Original songwriting with a new and personal approach to Colombian music, featuring wonderful singers and rich and diverse textures.

10 MP3 Songs
WORLD: World Fusion, LATIN: Latin Jazz



Details:
Canción Mandala is the new recording of Sebastian Cruz' band "Coba" released by "Chonta Records," a record label representing and promoting new Colombian music. Canción Mandala features a number of special musical guests, three wonderful singers, and a nice and varied textural palette.

An important and active member of the emerging new Colombian music scene, Coba is a New York-based ensemble featuring compositions and arrangements by guitarist Sebastián Cruz. Since 2001 Coba has been a platform to explore new approaches to traditional Afro-Colombian music through original songwriting and un-traditional instrumentation, offering a very personal and fresh take on a community's ancient and profound legacy.

Since moving to New York in 1997, Sebastián has become an active member of the Colombian music scene in New York performing regularly with traditional and contemporary Colombian music ensembles including âLa Cumbiamba Eneyé,â âPablo Mayorâs Folklore Urbanoâ -appearing on their CDs- with âClásicos del despecho en la voz de Lucía Pulido,â and with âCoba.â He is also musical director and arranger for Lucía Pulidoâs Colombian music project âPalenque.â These diverse projects, from traditional to jazzy to experimental, have greatly inï¬uenced Sebastianâs exploration in ways of reinterpreting and establishing a personal relationship with Colombian, South American and American traditions.

Coba has been heard live at BAM Cafe, Culture Fest in Battery Park, The Knitting Factory, Galapagoâs Artspace, Satalla and Queens Museum of Art among others.