Hay Niños Aqui!
In a career that is approaching a decade,
Malpais has become one of the most popular bands in Costa Rica. Their appeal,
like the band, kept growing. And I think this is one thing that adds to their
popularity: they continually expand the realm of their influences. Malpais has
gained the affection of their continually growing audience because they never
forgot their roots. Their songs are snapshots, histories, reflections and all
human and tangible. The new album “Hay Niños Aqui” keeps them on both roads of
staying grounded, while spreading out.
The project began when Jaime Gamboa began
writing lyrics for his friends at Vision Mundial, who are celebrating their
twenty-fifth anniversary of aiding the victims of poverty, especially children.
He came to a juncture in his compositions: he and his brother,
composer/guitarist Fidel Gamboa had written five songs and basically completed
the initial goal for the project. Still, Jaime felt inspired by the families
who strive to improve the lives of their children. In a short time, they had
collaborated on five more songs and the project took on a new dimension. When they took their work to the rest of the
Malpais bandmembers, a twelfth song, “Rio Grande” was added and the fifth album
(seventh, if like me, you include Tierra Seca and La Cancion de Adan) by
Malpais was created.
The album begins with the title track, “Hay
Niños Aqui”, and flows into the other four initial compositions. The songs are
portraits, vignettes of young people in precarious situations, not of their own
doing. I think it is appropriate that “Rio Grande”, the instrumental track,
separates the first set of songs and the second group, not unlike an interlude.
And Malpais sounds wonderful, a group of musicians very familiar and
comfortable with each other. The violin playing of Ivan Rodriguez sounds like
another voice and Manuel Obregon’s piano accompaniment is impeccable. For this
album, they have insightfully added a children’s chorus, along with electric
guitar accompaniment by Ricardo Alfaro on a few cuts.
Upon its release last month, Malpais
announced that proceeds from the first two thousand CDs would be donated to
Vision Mundial, who have aided in improving the lives of more than twelve
thousand children throughout Costa Rica. It is a true demonstration of the
band’s commitment not only raising public awareness of the situation with their
album, along with being role models in doing something about it as well. They
followed this announcement with an autograph campaign, the entire band present
to sign copies of the album, inspiring their fans to help in the contribution,
too.
Malpais
has acquired a good reputation for giving back to the community. Radio Malpais
is a good example of how they are trying to employ students while exposing new
musical talent and providing entertainment to the public. They are also a band
steeped in a kind of new folkloric storytelling. The message is clear in “Hay
Niños Aqui”. It is a story that needs to be told and to be listened to.
All the Malpais CDs are available at the Jaime Peligro bookstores in
Playa Tamarindo, Tilaran and Quepos, where they will gladly sample the music
for their customers. All comments concerning this article are welcome.
