Cuban trova is not a musical genre in the strict sense of the word. Rather, it is an approach inherited from the wandering singer, hence the term trova derived from the French troubadour. A trova artist may use a variety of music from the Cuban terroir, such as son or guaracha, but also, in nueva trova, folk, jazz, rock and so on. Silvio Rodriguez is one of the great exponents of trova.
Here in Montreal, Julian Gutierrez Vinardell is an ambassador for this discipline, which seeks simple, direct contact with the public through engaging melodies and, in the case of this album De Ti Lo Quiero Todo, rich orchestrations. Vinardell’s vocals are supported by a full-sized big band and, on occasion, a string quartet. Vinardell is a fine vocalist, beautifully centred and tonally balanced.
The result is a qualitative plunge into Cuba’s plethoric musical spirit, through convincing original compositions.
Musicians
Julian Gutierrez : piano, compositions, arrangements and vocals
Jean-François Martel: bass and double bass
Eugenio ‘’Kiko‘’ Osorio: percussion
Axel Bonnaire drums track 1,5, 8
Ahmed Mitchell: drums track 4 and 9
Kulusé Souriant: drums track 2
Bernard Riche: drums track 7
Elmer Ferrer: electric guitar tracks 2 and 5
Salomé Perli : violin track 7
Alain Labrosse: batas drums track 5,8 and 9 Brass
Dominic Rossi: trumpet tracks 1,4,5,8 and 9
Joao Lenhari : trumpet, tracks 1, 4, 5, 8 and 9
Jean-Pierre Zanella: alto saxophone, tracks 1, 4, 5, 8 and 9. Soprano saxophone track 3 Flute track 7
Guillaume ‘’el niño‘’ Carpentier : tenor saxophone tracks 1, 4, 5, 8 and 9
Dany Roy : tenor saxophone track 2,4,5,9
Matthieu Van Vilet : trombone tracks 1, 4, 5, 8 and 9
String quartet
Salomé Perli : violin 1 track 6
Laurent Tanguay: violin 2 track 6
Ilana Bensemhoun : viola, track 6
Tobias Kimmelman: cello track 6
