MONTREAL INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL: RODRIGO Y GABRIELA

Commentary by Sergio Martinez

This Mexican duo has already been present at the Montreal Jazz Festival in previous editions, so it should have come as no surprise that the Montreal public gathered in large numbers to see their presentation this past Saturday, July 1st, at the Wilfrid Pelletier Hall, Place des Arts.

In the picture, Gabriela plays the acoustic guitar 
and Rodrigo, the electric one (photo Benoit Rousseau)

On this occasion, the projection of visual elements ranging from abstract images to more recognizable forms, and a spectacular display of light effects, marked their presentation from the very start. Precisely, in the beginning, we saw the duo behind what seemed to be some fences, to then see them descend on a sort of bleachers from which they launched their first songs highly inspired by heavy metal, one of the formative sources of the duo, especially Rodrigo.

Rodrigo (photo Benoit Rousseau)

This was then interspersed with songs with more melodic tones, probably picking up something of their Latin roots, including some flamenco reminiscences.

All this while the artists squandered energy on stage, with an admirable vigour (both already entering or very close to 50 years old), and most importantly: keeping the audience immersed in the musical contrast of heavy metal, with sometimes calmer rhythms, always leaving as a trademark, the impeccable workmanship of both with their guitars.

Gabriela (photo Benoit Rousseau)

In short, Rodrigo and Gabriela did not disappoint their local fans and gave them 90 minutes of music where accelerated and powerful rhythms got along very well with other more melodic ones, all with a huge and contagious display of energy on stage.