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Shaman (Medicine Man) TUMI110 This album is the third in a four part Andean Special Project. Click here to find out more. The word ŒKallawaya¹ has its roots in the native Bolivian Aymara language and it stands for 'shaman' or Œmedicine man¹. These traditional healers of the Andean region have a profound knowledge of natural medicine that goes back more than 500 years. This new band was set up by four legendary Bolivian musicians, all ex-founding members of the group Rumillajta, first recorded by TUMI in 1984. Their music is a combination of original compositions and arrangements from all over Latin America. The musicians are: Edgar Villarroel, Adrian Villanueva, Juan Carlos Cordero and Saul Callejas with Fernando Jiménez and Windsor Chacón as special guests.
The word ŒKallawaya¹ has its roots in the native Bolivian Aymara language: Kolla: medicine and Waya, the bearer. So it stands for 'shaman' or Œmedicine man¹. These traditional healers of the Andean region have a profound knowledge of natural medicine that goes back more than 500 years. Their ancient scientific wisdom is in many ways superior to modern technological achievements. Nowadays, the descendants of those legendary healers carry on with their mission among their people, but they are unfortunately misinterpreted or ignored by Western society. They dedicate their efforts to the long suffering native Aymara people, who have survived centuries of colonialism and exploitation. The musical group ŒKallawaya¹ was set up along the same principles that guide these spiritual healers. They are striving to show the philosophical and cultural roots of their people in a new global context. They are a new band comprising four legendary Bolivian musicians, all ex-founder members of the group Rumillajta, first recorded by TUMI in 1984. The musicians are Edgar Villarroel, Adrian Villanueva, Juan Carlos Cordero and Saul Callejas, with Fernando Jiménez and Windsor Chacón as special guests.This CD is a combination of original compositions and arrangements of music from all over Latin America. Born of Aymara indian blood in La Paz, Adrian Villanueva is a master quena player and instrument maker. He was a co-founder and long time member of Rumillajta with which he travelled the world for 15 years. They produced 7 CDs together. He has performed and played music for many films and TV programmes. His Hollywood career almost took off when he starred as the leading actor in 'Amazon' a documentary film directed by Keith Merril and nominated for an Oscar in 1997. Fortunately, his love of music and commitment to social causes prevailed and in 1998 he set up the Avilaya and Tierra Viva projects which are helping children to work on conservation schemes and to increase their environmental awareness. He is a founding member of Kallawaya and is currently touring the world with the band.
Edgar Villarroel is a multi-faceted musician, composer, author, arranger and vocalist who was born in Cochabamba. His singing profession started at the age of 7 when, as he recalls: "My father used to take me to the bars around the town. I used to sing and play while my father drank.² His long professional career began with the legendary Bolivian band K'jarkas. He went on to co-found the band Rumillajta. He then joined Mallku de los Andes. During the late '80s he moved to the UK where he lived for 10 years and founded the band Inti Raymi together with his partner Victoria Cespedes. He later went on to join the salsa band of Roberto Pla as the main vocalist. He has produced some of James Galway's' songs on panpipes, written, composed and produced music for music libraries and documentaries such as 'In Search of the Last Incas' for Tumi. He has recorded more than 20 Cds. Now in his early 40s, he lives and works between Japan and his native Bolivia. Leading panpipe and wind instrument player Fernando Jimenez was born in La Paz and started his career at the age of 14 with Ernesto Cavour and Luis Rico. In 1980 he recorded the influential album 'Tierra Mestiza' with Rumillajta. In 1982 he founded the group Luz del Ande with Takaatsu Kinoshita and won the prestigious 'Golden Panpipe' award. He has toured the world as a soloist and with other renowned Andean artists like Los Jairas, Emma Junaro, Zulma Yugar and Jenny Cardenas and has been the inspiration for many students of panpipes around the globe. Fernando has 48 recordings to his credit. Also from La Paz comes Juan Carlos Cordero lead guitarist and singer. 'JC', as he is known by his friends, studied guitar and violin with Roberto Caballero in the National Music school of Bolivia. He joined Rumillajta in 1985 when he made his first recordings and started to tour the world. He featured in many TV films and radio programmes in Europe and the USA. He has recorded more than 24 albums with many international artists, like Visión Andina, Donato Espinoza and Zulma Yugar. He seems to have the best job in the world, judging by the eternal smile on his face while he performs. Charango player and singer Saul Callejas was also born in La Paz. His career started after he won an award at the Festival of Popular Music in 1988. Shortly afterwards he joined the group Jach'a Mallku with whom he toured the Americas and Europe. He moved to Norway in 1992, where the weather most resembles that of his native Altiplano. There he founded the group Inti Bolivia and recorded the album 'Herederos'. He rejoined Jach'a Mallku in 1993 when they toured Mexico and featured in the popular programme 'Siempre en Domingo' along with Latin American celebrities like Ana Gabriel and Cristian Castro. He has recorded 10 Cds. Copyright
© 2001 Tumi Music Limited, http://www.tumimusic.com
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