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Grupo Fantasma
Known as the funkiest, finest and hardest working latin orchestra to come of the United States in the last decade, Grupo Fantasma’s trademark sound has translated comprehensively on their new album Sonidos Gold " it’s an incredible and animated performance interwoven with mature and intelligent songwriting that is equally at home with the classic 1960s Fania All-Stars sound AND the progressive benchmark set by artists such as Manu Chao. Guided by the deeply rooted traditions of cumbia, salsa, funk, and pyschedelia this masterful ensemble band has forged a fresh new standard of excellence in latin music.
Special guests on the album include legendary saxophonist Maceo Parker, Fania All-Stars pianist and arranger Larry Harlow, trombonist Greg Boyer (Prince, Parliament Funkadelic), and a bonus track/remix by producer Toy Hernandez (Control Machete, Juanes, Alejandro Sanz). Recording and mixing on the album was executed at Stuart Sullivan’s Wire Recording facility in Austin, responsible for notable projects by Sublime, Meat Puppets, and Butthole Surfers.
There is no doubt that Sonidos Gold will be remembered as an instant and timeless classic. From the epic and head bobbing entrance of “El Sabio” to the textural violin and peyote-laden conlusion of “Perso Fra i Mesquites” the record’s dozen tracks are as pertinent to the past as they will be influential on the future.
“It’s the definitive Grupo Fantasma album, the one we’ve wanted to make since the beginning” declares Adrian Quesada, one of the band’s guitarists, co-founders and head producer. “The sound is organic, live, while sonically it’s big and roomy with psychedelic and cinematic undertones. It pays homage to the forefathers of this music yet is forward thinking at the same time.” When asked about working and recording with Larry Harlow and Maceo Parker, Quesada states “These guys are musical institutions. When you feel like maybe you're losing steam and someone like Larry or Maceo is schooling you and stressing the importance of carrying the torch, you can't help but feel re-energized and part of a larger, more important picture in the scheme of things.”
The momentum of an enormous 2007 has clearly set the stage for another fruitful year for Grupo Fantasma. From their critically acclaimed performances with Prince in London this past August (their first trip overseas playing in front of 20,000 people) to a national airing on PBS’s “Austin City Limits,” the band continues to expand their musical horizons and deliver earth-shattering live shows. Other significant accomplishments include NPR features on Latino USA and Song of the Day, recording of a BBC Radio session at the infamous Maide Valle Studio in London, the Fantasma horn section performing at clubs and festivals with indie-rock stalwarts Spoon, licensing of albums for distribution in Europe, and several guest spots on international releases. This spring and summer will see them performing at highly regarded events such as New Orleans Jazz Fest, Bonnaroo and Montreal Jazz Fest.
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Grupo Fantasma: American Music Vol. VII
by Chris M. Slawecki
The thirteen new tracks on American Music Vol. VII celebrate Grupo Fantasma's first studio album in five years as well as the nineteenth anniversary of Austin's preeminent Tex-Mex party band. In several ways, Vol. VII sounds like much of their previous music: This Grupo can spice up and rock an energetic, celebratory party sound that few other bands can match. But this music also sounds and feels different and as a result remains vibrant and vital, too.
read moreGrupo Fantasma: Problemas
by Chris M. Slawecki
It took five years and a new producer for Grupo Fantasma, the powerhouse Austin (TX) fusion ensemble that brings together musicians from Texas and Latin America, to follow-up their 2010 Grammy-winner El Existential (Ingrooves/Nat Geo Music).But Problemas, the first release that the band did not produce itself, proves worth the wait. We thought a new process would help us find a unique voice and create a story," explains bassist Greg González. For our part, we felt that one ...
read moreGrupo Fantasma: Sonidos Gold
by James Taylor
When you've got Prince's seal of approval, little else matters. Austinites Grupo Fantasma have long been the Purple One's band du jour, logging a two-month residency at his Las Vegas nightclub 3121, a Golden Globes after party performance that saw the band joined by Prince, Talib Kweli, Will.i.am, Mary J. Blige, and Marc Anthony, as well as other performances alongside the icon in London, Miami and the Capital City itself. Sonidos Gold is the best document of ...
read moreGrupo Fantasma: Album out 5/11
Source:
JamBase
GRUPO FANTASMA TO RELEASE EL EXISTENTIAL ON MAY 11, 2010
Grupo Fantasma Click here to download the first single off El Existential."
The intrepid members of Grupo Fantasma have been doing things their own way for over a decade now, which continues with the highly anticipated and self-produced El Existential out May 11, 2010 on Nat Geo Music. An exceptional follow-up to their Grammy nominated Sonidos Gold, this new effort's love for exploration using the sounds and fundamentals of traditional ...
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Grupo Fantasma Summer Tour
Source:
JamBase
Grupo Fantasma Announces Summer Tour Grammy nominated Latin funk orchestra to play selected dates this July
The grassroots success of Grupo Fantasma marks them as one of the decade's most important artists in the Latin genre." -All Music Guide
Grupo Fantasma Grupo Fantasma, one of the funkiest, finest and hardest working Latin acts to come out of the United States in the last decade will continue their relentless assault of the road this summer. Their trademark innovative sound ...
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Ocote Soul Sounds: The Psychedelic Offspring of Antibalas and Grupo Fantasma
Source:
rock paper scissors, inc.
The Catalysts of Coconut Rock: Ocote Soul Sounds Creative Mutations and Funky Beats
Just a sliver of the ocote wood starts a blaze. A few pieces of this pine was all Martn Perna needed to get his cooking fires started in a small fishing village in Michoacn, Mexico. It was there that Pernaknown for founding Antibalas, the NYC collective that sparked an Afrobeat revivalfound a new direction.
For several years, I'd spend time in this little fishing village," Perna recounts, ...
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Grupo Fantasma's Austin City Limits Airdate Set for Nov. 17th 2007!
Source:
Learning Secrets
As Grupo Fantasma prepares for a busy fall packed with festival and club dates, the Latin collective received the exciting news confirming the airdate for their appearance on Season 33 of Austin City Limits, America's longest running televised concert series. Every season, the show seems to keep reaching new heights," said Terry Lickona, longtime producer for ACL. The talent line-up so far for Season 33 speaks volumes about the series' lasting appeal and integrity, and the fact that we're able ...
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