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Mal País is a Costa Rican band composed by 6 musicians. This band started its career in 1999 and played by first time in 2001.
Since their first album called “Uno” in 2002, Mal País was recognizing as a phenomenon because of their personality and originality. Their songs sound different from others had been done before in Costa Rica; for this reason, people immediately felt identified with their songs.
Their music is a mixture of rhythms such as “Folklore Americano”, “Sonidos Celtas”,“Balada Rock”, “Son Caribeño” and “Jazz”, and its songs about urban life, love and coldness, Costa Rican landscapes and characters of the daily life have catching the interest of the people.
Mal País is composed by Fidel Gamboa, who is the singer, plays the guitar and the flute. Also, he is a composer and the group leader. Jaime Gamboa, who is Fidel’s brother, is responsible of the bass, vocals and some lyrics.
Manuel Obregon is the keyboardist. He is one of the most famous musicians in Central America. Ivan Rodriguez plays the violin, the “mandolina”, “flautas celtas” and vocals. Gilberto Jarquín is the drummer and Carlos “Tapao” Vargas (who won 2 Grammys) plays a second drum and percussion instruments. Finally, Daniela Rodriguez does vocals and background vocals.
Their albums are: “Uno” (2002), “Historias de nadie” (2004) y, más reciente, “Malpaís en vivo” (2006). All of them obtained Disco de Oro for its success in Costa Rica. Malpaís had already played in Central America, México and U.S.A.
