Wapango (2007)

The Santa Fe from which this guitar quartet takes its name is in Argentina, not New Mexico, but two of the four members are North American. The programming, even more than that of the group's competition, seems to have a pan-American aim, and this set of arrangements (all by the quartet itself, except for the Tres piezas folklóricaas argentinas of Marcelo Coronel) offers an unusually wide range of Latin American dance rhythms. The chief problem with the program is its slenderness; coming in at about 45 minutes, it might ... Read More

The Santa Fe from which this guitar quartet takes its name is in Argentina, not New Mexico, but two of the four members are North American. The programming, even more than that of the group's competition, seems to have a pan-American aim, and this set of arrangements (all by the quartet itself, except for the Tres piezas folklóricaas argentinas of Marcelo Coronel) offers an unusually wide range of Latin American dance rhythms. The chief problem with the program is its slenderness; coming in at about 45 minutes, it might have suggested the addition of a Gershwin or Caribbean encore. But the kaleidoscopic seqence of dances is invigorating, with the sharp contrasts between Mexican/Native American and Cuban styles in Paquito d'Rivera's Tres danzas latinoamericanas constituting a standout moment. D'Rivera, a jazz saxophonist who has successfully branched off into classical composition, infuses rhythmic tension into everything he does, and the quartet's performance of Astor Piazzolla's Las cuatro estaciones... Read Less