About Mezquita

The 70s was the heyday for both progressive rock and Spanish rock in general. Mezquita combined the approach of bands like King Crimson and the prolific Italian Prog scene with a strong Spanish folk flavor. The Flamenco influence is clear in Jose Rafael Garcia's electric and acoustic guitars, while the keyboards of Rosca Lopez provide an authentic Moorish/ Arabic flavor ("Mezquita", by the way, means "Mosque"). Add the tight and creative rhythm section of Randy Lopez (bass, percussion) and Rafael Zorilla (drums) to make a high- energy quartet with a uniquely exotic take on progressive rock. Their first album, Recuerdos de mi Tierra (1979), has been named the finest Spanish album ever by the Gnosis Project, and is often ranked among the lesser-known highlights of 70s progressive rock. The band's only other release was 1981's Califas Del Rock, which is generally considered more accesible or commercial-sounding than its highly-regarded predecessor.