Production coordination: Astrid Pulles
Sound engineer: Wil Hesen
Recorded at Farmsound Studio, Heelsum,
The Netherlands, November 2, 3 and 4, 1999.
Record Company: A-Records
(division of Challenge Records) - AL73188
Musicians:
Gerardo Rosales (Venezuela): all percussion
Astrid "La Holandesa" (Holland): vocals, background
Carlos "El Niche" (Venezuela): vocals, background
Randal Corsen (Curaçao): acoustic piano
Randy Winterdal (Curaçao): bass
Michael Simon (Venezuela): trumpet, flugelhorn
Eduardo Blanco (Spain): trompeta
José Piriz Perez (Uruguay): saxophone tenor and soprano, flute
Jaco Abel (Spain): guitar
1. Moliendo café (comp. Hugo Blanco)
2. Rancho Central (comp. Alberto Naranjo)
3. El Diablo Suelto (comp. Heraclio Fernández)
4. La Grey Zuliana (comp. Ricardo Aguirre)
5. Poco a Poco (comp. Aldemaro Romero)
6. Joropo Loco (comp. Gerardo Rosales)
7. Pa' los Guaco Guarapo (comp. Gerardo Rosales)
8. Tema de Amor (comp. Aldemaro Romero)
9. Quitapesares (comp. Carlos Bonet)
10. Negra Mala (comp. Manuel Rivas)
11. Canción para Belén Rondón (comp. Randal Corsen)
I answered, "I’m Venezuelan". Then he asked me: "and where’s that, Africa or Asia"? I replied that Venezuela is a country situated at the north of South-America. After this encounter, in thoughts, I said to myself: "it’s not possible that this person does not even have a World Atlas in his own house".
Also
in the musical aspect there’s a great lack of knowledge with respect
to the music of my country. For these reasons I decided to make
El Venezolano. I interpret different rhythms of my country and in the
meantime I give a short account of the musical history of Venezuela. This
is not a CD of folkloric Venezuelan music, since it has elements of jazz,
classical music and salsa. But I have managed to maintain the feelings
and roots of Venezuela.
The Venezuelan waltz is represented by "El Diablo Suelto", composed by Eraclio Fernández in 1878, and in "Tema de Amor", a composition by Aldemaro Romero. The rhythm of joropo is present with "Quitapesares" of Carlos Bonet and "Joropo Loco", the latter being a composition of mine in a situation of musical crisis. "Rancho Central" is a parranda composed and arranged by Alberto Naranjo, a creator of intelligent taste. "Moliendo Café" of Hugo Blanco and "La Grey Zuliana" of Ricardo Aguirre are two symbolic themes of Venezuela, capable of making your skin crawl. I myself composed "Pa’los Guaco Guarapo", which is a tribute to the creators of this wonderful rhythm made to shake up the bones. "Poco a Poco" is the representative theme of the Nueva Onda, composed by Aldemaro Romero. "Negra Mala", an original merengue caraqueño of Manuel Rivas, a special one to remember the Caracas of red roofs. And "Canción para Belén Rondón" (my dear grandmother), composed by Randal Corsen. All this is mixed with the harmonious richness brought by jazz, classical music and the taste of Latin-America.
Now
you will know where Venezuela is situated, and if you already do, enjoy
yourself with this music brought to you by
El Venezolano Gerardo Rosales.