Valle Son

With Cuban son’s traditional players averaging around the ages of 80 and 90, or in the cases of the late Compay Segundo and Ibrahim Ferrer deceased, the future of son will not be found in the smoky clubs of Havana, but in the small, rural village of Viñales, Cuba — home of eight-piece band Valle Son. On their second album No Se Tire Compay, Valle Son embroider the acoustic touches of traditional son, but are not afraid to mix in modern jazz and mambo elements hence keeping with the Latin tradition of making all music relevant. Although the album does not have the urgency of the Buena Vista Social Club, the refreshing use of the bassoon, saxophone, and flute, (which are highly uncommon in Cuban music) provide nice touches to the románticas of "Para Volar Contigo” and "Fantasía Otoñal,” and their cover of Tito Puente’s "Oye Como Va” is a lively dance floor caller in fine tradition of the original. Talented young musicians, Valle Son are among the best of Cuba’s nueva generación.