Album Reviews

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Ayombe: The Heart of Columbia's Musica Vallenata

2008-08-09

This disc presents "musica vallenata" ("music of the valley"), traditional to northeastern Columbia. There are four forms presented: two tend to be faster paced (puya and merengue) and two generally slower paced (son and paseo). The accordion playing on the puya numbers is extraordinary -- hard to imagine playing all of those keys so swiftly! Two other instruments you will hear on many of these numbers are the caja, a single-headed conical short-bodied drum, and the guacharaca, a percussion instrument similar to a stick with notches cut into the wood. Another glimpse into the talent and tradition of another corner of our amazing musical world. MJVD 08/08 W-Latin (Columbia)

Quick Links:

• Folkways site on Ayombe