Fanfare Latino Roots

If the French name of this largely Colombian brass banda seems odd, you should know they’re a group of more than 20 (mostly) Latin American musicians living in Paris, staying in touch with their roots by making truly vital music. Breathy Colombian gaita (flutes) make a pleasant contrast with shrill clarinets that rise and swirl over trumpets, trombones, baritones and sousaphones, backed by a roughly tumbling rhythm section. The brief liner notes thankfully provide some illuminating details about the origins of the songs and their styles, helping to explain the music's cultural contexts. While the bulk of their material consists of Colombian and Andean traditional tunes, and is thus dominated by regional styles such as porro, cumbia, fandango and puya, they still manage to include the delicate Ecuadorian traditional tune ‘El Curuchupa’, which features a Michelsonne toy piano – a novelty instrument with a bell-like tone.

Elsewhere, a mighty, zestful energy prevails; the band's famed street show featuring their music and dance would doubtlessly brighten any grey city street corner they graced. Perhaps London's fab La Linea crew should get out their artist booking forms?