- country:Peru
- region:South America
- style(s):Fusion, Afro Jazz
- label:Perujazz
- type:Quintet
- gender:male
- instrumentation:instrumental
- artist posted by:Marlene Miyashiro
Line up
- Andres Prado (Guitar)
- Cesar Ballumbrosio (Percussion, violin and zapateo)
- Jean Pierre Magnet (Saxophones)
- Julio Zavala (Bass)
- Manongo Mujica (Drums and percussion)
Links
Perujazz is undoubtedly the most stimulating band to come out of Peru over the last few decades. All the band members are creators and pioneers of a new type of music that coherently and innovatively integrates the traditional musical roots from the coast, the highlands, and the jungle of Peru with masterly improvisations. Traditional instruments such as the cajon, the bongo, and ritual seed pods are combined (without losing their purity) with a tenor sax, an electric bass, an electroacoustic guitar and drums, and harmonized with synthesized electronic sound and effects. Perujazz reflects, in this fashion, a new image of contemporary Peru: ethnic roots blended with contemporary technique – the ‘primitive’ with the sophisticated.
For around forty years, they have managed to shape their own language from the synthesis of Peruvian traditional music with modern jazz styles. Perujazz’s approach is to blend traditions and popular music with jazz genres equally, in other words, they do not seek to adapt traditional rhythms into a jazzy kind of style. They do start from these rhythms to develop a path of improvisation which eventually results in a fresh and powerful genre itself, arising from the question “What does Peru sound like?
Each of Perujazz’s members has also a successful solo career, since they are considered major representatives of Peruvian music. Manongo Mujica (drums and percussion), Jean Pierre Magnet (saxophones), Andres Prado (guitar), Julio Zavala (bass), and Cesar Pudy Ballumbrosio (percussion, violin, and zapateo).
Perujazz have released seven albums, the last one featuring Alex Acuña and Abraham Laboriel. Laboriel was also invited to play live at Perujazz’s 25th Anniversary concert in Lima and, in the same manner, Perujazz have been invited by Susana Baca to perform at her concerts in Lima and La Habana. They have also played at iconic music festivals such as Festival de Cervantino (Mexico), Mar del Jazz (Argentine), Montréal Jazz Festival (Canada) and Umbria Jazz Festival (Italy), the latter where they played once “dopo Sting” (after Sting), the legend says...