More zapateo--thanks to Kevin

Kevin of Canada (I'm not sure exactly where he lives in Canada, but no matter) kindly sent me the link to the video below.  It has some cool zapateo, lando, and other performance by an Afro-Peruvian group in Peru.  There's lots of good cajon, a very personable group leader who sings with enthusiasm, and a fine, traditional guitar accompaniment.

In the meantime, I remain surprised at how few people know about the Peruvian cajon, how few of those who DO know understand that the Peruvian cajon came from Afro-Peruvians, and how few people know that the cajon now used in flamenco came into flamenco when an Afro-Peruvian group called Peru Negro toured in Spain and introduced the cajon to flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia.

I am now officially telling you these things.  So now YOU know.

In the meantime, Ivan Tellez (who is helping me out in California while I'm in Spain) reports to me that he's played our CD of the musical track from A Zest for Life in several clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the response has been very positive.  (The CD is called "de Rompe y Raja with Lalo Izquierdo:  A Zest for Life Musical Track.")  In addition, a number of stores in the Bay Area will soon be carrying the CD. 

Nice.

OUR NEXT BLOG will be about my trip to Berlin for the Black International Cinema festival.

5th Annual International Cajón Festival

The Fifth Annual International Cajón Festival is in progress right now in Lima, Peru.  It runs from April 10-22.  Yesterday, organizers were expecting 1,500 cajón players (of all skills) to participate in a massive -- and undoubtedly loud and upbeat -- celebration open to anyone who had a cajón was invited to this event, intended to break the record set last year.

On other days, the festival features famous cajón players including Rafael Santa Cruz, Cotito (seen briefly in our documentary, A Zest for Life--both in a photo and also playing the checo), and performers from Spain (including two flamenco performances), from Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela as well as, of course, many from Peru.

Cotito, with cajón, checo, and other Afro-Peruvian percussion instruments.

There are also videos, lectures, conferences, music clinics, and a couple of slots set aside for the checo...and again, LOTS of cajón performance.  If you are a percussionist, this is where you should be!

The web site for the festival is here LINK, but it is in Spanish.....

Although people of all kinds (and all races) now play the Afro-Peruvian cajón, the festival is giving due attention to its origins in the Afro-Peruvian community, featuring many great Afro-Peruvian percussionists as well as plenty of focus in the talks, videos, etc., about the Afro-Peruvian origins of this instrument.

OUR NEXT POST will be about the upcoming trip to Berlin for the Black International Film Festival (where A Zest for Life will be screened).  OK--next post will be about a video of zapateo, cajon, etc. that a nice person named Kevin sent me, and the one AFTER that will be about Berlin.

Black Latinos

This is a very interesting video I found on YouTube.  It starts off looking at how Latinos see themselves, but rather quickly switches to the topic of black Latinos.  Mainly through interviews, it covers not only how black Latinos see themselves but how other Latinos see them.  Very thought provoking.  I should tell you in advance:  this lasts about half an hour, so plan ahead to allow yourself enough time.



As you see, the video doesn't mention Afro-Peruvians and generalizing is sometimes a dangerous thing.  But when you look at the standard of living of most Afro-Peruvians, you realize that their situation is pretty well reflected in what you see in this video.

OUR NEXT POST will be about ANOTHER FESTIVAL!