''Chanchullo'' (; literally: "scam", "racket", "hustle") is a studio album by Cuban pianist Rubén González. It was recorded over the course of three years under the direction of trombonist Jesús "Aguaje" Ramos, and released on September 19, 2000, through World Circuit.
The album was nominated for the Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards on February 27, 2002. It also received a nomination for Tropical/Salsa Album of the Year by a Male Artist at the 2001
Billboard Latin Music Awards
The ''Billboard'' Latin Music Awards grew out of the ''Billboard'' Music Awards program from ''Billboard'' magazine, an industry publication charting the sales and radio airplay success of musical recordings. The ''Billboard'' awards are the La ...
.
Recording
The album showcases the styles of Cuban ballroom music that González cultivated for three decades as a member of
Enrique Jorrín
Enrique Jorrín ( Candelaria, Pinar del Río, December 25, 1926 - Havana, December 12, 1987) was a Cuban charanga violinist, composer and music director. He is considered the inventor of the '' cha-cha-chá'', a popular style of ballroom music de ...
's orchestra, primarily
danzón
Danzón is the official musical genre and dance of Cuba.Urfé, Odilio 1965. ''El danzón''. La Habana. It is also an active musical form in Mexico and Puerto Rico.
Written in time, the danzón is a slow, formal partner dance, requiring se ...
Chanchullo
"Chanchullo" (; literally: "scam", "racket", "hustle") is a danzón-mambo composed by Cuban bassist Israel "Cachao" López. It was first released as a single in 1957 by Arcaño y sus Maravillas. It was the third single released on Cuban independe ...
", is a
danzón-mambo
The danzón-mambo (also known as ''danzón de nuevo ritmo'') is a subgenre of Cuban dance music that marked the transition from the classical danzόn to the mambo and the cha-cha-chá. It was also in the context of the danzón-mambo that the Cub ...
written by
Israel "Cachao" López
Israel López Valdés (September 14, 1918 – March 22, 2008), better known as Cachao ( ), was a Cuban double bassist and composer. Cachao is widely known as the co-creator of the mambo and a master of the descarga (improvised jam sessions). T ...
in the 1950s. González's recording is in the form of a
descarga
A descarga (literally ''discharge'' in Spanish) is an improvised jam session consisting of variations on Cuban music themes, primarily son montuno, but also guajira, bolero, guaracha and rumba. The genre is strongly influenced by jazz and it wa ...
, an improvised jam session.Fordham, John (2000). Sleeve notes from ''Chanchullo'' – Rubén González, World Circuit Records WCD 060, 2000. Other descargas in the album are "La lluvia", recorded by the band when the studio roof was leaking and a downpour of tropical rain meant that there were only minutes remaining before the studio had to be abandoned, and "Pa' gozar", composed by
Tata Güines
Federico Arístides Soto Alejo (June 30, 1930 – February 4, 2008), better known as Tata Güines, was a Cuban percussionist, bandleader and arranger. He was widely regarded as a master of the conga drum, and alongside Carlos "Patato" Valdés, inf ...
and first recorded by Pedro "Peruchín" Jústiz. The other ballroom numbers in the album are the danzones "Central Constancia" and "Isora Club", and the classic cha-cha-chás "El bodeguero" and "Rico vacilón", all of which are standards of the Afro-Cuban repertoire. The recording of "Central Constancia", a composition by Enrique Jorrín, features one of the last appearances of violinist Lázaro Ordóñez Enríquez. On the other hand, "Isora Club", written by Coralia López (Cachao's sister), features solos from Jesús "Aguaje" Ramos (trombone),
Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal
Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal (born 5 May 1933) is a Cuban trumpeter, best known for his work with the Buena Vista Social Club.Orlando "Cachaito" López (bass). American guitarist Ry Cooder, along with his son
Joachim Cooder
Joachim Herbert Cooder (born August 23, 1978) is a drummer, percussionist, composer, and keyboardist best known for his collaborations with his father, Ry Cooder.
Early life
Cooder began to play drums at the age of 5, inspired by Jim Keltner. C ...
, are featured on
tres
Tres may refer to:
* Tres (instrument), a Cuban musical instrument
* Tres, Trentino, municipality in Italy
* "Tres" (song) by Juanes
* "Tres", a song by Líbido from their album ''Hembra''
* TrES, the ''Trans-Atlantic Exoplanet Survey''
* Templi ...
and drums, respectively, on "Rico vacilón".
The album also includes two slow instrumental tracks, the boleros "Si te contara" and " Quizás, quizás, quizás", the latter of which features a solo by
Eliades Ochoa
Eliades Ochoa Bustamante (born 22 June 1946) is a Cuban guitarist and singer from Loma de la Avispa, Songo La Maya in the east of the country near Santiago de Cuba.
He began playing the guitar when he was six and in 1978 he was invited to joi ...
son
A son is a male offspring; a boy or a man in relation to his parents. The female counterpart is a daughter. From a biological perspective, a son constitutes a first degree relative.
Social issues
In pre-industrial societies and some current c ...
"Choco's guajira" (written by trumpeter
Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros
Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros (4 April 1928 – 6 January 2016) was a Cuban trumpeter. He played with artists such as Arsenio Rodríguez, Generoso Jiménez, Chico O'Farrill, Orchestra Harlow, Eddie Palmieri, Cachao and Sonora Matancera. Due to ...
)
Papi Oviedo
Gilberto Oviedo la Portilla (9 February 1938 – 31 October 2017),''Papi Oviedo'' Article at EcuRed website. Retr ...
leads on tres, trumpet accompaniment is provided by Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal, and
Ibrahim Ferrer
Ibrahim Ferrer (February 20, 1927 – August 6, 2005) was a Cuban singer who played with Los Bocucos for nearly forty years. He also performed with Conjunto Sorpresa, Chepín y su Orquesta Oriental and Mario Patterson. After his retirement in ...
is joined by
Cheikh Lô
Cheikh N'Digel Lô (born 12 September 1955) is a Senegalese musician.
Early life
He was born to Senegalese parents in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, and began playing drums and singing at an early age.
Career
In 1976, he joined Orchestre Volta J ...
on vocals. The son "De una manera espantosa" was one of the first songs González played with
Arsenio Rodríguez
Arsenio Rodríguez (born Ignacio Arsenio Travieso Scull; 31 August 1911 – 30 December 1970)Giro, Radamés 2007. ''Diccionario enciclopédico de la música en Cuba''. La Habana, v. 4 p. 45 et seq. was a Cuban musician, composer and bandleader ...
's ''
conjunto
The term ''conjunto'' (, literally 'group', 'ensemble') refers to several types of small musical ensembles present in different Latin American musical traditions, mainly in Mexico and Cuba. While Mexican conjuntos play styles such as '' norteño' ...
'' in the early-to-mid 1940s.Sleeve notes from ''Arsenio Rodríguez, El Alma de Cuba – Grabaciones Completas''. RCA Vitcor CD2 1940–1946, Tumbao Cuban Classics TCD 316, 2007. González was hired as the band's pianist shortly after arriving in Havana and thereafter referred to Rodríguez as his single most important musical influence. His cover of Rodríguez's son has been described as "much more faithful to the original" when compared to the popular 1970s salsa renditions of Arsenio's songs.
Critical reception
Reviewing the album for '' Billboard'', Michael Paoletta wrote: "Cuban pianist Rubén González is one of the most fluent and musically gifted players ever to take a seat at the 88s. Listen to González (…) and reflect on the hands and heart of this 80-year-old maestro. (…) He hadn't been active for over a decade when
Juan de Marcos González
Juan de Marcos González (born Juan de Marcos González-Cárdenas; January 29, 1954) is a Cuban bandleader, musician and actor, best known for his work with the Buena Vista Social Club and in the 2021 Sony Pictures Animation film '' Vivo'' as the ...
A Toda Cuba le Gusta
''A Toda Cuba le Gusta'' is the first studio album by the Afro-Cuban All Stars, produced by Cuban bandleader and musician Juan de Marcos González and Nick Gold, and released on April 9, 1997 on World Circuit Records.
This album was the first ...
''. A rejuvenated Rubén has since released several albums. ''Chanchullo'' is a rewarding mix of Cuban styles, from ''son montuno'' to ''danzón'', ''cha-cha-cha'' and ''descarga''."
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
reviewer Stacia Proefrock commented: "González is an extremely fluid player and his sometimes complex improvisations seem to constantly come off without a hitch, which is amazing considering that he is in his eighties. The songs range from sweet and light to more passionate and forceful, but throughout, González's unique sense of joy shines through. This album also features a brief appearance from vocalist Ibrahim Ferrer, who gained fame with González through his work with the
Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club is an ensemble of Cuban musicians established in 1996. The project was organized by World Circuit executive Nick Gold, produced by American guitarist Ry Cooder and directed by Juan de Marcos González. They named the gr ...
. That project has spawned a number of albums which, surprisingly, have nearly all been quality productions. This recording is certainly not the exception to the rule."
In his review for ''
fRoots
''fRoots'' (pronounced "eff-Roots", originally ''Folk Roots'') was a specialist music magazine published in the UK between 1979 and 2019. It specialised in folk and world music, and featured regular compilation downloadable albums, with occa ...
'' magazine, Michael Stone stated: "With his second World Circuit release, septuagenarian pianist Rubén González further reveals a virtuoso blend of traditional Cuban ''danzón'', ''bolero'', ''cha-cha-cha'' and ''son'' with classical influences. (…) The saga of González's renaissance with the Afro-Cuban All Stars and Buena Vista Social Club projects is already the stuff of legend, and ''Chanchullos vitality confirms his resonance with the steadfast spirit of Cuban popular music. (…) Would that González had developed his ideas more thoroughly, if only for their exquisiteness (…) But one hesitates to ask more of an album whose stately conception, relaxed take on tradition and effortless virtuosity confirm an enduring talent. Cuban vintage comes no better than this."
In 2009, it was awarded a gold certification from the
Independent Music Companies Association
The Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA), originally the Independent Music Publishers and Labels Association, is a non-profit trade association established in 2000 to help European independent record labels represent their agenda a ...
which indicated sales of at least 100,000 copies throughout Europe.
Track listing
The following track listing is documented in the sleeve notes:
# "
Chanchullo
"Chanchullo" (; literally: "scam", "racket", "hustle") is a danzón-mambo composed by Cuban bassist Israel "Cachao" López. It was first released as a single in 1957 by Arcaño y sus Maravillas. It was the third single released on Cuban independe ...
" (
Israel "Cachao" López
Israel López Valdés (September 14, 1918 – March 22, 2008), better known as Cachao ( ), was a Cuban double bassist and composer. Cachao is widely known as the co-creator of the mambo and a master of the descarga (improvised jam sessions). T ...
) – 5:08
# "De una manera espantosa" (
Arsenio Rodríguez
Arsenio Rodríguez (born Ignacio Arsenio Travieso Scull; 31 August 1911 – 30 December 1970)Giro, Radamés 2007. ''Diccionario enciclopédico de la música en Cuba''. La Habana, v. 4 p. 45 et seq. was a Cuban musician, composer and bandleader ...
) – 4:19
# "La lluvia" (
Miguel "Angá" Díaz
Miguel Aurelio "Angá" Díaz Zayas (June 15, 1961 – August 9, 2006) was a Cuban percussionist. He was a well-known ''conguero'' who also played the cajón, güiro and timbales.
Life and career
Miguel Aurelio Díaz Zayas was born in San Juan y ...
Orlando "Cachaíto" López
Candelario Orlando López Vergara (February 2, 1933 – February 9, 2009), better known as Cachaíto, was a Cuban bassist and composer, who gained international fame after his involvement in the Buena Vista Social Club recordings. He was nick ...
,
Amadito Valdés
Amadito Valdés (born February 14, 1946) is a Cuban timbalero, best known for his work with Cuarteto Las d'Aida and Buena Vista Social Club.
Career
Valdés was born in Havana in 1946. Early on, he studied music with his father, Amadito Valdés ...
) – 5:14
# "Central Constancia" (
Enrique Jorrín
Enrique Jorrín ( Candelaria, Pinar del Río, December 25, 1926 - Havana, December 12, 1987) was a Cuban charanga violinist, composer and music director. He is considered the inventor of the '' cha-cha-chá'', a popular style of ballroom music de ...
Osvaldo Farrés
Osvaldo Farrés (; January 13, 1903 – December 22, 1985) was a Cuban songwriter and composer best known for having written the songs "", "", "", and "".
Early life
Farrés was born in 1903 in the small city of Quemado de Güines, Las Vi ...
) – 2:25
# "Choco's Guajira" (
Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros
Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros (4 April 1928 – 6 January 2016) was a Cuban trumpeter. He played with artists such as Arsenio Rodríguez, Generoso Jiménez, Chico O'Farrill, Orchestra Harlow, Eddie Palmieri, Cachao and Sonora Matancera. Due to ...
) – 6:46
# "Si te contara" ( Félix Reina) – 1:27
# "El bodeguero" (
Richard Egües Richard Egües, nicknamed "la flauta mágica" (the magic flute), (October 26, 1923 - September 1, 2006) was a Cuban flautist and musician, one of the country's most famous artists. Egües was a member of the Orquesta Aragón band which he joined i ...
The following personnel is documented in the sleeve notes:
Musicians
*Rubén González – piano
*
Orlando "Cachaíto" López
Candelario Orlando López Vergara (February 2, 1933 – February 9, 2009), better known as Cachaíto, was a Cuban bassist and composer, who gained international fame after his involvement in the Buena Vista Social Club recordings. He was nick ...
– bass
*
Amadito Valdés
Amadito Valdés (born February 14, 1946) is a Cuban timbalero, best known for his work with Cuarteto Las d'Aida and Buena Vista Social Club.
Career
Valdés was born in Havana in 1946. Early on, he studied music with his father, Amadito Valdés ...
–
timbales
Timbales () or pailas are shallow single-headed drums with metal casing. They are shallower than single-headed tom-toms and usually tuned much higher, especially for their size.Orovio, Helio 1981. ''Diccionario de la música cubana: biográfico ...
*
Miguel "Angá" Díaz
Miguel Aurelio "Angá" Díaz Zayas (June 15, 1961 – August 9, 2006) was a Cuban percussionist. He was a well-known ''conguero'' who also played the cajón, güiro and timbales.
Life and career
Miguel Aurelio Díaz Zayas was born in San Juan y ...
– congas
*Ángel Terry Domech – congas
*Roberto García –
bongos
Bongos ( es, bongó) are an Afro-Cuban percussion instrument consisting of a pair of small open bottomed hand drums of different sizes. They are struck with both hands, most commonly in an eight-stroke pattern called ''martillo'' (hammer). The ...
maracas
A maraca (), sometimes called shaker or chac-chac, is a rattle which appears in many genres of Caribbean and Latin music. It is shaken by a handle and usually played as part of a pair.
Maracas (from Guaraní ), also known as tamaracas, were ...
claves
Claves (; ) are a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of short, wooden sticks about 20–25 centimeters (8–10 inches) long and about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) in diameter. Although traditionally made of wood (typically rosewood, ebony o ...
*
Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal
Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal (born 5 May 1933) is a Cuban trumpeter, best known for his work with the Buena Vista Social Club.Jesús "Aguaje" Ramos – trombone
*
Richard Egües Richard Egües, nicknamed "la flauta mágica" (the magic flute), (October 26, 1923 - September 1, 2006) was a Cuban flautist and musician, one of the country's most famous artists. Egües was a member of the Orquesta Aragón band which he joined i ...
Eliades Ochoa
Eliades Ochoa Bustamante (born 22 June 1946) is a Cuban guitarist and singer from Loma de la Avispa, Songo La Maya in the east of the country near Santiago de Cuba.
He began playing the guitar when he was six and in 1978 he was invited to joi ...
– guitar
*
Papi Oviedo
Gilberto Oviedo la Portilla (9 February 1938 – 31 October 2017),''Papi Oviedo'' Article at EcuRed website. Retr ...
–
tres
Tres may refer to:
* Tres (instrument), a Cuban musical instrument
* Tres, Trentino, municipality in Italy
* "Tres" (song) by Juanes
* "Tres", a song by Líbido from their album ''Hembra''
* TrES, the ''Trans-Atlantic Exoplanet Survey''
* Templi ...
Joachim Cooder
Joachim Herbert Cooder (born August 23, 1978) is a drummer, percussionist, composer, and keyboardist best known for his collaborations with his father, Ry Cooder.
Early life
Cooder began to play drums at the age of 5, inspired by Jim Keltner. C ...
– drums
Singers
*
Ibrahim Ferrer
Ibrahim Ferrer (February 20, 1927 – August 6, 2005) was a Cuban singer who played with Los Bocucos for nearly forty years. He also performed with Conjunto Sorpresa, Chepín y su Orquesta Oriental and Mario Patterson. After his retirement in ...
– vocals (2, 6 & chorus)
*
Cheikh Lô
Cheikh N'Digel Lô (born 12 September 1955) is a Senegalese musician.
Early life
He was born to Senegalese parents in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, and began playing drums and singing at an early age.
Career
In 1976, he joined Orchestre Volta J ...