We went to see the Buena Vista Social Club in concert last night, and I’ve got to admit it was a little disappointing. I don’t know whether it was the venue, the fact that the majority of the crowd were over 50, or the fact that most of the music was new jazz pieces designed to highlight the soloists rather than the vocal classics that made them famous, but something about the concert didn’t work. Maybe it was the fact that very few of the original Buena Vista members are still well enough to tour with the group, or maybe it’s that those who are still well enough have lost some of their ability due to their declining years.

Don’t get me wrong – it was an enjoyable way to spend an evening, and the young pianist playing with the group was as good as any I’ve seen – he clearly has a great jazz career ahead of him. But it fell short of the magic that the elder statesman of Cuban music, Compay Segundo, managed to create at his concerts – even at the age of 91. And that was the magic I was after.

A couple of mojitos later, I didn’t care.