CD Review: Paris To Cuba ~ Mario Grigorov

I received an email awhile back titled The Perfect Complement to a Cuban Cigar.  I was a little taken aback when I saw that it was a request to do a CD review of a new Latin jazz album just released by Mario Grigorov.  Now, I’m a music lover and I don’t consider myself a music critic, but I figured why the hell not.  And, I’ve always been a fan of Latin music of many varieties.  I even dance a mean Salsa.

Mario Grigorov is “best known for conceiving and creating the 1998 classical crossover hit, Aria, with composer Paul Schwartz.”   Now, to describe this album in one word: Sexy.  Sultry.  Sizzling.  Stirring.  You pick the one you like.  From the beginning, you’re sucked into this album and transported to the tropical beaches of Cuba or the streets of Havana.

The first song Cuban Soil, Cuban Sun is reported to have been named after the finest ingredients of a Cuban cigar.  It’s a medium tempo stroll with your lover along the streets of Havana at dusk.  Its rhythm grabs you and you know why Latin lovers have the reputations they do. I See includes the vocal talents of Melissa Newman, and this is where the “sultry” comes into play.  Her voice is teasing, but clear enough its meaning.  You can’t help but think of her singing these words in your ear in the dark corner of a quiet Cuban cantina.

Ice Hotel puts you on the dance floor, and if you can’t sway your hips with this song, then you need to learn.  Your lady will love you for it.   Every Little Movement keeps you on the floor, but now you’re moving.  Ms. Newman lends her talent again and seduces your vanity.  You can imagine her words being spoken by your love and lose yourself in them.  Every man’s woman should feel this way about him.  The title track Paris To Cuba makes me think of one of those romantic resort huts out on a secluded Cuban beach with my woman drinking mojitos in the candlelight.

I won’t continue to bore you with my inept writing skills as a music critic, but if you like Latin music of the romantic variety, then you need to try this album.  Buy a bottle of wine, get some candles, bring dinner home for your wife, put this on and dance the night away in your living room.  You’ll thank me.

Here’s a little preview:

Before She Walked Away

[audio:http://www.cigarcommand.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/beforeshewalked.mp3]

You check check out clips of the other songs at the official Paris To Cuba website.  They’ve also got facebook and MySpace.

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