Search - Orquesta America, Orquesta Aragón :: Mano a Mano

An Interesting Juxtaposition

08/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Orquesta America of Enrique Jorrin introduced cha-cha-cha to the world. The new dance style was quickly embraced by the Cuban youth because it could be danced in front of the chaperons who accompanied the young ladies to the dances without raising those matrons' eyebrows. It was exercise not sensuality, a youthful style that made us enjoy a night out without guilt or lectures. A favorite step was "la suiza" in which the partners, separately but in rhythm, pretended to jump rope. This CD allows us to look back at early cha-cha-chás, like "La Enganadora" and "Silver Star" as well as "El Baile Suavito" and "Los Pescadores de Varadero." The words to most cha-cha-chas are funny (or maybe cute?). Both orchestras do justice to their material. My beef with this recording is another name change: "Separala Tambien" has been turned into "Separala Bien." "Separala tambien" was a phrase following "Esta que es fuerte fuerte" and as a whole means "This one who is heavy heavy should also be put aside." Something is lost when "also" becomes "well," doesn't it? Technically the recording is acceptable, although there are others which are better out there. However, both America and Aragon are the originals we heard in the 1950's. Highly recommended!"