Buena Vista star recording 2nd solo album

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Vocalist Ibrahim Ferrer - a member of the world-renowned Buena Vista Social Club, the hit-making collective of veteran Cuban musicians - is currently recording a second solo album with producer-guitarist Ry Cooder at the home studio of Jesus "Chucho" Valdes in Havana. Cooder, who experienced considerable trouble with the U.S. government in getting permission to return to Cuba for this working stint, is also set to record an album with Los Zafiros guitarist Manuel Galvan while he is in the country. The Ferrer album, which is due for release early next year, will feature Valdes playing piano on all tracks and contributing two new compositions. The 59-year-old Valdes has said that Ferrer's second disc will take a different, more jazz-inflected approach than that of "the happy hour cafe" style of popular octogenarian Buena Vista pianist Ruben Gonzalez.