After retracing various points of the city looking for information to dust off so many memories, I found very close to my house his founder and vocalist, Nelson Coma Lindo, who with his sharp and intact voice; He came up on stage with me and we started the story.
The Montserrat Phenomenon
Montserrat was a new musical phenomenon, with a rock sound for which its audience was not prepared. Influenced by Kansas, Rush or other symphonic and progressive rock groups, the group, initially with only three musicians, marked a path of experimentation.
The popular band began as a trio, Nelson, Marianito and Pedro Luis (Pachy), at Mariano Garí’s house. In addition, the group later had its headquarters in the house of Ricardito (now deceased), in Mandy’s and in the La Popular nightclub, now the Convention Center.
For Nelson it was like a great laboratory, in which they released adolescent passions, love, stored feelings and from their hearts came the doves that took flight from their songs.
Songs emerged there that today when listening to them, their presentations and concerts are relived in memory, among them are Tiempo de amar, Espectro, Mujer sencilla, Quizás and the popular Caballo de Fuego.
He dedicated that last title track to his little nephew, who was very restless and showed aptitudes to grow in life as a winning horse.
With musical knowledge and studying ways to make this type of music, they looked for singing classes, so that their rock was understandable, that their lyrics were reflections of feelings and social situations; with all artistic beauty.
His improvised instruments, sometimes borrowed and then bought at very high prices and in need of repair, marked his style of symphonic rock, which often began by marking time with two drum sticks on a cardboard box.
Looking back 30 years
“The nice thing about those times was that nobody looked like others and that Montserrat had its own stamp” Nelson tells us proudly, his contemporary group Rhodas, directed by his brother Tony Comas, also did some songs close to the genre, but they went for the rope of Pop more than that of rock.
Times have changed, and the letters are lighter, but, although life is so turbulent, he defends that a product must be offered for all tastes, with quality and originality, without imitating anyone and without vulgarity.
While Montserrat lasted
A long career left the group, until its end in 1997. Several concerts at the Casa del Joven Creator and at the Main Theatre are still remembered.
Another of their versatile proposals was the recordings as incidental music, for police radio soap opera, on Radio Cadena Agramonte.
Some time ago, a recording studio work, with the production of Mariano Garí, shows how Monserrat could have sounded with current resources. Mariano recorded each instrument in his studio, with the original voice of Nelson Comas, co-founder, director and vocalist of Monserrat. Its sound is surprising.
After Montserrat
Many and diverse tasks filled in Nelson the space left by Monserrat, he went on to sing for a time with the group “Monte y Espuma”, he was a barber, he developed in his religion as a babalao, but he always maintained a taste and passion for music, for the which contributes his excellent voice, preserved with virtuosity over time and mature in techniques, with which he reaches tones as high as those of famous American music singers, there I dare to look for similarity with Elton John.
During the pandemic, he started working with two friends and they founded the virtual band Soul United. His ballads in English are composed by a friend from England, the bassist lives in Holguín and from Camagüey Nelson provides the voice, makes some arrangements and everyone contributes to the lyrics.
They sing to love, peace, hope and nature, two songs these days are stuck in hits on the YouTube channel and gain followers: On the other side and Freedom from your love.
Treasures
Listening with Nelson to his remastered Monserrat songs and the current ones by Soul United, I enjoyed a special concert. While we were commenting on the lyrics, he remembered a treasure that he preserves with special affection and, like a childhood toy, shows a tape recorder.
The relic keeps the theme Tiempo de Vivir, which he recorded together with Pablo Milanés’ drummer, Frank Vejerano, the song was multi-awarded at a National festival.
It’s been an incredible trip to the 90s with the music of Montserrat and the last question can’t wait: Nelson, what last song will you play for me before I go? And renewed joy is reflected on his face… let’s enjoy: Espectro.
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
