Album Notes

Puntas de Arerunguá (2005)

Reviewed by The Polka Page (http://www.nostradamus.net/polka_page.htm)

"Hot polkas from Uruguay, played on button accordion by Walter Roldán accompanied by guitar, violin, electric bass and percussion. Sounds a bit like Vallenato (an afro-caribbean style from Colombia) or cumbia. I imagine that the Buena Vista Social Club would sound like this if they were playing polkas."


Los Gauchos de Roldán



"Los Gauchos de Roldán" were formed in Tacuarembó, Uruguay in 1986 by accordion master Walter Roldán. Together they perform authentic music and dance from the rural areas of Uruguay. The origins are rhythms and melodies brought by European immigrants that were adapted by Uruguayans, giving them a distinct tone and color. There are influences, as well, from Afro-Uruguayans. The traditional instruments are the two-row button accordion and the guitar. Walter comes from a family of traditional musicians and learned to play the button accordion from his father and grandmother.
"Los Gauchos de Roldán" are a fixture at one of Uruguay's most important folkloric festivals, "La Fiesta de la Patria Gaucha", in Tacuarembó, Uruguay, performing every year for the past 19 years. On their 2005 tour of North America they are performing at such venues as: Chicago World Music Festival, Madison World Music Festival, and the Kennedy Center. Walter participated in a world tour with Uruguayan singer Numa Moraes in 2003, performing in: Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and Cuba.
"Los Gauchos de Roldán" consist of: Walter Roldán on button accordion, José María Sanchez on first guitar and vocals, Gerardo Pedrozo on second guitar and vocals, accompanied by the young dancers: Carlos Alemán and Silvia Bas. All are from Uruguay.
In their performances they explain the roots and history of the music as they demonstrate the various rhythms, dances, and styles found in Uruguay as well as the neighboring countries: Brazil, and Argentina. They perform styles such as: polca, vals, shotis, mazurka, habanera, tango, milonga, chamarrita, chamamé, vanera, maxixa, and vanerao.