Best of Inti-Illimani
Early in their formation, the engineering students that were Inti-Illimani (pronounced "intee-E-gee-manee") explored not only the music of their homeland of Chile, but also the native culture of Argentina, Peru, and surrounding countries. This research led to a 30-year career that's produced a bounty of diverse music from Latin America and is why one hears everything fromsonfolk to Andean pan flutes in the ensemble's repertoire. Listeners unfamiliar with the eight-member group whose instrumentation includes such familiar tools as guitar and clarinet and such exotic ones as thequena(a reed flute) androndador(reed pan flute) have an opportunity to taste the varied flavors of its breezy, romantic music. Over the years Inti have consistently penned sociopolitical lyrics addressing human rights with an undying optimism, an outgrowth in part of their exile from Chile in 1973. Whatever the history, this album provides a spirited and comprehensive introduction to a group of musicians who've created some of the most moving Latin music of the last 30 years.--Karen K. Hugg