Dan Neville presents

Música del Pacífico (Colombian marimba)
featuring Ali Cuama
& Adrian Sabogal

Join us for a rare opportunity to see Colombia’s “Música del Pacífico” performed live, featuring one of the true masters of the music, Ali Cuama.

Ali comes from a lineage of master marimba players from Buenaventura, Colombia, and will be joined by fellow Colombian educator and multi-instrumentalist Adrian Sabogal.

Accompanying them will be Bay Area’s Dan Neville on percussion and Gabe Case, known as straight-lace no-chase, on the bass.

Música del Pacífico is a music that has thrived in the jungles of rural Pacific Coast Colombia, and until recently has remained unknown to the world. It is a style of music that features the marimba, as well as several types of drums and percussion that are specific to the Pacific Coast region. We are excited to present traditional material from these regions, as well as our own interpretations of jazz and contemporary music. You don’t want to miss this awesome, unique event!

Bios:

Maestro Ali Cuama is a professional percussionist, singer, composer, arranger. Mr. Cuama is the heir to the musical legacy of the legendary musician, Baudilio Cuama, who in turn learned from his parents. Ali Cuama was trained at an early age by Baudilio himself in the art and secrets of the Marimba de Chonta and its songs. Since 1995, Maestro Ali Cuama has participated and directed important groups in Buenaventura, Colombia such as Los negritos del Pacífico, Marimba y son, Son como Son Chirimía. He is currently the musical director of the ensemble, Bombo Negro.

Maestro Adrian Sabogal is a music master with extensive international experience in the field of musical performance and teaching. Mr. Sabogal graduated from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana with an emphasis on jazz guitar. He has worked for over ten years researching traditional musics of the Pacific coast of Colombia. He is an active composer and arranger as well. He is the founder of Redil Cuarteto and Pambil, two groups with a long, national and international artistic trajectory, known for exploring and upholding the tradition of marimba music.

Dan Neville is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, jazz performer, jazz big band arranger and a full-time student, currently based in SF. His credentials include 7 seasons of SFJAZZ Center’s Monday Night Big Band, arranging for Adam Theis’ Realistik Orchestra, and winning 1st place in the 2017 Jazz Search West competition. Dan just returned from Cali, Colombia, where he studied the traditional Marimba de Chonta and is working with musicians in the Bay that play Afro-Colombian music of the Pacific Coast.

Gabriel Case was discovered by the upright bass after many years of half-hearted guitar playing. Now the trustworthy pair are inseparable. Sometimes she even lets him have a night out with the electric bass guitar- but she knows it’s nothing like the real thing. Since completing the SF State Music program, Gabriel and his bass have continued learning on their journey together and love to perform with good friends (and sometimes family!) of the Bay Area.

Video of Ali Cuama performing with Bombo Negro at Petronio Alvarez festival (Cali, Colombia)

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