Video of the day: Emilio Solla and Antonio Lizana share official video for ‘Zamba para no morir’ from new album, El Siempre Mar

The track ‘Zamba para no morir’ is a soulful collaboration between Latin GRAMMY-winning pianist Emilio Solla and renowned saxophonist/vocalist Antonio Lizana, and a highlight on their Tango-tinged jazz album El Siempre Mar. Combining Solla's jazz-tango and folkloric influences with Lizana's flamenco roots, ‘El Siempre Mar’ features the rhythmic vernacular of cantes de ida y vuelta (known as ‘road trip songs’), and the pairs masterful interpretation.

The choice to include Mercedes Sosa’s ‘Zamba para no morir’ stemmed from Solla’s decision to integrate various Folkloric standards from his childhood into the album’s repertoire. The song resonated with Lizana too. "From the very first time I heard it, I felt an intense connection to the song,’" he said, and he had long had the desire to create his own flamenco-oriented version with a touch of his artistic flair.

Thematically, ‘Zamba para no morir’ tells a metaphorical narrative about death, conveyed through poetic lyrics that symbolizes the fear of the unknown and the importance of fulfilling one's purpose in life before the inevitable departure. With a fresh approach to the song, which was originally made famous by Mercedes Sosa, Solla and  Lizana crafted a unique rhythmic foundation by melding the Argentine Zamba with the vibrant Solea por Bulerias—a traditional Flamenco beat.

The piece is one of the few on their new album that is accompanied by a string quartet, which was a result of Solla’s artistic intuition."‘I felt a string quartet would help me reinforce the beauty of the melody and lyrics, but as you can hear I use them only at certain points, for contrast and to enrich the orchestration and add a different color to an album which is mostly performed by just our quartet. You know, arranging is like painting…so for this moment of the exhibition, I felt I needed to add something new, and that strings would do the job done nicely."

The synergy in Emilio Solla and Antonio Lizana’s 'Zamba para no morir' serves as a testament to the transformative power of music, capable of resonating with diverse personal experiences. This collaboration not only celebrates the intertwined histories of Argentina and Spain but also shows the universal language of music – expressing emotions and forging connections that transcend borders.

Joining the pair is bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer/percussionist Ferenc Nemeth.

Watch the official music video below and for more info visit emiliosolla.bandcamp.com/album/el-siempre-mar