Omara Portuando at Old Town School of Folk Music
Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL, USA, May 1, 2019
by Maja Rios
Omara Portuando, 88-year-old Cuban native singer, of the famous Buena Vista Social Club, brought her own band to Old Town School that included fantastic pianist, Roberto Fonseca, and bass, drums, and percussionist, all from Cuba. They were all outstanding. The concert entitled, Last Kiss, was a huge smack! Some of the wonderful tunes included “Adios Felicidad”, Dos Gardenias(bolero), Besame Mucho(bolero), Guantanemera(salsa) and many others. Several instrumental compositions also were outstanding by the band between breaks for Omara. Roberto Fonseca was on acoustic grand piano, electric piano, and synthesizer, all of which he has mastered to perfection. All styles were played by a band, included, classical, salsa, samba, jazz, funk, and pop. The band went from one style to the next, equally executed by Fonseca and band with great sensitivity and technique.
Perhaps the most outstanding item of the show was the love that poured from its members for each other and the audience. Call and response to songs, sing-a-longs were encouraged by Omara and band during the two-hour set. Roberto even had the audience repeat piano passages after he played them, with their voices. A wonderful and sensitive accompanist to Omara, he even turned her pages on her music stand for her, before each song and listened intently to every passage she sang with great chordal choices never overpowering the singer!
A full house of eager fans made the intimate theater of the Old Town School main auditorium, a lot like being in a living room in Cuba! Bravo to the band and Old Town School for bringing such a great group to Chicago!
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