The Peru Guide

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Carlos Vives, one of Colombia's most popular singer-songwriters, will present his latest album, "El rock de mi pueblo" (The Rock of My People), next November 5th at the Monumental Stadium. The name of the album, though, can be misleading: indeed, "El rock de mi pueblo" features little rock and much roots, in particular vallenato and other styles of his coastal Colombian countryside.

In 1993 Carlos Vives changed the Colombian and Latin music panorama. He did it with an album titled CLÁSICOS DE LA PROVINCIA. It featured vallenato, the accordion - and percussion-rooted dance music that percolates in Colombia's Caribbean provinces. Carlos grew up with these festive songs, which have been passed down from generation to generation and recorded by dozens of artists.

LOS CLÁSICOS DE LA PROVINCIA was best known for its percolating cover of Emiliano Zuleta's "La Gota Fría". The song was a big hit in Spain and helped Carlos and his band fill the country's bullrings to the rafters during their concerts. Billed as Carlos Vives y La Provincia, the group was suddenly being courted by major labels.

November 5th, 8pm, Estadio Monumental "U" (Prolongación Javier Prado Este cuadra 77, Ate Vitarte). Tickets from US$15 (for further ticket information check e-teleticket.com).

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In 1998, La Noche decided that one night every week was to be devoted to jazz music. More than 7 years have past by, and La Noche's Jazz Mondays are still an absolute Lima classic.

The numerous audience includes not only long-time jazz aficionados, but also fresh youngsters at their first jazz discoveries.

Since 2000, La Noche has staged a yearly Jazz Festival, generally scheduled for every Monday night of September. This year, though, the Fifth Jazz Festival has been programmed for October. This edition, dedicated to Latin Jazz, features some of the best local bands and musicians.

The shows start at 11pm, every Monday of October, at Centro Cultural La Noche de Barranco (Bolognesi with Blvd. Sánchez Carrión, Barranco). Free entrance.

Schedule
Monday 3 - All Stars Latin Band (Contemporary Latin Jazz)
Monday 10 - Pochi Marambio (Latin Jazz / Homage to the double-bass)
Monday 17 - César Peredo y los de Adentro (Latin Jazz fusion with Peruvian rhythms).
Monday 24 - De Otra Mano (Traditional Latin Jazz / Homage to Michel Camilo)
Monday 31 - All Stars Latin Band (Contemporary Latin Jazz)

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With the participation of an international board of DJs and a busy festival, the South American Music Conference will be held next October 21st in Lima's Centro Cultural Deportivo Lima (in the Villa district, next to the marshes). The Lima conference will attract many electronic music professionals, to take part in the most anticipated networking event of the year, a celebration of electronic music and dance culture.

The festival features the best local DJs, accompanied by some of the best international DJs of the moment. Among them, Ferry Corsten (Netherlands), Mistress Barbara (Italy), Josh Wink (USA), Dean Coleman (USA), John Aquaviva (Canada), Germán Rovira (Argentina), Hector Benítez (Colombia), Freaky Grove (Chile), Óscar Bohórquez (Peru), Andrés Dyer (Peru) y Christian Berger (Peru).

2004 saw the successful launch of the first music conference South America, which was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The event was acclaimed by the international press, the DJs and the audience. DJ Times magazine headlined: "SAMC. Blazing Start in Buenos Aires". And Judge Jules commented "The SAMC event was every bit as good as the best festivals that the UK and Holland have to offer, which in its first year is an amazing achievement".

This second edition of the South American Music Conference opens in Buenos Aires to then travel all over the region: Santiago, Guatemala, Caracas, Lima and Medellín. It will bring together important industry professionals, prestigious producers, artists, musicians and club promoters from all South America, as well as key industry professionals from around the world, who will be able to network and discover more about the South American electronic music scene.

Club Deportivo Lima, October Friday 21st, 10pm. For ticket information ckeck e-teleticket.com.

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Prominent Havana based singer, Omara Portuondo is expected to enchant the Lima audience on September 29th, as her gifted voice revives her most beautiful son, guaracha, and jazz songs.

Omara's career began in 1945, as a dancer at Havana's Tropicana Club. In 1952 she and her older sister Haydee got together with two friends and formed the singing group Cuarteto las d'Aida, backed by pianist Aida Diestro. The group had considerable success, touring the United States, performing with Nat King Cole at the Tropicana, and recording an album for RCA Victor.

In 1967 she embarked on a solo career, and in 1974 recorded, with guitarist Martin Rojas, what would become one of her most critically acclaimed albums, which includes the beautiful "Hasta Siempre".

During the 1970s and 1980s Portuonda enjoyed considerable success at home and abroad, though her international profile was due to soar only in 1996, when she sang (duetting with Compay Segundo) on the album Buena Vista Social Club. This led to more touring (including playing at Carnegie Hall with the Buena Vista troupe), an appearance in Wim Wenders' film, and two albums for the World Circuit label: Buena Vista Social Club Presents Omara Portuondo (2000) and Flor de Amor (2004).

The concert will be held at the Centro de Convenciones María Angola (Av. La Paz 610, Miraflores). Ticket information at e-teleticket.com.

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Los Belkings' unpublished words
The mythical 60s instrumental surf band goes live again. This time though, their melodies will go together with… lyrics.

A 60s surf instrumental band, Los Belkings have achieved an almost mythical status amongst their fans. Despite being largely unknown -both in Peru and worldwide- they are considered one of the best bands in their class: surf, fusion, psych and beat.

Sales and critics for their last record, "Instrumental Waves", a compilation of their work from 1966 to 1973, couldn't be more appealing.

The record, that sold more than one million copies, was considered by Shinding Magazine "a cauldron of 25 guitar licking instrumentals that map the progress of sixties styles with aplomb. This bunch were no slouches and they tackle psychedelia and exotica as casually as if they were born to it". Mojo Magazine critics were also appealing: 4-stars.

Los Belkings' music presents a definite Shads influence, but also the surf guitars of the Ventures, and the Latin touch of Carlos Santana.

The show at La Noche is most curious: some of the best local rock vocalists will sing, for the first time ever, the unpublished lyrics of the Los Belkings' instrumental repertory.

The show starts at 11pm, next Thursday 22 at La Noche (Av. Bolognesi 301, Barranco, Phone 247-2186). Free entrance.

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Melodic, guitar-intense rock with one of the best and most admired bands in town. Their latest CD sold some 5000 copies, a whole lot for the arduous Peruvian market -indeed, enough to become a Gold Record. A solid music proposal and a bunch of songs -Mujer Noche, Prendí Otro Fuego por Ella, Tu Voz- that are a crucial part of Peruvian rock history.

Friday, September 30 at La Noche (Bolognesi 307, Barranco, Phone 247-2186). Entrance 35 soles (around $11).

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Saturday 17th, Leuzemia and 45 youngsters from the National Juvenile Symphonic Orchestra undergo a unusual reinterpretation of the punk-rock repertory of Peru's flagship underground band.

Founded in the 70s by two brothers, Kimba Vilis (drums) and Daniel F. (guitars), Leuzemia went against the stream since the very first day, playing Spanish rock when every other band was doing English covers. In 1983 they were met by Leo Escoria (bass), who gave the group a much understated punk edge. One year later they had played all over town, changing radically the way limeños felt about rock music. Indeed, many of the rock bands that formed during the 80s were inspired by Leuzemia. After a long 10-year break, in 1995 Daniel F, Kimba Villas, and guitarist Raúl Montañez ran into each other in a ramshackle watering hole named Mamanis Pub. They stepped on the stage, improvised a bunch of old songs, and before they could tell, Leuzemia was back again on-the-scene. This time though, with a more relaxed proposal.

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London's DJ Tall Paul will be playing this Friday, September 16th, the exuberant, aggressively "up" vibe music that has characterized his work for years.

The 1998 "Muzik" DJ of the Year, Tall Paul began his DJing career in 1987 at the tender age of 16, playing for office parties at his dad's nightclub Turnmills. At the same time Paul started to run his own pirate radio station called Touchdown FM and had already managed to blag a spot on the capital's legendary pirate Sunrise FM. Paul also used his persuasive powers to get a one hour slot at Turnmills' Saturday all-nighter Trade and in 1990 his obvious talent gained him his first residency, and as gay clubs have always been at the forefront of innovation in dance music, Paul quickly became recognised for playing what one might alternatively call hard-edged-house anthems.

Not long after his residency at Trade, Paul was offered a residency at the Zap Club in Brighton and there met up with Shelley Boswell which lead to regular slots at the Gardening Clubs' "Club For Life". Paul has since gone on to DJ all over the UK, currently holding a residency at Turnmills' Friday nighter The Gallery and plays regularly for Godskitchen, Gatecrasher, Sundissential, Cream and Golden to name but a few.

His popularity has seen him DJ worldwide travelling to America, Canada, Japan, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Hong Kong, South Africa and all over Europe. Paul was voted "Best Overall DJ" in the 7 Magazine "Ibiza '99 Awards" for his residency at Godskitchen and is consistently featured in the top 20 of the DJ Magazine "Top 100 DJ Poll" each year.

The show, organized by Gótica (Centro Comercial Larcomar, level 5 -Malecón de la Reserva 610, Miraflores, phone 445-6343) will start at 11pm.

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Nine years after their first Lima gig, Jethro Tull comes back to town as part of their 2005 South American Tour. Ian Anderson and Martin Barre, the band's founders and leaders, are expected to play their greatest hits, from Thick as a Brick to Aqualung.

A progressive rock band formed in Blackpool, England, in the 1960s, Jethro Tull's music is marked by the quirky vocal style and unique lead flute work of frontman Ian Anderson, and by unusual and often complex song construction. Their music has incorporated elements of classical and Celtic folk music, as well as the art rock and alternative rock phases of rock music.

The concert will be held at the Centro de Convenciones María Angola (Av. La Paz 610, Miraflores). Prices from 69 to 325 soles (US$20 to US$100), ticket information at e-teleticket.com.

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A celebrated singer, composer, and percussionist, Corina Bartra will perform 2 live shows in Lima during the first weekend of September: Friday 2 she is expected at the Auditorium of the Alianza Francesa, while Saturday 3 she will be in Jazz Zone.

A Peruvian native living in New York City since 1987, Corina Bartra has an extraordinary range and an almost restless musical ability to incorporate exotic traditions into her own unique music, a fusion of jazz with Afro Peruvian, Andean, and Latin music. During her career she has recorded numerous CD's with such renowned jazz musicians as Vince Cherico, Santy Debriano, and Rufus Reid.

She will be accompanied by Carlos Espinoza (sax), Alex Sarrin (drums), Lucho Freire (bass), Marco Oliveros (cajón and percussion), and Alonso Acosta (piano).

Friday 2 Auditorium de la Alianza Francesa (Av. Arequipa 4595, Miraflores).
Saturday 3 Jazz Zone (Av. La Paz 656, Pasaje El Suche, Miraflores, phone 241-8139). Cover 25 soles (aprox. $7).

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Probably the most renowned Peruvian musician worldwide, Susana Baca is scheduled for three consecutive nights at Miraflores' Jazz Zone, where she will be enchanting the audience with a repertory of beautiful and melancholic Afro Peruvian songs.

Baca builds on her Afro Peruvian roots and nourishes from the sounds of blues, reggae, and jazz to create a very personal and distinctive style that has gained her a much deserved status of World Music Diva.

Although Susana Baca's artistic career started more than 30 years ago, success only arrived at the turn of the 20th century, after she was discovered by David Byrne's Luaka Bop label. The initial years were particularly hard, her music neither understood nor comprehended. "Music industry people asked me why I sang poetry -she recalls-. They proposed me to sing pop tunes". She has recorded three albums -Susana Baca, Eco de Sombras and Espíritu Vivo-, all of which have been acclaimed both by the critics and public.

The recitals will be held at Jazz Zone (Av. La Paz 656, Pasaje El Suche, Miraflores, phone 241-8139). Cover 40 soles (aprox. $12).

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With the aid of a renowned group of musicians, Peruvian saxophonist Jean-Pierre Magnet (b. 1950) will travel across a vast territory of genres and periods, reinterpreting the music of many celebrated composers, from Pérez Prado to Chabuca Granda.

Accompanying Magnet are, among others, pianist Chino Figueroa and Perú Negro's percussionist Lucho del Solar.

Saturday, June 18 and 25, and July 23 and 30, at Jazz Zone (Av. La Paz 646, Miraflores, Phone 241-8139). Cover S/. 30 (around $8)

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Travel with Rafael Santa Cruz, an undisputed master in Peruvian cajón, along his journey through the different periods of percussion music. The show builds upon an extensive use of cajones (box-like drums) to explore and recreate the evolution of music, from the first drums to present-day percussion. The cajón constitutes the very essence of Peruvian coastal music, a simple yet flexible instrument that allows for a huge array of possibilities.

Rafael Santa Cruz's show flows smoothly between Spanish bulerías flamencas and Afro Peruvian landós, tap-like dancing and African sounds, clapping and Caribbean yambu. Santa Cruz will be accompanied by a selected group of musicians (Manuel "Mangue" Vásquez, Feddy Lobatón, Eduardo Balcázar, Mariano Liy, Ernesto Hermoza) and their vast arrangement of percussion instruments: cajón, tapping, cajita, djembe, rain stick, cucharas, cencerro, jaw-bone, udu, semillas, cajón padre, double bass and guitars.

The show is held in the Centro Cultural PUCP (Av. Camino Real 1075, San Isidro, phone 616-1616). Entrance S/.20 (about $6).

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Cosas de Negros is César Peredo's latest production, a fusion of jazz and Afro Peruvian rhythms such as festejos, landós and zamacuecos. Peredo, a renowned jazz composer and flutist, is accompanied by Los de Adentro, a 6-man jazz band.

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Simone

The successful career of Brazilian singer Simone, ironically, initiated in the early 70s when she moved from Bahia to São Paulo, at age 16, to pursue a career as a basketball player. After her debut album "Simone" in 1973 (and 3 other albums in the following 5 years), her big moment came in 1979 with the song "Começar de Novo" (Ivan Lins/Vitor Martins) and with the re-record of Geraldo Vandré's anti-military anthem, "Pra Não Dizer que Não Falei das Flores".

Simone has recorded more than 31 albums. The initial, more activist repertory of compositions by such musical geniuses as João Bosco/ldir Blanc, Geraldo Vandré, Chico Buarque, and Milton Nascimento, has been progressively abandoned in favour of mainstream romantic songs, with which she has enjoyed international success.

The show is held at the Jockey Club (Av. Javier Prado y el Derby, Monterrico) at 9pm. Prices from S/.130 to 400 ($40 to $120 approximately).

Brazilian music - July 17th

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Gypsy Jazz on the Road

The gypsy-jazz band Nuages will travel across the Andes during July and August, their plan being to play anywhere it's remotely possible: cafés, theatres, town squares, alleys, and parks. The tour will start in Quito, traverse Peru from North to South and finally arrive in Bolivia.

Multiethnic Nuages was created in 2001 by Sven Pagot, a French guitarist and composer resident in Quito since the mid 90s. Though the initial proposal was to fuse jazz with gypsy music, soon the band's style was influenced by local Latin American rhythms. Today Nuages music is a fusion of many styles that range from jazz to Andean ska, from gypsy music to cumbia and tango. Their unique sound is cheerful and lyrical, with a prominence of guitars and accordions, like in the upbeat La Judía, a fusion of gypsy music and ska, the jazzy Minor Swing, and the melancholic Nuages.

The band is conformed by Sven Pagot (guitars), David Bonilla (bass, guitars), Rolland Auda (percussions), and Adrian Proaño (accordion).

After touring in Ecuador and the north of Peru, Nuages will be Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, and Bolivia (La Paz, Sucre, and Cochabamba).

Confirmed July tour dates:
- Friday 8th: Lima, in Jazz Zone
- Wednesday 13th: Cusco, in Big Blue Martini
- Friday 15th: La Paz, Pub La Luna
- Saturday 16th: Sucre, Alianza Francesa (7pm) and Biblio Café (10pm)
- Sunday 17th: Sucre, Locot's
- Thursday 21st: Cochabamba, Alianza Francesa
- Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd: La Paz, Thelonious Jazz Club

Jazz on the Road - July 8th (Lima)

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Argentinean punk-rock band Attaque 77 plays live once again in Lima, after doing it for the first time in 1997. The band's stripped-down rock and simple three-chord progressions is inspired by classic bands like The Clash, Ramones, and Damned.Saturday, July 2, 8pm.

The gig is in the Parque de la Exposición (Av. Garcilazo de la Vega, Lima Centro - For ticket information check e-teleticket.com).

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The first Peruvian to place a video in MTV, Micky González has been studying traditional Peruvian music -largely Afro and Andean- since the 1970's. During the 80's and 90's he produced numerous records fusing jazz, rock and pop with local rhythms.

His latest production, Café Inkaterra (2004), merges native melodies and instruments of the Andes and Amazon basin with electronic music, and is considered the first Andean Chill record in the country. Much appreciated by critics and public alike, Café Inkaterra become a Gold record after 6 months of being launched. Highly recommended.

Shows at Rústica restaurant (Parque Municipal 105, Barranco), from 10pm. Free entrance.

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The 4th unplugged season at La Noche (Bolognesi 307, Barranco, Phone 247-2186) is bound to repeat the enormous success of the previous years. After some intense May performances -Turbopótamos, Amén, Diablos Azules, and La Roja-, 5 renowned local bands are ready to strip off their guitars of every electric effect, and challenge the delicate bareness of acoustic sound.

A challenge that will effuse much passion and energy when Leuzemia, Peru's flagship underground band, goes unplugged on Thursday, June 16th. Founded in the 70s by two brothers, Kimba Vilis (drums) and Daniel F. (guitars), Leuzemia went against the stream since the very first day, playing Spanish rock when every other band was doing English covers. In 1983 they were met by Leo Escoria (bass), who gave the group a much understated punk edge. One year later they had played all over town, changing radically the way limeños felt about rock music. Indeed, many of the rock bands that formed during the 80s were inspired by Leuzemia. After a long 10-year break, in 1995 Daniel F, Kimba Villas, and guitarist Raúl Montañez ran into each other in a ramshackle watering hole named Mamanis Pub. They stepped on the stage, improvised a bunch of old songs, and before they could tell, Leuzemia was back again on-the-scene. This time though, with a more relaxed proposal.

The following Thursday, June 23rd, is the turn of Tierra Sur, Peru's first reggae band. They, too, promise a great acoustic performance. With 15-years on the road, the band has opened some of the most remembered reggae concerts in Lima: Alpha Blondy, The Wailers, Gladiators. Lead by Pochi Marambio (voice, harmonic, guitar), the band's current line-up counts other 9 musicians, including a girls-only 3-piece wind section. Much followed by young limeños, their live performances are usually sold-out.

La Noche's 2005 Unplugged season closes with Zen (Thursday, June 30th), a rock band whose debut album took them to the 2003 MTV Awards for the region (that year 2 Peruvian bands -Líbido and TK- won the Best Band and Best New Band categories). Resulting from the fusion of two 90s bands -Huelga de Hambre and La Raza-, Zen's music is a combination of guitar power riffs, electronic sounds, pop melodies and a touch of grunge. Not in vain, the band member's take inspiration from such dissimilar bands as Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, and Audioslave.

The June unplugged agenda also features singer-songwriter Vanessa Saba (Thursday 2) and rock band Gaia (Thursday 9).

Unplugged Calendar:
Vanessa Saba - Thursday, June 2, 11pm
Gaia - Thursday, June 9, 11pm
Leuzemia - Thursday, June 16, 11pm
Tierra Sur - Thursday, June 23, 11pm
Zen - Thursday, June 30, 11pm

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Melodic, guitar-intense rock with one of the best and most admired bands in town. Their latest CD has sold some 5000 copies, a whole lot for the arduous Peruvian market -indeed, enough to become a Gold Record. A solid music proposal and a bunch of songs -Mujer Noche, Prendí Otro Fuego por Ella, Tu Voz- that are a crucial part of Peruvian rock history.

At La Estación de Barranco (Pedro de Osma 112, Barranco). Show starts at 1.30am, entrance S/.35 (around $10).

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Henri Texier Jazz Trio

A double bass player and compositor, Henri Texier is a landmark within European jazz. "Henri Texier always succeeded in gathering the newest sounds to the most popular ones -wrote Francis Marmande for Le Monde newspaper-. He does not follow fashions of his time: he belongs to the people who create them."

The concert takes place in the Auditorium of the Alianza Francesa ( Av. Arequipa 4595, Miraflores, Phone 241-7014) on Tuesday, June 21, 9pm.

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Rave party with versatile DJ Monk (Tampa, Florida), a cornerstone of the south-eastern US scene. He is best knownfor his work in the collective Rabbit in the Moon, one of the first electronic dance groups to remix the more conservative pop music. Monk's eclectic style includes hard house, drum & bass rinse-outs, funky breaks, disco-tech, tribal rhythms, and a large dose of hip hop. Monk's collaborations include remixing for Sting, Limp Bizkit, and Britney Spears.

The rave takes place at Gótica (Centro Comercial Larcomar, level 5 -Malecón de la Reserva 610, Miraflores, Phone 445-6343) on Friday, June 17, 11pm. The entrance costs 40 soles (around $12).

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Every Friday at Songoro Cosongo (Ayacucho 281, Barranco, Phone 247-4730), just an hour before midnight, Ángel Lobatón -a daytime fisherman- swaps nets and hooks for a microphone and abandons himself to the upbeat rhythms of Cuban Son.

"The ocean gives me freedom -says this rare and gifted musician-, music brings me energy and life; both purify me, and I need no more".

A descendant from a 48-sibling family native to the small town of Chincha -possibly the cradle of Afro Peruvian culture-, Lobatón is an exceptional interpreter of Cuban music, as well as a clever singer when it comes to adding up some Peruvian beats.

Classic jazz performed by Lucho Calixto (trombone), Javier Rinaldi (piano), Mariano Liy (bass), Alberto Portocarrero (drums), and Julio Hernandez (saxophone), with guest Wilson Torres, Porto Rican trumpeter.

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The original compositions of the Hermanos Marambio cover a vast array of genres, from Jazz and Swing to Latin and Funk. However, it's their Drum and Bass that stands at the core of their rhythmic fusion. The dialogue between the 3 voices is harmonious, the compositions solid and beautifully limpid.

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Flamenco classics from Paco de Lucía, Tomatito, Aldi Meola and Gipsy Kings performed by Ernesto Hermoza and his band. Guest appearances by cantaoras and bailaoras (Flamenco singers and tap-like dancers).

At Jazz Zone (Av. La Paz 646, Miraflores, Phone 241-8139). Cover 5 soles (around $1.50).

Peruvian flavour on this cheerful jam sessions, with the cajón (a Peruvian box-like drum) as undisputed protagonist. The host band is directed by percussionist Marco Oliveros.

At Jazz Zone (Av. La Paz 646, Miraflores, Phone 241-8139). Cover 5 soles (around $1.50).