David Sánchez © Jay Blakesberg
"I can describe what I felt when I first heard 'Y Todavía La Quiero' with one word - JOY. It is a true reminder of what I think is one of the main purposes of music and art — to inspire and to move us. Arranging this piece was challenging because I wanted to bring my perspective without changing the essence of the piece itself. I wanted to keep the bass line because of its groove. It feels like a mantra that provides the foundation for everything to flow. To echo that feel, I started the piece with piano alone repeating the displaced phrase heard throughout most of the arrangement. I wanted to bring a party-like vibe with the brief horn introduction, but at the same time keep a connection with Miguel's horn background on ‘Recorda-Me.’ After the intro, I simply changed some of the harmony in the melody, which, to me, has always sounded like a soul-stirring chant. I'm often completely submerged when listening to Joe, almost like being baptized in his beautiful, dark, liquefied sound. THANK YOU JOE HEN!"
