THE MUSIC OF KIMBA FA
Living amidst an Ayllón performance reveals a life in the core of a hurricane of emotions. To permeate such an experience in a recording could be challenging as such experience is now a method that involves a sense of control, the kind of restrain that can not be applied to the artistic phenomenon that blows you away on stage.
The music in this production attempts to present the different nuances that come alive at an Eva performance, the rapid fire beats of afro-Peruvian festejos as well as the more somber yet emotive valses or landós. We can also experience an Eva that is constantly venturing into new territories whether this develops in the more familiar landscape of Afro Cuban music or the worldlier Afro Beat.
The record begins with the festejo, el Muñeco de la Ciudad, a Latin music standard popularized by the legendary La Sonora Matancera in the 50s and 60s; this tune is a definite crowd pleaser at any concert, anywhere. Me sabe a Canela is a composition by the underrated musical genius of Victor Merino augmented by the guest appearances of the some of the best session players in Los Angeles, Joe Rotondi on piano and Abraham Laboriel on guitar.
Almost every single one of Eva's albums features a tribute to Peru's most prolific composer, the late Chabuca Granda. Eva had the fortune to befriend Chabuca n the last decade of her life and she carries a creative debt to her that is usually reflected on a recording. This time, the tracks El Surco and Maria Sueños provide that celebratory memory and coincidentally feature two of the most accomplished guitar players from Peru, the string wizard Ramon Stagnaro in El Surco and an amazing arrangement by Walter "Jocho" Velasquez on Maria Sueños. Another of victor Merino's compositions, Quimba, Fa, Malambo, Ñeque reflects Eva's adventurous musical spirit and also provides an opportunity for another musical genius, Emmy award winner Allan Phillips to join on a diversity of instruments and a powerful arrangement that is complimented by the ultimate hom section in the world led by Justo Almario on tenor sax, Harry Kim on trumped and Arturo Velasco on trombone. The work on the drum-set and the arranging of the African chorus were orchestrated by the perpetual musical wisdom of our musical restless brother, Tiki Pasillas
Quimba, Fa, Malambo, Ñeque is the original name of a book by Fernando Romero. The book serves as a sort of dictionary of expressions used among African descendants in Peru and other outlaying regions in Latin America. The words that provide the title loosely translate into a combination of expressions that transmit freedom and energizing joy. The festejo Mi Compadre Nicolás is a classic of the Afro Peruvian songbook; Eva recorded it originally over two decades ago and finally got an opportunity to recreate it for this album.
The salsa Animo y Aliento gave Eva the opportunity to reconnect with her friends from the powerhouse Latin jazz band, Tolú, led by the constantly exhilarating musicianship of Alex Acuña and Justo Almario. The Cuban bolero invaded every confine of Spanish speaking America and gave Latin Americans the opportunity of falling in love more with a different cadence. The Mexican song Adoro is a bolero standard, however this time transformed into a landó by Eva's bassist Mariano Liy. Akundún was a pop hit in the Peruvian musical landscape of the early 90s and Eva wanted to offer her own rendition of this song. Allan Phillips once again provided the arrangement to make Eva's adaptation possible.
Canto a Amador, written by Andres Soto inspired from fragments of a poem by the late Cesar Calvo. The song pays tribute to once of the pioneers of Afro Peruvian music, the legendary Amador Ballumbrosio; the colloquial arrangement is the work of Tito Manrique, Eva's guitar player. At any of Eva's concerts there is a solid 15 minutes of the show were all women in the audience become the protagonists of the story and their force overtakes the auditorium like a storm. Such event happens when Eva begins to sing a string of songs that she made popular while singing with the group Los Kipus earlier in her frustrations, emancipations and any other emotion that accompany complicated relationships. Los Kipus mix includes Huye de Mi, Nada Soy and Cariñito, which are rounded by the classic Mal Paso. The song Mi Ritual gives Eva another opportunity to break apart the sensual Afro Peruvian genre know as landó to play with more tinges of pop and world-music.
The last two tracks on this album are bonuses from the DVD Eva Live From Hollywood and will provide you a closer experience to the emotions that Eva is capable of stirring while setting the stage on a wild ride.
Discography:
Eva's recording career spans over 20 albums
* Los Kipus y Eva (Iempsa, 1977)
* Esta noche (Sonodisc 1979)
* Al ritmo de Eva Ayllón (Sono Radio, 1980)
* Señoras y señores (Sono Radio, 1981)
* Cuando hacemos el amor (Sono Radio, 1982)
* Eva Ayllón (CBS, 1983)
* Eva Ayllón en escena (CBS, 1984)
* Para mi gente (CBS, 1985)
* Para Todos (CBS, 1986)
* Huellas (CBS, 1987)
* Landó de la vida y yo (Sono Radio, 1989)
* Eva siempre Eva (Sono Sur, 1990)
* Concierto de gala en vivo (Discos Independientes, 1992)
* Gracias a la vida (Discos Independientes, 1993)
* Para tenerte (Discos Independientes, 1994)
* Eva Ayllón 25 años, 25 éxitos (Discos Independientes, 1995)
* Ritmo color y sabor (Discos Independientes, 1996)
* Amanecer en ti (Discos Independientes, 1998)
* Juntos llevamos la Paz (Pro Estudios, 1999)
* Eva Ayllón 30 años en Vivo (Iempsa, 2000)
* Eva (Sony 2002)
* Eva! Leyenda Peruana (Times Square Records, 2004)
* Kimba Fa Malambo Ñeque (Times Square Records, 2009)
* Eva Ayllón canta a Chabuca Granda (Suramusic, 2009)
* Eva Ayllón 40 años enamorada del Peru
Visit www.evaayllon.net to hear all these albums or for more information
EVA AYLLON SINGS CHABUCA GRANDA
Eva was nominated for 3 Latin Grammys for Best Folklore Album. Her musical roots are primarily founded in creole music and afroperuvian music. In may 2009 he made 3 concerts in Argentina with a new show called "Eva Ayllón sings Chabuca Granda". All the repertoire belongs to the great composer of peruvian waltzes and landós.
This concerts have been filmed and recorded and are now available in DVD and CD format released by Suramusic for all the world. Eva is joined by great peruvian musicians like Marcos Campos (Cajón and Congas), Jocho Velasquez (Guitar), Mariano Liy (Bass and 2ºguitar), Rosa Ayllón (vocals) and prestigious argentinian musicians like Facundo Guevara (Percussión), Franco Luciani (Harmonica) and Laura Albarracín (Vocals.)
In almost all of her recordings, Eva pays tribute to Chabuca Granda the most important female Peruvian composer with whom Eva maintained a very close friendship. "Eva Ayllón Canta a Chabuca Granda" ("Eva Ayllón sings to Chabuca Granda") is a performance that expresses a fluid and inspiring relationship between the greatest Peruvian composer and one of the greatest Peruvian singers.
