Son Palenque – Trotamundos del Sabor (Palenque Records, 2023)
Son Palenque introduces “Trotamundos del Sabor”, a musical treasure for Colombian music fans. Recorded in 1986, it’s a pioneering album in palenquera music, featuring irresistible rhythms performed with various regional drums and percussion.
As a leader in Afro-Colombian culture, Son Palenque stands out with a history rooted in Palenquera music, the fusion of African and Colombian styles on the Caribbean coast in the 1970s and 1980s. The group continues to thrive within the champetuo movement.
Justo Valdez Cáceres, born in 1951 in San Basilio de Palenque, is the son of percussionist Cecilio Valdez Simanca “Ataole”. He worked in agriculture and various trades before forming Son Palenque in the 1980s with friends in Cartagena. The group, featuring Enrique Marquez, Luciano Torres, Pánfilo Valdez, and Tomás Valdez,“ was born from a passion for music after a beach party in Marbella. Justo Valdez, with a wealth of songs, rhythms, and tunes from his father’s musical legacy, was a great teacher and composer.
Son Palenque recorded their first single for FONOBOSA in 1980, with two tracks: “El Palo de Mamón” by Cecilio Valdez and “Aloito Pió” by Justo Valdez in Palenquera language. They were among the first groups, after Los Alegres de San Basilio, to record in their native language.
In 1982, they recorded a full-length album with Estefanía Caicedo, featuring classic songs such as “El Vendaval” and “A Pila el Arroz”. The group later signed with Felito Records in Barranquilla, known for producing Afro-roots and psychedelia gems in the 1980s.
Buy the album from palenquerecords.bandcamp.com/album/son-palenque-trotamundos-del-sabor
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.