Havana, music take starring roles in film

"The Buena Vista Social Club"

Directed by: Wim Wenders

Starring: Ry Cooder, The Buena Vista Social Club

Rated: G

When it comes to music, I've always been open-minded. I grew up during the British Invasion era of rock 'n' roll, but embraced the punk and new wave movement and have continued to enjoy subsequent trends such as grunge, or what is now included in the blanket term "alternative."

Outside of blatantly commercial drivel (e.g. Kenny G, Michael Bolton, etc.) I like a lot of different styles.

It's always a kick to see a group of Young Turks, just out of high school, who began playing their instruments a mere two or three years ago, get a record deal and a big hit. More power to them.

On the other hand, there is something eminently satisfying about listening to an elder statesman do his thing. From Ray Charles to George Jones to John Lee Hooker, people who've been working at music for decades have a certain soul in their performance that comes only with age.

This soul has rarely been more evident than it is in "The Buena Vista Social Club," Wim Wenders' documentary about a group of Cuban musicians of the same name.

Mostly in their 60s and 70s guitarist/singer Compay Segundo is 92 these folks are legends of a Cuban musical style known as "son." American guitarist and ethno-musicologist Ry Cooder and record producer Nick Gold went to Cuba to seek out these masters (singer Ibrahim Ferrer was shining shoes when they found him) and came up with the 1997 Grammy-winning album, "The Buena Vista Social Club."

The name comes from a long-gone Havana night spot where many of these legends plied their trade in the pre-Castro days. Most have been long out of the business.

Cooder has scored a number of films, including Wender's "Paris, Texas," so the legendary German director decided to lend a hand in this monumental undertaking.

As much as I love the story, the music and Wenders as a director, the resulting film could have been a lot more satisfying. Wenders never gives us an entire musical performance, and some of the camera work is as jittery as anything I've seen since "The Blair Witch Project."

That criticism aside, anyone who is interested in music in general and the heritage of 20th century music in particular should not miss this film.

The story opens on the streets of Havana, where Wenders interviews people about their memories of the club. Everyone has a story about where it was, who was there and the good times had. We then move on, one by one, to the musicians who have been reunited and get brief snippets of rehearsals and performances, intercut with bios of those involved.

Besides Ferrer and Segundo, there's 80-year-old Ruben Gonzalez, an amazing pianist despite the fact that he suffers greatly with arthritis. The only woman in the group is singer Omara Portuondo, known as the Cuban Edith Piaf, who does a number of somewhat bawdy duets with the other vocalists. Laud player Barbarito Torres is the undisputed master of an instrument that is something of a cross between a 12-string guitar and a mandolin. He's the musician that Cooder heard on record in the 1970s that inspired him to do this project.

As much as any of the musicians, the city of Havana itself plays a major role in the film and in the music. The streets seem to be one enormous jam session, and as the musicians talk about their history, it becomes clear that Havana is in their blood.

The album sold extraordinarily well worldwide, and that's no surprise. The music is seductive and subtle. Besides the acoustic stringed instruments and Gonzalez's phenomenal piano, there are horns and a great number of percussion instruments. The rhythms of son music are complex and completely infectious. You can't help coming under its spell after a few bars.

The film concludes by following the members around New York City. For many, it's their first trip to the United States and most are in awe of, and in love with, the wonders of Manhattan.

One hopes that with the DVD format that allows so much information to be put on a single disc, the home release of "The Buena Vista Social Club" will feature some uninterrupted concert footage.

The group is captured both in Amsterdam and at Carnegie Hall, and it would be great to see at least a couple of entire pieces.

(Jim Wunderle works at Associated Video Producers and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.)