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La Blanca y la Gris Review!
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El Trio - 2009 - "La Blanca y la Gris"
(65:39, 'El Trio')
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TRACK L...
El Trio - 2009 - "La Blanca y la Gris"
(65:39, 'El Trio')
******
TRACK LIST:
1. Solo en Cancion 4:51
2. Dos Grandes 5:12
3. Sangre del Corazon 4:29
4. Vicio 4:52
5. Del Desierto 7:03
6. Cancion de los Muertos 5:36
7. La Verdad 6:43
8. Cancion de Paloma 5:56
9. No e Como Ante 5:16
10. Juan Quiere Venderla 2:41
11. La Necia 8:14
12. Jessica Saca la Lengua 4:46
LINEUP:
Jonatan Pina Duluc – vocals; guitars; keyboards; sax
Kilvin pena – bass
Johandy Urena – drums
Eliezer Ramirez – percussion
Woth:
Ivan Batista – backing vocals
Dionisio De Moya – guitars (12)
Patricio Bonilla – trombone (9)
Gabriel Martinez – trumpet (9)
Prolusion. EL TRIO hails from the Dominican Republic, where it was formed in 2005 – mainly as the creative vehicle of composer and multi-instrumentalist Jonatan Pina Duluc. The band issued its debut effort “Siempre Que Hay Un Corazon" in 2008, and in November 2009 its sophomore production "La Blanca y la Gris" appeared. Like their first CD this latest effort was self-released by the band.
Analysis. El Trio describes its musical exploits as Latin fusion, but also cites Cream and Jimi Hendrix as additional influences. Their cultural roots as inhabitants of the Dominican Republic do shine through rather distinctly, after all. Personally I'd subscribe to the notion that their escapades deserve better than to be confined within the Latin fusion description they use themselves, even if it is a distinct part of the style they are exploring. Latin rhythms are a cultural trait that is frequently used throughout this disc, while drums and guitars both provide ample documentation for the fusion part of El Trio's repertoire. Sax and trumpets underline this part of the musical territories explored on this disc rather nicely as well. The Latin and the fusion elements are easily discovered and maintain a constant presence throughout, and it is easy to see why the bands members refer to themselves as purveyors of Latin fusion. But just as constant an element on this disc is the use of psychedelic guitar textures, first and foremost in the shape of lazy, laidback echoing guitar licks. I found myself thinking about this act as a creator of psychedelic fusion more than anything else while listening to this effort. Traces of additional styles also pop up on occasion throughout: Easygoing West Coast inspired passages, as highlighted on final track Jessica Saca la Lengua, and heavier guitar-dominated inserts with a closer resemblance to the art rock universe can also be mentioned. Meanwhile, a composition like Juan Quiere Venderla takes a left turn and heads into a curious realm blending psychedelia and punk. Most compositions are fairly elaborate affairs, with shifts in sound and style as well as subtle but clever utilization of disharmonies and dissonances on select occasions. The level of sophistication appears to be well above average too; the compositions come across as carefully crafted and constructed affairs as detailed in plan as execution. The end result is an album of generally high quality, exploring musical territories that often verge on the original and mostly avoid entering realms frequently visited by other artists.
Conclusion. If Latin rhythms and good quality fusion sounds like a good blend to your ears, and laidback psychedelic textures seem like a charming addition to such a venture, then El Trio have made an album that should find its way into your collection with ease. Their only drawback is language, as Spanish lyrics aren't enjoyed by all and sundry, but those who don't mind crossing linguistic barriers or just don't have a preference in that department are in for an interesting ride with "La Blanca y la Gris".
OMB=Olav M Bjornsen: June 20, 2010
The Rating Room
Related Links:
El Trio
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How to mix genres "El Trio"
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How To Mix Genres: “El Trio”
By: Parris Alethea
I am sitting at my 9-5 listening to music. It al...How To Mix Genres: “El Trio”
By: Parris Alethea
I am sitting at my 9-5 listening to music. It almost sounds like there is a concert coming from the office. My colleague asks “What is that?” I tell him it’s El Trio. It’s not quite rock, not quite grunge, not quite jazz. The band’s lead singer, songwriter and multi-talented, multi-instrument playing founder, Jonatan Pina, labels the band as “Rock Fusion”.
The band’s native land is that of the Dominican Republic. Jonatan, a teacher by day, moonlighting as a closet musical guru, has been singing and songwriting for over 15 years. He auditioned different musicians and finally gained solace in Kilvin Pena on bass and Johandy Urena on drums. The threesome is currently on the brink of their third album and an upcoming summer tour in the next couple of weeks.
The band frequents bars and musical festivals in Santiago, Dominican Republic–where they have become a staple in Latin sounds with jazz and rock influences. When asking Pina of his mentoring musical inspiration, he excitedly speaks of the late Luis Dias. He doesn’t want to talk about his music, but he speaks of times when he was fortunate enough to meet his musical idol and share a drink. “I didn’t want to waste the moment just talking about one thing,” he muses.
My curiosity began to wander to how accessible El Trio would be to an American going on vacation. Unfortunately native bands do not frequent resorts. However, Pina says that there are exchange students that come to study in the Dominican Republic, as well as a few tourists who sneak away from the resort. Although there are no immediate plans for an English Crossover album, Pina has definite plans to have one in the future. He is currently in the works of sharing a track with New York native underground rapper Hache S.T.I who will also be on the Dominican Republic-wide tour. They are also currently collaborating on an EP with Hache.
The band’s other musical influences include Hendrix, King Crimson, Sound Garden, Fito Paez, as well as many other 70’s rock bands. The band’s successes are rooted in the passion for music in their leader as well as the willingness to grow and induce different sounds in their music by the rest of the group. With tracks such as Solo en Cancion and La Verdad, I am pretty sure that anyone in your vicinity who hears the sounds of El Trio will inquire as well. Their music can currently be found on iTunes.
Whether its rock, jazz, latin rock, latin-jazz-grunge-rock, or “rock fusion” El Trio stands in a genre by themselves.
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La Blanca y La Gris Review
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El Trio
La Blanca y la Gris
2009 release
El Trio is from the Dominican Republic, and this is th...El Trio
La Blanca y la Gris
2009 release
El Trio is from the Dominican Republic, and this is their second release. The music is tight, the vocals aggressive (sung in native tongue), and the elements cross between fusion, funk and prog.
The record opens with “Solo en cancion”, a funky, hard edged rocker. There’s a strong rhythmic interplay, a fine opening track. The instrumental break is a true highlight, it’s very well written and kicks ass.
Not sure about the second track, “Dos grandes”. It starts out similar to latter period Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the instrumental breaks are easily the best feature…but the vocals seem at odds with the music. They don’t mesh well.
There’s a little of everything in track 3, “Sangre del Corazon”. I hear, swing, lounge, jazz, hard rock, and a hint of old Chicago. As expected, it yields mixed results. The lead is excellent.
Back to da funk with “Vicio”. A very fun song, with some definite hard rock hints.
El Trio slows things down on “Del deseierto”. Congas and assorted percussion are prevalent here. Also some nice sax work, with more hints to Chicago. This is the one of the more mature and progressive tracks on the record. Another pleasant feature is the vocals, which are less in your face, and mix well with the music.
“Cancion de los muertos” continues the percussion as the main feature. I’m reminded of the great 70’s band If on this one. Augmenting the percussion is some good, driving bass lines. The guitar leads are once again excellent. The ending is unexpectedly subtle, and a nice touch.
“La verdad” has a slow, angry guitar tone. This would be a great number for Jack Bruce to try out. The music smolders, and is a very enjoyable tune. Yet another nice break and lead, one of my favorites on the record.
“Cancion de Paloma” is very Latin, and jazzy.
Now we’re back to the heavy funk with “No e como ante”, another winner of a track. Contains the best instrumental break on the record.
Talk about a curveball…”Juan quiere venderla” is pure thrash, with of all things, heavy metal saxophone. Not something you want to play to get in the mood, unless you’re in the mood for some fightin’.
“La necia” at 8 minutes is the longest track. It’s like the earlier number “Del deseierto” in that it smolders with good sax work.
“Jessica saca la lengua” closes out la Gris with a slow, singalong tune. A nice feature is the slide guitar, gives the song and in turn the record a feeling of moving back to Earth.
Overall, I enjoy the effort. The vocals, while strong, are often are a bit louder than needed. They have a lounge quality like Morrisey, although vocalist Jonas’s voice is much stronger. I’m sure there are those that will not take to them because they are not sung in English. I for one would rather hear the native language…it sounds more natural.
The music is what shines here. It’s commendable to hear a variety of styles, without sounding like you’re forcing things and trying to do too much.
- Rick (and roll) Dashiell
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Siempre que hay un corazon...Review 2
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Member: BrianG (Profile) (All Album Reviews by BrianG)
Date: 7/26/2008
Format: CD (Album)
Si...Member: BrianG (Profile) (All Album Reviews by BrianG)
Date: 7/26/2008
Format: CD (Album)
Siempre que hay un Corazon... (Whenever there is a Heart) is the first album from this very talented, very versatile rock-fusion band from the Dominican Republic. Tracks range from straightforward Rock en Espagnol like "Cancion De Los Callos" or "Cancion De Lulu", to psychedelic jams like "Va A Llover..." to Latin cool jazz like "Como Un Mensaje". The jazz guitar playing reminds me strongly of a modernized George Benson - that clean jazz sound. A horn section fell into place on several tracks, but never lead to a dance number. The Spanish lyrics were sung with emotion and production would lead one to believe it was recorded and mixed in a world class studio.
Lead by the composer, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Jonatan Piña Duluc (Jonás) who was awarded the Premio Nacional de Música 2007, the band has high quality standards and really care about the compositions and arrangements. Rounding out the trio are Kilvin Pena on bass and Johandy Urena on drums.
Bands such as El Trio are redefining the standards of Rock en Espagnol today. While bands such as Los de Abajo, Sidestepper, and Bloque has forwarded Latin rock, and bands such as Cast and Cabezas de Cera have pushed progressive rock to a difficult to reach market saturated with rhythmic entrenched formulaic music. El Trio's Dominican-Latin fusion should be supported and encouraged to grow.
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Siempre que hay un corazon...Review
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El Trio - 2008 - "Siempre Que Hay Un Corazon"
TRACK LIST: ...El Trio - 2008 - "Siempre Que Hay Un Corazon"
TRACK LIST:
1. Cancion de los Callos 3.49
2. Crisalida 4.52
3. Como Un Mensaje 4.16
4. Te Quiero Para 4.30
5. Otro Muerto 4.31
6. A Medio Vivir 5.12
7. Elastica 5.15
8. Punto Aparte 4.01
9. Mas Elastica 1.10
10. Vaina De Aqui 6.17
11. Va a Llover 10.05
12. Cancion De Lulu 4.26
LINEUP:
Jonas – vocals; guitar; keyboards; saxophone
Kilvin Pena – bass; backing vocals
Pablo Pena – drums; backing vocals
With:
Eliezer Ramirez – bongos
Patricio Bonilla – trombone (4, 7)
Jorge Luis Mateo – trumpet (4, 7)
Miguel Andres Tejada – organ (3)
Willy Cruz – French horn (7)
Ivanova Casimiro – violin (7)
Raymond Felix – cello (7)
Johandy Urena – drums (5)
Ivan Batista – backing vocals (11)
Prolusion. As its name says, EL TRIO is a three-piece hailing from the Dominican Republic. “Siempre Que Hay Un Corazon” is their debut album, recorded between 2005 and 2007. They were put together by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jonatan Pina Duluc (aka Jonas), who also wrote all the songs on the album. The band is currently working on their second album, though no release date has been announced yet.
Analysis. Not much is known about El Trio, one of the very few rock outfits to have come out of the Dominican Republic – better known as a popular vacation resort, as well as for two equally popular varieties of Latin dance music, merengue and bachata. On account of the lack of a scene favourable to rock in their home country, the band have been struggling to gain acceptance since their inception, which has led to their dropping off the radar after the release of “Siempre Que Hay Un Corazon” in 2007. This is indeed a pity, because El Trio’s debut album shows they have all the makings of a true class act. Although “Siempre Que Hay Un Corazon” cannot be called a real progressive rock album (at least in its most conventional acception), there are enough moments throughout to kindle the interest of anyone but the most blinkered prog fan. The band’s sound, though rooted in the ‘power trio’ tradition, comes across as tasteful and understated rather than muscle-bound. Their use of the holy trinity of classic rock instruments – bass, drums and guitar – owes as much to jazz/fusion and Latin music as to the rock/blues tradition, and mainman Jonas’ laid-back, almost conversational singing style is more suggestive of singer-songwriters than of powerhouse rock vocalists. Instead of belting out the songs, he delivers the Spanish lyrics in an oddly endearing, uplifting way, and, even in those instances when the song has a bit more ‘bite’, he hardly ever conveys a rough or aggressive feel. The basic instrumentation of the band is supplemented by the occasional appearance of strings, horns, and ethnic percussion instruments. The twelve songs on offer range from sophisticated, jazzy numbers with a strong Latin flavour to the 10-minute psych/prog jam of Va a Llover, with some groovy funk-rock pieces in between. An outstanding example of the first category is Como Un Mensaje, a supremely elegant song with an almost Brazilian vibe which could nicely fit into Steely Dan’s repertoire. The funkier numbers, on the other hand, can be somewhat reminiscent of groundbreaking New York band Living Colour, though without the latter’s aggressive, punky edge. Otro Muerto, possibly the rockiest song on the album, features a great, soulful vocal performance by Jonas, with plenty of exotic percussion and horns to add energy and interest. In a similar vein, but with a more marked progressive slant, is the jagged, bass-driven Vaina De Aqui, while the aforementioned Va a Llover, the album’s undisputed highlight, surprises the listener with its loose, improvisational structure, bookended by unusually gruff vocals (possibly Jonas’ only departure from his generally smooth, relaxed style). The somewhat dissonant, avant-garde feel of the sax and guitar parts, as well as the inventive drum patterns, can bring King Crimson to mind, or even free jazz. If I had to level one criticism at “Siempre Que Hay Un Corazon”, I would say that its length (it clocks in at almost one hour) means an inevitable amount of filler. In spite of the overall high quality of the music and songwriting, I cannot help thinking that the album would have benefited from a somewhat shorter running time. These are minor quibbles, though, and do not in any way detract from the worth of this very interesting effort.
Conclusion. “Siempre Que Hay Un Corazon” will certainly appeal to people who, besides progressive and classic rock, find Latin music coupled with stylish jazz-fusion appealing. On the other hands, those looking for a full-fledged prog album, with all the conventional trappings of the genre, are in for a disappointment. In any case, this is a solid debut from a gifted band, one that hopefully will soon resurface on the music scene.
RB=Raffaella Berry: September 20, 2009
The Rating Room
Related Links:
El Trio
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Local newspaper feature
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Jonatan Piña Duluc, música y creatividad
EL GUITARRISTA Y SAXOFONISTA HA GANADO TRES VECES CONSECU... Jonatan Piña Duluc, música y creatividad
EL GUITARRISTA Y SAXOFONISTA HA GANADO TRES VECES CONSECUTIVAS EL PREMIO NACIONAL DE MÚSICA Daniela Cruz Gil
daniela.cruz@listindiario.com
Santiago
Ya una vez lo había dicho. Es una tarea titánica resumir los logros y ocupaciones de este verdadero multifacético artista, cuya formación académica es integral y fascinante. El se define a sí mismo como “compositor y multinstrumentalista, autor de la música de El Trío y fundador de la banda.” Esta es solo una de sus ocupaciones. También se dedica a la enseñanza musical, el jazz, la producción de canciones y álbumes para otras bandas en el estudio Tijera Records.
Jonatan Piña Duluc es santiaguero y aquí reside. Desde esta urbe monumental ha desarrollado su carrera y su vida, dedicada íntegramente a la música. Por eso, además de la satisfacción emocional y profesional que producen los premios, Piña Duluc admite que éstos ayudan a “aliviar la carga económica que implica llevar una vida dedicada a la creación musical, algo que no siempre es rentable y que demanda mucho tiempo y dinero”. El dinero recogido en galardones ha sido mucho. Jonatan ha ganado el Premio Nacional de Música en cuatro ocasiones en las categorías de Música de Cámara, Sinfónica-coral y Música bailable. Este año 2010, la Suite para piano le hizo acreedor del galardón de Música de cámara.
¿Su motivación? Es simple. “Uno está en este mundo para desarrollar sus potencialidades y para aportar algo a la colectividad”, advierte el habitual de los Lunes de jazz del Bar Moisés Zouain en el Gran Teatro del Cibao. “Los premios me han ayudado a desarrollarme porque me planifico anualmente para presentar trabajos buenos en el certamen, eso me proporciona metas y objetivos.”
Agenda laboral
Su principal proyecto es El Trío. La banda que fundó y para la que compone, ocupa la mayor parte de su agenda. El la define como “banda dominicana de rock-fusión formada por mí (guitarra y voz), Johandy Ureña (batería) y Kilvin Peña (bajo)”. De su estilo dice que es “un rock con influencias del jazz y la música progresiva y nuestras raíces musicales dominicanas. Le damos gran importancia a la canción rock como centro de nuestra propuesta, a la improvisación y el mezclar nuestra herencia musical con músicas extranjeras.”
Con ellos, ya tienen dos discos de estudio: “Siempre que hay un Corazón...” y “La blanca y la gris”, ambos presentados localmente de forma independiente. El primero ya está disponible en Internet, el segundo lo estará próximamente. Ambos discos se distinguen de cualquier sonido convencional, destacan por su originalidad sonora y lírica. Y son fruto del ingenio del mismo músico que un día me dijo que “los géneros musicales son más un asunto de mercado que de arte”. Aunque el mercado le interesa.
Por expandir ese mercado, estará presentando sus composiciones de jazz en Santo Domingo, en un concierto el 20 de agosto, en el Hotel Dominican Fiesta. Otro de sus planes es la segunda instalación del concierto semi-acústico llamado “El Trío Onpló” en Froguitos, Santiago.
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Angelina Tallaj, ethnomusicologyst.
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Artist: El Trio
Album: La Blanca y la Gris
This CD is a must Have! An unusual combination of s...Artist: El Trio
Album: La Blanca y la Gris
This CD is a must Have! An unusual combination of styles, from punk to metal and from art rock to jazz fusion, this album will leave you wanting more. From the melodic indie rock “Jessica” to the aggressive punk/metal beat of “Juan,” this production is of utmost quality. The harmonies and rhythms are always interesting, the intonation is pristine, the ensemble tight, and the solos exploratory and exquisite. A particular strength of this production is its unique blend of styles: punk, old and avant-garde rock, Latin, and metal, all co-existing and blending with earthy lyrics that are socially relevant and profound. It may sound, for example, as if Miles Davis, Radiohead, and Led Zeppelin, met for a jam session. Jonathan Piña Duluc is one of the best and most versatile musicians from the Dominican Republic. His many composition awards as well as this production are testimonies of that. He is fully at ease with contemporary Western Art music, hip-hop, funk, rock, and fusion, and his music also shows a thorough knowledge of Dominican life as many of his lyrics reflect the social reality of living in the Dominican Republic. I strongly recommend this recording. It will keep you listening for a long time!
Angelina Tallaj, ethnomusicologist, The City University of New York. October 2009
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El Trio Lanza su produccion
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Nota de prensa
El Trío lanza producción de rock/fusión
La banda de rock/fus...Nota de prensa
El Trío lanza producción de rock/fusión
La banda de rock/fusión santiaguense El Trío lanza su primera producción en estudio titulada "Siempre que hay un corazón...". En doce temas el grupo toma su versión de la más cuidada tradición de la canción de autor y la hace pasar por varios filtros, varios estilos que van presentándose y mezclándose sobre un fondo que a todos los rockeros nos es familiar. Este fondo es el del más contundente sonido de rock clásico, cultivado y añejado en las décadas de mayor gloria para el rock. Un sonido de power-trío, aunque expandido a través de la orquestación, las capas de sonido y las superposiciones que permite el uso del estudio musical como instrumento. Encontramos rasgos de Jazz, Música Progresiva, Música Dominicana y más, en este disco que cuenta con la participación de varios músicos invitados, los cuales junto a Pablo Peña(batería), Kilvin Peña(bajo) y Jonás(guitarra y voz) han logrado tejer una obra musical con diversas influencias. En ella confluyen culturas, tiempos y estéticas diferentes, unidas gracias a la fuerza indiscutible de la forma canción. La grabación del disco tuvo lugar en Tijera Records, Santiago y fué producida por Jonatan Piña Duluc e Iván Batista, mezclada por Batista y masterizada en los estudios Soundlab en New Jersey. Actualmente la banda se encuentra promocionando su nuevo álbum y lanzando su primer sencillo: "Te quiero para..." que ya cuenta con un video musical dirigido por Renato Brea. El Trío es manejado por Ralph Joseph para Just More Records, contacto: 809 883 5616.
