Biography - Notebooking

Biography
Here is a group that shares its folklore and its contagious enthusiasm!
La Chiva Gantiva mixes Cumbia rhythms with Afro beat and other less well known rhythms such as the «champeta», the
«chirimia» and the «mapalé». The story of this group starts with 3 percussionists getting together, all eager to feel closer to
their country of origin and its rich musical heritage.
Pushed by a desire to assert their roots and reproduce the Colombian folklore in the best possible way, as well as wanting to
break the image often painted by the media of «Latinos», La Chiva Gantiva uses traditional Caribbean instruments such as «the
tambura», «the alegre» and «maracones».
With every concert and cultural exchange, the group developed a desire to emphasise the afro colombian rhythms of yesteryear, whilst adding instruments like the bass guitar, the clarinet, the saxophone and other various modern musical trends.
The group’s influences are numerous: a Colombian influence (with the likes of Toto la Moposina, Lucho Bermudez and Petrona
Martinez), Latin music (Fania all stars, Irakere), African influence (such as Fela Kuti), Jazz (with Lionel Hampton), Funk (the
legendary James Brown) and Rock (Jimmy Hendrix and rage against the machine).
Since 2005, La Chiva Gantiva has played in the biggest festivals in Belgium, Holland and Germany. They have won their bet by
making the young and less young dance to their rhythms by offering sincere music and explosive and generous live
performances.
Musiciens:
Natalia Gantiva: tambora, tamburin, chekeré, maracon
Rafael Espinel: Lead vocals, alegre, maracon and drums
Tuan N’guyen: sax
Florian Doucet: clarinette and vocals
Felipe Deckers: guitar and tiple
Seppe Van Hulle: bass
Martin Méreau: trumpet, drums and Marimba
R Espinel : Our music was born from that folklore, but we are
working to make our own music. That’s why we look for moderm rythms like salsa or funk. Since then, we are constantly
evolving, because we are permanently searching.
Finally we are acquiring our own sound, which represents
each member of the band.
J Martinez : we belong to a big wave happening in Colombia.
A new tendency that mixes urban music with traditionnal
rythms. Folklore is in our origins, but we are an urban band.
And we recognize ourselves in rock.
B Tollet : What is a Chiva Gantiva ?
J Martinez : The « Chivas » are traditionnal buses in
Colombia, full of passengers, their kids, baggages, and farm
animals !
This is our own bus, with our rustic musical luggage.
LA CHIVA GANTIVA « A fiesta in a bus »
La Chiva Gantiva, is an hour an a half of « fiesta latina ».
This young musicians, originary from Colombia, Chile and Belgium will make you dance with several afro-colombian rythms.
The band mixes cumbia, salsa, and other less known
rythms as champeta, chirimia, or sanjuanero. Wind
section, good funky feeling, and Rock ‘n Roll attitude is the secret for their inexhaustable energy.
La Chiva Gantiva was formed by three colombian percussionists : Natalia Gantiva plays the tambora, Rafael Espinel alegre and drums, and Juan Martinez llamador and maracas.
« These instruments are the basis of afro-colombian folklore. We are adapting our traditionnal music and making
modern folklore » explains Rafael, frontman of the group.
B Tollet : Your music in based in afro-colombian percussions…
R Espinel :We began playing afro-colombian folklore. Making
covers of traditionnal songs that we know since we were kids.
J Martinez : Our music comes principally from the Carabians.
This is festive folklore, very strong and inspiring.
B Tollet. But now your music has evolved, it’s modern, no ?
La Chiva Gantiva is the bus of Natalia Gantiva, who has
crossed many miles to pick up her musiciens. Florian (clarinette) is from Bretagne, France ; Tuan N’guyen (sax) is from
Vietnam, Felipe Deckers (guitars and tiple) is half belgian
half colombian, Seppe Van Hulle (bass) is belgian. They all
joined la Chiva with one common purpose : to have fun while
playing music and making people dance.
All the musicians live in Brussels, capital of Europe, where
you can find different cultures from all around the world.
La Chiva is one of Brussels band that shakes the world
music scene in the city. Rafael, Juan and Natalia came
to Brussels in 2003, willing to make something new. « We
like Brussels because it’s a very wellcoming city » explains
juan. Thrue, Brussels has many groups from different
countrys. Latino music is well represented, but not afrocolombian music. This is la Chiva Gantiva’s contribution.
The afro-colombian rythms are mixed with different melodies and original compositions of the band.
Modern
folklore,
if
you
like.
Benjamin Tollet , journalist for « musiques du monde » in Agenda (Brussel Deze Week) and Mixed Magazine (Nederlands)
Musiciens:
Natalia Gantiva: tambora, tamburin, chekeré
Rafael Espinel: Lead vocals, alegre and drums
Tuan N’guyen: sax
Florian Doucet: clarinette and vocals
Felipe Deckers: guitar and tiple
Seppe Van Hulle: bass
Martin Méreau: trumpet, drums and Marimba
concerts 2010
Palais des Beaux Arts/ BOZAR
Museum Nigth Fever
Sam 6 mars à 22.00
Bruxelles/Belgique
Théâtre de Poche
dim., 4 juillet à 04:30
1a Chemin du gymnase
1000 Bruxelles/ Belgique
La Tounuit des grands ducs
Sam 17 avr à 20.00
Comines-Warmeton/Belgique
Vijverfestival
sam., 10 juillet à 20:00
Park Dilbeek,
Dilbeek / Belgique
Noord Zuid Bevrijdings Festival
Mer 5 mai à 18.30
Den Bosc/ Holland
Bevrijdings Festival
Mer 5 mai à 22.30
Wageningen/ Holland
Boutik Rock - Atelier 210
Ven 7 mai à 00.00
Bruxelles/ Belgique
Fest-Fusion
Sam 8 mai à 22.00
Hamburg/ Allemagne
Sfinks Mundial,
Jeudi 13 mai à 19 :30
Hasselt, Belgique
Karneval der Kulturen
dim., 23 mai à 20:30
Berlin/ Allemagne
Sound de la cuadra festival
lun., 24 mai à 02:00
Stella hangar 49,
Berlin/ Allemagne
Fête de la musique, Anderlecht
sam., 19 juin à 20:00
Place de La Vaillance 1070,
Bruxelles/ Belgique
Festival Couleur Café
sam., 26 juin à 16:00
av. du Port 86 1000
Bruxelles/ Belgique
kasteeltuin concerten
ven., 13 août à 21:30
Helmond/ Holand
Festival FIER MONDE
sam., 21 août à 21:00
Centre de réfugiés Fedasil,
Florennes/ Belgique
Ferme du Harby
sam., 11 septembre à 22:00
Anseroeul, wallonie/ Belgique
Mekitburn festival
sam., 25 septembre à 22:30
Vilvoorde/ Belgique
Beursschouwburg
sam., 9 octobre à 19:30
Ortsstraat 20 - 28 1000
Bruxelles/ Belgique
KultuurKaffee
jeu., 28 octobre à 20:00
Gebouw Y’ Campus Etterbeek
Vrije Universiteit Plein laan 2
1050 Bruxelles/ Belgique
Colombiage festival
Sam, 20 novembre à 22.00
London/ England
Colores Latinos festival
sam, 4 decembre à 21.30
Lille/ France
Discography:
«APRETAO» EP 2009 (5 songs) - Belgium
- New album
Recorded and mixed by Richard Blair,
available in April 2011