Songs
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- country:USA
- region:North America
- style(s):Funk, Latin
- label:Aire Sol Records
- type:Band
- artist posted by:Diaspora Music Group, LLC
Line up
- Adrian Quesada (Guitar)
- Beto Martinez (Guitar)
- Gilbert Elorreaga (Trumpet)
- Greg Gonzalez (Bass)
- Johnny Lopez (Drums)
- Jose Galeano (Timbales, Vocals)
- Josh Levy (Bartione Saxophone)
- Kino Esparza (Vocals, Percussion)
- Mark Gonzales (Trombone)
- Matthew Holmes (Congas)
Links
Grupo Fantasma - the funkiest, finest and hardest working latin orchestra to come of the United States in the last decade. "They blast off in their own funktified, genre-breaking directions" exclaimed Billboard Magazine and the Boston Globe declared that "Fantasma is honing a decidedly 21st-century version of Latin groove." Their trademark innovative sound and incendiary live shows garnered a cover feature in Pollstar Magazine, radio spots on NPR's "Day to Day" and PRI's "The World" and extensive press coverage throughout North America and Europe. Their most recent album, the Grammy nominated 'Sonidos Gold' spent several months in the top ten of the CMJ radio world charts.
Jose Galeano, the band's elder statesman and primary songwriter (and nephew of the infamous percussionist "Chepito" from the original Santana band) was especially moved by the recognition. "Just like Prince's seal of approval, the Grammy nomination sends a message that the band's music and performances are of the highest quality, and that we can conquer anything we put our minds to. It is quite an accomplishment. Finally the masses will know that that we kick some serious ass"
The Grammy nomination was clearly a fitting end to a 2008 that was packed with rave reviews and massive touring across North American, Europe, and beyond. Highlights include the New Orleans Jazz Festival, Bonnaroo, Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, the horn section performing with Prince at Coachella and the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno," and a ten day engagement to entertain troops stationed in Kuwait and Iraq. 2009 continued with small runs on the east and west coast of the US and Canada, and a return to Europe for summer festivals.
After WOMEX Grupo Fantasma will return to the studio to record their next album, due out in Spring 2010.
More press quotes:
"One of the sickest live bands ever" -Philadelphia Weekly
"Real musicians playing real music." -Prince
"This album shows what the fuss is about...it's a fresh, energetic set" -The Guardian (UK)
"The grassroots success of Grupo Fantasma marks them as one of the decade's most important artists in the Latin genre." -All Music Guide
"The ten members of Grupo Fantasma represent a new generation in Latin music." -Washington Post
