People danced! Though the roots of the music take that for granted, ¡Cubanismo!’s recent visit to Chicago thankfully found a venue that welcomed and encouraged a full floor of couples and gyrating loners to feel the rhythms moving through their bodies. Cuban musicians from storied groups, such as Orquesta Aragón and Irakere, have appropriately been hosted at the Chicago Theatre or the Symphony Center, and though such swank venues seem appropriate for the acts’ distinguished profile, these auditoriums tend to quell dancing unless someone ventures to crowd the aisles with a partner. But the Park West made for comfortable digs for those sipping at cocktails and venturing out onto the floor.


Locals Casolando already had the audience warmed up with flamenco-styled guitar flourish. But the four-piece opener was quickly overshadowed by 13-piece ¡Cubanismo! and a full percussion array pattering dance beats over standout trés and keys. Throughout the show, the group stayed close to traditional mambo and rumba, unfortunately putting aside the interesting experimentation on a recent best-of Rykodisc (¡Mucho Gusto!) that features Cubanoid covers of the Marley/Tosh tune “Get up, Stand Up” and Marley’s “Could You Be Loved.” The crowd called for “Descaraga de Hoy” as encore, but ¡Cubanismo! chose a new composition instead that nonetheless kept the dance going. Reportedly, members of Casolando stuck around afterwards for a jam session with members of the Cuban touring group that kept them up after kerfew for late-night descarga.
April 2002, Illinois Entertainer

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