The revered Cuban ensemble entertained a sellout crowd with top-notch musicianship and dance-inspiring songs. Check out the Local Spins recap and photo gallery.
The Sounds of Cuba: Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club on stage at Meijer Gardens on Thursday. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Of Cuban descent, Holland singer and musician Diego Morales – frontman for The Soul Syndicate – grew up listening to “a lot of music in Spanish and English.” He cheerfully attended the Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club’s concert at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and filed this report for Local Spins.
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What can be said about classic Cuban music?
Diego Morales
It is far more than melody and rhythm, it is a sentiment, an emotion that is conveyed through expert craftsmanship and polyrhythms that would move the most stationary of individuals.
Pure magic took place at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park on Thursday, with a sold-out amphitheater of 1,900 and a moon peeking through clouds reminiscent of a velvet painting.
It was a beautiful night in Grand Rapids for any outdoor event, but absolutely perfect for the steamy hot sounds of Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, with West Michigan’s own Villalobos opening the show.
As the intoxicating sounds filled the air, individuals rose from their chairs to dance and sway, many singing along and many more getting lost in a beautiful sound long subdued by political ideologies, but not on this night.
Another Sellout: The crowd at Meijer Gardens. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
This night found the young and old, Latino, Anglo and more feeling one vibe, being one people, lost in music from the land that time may have forgotten. On Thursday night, Cuba came to Grand Rapids and it became an even that brought out appreciation in droves.
Although it was billed as the band’s “Adios Tour,” the sentiment invoked will long be remembered.
The highlight of the evening may have been when 84-year-old singer and dancer Omara Portuondo took the stage, demonstrating with great reverence that when you’ve got it you’ve got it. So, when she launched into “Summertime,” the crowd joined her.
Of course, the capstone that the crowd was anticipating was the song, “Chan Chan,” the Compay Segundo tune that’s the signature track from the “Buena Vista Social Club” project of the 1990s, and it stood as the anthem of the evening.
Buena Vista Social Club came to Meijer Gardens and conquered – and the group’s contribution to the summer concert series will not be soon forgotten. – By Diego Morales
PHOTO GALLERY: Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, Villalobos
Photos by Anthony Norkus
