History of Rumba Catalana
14. Catalan Rumba Today
Catalan Rumba Today
From Catalonia to down under, the new Gipsy rumba scene, mainly focused on the mixing of genres, is thriving
Influenced by the New Flamenco (see Kiko Veneno, Pata Negra, Mártires del Compás), Catalan groups such as Muchachito Bombo Infierno, La Troba Kung-fú, created by the prolific Joan Garriga, founder of Dusminguet, La Pegatina, Bongo Botrako, Txarango, La Familia Rústika, Tirando Sillas, or La Banda del Panda stand out for the originality of their work. A few traditional artists remain, like Micu.and Arrels de Gràcia, led by the excellent Jonatan Jiménez.
Similarly, other recent artists have taken up the influences of rumba, but with a more pop vision. Oscar Casañas or El Chinchilla are fine examples.
We can also find high quality Madrid bands that evolve in the current rumba scene: this is the case of Canteca de Macao, Alpargata or Antonio el Turuta. Already mentioned, El Coleta, a major figure of the Madrid rap scene, impregnated with rumba and cinema Quinqui, at ease in all registers, here, here and there. Let’s also mention the hip hop rumba gitano of La Excepcion & Antonio Carmona.
From around the world, let’s mention the excellent musicians of the Australian group from Melbourne La Rumba, very popular down under, with a repertoire inspired by the Gipsy Kings. Its founder, Michael Rajab,, of Lebanese origin, sometimes sings beautiful rumbas in Arabic.
“La Moto”
“Porompompero”, in arabic !
IN THE NEXT CHAPTER :
Nowadays traditional Catalan rumba artists in Barcelona are finding it hard to get regular concert gigs. Those who are not gathered in the evangelical cult, singing for God, mainly work for a strictly Gypsy public and market, which is limited to the circuit of weddings and juergas.To reach a larger audience, they have to rely on private events and the tourism industry to live their passion. As a result it has become next to to impossible for Barcelonans to see them live.
