Monday, April 9, 2018

NYC’S RADIO JAROCHO TEAM UP WITH SON JAROCHO MASTER ZENEN ZEFERINO FOR NEW ALBUM ‘RIOS DE NORTE Y SUR’ OUT MAY 11

NYC RELEASE SHOW TOGETHER MAY 10 AT JOE’S PUB

RADIO JAROCHO KICKED OFF 2018 WITH AN APPEARANCE ON VICE TV’S
“THE UNTITLED ACTION BRONSON SHOW” & AT PASTE MAGAZINE

NYC’s Radio Jarocho and master Zenen Zeferino have joined forces on ‘Rios de Norte y Sur,’ an album of son jarocho music out May 11. They’ll play together at an album release show at Joe’s Pub on May 10. (A combination of Spanish, Afro-Caribbean, and Mexican indigenous music, the rowdy, upbeat son jarocho is customarily played in the fandango, a community celebration where people gather to play, sing, and dance – it’s experiencing a recent revival.)

The band recently appeared on VICE TV’s “The Untitled Action Bronson Show” and have performed at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Celebrate Brooklyn and with Spirit Family Reunion, David Wax Museum and Calexico. Radio Jarocho’s performances are rowdy, foot-stomping parties. ‘Rios de Norte y Sur’ is Radio Jarocho’s first album since 2012’s acclaimed “Café Café.”

Singer Julia del Palacio leads the band, providing the rhythm by dancing on a tarima (pallet). National Prize-winning jarana player and singer, Zenen Zeferino -- born to a celebrated family of traditional musicians of Afro-Mexican and indigenous descent in Veracruz – has long been a hero to Radio Jarocho. Rounding out the ensemble, Juan Carlos Marin and Carlos Cuestas supply vocals and play requinto, with Victor Murillo on bass and leona.

As a Mexican-American band based in NYC, Radio Jarocho absorbs other influences and non-traditional instrumentation (like double bass), taking son jarocho to new places while respecting its heritage. The poignant “El Misterio,” starts with a bass solo. A tribute to Zeferino’s brother (a rural-serving engineer of Veracruz who died recently) it’s also a metaphor for the destruction of the environment in the state. “Cascabel” illustrates the power of the rattlesnake, a frequent motif in son jarocho music and culture. Meanwhile, “Conga de San Benito” emphasizes the Afro-Caribbean influence on son jarocho, with lyrics about a venerated black saint.

NPR has praised Radio Jarocho’s “edgy attitude.” The New York Daily News’ Jim Farber said, “This New York-based band mine flinty traditional Mexican jarocho music, then fracture it through a modern sensibility of their own.”

Ruth Ungar of The Mammals said, “Radio Jarocho light up the room. They draw from the past but it’s all about this moment, this party, this heart swelling with joy and energy.”

‘Rios de Norte y Sur’ Track Listing:

1.     El Palomo
2.     El Misterio
3.     La Vieja
4.     Pajaro Cu
5.     Conga De San Benito
6.     Cotorritos
7.     Chiles Verdes
8.     Cascabel
9.     Balaju

Bonus track: “Julia Del Palacio”

Radio Jarocho Tour Dates:

April 17 - New York, NY - Edison Ballroom (NYC Children’s Theater Gala)
May 10 - New York, NY - Joe’s Pub
June 1 - Portsmouth, NH - 3S Artspace
June 2 - Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall
June 8 - Upper Jay, NY - Recovery Lounge, Upper Jay Art Center
June 15-16 - Flushing, NY - LeFrak Concert Hall

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