The Signature Series at Berklee will present Colombian vocalist, dancer, and teacher Totó la Momposina on November 5, 2015. Totó la Momposina represents the combination of Colombia’s African, indigenous Indian and Spanish cultures that have developed a unique musical tradition. La Momposina will perform her songbook with a large student ensemble, playing arrangements by contemporary writing and production majors.
Student groups will open the show, performing several of la Momposina’s songs. La Momposina will later take the stage joined by her son and musical director Marco Vinicio Oyaga on the alegre drum, and special guest, Colombian singer-songwriter, alumna trustee Monica Giraldo, who made the initial connection between Berklee and la Momposina.
“My relationship with Totó has been built through the years, based on my love and respect for her music. This is what inspired me to write the song ‘Así lo canto yo,’ about her journey as a cantadora (troubadour) and the Colombian musical tradition she represents,” says Giraldo. “This music is a vital piece of Colombia’s culture and her voice and talent will be an inspiration for the Berklee community.”
The concert is produced by Grammy-winning bass professor Oscar Stagnaro and directed by Matthew Nicholl, chair of the Contemporary Writing and Production Department and executive director of the Mediterranean Music Institute. Colombian bassist Esther Rojas is the student musical director and coordinator.
Totó la Momposina emerged as a promising singer in the 1950s and formed her own band in the 1960s. She began touring internationally ten yearsd later and consolidated her international popularity in the 1990s with a WOMAD tour across three continents, the release of La Candela Viva, and the many international shows and recordings that followed.
La Momposina continues to work diligently to promote the music of her homeland, driven by passion and the simple joy of performance. She has received the Latin Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the WOMEX Lifetime Achievement Award. Her latest album, Tambolero, is a re-creation of La Candela Viva.
Mónica Giraldo was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2008 Latin Grammy Awards after releasing two independent albums – Muy Cerca, and Todo da Vueltas. Her latest album is 2014’s Que Venga la Vida. In addition to her Berklee degree, Giraldo has an architecture degree from Universidad de los Andes, in Bogotá.
Totó la Momposina Meets Berklee will takes place Thursday, November 5, 8:00 p.m., at the Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston. Tickets available at box office or berklee.edu/bpc. For more information, call 617-747-2261.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
