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Fantásia Cubana - Variations On Classical Themes album cover

Album guide

Fantásia Cubana - Variations On Classical Themes

Chucho Valdés

Released
2002
Label
Blue Note
Forces
Piano, Solo
Personnel
Chucho Valdés piano

Valdés visits Debussy’s Rêverie twice: once as the piano piece itself, then through Larry Clinton’s 1938 song “My Reverie”, which carried the melody into the swing era.

Three consecutive versions of Lecuona’s “La comparsa” take the same idea further, finding a different route through the piece each time.

Hear both

The classical side contains only the source pieces used on the album, in album order. The jazz side presents the complete album whenever a dependable copy can be embedded.

The originalsChopin, Lecuona, Debussy, Ravel · classical source works

Tracks 2–4 are three variations on Lecuona’s La comparsa and share one recording. Track 6 pairs Debussy’s Rêverie with Arabesque No. 1, so it has a recording of each; its Rêverie recording also serves track 9. The other three classical tracks have one recording apiece, while six Valdés originals have none.

Jazzed upChucho Valdés · 2002
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Source works

The album’s complete track listing, with each classical source identified and original compositions marked plainly.

  1. Chopin: Prelude In E MinorChopin: Prelude in E minor, Op. 28 No. 4
  2. Three Faces Of Lecuona: La Comparsa: No. 1Lecuona: La comparsa, No. 6 of Danzas afro-cubanas
  3. Three Faces Of Lecuona: La Comparsa: No. 2Lecuona: La comparsa, No. 6 of Danzas afro-cubanas
  4. Three Faces Of Lecuona: La Comparsa: No. 3Lecuona: La comparsa, No. 6 of Danzas afro-cubanas
  5. WakambaOriginal composition by Chucho Valdés
  6. Debussy: Reverie & ArabesqueDebussy: Rêverie, L. 68; Debussy: Deux arabesques, L. 66: Arabesque No. 1 in E major
  7. Chopin: Waltz In A MinorChopin: Waltz in A minor, Op. 34 No. 2
  8. SunriseOriginal composition by Chucho Valdés
  9. My ReverieDebussy: Rêverie, L. 68
  10. Fantasia CubanaOriginal composition by Chucho Valdés
  11. Ravel: Pavane For A Dead PrincessRavel: Pavane pour une infante défunte, M. 19
  12. TumbãoOriginal composition by Chucho Valdés
  13. La CampesinaOriginal composition by Chucho Valdés
  14. ImpromptuOriginal composition by Chucho Valdés