EXPOSE, No. 17, May 1999
Baja Diary '99
Tempano from Venezuela opens the festival proper, playing three tunes from their 1979 album "Atabal Yemal", three bonus tracks from the reissue of same, and three complete new tunes, presumably from a forthcoming CD. The band was very tight and well-rehearsed, and generally stuck to the to the longer instrument suites, often evoking memories of early Crimson, Camel, Happy The Man as well as some distinctive jazz-fusion tendencies. Guitarist/vocalist Pedro Castillo drove the band's sound over the top, while bassist Miguel Echevarreneta kept the bottom end animated. Drummer Gerardo Ubieda held it together with precision, affirming his reputation as Venezuela's answer to Bill Brufford, while keyboardist Della Noce pulled and amazing variety of sounds out of a single keyboard. The crowd showed their appreciation with a lengthy standing O, but regrettably the house lights came on before the band could do an encore.
