Plena Libre – Amores en el Camino (Gn Musica, 2017)
Plena Libre, one of the great Puerto Rican bands rooted in tradition is back with another outstanding recording titled Amores en el Camino. The 12-piece powerhouse combines captivating rhythms like plena and bomba with jazz, salsa and global music elements.
The album opens with “Puerto Rico,” a song dedicated to this beautiful island that has suffered so much recently. This song signifies the Puerto Rican melting pot, where Afro-rooted traditions meet the Spanish poetic and guitar tradition in the form of the cuatro guitar, performed by guest Christian Nieves.
Amores en el Camino contains songs by band leader, bassist Gary Núñez and a new generation of plena songwriters.
On Amores en el Camino you’ll find other remarkable guests such as trumpet meaestro Luis “Perico” Ortiz and the steel drum from neighboring Trinidad and Tobago.
Amores en el Camino (Love’s Journey) received support from the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña and the National Endowment for the Arts.
With Amores en el Camino, Plena Libre demonstrates that it’s a the forefront of Puerto Rican music, showcasing the best of the island’s musical traditions.
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.
