Improv and Unity

In an elegant and intimate venue, opening guitar chords were met with cheer from fans who immediately recognized song after song. Juanes' concert at the Roxy Atlanta was an unforgettable experience for those who have been listening to him since his hit album "Un Día Normal" was released in 2002.

The set showcased his immense talent for improvisation with constant deviation from the album version of his songs, leaving the audience with new takes on old favorites. From the moment Juanes stepped onto the stage, the audience had no choice but to actively engage with everything that was being orchestrated in real-time, unable to take any rhythm or note for granted.

Musically, Juanes delivered a performance that was nothing short of captivating: his talented band created a seamless fusion of various genres, blending rock, pop, and traditional Latin rhythms to create a unique and infectious sound. In-between vallenatos and backbeats, the keys tossed in jazz chords, the drummer played infectious New Orleans marches, the djembe evoked the African roots of Latin music, the guitars threw phrases back and forth, and the bassist played interesting inversions. Truly, the musicianship on display was phenomenal, with each instrument perfectly representing the melting pot that is the Americas.

The concert featured each of Juanes' greatest hits, many from "Un Día Normal", and still had time for his most recent "Vida Cotidiana" album. A very special surprise for this performance was the unveiling of his newest single, Gala y Dali featuring Nelly Furtado, which was released on all platforms the following day! His songs were met with nostalgia from day one fans and those who (like me) can't remember a world before "La Camisa Negra", and amazement from English Speakers who were there for a good time.

Still, the most lasting aspect of the concert was the ability for music to unite the Americas. Latin rock is a rare genre in that no country can claim it. As flags from dozens of countries (including my own Uruguayan) were flown, a fan threw a Colombian flag on stage for him to keep.