CD Review: Parafrasear by Frasis (EGREM 2014)
Review by Bill Tilford, all rights reserved

This is the second album by Frasis, which was founded in 2010 and is directed by violinist Roxana Iglesias Morejón.  The core of the group is a string quartet (2 violins, viola and cello) which builds out with vocals, guitar, percussion, bass and other instruments as needed for different songs.  It does not, however, specialize in Classical music, but rather in the various genres of Cuban popular music with a touch of Fusion, Jazz and Rock mixed  in here and there. 

Although Frasis has recorded several collaborations that include vocals, Parafrasear is mostly instrumental (Bonito y Sabroso does include a coro), but the deft arrangements make this a very danceable album, and the small ensemble sounds much larger than it really is here. 

Skeptical, are we?   Well, here is a live clip of Frasis playing Back To Ireland on Cuban television: 

It will be interesting to see where this group goes in the future. 

Tracks

1. Bonito y Sabroso
2. Lagrimas Negras
3. Back To Ireland
4. Casa Gris
5. Dansamba
6. Para Soñar Contigo
7. String Rock
8. Esfimero
9. Cuando te vas
10. Y la negra bailaba

Personnel in Parafrasear