GRUPO FANTASMA
Austin, Texas
Latin Dance
Grupo Fantasma is a Latin funk, salsa and cumbia band from Austin, Texas. "We're a hybrid of Latin dance music from old school to new school," explains primary songwriter and percussionist, Jose Galeano. Formed in 2000, the eleven-piece band-with members hailing from such far-flung places as New York City, Managua, Nicaragua, and Laredo, Texas-features Spanish-language vocals and a four-piece horn section anchored by a double rhythm section.
Cumbia sabañera, traditional music originating in Colombia's Caribbean coastal region, and its cousin cumbia vallenata were forged from a fusion of rhythms: European accordion, native Indian guacharaca (a bamboo scraper), and African caja, a drum slightly larger than a bongo. Over time, the cumbia lineup supersized, sometimes rivaling salsa bands in its musical girth, incorporating everything from horn sections to keyboards.
Grupo Fantasma has been named Best Latin Band five times at the Austin Music Awards (2002-2006), as well as Best Band (2006) and Best Latin Rock Band (2005) at the Austin Premios de Musica Latina (Univision Awards).
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grupo_Fantasma
http://news.uns.purdue.edu/html3month/2006/060605.Alvarado.concert.html
http://aprendizdetodo.com/music/?item=20021023
http://www.grupofantasma.com/press.html
http://2007.sxsw.com/music/showcases/band/52910.html
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