Pelo De Rata

Details:
Vinyl Only / Heavyweight Vinyl / 300 Gram White-White Double Coated Paper / Handily Gluing / PVC Outersleeve / Insert with liner notes insert by Tony Higgins and graphic elaboration picture of Matias Pizarro printed on Gmund Color Metallic 59.

Personnel:
Matias Pizarro - piano, vocal
Alejandro Rivera - guitarra, charango, quena, vocal
Hector "finito" Bingert - saxofone
Pocho Lapouble - bateria
Bo Gathu - baixo
Domingo Cura - percussão
Enrique Roizner - percussão

Notes:
To escape the oppressive atmosphere, Pizarro went to Argentina, joining the many exiled Chileans fleeing the violence of Pinochet's regime. It was in this febrile context that Pizarro crafted 'Pelo de Rata', his one and only solo album. Stylistically, it references the classic era US jazz fusion of Return to Forever and Miles as well as other Latin/South American fellow travellers such as Azymuth; but for all of that, it's still very much Pizarro's album. His facility on the keys is fluid and relaxed, yet razor sharp with the right attack to drive the music home.

The furious opening title track sets the stage for the album: jazz of the highest calibre textured with Pizarro's electric piano and a pulsing rhythm section that demands the physical response. In less than a minute, 'Anamlor' is a solo piano piece demonstrating Pizarro's sophisticated ear for melody and rhythm. It's a wonderful bridge to the next track, 'Pero Que Ladra no Muerdre', which soars away as Pizarro's piano paints vivid colours. Each flourish is seasoned with suggestions of Andean musical styles. Indeed, the strength of the album lies in the range of music performed and the lovely sparse ballad of 'Una Flor Tras la Montana' exemplifies Pizarro's intimate characteristics, almost child-like in its simple beauty. 'Secuencia' flows like a clear stream, the swirls and currents of Pizarro's lines bouncing off the rhythm section, suggesting at free playing but keeping enough melody to maintain an anchor for the listener to follow a steady path. Head-nodding, deep grooves are provided by 'Nordeste'. The insistent bass line pulses along as sax adds colourful tones and percussion percolates away underneath. Then a gear change: stabs and washes of electric piano over angular bass and fizzing cymbals. This is hard, driving fusion at its best. The album finishes with 'Do y Sol', an intoxicating number that transports the listener to the balmy, exotic climes of South America. It's an invitation hard to ignore. Come join the party.