Critics Count

 5~Herencia with Herencia 

For starters, as a riddle of sorts, an ingenious title crowns this album. Maybe in tune with the Afro Cuban presence, its rituals and tunes, or perhaps in synchrony with the powerful brotherhood of benevolent presences that in each key moment of his existence, the composer has invoked to gear in his favor, to guide his steps as to embark on the most dissimilar paths and yet obtain favorable results. 

“5~herencia” could be a kind of signature, a code written in the stars, a magic shortcut through which one could revisit wonders of the Cuban musical pantheon, a kind of call for attention, and music to your ears, perhaps even a secret code to access certain mysteries of the universe. Regardless, the most revealing part of the journey is to rediscover the compositional world of Guillermo Fragoso that, surprisingly, beats now just as it did in his musical beginnings.  

Therein lies the pure enjoyment of this album where in each one of its cuts, with a pulsating and colorful rhythmic map, melodious and harmonious -inevitably- it begins to show us the profound spirituality of an instrumentalist, composer and interpreter who, beyond the domain of his trade, displays to us his truth. From the afro montuno “Arere Oh” to the sensuality of “Ile Wa”, the spiritual profoundness of “Ifa Yoko”, the noncombustible warmth and feeling of Fragoso in the bolero, to the spiritual crudeness of the makutas, through it all, Guillermo Fragoso’s soul vibrates. 

Just as his elders (ancestors) (because it has always been that way till today) he is not conscious of the richness, diversity and reach of his compositional realm, being this naivety one of the most outstanding points of support of the album where through its complexity, the pulse of this guitarist, bass player and composer vibrates, and whose perseverance has guided him to transit numerous paths. From his beginnings with the trova where figures of Cuban popular music such as Felito Molina and Rafael Lay (presences in his life since infancy, in Cienfuegos) to the ups and downs of a period with little inclination for Cuban rock in the island, and being member of the band “Los Gnomos” and “The Apaches” to the incessant period of overcoming hurdles, brought him to enroll in composition studies with Dr. Jose Loyola, of orchestra direction with professor Jose Lopez Marin, and contrapunto, harmony and polyphony with professor Sergio Fernandez Barroso.

Thus, in a way, the proverbial history among musicians is repeated. Where this seasoned creator perceives incoherency, paradoxically, from that natural and spontaneous diversity of his compositional act, we find cohesion. It is the work of an artist consistent with his essence.  Touched by this energy, this album is prodigious with fortunate collaborations and confluences. That is how the group orbits in perfection. Guillermo Fragoso Jr. (violin); Alejandro Delgado (fliscorno/bugle); Tony Gonzalez (trumpet); Javier Zalba (saxo soprano and baritone); Pablo Cruz (High sax); the already mythical bass player Horacio “El negro” Hernandez; Julio Guerra and Barbaro Valdez (congas and bata drums), Nestor del Prado (base) who as an author added quite a makuta, conceived initially as a tune for 2 electric bases, dedicated to his ancestor, Mambi General Silverio del Prado y Pacheco, and a final tune encapsulated in his conceptual “psychodelia afrocubana”; 

Michelle Fragoso (keyboard) with the ballad “Salvame” who shares vocals with Laura Cardenas, adds an opportune touch of freshness, managing to add substance to the production of this album, and the singular spiritual connection with his father. Under the ancestral and luminous guard of the orishas, and an elderly liberator, like a sunflower, the paths of this album are already wide open. 

Rene Espi

Songwriter, Producer and Musicologist

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To The Fragoso Rhythm 

 The blend of boleros, Afrocuban music, and other genres achieved by virtuoso Guillermo Fragoso on this project is admirable. His fusion of various musical genres become something unique, attractive, and exceptional. 

Each tune of this compilation radiates the sentiments of a musical master, characterized by his talent and academia, and such a mix is a truly gift to the senses. The emotional depth and passion that surge from his music are quite moving. Filled with energy and rhythm, his music inspires a contagious sentiment that serves as a balm to the soul. It is impressive how the mastery of language, harmony, Yoruba music, and Afrocuban rhythms blend into a magical amalgam of sound and feelings. His capacity to integrate himself with a unique style is astonishing. This is a production that merits the attention of all music lovers.

Congratulations for an exceptional work of art!

Enrique Cordoba

Colombian journalist and writer who resides in Miami