One of the most important vocalists in the history of Peruvian music, Chabuca Granda continued to make her presence felt a decade after her death in 1983. Caetano Veloso used her song, "Fina Estampa," as the title track of an album released in 1994, while her song, "Maria Lando," written with Cesar Calvo, provided the North American breakthrough... [+] Read More

One of the most important vocalists in the history of Peruvian music, Chabuca Granda continued to make her presence felt a decade after her death in 1983. Caetano Veloso used her song, "Fina Estampa," as the title track of an album released in 1994, while her song, "Maria Lando," written with Cesar Calvo, provided the North American breakthrough for Peruvian vocalist Susana Baca the following year. Granda's song "La Flor De La Canela" has become an anthem for the city of Lima. Granda worked with a lengthy list of influential guitarists including Oscar Aviles, Martin Torres, Lucho Gonzalez, Alvaro Lagos, and Felix Casaverde. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Afro-Peruvian ensemble Perú Negro was formed by Ronaldo Campos de la Colina to preserve black Peruvian heritage. The group achieved a reputation for rescuing traditional music and dances and received international recognition after David Byrne's Luaka Bop released a compilation called Afro-Peruvian classics: The Soul of Black Peru, featuring... [+] Read More

Afro-Peruvian ensemble Perú Negro was formed by Ronaldo Campos de la Colina to preserve black Peruvian heritage. The group achieved a reputation for rescuing traditional music and dances and received international recognition after David Byrne's Luaka Bop released a compilation called Afro-Peruvian classics: The Soul of Black Peru, featuring songs by Perú Negro, Susana Baca, Lucila Campos, and local star Chabuca Granda, among other prominent artists. In 1999, European label World Connection issued Sangre De Un Don, released in the U.S. in 2001. That same year, the band's founder passed away after a heart failure. ~ Drago Bonacich, All Music Guide [-] Hide

The debut album from Peru Negro, a group of Afro-Peruvian performers who have been together since 1969. Previously the group had only been recorded for David Byrne's Soul of Black Peru compilation. This is Afro-Peruvian at its best in an ensemble format. The three most basic forms of music from the genre are presented on this CD: the festeja... [+] Read More

The debut album from Peru Negro, a group of Afro-Peruvian performers who have been together since 1969. Previously the group had only been recorded for David Byrne's Soul of Black Peru compilation. This is Afro-Peruvian at its best in an ensemble format. The three most basic forms of music from the genre are presented on this CD: the festeja (nice, simple party music), the alcatraz (music accompanying a rather suggestive dance routine), and el toro mata, the most common type of song in the Afro-Peruvian traditions. Bandleader Ronny Campos serves as an excellent songwriter within the forms that are dealt. There is the obvious sound combination of Spanish and African flavors as one would expect, but there is an added tinge of something deeper. That something is rather difficult to put one's finger on, but it's an integral part of the music. For Afro-Peruvian music, there are certainly a number of worthwhile artists and albums to pick up (such as Susana Baca or Lucila Campos), but for the ensemble format, this is certainly worth placing at the top of the pile. The interplay of the female vocalists, the instrumentalists, and the male exclamations throughout the album makes it a stunning exercise in counterpoint and rhythm. Pick it up as a fan of the genre or as an intrepid newcomer. ~ Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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