Blessed with a rich falsetto
Michael Jackson would die for,
Garzon hitches his high-floating tenor to beautiful but world-weary songs with his classic string band, Quinteto Oriente. The boleros presented here are both airy and somewhat static, urged reluctantly forward by fragile acoustic guitar riffs and gently persistant percussion. But its the formality of the genre that makes Garazon's illusion of freedom feel heroic, and it's the ageless quality of his vocals that cuts him loose from all restraints. Though I prefer the loosey-goosey ethos of the equally involving son, any Cuban acoustic music this finely performed can hardly be resisted, and the sheer romantic pull is undeniable. ~ Bob Tarte