Speaking the universal language of music, Jaime Rosas — keyboard player for the Chilean prog-rock band Entrance, a Rush tribute band called H Sur and his own Jaime Rosas Trio — has crafted an instrumental symphonic rock album rich in textures.
Unlike, say, Derek Sherinian's solo albums, though, Virgo is a true keyboards-based project — one in which the only instruments are Rosas' "teclados," save a vocal performance in Spanish by Jaime Scalpello on "Lluvia," which sounds more like soft rock than prog rock. Rosas probably would have been better off using real drums rather than programmed beats, as the electronic percussion tends to sound cold.
Virgo features 11 tracks divided into four sections spread over 58 minutes. "Lluvia" and opener "Plegaria" stand alone, while the delicately surreal "Sinfonia" and the more aggressive yet ultimately monotonous "Breves Piezas Rockeras" boast multiple parts. According to his web site, Rosas has begun work on a second album, titled Extremos, that will include musical sequels to Virgo's two epic tracks. He's also booked to perform at Baja Prog in Mexicali, Mexico, in March 2004.
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