FRONTERAS: NEW AND OLD SOUNDS FROM LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN FEATURING BÉLO, CURUPIRA, AND DJ NICKODEMUS
Co-presented by River to River and Isabel Soffer/Live Sounds. From an accordion fronted Tex-Mex punk-band to socially conscious Haitian songs and from ambient folk and electronica to the New York debut of the king of Colombian vallenato and cumbia, this Caribbean and Latin America festival travels the crossroads, the blurs and the beats of traditional and contemporary sounds from around the world and around the corner.
Fronteras series curator Isabel Soffer of Live Sounds, has been at the forefront of the global music scene in the US since its formative years. Enthralled by music that is deeply based in tradition but moves in innovative directions, she seeks border-crossing artists that stay true to their roots. The groups in Fronteras each connect to a magical space where modern and older-styles collide in surprising, often danceable ways.
Saturday night features socially conscious artists that speak to today’s political and social movements while rocking:
Haiti’s outspoken groove innovator BélO has been hailed as the island’s musical ambassador to the world. The globally informed singer, songwriter, and guitarist interweaves Afro-Caribbean Haitian traditions with jazz, rock, and reggae alongside a progressive voice for social and political transformation into what he calls “ragganga.
“Bogotá-based Curupira are a groundbreaking group who perform an original style of music they call “funklorica.” They are known for incorporating traditions like gaita, chalupa, fandango, puya, champeta, currulao, and joropo from the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, and the eastern plains of Colombia with contemporary urban sounds including rap, rock, funk, and classical Indian music. Curupira are also known for their strong socially conscious lyrics that reflect their country’s political situation and the world’s. In fact much of their music comes from areas where there is ongoing war, disputes over territory, and other conflicts keeping their music vital.
From the early days of Giant Step, to today’s Turntables on the Hudson parties,
Nickodemus has been a key element in the NYC dance music scene for over 10 years. As a DJ and producer, he explores the intersection of Urban and World Music with sounds of Funk, Folk, Jazz, Hip Hop, House, and Dub – all with a message of peace, awareness and love for the dance.
“River To River, an LMCC public engagement initiative, inspires residents, workers, and visitors in Lower Manhattan, by connecting them to artists, new ideas and perspectives, and other art-lovers to demonstrate the role that artists play in creating vibrant, sustainable communities.
River To River is made possible with support from the Alliance for Downtown New York, American Express, The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, HUD, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Westfield World Trade Center, and in part by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, as well as other underwriters.”
