Claudio Gabis Y La Pesada - Claudio Gabis (2001)

Claudio Gabis (Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 18, 1949) is a guitarist, composer and educator, recognized as one of the founders of the rock movement in Argentina and a pioneer of blues in that country.1 Among his contributions are include those he made with the Manal trio -the first group to compose blues in Spanish-, considered along with Almendra and Los Gatos, a founding group of Argentine rock,2 in addition to being one of the best guitarists in his country.

Claudio Gabis, tremendous guitarist, member of Los Abuelos de la Nada and the power trio Manal, returns from his temporary retirement in Brazil encouraged by producer Jorge Álvarez. In 1972 he recorded his debut with the help of La Pesada: Alejandro Medina, (bass and vocals, also by Manal), Jorge Pinchevsky (violin, from Billy Bond and La Pesada, and later member of Gong in "Shamal"), Isa Portugheis and Jimmy Márquez (drums), Kubero Díaz (guitar, voice) and Billy Bond at the control table. The great Juan O. Gatti takes over the iconic cover. Gabis is not a great singer and he delegates to his friends for each song.

In "Febre de la Ruta" (6'16) it will be Billy Bond. Delta-influenced psycho-blues as the intro, which soon rolls in like a Zeppelin hurricane of colossal proportions. The use of two batteries is very remarkable, giving immense rhythmic coverage along with Medina's bass, very Entwistle. Bond is hoarse with the histrionics that characterizes him. And Gabis exhibits Claptonian ways in conflict with Pinchevsky's runaway violin. He envisions a jam between Cream and The Flock. Calmer, in "If I had known" (2'53), where Gabis dares to take the microphone, with limited but tolerable results. He uses the Hendrix vocal style, another with a similar problem, which he knew how to get away with. And he also emulates the one from Seattle on guitar wonderfully. More than enough. Strong food is prepared in the Argenta kitchen (also really!), with the huge "Más allá del Valle del tiempo" (10'10) now with Medina and Kubero Díaz singing. The dual-drums and the tortured guitar of Gabis are back, reminding us of the best Robin Trower of the beginnings. Everything takes place under hallucinated effects, and the supporting violin is one more effect. Psych-acid-blues rock that transports predisposed minds to the other side of life, where everything is much less grey. Higher spiritual level.