Álvaro Severino – A Musical Journey of Memory, Wind, and South American Roots

A subtle wind runs through this album like an invisible thread, connecting and awakening each piece with poetic lightness—an echo of Ngen-kürüf, the spirit of the wind in Mapuche cosmology. This presence, ethereal and timeless, guides the listener across a sonic journey through the South American continent, seen through the heart of Álvaro Severino, a Chilean guitarist and composer based in Germany.

In his debut album, Severino revisits the soundscape of his homeland from afar, offering reinterpretations of joropo, chacarera, cueca, vidala, and more—interwoven with jazz harmonies, contemporary classical textures, and a deep cross-cultural sensibility. The result is a work of intimate depth and wide imagination, where memory and rhythm are reborn through the strings of his guitar.

🎶 Joined by a world-class quartet with musicians from New York City, Bogotá, and Santiago de Chile, Álvaro crafts a map of integration, nostalgia, and identity—from the winds of the Andes to the syncopations of Afro-Latin traditions.

Highlights include:

“Cucaracho”, a playful huayno with folkloric references and modern rhythmical twists
“Zamba Inocente”, inspired by Bill Evans, full of lyricism and harmonic richness
“Aires de Joropo”, a tribute to Venezuelan tradition shaped by Andalusian echoes and jazz-driven improvisation
“Deep Blue”, an abstract Venezuelan merengue in 5/8 and 9/8 meters
“Viento del Sur”, a cueca that brings the listener home with delicacy and strength

This record is not just a debut—it is a statement of poetic vision and musical craftsmanship, where each note carries air, memory, and movement.

#AlvaroSeverino #LatinJazz #JazzFromChile #SouthAmericanJazz #WorldJazz #FolkloreFusion #JazzGuitarist #JazzEnVivo #ContemporaryJazz #CuecaJazz #Chacarera #Joropo #AfroPeruvianRhythms #Landó #ModernJazzGuitar #MapucheSpirit #JazzAndFolklore #JazzDebut #CrossCulturalMusic

Credits

https://alvaroseverino.bandcamp.com/album/ngen-k-r-f

released December 7, 2018

ALVARO SEVERINO guitar & composition
RYAN CARNIAUX trumpet & flugelhorn
JOAN CHÁVEZ double bass
PABLO SÁEZ drums

Produced by Alvaro Severino
Music Supervisor Pablo Sáez

Recorded in “Salon de Jazz” Köln by Philipp Bardenberg
Mixed and Mastered by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Recording, NYC

Art & Design by Alvaro Severino
Text by Miguel Veras Cifras English Translation by Glauconar Yue

Testimonials

“Much applause to a creative band that looks to the future in a multicultural way without forgetting the Great history of jazz.” WAZ

WAZ

Press

“It is a name within the South American jazz movement installed in Europe”

www.musicapopular.cl

Web Page

“Since 2010 I have been impressed by Pablo Sáez’s work in every collaboration, I have participated several times in many of his projects. His artistic quality has always led to excellent results, as well as being able to get through professional planning and implementation”

Raphael Klemm

Musician

“He is clearly looking toward the future—and that is where he places his music: surprising, enigmatic, and full of unexpected turns.” Jacek Brun

www.jazz-fun.de

Magazine

“Un lujito”

El Zócalo Nacional

Radio Universidad de Chile

“Drummer Sáez ultimately satisfied even the most discerning listeners with his nuanced and varied performance.”

Giessener Anzeiger

Press

“Sáez has built his story in that other, distant world—yet his connection to the land remains present, rhetorical, and above all, musical.”

Revista La Panera

Magazine

“Pablo Sáez is an outstanding rhythm maker, equally skilled in subtle strokes and powerful accents—providing the perfect foundation for guitar, bass, and piano to truly shine. Balanced in ensemble sound, and captivating in solo passages.”

MusikReviews.de

Magazine

“An exciting and progressive form of jazz with indigenous Latin influences, occasionally interwoven with mysterious Spanish-language vocals. Verdict: exceptional!”
— Reiner Guérich

In Music

Musician

“The Latin American rhythm section, featuring André De Cayres and Henrique Gomide from São Paulo alongside the exceptional Chilean drummer Pablo Sáez, masterfully finds the perfect groove for each piece—always ready to respond with playful energy to the fiery solos.” WAZ

WAZ

Press

“One of the most sought-after drummers today, he impressed with an incredibly nuanced and versatile style. Equally remarkable was the song-like quality he often infused into his playing. His compositions are characterized by a coherent structure that balances subtle sensitivity with rich, dense sound.” Peter Lorber

StadtAnzeiger 2024

Musician

“So, which personal musical events have moved me the most? Certainly, some releases by relatively unknown artists—like Morpheus Trance with In Trance We Trust, and Stay Together by Surensemble and Friends—both from the realm of fusion jazz.” Wolfgang Giese 2024

Rock Times

Magazine