Living in Spain you hear flamenco go — or get pushed — in a lot of directions. Few are as enticing as what I’ve been hearing in Peru, via this compilation.
Cecilia Barraza – Canterurias (Songs)
This is beautiful music & I need to know more about it, este criollismo, this Peruvian music that sounds more like sweet, lightly funky flamenco than anything “Afro-“. ¿Alan?
You can buy Afro-Peruvian Classics: Black Soul from Peru as mp3s from Calabash.
“Authentic fun from start to finish– though the last cut, a vanity item from producer David Byrne, is a bit off– his Spanish is… not comfortable.” Thus notes an accurate Amazon reviewer…
Afro Peruvian classics cheaper here :
http://mp3skyline.com/rid-0x0ff8-various-artists_-_the-soul-of-black-peru-mp3-download.html
that’s a Russian pirate site. material on my label is “for sale” there too. Yes, its cheaper, but I’d prefer you grabbed stuff for free from filesharing networks than pay money to thieves.
Q onda amigo Jace!!
Well “criollismo” was a real big culture in the first half of the XX century and it was not only music, it is only food, dance and a special way of life in the coast, mostly in Lima. It have a big influence of flamenco and also waltz, that´s why the name “vals criollo” and of course african music. Criollo músic raised in the lower class towns in Barrios Altos (in Lima Downtown) some people said that the sons of the servants use to watch how the spanish patrons use to play in their parties and they try to emulate bringing a different feeling because the servants use to be, black people, and mountain people from different parts of Peru.
One of the most nice instruments that afroperuvian create was the “cajon peruano”, you can see that the Flamenco start to use it after they discover this amazing instrument in Peru the black community in Peru is still big at the south in Lima (El Carmen – Chincha). The super master!! Caitro Soto bring it to Paco de Lucia…. this is a nice song and a incredible performance from him (if the link doesn´t work just cut and paste)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hSZWG6WCEU
Well– this parties use to be 1 week long so you can imagine that they have a lot of songs singing about almost everything, a lot of improvisation from that group is probably the Sambo Cavero and the guitar innovator Oscar Aviles the most incredible duo that show that mix of cultures afro and peruvian indian. This lyrics are amazing, sorry guys if you know spanish you can understand this romantic song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REXSXy2VFDo&NR=1
Well there is a lot of afroperuvian music around if you can search but this album of Chocolate Algendones (super cajon player) you can buy it somewhere
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Rhythms-Peru-Reviving-Heritage/dp/0819568147/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202401840&sr=8-1
i don´t know what the hell is so expensive (maybe is out of print) but if you send me an e mail i can send you a copy is really a masterpiece
ok.. have fun — and learn spanish!!–jaja
Me again– sorry but the last link was a good book that i recommend not “chocolate album”.. now i see that is really out of print
best
Also from Spain make a step with Mercedes Peon, her beautiful voice and tracks melting traditionnal rythms and contemporary beats.
Worth listening : http://tinyurl.com/2fwz7y
Afroperuvian music definitely has had a lot more international projection than Afrocolombian music. Fantastic stuff all of it, a search for criollo or criolla in your favorite er-uhm-2p usually provides a wealth of worthwhile material.
El festival de arte negro de Cañete has been on my to do list for years now,
http://caneteartenegro.blogspot.com/2007/08/por-qu-un-festival-de-arte-negro-en-el.html
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festival_de_Arte_Negro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhBm_FA9f2I
last time I was in Perú I missed it cos I was in the jungle drinking tree-barks, I told myself it wouldn’t happen next time..
Hey Jace,
Check out Oscar Aviles & Zambo Cavero,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RORZ9t4guO0&feature=related
If you can find them when they play “tonderos”, which are melancholy afro peruvian songs, they show their true depth and the blend of el criollo and el afro.
Also a bit different but equally great music are the “yaravi” songs from Ayacucho (central Peru) especially by the master of the Ayacuchano guitar Raul Garcia Zarate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ivom2ZnQlQ