Silvio Rodríguez

by Craig Harris The tender balladry offsets the hard-edged, politically slanted lyrics of Silvio Rodriguez. A spearhead of the nueva trova (new ballad) style of nueva cancion (new song), Rodriguez masterfully blends romantic tunes with protest material condemning colonization and the tyranny that swept through Latin America in the late 60s and early 70s. Inspired by French chanson, Rodriguez recorded his debut album in 1976. Although his early albums showcased his solo acoustic guitar playing and silken vocals, Rodriguez increasingly incorporated the accompaniment of electric instrumentation. His 1992 album, Silvio marked his first all-acoustic album in 14 years. On his album, Causas y Azares, Rodriguez was accompanied by the heavily rhythmic sounds of Afro-Cuban jazz.