Esperando el tsunami

Sexteto Tabalá was founded in the 30’s by Manuel Valdez Simancas “Simancongo” in the famous Maroon village of San Basilio de Palenque. Simancongo was part of the Lumbalú Cabildo (a council of elders in charge of mortuary practices and the organization of all the rituals that are done in Palenque around death – as in the Congo and Angola).

Initially, the group met just to play at funerals and Lumbalú rituals, but began to settle as a band thanks to Rafael Cassiani Cassiani. Since then, their music has become part of the daily life of Palenque. Every week, the members of the sextet go together to work the land; and between blows of machete they sing.

The Sexteto music comes from the Cuban son, who arrived in Colombia in the 20s through exchange with other slaves working in sugar mills. The palenquero son has since developed into a unique genre, staying primitive, spontaneous and mysterious, with magical realism in lyrics. The son is genre unknown to most Colombians, except in the black communities of the palenques and in the Caribbean coast.

MUSICIANS: Rafael Cassiani Cassiani: Musical director & Lead Voice Jose Valdes Teheran “Paito”: 2nd voice Manuel Valdez Cañate: Timba Juan Cañate Teherán: Maracas Eduin Valdes Hernandez: Bongó Enrique Marquez San Martin: Marimbula Manuel Perez Salinas: Guacharaca & Voice Andres Valdes Torres: Claves &Voice