Evert Braumuller

Tropicana

 

 

 

Tropicana

Alfredo Remy, his voice and his bongos

With ”The Tropicals”

under the direction of René Landes 

The art of the Latin American is nothing if it is not spontaneous.

Sometime we rather formal Europeans consider this art to be dominated by childishness and almost irresponsibility, but this is rather a false impression that we allow to pass as en opinion. Let us consider the case of Fontana recording artist, Alfredo Remy, as an example. Having been present at a Remy recording session we can assure you that his spontaneous approach is but one helpful feature of a character which shows the qualities of responsibility and co-operation to the full. You have to take our word for it, although we are happy to offer, as part evidence, an EP album which contains some of the results of a recording session almost unique in our experience for its unruffled atmosphere.

Although music is the very lifeblood of the Latin American – with practically no exceptions – there is hardly an artist who plays ore sings a tune which  can be recorded, and passed for cutting on to disc, at the first attempt. As with the production of a film, repeats are essential if the peak of perfection is to be approached. You might feel that this destroys the very quality of spontaneity which we have discussed, but not a bit of it for Alfredo Remy. He is such an artist that constant repetitions only serve to heighten his performances. He is not satisfied until the producer is also completely content: then he begins to feel that the recording has been worthwhile.   

To tell the story of Alfredo Remy would merely be another recital of where he was born, educated, musically  trained etc. but we will spare you that overworked routine. None of those details would help to explain his artistry, or would they assist in tracking down the secret of his successes both in live and broadcast performances.

The evidence, as we have intimated, is on this disc. If we where asked to hazard an opinion we would say that Alfredo Remy is the complete artist because he believes in perfection, and that he is prepared to attain that goal, regardless of the effort and realising that even his own inherent musicianship is as nothing without effort. Happy Listening !