Music of the Americas: A Week of En Casa

Monday, March 27, 10 am

Saturnina (José Gerónimo Caro, Aldana Campra, Santiago Martínez, Juan Pablo Cruz) is an Argentine folk-rock band based in Córdoba. They released their eponymous debut album in 2021, which combines folk musics from Argentina with rock, funk, and jazz. Their lyrics draw inspiration from established Southern Cone writers including Chacho Marzetti, Estanislao del Campo, and Horacio Quiroga.

From their home city, they sent us "Después del carnaval," a subtle song that evokes the sound of the Bolivian saya and a lullaby. In this version, the voice is supported by electric bass, quena, and charango combined with electronic percussion, reflecting their desire to combine traditional and contemporary elements. 

Tuesday, March 28, 10 am

Alexandra Cabanilla (Caba) is an Ecuadoran artist who has worked in the circus and in theater in addition to music. She started her vocal training at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música in Quito, where she also specialized in jazz at the collaborative program between Berklee College of Music and Universidad San Francisco. In 2018, Alexandra appeared at the Kennedy Center in Washington before touring Ecuador. In 2010 she released her first album, Pasional, in which she combines Ecuadoran music with jazz. In 2015 she was the first Ecuadoran artist to join Cirque du Soleil in OVO in Japan. She is currently working on her next release, Latir, and has released two singles that have been viewed thousands of times. Caba represented Ecuador in the cultural activities organized during the 2022 World Cup. 

From Quito, joined by guitarist Carlos Hernández, Caba sent us "Apapáchame," an original song composed in 2022 (and part of her new album) that speaks about "the nightmare of the pandemic and the good fortune of being able to visit and kiss your people next time we meet." Produced by Juan Pablo Villota.

Wednesday, March 29, 10 am

Brazilian accordionist Henrique dos Reis is back with a new version of Sivuca's "Véu de grinalda," which was released in 1997. 

Thursday, March 30, 10 am

Juan Diego Villalobos and Gina D'Soto are back with Villalobos' "Lo inesperado." 

Friday, March 31, 10 am

​​Ceci Méndez is a singer-sogwriter from Buenos Aires. She represented Argentina at the 58th Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar in Chile. Her albums have been nominated to the Premios Mercedes Sosa and Carlos Gardel in Argentina. She has given concerts and masterclasses throughout the Americas and in Spain. 

Méndez composed "Eterna Chabuca" as an homage to the legendary Peruvian musician Chabuca Granda, who left an indelible mark in the popular music world. The song is inspired by a traditional folk rhythm from Northern Argentina called cueca norteña, which at times approaches the Peruvian marinera. She is joined by guitarist Demián Ornstein. 

The MetLife Foundation Music of the Americas concert series is made possible by the generous support of Presenting Sponsor MetLife Foundation.

The Spring 2023 Music program is also supported, in part, by the Howard Gilman Foundation and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Additional support comes from the Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, The Amphion Foundation, the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, New Music USA’s Organizational Development Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Association of Performing Arts Professionals’ ArtsForward program, made possible through support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and The Augustine Foundation.