REVIEW BY BILL NEVINS
Raza D'Oro
Concepto Tambor
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Concepto Tambor are moving into new places, filled with gente (good people), stuffed with soul (alma). Jam-packed dance-shows at the Launchpad, the Golden West and Burt's Tiki Lounge. Performing tours to Los Angeles and other strange spots. New faces, new instruments, new sounds. Riddim-drenched marches up and down Central Avenue on steamy Burque nights. A new, stunning cd, Raza D'Oro.
These finely mad musicians are truly the great many-toned "Race of the Sun". Primal roots in the drum beats of ancient time now pulsing into this weird new world we all must face, one way or the other. Might as well face it smiling and dancing, que no?
Concepto Tambor would likely give that rhetorical question a loud "Si!" for an answer. They are perhaps New Mexico's most life-affirming in-your-face multicultural rockin' percussive posse. And they are downright fearless — stylistically, lyrically, even politically, as Raza D'Oro demonstrates so well.
Founder, lead drummer, multi-instrumentalist and lyric writer Christian Orellana sets that courageous, forthright tone in Concepto's new song "Toy Soldiers". Orellana calls it like it is, and doesn't mince words when talking about (and back to) the death-tripping ghouls currently crouched in the White House. "That song may just get me deported", he quips, "but hey! That's the way I see it."
Concepto Tambor have attitude, and a high degree of political consciousness — playing benefits for many good causes — but their primary mission is to shake your butt. You won't find a better dance ensemble this side of that imaginary line that separates the US from the wild and beautiful lands and musics to its south. With members whose personal histories and cultural riches reach into Brazil, Peru, Puerto Rico and Bolivia as well as New Mexico, this sextet is a treasure-trove of musical wonder.
Alongside Christian Orellana in the Concepto up-and-dancing lineup (everybody in the front line!) are Monica Delgado, Matt Watkins, Lynx Lightning, Michael Jaramillo and Tony Carlos Parana Rodriguez. Who plays what? Well, you really have to be there. At a Concepto show, it truly seems like everybody plays everything! Drums, whistles, flutes and some mysterious stringed bow instruments that you must hear to believe!
It's not surprising that every Concepto Tambor show is different from the last one, and better in many ways. Does this band ever have a bad night? No-one I know has ever been to one. And everybody I know who hears Concepto Tambor goes back for more. Y mas y mas y mas.
Take a taste of life. Take a taste of Concepto Tambor on Raza D'Oro.
Concepto Tambor are always expanding their range of venues, now dividing their time between New Mexico and Southern California, (where they often jam with comrades-in-arms Stoic Frame). Who knows where they will tour next? There is no limit in this world for a unique and hopeful band like Concepto Tambor.
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, August 4, 2004.
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