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My daughter recently noted that I lack a nostalgic impulse commonly thought innate to the human species. I suppose she's right, but I'll be damned if the Ramón López Quartet's Songs of the Spanish Civil War hasn't triggered a flood of fond memories loosely associated with Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra.
What the two groups have in common is their brash musical virtuosity, an ideological fervor no longer in fashion, and a shared repertory (including "Els segadors," "La santa espina," "El quinto regimento" and "Los cuatro generales").
Despite a strong central theme and familiar source materials, drummer López, bassist Paul Rogers, saxophonist Daunik Lazro, trombonist Thierry Madiot and guest vocalist Beñat Achiary are presented in unexpected combinations. The result of these highly inventive arrangements is a surprisingly varied program. |
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