REVIEW

By Adam Harris

For the Gazette

Though Comparsa came together in 2003, Charleston’s premier Latin band is only now releasing its debut CD, “La Nueva Comparsa.”  It comes out just as the band has some high-profile shows around Charleston, including Saturday's FOOTMAD show at the Cultural Center Theater.

Eduardo Canelon, the band’s founder, singer and guitarist, was born in Venezuela and at age 9 moved to Elkins, where he began learning and playing the styles of his native land. Just like the group’s live shows, the music on Comparsa’s CD is peppered with the flavors of Venezuela, Cuba and Mexico.

Overall, the record has plenty of percussive flair. That plus layers upon layers of rhythm and mingling flute and trombone culminate to make all the tunes on “La Nueva Comparsa” instantly and irresistibly danceable.

Each song is in a different style, and the styles span the entire Latin world with sambas, salsas, merengues and bossa novas. The recording, done at Bob Webb’s Treehouse Productions, is well polished and captures the group’s varied sound superbly.

On the title track, singer Canelon plays syncopated strums on the cuatro (a Venezuelan four-string guitar) underneath Elizabeth Segessenman’s flute and Al Peery’s trombone. The jumpy rhythm changes pace about 90 seconds in, and each band member is featured, including bassist Deron Sedoro and percussionist Mark Davis. Toward the finish, Canelon adds a bit of a gritty vocal flair that puts a slight edge on the smooth Latin groove.

Canelon handles most of the vocal duties. In the case of “Sambo de Brazil,” he sings in both English and Spanish, describing the 700-meter Sambodromo in Rio de Janeiro, a dedicated parade space with bleachers on either side. Judging by the song’s sing-along chorus, the music of Comparsa would be right at home at the Sambodromo.

The band’s groove mellows for “Linda Mujer,” which is included twice — once with Spanish lyrics and then restyled and retitled later on the disc as “Beautiful Girl.”

The fire returns with “Pajarillo,” a traditional Venezuelan folk song, and “Vamos a Bailar” (“Let’s Dance”), a bouncy salsa number inspired by the guitar style of Carlos Campos. The album closes with “Guantanamera,” one of the most-recorded Latin American songs of all time and a proven crowd pleaser at Comparsa’s shows.

With “La Nueva Comparsa,” Comparsa has excelled in capturing its vast and varied catalog without any overkill. Each player shows tremendous competency throughout, and at nine tracks and just under 40 minutes, the record is paced perfectly without any filler.

In addition to Saturday’s 8 p.m. FOOTMAD show at the Cultural Center Theater, Comparsa has several CD release parties coming up for “La Nueva Comparsa,” including March 8 at The Vault, March 22 at The Empty Glass and March 29 at Capitol Roasters.

If you go

Comparsa, 8 p.m. Saturday, with free 7 p.m. salsa dance workshop. Adults $18, seniors $15, students $10. Sponsored by FOOTMAD. Cultural Center Theater, state Capitol Complex. Call 415-3668 or visit www.footmad.org.