Juan Marquez ~ Cuba

Marquez (1972)

Juan Marquez was already 40 when he left his native Cuba, and three years later he released this very interesting album while living in Spain. This is a case of another establishment figure getting hip and releasing a timeless album. Think Jean-Claude Vannier, William Sheller, and Sabicas.

Marquez starts off as a fairly typical Latin jazz classical guitar type album and moves slowly over to jazz funk. By A3 you're probably wondering what the big deal is. Then comes the beautiful A4 and we're off to the races. The money side is the flip and by the end you realize you're sitting on a monster psychedelic fuzz jazz funk album like none other. Marquez is the master of pacing. The music stops, then a groove appears followed by a fuzzy solo of organ, guitar, flute, etc.... Stop - groove - jam. Those who sample beats would have a field day with this album. And it appears that yes, old man Marquez is the one laying down some pretty heavy psychedelic solos.

I had started to hear this album online, but once I did, there was no way this could be left out of the collection. 

No reissues exist as of 3/31/25.

Ownership: 1972 UA Latino (LP)

12/21/23 (acquired / review / new entry)

Sintesis - En Busca de una Nueva Flor. 1978 Cuba

Sintesis' debut perfectly captures Latin America's blend of simple romantic singer songwriter music with complex symphonic rock. Though isolated in communist Cuba, Sintesis managed to tap into that same mindset. Whether they obtained music similar on the black market, or were privileged to hear prog albums from Argentina and Venezuela, one cannot say. The compositions are well crafted, and the synthesizer work in particular recalls the more known UK bands from the mid 70s. Fine electric guitar as well. Female vocals in Spanish add to the allure. En Busca de una Nueva Flor remains the sole progressive rock album I own from Cuba. I enjoyed a +1 listen on this revisit.

Ownership: CD: 1997 Sol & Deneb (Mexico). Fine reissue with a short history of the band in Spanish. Features 2 bonus tracks, both from their 1981 self titled second album. I presume these to be the most progressive rock oriented songs from that album, but I've never heard it in full. This CD features unique artwork, and is the 3rd cover to do so. The second LP issue was released in Mexico, and I suspect that is the source of this CD as well.

4/6/16; 6/21/22 (new entry)