Nico Saquito

• Good-bye Mr. Cat [World Circuit, 1994] A-

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Good-bye Mr. Cat [World Circuit, 1994]
Born in 1901, he was a master of canto popular rather than folk song--the acoustic but at least semiprofessional sons, guarachas, and guajiras that were entertaining Oriente province before Castro, Batista, Marti, San Juan Hill. He was 81 when he cut these eight oldies with a shifting cast of skilled revivalists, most auspiciously the Cuarteto Patria, who are nowhere near as sprightly and tuneful on their own A Una Coqueta (Corason). The reason is mostly the high-spirited Saquito, an exceptionally wry and flexible vocalist in what must have been some dotage. Spanish and English texts provided, so give it an 87--it's got a sweet beat, and you can read along to it. A-