If you are a fan of Cooder’s Buena Vista Social Club you will also want Mambo Sinuendo. Billed as "Cuban soul and high-performance twang," this album explores the roots of Cuban music and its influence on American pop music, especially in the '50s, '60s. Cooder and Galbán play guitars accompanied by a Cuban rhythm section of two drum kits, congas, and bass, evoking memories of Duane Eddy and Henry Mancini. The two guitar masters are familiar and comfortable with each other and they shift between traditional and experimental music with ease.  Mambo Sinuendo moves effortlessly from the graceful "Dru Me Negrita" to the perky "Monte A Dentro" to the complex rhythms of "Echale Salsita.” Throughout, the melodies and rhythms are fresh but familiar, reminiscent of so much you have heard in classic American pop music. It’s a very accessible album that easily enters you and makes you bounce if not dance.

If this sounds like a lot of fun, it is. It is obvious the musicians are having fun, putting their hearts into the music.  While not a truly great album, it is solid, and will add pleasure to your life.

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