Comparsa

Though Comparsa came together in 2003, Charleston’s premier Latin band is only now
releasing its debut CD, “La Nueva Comparsa.” It comes out just as the band has some
high-profile shows around Charleston, including Saturday's FOOTMAD show at the
Cultural Center Theater.
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Eduardo Canelon, the band’s founder, singer and guitarist, was born in Venezuela and at
age 9 moved to Elkins, where he began learning and playing the styles of his native
land. Just like the group’s live shows, the music on Comparsa’s CD is peppered with the
flavors of Venezuela, Cuba and Mexico.
theGAZZ.com - the Weekly Arts & Entertainment Guide of the Charleston Gazette in Charleston, West Virginia 3/5/08 1:18 PM
http://www.thegazz.com/guide/articles/music/2843 Page 2 of 2
Overall, the record has plenty of percussive flair. That plus layers upon layers of
rhythm and mingling flute and trombone culminate to make all the tunes on “La Nueva
Comparsa” instantly and irresistibly danceable.
Each song is in a different style, and the styles span the entire Latin world with
sambas, salsas, merengues and bossa novas. The recording, done at Bob Webb’s
Treehouse Productions, is well polished and captures the group’s varied sound superbly.
On the title track, singer Canelon plays syncopated strums on the cuatro (a Venezuelan
four-string guitar) underneath Elizabeth Segessenman’s flute and Al Peery’s trombone.
The jumpy rhythm changes pace about 90 seconds in, and each band member is
featured, including bassist Deron Sedoro and percussionist Mark Davis. Toward the
finish, Canelon adds a bit of a gritty vocal flair that puts a slight edge on the smooth
Latin groove.
Canelon handles most of the vocal duties. In the case of “Sambo de Brazil,” he sings in
both English and Spanish, describing the 700-meter Sambodromo in Rio de Janeiro, a
dedicated parade space with bleachers on either side. Judging by the song’s sing-along
chorus, the music of Comparsa would be right at home at the Sambodromo.
The band’s groove mellows for “Linda Mujer,” which is included twice — once with
Spanish lyrics and then restyled and retitled later on the disc as “Beautiful Girl.”
The fire returns with “Pajarillo,” a traditional Venezuelan folk song, and “Vamos a
Bailar” (“Let’s Dance”), a bouncy salsa number inspired by the guitar style of Carlos
Campos. The album closes with “Guantanamera,” one of the most-recorded Latin
American songs of all time and a proven crowd pleaser at Comparsa’s shows.
With “La Nueva Comparsa,” Comparsa has excelled in capturing its vast and varied
catalog without any overkill. Each player shows tremendous competency throughout,
and at nine tracks and just under 40 minutes, the record is paced perfectly without any
filler. - Charleston Gazette

Mountain Stage staff had to be nimble on their feet when showcase act Buckwheat Zydeco
canceled at the last minute for this past Sunday’s show. The vacancy was filled with a quick
call to Eduardo Canelon, the Venezuelan-born lead singer of West Virginia’s premiere
Latin dance band, Comparsa. They took to the stage with all but brass player Al Peery, who
was unavailable on such short notice.
It was a very good weekend for the band. On Saturday night, they commanded the same
stage as headliners at a FOOTMAD concert in the Cultural Center Theater in the state
Capitol Complex. I didn’t make it but a friend did and said it was an excellent show. This is
one dance-friendly band and the FOOTMAD show was set up to accommodate the urge,
with salsa lessons and cumbia moves part of the evening’s package. The band also has its
first CD out, “La Nueva Comparsa,” long in the making and accomplished in its sound. For more on the
group, visit latinmusicwv.com. - Charleston Gazette