|
|
| Name: |
Juergen Martens
<dj.martens@t-online.de> |
| Rating: |
5 / 5 |
| Comments: |
Here's another great latin/fusion outfit from South America to be (re)discovered!
Like Brazil's Azymuth, OPA is an energetic keys/bass/drums trio that goes back some 30 years. When Airto saw these 3 Uruguayans playing in New York he was
so impressed that he made them the backing band for his CTI debut "Fingers" - and took producer's duties for their only two albums "Goldenwings" (1976) and
"Magic Time" (1977), both unless receiving rave reviews shamefully overlooked and little successful in their time. If it hadn't been for the Acid Jazz movement in the 90s which brought back the concept of danceable Jazz (and the Rhodes!), OPA would be completely forgotten these days. The music is elegant, grooving latin fusion spiced with guest contributions on vocals, flute and guitar, centered around Hugo Fattoruso’s explosive work on beautiful-sounding Rhodes and a roster of contemporary
synths that sometimes add textures not far away from „Mysterious Traveller“-era
Zawinul. Unlike Azymuth, OPA’s members have long disbanded and gone separate
ways. My thanks to Fantasy for putting their entire work on one great sounding
CD some 10 years ago. A little hard to get these days, but more than worth the search!
|
|
| Name: |
Juergen Martens
|
| Rating: |
5 / 5 |
| Comments: |
One more remark concerning this one: the sound recording quality here is AWESOME! If you want to know how delicate a Rhodes can sound, listen to the intro of "Tombo": it's as if you're right INSIDE the piano - the hammers' gentle touch turns into an almost physical experience. Goosebumps guaranteed. It don't get any better than this, and it' s been done more than 3 decades ago! |
|
|
