Critic's Review
Evan C. Gutierrez, All Music Guide
Cuban singer/songwriter Pablo Milanés is a true world citizen. One may think that with his important contributions to Cuba's national music, his instrumental role in the nueva trova movement, and his very evident pride for his homeland that his musical voice would be pura Cubana. However, over the years, Milanés has found his musical homeland to be much broader and far reaching than the shores of his native Cuba. His 2005 release for Universal Latino, Como un Campo de Maiz showcases Milanés' use of a diverse palette of colors, including bossa nova, jazz ballads, pop stylings, and blues alongside the boleros and sons that one might expect. The unifying factor that brings these bright stylistic colors into balance is Milanés' exquisite taste and talent for acoustic sparsity. The music shines like a glassy, calm ocean in the sun, with crystalline guitars over a sensitive jazz-style rhythm section. And then there's Milanés' voice, whose rich, dark timbre soothes and enchants. His suave, poetic writing and honest, sophisticated delivery distinguish him not only as an important artist in the history of Cuban music, but one of today's most adept singer/songwriters. Though proudly Cuban, Milanés is an artist who belongs to everyone.
