Floridita is a chain of Cuban bar/restaurants renowned for their music policy. There are branches as far a field as Berlin, Moscow, Madrid, Dublin and Havana but it will probably be best known to you as the once cigar-smoke filled Soho hang out. The Cradle of Son serves as a taster of the musical talent that has appeared at the venue and that is set to perform there over the coming months.

My one to watch is Maria Ochoa — the first lady of Cuban country music, or so we are told. Her repertoire is a mixture of country classics and those hidden gems passed down from generation to generation of workers on the country’s sugar cane refineries. She pops up several times on the album and deservedly so.

Another highlight is Septeto Contemporario’s take on ‘Por Tu Corazón de Marcha’ — a youthful and contemporary take on a well-worn classic. While ‘Ven Pá Que Baila Mi Changüi’ leaves a lot to be desired vocally its mix of son and changüi is particularly infectious.

Outfits like the Buena Vista Social Club have set a high bar for Cuban music, one which Cradle of Son doesn’t quite reach. The choice of music is a good one but it suffers from ropey production and lacks that little bit of extra passion. These are all musicians that one assumes would enchant their audiences when performing live but here they fail to shine.

Track listing;
1. La Bella Cubana — Los Guanches
2. Restos De Una Vida — Septeto Contemporaneo
3. La Botja — Roxana
4. Pobre Mi Ser — Moneda Nacional
5. Paisaje Cubano — Ochoa, Maria
6. Nengon — Morena Son
7. Malia — La Botija
8. Guarapo/Pimienta Y Sal — Ochoa, Maria
9. Pon Tu Corazon De Marcha — Septeto Contemporaneo
10. Dale Tumba — Moneda Nacional
11. Yo Domino — Los Guanches
12. Ven Pa Que Baila Mi Changui — Sones De Oriente
13. El Dulcerito — Morena Son
14. Floridita — Sones De Oriente