Who's Who in Basque Music Today
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Who’s Who in Basque music today AKATZ.- Ska and reggae folk group Ganbara. recorded in 2000 at the circles. In 1998 the band DJ AXULAR.- Gipuzkoa- Epelde), accomplished big band from Bizkaia with Accompanies performers Azkoitia slaughterhouse, began spreading power pop born Axular Arizmendi accordionist associated a decade of Jamaican like Benito Lertxundi, includes six of their own fever throughout Euskadi adapts the txalaparta to invariably with local inspiration. Amaia Zubiría and Kepa songs performed live with its gifted musicians, techno music. In his second processions, and Angel Junkera, in live between 1998 and 2000. solid imaginative guitar and most recent CD he also Larrañaga, old-school ALBOKA.-Folk group that performances and on playing and elegant adds voices from the bertsolari and singer who has taken its music beyond record. In 2003 he recorded melodies. Mutriku children's choir so brilliantly combines our borders, participating a CD called "Melodías de into the mix, with traditional sensibilities and in festivals across Europe. piel." CAMPING GAZ & DIGI contributions by Mikel humor, are up to their ears Instruments include RANDOM.- Comprised of Laboa. in a beautiful, solid and alboka, accordion and the ANJE DUHALDE.- Singer- Javi Pez and Txarly Brown enriching project. Their txisu. songwriter who composes from Catalonia, the two DOCTOR DESEO.- Pop rock fresh style sets them apart. in Euskara. Former member joined forces in 1995, and band from Bilbao. They are believable, simple, ALEX UBAGO.-Donostia- of late 70s folk-rock group, have since played on and Ringleader Francis Díez authentic and, most born pop singer and Errobi, and of Akelarre. In off as a duo. writes songs about love and importantly, homegrown to songwriter who with only the 80s he launched his suffering, heaven and hell. the core. BENITO LERTXUNDI.- The two CDs under his belt has solo career. His latest work CHUCHÍN IBÁÑEZ Y LOS singer-songwriter from gained international is "George Brassensen CHIHUAHUA.- Tex-Mex DRAGON LORD.- Founded ERASO.- One of the most Orio made his first forays acclaim. His first CD, "¿Qué Kantan." style ranchera music with in 1997 and based in Iruña, robust bands on the Basque into music linked to the Ez pides tú?" came out in sounds from "south of the this fast-paced, melodic rock, metal and trash Dok Amairu movement, 2001. "Fantasía o realidad" ARIMA BELTZA.- The band border." heavy metal band is known panorama today. Started in together with the Artze is the title of his second from Elgoibar cultivates beyond our borders. 1996, the band's strength brothers, José Angel record. His two CDs have the blues and also writes CONFLICT NOISE.- Hailing lies in its powerful guitar Irigarai, Lourdes Iriondo, sold over two million their own songs. Their from Bilbao, this fierce EGUEN BANDA.- Former playing. Xavier Lete, Julen Lecuona copies, winning him a concerts include work by heavy metal band fused members of Itoiz and and Mikel Laboa. In 1971 Diamond Record award. Freddy King, John Mayalle, trash, death and hardcore Oskorri, this threesome he recorded his first album Rory Gallagher and Cream. in their first CD titled started playing together in of songs of love and AMAIA ZUBIRÍA.- One of "Uhinak." 1998 every Thursday at the struggle accompanied by the most beautiful voices ASIER SERRANO.- The Bodega Hika-Ateneo in his own guitar. He has put in Euskal Herria. Her former vocalist with the CUERNO DE CHIVO.- This Bilbao. The vocals, sung in music to Lizardi's poetry, repertory includes a rich group Lorelei initiated his eight-member metallica Euskara, English or sung traditional songs set of traditional Basque solo career with pop rock. rap band from Navarra also Spanish, become yet from Zuberoa and songs. He is backed by a solid incorporates the another instrument, recovered ancient Basque band. txalaparta. Social protest respecting the origins of melodies. He has also made AMBULANCE.- Quintet resounds in their lyrics. lyrics and vocalist alike. a record with the Euskadi that could enter into the ANTOM RHUMA.- Classic Symphony Orchestra. In category of the so-called rockers with an impecable CUJO.- Melodic rock band EL COLOR DE LA DUDA.- 2002 Lertxundi released ERRAMUN new Euskal Herria pop, string and wind instrument from Getxo, formed in Winner of the Navarra pop- his latest album, the most MARTIKORENA.- Born in with songs reminiscent of section. They've played in 1995, sometimes inclined rock competition in 2001 intimist and lyrical to the Basse-Navarre town of 70s and 80s English Barcelona at the BAM to pop and others punk. date, titled "Nere Baigorri and nicknamed language pop. Festival, at the Benicassim Known as the greatest ENE BANDA.- The band Ekialdean". "Otsobi," for 30 years he Festival and festivals in exponent of Getxo Sound. embraces trikitixa, pop, has divided his time ANA POZAS.- She has two France, including Trans rock, reggae, salsa, Cajun between sheepherding and discs that fall somewhere Musicals in Rennes. DALE KE LIBRA.- Created and Tex-Mex. Their second singing. He has one of between pop and rock. Her in 1999 with members from disc focuses more on pop. those powerful voices, yet second CD, "Sin querer," AUDIENCE.- Rock band Beer Mosh, Blue Velvet, full of emotion, both was produced in the USA. with a mixture of different King Mafrundi and Ke No ENRIKE ZELAYA.- Singer- moving and natural. This styles including raspy blues Falte. The band could be songwriter who, outstanding, big-voiced and Texas swing. In times BERRI TXARRAK.- The labelled Latin pop, but accompanied by his singer is now saying his of need they'll pull out the band was first formed in leaves plenty of space for accordion, has appeared on last goodbyes to the stage. punk and their own special 1997 and burst onto the so- salsa and reggae. the stages of Euskal Herria vision of country. called "euskaldun metal" for decades. His last disc, ET INCARNATUS.- scene. Two years later their DESTINO NORTE.- Juanjo "Herritmilenio," blends Chamber orchestra BARRICADA.- Since its CD "Ikasten" put them in Niella (vocals) and Esteban some of the oldest comprising 14 string ANARI.- Singer, songwriter creation in 1982 this half- the limelight of rock in García (guitar) make up traditional instruments musicians from Gipuzkoa, and guitar player, but punk, half-heavy foursome Euskara, and proved that this pop duo with songs in (txalaparta, tobera and whose music ranges from nothing to do with folk from the Pamplona pop, hip hop, hardcore and Spanish. Zanpantzar bells), with classical to jazz to pop to music. Her songs are filled neighborhood of Chantrea punk can be blended with urban drum-playing and songs by Basque singer- with tense voices and sad, has written and recorded metal today and not end up DIEGO VASALLO.- Born in modern keyboard. The songwriters. The group lonely melodies, lyrics laid over 100 songs and in total chaos. Donostia, the former rhythms are inspired by have more than 20 naked and uneasy released 15 albums. Songs member of Duncan Dhu – Carnivalesque melodies, recordings under their atmospheres. like "En blanco y negro," BETAGARRI.- Created in together with Mikel removed from their natural belts, some of which are "Contra la pared," "No hay Gasteiz in 1992, this group Erentxun – writes pop setting and taken to a motion picture ANARKO.- Rock quartet tregua," and "Ocupación" plays ska rock, although it songs with initmist lyrics place where traditional soundtracks. Their last born in 1994, and fired up have earned their place in also skilfully incorporates in Spanish. music is fused with the record, "Troika," released by trash core and furious the annals of Spainish rock other styles into its party rhythms of today. in 2004, highlights punk. & roll. Their last CD, and dance songs. DISTURBIO.- Made up of Carnival tunes from Tolosa. released in 2004, is titled former members of Sálvale EPELDE ETA ANGEL UNZU.- Composer, "Hombre mate hombre". BIDE ERTZEAN.- The si Puedes, this quartet is LARRAÑAGA.- The innate, EURITAN BLAI.- The arranger, producer and members of the group come known for its rude and lewd self-taught trikitilari appearance of this band guitarist. Co-founder of BATZUK.- Their first CD, from melodic punk rock punk rock. Tomás Soraluze (aka was unquestionably one Issue 66 Year 2005 8 CURRENT EVENTS of the major events of the together, the results are has worked feverishly He founded a school Liebman, Richie Beirach, energy of Zuberoa today. Basque music scene in amazing. composing for classical and dedicated to teaching the Billy Hart and Roc His first CD titled the late 1990s. With jazz groups. In his most instrument to younger MacLlure. Since 1980 his "Adiskideer" is the result. polished sounds and recent work, he has fused generations, and in career has taken him in And like all the great voices surprising arrangements, jazz with contemporary collaboration with Kepa several directions. He's of Zuberoa, he has also tradition became yet orchestra music, and has Junkera, recorded "Leonen composed and arranged composed music for another element to combined regular jazz Orroak," considered a music for shows, written pastorals ("Agirre combine with their own instruments with classical milestone for the alboka. musical scores for movies, Presidenta"). ideas and other string orchestra music. The two musicians and headed up his own jazz influences, giving way to organized festivals to pay bands: Iñaki Salvador Trío, JIMMY ARRABIT SOUND an unmistakable style tribute to great traditional Naima Quartet, Andrzej SYSTEM.- The drummer and powerful personality. instrument players. Ibon Olejniczak-Iñaki Salvador from Itoiz is back with has composed alboka and Quartet, Iñaki Salvador & melodies created for the FERMIN MUGURUZA.- bagpipe theme music for Zilbor Hestea. He has also direct public. He meshes After playing rock, punk radio programs.