Javier Montilla’s album Romance en la Lejanía is a deeply personal and emotionally resonant tribute to Venezuela’s musical soul, seen through the lens of distance and nostalgia. Recorded just before his departure to the United States in 2016, the album is a tapestry of eleven tracks that blend traditional Venezuelan compositions, folkloric gems, and original works, brought to life with a sense of longing, joy, and deep cultural pride. More than a solo project, it is a celebration of enduring friendships and family ties, featuring a rich ensemble of collaborators, including Montilla’s father and brother, as well as a wide array of fellow Venezuelan musicians. From the haunting melancholy of Pueblos Tristes to the playful rhythms of Carnaval and the deeply evocative title track, Montilla curates a repertoire that reflects his life journey and musical heritage. The inclusion of extended flute ensembles, like in Paul Desenne’s Gurrufio, and crossover tracks like the galactic bolero Luna de Naboo, highlights the album’s balance between tradition and innovation. Recorded in an intimate home studio setting, Romance en la Lejanía is not just a musical offering, but a sonic letter from afar—a heartfelt homage to Venezuelan identity, marked by exile, love, and the inextinguishable power of memory.

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"Romance en la lejanía"

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01- Zumba Que Zumba (Folklore)
02- Polo Oriental (Folklore)
03- Romance En La Lejanía (Pedro Emilio Sánchez)
04- Pueblos Tristes (Otilio Galíndez)
05- Carnaval (Folklore)
06- Rondo Ble (Javier Montilla)
07- Luna De Naboo (Pedro Vásquez)
08- La Guacharaca (María Rodríguez)
09- Preludio Criollo (Rodrigo Riera)
10- Gurrufío (Paul Desenne)
11- El Diablo Suelto (Heraclio Fernández)

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Javier Montilla, flute & alto flute

Christy Camba, Enver Cuervos & Raúl Pimentel, flute (track 10)
José Cristian Garreffa, flute (track 11)

Raimundo Pineda, bass flute (track 10)

Jorge Montilla Jr., clarinet (track 1)

Víctor Morles, oboe  (tracks 1, 2)

Nicolás Valero, French horn (track 1)

Javier Arvelo, cuatro (tracks 1, 3, 6, 9)
Orlando Cardozo, cuatro (tracks 2, 7, 8)
Vicente Mendoza, cuatro (track 5)

Pedro Andrés Pérez, guitar (tracks 1, 3, 6, 9)

Xavier Perry, electric bass  (tracks 1, 3, 6)

Antonio Mayorca, violin (tracks 1, 3, 6)

Raúl Aquiles Delgado, violoncello (tracks 1, 3, 6)
Pedro Vásquez, violoncello (tracks 1, 2, 7, 8)

Jorge Montilla Sr., harp (tracks 1, 5)

Juan Carlos Silva, maracas, bongo & timpani (tracks 1, 5, 7)

Inés Arellano, vocals (track 7)
Yurimia Boscán, vocals (track 4)

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Produced by Javier Montilla.

Recorded, Edited, Mixed & Mastered by Miguel Chacón.

Track 11 Recorded Live at Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos, Paraná, Argentina.

Graphic Design: Alynor Díaz.
2016

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