BBC - Radio 3 - Awards for World Music 2005

WINNER 2005
BEBO AND CIGALA (CUBA AND SPAIN)

"Lagrimas Negras" (Calle 54), the extraordinary 2003 album by Bebo Valdes and Diego "El Cigala", has proved to be both the most compelling Spanish flamenco album since Camaron de la Isla died in 1992 and the best Cuban piano album since Ruben Gonzales' World Circuit 1997 debut "Introducing . . . How so?"

Diego "El Cigala" is a Spanish Gitano (Gypsy) who has made his mark over the last decade as a fine flamenco singer. Bebo Valdes is a noted Cuban jazz pianist, one long appreciated in Europe as he has lived in Sweden since 1960. Combine the two of them, as producers Fernando Trubeca and Javier Limon did, and the result is the astonishing "Lagrimas Negras" (Black Tears). The initial collaboration came about when Javier Limon took on the role of producer for Diego's album "Corren Tiempos De Alegria". He was an admirer of Bebo’s and drafted the pianist in Bebo to guest on a couple of tracks. The response to their performance together was one of such powerful emotion that both Javier and Fernando Trunbeca, who was sitting in on the session, determined they must make an album together.

The album is no simple collaboration: classic Cuban boleros, the songs of Central and South America, an Antonio Carlos Jobim number (with Caetano Veloso on guest vocal), deep flamenco blues . . . the two musicians spar, each pushing the other on to greater heights. While they were recording, Bebo, 80-years young, won two Grammies for his Latin jazz albums. He went to Miami to collect them then returned to Madrid to keep working on the album.

The finished album is a delicious melange of flamenco vocals at their most hoarse and soulful and Cuban piano at its most melodic and playful. Wonderful, yes, but who will buy it? The answer is: the Spanish public, who pushed the album high on the pop charts, and then the international world music audience who know a diamond when they hear it.

In early 2004 Bebo and Cigala played one UK concert at The Barbican. It was a triumph with Chucho Valdes, the acclaimed piano playing son of Bebo, joining his father on stage. Bebo's age meant he did not feel up to the rigours of a world tour so in London we witnessed the passing of a musical baton.

Garth Cartwright (courtesy of fRoots)

Lagrimas Negras album review

Your Comments

Daniel , Oxford
Been listening to this for six months, every day, and it still haunts me. Transcendent, magical, warm. Quite beyond the normal range of things. Gracias Bebo y Diego.

PASQUI -MONTEVARCHI -ITALY
EXCELLENT ALBUM.BIG EMOTION.

Beniam from Sweden
I can even here you'r voice in my dream. Thank you.

Marja in Australia
Just amazing music, I love every song, this cd makes you very emotional, very exceptional experience!
Kitti Yanukovitch
Thank you and God Bless you.

Paul Smirnoff
I love this site, there is so much information to be found. Thank you.

daniel in damascus, syria
The rawness of Camaron, the sweetness of Ruben....this is a record i'll still listen to decades from now. Hedonistic, melancholy, and gorgeous.

Fernando Zelaya, Madrid, Spain
This is the most amazing piece of art and music. Please don´t miss this opportunity to enjoy such a extraordinary performance of these great musicians.
Elena, Spain
this album is great, not only the music and voices... but the lyrics too!!

julio VENEZUELA CARACAS
La canciony sus interpretes son lo MAXIMO SON EL EXTASIS TOTAL

Luka - Croatia
emotions,structure,performance,words... epic duo. wait to listen their LIVE album!

Leila Berlin MD
Delicious! A jewel!

ira from israel
GREAT!just graet. beautiful music. i cant stop listen to their songs. i heard "lagrimas negras" once on t.v.and went to buy their c.d. wonderful music, beautiful voices!

Pamm Bird, Gig Harbor, WA
I was in Patzcuaro, Mexico recently and saw Diego and Bebo on MP Television...my friend and I were absolutely blown away! I came home and searched the internet and was helped by a lady named Angel Romero who told me who Diego was. His music is pure magic. Does anyone know if he ever visits the states? I would so love to experience him in person.

Humam Baho from Laguna Niguel, California
What a treat! Bebo & Diego uniting the best of the two worlds. The high calibar of musical talent is undeniable. But more importantly, the PASSION in this magnificent performance is what sets it apart from the rest. As a result, the dramatic effect marches straight to the listener's heart & soul.

Edwin Law, Malaysia
Simply amazing, everytime i listen to it, i get a chill down my spine. It's magical!

rod.w.smith
An incredibly soulful and beautiful album. When I lived in Stockholm in the mid-1980's I became friends with Bebo and used to sit by him as he played piano in a hotel in the afternoons. I still have recordings of him I made during those sessions. They represent Bebo's 'lost years' but he has since resurfaced with all the romantic passion I remember. He is the greatest Cuban pianist I have ever heard.

Maria in Oregon
Thank you Bebo and Dieguito with all my heart

Kaveh, Washington DC
Fascinating music! I came across the CD when browsing world music in Tower Records. As I listened to a track of the CD I was glued to the listening station! What you hear on this CD runs like blood in your veins, and saturates you with love; and tears you can't stop.

Karina Porter new York
I have never listen to music so smooth and seductive, but very sad at the same time...as if you can feel the pain in which "El Cigala" sings. The entire album is wonderful. I'd recommend it to anyone, you'll love it!!!

kamel zennia, Washington d,c.
Brilliant, impressive music of the moors beautifully mixed with cuban. I saw it on tv, and it was hard to step away from the screen even for a second!

ilya
I agree with Ricardito in Toronto

E. McBride, Hollywood FL
I love the combination. I love the melody, the sounds, everything about this CD belong together.

hector rodriguez
Deep human feelings born from the soil and the water. One of the best . Music, muscicians and singer united as a single feeling.

Lina from Bulgaria
Bebo and Cigala-thank you for this incredible music which moved me to tears and touched my heart so deeply...I cannot stop listening to it, I am addicted to it...Thank you for offering me a small piece of Spain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joe Cummings In Phoenix, Arizona
A friend in Seville reccomended this album to me earlier this year. It's a fantastic album that has given me a new appreciation for flamenco and the musical legacy of pre-Castro Cuban jazz.

nina from serbia and montenegro
This music is very deep,when I listen it I feel the sadness and the joy of life at the same time.

Basar Munir, Istanbul
El Cigala and Valdes... They are not only musicians, but alsu "musicmen". Dreams come with their music and one flies around the feelings when listening. Magnificant!

karen England
Saw the wonderful final concert in London last night and am still in awe... So proud to have been given the opportunity to experience such talent and emotion. Otra... por favor

John J. Garces Washington DC
Bendito Dios!!! This whole CD makes me cry, it's just full of feelings and it reminds of a friend almost my uncle, Tadeo Perea (Ex manager of grupo Niche) gruop of salsa from Colombia. Tadeo intruduced to me Bebo Valdez and Cigala in the worst days of my life so I could get all my sadness out and I did and now I just think about those days every time I listen to this CD, which is great. JOHN JAIRO

Raluca - Romania
Can't imagine anyone just sitting and listening to this music without having the rightful impulse of dancing around and dreaming of beauty and love.

Alessandra - Italy
The only thing I can say is that my ears were captured and I passed 2 entire days listening over and over again to the cd. I find it natural and sophosticated at the same time, without loosing that Souther feel to it.

Naomi from Ireland
It's brillant,it so colourful, vibrant and fresh.

Ivan Montreal,Canada
Very sweet,worm and relaxing music

Bart in Amsterdam
Unbeleivably beautiful music! In dutch we have the word 'ingetogen' which means respectfully humble. This applies to this album. A true delight to watch and listen to

Raúl Eirín from Spain
It´s a wonderfull album, a bridge between tradition and modernity.

Nataliya Bulgaria
Passion and crave for love. That`s it.

Haruo Fukunaga
I'm a Japanese , 68 years old. I have been long a fan of Latin music. I enjoyed your music. I hope you will add more Latin music. Thank you.

Mergyul Tahir - Romenia
Very nice song, very beautiful voice. Diego, I'm gypsy girl from Bulgaria, but your stile is very close to my soul.I liked also Bebo's playing. In my opinion you are the perfect combination. Good Luck...

An African (again )in New York
Wonderful. It gave me goosebumps.

maria bowling lawndale,california
their music is in my heart and my soul. touches the deepest part of my being.

BEBO Y CIGALA FAN,WORLD
I think Bebo Valdes and Diego 'El Cigala' are both amazing and they have done a great job in 'Lagrimas Negras'.

Ricardito in Toronto
It grabs you by las cohones.