Jesus “Aguaje” Ramos and the Buena Vista Orchestra brought the magic of the Buena Vista music to El Paso and the Borderland as part of their world tour. The orchestra keeps on with the spirit of the original group, Buena Vista Social Club, a Afro-Cuban Guajira band from Havana, Cuba.
The evening was an elegant affair inside the historic Plaza Theatre nestled in the heart of downtown El Paso. People danced, swaying along with members of the band.
The orchestra, an SSK Music Presents Production, has risen to global acclaim for highlighting and bringing to stages across the globe the music of Buena Vista Social Club among other integral Latin-American artists.
They have featured an array of musicians from The Buena Vista Social Club, AfroCuban All Stars, the bands of Celia Cruz, Omara Portuondo, Chucho Valdés, Willie Colon among others.
The global rise and fame of Buena Vista Social Club and their music started with the Wim Wenders documentary on the group that portrayed how their self-titled monumental album came to be being recorded with musician and friend of Wenders’ Ry Cooder.
The film and album highlighted 20th century Cuban music that became celebrated and enjoyed almost instantly.
While the orchestra comprises of rotating members, this tour included Lorena Lazara Ramos Diaz, Geidy Chapman, Yuri Tejada Rodriguez, Amaury Tamayo, Andy Abad Acosta, Fabian Garcia, Antonio Rubio Borayo, Luis “Betun” Mariano Valiente Marin, and Maikel Ochao.
Photos and text by Antonio Villaseñor-Baca.