Rating:
Genre:
Latin
Release Date: 05/20/2008
Run Time: 0:00
One of the most tragic moments in duranguense history came in December 2007, when the 34-year-old
Sergio Gómez (lead singer of the popular Chicago-based band
K-Paz de la Sierra) was kidnapped at gunpoint along with two music promoters after a show in Morelia in the Mexican state of Michoacán; the promoters were later released, but
Gómez was found dead alongside a highway near the town of Chiquimitio. Law enforcement officials in Michoacán told the media that
Gómez had been tortured and died of strangulation, although the motive for his murder remained unclear. Various
Gómez tributes followed his death, including
Para Recordar: En Memoria de Sergio ("To Remember: In Memoria of Sergio"). This May 2008 release offers remakes of songs that
K-Paz de la Sierra recorded when
Gómez (who joined the group in 2002) was alive, and many of them were major hits in the regional Mexican market. Serious
K-Paz de la Sierra fans will recognize
"Jambalaya" (a Spanish-language version of
Hank Williams, Sr.'s 1952 country hit),
"Volveré," "Mi Credo," "Si Tu Te Fueras de Mi," "Pero Te Vas a Arrepentir," "Y Aquí Estoy," "Con Olor a Hierba" and
"Procuro Olvidarte," all of which are performed in the bouncy duranguense style that
Gómez was known for. Duranguense has been quite diverse in the 21st century, ranging from ranchera-minded artists performing
José Alfredo Jiménez standards to more experimental artists who might combine duranguense with anything from cumbia to hip-hop; the popular
los Horóscopos de Durango have even combined duranguense with Dominican bachata. This release, meanwhile, has a romantic orientation and a strong Latin pop appeal; rhythmically, the 35-minute disc is very duranguense, but lyrically and melodically, the Latin pop element is quite strong. Those with a casual interest in duranguense would be better off searching for a
K-Paz de la Sierra best-of containing the original versions of these songs; nonetheless,
Para Recordar: En Memoria de Sergio is a pleasant
Gómez tribute that will interest hardcore fans of his contributions to
K-Paz de la Sierra.
~Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
;)
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