Eliades Ochoa, the last great troubadour: ‘People in Cuba have lost their joy’

Glimpsed through the glass doors, the figure of Eliades Ochoa, 79, stands out from the rest: a burly and charismatic man dressed all in black, with boots and a large, matching cowboy hat. He seems alert to the slightest movement, and gives the sense of an old cowpoke in the middle of a saloon, with the important caveat that the Wild West dive bar in question is actually The Social Hub, one of the most modern hotels and venues in downtown Madrid, located just a few steps from Plaza de España. There are no vaqueros or waiters chewing tobacco here, but rather, tourists of all nationalities and an ample offering of breakfast and brunch menus. The music heard in the background comes not from a player piano, but is piped in from speakers, calming sounds that enhance the tranquil atmosphere of the luxurious space. And yet, Ochoa’s aura is so powerful that under the generous rays of sunlight streaming through the large window on this March morning, he evokes a Western film. “Nice to meet you,” he says, with a firm handshake. “I’m here to do my job,” he adds as he picks up his guitar, which rests in its case on the table as if it were a shotgun waiting to be slung over a shoulder.

Seguir leyendo