Chico & Rita

The animated feature film Chico & Rita was released last year to rave reviews. Directed by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal and set in a sepia-tinted, jazz-loving Havana and New York, it tells the story of a young and ambitious piano player and a beautiful singer with a knockout voice – and all the soaring highs and tormented lows of their relationship. The endearing but simple animation meant the movie was ultimately carried by its soundtrack. Here it is, in all its 30-track glory. At its core are the talents of Cuban pianist, bandleader and composer Bebe Valdés and dulcet-toned Cuban singer Idania Valdés, currently fronting the Orquestra Buena Vista Social Club. A host of soloists interpret the style of the respective 1940s musicians portrayed in the film.

Renowned Philadelphia-born trumpeter and trombonist Mike Mossman plays Dizzy Gillespie, blasting away on the tracks ‘Persecución’ and ‘Vanguard Strings’. Grammy-nominated Buena Vista Amadito Valdés plays Tito Puente, hitting heavy-duty timbales on ‘Mambo Herd’. Yaroldi Abreu – an erstwhile member of Chucho ‘Son of Bebo’ Valdés’ band and the Jazz Messengers – plays the great percussionist Chano Pozo. Latin classics such as ‘Tin Tin Deo’ and ‘Paran Pan Pan’ nestle smoothly alongside leafs from the American songbook: ‘Chico's Dream’ features a montage of ‘Fascinating Rhythm‘, ‘On the Town’ and ‘As Time Goes By’, all beautifully delivered by the purpose-built Chico & Rita New York Band & Orchestra. Classy, timeless stuff.