Greetings y'all, warm wishes, and Happy New Year! Looking forward to a wonderful 2010, which I've been spending between Queens and scenic Ellenville, NY, with my ma and my pops. I'm en route to New Orleans to spend some time with the old school, the Nothin But Fire and Domino Sound krewes. I'll be out there till after Mardi Gras and getting down with my cumbia y otra cosas de Nuevo Orleans.
Here's Lado A of a 90 min cassette from DJ Tall Jamal - Cumbia Peruana Y Mas:
Grupo Hidra - Llore Llore Los Flamencos - Carinito Grupo California - Cuentame Los Bere Beres - Elsa Los Diablos Rojos - Nadia Estrella Juaneco Y Sus Combo - A Muerto Mi Abuela Bulgaros - Asi no Calinas - Batal Jam ll Grupo Mandarina - La Novena De Pluto
I just found a track by this group on an mp3 cd I bought down there and was brought in by the folklorica style vocals. Most chicha groups are male-fronted and they usually take cues from the Chacalon or American rock groups, while this female-fronted group embraces the folklorica influences of Alicia Delgado and Sonia Morales.
Spinnin those jams I love tonight at Trophy Bar! I went to their Dirty South party last night and had a wild one- people still dance on weekday nights and I'm loving it.
Go Shout Plenty! 10 PM - Monday, December 21st ((third Monday every month)) Trophy Bar - 351 Broadway - M to Marcy, L/G to Lorimer
Just joined the Latino media messageboard Taringa.com and found this entry that highlights the top ten Cumbia Peruana acts, Grandes de la Cumbia Peruana
Here's a video of his Top 10:
As commenter johnnystuk says,
"los shapis, chacalon musica exclusiva de delincuentes"
I've been reading this book "Black Rhythms of Peru" about African influence on culture in Peru and what Paul Gilroy refers to as "the Black Pacific." The book talks about the revival of folklore by White Criollo (person of Peruvian and European heritage born in Peru) Jose Durand. His revivalist Pancho Fierro dance company in the 1950's played the highest venues in Lima and laid the groundwork for the 1960s contribution of Victoria and Nicomedes Santa-Cruz's company Camanana.
Whether Durand's influence has been positive or negative is debated. Some argue that he molded the stage show to appeal to audiences and downplayed the erotic nature of the plays, suggesting that he removed this element from the show. Others argue that the plays were never erotic, they were just expected to be by virtue of African stereotypes. He is, however, criticized for the direction that Afro-Peruvian culture went in the 1950s.
The Santa-Cruz's group Cumanana was based on the coreography of Victoria and toured internationally. The plays were crafted by Nicomedes and one satirical one suggests the subtle racism in musical notation. A professor is teaching the students quarter and half notes, respectively the black and white notes. When the professor has to leave the room for something, the students quarrel and wonder why "two black notes equals one white note."
Victoria's coreography is based on the idea of "ancestral memory," which shows diasporic consciousness on the Black Pacific in her works. "Academic pursuits are how the mind colonizes the body," she suggests and I gotta keep that in mind when I retrun to academia next year for ethnomusicology.
Here's a clip from a Cumanana piece "Me gritaron negra" ("I Shouted Black")
Extremely important piece! When I told a Peruvian that I went to Chincha, the heart of Afro-Peruvian culture, she often motioned to her face and say, "Los Morenos" (the Browns). Such responses are not often generated in other Black Atlantic countries, making Afro-Peruvian culture a more interesting topic to investigate.
I finally am able to listen to all the records I got down in Peru! Oh man, what a wait- it's been two months since I've been back and I haven't been in the same place/time as my records and player. What a tease, but I finally dove into them today and it's pure bliss.
I found this little medley off the Cumbia Thriller album by Los Mirlos. They start off with a cumbia version of MJ's "Thriller" (this version recorded in 1984), then go into a blend of their exitos starting with La Danza de Los Mirlos, La Danza de Petrolero, and Eres Mentirosa.
Off to a good start! More comin'!
p.s. don't really know what's up with the font two posts below. Tried fixing it about 5 times and can't get it right.
Got a bag of records for grazing on, plus some West African loves on mine on display this Monday! I'm making a few batches of some sorrel to keep drinks cheap for ya! $3 sorrel and rum after midnight, $5 otherwise.
