MSR031 La Retreta Mayor – Zambo

Matasuna’s latest tidbit takes us back to the South American continent once again – to Venezuela to be exact. The song Zambo by the band La Retreta Mayor, which was released in 1976 on the LP of the same name, is now available as an official reissue and the very first time ever on a 7inch vinyl single! The 45 is complemented by an excellent rework of the American producer & DJ King Most from San Francisco.

The A-side features the original of the song. Zambo is a furious mix with versatile influences of Latin, Jazz & Funk. The rich horn section and percussion of the guest quartet bring pure heat to the track – the drums, bass and piano intensify this even more. An absolute heater for the dance floor!

The B-side features the King Most Redirection. The talented producer gently takes on the song, keeping the organic vibe of the original but still giving it a different, new side. His re-arrangement and additional in/outro and a new passage in the middle of the song fit exquisitely. Also his crunchy drums and own piano passages are very tasty and give the song an own flavour!

Artist info

Alexandro Rodríguez was born in Caracas in 1952 and is considered one of Venezuela’s most important jazz guitarists of the seventies. He studied classical guitar in his early years, played electric guitar in various rock groups and performed at various national music festivals. He also had the opportunity to play as a musician for renowned orchestras such as Onda Nueva, Renny Show’s Orchestra on Venezuelan Television and Radio Caracas TV’s Orchestra.

In the late 1970’s he recorded two significant works that may be considered a reference in Venezuelan music history. He formed the short-lived band La Retreta Mayor to record a self-titled album, which was released as an LP on the Venezuelan label Discomoda in 1976. The 10-piece band and numerous guest musicians created a jazzfunk & fusion gem. The band unfortunately broke up right after the recording and did not play live or record any more music.

His self-released album Busqueda, released in 1978 under his name, was recorded between New York and Caracas and has an excellent reputation not only in connoisseur circles. In 2012, the album was reissued on CD by a Japanese label, proving the influence Alexandro’s music still has in the jazz scene today.

Between 1979 and 1982, Alexandro lived in New York, where he worked as a composer, arranger, performer and orchestrator in the jazz scene with renowned orchestras before returning to Venezuela. Subsequently, his musical career turned to the classical guitar, both as a composer and performer. In 2013, he settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA), where he continues his activity as composer, arranger, guitarist, bassist and teacher to the present time.