Silvio Rodríguez made a name for himself among artists like
Carlos Puebla and
Pablo Milanés as one of Cuba's
Bob Dylan-esque social and political critics of the '60s and '70s. Though still certainly true to his roots, playing predominantly acoustic ballads with pensive, brooding content,
Rodríguez opens up the doors a little wider on his 2003 recording,
Cita con Ángeles, to include a wider range of topic and musical voice. Though intense and poetic no matter the subject,
Rodríguez lends his voice to matters of the heart on "Quiero Cantarte un Beso" and "Letra de Piel." His dedication to speak his mind on the events of our world are not neglected either, with plenty of unapologetically political material such as "Sinuhé," using the ancient Egyptian/Syrian character as a mode for discussing the war in Iraq; or on the title track, which addresses a history of political assassinations. Though typically opting for sparse instrumentation, there are glimpses on the record of
Rodríguez's connection to the Latin jazz world, with guest spots by such luminaries as
Juan Formell,
Tata Güines, and
Chucho Valdés. Though perhaps not a groundbreaking work,
Rodríguez is still an active voice for his people. Perhaps a voice that all could profit from hearing. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez