{"id":19041,"date":"2020-09-16T13:09:08","date_gmt":"2020-09-16T17:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/latinomusiccafe.com\/?p=19041"},"modified":"2020-09-23T15:22:01","modified_gmt":"2020-09-23T19:22:01","slug":"ruben-blades-maestra-vida-turns-40","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinomusiccafe.com\/2020\/09\/16\/ruben-blades-maestra-vida-turns-40\/","title":{"rendered":"Ruben Blades’ “Maestra Vida” Turns 40"},"content":{"rendered":"
It’s been 40 years since Ruben Blades<\/a> released the masterpiece “Maestra Vida<\/a><\/em>“, a double-album describing the life of its protagonist in a Latino neighborhood.<\/p>\n This was an audacious groundbreaking recording of a musical “novela<\/em>“, similar to previous musical stories, but much more elaborate.<\/p>\n What I mean by “musical novela<\/em>” is the telling of a story throughout various songs. Some call it an “opera”, but I disagree with using that term.<\/p>\n This is not the first time that is done. Actually it’s the 3rd time its done with Salsa music. Larry Harlow’s “Hommy<\/em>” (1973) and “La Raza Latina<\/em>” (1977) preceded “Maestra Vida<\/em>“.<\/p>\n “Hommy<\/em>” centers around the birth and life of a child born blind, who feels and loves the vibration of the music, particularly the drums. He grows up to become a great “rumbero<\/em>“.<\/p>\n “La Raza Latina”<\/em> is about the story of the evolution of Salsa music. Ruben Blades participated in this one singing one song.<\/p>\n “Maestra Vida<\/em>” centers around the life of Carmelo DaSilva, from courtship of his future wife Manuela, to the birth of his son Ramiro, all the way to old age of Manuela and death of Carmelo.<\/p>\nA Musical “Novela”<\/h3>\n
“Maestra Vida<\/em>” is Ruben Blades Masterpiece<\/h3>\n