Fabricio Rodríguez: “I made the decision to stop working as a sessionist and completely dedicate myself”

There are many reasons for Fabricio Rodríguez to play this Friday at Teatro Ópera. On the one hand, celebrate his 20 year career in musicbut as well as the presentation of his new album To livewith the participation of great guests such as Abel Pintos, Mariana Baraj, Seba Lopez (Los Tekis), El Indio Lucio Rojas, Ahyre and Matías Zapata.

Of course, this isn’t the first time he’ll step on that stage, as for the past two decades he has been a guest harmonica player for many artists he has accompanied live, such as Abel Pintos, who will attend this show.

“It was a joy,” Fabricio said, “because I was always with him. So, when I invited him, I told him that I had been with him countless times at the Opera, but this time I wanted him to come with me. . join me in just one. “

On disk To liveAbel was one of the producers and sang on the theme Nakakabaliw.

According to Fabricio Rodríguez, Javier Calamaro will also be joining the recital, “a friend I have worked with for a long time”. He no longer gave many names, as he knew it depended on the commitments of other friendly artists, such as the San Javier Trio and Alejandro Lerner. “The invitation has been extended, and if possible, they will be,” he explains.

In other words, this is the first time Fabricio has stepped on this stage with his own show in his entire career, accompanied by his entire band and special guests.

A very active summer (and autumn)

According to the musician, “After two years of being practically unemployed, this summer it is possible to set up tours again. We were at almost 30 festivals. We started in December and finished on April 9 in Dorrego. It was a surprise, because the a man I thought what he would look for, and in some there were 40 thousand people. So there is a need, not only of us but also of the people. “

-Do you think there is more desire to watch live music than before the pandemic?

– I noticed the activity continued. When we finished the tour in 2020 we had a lot of projects and other insights. Now he turned, but in view of the situation of the country. It’s just not the same as before. Many municipalities have been severely punished economically and emotionally. I think we have a lot to go back to.

-What repertoire do you plan to do in Opera?

-I will put it all together and give myself the pleasure of playing what is sometimes not done at the festivals. I will try to find a balance between what I do at festivals and the topics that my followers know. I have 20 years of career, so I will look for the songs that are part of other albums and I will make a segment with the songs that accompanied me in the festival shows, which I also enjoy. There will be many nuances, for all tastes.

-What’s next for Opera?

-On May 16 we will be going to the United States to do 10 shows in 10 days, including playing at a very good festival in Washington DC, which we have been to in 2018 and 2019. It will be a very good adventure and they will new challenges.

-In what kind of rooms are these recitals?

-Some shows are in clubs organized by Argentines who want to keep Argentine music alive there. And the most interesting thing is they’re not just Argentines, but people from all over Latin America, and Yankees who like our music and dance zamba and chacareras. And when we come back we will tour the country. Thank God, the year is coming up well.

difficult to classify

-You’re quite multi-format, where do you often see yourself at festivals?

-In the last edition of Cosquín before the pandemic, they put me on a special night where La Mona Jiménez and Los 4 de Córdoba were there. I’m lucky to play a lot thanks to proposals that aren’t just closed to legend, and go on less legendary nights.

-Labels are issues of organizers and press, but not of the public.

-The public will enjoy. I also removed the prejudice of those asking what I was doing. I say it’s music. Obviously, when I go to festivals I try to keep the essence of our folk music but I allow myself to do other things separate from our legend.

-How do you see the bet you made a decade ago to be a soloist?

-I had to make a decision to stop working as a sessionist and devote myself fully to this project. It’s hard but these are decisions you have to make at some point because otherwise, it’s all too late. I decided in 2012 and the doors of Jesús María were opened to me, where I was Revelation and the following year Consecration. I have seen that it can have great results in an artistic way and I really enjoy it.

-So they have 20 years of career and 10 as soloists.

-And almost ten with a rock band called Mr Mojo. It’s a band that is more associated with the folk style of American rock, with slides. In the band we did Somewhere I can find with León Gieco on the album tribute to Calamari. We also toured abroad, but that stage ended and I continued on my own as a soloist.

-What’s left of the rocker/blouse who played in Divididos, Botafogo, Pappo, Juanse and Memphis La Blusera?

-When I first worked in Buenos Aires as a musician, someone opened the doors for me, Miguel Botafogo. My essence of that blues and rock era is still intact. In fact, the song I recorded with Abel was half country, Mumford & Sons type. The harmonica is always present.

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