Latinamerican folk music (what about colombian trova?)

Lcacique says on Jul 23, 2008, 18:00:

Colombian folk music...uhh...Totó la Momposina is excellent.

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

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de pronto says on Jul 23, 2008, 18:07:

Thank you Lcacique, is there a specific song by Toto that you would recommed?

One question, but this is not like cumbia nor vallenato, right? I like cumbia and vallenato but I am more interested in songs of the same sort of Gracias a la vida for example.

Thanks again

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Lcacique says on Jul 23, 2008, 18:08:

de pronto, I am not certain about how you are using the term trova. I do not think of the artists you list as trovadores. I think of trova as a style of music with improvised lyrics. Colombians use the term trova but they also use other terms depending on the region. For example, i know the coast (i.e. vallenato region) use the term piquería to describe situations where artists improvise lyrics that generally poke fun of the other singers (La Gota Fría is a perfect example of this).

Maybe the term, trova, has several meanings.

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

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de pronto says on Jul 23, 2008, 18:17:

I will define trova such as protest songs or nueva cancion... I guess

Pablo Milanes and Joan Manuel Serrat fit into that definition.... again I am guessing...

Have you heard for example Joan Manuel Serrat-s tribute to Miguel Hernandez? or songs written by Violeta Parra such as volver a los 17?... that is the kind of music I am looking for... but sung by colombians...

It is not improvised lyrics but poems...

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Lcacique says on Jul 23, 2008, 18:24:

Totó la Momposina does not sound anything like Sosa or Parra (who are wonderful by the way). She does do some cumbias, but they are much more traditional sounding than what most people have heard. Most of her songs are rooted in the traditional styles found along the coast (not vallenato).
Acompáñala is a gorgeous song, but she has many and she covers a variety of styles so it is hard to recommend one. I also like Oye Manita, La Sombra Negra, El Pescador and many many more.

Here's a good resource to find out more about her:
http://www.totolamomposina.com/biografia.html

And here is a short video about her and her music:

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

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Lcacique says on Jul 23, 2008, 18:32:

I personally am not familiar with any artists that sound like Sosa or Parra though I am sure Colombia has many. Someone here on pbh will certainly be able to help you out.

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

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de pronto says on Jul 23, 2008, 19:36:

Thank you for giving me this info about Toto (very nice of you)... I have never heard it before... but sounds pretty good... I just downloaded some songs...

So you think Parra and Sosa are wonderful.. I will say they are amazing! Have you listened to Pablo Milanes?

Hope Parra was still alive!

Thank you once more for your help!

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Lcacique says on Jul 23, 2008, 21:19:

de pronto: you get no argument from me. They are wonderful and amazing!

I remember a couple songs by Pablo Milanés: Yolanda and El breve espacio en que no estás. I probably know a few more, but I haven't heard him for a long time.

I take it you were referring to nueva trova in your original question: artists like Pablo Milanés, Silvio Rodríguez, Raphael de la Torre, etc. If so, you might also like Pedro Luis Ferrer. His song, Ay Mariposa is beautiful. I first heard it in the movie Before Night Falls.

For Cuban music I love Guillermo Portabales, Trio Matamoros, Celina y Reutilio, Roberto Faz, Los Compadres, and Eliades Ochoa amongst many others. I tend to like guajiras...música campesina.

I also love Chavela Vargas, a Costa Rican, who gained fame in Mexico.

Your welcome, but I am not sure that I helped you that much with respect to your original question. Nevertheless, Totó la Momposina is a precious gift that Colombia has given the world. So I am happy that you have downloaded some of her music.

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jul 23, 2008, 23:45:

I have a name for you, de pronto, I listen to her and love her work, her name is Martha Gomez, a young caleña living and making music in NY. She combines LatinAmerican folk music with jazz and the result is very pleasing. This is the type of music you'd probably like too, she sings Serrat and with Sosa, in addition to her own music made to cumbia, vallenato etc rhythms. Here's Martha in concert;

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jul 23, 2008, 23:53:

Nice clips in her MySpace:

http://www.myspace.com/martagomez

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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Lcacique says on Jul 24, 2008, 00:07:

Great recommendation, desi. Marta totally slipped my mind.

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

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de pronto says on Jul 24, 2008, 05:30:

thank you Desi, Martha's music sounds pretty good, she made me remember Lila Downs.

Is there a specific Martha's album that you like?

Lcacique; there is a song called "Ojala" and Pablo Milanes sings it, i love that song too, have you heard it?

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jul 24, 2008, 05:44:

I have two, both are pretty good.
"Entre Cada Palabra" (my favorite) and "Cantos De Agua Dulce". Funny you mention Lila Downs; she has her in her list of friends the same with Mercedes Sosa in My Space.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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Lcacique says on Jul 24, 2008, 11:04:

de pronto, I am familiar with the song Ojala. However, if I am not mistaken, the version I have heard was sung by Silvio Rodriguez.

Lila Downs is great. She is also a big fan of Chavela Vargas. They both sang in the excellent movie, Frida.

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

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de pronto says on Jul 24, 2008, 15:38:

Desi I am trying to download some of Martha's songs I really liked her voice and she is really young. Is it easy to find her CD's in Colombia?

Lcacique Lila Downs is my literature teacher's friend, when Lila was about to record the soundtrack Frida, we had a tertulia literaria at my teacher's house and Lila started to sing La llorona and songs from Frida's soundtrack. Months later I watched her singing the same song at the Oscar's

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de pronto says on Jul 24, 2008, 16:32:

Lcacique I don't like Ojala by Silvio Rodriguez. My favorite is by Nicho Hinojosa =)

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Lcacique says on Jul 24, 2008, 17:33:

That is amazing, de pronto. What an experience...I am jealous!!! Not only is she a gifted singer, but she seems like and incredible human being.

Hum...I haven't heard the version that you mentioned. I'll have to check it out sometime.

Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta!

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de pronto says on Jul 24, 2008, 19:25:

check it out later then tell me what's your favorite.

=D

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jul 25, 2008, 00:03:

De pronto, I first heard of Marta Gomez here on PBH. I don't know if she's well-known in Colombia yet, but she will be. I ordered her cds from Amazon.com. I think she's very talented and has a marvellous, velvety, soothing voice, with all the sweetness of the trapiches of her native Valle del Cauca. I've talked to people who have seen her perform, who have talked to her and they say that she's extraordinarily sweet and uncomplicated as a person. (I sent her a message in MySpace and got a lovely reply in just a day or two).

I like to listen to her when I'm driving; it's totally impossible to have road rage listening to her healing voice and melodies made of all the colors, sounds, tastes and smells of Latin America.

I listened to Lila Downs (I had never heard of her), I liked her music a lot, but I prefer Marta's voice. I listen to Silvio Rodriguez too, my favorite is La Maza (there's power in it).

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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de pronto says on Jul 25, 2008, 15:02:

I definately have to buy Marta's CDs

I'll try to ask her directly in MySpace if she herself sells her own cd's.

Thank you Desi

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