Roberto López – Ritual (Curura Musique, 2023)
Roberto López, a Colombian-Canadian multi-instrumentalist, has released an engaging and irresistible new album titled Ritual. Drawing from a wide range of influences, including jazz, funk, and electronic music, López seamlessly weaves together Afro-Colombian and Afro-Cuban rhythms with Motown-style bass lines and Santana-style Latin electric guitars. The result is a rich and textured sound that is as catchy as it is innovative.
López also enlists the help of some exceptional vocalists on this album, including Brazilian singer Flavia Nascimento and Cuban singer Adán de Dios, who lend their magnificent voices to several tracks. Accompanying them are Sacha Daoud on drums, Kullak Viger-Rojas and Juan Sebastián Quirós on percussion, and López himself, who plays a range of instruments, including electric, acoustic, and Colombian guitars.
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, López was part of the Rock en Español movement in the 1990s before moving to Montreal, Canada, to study music at Concordia University.
López’s musical career includes composing for various mediums such as documentaries, animation films, video games, and theater. In 2005, he formed the Roberto López Project, collaborating with musicians from the Americas to explore Latin grooves in an urban context. His albums “Que Pasa?” (2006) and “Soy Panamericano” (2009) received critical acclaim, earning him awards and nominations.
In 2011, López founded the Afro-Colombian Jazz Orchestra, combining jazz and cumbia to pay tribute to Colombian composers and revive the Cumbia big band sound. His instrumental album “Azul” (2012) showcased precise arrangements and virtuosity. He toured extensively, sharing the stage with renowned artists.
Teaming up with producer Ivan Duran, López released “Criollo Electrik” (2017), an album that explored Latin roots and funky grooves with the electric guitar as the signature instrument. The album received recognition at various showcases and earned López an award for his live performance.
In 2019, López released “Kaleido strópico,” featuring a fusion of Colombian grooves, soul horn lines, Motown-inspired bass lines, and Latin electric guitar. The album received positive reviews, chart success, and nominations for prestigious awards.
His latest album, “Ritual” (2022), sees López returning to a guitar quartet format and incorporating vocals as instruments to enhance the sonic exploration.
Throughout his career, Roberto López has fearlessly pushed the boundaries of Latin music, earning him recognition, awards, and a reputation for his innovative approach to mixing genres and creating a unique urban sound.
Musicians: Roberto C. López on guitars, tiple, bass (bass station II), claves, shakers, percussion, keyboards, arrangements; Flavia Nascimento on vocals; Adán de Dios on vocals; Sacha Daoud on drums; Kullak Viger-Rojas on congas, timbales, quijada, shekere, campanas; Juan Sebastián Quirós on alegre, llamador, tambora, maracas.
Buy Ritual.
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.