OBRAS DE VIOLETA PARRA

The track list shows 10 songs of Violeta Parra, but what lies inside this album is an incredible work of Los Jaivas based on the original songs.

It was in the beginning of the 80's when Los Jaivas started to work over Violetas' songs, and they played some ones live in Paris. It was the 80's, but Los Jaivas kept complete apart of the current stream and all the metamorphosis in several groups. "Obras de Violeta Parra" is a perfect mix of Chilean roots with rock elements. For instance, the first instrument that is heard is a trutruca, in the wonderful intro of 'Arauco Tiene una Pena', and then is followed with a synthesizer, showing from the beginning the collage of cultures and sounds to be heard. The first half of the song is pure prog, among pianos, electric guitars, basses, trutrucas and synths. But then appears Violeta, it starts the folk rhythms and the lyrics about the Araucanians (Mapuches) and all his suffering through the centuries, first under the Spanish gun, and now under the Chileans itself.

This is what "Obras de Violeta Parra" is, not just covers but further arrangements allowing Los Jaivas making one of their best jobs.

There are also a couple of instrumental songs, the 11+ minutes 'El Gavilán', and the well known 'Run Run Se Fue Pa'l Norte'. Maybe this last one is not all the good it could be, maybe because 'El Gavilán' is a great song.

The lyrics are all so familiar to this land, talking about the araucanians in 'Arauco Tiene una Pena' and 'El Guillatún', about miners working in infra-human conditions (which still is true in one way or another) in 'Y Arriba Quemando el Sol', or simply about Chile and our culture, in 'Violeta Ausente', including that break with purely Chileans voices ("salió el ultimo Condorito.").

About 'Violeta Ausente', one of the highlights, it's amazing to hear Claudio Parra, in the intro of the song, playing the piano as if it were a harp. If you don't pay attention you simply think it's a harp (in fact, my mother and brother thought that until I told them).

'Un Río de Sangre' is sung by Isabel Parra, Violeta's daughter, and sings about the injustice in the history of Latin America, from Manuel Rodriguez to Emiliano Zapata.

Also is present the trademark on the drums of Gabriel Parra, his unique style, particularly on 'Mañana Me Voy Pa'l Norte', where is found the same drumming and the same sequence of 'Mambo de Machaguay', first in 4/4 and then in 4/5.

The album closes with a short accordion version of 'Que Pena Siente el Alma', one of the most popular songs of Violeta. The album is over, but not the music, which remains in my mind until I hear it again.

I think if you know Los Jaivas but you haven't heard this album yet, you'll get a good surprise, because "Obras de Violeta Parra" might be their best and purest work. And if you don't have any album of Los Jaivas, this is a great opportunity to get into, very progressive, sounding similar at moments to PREMIATA FORNERIA MARCONI. In fact, I highly recommend this one to PFM fans (and I consider myself a PFM fan).

Five stars for one of the bests albums of the most important rock band in Chile. These 77 minutes are nothing but a masterpiece.

Share this LOS JAIVAS review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Proglodita
• Report this review (#149329)
• Buy LOS JAIVAS music online with PA partners
• Show all LOS JAIVAS MP3/Stream
• Go to LOS JAIVAS page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Obras De Violeta Parra page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for LOS JAIVAS related discussions