Mar de Músicas
Cartagena's musical menagerie from around the world
CARTAGENA’S Mar de Músicas festival annually offers up a musical and cultural melting pot from around the world.
Although the event has a global overview, each edition focuses on one specific country or area, and for this edition the chosen country is Portugal.
This year’s festival, which runs from July 19-27, features a total of 43 groups and performers, of which 14 are from Portugal.
Although, on paper, the event does not appear to have such an exciting line up as in previous editions, a little research and Spotify/YouTube exploration quite quickly reveals that those people who are not satisfied with standard mainstream radio fodder are in for a musical treat.
The noticeable change in musical emphasis is due to the unfortunate fact that the festival’s programmer since its inception, Paco Martín died last August. It is amazing how sublime Martín’s input has been, as I had a different feel about the line-up prior to being made aware of his death.
Anyhow back to the nuts and bolts of this year’s Mar de Músicas: what are the obvious highlights and who are the sleepers - acts that could easily slip under the aural radar.
My personal standout performers are the upcoming sax giant, composer and bandleader Kamasi Washington, who will be tearing up the Parque Torres auditorium on July 21.
There will be a night of extremes at the Parque Torres auditorium on July 20, when the Icelandic multi-instrumentalist and composer Ólafur Arnalds, performs on the same bill as Orquesta Okokán, a collective of young and established musicians hailing from Havana, Cuba who have become a name on music lovers lips for their hot interpretation of mambo music from the late 1950s.
On July 22 the Malian musical ambassador Salif Keita, will be awarded the annual Mar de Músicas prize during a concert at El Batel auditorium.
On July 24 the US rock, funk and jazz jam outfit Snarky Puppy will headline the festival’s La Barra Libre de la Mar day of free concerts.
During the day the Pups will line up alongside Puerto Rico’s electrodance masters Trending Tropics and Portugal’s Branko. Another highlight of the free music day will be a concert of Balkan brass madness at the hands of Fanfare Ciocarlia - think Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band on amphetamines and you will be getting close.
So, essentially these are the ‘prick up your ears’ performers who are set to grace the Mar de Músicas’ stages, but what of the ‘ under the radar’ acts?
Well, a good starting point would be that of the New Zealand singer-songwriter Marlon Williams, who performs an addictively subtle blend of folk, country and blues that is sure to have the crowd at the Patio del Antiguo CIM on July 19 under his spell.
Another slow, but ultimately rewarding burner is that of the Portuguese singer of Cape Verde descent, Dino D’Santiago, whose infectious rhythms and vocals manage to winkle their way into even the most discerning of ears. This will be perfect music for a free concert on the Plaza Ayuntamiento stage on July 22.
Another concert that appears to be perfect for the time of year and encompasses the ‘world music’ tag nicely is that of the Chilean accordion player Pascuala Ilbaca and her band Fauna, who create a magical mix of contemporary Latin chill and folk with infectious brass rhythms. Once again this concert is free and at Plaza Ayuntamiento, on July 23.
Another act that will demand the attention of listeners is the Latin psych outfit Fumaça Preta. With members hailing from Portugal, Venezuela and the UK, listeners could be forgiven for thinking that they are the resulting triplets from an illicit rendezvous at a secretive 1960s ayahuasca cult meeting.
Their fuzzed-out musical meanderings are not stereotyped musings but, one senses, the results of journeys and experiences by three true ‘travellers’. If you can, catch Fumaça Preta at the Castillo Árabe on July 26.
The last two acts that are in danger of slipping by unnoticed both hail from the African continent. Both performances take place on the festival’s closing night (July 27) and are the Ethiopian jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke at the Patio del Antiguo CIM and the Ghanaian contemporary palm wine performer Kyekyeku and his band Ghanalogue Highlife, who are at the Plaza Ayuntamiento.
So there we have it. Not a comprehensive look at this year’s Mar de Músicas line up, but a short guide to some of the gems that are lurking under the surface.
A visit to Cartagena during this week is well worth the time as the city is buzzing with music and culture from around the world – much of which is free.