Xavier Diaz – Noró (Músicas de Salitre, 2018)
On Noró, vocalist and percussionist Xavier Diaz revisits and transforms the traditional folk songs and dances of Galicia (northwestern Spain). It’s a tribute to the musics of northern Galicia. He collaborates with a group of female percussionists and vocalists called Adufeiras de Salitre, who use square frame drums known as pandeiro cuadrado or adufe, as well as the Alvarez brothers who contribute zanfona (hurdy gurdy) and accordion.
The material on Noró includes a wide range of traditional genres: xota (a dance also known as jota), cantares, follón, pasodobre (pasodoble), agarrado, ribeirana, muiñeiras, aña, baile llano, ronda, mazurka, and carballesas.
Xavier Diaz is an innovator in terms of arrangements and follows the path of Eliseo Parra, who renovated Spanish folk music. It’s contemporary folk music deeply rooted in tradition.
The lineup on Noró includes Xavier Diaz on vocals and percussion; Gutier Álvarez on zanfona and fiddle; Javier Álvarez on diatonic accordion; Cristina Pico on vocals and percussion; Iria Penabad on vocals and percussion; Montse García on vocals and percussion; Patricia Gamallo on vocals and percussion; Maite López on vocals and percussion; Noemi Basanta on vocals and percussion; Carolina Vázquez on vocals and percussion; Bea Mariño on vocals and percussion; Lidia Sanmartín on vocals and percussion; Gisela Sanmartín on vocals and percussion; Icía Sanmartín (vocals and percussion); and Mariña García on vocals and percussion.
Noró features insistent frame drum energy and superbly expressive vocals.
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Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
