LA BAMBAS LAUNCH IN LATIN STYLE

IIt was a memorable experience on Sunday , 4th March at Sooriya Village , Colombo, for many lovers of group songs when La Bambas - the versatile musicians from Moratuwa had the ceremonial launch of their unique international hits and original songs CD to mark their Golden Jubilee.

La Bambas perennial line-up comprised of their late leader Brian Fernando, Rolinson Ferdinando (residing in Canada), Lasla Fernando, Erinton Perera, Malsiri Wijesuriya and Priya Peiris .

The launch commenced with band member Lasla welcoming the crowd and with a moment of remembrance to ‘La Bambas’ leader, the late Brian. It was an impressive event with a large participation of friends, loved ones, admirers and musicians. Erinton, Priya and Brian’s son Yohan Fernando spoke about the unity of band members, who endured a virtual lifetime together as an inseparable musical outfit. Udena Wickremasooriya of Sooriya Village spoke about the culture of the La Bambas, who performed quality music without compromising for profit or mass appeal.

Also present were Merril Fernando, the former leader of ‘Amigos Romanticas’ - specialists in Spanish music, Maj. Gen. Haren Perera, Raymond Fonseka of ‘Samanalayo’ and Mrs. Brian Fernando as special guests among others.

‘It was indeed soul - stirring with band mate Malsiri participating despite his ill health said Priya Peiris, explaining the details about the launching ceremony.

Well known for their hit songs such as ‘Cock a doodle do’, ‘Nuwara Menikela’, ‘Enna yanna nelum Vile’ and many others, La Bambas produced this CD comprising 18 tracks including their popular hits, Latin American(Spanish) songs, calypso and original English songs. As in past, they used their customary gut stringed box guitars and Latin per- cussion instruments exclusively to bring out the original sounds, very much associated with this genre of music along with multiple voices in harmony.

This CD is dedicated to their late leader, Brian who passed away in 2013. The recordings were done over a year back, when Rolinson, was here on holidaying. Further, due to the non availability of Malsiri due to illness, the foursome of Priya, Rolinson, Lasla and Erinton teamed up for this effort .

Some of the Latin American songs recorded are ‘La Paloma’, ‘Cielito lindo’, ‘Pepito me Corazon’, ‘Las mananitas’, ‘Sol a mente una vez’, ‘El Rancho grande’, ‘El bayon’ (theme song from ‘Anna’), ‘Yo vendo uno ohos negros’, ‘ Nube gris’, ‘Me cafetal’, and ‘Adios Mariquita Linda’. The calypso repertoire comprised of ‘Yellow bird’, ‘Sweet Rosie Ann’, ‘River of the Roses’, ‘Sloop John B’, ‘Melody d ‘ amor’, while their English originals are ‘Sri Lankan tea song’ and ‘What happened Mr. Kangaroo’- a song about 1996 Sri Lanka’s cricket World Cup victory , are all included in this CD .

This CD comprises the largest collection of Latin American hits recorded by any group in the country.