Septeto Santiaguero on the Go

Since the very beginning, Septeto Santiaguero has stood out as a band in constant maturing process. It’s not about how good its present work is, but the next one being better, and it’s important to highlight how the band manages to improve its work on a daily basis.

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The reputation won by the members of this band makes them raise the bar with every album, and this is confirmed by No quiero llanto. Tributo a Los Compadres, a double album produced by Egrem that is already available for enthusiasts.

This year round, the Septeto celebrates its 20th anniversary and, just like in the beginning, the band cultivates son, guided by Fernando Dewar. Throughout these years, the band has properly collaborated with other artists, and this is something to be praised as they adjust the styles of their guests to that Cuban sound that characterizes Septeto’s music.

For instance, for Oye mi son santiaguero they invited Reinaldo Creagh (a key element in La Sonora del 38, La Estu¬dian¬tina Invasora and Vieja Trova Santiaguera) and Ri¬car¬dito Ortiz (Los Taínos and Vieja Tro¬va); and for Vamos pa´ la fiesta they called Rubén Blades, Cheo Feliciano and José Alberto “El Ca¬nario”.

No quiero llanto came next, where the list of collaborating artists represented one of the main pillars of the album. Produced by both Septeto and El Canario, the album is a selection of songs that were exquisitely worked to pay tribute to one of the most important duets in the history of Cuban music: Los Compadres.

The emblematic duo, which was first made up of Lorenzo Hierrezuelo and Francisco Repilado “Compay Segundo”, and later by Lorenzo and his brother Reinaldo “Rey Ca¬ney”, deeply influenced the popular music on the Island due to the particular work of voices and their style to play son.

The album is put out as an “all starts”, since it includes El Canario and Oscar D´ León, Eliades Ochoa, Andy Mon¬tañez, Aymée Nuviola, Ismael Miranda, Ti¬burón Morales, Edwin Bonilla, Alejandro Al¬menares, Puerto Rican Grupo Esencia, La Conga de Los Hoyos, Magic Sax Quartet, Orfeón Santiago, Orquesta Sinfónica de Oriente and Estrellas de la Charanga; so there is high expectation among fans of Septeto Santiaguero and Cuban traditional music.

The singers shed their talent on the double album and the guest musician add “extra taste”. Among the key elements, it counts on trumpet player Eduardo Bringuez in El que usted conoce no soy yo, the whistles of El Canario in Rey Caney’s style, or the strength of Su señoría la conga thanks to the presence of centenarian Conga de Los Hoyos.

The performances and arrangements are praiseworthy, as well as the selection of titles. Most of them were authored by Los Compadres, but there weren’t randomly chosen; each one “matches” the artist, an impeccable work developed by the producers and complemented by a balance of genres that proposes bolero, guaracha, son montuno and conga, thus attracting dancers or those who enjoy listening to a fine album.

Many details are not included in these lines, although they would only reassert that Dewar and his boys are putting on the table an excellent product that speaks of their achievements to date. Let’s hope that No quiero llanto. Tributo a Los Compadres can “hit the jackpot” and follow the successful course of Septeto Santiaguero’s previous works, a band that gives some fresh air to Cuban traditional music without making concessions.