Grupo Fantasma Nominated For a Grammy & Live In New Orleans, LA
April 25th at Studio at Colton Theater

Nod in the 'Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album'


New Orleans - Grupo Fantasma's critically acclaimed 'Sonidos Gold' has been nominated for a Grammy, a fitting end to a 2008 that was packed with rave reviews and massive touring across North American, Europe, and beyond. Highlights include the New Orleans Jazz Festival, Bonnaroo, Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, the horn section performing with Prince at Coachella and the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno," and a ten day engagement to entertain troops stationed in Kuwait and Iraq.

The band's reputation as the funkiest, finest and hardest working latin orchestra to come of the United States in the last decade was expanded by the June 2008 release of 'Sonidos Gold' and the incredible response that followed. "They blast off in their own funktified, genre-breaking directions" exclaimed Billboard Magazine and the Boston Globe declared that "Fantasma is honing a decidedly 21st-century version of Latin groove." Their trademark innovative sound and incendiary live shows garnered a cover feature in Pollstar Magazine, radio spots on NPR's "Day to Day" and PRI's "The World" and extensive press coverage throughout North America and Europe. The album also spent several months in the top ten of the CMJ world charts.

The record's dozen tracks, guided by the deeply rooted traditions of cumbia, salsa, funk, and pyschedelia are as pertinent to the past as they will be influential on the future. "It's the definitive Grupo Fantasma album, the one we've wanted to make since the beginning" declares Adrian Quesada, one of the band's guitarists, co-founders and head producer. "The sound is organic, live, while sonically it's big and roomy with psychedelic and cinematic undertones. It pays homage to the forefathers of this music yet is forward thinking at the same time." When asked about working and recording with the album's special guests Larry Harlow and Maceo Parker, Quesada states "These guys are musical institutions. When you feel like maybe you're losing steam and someone like Larry or Maceo is schooling you and stressing the importance of carrying the torch, you can't help but feel re-energized and part of a larger, more important picture in the scheme of things."

Jose Galeano, the band's elder statesman and primary songwriter (and nephew of the infamous percussionist "Chepito" from the original Santana band) was especially moved by the recognition. "Just like Prince's seal of approval, the Grammy nomination sends a message that the band's music and performances are of the highest quality, and that we can conquer anything we put our minds to. It is quite an accomplishment. Finally the masses will know that we kick some serious ass!" Grupo Fantasma's momentum will continue into 2009 with confirmed appearances at Langerado and Festival International de Louisiane in the spring, and European and North American dates throughout the entire year.

Don't Miss Them Live!
Studio at Colton Theater April 25th - 10pm
A late night Jazz Fest show with Fantasma, Brownout, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Soul Rebels
$20

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