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// Aurelio Martinez 
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© Sarah Weeden
Laru Beya
‘Laru Beya’ translates as ‘By The Beach’ and it’s an apt title for this album which spans the Atlantic ocean and the fateful ‘Middle Passage’. Aurelio Martinez approaches this set with quiet confidence and a refreshing openness that results in a breezy, rhythmically complex and pulsating set of songs which inevitably insinuate themselves into your consciousness. Aurelio hails from Honduras. He is Garifuna. His ancestors were shipped as slaves but lived in freedom following a shipwreck. Their music and culture has survived and flourished in communities up and down Latin America’s Caribbean coastline and Aurelio is steeped in their spiritual and secular traditions. He is heir to the roots music of Paul Nabor and others and continues the mission of his good friend and Garifuna activist, the late Andy Palacio, in awakening the world to the culture of his people. As the opening track of ‘Lubara Wanya’ unfolds I get the feeling I’m listening to a Manu Chao production and then the voice of Senegal’s Youssou N’Dour sails into the mix. It’s a magical moment. The spirit of Africa never left the Garifuna and Youssou’s vocals reach out from that place of departure – Gorée Island. It’s a connection that came through the Rolex Mentor & Protégé Arts Initiative whereby Aurelio found himself in Senegal with Youssou N’Dour as his guide. It’s that experience which finds its way into this groundbreaking meeting of musical experiences. On this album we find Aurelio accompanied by Orchestra Baobab and the musicians of the Super Étoile De Dakar whose rattling sabars and tama supplement the Ereba and the Ineweyu rhythms of the Garifuna. Venturing into the medina, Aurelio also enlisted Dakar’s Wolof speaking MCs to add a sense of urban urgency to the conscious lyrics of ‘Wéibayuwa’. This album goes beyond keeping the tradition alive, according to Aurelio it is a call to action. So, act now and give a good listen to this voice of the people.
Aurelio – Laru Beya is out 14 February 2011 on Stonetree Records / Real World
Paul Bradshaw / Straight No Chaser
(2 votes)
// ALSO
- Youssou N'Dour
- Aurelio Martinez plays Union Chapel Friday 4 December. Win tickets!
- Quantic and his Combo Barbaro album launch tour starts Friday 5 June at the ICA
- Joe Bataan & James Pants live at Cargo 11 June plus dates in Leeds and Birmingham
- Youssou N'Dour, Special Fin D’Année 2009
- Youssou N'Dour, I Bring What I Love
- Youssou N'Dour, Interview
// ALL AURELIO MARTINEZ'S REVIEWS
Laru Beya
09/02/2011
// DISCOGRAPHY
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Laru Beya (Album)// LINKS
RELATED ARTISTS
>> Andy Palacio
REPORTS
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