Si Soy Llanero: Joropo Music from the Orinoco Plains

by Grupo Cimarron de Cuba

Overview

Eastern Colombia, near the Orinoco River and the border with Venezuela, offers its own stunning musical tradition of joropo, which has become more prominent in recent years, although not enough to really register on the world music radar. It seems that might just be a matter of time, however, on the basis of the music on Si Soy Llanero: Joropo Music from the Orinoco Plains, driven by percussively played stringed instruments, especially the harp, cuatro, and bandola. This release offers a compendium of styles within joropo, and it's a thrilling education, especially on pieces like "Los Merecures," which careen along at breakneck pace, demanding huge technical ability from the musicians, or "Seis por Derecho," a style of golpe where the instruments trade off lines, pushing each other further and further, with Carlos Quintero's harp playing absolutely outstanding. Kudos, too, to the rhythm section -- percussion and a bassist who goes beyond underpinning the rhythm to provide astute counter melodies. While the focus is instrumental, there are some songs -- like the melodies, derived from the tradition -- and they do offer a respite from the frenetic musical speed that pervades the rest of the album: "Maria Laya," sung by the lovely Ana Veydo, offers such an example. The interplay between musicians is phenomenal, and the music itself is virtually irresistible. Very definitely a Latin find. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	06/29/2004
Label:	Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
UPC:	0093074051528
Rank:	227990

Tracks

1. Llanero, S¿¿, Soy Llanero (Plainsman, Yes, I Am a Plainsman)  -  Games  -  Traditional
2. Los Diamantes (The Diamonds)  - Carlos Quintero
3. Pajarillo (Little Bird)  - Yesid Benites
4. Un Llanero de Verdad (A True Plainsman)  -  Molina  -  Traditional  -  Veydo
5. Los Merecures  - Carlos Quintero
6. Y Soy Llanero (And I Am a Plainsman)  -  Games
7. Seis oor Derecho (Straight Six)  - Carlos Quintero
8. Numerao (Enumerated)  -  Molina
9. El Gav¿¿n Restiao  - Yesid Benites  -  Games
10. Quitapesares (Consolation)  -  Molina
11. Atardecer en Arauca (Evening in Arauca)  - Luis Moreno
12. Zumbaquezumba (Resound, Resound)  - Carlos Quintero
13. Maria Laya  -  Veydo
14. Puerto Carre¿¿o  - Yesid Benites
15. Se Me Muri¿¿ Mi Caballo (My Horse Died on Me)  - Luis Moreno
16. Las Tres Damas (The Three Ladies)  - Yesid Benites
17. Soy Llanero Pelo-Liso (I'm a Smooth-Haired Plainsman)  - Luis Moreno  -  Traditional
18. Pajarillo

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Grupo Cimarron de Cuba   Primary Artist
Hugo Molina   Primary Artist,Bandola
Luis Moreno   Primary Artist
Ana Veydo   Primary Artist,Vocals
Yesid Benites   Primary Artist,Bandola
Carlos Quintero   Primary Artist,Harp
Wilton Games   Primary Artist,Vocals

Technical Credits

Jacob Love   Editorial Assistant
Traditional   Composer
Charlie Pilzer   Mastering
Patrick Mildenberg Attardi   Assistant Engineer
Carlos Rojas   Annotation,Producer
D.A. Sonneborn   Production Supervisor
Pete Reiniger   Photography,Mixing,Engineer
Carolina Santamaria   Translation