José Luis Fernández-Ledesma: avant from Mexico

Here are reviews for some of this guy’s albums in other prog e-zines:

 

“Al Filo” - http://www.progressor.net/review/jlflq_2002.html

“Sol Central” - http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=jlflq-sc

“Designios” - http://www.progressor.net/review/jlflq_2003.html

                    http://www.tarkus.org/reviews/ledesma.html

“La Paciencia de Job” - http://www.progressor.net/review/jlflq_2007.html

This guy is amazingly busy. Had he released his compositions for documentary, theater and modern dance opuses, his discogrpahy would even be vaster than it already is. Before the end of 2007 he reselased "Híbridos", while simultaneously filling the guitar-keyboard duties in Saena, a newly formed supergroup of Mexican avantgarde musicians (Margarita Botello is also a member on voice, piano and accordion)... but that's a subjetc for another thread.

avestin wrote: Just saw this. Don't know who's supposed to give you any news about this, but I'd be interested in taking him for Avant; is that ok? If so, do you have a bio of this musician and his discography to add the albums?

Here's the bio.-

José Luis FERNÁNDEZ LEDESMA is a big name in the Mexican avant-garde musical scene. He is acknowledged as an adventurous creator and a proficient musician: his performing skills include guitars, keyboards, various ethnic wind, string and percussion instruments, something like a Mike OLDFIELD with a RIO heart. His first steps in the world of prog took place in NIRGAL VALLIS, a band contemporary of ICONOCLAST and others, that never got to release a proper LP. After the band disbanded, FERNÁNDEZ LEDESMA began his solo venture determined to explore his unique musical vision. Singer/keyboardist Margarita BOTELLO is his recurrent partner in almost all his records. His music has been publicly eulogized by Chris CUTLER, as stated in the liner notes of the “Sol Central” album. In early 2007 he began the SAENA project, a symphonic prog band formed by veterans (just like him), but his solo career remains active.

 

The writing and arranging modus operandi for FERNÁNDEZ LEDESMA’s material is profoundly based on atmospheres, going from the ethereal to the somber and from the dreamy to the inscrutable, always dense and mysterious, at times colorful, other times grayish. The combination of acoustic and electric instruments bears enough amounts of mixing console processes as to make the original sounds go somewhere else. Instead of using traditional instruments according to the standards of fusion and prog-folk, what FERNÁNDEZ LEDESMA does is incorporate these ancient items as parts of the sonic amalgam that would match his modernistic vision. Influences range from krautrock (POPOL VUH, CAN, early 70s TD) to RIO (ART BEARS, HENRY COW, UNIVERS ZERO), as well as the avant-garde chamber music pioneered by Cage, Stockhausen and others. “Al Filo” comprises a dominant sinister tendency, while “Sol Central” displays a more developed sense of colorfulness. Albums such as “La Paciencia de Job” and “Híbridos” may lean closer to one trend or another. “Designios” stands out as a special exception to the rule, since its repertoire is a venture in the fields of symphonic-meets-folk prog, in this way exposing a not-so-usual melodic side of FERNÁNDEZ LEDESMA – it includes new versions of two old NIRGAL VALLIS tracks. Through the years, he has created music for theater, contemporary ballet and documentary films, and collaborated with other avant-garde artists (ALQUIMIA, OXOMAXOMA, etc.). Additionally, he works as a sound engineer and producer.    

 

JOSÉ LUIS FERNÁNDEZ LEDESMA’s recordings are definitely a must for all lovers of avant-garde music dominantly based on mysterious atmospheres and dense ambiences. His music is real sonic painting, more than conventional music.  

 

SOL CENTRAL   (2000)

Luna Negra

 

Tracklist

Sol Central  (I – VII)

1. Datura Inoxia  (5:55)
2. Amnesia  (3:18)
3. El Avatar  (4:12)
4. Por los Cuatro Costados  (3:46)
5. La Gran Feria  (3:47)
6. Ciencias Celestes  (8:26)
7. La de los Acertijos  (6:27)
8. Pueblos Perdidos  (9:03)

 

Total time  44:57

 

 

- José Luis Fernández Ledesma / string instruments, keyboards, percussion, kalimba, ocarinas, sonic manipulations, vocals

- Margarita Botello / vocals, synthesizer, percussion

 

Guest musicians:

- Germán Bringas / sax, trumpet 

- Alquimia / vocals, atmospheres

- Marcela Albear / oboe

- Leonardo Patiño / loops

 

Cover image: http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/images/JLFLQ-SC.jpg

 

 

 

AL FILO   (2002)

Luna Negra

 

Tracklist

1. Las Siete Columnas  (10:10)
2. Presencias  (3:41)
3. Oniromante  (5:09)
4. Espejismo  (7:14)
5. El Triángulo  (7:46)
6. Ojo de Venado  (6:21)
7. Las Cuatro Imágenes  (24:39)
    [I. La Noria  II. Día Interno  III. Mirándome Mirarme  IV. Una Larga Agonía]

8. El Enyerbao  (4:29)

 

Total time  69:29

 

 

- José Luis Fernández Ledesma / electric, acoustic & 12-string guitars, keyboards, bass, lute, vihuela, autoharp, kalimba, autoharp, djembe, flutes, ocarina ,cymbals, vocals, electronic processes

- Margarita Botello / vocals, santur, huehuetl, ayoyotl, synthesizer, bells, cymbals, maraccas

 

Guest Musicians

- Germán Bringas / soprano sax 

- Raúl Flores / ethnic percussion 

 

Cover image: http://gnosis2000.net/pics/ledesmaalfilo.jpg

 

 

 

DESIGNIOS   (2003)

Luna Negra

 

Tracklist

1. Ave Luz  (7:58)
2. Muro Ciego  (3:53)
3. Saena  (7:32)
4. Canción Para un Día  (6:36)
5. Abismo  (4:20)
6. Los Designios de Géminis  (17:53)
7. Punta Cometa  (8:44)

 

Total time  56:56

 

 

- José Luis Fernández Ledesma / electric, acoustic & 12-string guitars, synthesizers, electric piano, bass, mandolin, flutes, ethnic woodwinds and percussion, effects

- Margarita Botello / vocals, autoharp, percussion

 

Guest musicians:

- Hernán Hecht / drums 

- Raúl Flores / percussion 

- Alejandro Sánchez / violin 

- Vitali Roumanov / cello  

- Hugo Santos / stick

- JulioSandoval / bass

- Fernando Domínguez / clarinet

 

Cover image: http://gnosis2000.net/pics/ledesmadesignios.jpg

 

 

 

LA PACIENCIA DE JOB   (2006)

Luna Negra

 

Tracklist

1. Leyenda  (8:03)    

2. Naufragio  (8:17)   

3. Jardín de los Senderos  (8:48)

4. Palabras Como Astros  (7:04)    

5. No te Pude Contestar  (3:47)           

6. Los Jueces del Mundo  (11:04)   

7. Vidas Atrás / Noche  (11:43)

8. Donde Nadie  (1:25)

9. Paciencia Infinita  (9:28)

 

Total time  69:39 

 

 

- José Luis Fernández Ledesma / electric, acoustic & 12-string guitars, synthesizers, grand & electric pianos, bass, lute, vihuela, harmonium, flute, melodica, xylophone, darbuka, ethnic woodwinds and percussion, vocals, electronic processes

- Margarita Botello / vocals, piano, santur, harmonium, percussion, ocarinas, synthesizer

 

Guest musicians:

- Gustavo Albarrán / French horn 

- Juan Carlos Ruiz / bassoon 

- David Ball / bassoon

- Alejandro Sánchez / violin 

- Ramón Nakash / violin

- Vitali Roumanov / cello  

- Ediardo Meléndez / baritone sax

- Carlos Bonequi / drums

 

Cover image: http://www.diskpol.com/images/cat/0028/28710.jpg

 

Fantastic, Cesar, thank you very much!!! I'll add him later today when I have some free time at work.

avestin wrote: Ledesma Q., José Luis Fernández  added   Is Ledesma indeed his last name?       Thanks for all the info Cesar