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Paragons of Plena
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WorldBeatPlanet, Paragons of Plena >>
Plena Libre Estamos Gozando! (Times Square Records TSQCD 9039, 2004) Ten years and as many albums down the line, Puerto Rico's Plena Libre continue to champion the musical form their name bespeaks. Plena is one of the two most prominent African-rooted styles (bomba being the other) that originated on the island over a century ago, one that was nearly blotted out by the emergence of salsa as a more dominant force commercially. Granted, there are similarities between plena and salsa, but differences are readily discernible. Plena has a more distinctly folksy edge, looser arrangements that still make you want to dance your limbs off and a more bottom heavy feel via the use of panderos (frame drums), richer bass lines and, in the case of Plena Libre, multiple trombones. These elements were all part of bassist/bandleader Gary Núñez's original plan to modernize plena without wiping out its origins. 06/09/04 >> go there
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