OSKORRI

The first LP of Oskorri included 10 popular songs, based on the poetry of the unforgettable Gabriel Aresti, the leader of a great revolution in modern Basque literature.
A first work full of freshness, strength and spontaneity, providing new tones and mixing indigenous instruments from all around the world.
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By adding music to the poems of the classic writer Beñat Etxepare, in 1977 Oskorri achieved a more solid and complex work than the previous one, offering baroque and unusual results.
This album gathers several popular dances, besides ten original songs.
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Intimist and quiet double record. Less sophisticated than the previous one, however it offered a more sensitive and deep result.
A wide-ranging, open and varied work. Besides songs and dances, the record also includes own songs and some experiments in relation with bertsolarism (bertsolari is a musical verse in Basque tradition).

The band had matured their skills and made the most of their possibilities from their instruments tones. Oskorri strengthened its particular sound and began a more professional stage.

This record gathered some of the unpublished songs due to censorship problems. Oskorri recorded the old versions.

Soon after signing up with the label Elkar, they launched their most successful and technical record.
The band introduced more universal ways, but without losing their roots.

The label Folk Freak - Pläne launched Oskorri greatest hits, with new versions and recordings.
Given the success and good reception of the record, Elkar decided to offer a version for the national market.

Varied work, with sounds ranging from traditional to the most experimental, from deep to light songs. A proposal totally open and uniform, but linked by the same principle: Oskorri's sound.

Original record, both for introducing the most valued poets of this generation and for extending the list of compositions made by Oskorri.

On the 21st and 22nd of March, 1987, Oskorri celebrated their 15th anniversary by offering a concert in the Arriaga Theatre in Bilbao. Seventeen songs that were included in their new double album.

With this record, Oskorri returned to those ballads that their fans like to sing and chorus. However, it also contains more exotic fast rhythms, an updated popular style, refreshing songs and even some humour.

In 1991 they recorded another of the recovering works of the band, aimed at the world of the traditional Basque dance. Seventeen traditional dances adapted to their own style.

The chosen repertoire for this work, Badok Hamahiru, achieved a balanced musical result, with songs ranging from wild and funny, easy listening temple melodies, to solid, deep and moving ballads.
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15th record of the band. Rich sounds in some arrangements and general concept of universal themes. This fact is supported by the contribution of high quality musicians, such as Flaco Jiménez, Kepa Junkera and Luis Delgado.

Once more, Oskorri joins their audience to celebrate a new anniversary, 25 songs for 25 years. This live album is one of the most moving and important moments of the band's musical career. Musicians from all over Europe contributed to this album: Martin Carthy, Niko Etxart, Joserra Fernández, Pedro Guerra, Gwendal, Kepa Junkera, Mikel Laboa, Fermín Muguruza, Liam O'Flynn, Ruper Ordorika, Juan Carlos Pérez, Albert Plá, Antón Reixa, Jon Sarasua, Joseba Tapia, Patrick Vaillant and Gabriel Yacoub. Magic September of 1996.

Immersed in a renewal exercise by incorporating new members, this was the first time that they relied on a co-producer, Kepa Junkera. The result was one of their most fresh and quality records, acclaimed as one of their best works by specialized media.

With a repertoire based on Biscaian songs of the 18th century, gathered together by the known bertsolari Xavier Amuriza, the record was created for partying, dancing and for the most playful and spontaneous enjoyment; some of the songs are fluent and adventurous, while others are tender and intimate, but they are all brilliant.
Their contributors were the co-producer Eliseo Parra, Kepa Junkera (trikitixa, a traditional Basque instrument) and the rhythmical "zapateado" (tap-dancing) of Michel Bordeleau (La Bottine Souriente).

Preceded by a period of great creativity, the band is committed to new sounds, because of their new formation and the contribution of Luis Lozano as a producer. Desertore is remarkable for the band's wish of searching for plurality and diversity, supported by the texts of Unai Elorriaga, Maialen Lujanbio, Harkaitz Cano, Jon Sarasua, Andoni Egaña and recovering texts from Toribio Etxebarria, Jon Enbeitia y Xabier Isasi and the contribution of Faltriqueira, Eliseo Parra and Leturia among others. Oskorri completed one of their best album, and was chosen by European media as one of the best records in that time.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Oskorri, the band gladly accepted the invitation made by the Band of Bilbao to prepare a joint project. In 2006, the Band of Bilbao interpreted the historical repertoire of the 35 years of Oskorri in their "Christmas Concerts". Sixteen songs representing every period, with different styles and atmospheres. The live concert was recorded in the Arriaga Theatre of Bilbao on the 15th, 16th and 17th of December of 2006. Musical arrangements by the Band of Bilbao: Hilario Extremiana. Interprets: Oskorri+The Band of Bilbao. Directed by: Rafael Sanz Espert.