Cuban Dance Party

Cuban Dance Party is a 1959 album by Bebo Valdés and his orchestra. It is an entirely instrumental album, including big band renditions of chachachás, mambos, afros, etc. It was released in the United States by Everest Records in stereo, which makes the sound quality particularly good compared to other Cuban albums of the time.[2] It features Humberto Suárez, long-time pianist of the Orquesta Cosmopolita, on organ on two tracks.[3]

Cuban Dance Party
Studio album by
Bebo Valdés and his Orchestra
Released31 August 1959[1]
Recorded1959
GenreChachachá, mambo, afro, jazz, danzón, bolero
Length34:15
LabelEverest Records
Bebo Valdés and his Orchestra chronology
Los mejores músicos de Cuba
(1959)		 Cuban Dance Party
(1959)		 Todo ritmo
(1959)

Having directed radio and cabaret orchestras for two decades, this was one of the first albums recorded by Bebo with his own jazz-band, known as Orquesta Sabor de Cuba, which featured jazzmen such as saxophonists Edilberto Escrich and Santiago Peñalver.[4] Several of their recordings, including "Ítamo real" and "Sasauma", became hits at the time.[4] However, shortly after the end of the Cuban Revolution in 1960, Bebo left Cuba and went into a long hiatus which lasted until 1994. The album cover makes a reference to the revolution by showing Fidel Castro's patrol cap with a 26 de julio inscription.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The Billboard[5]

Cuban Dance Party has received generally positive reviews. A contemporary review published in The Billboard praised the sound of the album and its "liveness".[5] Mark Romano of AllMusic called the album "a peek back to a glorious golden era", highlighting the "great arrangements" and the "top form" of the orchestra.[2]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Babalú"Margarita Lecuona2:52
2."Chachachá no. 1"Bebo Valdés2:38
3."El cumbanchero"René Hernández2:38
4."Habana"Luis Yáñez2:46
5."A quién engañas"Bebo Valdés3:29
6."Ítamo real"Bebo Valdés2:35
7."El manisero"Moisés Simons2:38
8."Chachachá no. 3"Bebo Valdés3:10
9."La feria de los siglos"Rafael Márquez3:27
10."Aquellos ojos verdes"Nilo Menéndez3:04
11."Sasauma"Bebo Valdés2:19
12."Tú sabes que te quiero"Bebo Valdés2:25

References
  1. "New Releases". The Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 71 (35): 51. 31 August 1959.
  2. Romano, Mark. "Cuban Dance Party - Bebo Valdés | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  3. Díaz Ayala, Cristóbal (3 May 2018). "Bebó Valdés y su Orquesta" (PDF). Encyclopedic Discography of Cuban Music 1925-1960. Florida International University Libraries. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  4. Leymarie, Isabelle (2005). Jazz latino (in Spanish). Ediciones Robinbook. p. 69. ISBN 9788496222274.
  5. "Cuban Dance Party". The Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 71 (39): 33. 28 September 1959.
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