Conjunto Guantanamo, ‘Guitarra, Tabaco y Ron’ (2024): One Track Mind

“Guitar, tobacco and rum,” the English translation of “Guitarra, Tabaco y Ron,” is a beautiful musical journey. The single, out on March 27 on Nganga Records, is hopefully a prelude to an undisclosed Conjunto Guantanamo album.

Featuring Jose Pepito Gomez on lead vocals and tres guitar with Hector Torres and Ulises Beato on bongos and congas, “Guitarra, Tabaco y Ron” powers through the jaunty arrangement of bassist Carlos Mena. The Afro-Cuban band combines the rich textures of their Cuban heritage with a propulsive contemporary feel.

The results are familiar yet entirely original and captivating. “Guitarra, Tabaco y Ron” is an uplifting musical experience whether you speak Spanish or not.

If this is a prelude to a full-length Conjunto Guantanamo album, bring it on!

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Preston Frazier

Preston Frazier is a bass-playing lawyer living in Atlanta. He is the author of 'Toto: The Band, Not the Dog,' a look at his favorite band. Frazier hosts the music-focused Slang of Ages Podcast and regularly writes about his favorite music on slangofages.com. He can be reached at [email protected]; follow him on Twitter: @slangofages.

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