Ibrahim Ferrer - 'Mi Sueno' (World Circuit) Released 26/03/07

In August 2005, three weeks before the final recordings of ‘Mi Sueno’ (meaning ‘My Dream’) were due to take place, the popular Afro-Cuban singer and musician Ibrahim Ferrer died aged 78. His last wish was that his dream album (an album dedicated to the bolero) be finished in his absence.  “If my days ended tomorrow I would leave very satisfied in having achieved my wish, the wish was that dream, to sing a bolero”. But completing the album wasn’t an easy task. Thankfully there were enough demo tapes and recordings available after his death to continue with the album, but the conclusion of his life’s work was thrown into confusion when these recordings were temporarily lost, thus postponing his final contribution to music and to his home country.

Now nearly two years on, the album he had so desperately wanted to make for so long has finally been released. Ferrer had been well known throughout the Cuban music scene as a rhythmic improviser in the son style of Cuban music, but was hardly a household name. Until 1996, when he was coaxed out of semi-retirement (he had been shining shoes to make ends meet) by Ry Cooder to appear on the hugely successful and influential ‘Buena Vista Social Club’ which included his vocals one of the albums highlights ‘Dos Gardenias’…a bolero. Not only did this work reignite a global interest in Cuban music, it also reinvigorated Ferrer’s career. He subsequently released a number of well received solo albums and collaborating with the Gorillaz. He would even receive a Latin Grammy in 2000 for Best New Artist aged 72. But Buena Vista Social Club was more than a way to overdue recognition.

Known as the “Cuban Nat King Cole”, Ferrer’s voice had previously been considered wrong to sing the bolero. But thanks to his new found fame, the way had now been cleared for him to approach one of his favourite genres in a very personal yet surprisingly contemporary way. The bolero is a type of dance or musical form of slow tempo originating in Spain in the late 18th century traditionally accompanied by guitar and castanets sung with lyrics of five to seven syllables in each of four lines per verse. Whilst the dance itself slowly evaporated from Cuban culture, the troubadour esque lyrics survived, reaching prominence during the 1950’s, to become one of the most popular musical traditions in Latin America. ‘Mi Sueno’, arranged by Roberto Fonseca was recorded in Havana and involved amongst others, Manuel Galban on guitar and Cachaito Lopez on bass.