Vallenato University
Felipe Oņoro | San Jose, SJ Costa Rica | 05/04/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For anyone interested in Vallenato more than casually, this is the first volume of the perfect collection. A beautiful balanced recording brings out the best of this music with the most accurate representation of the traditional Vallenato trio. The five volume collection contains most of what is worth listening; it also contains a very complete booklet (in Spanish) that explains the why, how, who, and when of a 100 years of Vallenato.Volume one contains "El amor amor", one of the oldest songs of this genre. There is also a good rendering of Escalona's "El Testamento", Vallenato's anthem, if one exists. You will also find "La Gota Fria", which Carlos Vives made popular, in a more near-to-its-roots version. There are good examples of the earliest "puyas", "merengues" and "paseos" that are part of Vallenato.I have spent countless hours of joy listening to this incredibly original music and I am sure any real Vallenato fan will enjoy and learn from it as well."