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Cómo era y cómo es
Guaco
Latin World Entertainment Group
by Carlos Giménez
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Named after a white bird symbolic of bad luck, the Venezuelan group Guaco is making a strong arrival with their first release in the U.S. Founded in 1972, this group has redefined gaitas from the Zulia State in the northwestern part of Venezuela. Gaita is a genre that is mainly performed during Christmas and New Year’s with a traditional Conjunto de gaita, composed of a Venezuelan cuatro, furro, tambora and a charrasca, and it was used as a channel of dissent during the dictatorship of the 1950’s. In the Eighties, Guaco added more modern instruments like brass and piano and produced arrangements highly influenced by Cuban songo, but they faithfully kept the characteristic tamborera as a base rhythm.
"Cómo era y cómo es" (How it was and how it is) – with illustrations by famed Venezuelan cartoonist Pedro León "Zapata" – is a compilation of some of the most memorable songs performed by Guaco, spanning a period of over 20 years. A big-band format, highly danceable tunes and lyrics touching on social commentary makes this band comparable only to Cuba’s Los Van Van or Haiti’s Tropicana ensembles. Listen to it, and you’ll want to hear more.
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