With Afrocubism, the World Circuit label finally realizes Ry Cooder's dream project of bringing together Cuban and African musicians, called off several times in the past because of practical and organizational difficulties. Cooder focused on Cuba and that of course resulted in the now legendary Buena Vista Social Club. From that band singer/guitarist Eliades Ochoa also participates in this project (most other Cuban veterans have passed away over the past years) and, along with a number of younger Cuban musicians, joined a number of West-African top musicians like Toumani Diabate (kora), Bassekou Kouyate (ngoni) and Djelimady Tounkara (guitar). All of the music on this album is not new though, as Afrocubism revisits a number of well-known songs (Toumani's 'Jarabi', Cuban classic 'Guantanamera'...), but 'Afrocubism' still manages to evoke the magic of 'Buena Vista Social Club' (the first notes of 'Chan Chan' still give yours truly goosebumps!). Nice detail is the cubistic album art by House at Intro, resembling the work of the Spanish artist Joan Miró.