"El Rerre de los Palacios"/Pepe Martinez- Misa Gitana (Gypsy Mass) (196?)

I'm not quite in time for the feast of the epiphany, but I figure the wise men are loafing around awestruck for a few days anyway, so this will give them (and you) something nice to listen to.

Though consistently captivating I regret to say that the music of southern Spain is one of those things that I haven't yet put forth the effort to learn much about. For me it's still in the realm of things that sound strange and enthralling, and this record was one of those finds that was too good to pass up. Somber, reverent, and passionately intense throughout, with no other clues at all you can recognize this as religious music. In the liner notes I even detect an uneasiness with the fact that this particular music was likely religious before the conversion of Spanish gypsies to Islam, let alone Catholicism.

A quick wikipedia search reveals that the guitarist (Pepe Martinez) was considered one of the finest of his generation, and his performance here does not disappoint. "Rerre de los Palacios," the cantaor here, recorded more than 40 albums, and wrote the lyrics to many of them himself. If you read Spanish you can check out his obituary here. The choir is great, and they're no slouches with the percussion either.

Enjoy friends!

=========================================================

[Original Liner Notes]

Hymns in praise of God, Our Lord and Creator, have been composed in every language of the earth, yet the Divine Sacrifice of the Passion of Jesus Christ, revived for us every day upon the altar, has been interpreted according to a host of different styles, even within the same language. The map of Spain offers such a variety of traditional customs and contrasting features of pronunciation, that one could easily classify them into Masses reflecting the characteristics of each region, considering that the liturgical chants used in the different areas have their own particular intonation and cadence, although remaining perfectly orthodox in their basic form. In Andalusia, for example, we have the endless chain of Masses, celebrated from early on Whit Sunday morning in the Shrine of the Virgin del Rocio, in which each of the gypsy pilgrim brotherhoods plays a part, represented by its most genuine songs and "coplas", adorned with fervent twists of their own, which however extra-liturgical they may be, nevertheless express deep and sincere religious devotion. It was in fact this circumstance which led us to make a recording of the Andalusian Mass, here described as "Gypsy", precisely because authentic gypsy musicians and artists have been responsible for the integral execution of all its different parts. So long as we may be certain of having aroused the spiritual devotion of those for whom this makes it easier to come into contact with God and raised their minds to praise Our Creator, then it is more than sufficient reward for the efforts that went into the completion of this recording.

Words: ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ-BUZON
Singer: "EL RERRE DE LOS PALACIOS"
Guitar: PEPE MARTINEZ
Choir: "VIRGEN DE LOS REYES DE SAN JUAN DE AZNALFARACHE"
Artistic Director: MAESTRO CISNEROS

Güito y Su Conjunto featuring the Al Gonzalez Trio- El Rumbon (196?)

Hello my people. Today's offering is a real cooker. I can imagine my grandfather in '65 or so, nervous, navigating his way into a downtown record store and timidly asking the clerk if he had anything spicy that would help him to practice his cha cha with the wife. Well my friend- this is just the thing.

Likely your salsa does not lack spice, or soul, or funk, because we are the lucky beneficiaries of a generation or two of hep cats separating the wheat from the chaff. This album, however, hearkens back to a time when most everything marketed towards the English-speaking market was drenched in cheese. This is one of those rare exceptions.

First of all, the band is smoking. Everyone on this record is feeling it. Just listen to the percussion intro on Tombola, listen to how everyone switches things up midway through No Me Molesto, listen to the soulful vocal (and the satisfying lyrical twist) on Intención Cobarde. Don't get me started on the eponymous "jam session" El Rumbon. Timbales, congas, flutes, a güiro- and in case the standard Afro-Caribbean fare isn't enough for you- clarinets, barnyard animals, and a celesta! (or a clavichord? or some other kind of tiny piano?).

I'm not Margaret, but I wish I were, because I'm sure Mr. Gonzalez is a tender, rhythmic lover.

Cha cha cha!


=========================================================

[Original Liner Notes]

There's something about free-wheeling music that grabs and tickles and thrills. Most often the joy comes from the sound and the sensitivity of musicians relating in ad lib fashion to eash others' messages and passages. It's the incredible pleasure that comes from a RUMBON (it was called a jam-session in jazz circles) where the fury of performance is unchecked. It's that kind of pleasure that comes from the combination of sounds and rhythms, melodies and tempos in this first album from Guito y Su Conjunto, featuring the Al Gonzalez Trio.

There is a collection of new song and familiar one presented here. There is a wide variety of approach to each. The title song, Rumbon Session, is a complete improvisation which happened during recording. It's all included here in its very natural result, unpolished, unstained, uninhibited. The musicians are anonymous.

Granada is performed here with a definite and simple beat. Guantanamera is played by the group in guajira tempo with a modern touch. Listen to La Comadrita. It is typical music from Puerto Rico and if you are ever down there you'll hear and see it performed at all the country dances. Add another happy sound. This one is called Tombola. It swings to a mixture of Latin and Rock rhythms.

There are other songs and sounds and stirrings. There is a hum and buzz and brightness that reaches a fine standard of achievement. Guito's vocals and the pulsating beat behind him will keep you dancing.

EL RUMBON...he aquí una complilación de melodías, ritmos y sonidos a cargo de Güito y su Conjunto con el trio de Al Gonzalez. No dudamos que cada una de las selecciones musicales en éste álbum brindarán recuerdos pasados además de momentos alegres en el presente; melodias revestidas simple y diferentemente...una colección de antiguas pero bien conocidas canciones tales como Guantanamera, Granada, Vereda Tropical, todas interpretadas en forma sencilla.

Güito y su Conjunto demuestran su versatilidad al interpretar EL RUMBON por ser éste tema en el cual se destacan todos y cada uno de los miembros de esta agrupación en forma arrolladora y exitante.

Lewdisc Internacional orgullosamente les invita a bailar con éste disco de larfa duración que llamamos...EL RUMBON.

A RALPH SEIJO PRODUCTION

LADO A
Guantanamera- 2:28
Granada (A. Lara)- 3:13
Como Se Baila- 2:52
Paisaje (A. Gonzalez)- 3:31
El Parrandero (A. Gonzalez)- 2:49
Tombola- 2:41

LADO B
No Me Molestes- 3:20
Vereda Tropical (G. Curiel)- 2:36
Intención Cobarde (A. Gonzalez) Vocal: Alicia de Cordova- 3:32
La Comadrita (A. Gonzalez)- 2:59
El Rumbon (Ralph Seijo)- 5:00