| Grupo Exploración's
recent release Drum Jam - Descarga al Tambor - presents
an interesting combination
of the minimalistic and the complex, the introspective and the unreserved,
the traditional and the modern. Across 16 tracks ranging in length
from less than two minutes to almost six minutes, the artists share
a sense of elastic boundaries with their listeners and unveil the
tonal and rhythmic power of the drums.
Grupo Exploración
has created an album which appeals to the listener by creating
a sense of intimacy with drums and drummers rarely achieved in
a more straightforward Afro-Latin setting. Its creative purpose,
according to producer David Peñalosa was to demonstrate
that "the orchestra of drums can be a complete and full sound
on its own". As a result the savor of the album is the sound
of the drums, with no singing and very little in the way of non-percussive
instrumentation. The basic ingredients used to create this effect
are the drums we are familiar with - congas, bongós, batá
drums, - even the bombo and the cajón (a drum made from a box)
are relatively well known.
To this mix is added the alchemic
blend of more exotic, mainly traditional Caribbean
percussion; shékere, rainsticks, agogô bell, marímbula
and steel pan join the maraca,
cowbell and güiro to infuse the individual items with their own
unique flavor and appeal. The few non-percussive instruments,
notably bird whistles, corneta china and trombones, act as accents
to the percussive sound rather than as melodic objects in and
of themselves. The unmasked sounds of percussion persuade the
listener to examine the complex rhythmic and harmonic relationships
between instruments and to become immersed in their purity.
While some parts of this album
seem designed to supply a musical dish for reflection ("El
Monte" seems particularly indicative of this mood),
others make it very easy indeed to move one's feet. Particularly
appealing to my sense of "get-up-and-dance" were "Ritmo
Changüi", "Congo Oriental", "Vodu",
and "Kanekela",
all representative of Cuba's Eastern district, as well as "Plena
de Arcata" with
its steel pans (of Trinidadian origin) and "Congo Timba",
which is the closest in sound
to modern day salsa.
Additionally, the entire album,
while heavily Cuban in derivation, is representative
of the diverse Afro-Caribbean drumming traditions. It draws from
not only the rumba and orisha traditions but also from Puerto
Rican bomba, plena, and the
Vodún traditions of Haiti. The inclusion of such a variety
of rhythms suggests a very exciting level of cultural exchange,
and the talented ways the
drummers explore these rhythms suggest both spontaneity
and deliberation.
When one considers that Grupo
Exploración counts among its members acclaimed artists
from Cuba, Puerto Rico and the United States, it is easy to understand
why I found Drum Jam both fascinating and impressive.
Grupo Exploración
is:
Miguel Bernal Nodal, Havana, Cuba
Juan Garzón Brown, Guantanamo,
Cuba
Luis Daniel Cepeda, Santurce, Puerto Rico
Harold Muñíz, Sacramento, (CA), USA
Michael Spiro, San Francisco, (CA), USA
David Peñalosa, Producer
Song Titles:
1. Bomba Makuta
2. Descarga al Tambor (Drum Jam)
3. Plena de Arcata
4. Rumba Columbia
5. Guarapachangeo
6. Iyesá
7. Agbe
8. El Monte
9. Ritmo Changüi
10. Congo Timba
11. Chenchen Gudugudú
12. ¡Me voy a Puerto Rico!
13. Vodú
14. Kanekela
15. Congo Oriental
16. Descarga al Tambor (Drum Jam) - Close
Read other CD
reviews by SalsaPower HERE |
