Puerto Candelaria – “Medellin’s Best Fusion Band”

August 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

When I told Colombians in the musical know that I was going to a Puerto Candelaria concert in Medellin, they all said something like:

     “Puerto Candelaria is Medellin’s best fusion band.”

I kept answering: Si, I know, that’s why I’m going. I love their kooky music.  

There is no other band I’ve ever heard that sounds like Puerto Candelaria. Their music is experimental jazz with a lot of different traditional Colombian & other Latin rhythms in the mix – including Cumbia, Vallenato, Porro, Guasca & more. The music is fun, original, unconventional and  kooky.

I was lucky to be in Medellin last week to catch their live gig at 3 Cordilleras (supported by Esteman & Troker).

Puerto Candelaria @ 3 Cordilleras, Medellin - Beaver on the Beats

My expectations for this show were really high.  The band totally delivered.

Puerto Candelaria self describes their shows as “absurd, dramatic, explosive, childish, funny and delusional”.  I’d say the one I saw at  3 Cordilleras was just a little (positively) kooky at times is all.

Much more importantly than absurdity, drama, explosiveness etc etc, are the music and the musicianship si?

Well both the music and the musicianship of Puerto Candelaria at the 3 Cordilleras gig were brilliant.

Juancho Valencia on piano & musical direction – Eduardo González on bass & vocals – José Tobón on soprano sax –  Cristian Ríos on trombone –  Carlos Didier Martinez & Juan Guillermo Aguilar on percussion.

 Video of the gig (dodgy at 1st, wait a bit 🙂 ) here…

Puerto Candelaria have played together since 2000, with 4 albums and a lot of world-wide festivals and tours under their belts.

They have a lot of loyal fans by now.  I am one of them –  because they play super unique, feel good, and yes ‘kooky’ Latin jazz fusion music.

Each album sounds different.  Each one is great.

They are easy to find and buy if you like the sounds. Sorry as always you have to listen here in shitty MP3 format. I promise you Puerto Candelaria’s music sounds much better and is done better justice on the original CDs.

Kolombian Jazz (2002)

Proceso (Chucu-Chucu) – Puerto Candelaria – Kolombian Jazz
Suspiro – Puerto Candelaria – Kolombian Jazz

Llegó La Banda (2006)

La Olla Atomica – Puerto Candelaria – Llegó La Banda
Analisis – Puerto Candelaria – Llegó La Banda

Vuelta Canela (2010)

Sargenta Remolacha – Puerto Candelaria – Vuelta Canela
La Corriente– Puerto Candelaria – Vuelta Canela

Cumbia Rebelde (2011)

Balkanica – Puerto Candelaria – Cumbia Rebelde
Cumbia Rebelde – Puerto Candelaria – Cumbia Rebelde

x

Puerto Candelaria is the “best fusion music band from Medellin” that I’ve heard so far.

Hands down they are  also the best contemporary Colombian jazz band I’ve heard.

Puerto Candelaria Live @ 3 Cordilleras - 2013

Puerto Candelaria is also at home at Merlin Producciones – an independent label and music production company for emerging Colombian artists.  Apart from Puerto Candelaria, Merlin Producciones has other Colombian artists under its wing worth checking out, including La Republica.

Filed Under: Colombia, Puerto Candelaria Tagged With: , , , ,

DJs With Bands = Musical Diversity +++

August 12, 2013 by 1 Comment

Many of the fusion bands I have heard live in Colombia (and/or have on CD), have a DJ in the musical mix.   Those DJ’s play a fundamental part in the diversity of sounds created by the band as a whole.

Live music is the ultimate musical experience for me.

A great DJ to dance or listen to is also an awesome musical experience.

The 2 combined: DJ + a band = musical diversity +++, live.

A DJ can create any and as many different sounds as he/she wants yes?  Musicians can’t do the same thing with instruments, can they?

Combine the musicians and the DJ’s (+ of course emcees & vocalists), and you have complete musical freedom to be as diverse as you want yes? The sound possibilities are endless.

Or no? 

Add a VJ into the mix and you have visual diversity with the auditory yes?

Official sites of these groups: Bajo Fondo – Bambarabanda – ChocQuibTown – Dubioza Kolektiv – Mitu – Papaya Republik – Pulenta – Sidestepper – Systema Solar – Troker – Zalama Crew

 

Reviews of gigs, sample music & other info about these groups by Beaver on the Beats @: Bajo Fondo –  Bambarabanda –  ChocQuibTown – Dubioza Kolektiv –  Mitu –  Papaya Republik –  Pulenta –  Sidestepper –  Systema Solar –  Troker –  Zalama Crew

Filed Under: Bajo Fondo, Bajo Fondo, Bambarabanda, ChocQuibTown, Colombia, Colombian Music, DJs, Dubioza Kolektiv, Electronic Music, Fusion Music, Mitú, Papaya Republik, Pulenta, Sidestepper, Systema Solar, Troker, VJs, Zalama Crew Tagged With: , , , ,

Colombian Fusion Music – A Different Perspective

July 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Is Colombian fusion music being created for the purpose of making Colombian music edible for foreigners?

A couple of people in Bogota have recently expressed those sentiments to me.

One of them is Julian Mosquera Muñoz, Operations Manager at Fundacion Gilberto Alzate Avendano in Bogota.

He says that for him, fusion music is:

  • Like a cheap handicraft to sell on the street rather than a unique, one of a kind piece of art. 
  • Ignorance of, and a form of shame about one’s own traditional music, instruments, beats and rhythms. Maybe the use of non-original instruments in fusion music is because artists lack the ability to create those sounds with traditional instruments.
  • A desperate way of getting new audiences for one’s music – of making one’s music ‘listenable’ for those who don’t know it – especially for foreigners.

Is there truth in that cynicism?  I like to think not, but who am I to say?  I am just a foreigner who loves Colombian fusion music!

I will leave you to ponder this perspective on Colombian fusion music, while I leave Colombia for a bit to explore what’s happening in Jamaican music.  Kingston first, then on to Montego Bay for Reggae Sumfest 2013. 🙂

Caribbean Waters - Beaver on the Beats

Filed Under: Artists on Fusion, Colombian Music, Fusion Music Tagged With: , , ,

Mitú – An Entrancing Electronic Music Experience

July 14, 2013 by

Last night in Bogota I had an absolutely unforgettable and entrancing musical experience. A most surprising and unexpected one: Mitú.

I had no idea what the gig was. I only went to see some friends before I leave Bogota.

What I found even before the main act was awesome – one of the coolest venues I’ve been to in terms of character, style and set-up (Latora 4 Brazos), and two female DJs (an all too rare find no?).

When the main act did start, Mitú, I discovered it was fast and intense electronic music – ‘jungle techno’. One percussionist, Franklin Tejedor. One guy in charge of the electronics, with lots of cords and machines –  Julian Salazar– also the guitarist with successful Colombian fusion band Bomba Estereo.

Mitu @ Latora 4 Brazos - Beaver on the Beats

While my friends joined the dancing crowd, I completely switched off, as I usually do when it comes to techno music. At best, I generally find it tedious, and my body just doesn’t want to move to it.

Fascinated by the beautiful venue I wandered away from the music and through the different venue spaces, playing with my camera, and hoping my friends would surface from the crowd soon so I could say goodbye and go home.

When I went back to the crowd, some people had left and I was able to find a space to engage with the Mitú music, and see and hear what was actually happening.

Dios miya! What was happening was really incredible. Two guys having an awesome time on the stage, so much into the music they were playing it was inspiring.

The high quality electronic sounds coming out of those machines were so varied and interesting, with flavours of cumbia and meringue and I don’t know what else!

Mitu @ Latora 4 Brazos - Beaver on the Beats

Mitu @ Latora 4 Brazos - Beaver on the Beats

Mitú’s percussionist, and at times vocalist (in Palenque language), playing Colombian tribal rhythms, was incredible. The quality of musicianship was beyond words. 

Within minutes of engagement, I found myself smiling from ear to ear, jaw to the ground in awe of the music and musicianship, and totally and utterly entranced. Right until the end.

Mitú is the first techno experience of my life that has moved me. A stellar performance, incredible stamina (judging by the time I got home, they must have played for 2 hours), ridiculously talented musicians and really interesting, awesome and yes, entrancing music.

Absolutely spectacular.

Given my general aversion to techno, I’m not sure if I would go as far as to buy the Mitú CD (‘Potro’), but if you’re into electronic music I would definitely find it.  If you ever get the chance to experience Mitú live, go!  I will in a heart beat  if I get another chance.

Filed Under: Colombia, Colombia, Latora 4 Brazos, Mitú Tagged With: , , , ,

Street Music, Good or Bad, Makes People Happier

July 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Music in the streets.  Whether the music is:~

Good…

ipiyam y Raspacanilla rehearsing in Bogota streets

Jipiyam y Raspacanilla, a Colombian dance and music troupe rehearsing on Bogota streets

Bad…

On La Septima, Bogota

La Septima, Bogota

Sweet…

On La Septima, Bogota

La Septima, Bogota

Nice…

Busker in Usaquen, Colombia

Usaquen, Colombia

Official and conservative….

Entertaining on the street, but not necessarily for consumption by me elsewhere…

Hormigas Negras-La Septima, Bogota

Hormigas Negras – La Septima, Bogota

Hormigas Negras-La Septima, Bogota

Hormigas Negras – La Septima, Bogota

Music I like. Music I don’t like.

Quality musicianship, or not.

No matter to me. No me importa.

Walking every day at the moment along the always busy and dirty, often sad, and at times dangerous road in Bogota called La Septima – I count my blessings for music of any type to make my journey along that road a little more pleasant.

I need and want music to be played and heard in the community in which I walk.  The sounds of music around me, especially in the cities, makes my life and my day better.

I am convinced that it must have the same effect on everyone, even if they aren’t aware of it.  I see people’s attention drawn to the music, it stopping them in their all too busy days and lives, even if for a brief moment.  That’s a good thing.

I am also convinced that music in the streets connects me to the people around me, and them to me, in a silent but positive way.

Buskers and street music of any sort should be allowed, encouraged and supported.  Music in public spaces makes people happier.

Don’t you think so too?

Filed Under: Colombian Music, Music Value, Street Music Tagged With: , , , ,

Nestavibe – A Cute Reggae Band In A Stunning Venue

July 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The band, Nestavibe…8 youngens.

Nestavibe - Live at Fundacion Gilberto Alzate Avendano - Beaver on the Beats

The venue…

  • In a very beautiful, but reputedly dodgy (justifiably so) historical neighbourhood of Bogota called La Candelaria. I love La Candelaria.
  • A stunning old theatre. One of a few different spaces within the walls where lives the Fundacion Gilberto Alzate Avendano. Every stone and piece of wood within those walls has character and beauty.
  • Comfortable red velvet chairs. I suspect you can hear and see everything that happens on that stage from every single one of those chairs.

The quality of sound…perfect.

The lighting…perfect.

The music…mostly reggae/dub – but, well, um, nothing at all like I think I’ll find in Jamaica next week.  No singing to Jah. Singing to Jesus.

Nestavibe live @ Fundacion Gilberto Alzate Avendano-Beaver on the Beats

Back to the venue, cause it’s worth it…

This gig was one of many concerts, exhibitions, dance and theatre shows of all sorts happening in this venue every night of the week – for free. The program is full, and has some really great stuff.

Occasionally some of the Foundation’s events are held in the outdoor patio area where I was last week for Richard Blair’s DJ set.

Operations Manager of the Foundation, Julian Mosquera Munoz, says he wants every event to be held in the theatre. He believes the experience for the audience is much more special in that space than any other, and that will make people want to come back again.

Nestavibe - Live at Fundacion Gilberto Alzate Avendano - Beaver on the Beats

I´m not convinced that every event should be in the theatre. I do appreciate the lovely environment, alot. It is certainly special. I couldn’t help thinking tonight though, that if the music had moved me to want to dance, I probably would have been feeling a little frustrated at being stuck in my comfortable red chair.

There is no doubt that I want to go back to the Foundation again to experience more.  So in the end, maybe Julian is right.

One event I definitely want to get back there for in January, is the six-day long Festival Centro. The programs from all years (past and coming) look amazing, with a feast of national and international music artists to satisfy all tastes.

If you’re in Bogota and want an intimate musical, dance or theatre experience, definitely check out the program for what’s on at Fundacion Gilberto Alzate Avendano.  Or get yourself to Bogota for Festival Centro in January.

Filed Under: Colombia, Colombia, Fundacion Gilberto Alzate Avendano, Nestavibe Tagged With: , , , ,

Papaya Republik – Tongue in Cheek Colombian Fusion Music

July 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Think about the meaning of ‘Banana Republic’. Know that ‘papaya’ is a Colombian fruit and, without wanting to sound obvious, that ‘republik’ is Spanish for ‘republic’. There you have Papaya Republik – a contemporary Colombian fusion band making unique sounding, quality music.

Papaya Republik is 7 Colombians from different regions of Colombia, with diverse musical backgrounds, based in Bogota.

Papaya Republik live

Papaya Republik create and play music with flavours of groove, jazz, reggae, electronic, dub, rock, cumbia and other traditional Colombian styles. According to the lead vocalist Mauricio ‘Batori’ Pardo, they don’t use traditional musical styles but rather, “reconstruct and mutate them into new styles”.

Mauricio ¨Batori¨ Pardo - Papaya Republik

Mauricio ¨Batori¨ Pardo

Batori uses intelligent, tongue-in-cheek, and often sarcastic lyrics that tell stories about social and political issues in Colombia. He says that his use of sarcasm is like a survival mechanism for avoiding the feeling of constant despair about the ever present problems seen in Colombia.

Lyrics aside for non-Spanish speakers, Papaya Republik’s music is special. The use and blending of a variety of older and newer musical genres is done creatively and with skill, with an end result of music that is fantastic.

This is one of my favorite contemporary Colombian fusion bands and their one album so far, Vol 1, is an absolute pleasure to listen and dance to.

Papaya Republik live

I am especially happy that the group has a real horn section (clarinet, trumpet, alto sax & tenor sax), because for me personally, horns in music generally always makes it better. I will pick up my trumpet again some day.

Check out these sample tunes from Vol 1 and let me know what you think…  

Papaya Republik - ´Vol 1´ Album Cover

Papaya Republik -´Vol 1´ album track list

Breve La Vuelta

Cumbia Del Pescaito

Esquizoo

If you like the music, buy it through official channels and enjoy all the sounds you won’t hear in those mp3 versions. If for some reason you can´t find it, contact me and I will.

If you want to see Papaya Republik’s ideas about fusion music, check out the Fusion Music page.

Filed Under: Colombia, Papaya Republik Tagged With: , , ,

Electronic Fusion Music in Bogota is….

July 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Diana Torres, Director of Fundación Cultural Arca, based in Bogota, says this about electronic fusion music in Bogota:

What we have found about fusion in electronic music in Bogota since we started ´Conectados´ (Connected) – a program of live electronic music concerts – is that it take us to the cultural heritage of local sounds of our culture and other cultures of the world, in a space and time where the artist and the audience connect with a universal language: THE SOUND.

Diana Torres - Director, Fundacion Cultural Arca

Filed Under: Artists on Fusion, Colombian Music, Electronic Music, Fusion Music Tagged With: , , , ,

Colombian Fusion Music For The Minority – Lesson 2

July 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Silly misconceived Beaver. How wrong I was.

Since my first trip to Colombia in 2007 I had thought that Colombia has a huge amount of fusion music – loved passionately by a huge number of Colombians. “Why wouldn’t it be?” I thought, “It’s so awesome”. Plus I had found lots of it, well maybe about 10 bands anyway – so I thought that there must be a lot more to be found, and that it must be very popular.

Apparently not so, as I have learned the past week in Bogota from speaking with some people in the know.

Talking with a Colombian Ethnomusicologist (Simon Calle) and three members of Colombian fusion music group Papaya Republik, I learned this…

  • Yes, there are more and more bands in Colombia creating fusion music.
  • Whereas once upon a time fusion bands were mostly found in the capital Bogota, they also exist in other major Colombian cities, more and more so – Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, and even Pasto.
  • No, modern Colombian fusion bands are not really listened to or even well known by the mainstream population of Colombia. It is listened to by a minority of Colombians and is actually the ‘alternative’ music scene here.
  • The two biggest forms of popular music in Colombia are Vallenato and Reggeaton. The mainstream radio stations play pretty much only that. I don’t have much to say about Vallenato.  There is good and bad Vallenato music, and most of it is not to my taste.  I will however criticise the musical plague that is Reggeaton every chance I get.
  • The Colombian ‘alternative scene’ that enjoys fusion music bands consists of the “middle and upper classes” (Ethnomusicologist, Simon Calle), or the “Colombian intellectuals” (Batori from Papaya Republik).
Papaya Republik live

Batori – Papaya Republik

Well, surprised I was at this news about the popularity (or lack thereof) of Colombian fusion music.

In hindsight I guess my misconception was based on two things:

1. My own luck and circumstance in finding lots of fusion music on my first time in Colombia. My Colombian friends took me to gigs (they are not in lower socio-economic classes by the way) – and once I found some, I went looking for the rest.  I thought what I found must be a small portion of it, but now it seems it was actually a large % of all fusion music that existed.

2. My assumption that because I thought it was unique and awesome, everyone in Colombia must think that too! I forgot that when I look at most mainstream musical tastes everywhere around the world today, they are generally (I think) pretty shite.  It’s all subjective I guess.

 Disappointed at this news I was too…

*Disappointed for mainstream Colombians missing out on home grown unique and interesting music; and

*Disappointed for Colombian fusion music artists largely unappreciated (and unrewarded financially) in their own country.

I’m happy that Colombian fusion music exists.  I´m happy that I know about it.  I´m happy that I can share it.

I´ve already posted some, and will post more, rundowns and sample music of some contemporary Colombian fusion bands….Check them out and let me know what you think.  Is mainstream Colombia missing out on the good stuff? I think so.

Filed Under: Artists on Fusion, Colombian Music, Fusion Beaver Style, Fusion Music Tagged With: , , ,

ChocQuibTown: First Taste of Colombian Fusion Music

July 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment

I start with ChocQuibTown as opposed to any other Colombian fusion band I love, out of respect. A 2007 gig of theirs in Bogota was my first taste of Colombian fusion music.  An awesome taste of much more to come.

By the time I found ChocQuibTown I had already spent one month in Cartagena on the Caribbean Coast of Colombia. I had found no original live music there.

To Bogota

A woman coming alone to Bogota? It’s too dangerous. My advice to you is not to come.

Having decided I should listen to the Colombian woman giving me that advice, I had ditched Bogota in my Colombian travel plans.  Until some Bogotanos I met in Parque Tayrona told me that if I loved music so much, I had to go to Bogota.

So to Bogota I went – and musically blessed for that I have been ever since.

But I need melody

My first night there one of those Bogotano friends took me to Quiebra Canto, a well known bar in Bogota for live music.

I saw the band setting up and was thinking Oh no, there’s only three of them, and it all looks really percussive. I need melody in my music. This will be shite.

I was so wrong.

Bogota, Yes 🙂

The ChocQuibTown music I heard was incredibly unique, like nothing I’d ever heard before. Percussion yes, but also with an abundance of super sweet melodies.

It was awesome to dance to, the performance was amazing, and made me very happy I had come to Bogota.

The Mix

ChocQuibTown make music that is a fusion of Afro-Colombian music, funk and hip-hop.

They hail from the Pacific Coastal region of Choco, and their music and their lyrics pay proud homage to that fact. Those regional flavours with the funk and hip hop, blended seamlessly; the awesome melodies in the music and in the vocals and raps of Goyo, Tostao & Slow – are why I love the music.

Albums

ChocQuibTown have a few albums and an EP. You can easily buy the real CD copies on-line. Or you could buy the MP3 versions on-line too I suppose, if you wanted a lesser quality version.

Sample ChocQuibTown listening tracks here…

Choc Quib Town - Somos Pacifico (2006)

Somos Pacifico (2006)

 

 

 

 

Macru

 

Choc Quib Town - Oro (2009)

Oro (2009)

 

 

 

 

 

Mi Musica

 

Colombian Fusion Music, Yes 🙂

I’ll always be grateful to my Bogotano friend Sebastian for convincing me I had to go to Bogota. He introduced me to the joys of Colombian fusion music via ChocQuibTown.  Gracias amigo.

Filed Under: ChocQuibTown, Colombia Tagged With: , , , ,
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