El Arte del Sabor

El Arte del Sabor (literally The Art of Flavor) is a jazz album by the Bebo Valdés Trio released in 2001 by Blue Note Records. It was recorded and mixed in New York's Current Sounds studios during March 2000. The album features Bebo Valdés on piano, Cachao on double bass, and Carlos "Patato" Valdés on congas. In addition, alto saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera appears as a guest artist in three tracks. The album won the 2002 Latin Grammy Award for Best Traditional Tropical Album as well as the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album.

El Arte del Sabor
Studio album by
Bebo Valdés Trio
ReleasedOctober 23, 2001
RecordedMarch 13–16, 2000
StudioCurrent Sounds studios, New York City
GenreAfro-Cuban jazz, bolero, conga, son cubano, guaracha, danzón
Length63:30
LabelBlue Note, Lola Records (Spain)
ProducerNat Chediak, Julio Martí (exec.)
Bebo Valdés Trio chronology
Recuerdos de la Habana
(2000)		 El Arte del Sabor
(2001)		 Lágrimas negras
(2003)

Background and recording

El Arte del Sabor is Bebo Valdés' third album in his "second career". After remaining mostly inactive since the 1960s, when he defected from Cuba and settled in Stockholm, Valdés experienced a career revival in 1994 with the recording of Bebo Rides Again, which was followed by Recuerdos de Habana, recorded between 1998 and 2000.[1][2][3] For this recording, Valdés worked with two of Cuba's most experienced musicians living in exile: double bassist Israel López, better known as Cachao, and conguero Carlos Valdés, better known as Patato. In addition, alto saxophone and clarinet player Paquito D'Rivera, who had collaborated with Valdés in Bebo Rides Again, played on three tracks as a "special guest".[4]

Like his previous albums, and even more so, this album presented a jazz approach to many Cuban classics from a variety of genres including bolero ("Bolero potpourrí", "Romance en La Habana"), son cubano ("Son de la loma", "El reloj de Pastora"), conga ("Conga potpourrí"), guaracha ("Pare cochero", " Guaracha potpourrí") and afro ("Ogguere").[4] All the tracks were recorded between March 13 and March 16, 2000 in Current Sounds studios in New York.[5] This was Valdés first collaboration with producer Nat Chediak, who would continue to work with Valdés for the rest of his career.[6]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
All About Jazzfavourable[4]

El Arte del Sabor has received generally positive reviews. Jazz critic Scott Yanow called the album "a gem", highlighting its "charming melodies, subtle interplay, and wonderful playing".[7] Jim Josselyn writing for All About Jazz described the album as "intellectual enough to satisfy musicians and accessible enough for casual listeners and dancers to enjoy" and praised the musicians as "masters of their instruments and Latin jazz".[4]

Awards

The album won the 2002 Latin Grammy Award for Best Traditional Tropical Album as well as the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards. It was the first of Valdés' three Grammys.[8]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Lamento cubano"Eliseo Grenet3:29
2."Son de la loma"Miguel Matamoros3:24
3."El marañón"Julio Cueva3:13
4."Bolero potpourrí: Se fue / Quizás, quizás, quizás / Aurora"Marcelino Guerra / Osvaldo Farrés / Manuel Corona3:09
5."Priquitín pin pon"Moisés Simons4:25
6."Negro de sociedad"Arturo Rodríguez-Ojea2:15
7."Buche y pluma na' ma'"Rafael Hernández3:59
8."El reloj de Pastora"Arsenio Rodríguez3:50
9."Conga potpourrí: Mírala qué linda viene / Las Bolleras (Adiós mamá) / Los Dandy / La Chambelona / Uno, dos y tres"anonymous / Gerardo Montes / anonymous / Rigoberto Leyva Matarana / Rafael Ortiz3:39
10."Ogguere"Gilberto Valdés6:44
11."Pare cochero"Marcelino Guerra2:14
12."Cumbanchero"Rafael Hernández4:30
13."Si llego a besarte"Luis Casas Romero3:39
14."Guaracha potpourrí: Virgen de Regla / Ay que me vengo cayendo / Para Camagüey se va Panchita / En Manzanillo se baila el son / A la Loma de Belén / Se acabó la choricera / Cabo de la guardia"Carlos Valdés / Antonio María Romeu / Antonio María Romeu / Emilio Barrero / Guillermo Castillo / Manuel Corona / Tata Alfonso3:32
15."Romance en La Habana"Ray Tico4:29
16."Route 66"Nelson Riddle5:02
17."Adiós Panamá / Para Vigo me voy"Ernesto Lecuona1:47

Personnel
Bebo Valdés Trio
  • Bebo Valdés - piano
  • Israel López "Cachao" - double bass
  • Carlos "Patato" Valdés - congas, percussion
Special guest
  • Paquito D'Rivera - alto saxophone, clarinet (tracks 5, 10, 15)
Production
  • Nat Chediak - producer
  • Julio Martí - executive producer
  • Catherine Miller - sound engineer, mixer
  • Todd Gerard - mastering engineer

References
  1. Yanow, Scott. "Bebo Rides Again". AllMusic. Rovi. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  2. "Recuerdos de Habana: A Portrait at 80". AllMusic. Rovi. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  3. "Recuerdos de Habana". Les Inrockuptibles (in French). 623–632: 65. 2007.
  4. Josselyn, Jim (November 1, 2001). "Bebo Valdés Trio: El Arte Del Sabor". All About Jazz. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  5. El Arte del Sabor liner notes. Blue Note Records. 2001.
  6. "Nat Chediak - Credits". AllMusic. Rovi. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  7. Yanow, Scott. "El Arte del Sabor". AllMusic. Rovi. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  8. "Past Winners - Bebo Valdés". Grammy.com. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
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