Canteca de Macao/ New Year, New Moves
Canteca de Macao/ New Year, New Moves
By Angela Evans
“Nnnnn nenene ne ne ne ne…” a metal guitar riff pulsed forcefully against the backdrop of a blue-lit stage, filling the space of Green Dolphin with anticipation. One by one, the members of Canteca de Macao took their positions on stage as the crowd cheered enthusiastically. Once all members of the band were in place, the band burst into “Musica,” (literally) the first track on their third studio release, “Agua Pa’la Tierra.”
Madrid’s Canteca de Macao is an impressive 9-piece band that began playing together in the fall of 2003. They signed with Warner Music Spain in 2007. The only stipulation Canteca had was for the label to allow them to release their albums on the Internet for free, just as they had done before with their self-produced album “Cachai?” Warner agreed, releasing their second album “Camino de la Vida Entera” that year.
The band is comprised of: Ana Saboya, vocals and composition; Isidoro Lora-Tamayo (“Chiki”), composition, vocals and guitar; Alvaro Melgar, guitar; Danilo Montoya, flautist; Juan Tomas Martinez, percussion and vocals; Pablo Carretero, bassist; Javier Rodriguez de Zuloga (“Zulo”), juggler; Rodrigo Diaz, vocals/chorus.
Canteca’s stage presence exuded vivacity, filling the space with their music. It surrounded and swirled throughout the crowd of about 150 people, as they moved their bodies to the colorful rhythms and melodies. The stage was decorated with various types of foliage, vines and small flowers wrapped around the microphone stands. Each musician’s personality contributed their own unique flavor to the band’s sound, which is a fusion of flamenco, rock, reggae, jazz and hip-hop, with additional inspiration drawn from other traditional forms of Spanish music.
“We drink from many different fountains, and from a lot of pure musical styles and then mix them…every kind of music we approach.” Ana explains of the band’s musical vision.
It was after Ana and Chiki met that they began writing and playing music together, the first original members, so to speak. People gradually joined the mix through multiple conversations that usually went something like, “I have a friend who plays…” As far as any formal decision to begin playing shows together for an audience, Canteca asserts that it just kind of happened.
Watching Canteca de Macao’s live show makes it easy to understand why it did “just happen.” Ana chose the name of the band because of its vocal pattern. “Canteca de Macao,” she explains, “is like dyslexia.” However, Canteca de Macao performs as the complete opposite of dyslexia, but rather as a harmonious, cohesive musical family.
Each musician plays off of one another’s artistry with ease and whimsy. Canteca catered good-naturedly to their crowd at the Green Dolphin by offering little jokes and anecdotes in both English and Spanish. Passion on full display, they poured themselves into their performance. They enjoyed taking turns in the spotlight at given moments throughout the show, as well as sitting close together in intimate fashion for a couple quieter, acoustic- inspired songs. Closer to the end of their set, Canteca clowned around a bit, much to the audience’s pleasure.
Ana, dressed in a black top hat, tank and skirt, edged with bright red, festive ruffles, theatrically played the kazoo. Chiki comically balanced his guitar in his mouth- the head of his guitar protruding from its shaky base between his teeth, teetering its body to and fro until it would remain upright no longer.
Once Canteca graciously took their bows and made their exit, the crowd pleaded for an encore with shouts and roaring applause. The band did not allow the pleas to continue for long before they congenially possessed the stage for three more songs.
It is clear the band is grateful for how far they’ve come.
It is very difficult to live as a musician in Spain— one of the worst occupations you could have financially. Ana informed that this is the greatest hurdle in their musical journey. “To get money, to continue doing this, to have your own apartment, to live alone- I don’t know. To live with and for music, that’s the biggest obstacolo.”
“We’ve had it quite easy, but it’s still really difficult in Spain to make a living off of music and to live on your own. Most people our age live with their parents,” Zulo adds.
Madrid has been good to them. It is their hometown, after all. Many fans travel to coastal Spanish cities since there are no beaches or water near Madrid. The fans that travel to other places outside of Spain, including Latin America, have spread their love for Canteca’s music with the people they encounter. Word of mouth has carried the band forward since their inception. Canteca attributes the spread of their popularity primarily through this means, saying that they hear similar stories from fans everywhere.
Since Canteca insists on releasing their albums for free download on the website, knowing that this will not help increase their record sales- they count on their shows to produce the bulk of the band’s income. Initially, each member had a side gig when the band was starting out. But now everyone is devoted to playing together full time.
The night before Canteca left for the US, they were presented with their very first award by an association called “La Noche en Vivo,” which named them as their favorite band to play in Madrid. Since this was their very first award, Zulo said nobody knew what to say besides, “Thanks! Thanks!”
Ana adds that she picked up the microphone and said, “Well, Chiki, what do you have to say?” They laugh at this. She said she didn’t know what she was saying, but it went something like that. They also mentioned how there were all these photographers there taking pictures of them while each member of the band going a different direction because they didn’t know where to go after they got on the stage. Ana says they’re going to remember it.
The award was a first, and so is their involvement with the 2010 Flamenco Festival. Participating in the festival made possible their first visit to the United States, which the band was really excited about. (Including a show in New York after Chicago, and before they return to Spain.) Their first stop on US territory was for a meet and greet at Zocalo in Chicago for World Music Thursday. Ana explained that she wasn’t sure if they were eating breakfast or dinner (referencing the 8 hour time difference), and likened the band to ghosts.
Chiki mentions that he feels there is a lot of good music coming out of the US, that people have an appetite for it here. To see how the American crowd would respond to Canteca’s music was of particular interest to him. Chiki says that by coming to a show, people will know what it’s really about.
“We’ve grown up on stage doing the show,” Ana says. They want people to truly experience the music when they play. “To absorb everything and feel the energy and preserve that energy. And try to get to that point where language is irrelevant and where music takes a hold of you fully- and you can communicate with people just through music without lyrics or anything. You can know what someone’s feeling just through what they’re playing.”
Is there anything the band is particularly surprised about? “Everything,” said Chiki. “We were playing for fun and now we live off this, we have our third album out, we got an award, we’re in the states— we couldn’t expect any of this a few years ago.”
Zulo recounts going to this big musical festival in Spain every year called Pina Rock. It is the biggest musical festival there is, and they would go to see the different bands and performances. Zulo remembers telling Chiki one year, “Hey, Chiki- imagine being on that stage.” Chiki replied, “One day, one day we’ll be there.”
“And it was just the following year, we were on that stage. We were joking about it just one year before,” Zulo said.
Ana adds, “We dreams always, but to make it true is the thing.”
Concha Jareño – Chicago
by Amor Montes de Oca
Canteca de Macao- Chicago
Canteca de Macao Comes to Chicago and Blows me Away!
by Christina Rodriguez for Café Magazine
New Faces of Flamenco
The New Faces of Flamenco
Written by Nicola Sofia Paracchini | 10 February 2010 for Café Media
Canteca de Macao, the self-proclaimed mestizo flamenco band from Madrid, will make their United States debut with a concert in Chicago on Friday as part of the 2010 Flamenco Festival, presented by the Instituto Cervantes of Chicago.
“The idea with the festival is to bring these artists to Chicago and give the community the opportunity to see something they’ve never seen before,” said Teresa Hernando, cultural coordinator at the Instituto Cervantes. “Flamenco is changing.”
Known for fusing reggae, ska, jazz and flamenco styles in their music, Canteca de Macao illustrates the festival’s theme: the blend of contemporary and traditional elements that is helping define flamenco today. “Flamenco is a dynamic culture that is influenced by current trends,” said Amor Montes de Oca, owner of Arte y Vida Chicago, an online calendar of Hispanic art and cultural events in Chicago, one of the main sponsors of the festival. “I’m happy that we are able to showcase what we think of as traditional flamenco, as well as someone more modern, more edgy.” Montes de Oca predicts the concert will be “a big smash” for flamenco followers in Chicago.
Canteca de Macao might be the stand out performance of the week, but according to Montes de Oca, festival goers will be equally appreciative of the work by other artists, who will bring genuine Andalusian elements to their events. “In terms of flamenco in Chicago, the community is loyal, dedicated and knowledgeable on many levels…music, culture and language.”
The festival begins on February 10 with a performance by flamenco guitarist, Juanito Pascual at the Old Town School of Folk Music. The musician, who is from Boston, will work collaboratively with La Conja, a traditional flamenco dancer. The five-dollar suggested admission makes it possible for virtually everyone to attend the show. Accessibility to these events, particularly the Canteca de Macao concert, was a priority for the organizers of the festival. According to Hernando, the majority of funding for these performances comes from the Office of Tourism of Spain.
Before they head to New York to continue their mini tour in the U.S., Canteca de Macao will spend four days in Chicago and give fans the opportunity to practice music with them. “Students can hang out, partake in the music that they make, and learn their techniques,” said Montes de Oca. The workshop is open to anyone, including beginner musicians and fans of flamenco, who will get the opportunity to practice with professionals.
Arte y Vida Chicago, along with the other supporting cultural organizations, wanted to make the community participation in the festival a priority. “We take every opportunity possible to put together a lecture or workshop to incorporate as many audiences as possible and to make it as diverse as possible,” said Montes de Oca. The workshops, will give local artists and the community the opportunity to become familiar with flamenco culture on a more intimate level.
“Every year that we organize this festival, we have many followers…they develop a passion right after they get in contact with flamenco music,” said Hernando.
The festival also hopes to make an impact on those who aren’t as familiar with the art of flamenco and inspire them to join the following. “We want to cultivate the culture here,” said Montes de Oca. “If you go to one of the performances, and you love what you see, you might be inspired to take a class, or go see the artists perform in other places.”
Canteca de Macao – Chicago
By Extra News
Canteca de Macao, one of the leading music groups from Spain performed for the first time in the U.S. at the Green Dolphin, 2200 N. Ashland Ave. on Feb. 12.
The eight-member group, from Madrid, performed a mixture of reggae, ska and flamenco music. Vocalist Ana Saboya sang songs from their new CD Agua Pa’ la Tierra. Their entire album can be downloaded for free at cantecademacao.org.
Singer and dancer Chiara Mangiameli, guitarist Diego Alonso and percussionist Kassandra Kocoshis from Idilio was the opening act and performed traditional and contemporary flamenco music.
The concert was presented by Arte y Vida Chicago and RatioNation in collaboration with the Instituto Cervantes of Chicago.
For a calendar list of Hispanic art and cultural events in Chicago, visit arteyvidachicago.com.
The Nomadic World Series 2009
The Nomadic World Series 2009
The One & Only
Sergent Garcia King of SalsaReggae
performed 7/20
at Logan Square Auditorium
The Grammy Nominated Les Nubians
performed 7/9
at Green Dolphin Street
Curumin performed 7/16 at Rumba
Novalima afterset 7/23 at Sonoteque
Kokolo AfroBeat Orchestra 7/25 at Las Tablas (the best restaurant ever!)
The Clark Street Festival 7/26
Thanks to: E-Hispanics, Ola Chicago, Enchufate, Chi-Remezcla, Ratio Nation, Hot House, Radio M, Agúzate, Rockotitlán, City Vida, The Latino Cultural Center, Q4, World Fusion Chicago, Macondo and our friends and family for your help and support with this project!
& Many Thanks to everyone who attended!
Please, send us your photos or reviews to amor@arteyvidachicago.com
or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter
Photos provided by our friends at Enchufate and City Vida and protected by copyright law.
Stay Tuned! To receive information on Sound Culture world music upcoming programming – Click Here!
