Omara Portuondo
Palabras (Intuition/Nubenegra 31862)

This is a fine release from one of the more underrated members of the Buena Vista Social Club. Ironically, Omara Portuondo was probably the most famous participant in that supergroup (including Ry Cooder), and yet it was the charismatic old men (Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, and Ruben Gonzalez) who received more acclaim when the CD (and later, the film) was released. Should I have put more parenthetical clauses into that sentence (what do you think?), 'cause I'll be happy to write more (no problem at all) if you think I didn't provide enough (confusing complications to the sentence).

Palabras was released prior to the Buena Vista album being recorded, and it's pretty much what you'd expect: exquisitely performed, tastefully arranged romantic ballads from one of Cuba's finest voices. Omara is referred to as "the Cuban Edith Piaf," and beyond that you might compare her to people like Nancy Wilson and Ella Fitzgerald – her way with a song is phenomenal, it makes construction workers weep and ballet dancers implode.

No, no, don't worry, it's not you; that sentence didn't make sense, but it was only for effect anyway. The voice is classy, expressive, deeply emotional, and technically perfect, and this CD finds it very much in its element, winding its way through heartfelt songs of despair and longing.

You don't need to speak Spanish to get this stuff, but it helps if you've had your pitiful heart ripped out by a love affair gone wrong, and you spend your lonely nights with a couple bottles of whiskey just trying to blot out the pain. Like I do.

Portuondo was recording steadily when the Buena Vista project came about, and while she has been overshadowed in the wake of that phenomenon, it's still a good thing that she's gaining an even wider audience now because of it. I guess it's not a competition, and each of the Buena Vista gang can have their moment to shine. I think I prefer Omara's official Buena Vista CD, which was released in 2000, because it's a bit closer to that stark and haunting sound of the original BV album. Plus, it's much better packaged, and as you know, that's 78% of why I like any given CD.

Palabras is great, but it's not trying to be very much, just a solid Cuban pop/jazz record. It's rather like an 80s Gal Costa album, though not so commercial sounding. The electric keyboards always give away an attempt at commercial success. But that's not to say this is inauthentic music; in fact, anyone who is enraptured by the BV sound will dig this mucho.

I should take this opportunity, while I have the floor, to publicly admonish everyone who won't listen to the BV-related albums because they've gotten too popular. When will people stop thinking that they're the only ones who ever listen to anything? Anything you like, 5,000 other people also like, at the very least, so get over it, fattie.

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Review by Leslie Bold-Italic