Albums by this artist

Marc Ribot Y Los Cubanos Postizos (1998)

Marc Ribot

Marc Ribot Y Los Cubanos Postizos

---

» JAY DEFOORE | STAFF WRITER

Marc Ribot Marc Ribot Y Los Cubanos Postizos Atlantic, 1998 RiYL: Arto Lindsay, Elvis Costello, Medeski Martin & Wood

For a man who has punctuated some of the best Tom Waits and Elvis Costello records with his searing guitar work, it comes as a surprise that Marc Ribot could produce a solo record with the simple, restrained beauty of Y Los Cubanos Postizos (The Prosthetic Cubans). But then again, with an aritist of Ribot's talent, one would be a fool to underestimate him.

Accomplished at almost every style, Ribot has been in high demand as a session man, and has played with everyone from John Zorn to Arto Lindsay to Brother Jack McDuff. On his latest adventure, the New York guitarist has assembled a cast of stellar musicians to assist in honoring the Cuban jazz tradition of composer/guitarist Tres Player and band leader Arsenio Rodriguez.

After the pensive opener "Aurora En Pekin," "Aqui Como Alla" takes over with a slow funk strut reminiscent of early '70s Blue Note releases. Ribot's "Postizo" sports a repeating melody with enough penache to stand apart from the rest of the album. But what evokes the sound of Cuban palm trees and poverty is the dual percussion of EJ and Robert Rodriguez. Their attack on the skins brings an air of authenticity to this interpretation of the Cuban style.

As he declared on his excellent Rootless Cosmopolitans album, Ribot once again proves that his guitar can gently weep more than George Harrison's ever could. "No Me Llores Mas" cries a river of salty tears despite the pleadings of Ribot to the countrary. Shifting back and forth between guitar and trumpet, Ribot keeps the maudlin atmosphere intact without missing a note. After the ambling intro to "Fiesta En El Solar," one can almost see Ribot's blurred hands hard at work on the fretboard.

The band picks up the pace on the next two songs. Although John Medeski of the popular jazz trio Medeski Martin & Wood appears on several tracks, fellow organist Brad Jones has the most memorable moments with the instrument. His solo on "Los Teenagers Bailan Changui" swims in a muddy riverbed of funky rhythms.

The album has a convincingly Cuban feel, as Ribot imbues his take on the Cuban idiom with a sense of humor and fun. Forbidden rhythms never sounded so good.

JAY DEFOORE |