Bola De Nieve
Bola De Nieve
Born Ignacio Jacinto Villa Fernández, Cuban pianist Bola de Nieve (literally "Snowball") is one of the big names in Cuban music. He worked as a chauffeur and played piano for silent films until his friend Rita Montaner took him on as an accompanist in the early 1930s. After Montaner returned to Cuba, Bola de Nieve remained in Mexico and developed an original performance style as a pianist and singer. He was an elite rather than a popular figure, a sophisticated cabaret stylist known for ironic patter, subtle musical interpretation, with a repertoire that included songs in French, English, Catalan, Portuguese and Italian. He toured widely in Europe and the Americas, and his friends included Andrés Segovia and Pablo Neruda. He identified as black and gay, and was self-confident in his personality, and accepted for what he was: a memorable talent. This LP compiles some of his most memorable performances, including his visions of hits from the era, traditional tunes and also some self-penned numbers.