Los Hidalgo
Los Hidalgo (WEACaribe)
These guys were arguably more exciting as Urbanda, a rock band with some vaguely experimental leanings. But the three brothers at the core — Jesus, Jaime and Jannio, who are all sons of well-known Venezuelan poet and composer Enrique Hidalgo — are a decade older now, and they’ve mellowed like a very fine rum. This self-titled debut as a trio is a considerably more nuanced exercise than anything Urbanda ever did. An exploration of the romantic bolero and its intersections with the classic Cuban son, this is neither a recovery a la Buena Vista or a re-interpretation a la Luis Miguel. It is instead the natural next step, what Trio Los Panchos might have done if they had lived in the 21st Century. As a result, “Los Hidalgo” is a lush sample of tropical rhythms, with strong arrangements that highlight the brothers’ genetically perfect harmonies. Not surprisingly, the old man, Enrique, penned nine of the 12 tracks.