Polo Montañez in our Hearts for Forever More

20 August 2015 4:33pm

You have stayed in my heart… that’s the chorus of one of the 14 songs included in Polo Montañez Band’s new album, Regreso (Return), which speaks of the feelings of those who accompanied the Natural Guajiro in his performances.

Amauri, Luisito, Gladys have come together so as to carry on with the legacy of this singer and songwriter of Cuban traditional music, who passed away in 2002 as a result of a car accident. With the participation of the original members of the band, Regreso, licensed in Cuba by Artex’s record label Bis Music and Nedeff Productions in the international market, marks the return of Polo’s work and the presence of his music despite of his passing.

The album stands out as a tribute to Polo and his legacy in terms of Cuban traditional music. Emilio Vega, producer of the album, said during a press conference that Polo y present in the songs, as they follow his style and ideas.

Five songs were written by Amauri Romero, director of the band, and there are two – Sendero triste and La sombra loca – that were penciled by Polo himself. The rest have been authored by other artists, but despite of this diversity, musicologist Neris Gonzalez Bello explains, the albums features an authorial seal and shows the continuity of Natural Guajiro’s musical style. With this goal in mind – reflecting that lyricism and dramatic character showed by Polo in his performances – the albums includes violins, cellos and violas.

Polo Montañez Band, in order to promote this new material, recently performed at the central stage of Pabellon Cuba, within the framework of the 16^th edition of Arte en La Rampa Fair. The musicians are also planning performances in Santiago de Cuba and Holguin, an international tour throughout Europe and the production of a video clip for Por ella, a bolero by Amauri Romero.

The band can be enjoyed live, Monday – Sunday, at Las Terrazas tourism complex in Pinar del Rio province, at La Casa del Campesino, and they play their music, on the second Friday of every month, at Polo Montañez’s house, which was turned into a museum after his passing.

Songs culled in Polo Montañez Band’s Regreso:

1. Sendero triste. Polo Montañez.

2. Un sueño y nada más. Amauri Romero.

3. Llegará. Gladys Pérez.

4. Quiero que seas para mí. Pedro Morales.

5. Nunca volverá. Luis Romero.

6. Por ella. Amauri Romero.

7. Ya no puedo estar sin ti. Amauri Romero.

8. Loco por ti. Lourdes Romero.

9. La sombra loca. Polo Montañez.

10. Ámame. Gladys Pérez.

11. De la noche a la mañana. Amauri Romero.