Americas Without Frontiers – Clara Rodriguez

   in Piano International (Mar, 2018)
The multiculturalist side of the Americas is celebrated in this vivacious disc by Venezuelan pianist Clara Rodríguez, from Amerindian to European to Black African. Right from the off, the atmosphere is that of fiesta, with added maracas to Genaro Prieto’s Apure en un iaje, a Venezuelan jaropo.

Colombian Germán Dario Pérez contributes a bambuco, Ancestro, before 17 Piezas infantiles by Venezuelan Antonio Estévez speak of a depth that belies their title. Rodríguez plays this music to the manner born, finding infinite tenderness and nostalgic regret. Two tangos by Nazareth, full of energy (the second is the well known Odéon), lead to a robust account of Gershwin’s Three Preludes before Cuban José …