Viento Sur Featured Great Bolivian Band SUKAY

SUKAY is directed by the legendary Bolivian composer and one of the greatest master exponents of the charango: Eddy Navia. He was a founding member of the famous group Savia Andina with whom he recorded 30 albums, three of which went gold. Savia Andina was a major force in bringing Andean Folk Music into the mainstream, even hitting the Top 40 charts in South America. Eddy Navia has also recorded eight solo albums.

SUKAY was founded in 1975, by Quentin Howard (Executive Director, pan-pipes, flutes, and lead vocals), who in describing her first experience in hearing the zamponas or pan-pipes, being played says, "That sound went right to the heart of me." It is Howard’s true sense of intimacy with the music she plays that has made her such a natural on stage and has allowed her to connect with, educate and inspire audiences for the last 20 years.

The music of SUKAY has its roots in a 5000 year old, pre-Inca culture that believes in a strong relationship between life and nature that can be heard in the sound of the instruments. Though the group still performs the traditional compositions of the Andes, SUKAY continues to look toward ways to break new ground.

Sukay World Music is a woman, husband, son owned family label. Gabriel Navia, who composed the first song on the Encuentros CD when he was twelve, has been a major source of inspiration in the making of Pachamama. The label has received many honors for its 12 recordings including two Indies World International Music.

For more information regarding SUKAY visit the following links:

http://www.mindspring.com/~sukay/sukay2.htm
http://pachamamacenter.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dATlB_IQuWg

Sol Simiente Sur Special

In September one of our shows was dedicated to one of the legendary recordings and projects that was put together by bolivian virtuosos in La Paz, Bolivia in 1978. The project was called Sol Simiente Sur.
The bolivian musicians that were part of this project were:
Eduardo Ortiz B. in the bolivian flute Quena
Eduardo Villaroel R. in Flute and Picolo
Javier Ruiz G. in the Charango Boliviano and the Cuatro Venezolano
Daniel Mendoza B. in Guitar
Marcel Ruiz G. in base
Fernando Sanjines in drums and bolivian percusion

August Month Dedicated to BOLIVIA's 185 Aniversary!

Hello all, today Viento Sur serenaded BOLIVIA for its 185 years of indipendance that will be celebrated across the world this coming August 6th, 2010!

I would like to invite all of you to celebrate with Viento Sur the bolivian independance all this month!

Willy Claure Specials

We have dedicated a two part special to one of the greatest bolivian guitarrists, Willy Claure, he was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
In 1978 he was part of Khanate, after that he played with Emma Junaro, Jose, Joselo and Marcelo, Los Jairas, William Ernesto Centellas, Jacha Marka, Savia Nueva and the famous Los Ruphay.
In 1990 he published his first compositions. In 2001 he completed his studies of Antropology.
We have played his new release "Para Chicos y Grandes". For more information regarding Willy Claure visit the following web site:

wwww.willyclaure.com

This Month of March is dedicated to Los Awatiñas!

Viento Sur, will dedicate this month of March to one of the greatest bolivian bands, Los Awatiñas. They were founded in 1970, and they maintain the roots of their native forefathers. Their goal is to educate young people in conserving their native dignity and culture for the children of the future of Bolivia.
One of the important thing to mention about this band is that they destine part of their concert gains to education and health projects in their native Bolivia, they have been helping the Red Cross of France to build schools and help the children of their native country Bolivia.
In the summer they perform at different musical fetival in France, Belgium, Germany and in other countries in Europe. They go back to La Paz on winter to compose and write new songs.
For more information about los awatinas visit this web page http://incamusic.narod.ru/awatinas/awatinas.htm

Bolivian Alasita 2010!

This afternoon in Viento Sur we have dedicated the show to the Bolivian festival Alasita (“buy me” in the indigenous Aymara language) to pay homage to Ekeko, the squat mustached Bolivian Aymaran god of abundance. The Ekeko is a colorful statue load down with tiny items representing prosperity, abundance and good luck. This is an annual festival when Bolivians like to buy trinkets representing their wishes for the new year in the hope Ekeko will make them come true.
The festival of Alasita combines local Aymara traditions and Roman Catholic beliefs that have being celebrated in Bolivia every January 24 since 1781. In keeping with its traditional roots, a shaman often blesses the trinkets with incense, flower petals and rubbing alcohol. Many participants also climb the stairs to the Roman Catholic cathedral for the blessing of Our Lady of La Paz.

For information regarding this bolivian festivity visit the following links:

http://bolivia-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/fiesta_de_las_alasitas_in_la_paz_bolivia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG1CJpt3oks

Welcome to Viento Sur 2010

Hello friends of "Viento Sur", I hope all of you had a great holiday season! Welcome to 2010. Today we started the year featuring Bolivian Jazz, I hope you enjoy it, do not forget to tune in next Sunday for the second part on this special to Bolivian Jazz.