Chanchullo

1	Chanchullo Descarga 5:12
2	De Una Manera Espantosa Son Montuńo 4:18
3	La Lluvia Descarga 5:18
4	Central Constancia 5:57
5	Quizas, Quizas, Quizas Bolero Cha 2:29
6	Choco's Guajira Son Guajira 6:52
7	Si Te Contara Bolero 1:28
8	El Bodeguero Cha-Cha-Cha 5:12
9	Isora Club Danzon 5:36
10	Rico Vacilon Cha-Cha-Cha 4:12
11	Pa' Gozar Descarga 4:30

Barnes & Noble

Buena Vista Social Club pianist Rubén González not only recorded one of the most delayed debuts of all time -- he was 77 when Introducing...Rubén González hit stores -- but at age 82, he's surely one of the oldest performers to vanquish the music biz's famous sophomore slump. Chanchullo, recorded with González's touring band plus a number of BVSC alumni and Cuban all-stars such as vocalist Ibrahim Ferrer, tresero Papi Oviedo, and flutist Richard Egües, is remarkably loose and assured, considering the somewhat staid demeanor evinced on Introducing.... Whereas the latter paid homage to jazz and elegant ballroom styles of '40s Havana, Chanchullo is a look back at the young González who backed up Cuba's blind genius Arsenio Rodriguez on hard-charging, sexy son and mambo. With a broad, elegiac tone that recalls McCoy Tyner, González is a stylistic virtuoso, deploying his encyclopedic technique without any professorial baggage. Indeed, his mastery of both classical music and more refined Cuban rhythms such as the danzón is what attracted the pianist's biggest fan Ry Cooder in the first place. The title track incorporates bits of Cuban classics like "El Manisero" alongside snatches of the classical repertoire, but González tosses off these asides with sophisticated nonchalance. Another standout is the vigorous posse cut "Choco's Guajira," which features Ferrer, Sengelese star Cheikh Lo, and Cooder, and conveys González's gutsy approach to the ivories. This swinging second outing not only tops his debut, it's easily the most accessible and enjoyable solo album in the growing Buena Vista catalogue. Mark Schwartz

All Music Guide

While perhaps a little bit more rambling and less focused than his American solo debut Introducing Ruben Gonzalez, this album nonetheless presents some lush piano arrangements supported by mellow Cuban percussion. Gonzalez is an extremely fluid player and his sometimes complex improvisations seem to constantly come off without a hitch, which is amazing considering that he is in his eighties. The songs range from sweet and light to more passionate and forceful, but throughout, Gonzalez's unique sense of joy shines through. This album also features a brief appearance from vocalist Ibrahim Ferrer, who gained fame with Gonzalez through his work with the Buena Vista Social Club. That project has spawned a number of albums which, surprisingly, have nearly all been quality productions. This recording is certainly not the exception to the rule. ~ Stacia Proefrock, All Music Guide