This new album with unreleased recordings of Enrique “Mono” Villegas is released simultaneously with the book of the same name and contains precious recordings that in a way complete his "official" discography. On one hand, a gem from Carlos Melero's archive: the recording of the concert given in 1974 at the Vélez Sarsfield football stadium in Buenos Aires, before more than 20,000 spectators, alongside the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Catalan Jacques Bodmer (1924-2014).
In this concert organized by the national government and televised by Canal 13, Villegas was the soloist for George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," a piece he himself had premiered in Argentina in 1932. This recording allows us to hear Mono playing like a classical pianist following a score, although it's a work of popular inspiration to which a musician like him adds all the swing that his jazz knowledge allows.
The rest of the album consists of three home recordings made in 1955 at the pianist's home, just before his trip to the United States, where he would live for a few years. His partner on these recordings is none other than Bebe Eguía, another pioneer of Argentine jazz on tenor saxophone. This material is not available on streaming platforms.
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