click on the sample audio files below to have a listen
1) Luna de Mer
2) Angel de Barrio (a tribute to Santana)
3) Christina at Spring Beach
4) Allegro Multi Troppo
Bio/History Roberto Serpas is an energetic, highly polished and refined reaction of musical chemistry. His music language, true to its Latin-American roots, has been regarded by many as a quintessential link between worldbeat and classical music. He follows a long lute tradition spanning from Bach to Villa-Lobos. At the same time, he combines his native rhythms of salsa, bolero, samba, flamenco, etc., with North American blues, jazz, and rock to create a unique blend of world music. Born and raised in San Salvador, El Salvador, Roberto was brought up in a household that was highly appreciative of the arts, especially music. He received lessons on various instruments, but it was the highly versatile classical guitar that caught his attention. The Serpas family arrived in Calgary, Canada in 1983. The relocation became a powerful stimulus for Roberto, who was still in his early teens. Soon, he found himself performing professionally.
Estival
In the spring of 2000, I started to work as a solo guitarist. At the same time, I was offered the chance to have a musical theatre play produced by the drama department of the University of Calgary. It was based on a novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and all I needed to do was obtain permission from the author's agency. Since the reply was going to take a few months, I thought it would be a good idea to get started on the sketch. So while I waited, I wrote during the day and worked at night as a solo guitarist. The wait was long. I had the text nearly completed and I had already sketched some of the music when I received the news that the application for permission was declined due to an upcoming movie production of the unmentioned novel. It was already spring of 2001. My big project had vanished before my eyes and I was left with nothing. In spite of that, I was still working as a solo guitarist. True and grateful to my friend who has always stood by my side in the most difficult moments, I wrote again. It was going to be a solo guitar album. Those who love me warned me about the difficulties of trying to sell an album of this kind. However, I'm an artist and not a salesman. So, with this in mind, I went ahead and recorded. I finished recording Estival on June 28 of 2002, and due to technical problems, time spent writing elaborate program notes and a delay in the order of CDs, it finally arrived in my hands by the end of November of the same year. Nonetheless, The CD release party was held at La Paella Restaurant before a very cool group of patrons, I sold a good number of copies, and at the end of the party, I headed out with my buddy Dosavo somewhere else for a drink up. It was great. I still have copies if you want one.
Morning in Eden
I have always wanted to compose this kind of project since my teens. During my early years, a group of friends and I started experimenting with computer applications and demo recordings. Synthesizers had revolutionized the market and, thanks to sequencers and four tracks, music arranging was now at the tip of our fingers. Save perhaps with electronic music and some work with Serpas Brothers, I have always used a score for my music. However, back then I didn't have the performance skills, nor the composition technique, nor the production expertise I have now. Neither was the technology available to put in use the many tricks of the trade used in this recording. It has been a wait of almost 15 years to finally deliver this package. Morning in Eden was composed, recorded and produced from July 2003 to May 2004. Thanks to Peter D'Amico, sound engineer/right hand man, and to some of you who wish to remain anonymous, this project finally became a reality. Those who have heard it say it is my best effort so far, although it's still too soon for me to speak. Therefore, be the judge and listen to the clips. If you like what you hear, get a CD from me, tell me what you think and tell your friends about it, and if you don't like it... just... don't... tell... anyone? Yes yes. That works.
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