Septeto Nacional, now in its third generation, is one of Cuba’soldest musical institutions and one of the country’s top groups. Tomark the 70th anniversary of this legendary group, Network has come upwith a birthday present: recordings of highly distinguished guestartists, each of whom represents an important chapter in Cuban musicalhistory.

The stars of the Cuban music scene are in great demandthese days, so it took quite a while to get this project off the ground– but the resulting line-up is nothing short of sensational. Themusicians of Septeto Nacional are joined by Tata Güines, probably thecountry’s best conga player, with the legendary Gonzales Rubalcaba onpiano, the virtuoso Pancho Amat on tres (the Caribbean "little sister"of the guitar), and the smokey voice of Pío Leyva, the benchmark ofAfrican-influenced Son Montuno for the past fifty years.

Twofemale vocalists, Bertha Portuondo and Caridad Cuervo also join thecrème de la crème of Cuban music, including a new version of the hymn"Arrolla Cubano". Once we had finished recording, Tata Güines and PíoLeyva (whose ages add up to more than 150) enthused that "thisimpassioned homage to the great history of Septeto Nacional has beenlike a fountain of youth for us – undoubtedly an absolute high point inour musical lives."

The repertoire focuses on Son, the hallmarkof Creole culture and the very soul of Caribbean music. Son in itspurest form, taking off at a tangent into Salsa and then back again toSon. The result is "resonating rum, imbibed through the ears".

The lavishly illustrated booklet also includes recipes for Cuba libre, daiquiri and mojito from some of Havana’s best barmen.

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