Kind Regards / Saludos Afectuosos
2022 - Desafío Candente Records
Kind Regards gives life through music to words that attempt to build bridges and understanding in times of borders and ignorance; words that focus on our feet and the dust on which they walk, instead of the stars under which they dream.
Saludos Afectuosos,
Kind Regards focuses on the immigrant experience in the US — its cover, by Mexican artist Saúl Aguirre, depicts an image of two children on each side of the border wall between the US and Mexico. “Kind Regards gives life, through music, to words that attempt to build bridges and understanding in times of borders and ignorance; words that focus on our feet and the dust on which they walk, instead of the stars under which they dream,” the bandleader explains. And words are indeed the fundamental focus of this music, as the album is a collection of songs in which the bandleader was both the composer and lyricist in its entirety, representing a significant departure and evolution from previous work.
Press:
“Chicago band-leader and composer has a talent for executing projects that are ambitious in scope. now Cortiñas builds upon this foundation with his fourth release as a leader, Kind Regards…a significant departure and evolution from his previous work”.
“The plight of undocumented immigrants who flock to the southern border of the US, risking everything for a chance to live in the US, has long been a source of inspiration for artists. Few, however, have succeeded in personalizing the everyday heartache and challenges faced by these anonymous masses than Chicago-based drummer and composer Gustavo Cortiñas…Kind Regards triumphs both as a bearer of a message that can’t be heard enough and as purveyor sophisticated acoustic pop of arresting beauty”
“an intimate and captivating recording that examines concepts of societal equity, migration, freedom, affection, and life via a collection of ten self-penned pieces.”
“Drummer/composer Gustavo Cortiñas, born and raised in Mexico City and currently based in Chicago, is set to release a new album, Kind Regards – Saludos Afectuosos on September 2 via Desafio Candente Records. The album is inspired by the immigrant experience, which it represents via ten original compositions.”
“Kind Regards (Saludos Afectuosos) showcases a different, more personal, aspect of Cortinas' creativity. Being a multifaceted artist the young drummer maintains a remarkable uniformity of musical excellence while exploring different forms of expression with each release.”
“An incredible drummer here in chicago… The meaning behind this recording is really powerful.”
“Kind Regards is a really, really interesting album. My first impression is that it’s a spiritual descendant of the 1974 Bossa Nova classic album Elis & Tom (by Elis Regina and Antonio Carlos Jobim). That album nails mellow, sultry melancholy in a way that I’ve never heard another album come close to. Until now.”
“Su cuarta producción “Kind Regards/Saludos Afectuosos”, que observa a la migración no desde un punto de vista político sino desde el lado humano, acaba de ser lanzado por su sello discográfico Desafío Candente Records. Platicamos con el baterista y compositor mexicano Gustavo Cortiñas acerca de este material.”
“All of Gustavo’s music is pleasing to the ear. His compositions are well-written and have a definite groove. But of course, they would have a groove, because Gustavo Cortinas is an amazing drummer. His creative rhythms propel this production and enhance his compositions.”
“"Miraculously, Saludos Afectuosos manages to be just as staggering [as it's predecessor]- last year’s Desafío Candente...the kind of once-in-a-lifetime achievement that an artist often needs years to complete, then years to recover from."
“Genteel geems.”
“ The program is centered on the immigrant experience in the US. We enjoyed the sweet vocal harmonies on “If I Learned Today” and “Libertad”, two songs that sooth the soul and try to heal the wounds of that challenging experience."
I Hope You Have a Good Phone Call Today
"Inspired on an uber ride shared with a fellow immigrant from Palestine. As we were serenated by the sacred sounds of the Koran, we cruised through Chicago sharing our different immigrant experiences, good and bad. At some point, he shared with me that he made an important phone call every day to check in on his family, who (living in Palestine), lived under the constant threat of bombings and death. This struck me. I remember when we said our good byes, amongst other things I told him, 'I Hope You Have A Good Phone Call Today.'"