Cast
Raul Midón — Bandleader, guitarist, singer
Romeir Mendez — Double bassist
Billy Williams — Drummer
Amos Rozenberg — Movie director
Program notes
With a voice as versatile and expressive as the guitar he plays (and the trumpets he imitates so well), Raul Midón is the kind of artist whose music stays with you long after his set finishes. His playing style has an urgent flamenco flair, an ingredient stemming from his descent (his father was an Argentine folkloric dancer), but we soon see how unrestricted Midón is when it comes to genres and categorization … rock, jazz, folk, Latin pop and a whole lot more go into his particular blend.
Joined by well-respected and constantly touring musicians, Midón demonstrates the simple power of his songwriting and the intricacy of his delivery. He is a musician who toes the line between accessibility and sophistication, delivering original songs that must surely be considered modern standards, ones that sit at the intersection between Latin, jazz and conscious pop.
“Bad Ass & Blind” is a particular highlight, a track that refers to Midón’s loss of sight as a baby (he was left in a bright incubator without sufficient eye protection). As such, comparisons with the great Stevie Wonder are inevitable, but besides their shared handicap, both are in possession of a powerful, freewheeling soul, and that is what counts.