SINTESIS : cuban not argentinian !!!!

Síntesis was formed in 1975 as Cuba's first progressive rock band. It combined influences from groups such as Genesis, Pink Floyd and Yes with the sensibility and poetry of Cuban trova. From the beginning, the group sought some of the best Cuban songwriters to write the lyrics for the group's songs. At that time, the band was formed by Eliseo Pino (Vocals, Guitar), Ele Valdés (Vocals, Synthesizer), Miguel Porcel (Vocals, Guitar), Silvia Acea (Vocals, Keyboards), Francisco Padilla (Drums), Enrique Lafuente (Bass), José María Vitier (Keyboards) and Fernando Calveiro (Guitar).

Some biographies erroneously mention that the group dissolved shortly after its second album in 1979, En Busca De Una Nueva Flor. However, Síntesis never dissolved. It evolved, keeping some members from the original band. The new incarnation of Síntesis featured an exciting blend of progressive rock combined with Afro-Cuban Santeria ritual music and jazz.

The Síntesis of the late 1980s was led by singer and composer Carlos Alfonso, a former member of the Cuban fusion jazz band Irakerehis wife Ele Valdés, the original singer and keyboardist from the 1970s version of Síntesisand multi-instrumentalist and composer Lucía Huergo. Another familiar face from the original 1970s line-up was drummer Francisco (Frank) Padilla. At that time, the rest of the band was formed by Fidel García on vocals and keyboardsJosé Bustillo on guitarand Joel Drich on batá drum. The group collaborated with one of Cuba's top Afro-Cuban singers, Lázaro Ros on its album, Ancestros (Ancestors), featuring him as an advisor and guest singer.

Lucía Huergo left in 1987. In 1989 Síntesis made a tribute to one of Cuba's finest singer-songwriters, Silvio Rodríguez. An album titled El Hombre Extraño was recorded and all the lyrics featured were by Silvio Rodríguez, who appears as a guest on one track.

José Bustillo and Frank Padilla left in 1992. They were replaced by Victor Navarrete on guitar and Raúl Pineda on batá drums. On Ancestros 2, Síntesis' 1992 album, the group's sound included Afro-Cuban chanting and percussion with Yes-style vocals and elaborate arrangements. An important addition to the band during that period was Equis Alfonso (or X Alfonso), the son of Carlos Alfonso and Ele Valdés. Equis proved to be a crucial addition as keyboardist, singer and composer or co-composer. He wrote half of the songs. Another key element was keyboardist and composer Esteban Puebla, who composed nearly a third of the album's music.

The group tours internationally on a regular basis. The most recent line-up is formed by:

Carlos Alfonso - director, bass, vocals

Ele Valdés - vocals, keyboards

Fidel García - vocals, percussion, keyboards

Esteban Puebla - piano, keyboards

Equis Alfonso - vocals, keyboards

Victor Navarrete - guitar, chorus

José Leonardo Angel - drums, percussion

Madonna Alfonso - chorus

Oney Cumbá - percussion

Grupo Síntesis (EGREM, 1977).

En Busca De Una Nueva Flor (EGREM, 1978)

Aquí Estamos (EGREM, 1981)

Hilo Directo (EGREM, 1984)

Ancestros (Cuba: EGREM/Spain: Magic Music/USA: Qbadisc, 1987)

El Hombre Extraño (Cuba: EGREM/Spain: Fonomusic, 1989)

Ancestros II (Cuba: EGREM/Spain: Magic Music/USA: Qbadisc, 1992)

En los Límites del Barrio (1994)

Orishas (Milan, 1997)

Yoruba Celebration (2000)

Habana a Flor De Piel (2001)

Sorry Tony, but the albums you gave the link to are from the same band that released 'En busca de una nueva flor', and they are from Cuba !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!