Waking Ear

Ibrahim Ferrer/"Bruca Manigua" -- The Girlfriend and I went to see the old guy last night. I hope I'm that spry and lively when I'm in my 70s. Ferrer shook his hips, stomped his feet and smiled so big you could see it in the cheap seats. By the end of the set, he had turned the stately Bass Hall into a dance party. And the best part: Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez, Cuba's legendary bassist, played the whole time.

I was thinking about that line in High Fidelity when Rob criticizes Ray/Ian for listening to "whatever world music was trendy at the time." And I have to admit that I jumped on the Buena Vista Social Club bandwagon along with everybody else. But I gotta give Ry Cooder credit -- he discovered something that the rest of the world needed to hear. It makes me suspect that there's other musical styles hiding on the fringes, in slums and countrysides, just waiting to be discovered.