La Belle Angelle, Edinburgh
11 / 10 / 2024
From the heart of Cuba to the intimate stage at the La Belle Angelle in Edinburgh city, Sambroso All Stars brought us an evening of live Cuban Latin Buena Vista magic. This 7 piece, London-based band are Cuban playing musical legends, and have been gracing our stages for many moons now. Oreste Noda, one of the founder members, born in Matanzas, was Originally a trombone player, but soon discovered his love for the congas and began initiating his unique talents and abilities on the social Cuban Latino music circuit, including the world famous Buena Vista Social Clubs. The amazing depth of his playing didn’t go unnoticed, and Oreste was soon involved with an array of Cuban and London-based musicians. Touring for many, many years had certainly educated, influenced and directed Oreste Noda to what was to become the birth of Sambroso All Stars.
Fiesta! Fiesta! Cuban Tropical Latino love is in the house. As the La Belle filled up, the floor space was becoming like sardines squeezed into a tin. Many a years I have spent in this venue, & I haven’t recalled many nights that have encouraged such enthusiasm for the love of Latino music. The audience, the vibe, the energy and the deep warmth around the venue was felt the very second Sambroso took to the stage. Congas, piano, smooth as silk vocals, trumpet, bass and bongos created a flava flavour of tropical-ness that propelled you to the back street cafes of Havana.
Sambroso’s near 2-hour “Buena Vista” set delivered a mesmerizing and memorable uplifting collective of well known Cuban greats like Night in Havana, Sandunga, and Dulce Habanera; all turning the dance floor into a fusion of salsa and rumba shakers. Delight and joy was present in each member of the band which in turn was exuberated through their music and fed into the audience, like air feeding a fire. Little Havana came to town and like any good Cuban cigar left a delicious after taste of pure excellence and class for all to cherish for a long time to come.
Raymond Speedie
themumble.uk 