Congreso

Congreso (lit. 'Congress') is a musical band from Chile. Founded in 1969 in Quilpué, the band has been highly acclaimed with over 50 years in Latin American music. The band is one of the most important bands in the history of Chilean music, both for its refined musical compositions with lyrics of social and ethnic content, as well as for the good reception of the national and international public and critics. Formed together with Los Jaivas and Los Blops, it's one of the cornerstones in the new Chilean progressive sound and the 'Chilenization of Rock' between the mid 60's and early 70's. They began their career in the late 1960s linked to the New Chilean Song movement, however with the advent of the military dictatorship and cultural constraints of the time, added to the great instrumental vocation of its members, they evolved into a progressive rock style, and later to a fusion sound that incorporated elements also from jazz fusion, contemporary music, pop music, and world music, in a style named by them as The New Latinamerican Music. The main composer, leader of the band, and drummer is Sergio "Tilo" González, and the lyricist and singer is Francisco "Pancho" Sazo. Both are founding members alongside Tilo's brothers and ex-members Fernando and Patricio, and Fernando Hurtado. The band currently includes Tilo Gonzalez, Pancho Sazo, and Raul Aliaga (percussion), Sebastián Almarza (piano), Federico Faure (bass), Jaime Atenas (sax), and Hugo Pirovic (flautes). Tilo's son, Simón González, is a recurring guest member as guitarist. They have made extensive touring for North America, Europe and Latin America.