“Buena Vista Social Club”, featuring Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben Gonzalez, Eliades Ochoa, Amará Portuondo, Compay Segundo, and produced by Ry Cooder, went on to win a Grammy and become the top-selling world music album of all time.
 
When the musicians who participated on the album appeared together on stage at New York’s Carnegie Hall on July 1st 1998, it was an event celebrating not only Ry Cooder's vision but the glory of Cuba's golden age of music.

Buena Vista Social Club was not a band in the traditional sense - many of these musicians had never played together before the sessions for the first album and some had never even met. When they took the stage for the only performances that this band would ever play together, however, they come together seamlessly. Part of the credit must go to Ry Cooder, who directs the band without stealing the spotlight, and also Compay Segundo, a charismatic frontman who pulls everyone together through the sheer force of his personality.
 
The recording of “At Carnegie Hall” is immaculate, the performance breathtaking. It's just a sheer pleasure to listen to so many talented musicians make beautiful and enchanting music. Highly recommended.


Buena Vista Social Club

At Carnegie Hall

Recorded in 1998, released in 2008

 
 2 CDs / 2008 / 320Kbps


At Carnegie Hall / Disc 1:

1. Chan Chan 

2. De Camino A La Vereda 

3. El Cuarto De Tula 

4. La Enganadora 

5. Buena Vista Social Club 

6. Dos Gardenias 

7. Quizas, Quizas 

8. Veinte Años


At Carnegie Hall / Disc 2: 

1. Orgullecida 

2. Y Tu Que Has Hecho ? 

3. Siboney 

4. Mandinga 

5. Almendra 

6. El Carretero 

7. Candela 

8. Silencio

Recorded live at Carnegie Hall, New York on July 1st, 1998


Produced by Ry Cooder


Buena Vista Social Club: 

Compay Segundo, Eliades Ochoa (vocals, guitar)

Ibrahim Ferrer, Amará Portuondo (vocals)

Rubén González (piano)

Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez (bass)

Manuel "El Guajiro" Mirabal (trumpet)

with

Ry Cooder, Benito Suárez Magana (guitar)

Octavio Calderón (trumpet)

Joachim Cooder (drums, percussion)

Angel Terri Domech (congas)

Roberto García (bongos, cowbells, guiro)

Alberto Valdés (maracas, background vocals)

Amadito Valdés (timbales)

Hugo Garzón, Manuel "Puntillita" Licea, Pío Leyva (vocals)