Complicidades
Eric Clapton once
said, “I think of guitar playing as accompaniment. Anything beyond that gets
gimmicky”. Apparently, violinist Ricardo Ramirez agrees with Clapton. A member
of the Costa Rican Grammy award winning band Editus, Ramirez recently released
his first solo endeavor, and I really like the concept of the album. Sr.
Ramirez invited fourteen Central American singer/songwriters to bring one of
their previously recorded works into the studio, to allow them to experiment
with their vocal arrangements. And Ramirez takes care of the rest, the accompaniment.
Hence, the title: “Complicidades”.
Ricardo’s
selection of “accomplices” on the album is a nice vehicle to represent the vast
musical styles currently blossoming in Latin America.
The CD opens with a song by Evolucion and closes with a number by Ghandi, two
of Costa Rica’s
most popular rock bands. Between these two “bookends”, the album is spiced with
a potpourri of musical flavors. Noted Calypsonian Manuel Monestel checks in
with a new version of one of his standards, “El Espejo”. Alejandro Erdmenger, guitarist from the
Guatemalan jazz/flamenco band Siroro offers his song “Tropico de Cancer”, while
Argentinan transplant Adrian Goizueta puts a new spin on his previously
recorded “La Adavina del Barrio”. And Patricio Torres contributes another take
on his “Perfume de America”, which he normally plays with saxophone
accompaniment.
Notably, Ramirez
has selected several women to bring their songs to the table as well. Uba Mason
is the wife of Ruben Blades who has worked with Editus on many occasions. It’s
a cool twist that Uba has chosen one of Blades’ songs, “The Calm Before the
Storm”, which he co-wrote with Lou Reed. It is the single song on the disc that
is not written by the singer and the only one sung in English. But then, Uba’s
husband and Ramirez’ band share a history that includes an Emmy award, so I
think she might have been allowed to modify the concept for the album a little.
Besides, the result is a stellar version of the song.
Pamela Robin has
opened for Editus on several of their national tours. Ricardo Ramirez must have
seen and heard something he liked, because she also received an invitation to
participate on this project, responding with “Los Dias”. And famed Costa Rican
songstress Maria Pretiz renders an incredible new version of her “El Oficio de
Esperar”.
Speaking of
Editus, I think Ramirez used good judgment in not including the other two members
of the band on this solo disc, if for no other reason than to display its
uniqueness. Ramirez has been quoted as saying that this project is the most
satisfying work he has done outside his twenty year relationship with Editus,
which lends credence to this project’s complete separation from that band. It’s
nice to see an artist develop a concept and take a chance with it by having the
faith to plunge into it one hundred percent. It’s easy to feel this elation in
the finished product of Ricardo Ramirez’ “Complicidades”.
In Playa
Tamarindo, “Complicidades”, as well as all the Editus CDs are available exclusively
at Jaime Peligro, where they will gladly sample the music for their customers.All comments concerning this article are welcome.
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