te amar", adapted by Veloso himself from the music of Antônio Carlos Jobim and the lyrics of Vinícius de Moraes. From the Ibero-American repertoire a song such as "La bien pagá" with Cuban choirs (Pedrito Martínez, Orlando "Puntilla" Ríos and Milton Cardona) is incorporated, and there are also tributes to Bola de Nieve ("Go away from me") and memories of Argentina ( "Nieblas del riachuelo") with the violin of the Uruguayan Federico Britos. And always Bebo's piano and Diego's voice.

Two greats with luxury guests who bring masterful touches to this gathering of multiple ethnicities full of simplicity and purity. First-rate miscegenation, without labels, a jewel, which in 2004 won a Grammy, three Music Awards, an Ondas Award and five Amigo Awards in Spain

Trackslist:

01. Inolvidable

02. Veinte años

03. Lágrimas Negras

04. Nieblas del riachuelo

05. Corazón loco

06. Se me olvidó que te olvidé

07. Vete de mí

08. La bien pagá

09. Eu sei que vou te amar