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| Grupo Fantasma | |||||||
This band like a good knife: sharp and dirtyGrupo Fantasma's style of music is like a good knife; sharp and dirty. Hailing from places as far-flung as New York City and Laredo, Texas, these drunkards, geniuses, and freaks are transforming the trraditional Latin style of music with their skillful songwriting, inventive arrangements, and exuberant live shows. Incorporating funk, mambo, merengue, cumbia, dancehall, dub, and other elements into their mesmerizing performances, Grupo routinely plays to houses packed with people shaking ass. The band's first year saw them share the stage with legendary artists such as Los Lobos, Flaco Jimenez, Jackson Browne, and KRS-One. Their undistributed and self-released album reached #9 on CMJ's Latin Alternative charts and consistently sold out at Austin record stores. Grupo headlined the pilot taping of the Austin Latino Music Association's "Sonidos del Barrio" series up for syndication on PBS, and was invited to provide music for Ralph Nader's first trip to Texas since the 2000 presidential campaign. The band also headlined the Latino Rock Alliance's SXSW 2002 Showcase and was crowned best "Latin, Tejano or Conjunto" at the Austin Music Awards. Fantasma's double rhythm section and three piece horn brigade consists of a versatile and talented cast of characters. Members have performed with the Blue Noise Band, the Blimp, Golden Arm Trio, and Ta Mere among others. Their eponymous 2001 debut CD reflects the toughness and diversity of the band's contagious, street-smart, and widely envied sound; proof that a live band can pull off a serious studio effort while remaining true to their reputation of infecting the crowd with a bad case of bodily gyration. |
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