Review: El Trio - Las Manos (2013)

Artist: El Trio
Album: Las Manos
Year: 2013
Label: Self released

Review: Diego Camargo

Rate: 

Thoughts: El Trio (as the name in Spanish tells us) is a Prog/Jazz Rock trio from a place that probably many of you have never heard of: Dominican Republic.

A little bit of geography now: Dominican Republic is located in Central America next to Haiti and Puerto Rico.

El Trio is formed by Jonatan Piña Duluc (vocals, guitars and saxophones), Kilrin Peña (bass) and Johandy Ureña (drums). But on Las Manos (2013), their third album, they also had many other musicians helping them to shape their sophisticated sound with percussions, acoustic guitars, flute and backing vocals.

First of all, Las Manos (2013) has a delicious Latin approach, and the lyrics in Spanish just made the album better and different than the everyday English Prog bands.
Second, the album is almost completely Jazz Rock with Latin Jazz influences.

Right on track one ‘Desconectar’ (one of my favorites) you can feel their unique blend of styles. Latin Rock united with Jazz Rock and everything packed with astonishing musicianship.
On Las Manos (2013) Jonatan wrote with many different styles without sounding too force, thanks to the band’s clever arrangements.
‘Tanto Amor’, ‘Buenas Noches’ and ‘Ojo Artificial’ just confirm what I have just said. All different compared to each other but with the band’s sound on them.
On top of everything, Jonatan’s voice is absolutely great!
But, for me, it’s no surprise to see such an ‘unknown’ band with that high quality. They’ve been playing together for over 10 years. This only tells me that you can never get anything for granted just because you were born in England, USA or whatever else. You just have to be REALLY good!

And when you think you had heard everything the band could offer they bring on ‘Canción Sin Nombre’. A weird and wonderful mix of Latin unconventional beats with Fusion. Can you imagine that?
‘Canterbule Pt. III’ reminds me a bit of Caravan and Soft Machine and I think that was exactly the intention here.

‘Reir Pa No Llorar’ is another Latin influenced song but with a twist, heavy riffs and a catchy melody.
‘No Somo Indio’ (We’re Not Indians) sounds like a statement to me. Very often the world tends to see South American and Spanish speaking countries in the wrong way. Being a Brazilian myself I completely understand that. El Trio is trying to let the world know the truth with a very heavy track.

Closing the album we follow with the heavy track (but mixed with some Jazz) ‘Uanabi’ and the ballad ‘Fuentes’. This last one would do great in any Rock Radio in the world (at least the ones that were not bought by record labels).

Las Manos (2013) is a great surprise to my ears! El Trio was able to record a great album with excellent musicianship, great production and astonishing and inspired compositions. And what’s best, with a great and wide variety of influences and yet having unity.
Open your mind (and ears) to the great sounds, doesn’t matter from where they come from!

Highly recommended!

The band was included in our Podcast #25 and you can listen the track 'Desconectar' HERE.