La Cumbiamba Live on Soundcheck

Yesterday, La Cumbiamba appeared on WNYC's Soundcheck, hosted by John Schaefer, for a performance of two songs and an interview with frontman Martin Vejarano. You can listen for free at: http://www.wnyc.org/shows/soundcheck/episodes/2006/11/21

Have a listen and let me know what you think, but I'm a little disappointed that Schaefer went directly for the topic of war in Colombia instead of focusing on the most interesting story, which is that the NYC Colombian music scene is so tight and exciting that Marta Gomez showed up as a guest vocalist on "El Arenal." I mean, isn't this the big deal? Marta, famous for her gentle, breezy melodies, shows up practically unannounced to sing with the rollicking eNeYé? I get the feeling that some people wanted to hear the acoustic, gaita y tambor songs that have such an African feel to them--and that they heard the big band sound as being less authentic in some way. But I guess this is part of the process of teaching people about Colombian music. The cumbia and the fandango (they played "Andando Vengo") are authentic Afro-Colombian sounds, just different styles. I agree it's a shame they couldn't play an acoustic song, but there will be more time for that.

Thanks to everyone who got our CD after hearing the interview--if you're new to the Chonta sound, then welcome. We have lots of new gigs to tell you about, so please keep checking in.

A Better Place for your Colombian Music Fix

Hello! If you're here, you've probably noticed that I haven't updated this thing in months. Which isn't to say we haven't been busy--Chonta Records is about to release its sixth CD, and just last night we had the wonderful Encuentro of Colombian Musicians here in New York City. We have a new website, lots of new press, and a lot of energy after a great 2006.

But you want a blog that keeps you well informed about Colombian music? Well, check out Notas del Bajo Mundo, a vlog/blog that is getting a lot of attention from the Colombian music scene. It's something we've really needed, and I strongly suggest you go to check it out.

And maybe we'll get into a better updating habit here, too.

Ricardo Gallo

Last week was Ricardo Gallo's CD release in the U.S. for his debut solo album, Los Cerros Testigos. It's a great Colombian jazz CD by a pianist/composer whose songs bear the mark of his extraordinary intelligence. This is a jazz CD, with challenging tunes that effortlessly incorporate elements of traditional Colombian music. In some ways, it is the yin to (Folklore Urbano's) Baile's yang.

This is especially important to Chonta because it marks the first dual release with Bogota's artist collective, La Distritofonica. Ricardo is an active member of La Distritofonica, and he is also a member of the fantastic Bogota jazz group, Asdrubal.

I'm so happy to be a part of this, and I'll have a review of the album up this weekend.

Fashion review: Ladeeda purses!

I don't often post on non-music topics, but I have to let you know about my favorite New York purse company: Ladeeda. Well, I have a bias here, because my girlfriend is one of the sisters behind the bags, but I do think they're great! And they were featured in the magazine, Shop, Etc., this month.

The bags are made of vinyl and leather, and all of the designs are hand-sewn and one-of-a-kind. The designs vary from the abstract expressionism of the bag at the left to lots of flower petal designs. And starting at $80, they're a great value for some NYC style.

Basically, they're perfect for carrying your Chonta CDs to a night of dancing cumbia :)

Colombian Jazz written up in Colombian press

This week's issue of Semana (the Time magazine of Colombia) has a great article on Colombian jazz. The talk a lot about Medillin group Puerto Candelaria, who have become something of the standard-bearers of Colombian jazz. But there's also a great bit on Chonta artist Ricardo Gallo's new album, Los Cerro Testigos, which in a rough translation calls it "something more rhythmically risky." Ricardo is quoted as saying that he "wanted my music to contain new textures, and even though I'm not a traditionalist, that there would be an allusion to tradition."

There's also a mention of La Distritofonica artist Asdrubal, whose CD I've listened to a bit, and I want to write about them soon. But Ricardo's CD is so much better! This Colombian jazz, along with the resurgence in traditional Colombian music, is really the new thing!

Can't say enough good things about Folklore Urbano...

O.K., so I'm not the world's best blogger. I'm too busy and too unfocused for this kind of writing, but enough of you still stop by here that it's worth pointing out to you some brand new reviews of Folklore Urbano that just appeared at Descarga.com.

Pablo Mayor Y Folklore Urbano
Aviso
CD (Chonta Records) 2003
The first volume of a two cd series that might just go down as a classic in 20 or 30 years. A synthesis of a bunch of Colombian rhythms and jazz improvisation — Andy Gonzalez is on bass — it all sounds honest. In part this is due to Mayor’s piano playing. He’s calm, and a real improviser; he’s not flashing lines, but playing melodies and rhythms. There are a few horns to play the melodies, plus three Colombian percussionists; it’s recorded beautifully. There are elements of Cuban music in some montunos, but it has that caballo sway of Colombian music. Because of its clarity, and simplicity, the music can be listened to over and over. It’s real.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous, 06-Mar-06)
Category: Latin Jazz => Latin Jazz
ORDER TL-21632.10 CD $16.98 Add to My Shopping Cart

Pablo Mayor Y Folklore Urbano
Baile/ Dance
CD (Chonta Records) 2005
The dance, and second volume of the highly ambitious two cd series by the pianist Pablo Mayor. This one has faster rhythms, vocalists, and dance music arrangements. It’s also brilliant music, laid over rhythms from Colombia. There are solos, too, and Mayor nods in the direction of Herbie Hancock among others. The percussion rhythm section boils.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous, 06-Mar-06)
Category: Latin Jazz => Latin Jazz
ORDER TL-21631.10 CD $16.98 Add to My Shopping Cart

Isn't this something? Their gig in Brooklyn, at the Brooklyn Museum's First Friday, was unbelievable, and a just over a week ago they introduced their sound to an enthusiastic crowd at Philly's World Cafe Live.

Things at Chonta are going so well. We have a double-release on March 28--Ricardo Gallo and La Cumbiamba eNeYe! They'll be celebrating the release at a show at Makor (92nd St. Y), and we expect people just to love this combo. I'll tell you all about them soon.

But I wanted this blog to be much more than a promo site for Chonta. To that end we're going to be building a blog that will allow musicians from Chonta, La Distritofonica, and more to talk about music and share sounds with each other. That way fans and newcomers will be able to learn about the music and participate in this amazing scene that's going on these days.

But until then, just spread the word on Folklore, O.K.?

2 new reviews of Folklore Urbano

Over the holiday week there were 2 new, glowing reviews of Baile/Dance, which I'm happy to share with you here. First, World Music Central said, "Chonta Records, a new record label based in New York, has certainly made a great impression with its first release. Dance Baile by Folklore Urbano automatically became an editor's pick at World Music Central for top 10 albums of 2005." Top 10 albums!

Then, Richard Antone of the Bucks County Courier Times listed Baile/Dance as among his "Overlooked CDs of 2005," saying, "There aren't enough hours in the day for Pablo Mayor. When not busy as a music professor, the pianist-arranger for Qrquesta Broadway leads his own band, Folklore Urbano. The twelve-member New York city-based band is part of the growing music scene known as Nueva Colombia. Combining traditional Colombian percussion with improvisation and jazz rhythm and horn sections, it makes for quite an innovative and exciting sound. Ebullient vocalist Ronald Polo and his enthusiastic bandmates have an eclectic collective background, including stints with Chico 'O Farrill, Maria Schneider, the Vanguard Jazz Irchestra and the Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra. Folklore Urbano is shaking up the New York world and Latin music scenes with some of the freshest sounds around."

Send your own reviews, and I'll post them!