One of the most remarkable live performance to grace Australian stages will start in Melbourne today and then head around Australia. The Bar at Buena Vista is now open for business at Hamer Hall in the Melbourne Arts Centre.
The Bar at Buena Vista is the story of the Buena Vista Social Club as told by the original bartender and featuring members of the Buena Vista Social Club, Afro-Cuban All-stars and Viega Trova Santiagera.93-year old Reynaldo Creagh, the man who started the flame that became Buena Vista Social Club is in this show. So too are 85-year old Maestro Rubalacaba, who played in many of the Buena Vista Social Club shows and 81-year old Papi Ovideo from Afro-Cuban All Stars.
The beautiful Rayma Perez Reyes and dance legend Eric Turro Martinez motivate the audience to the sounds of Cuba’s best music.
It is billed as Cuba’s Grandfather’s of Music.
The Buena Vista Social Club started in Havana in the 1940s. It was the place for local musicians to meet and play together.
Ry Cooder discovered the sounds for the Western World and created an album featuring the songs and the artists in the mid 90s. The German director Wim Wendes documented the Buena Vista Social Club on film.
Australian dates for The Bar at Buena Vista are:
May 1 and 2, Melbourne, Arts Centre
May 8 and 9, Sydney, State Theatre
May 12, Newcastle, Civic Theatre
May 15 and 16, Canberra, Canberra Theatre
May 19 for 2 weeks, Perth, Regal Theatre
Now, just to get you in the mood here is the original recipe for the drink The Buena Vista:
THE BUENA VISTA
Mix sugar and lemon juice, add sparkling water and ice, four measures of three year old Havana Club Rum and lashings of Tabasco.?Stand well back!
Watch the video, Undercover at The Bar at Buena Vista
Watch the Undercover Wim Wendes interview
