Andy Palacio & The Garifuna Collective
May 24 at 20:45 - Križanke
The appearance this year of Belizean icon Andy Palacio will be more than just another great event in the Druga Godba calendar: true to its mission, the festival will bring the culture of the Garifuna people to Slovenia for the first time. Descendants of West African slaves who settled along the coasts of Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, where they mixed with the native Indian populations, the Garifuna have survived as a minority for 300 years. In amongst the elements of a venerable musical tradition are some of the finest examples of African and Afro-Caribbean world pop of recent years. Music tailored to the taste of mainstream world music fans? Not even close. Like much of the music you might have heard at Druga Godba over the years, this is art from an urban community we know too little about. Andy Palacio’s latest album, which has just been released, uses a carefully selected group of three generations of musicians, including the oldest living performer of garifuna, 78-year-old Paul Nabor.
Some people are already calling Watina, with its firm rhythmic base, luscious guitar and beautifully seductive male vocals, the record of the year. Palacio's music looks straight at you with come-to-bed eyes.
Andy Palacio, vocals, acoustic guitar
Adrian Martinez, vocals, 12 string guitar
Joshua Arana, garifuna lead drum
Carlos Perrote, garifuna bass drum, congas, assorted percussion
Giovani Chi, maracas, maracas, turtle shell percussion
Wilton Lewis, electro-acoustic bass
Ramon Cedeno, lead electric guitar
Rolando Sosa, vocals, tenor sax, percussion
Special guests
Alfonso Palacio aka Paul Nabor, lead vocals
Aurelio Martinez, lead vocals and acoustic guitar
Most recent album: Watina (Cumbancha/Intek, 2007)
Text by Bogdan Benigar
May 24 at 20:45 - Križanke
The appearance this year of Belizean icon Andy Palacio will be more than just another great event in the Druga Godba calendar: true to its mission, the festival will bring the culture of the Garifuna people to Slovenia for the first time. Descendants of West African slaves who settled along the coasts of Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, where they mixed with the native Indian populations, the Garifuna have survived as a minority for 300 years. In amongst the elements of a venerable musical tradition are some of the finest examples of African and Afro-Caribbean world pop of recent years. Music tailored to the taste of mainstream world music fans? Not even close. Like much of the music you might have heard at Druga Godba over the years, this is art from an urban community we know too little about. Andy Palacio’s latest album, which has just been released, uses a carefully selected group of three generations of musicians, including the oldest living performer of garifuna, 78-year-old Paul Nabor.
Some people are already calling Watina, with its firm rhythmic base, luscious guitar and beautifully seductive male vocals, the record of the year. Palacio's music looks straight at you with come-to-bed eyes.
Andy Palacio, vocals, acoustic guitar
Adrian Martinez, vocals, 12 string guitar
Joshua Arana, garifuna lead drum
Carlos Perrote, garifuna bass drum, congas, assorted percussion
Giovani Chi, maracas, maracas, turtle shell percussion
Wilton Lewis, electro-acoustic bass
Ramon Cedeno, lead electric guitar
Rolando Sosa, vocals, tenor sax, percussion
Special guests
Alfonso Palacio aka Paul Nabor, lead vocals
Aurelio Martinez, lead vocals and acoustic guitar
Most recent album: Watina (Cumbancha/Intek, 2007)
Text by Bogdan Benigar
