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Biography: Ojos de Brujo
2006. Barcelona. The children of the street rumba and polyglot flamenco
celebrate the freedom and sensuality of music and the wealth of contagious
rhythm. This is the catharsis of flamenco and the joy of sonic experimentation:
nomadic, racially-mixed music crossing the streets of cities of the world like a
ship full of lunatics, communicating, creating, and celebrating. Techarí is the
chemistry that flows in its concerts, Techarí is an attitude you put forth into
the world, Techarí is alive in the smallest of details. In Caló, the gypsy
language, Techarí means "Free." Wherever in the world they find themselves, they
follow their own road.
The journey of Ojos de Brujo (ODB) started well before they began to know
one other. In the depths of their previous experiences. In their fascination
with the rhythmical treasures of the planet and the languages of flamenco. With
a constant experimental curiosity and the need to reach out to and encounter
other artists.
In 1999, the group recorded its first album, 'Vengue' (another gypsy word
for the energy that flows through life). It was a homemade production that
captured the attention of critics and the public alike, and news of the band's
performances spread rapidly. It was also the beginning of a period of
independent production for ODB, after which they would begin to publish their
own work. Going against conventional industry wisdom, they created their own
structure and team for promotion, production, and recording of all future
material.
The adventure that started in September of 2002 with the release of their
second album, ''Barí' ("joy" or "virtual essence" in Caló) was the band's next
step. Now, without industry pressure, they were free to take a new direction.
They presented 'Barí' to enthusiastic fans across the globe between 2002 and
2005, through several tours in Latin America and the U.S., playing in the most
important jazz, rock, and world music festivals such as Glastonbury, Rosklide,
Summerstage NY Central Park, Lowlands, Montreal Jazz... Japan, Colombia,
Morocco, Cuba, Mexico, Hungary, France, and Germany.
It is during this time that an encounter with the Senegalese group Daara J
came about, along with Martirio's infinite celebration till the dawn and the
beatbox antics of Maxwell Wright steering tanguillo rhythms; the vitality of
Cuban pianist Roberto Carcasses and the magical world of Nitin Sawney, whose
recent release featured guest Brujos; the majestic guitar work of Pepe
Habicheula, the contagious energy of the Asian Dub Foundation; the lucidity of
Raúl Rodrígues. Tambores beating out bulerías and so funky, so much funkier than
Catalan rumba!
The vital enthusiasm of ODB has always gone well beyond music. A hive of
artistic activity in which phographers, graffiti artists, visual entertainers,
illustrators, programmers and producers collaborate and participate. Artists
from all over the world play in and deepen the group's ideas, collected in the
extra disc that the group is including in its new release, "Techarí."
A lovingly and luminously designed album, Techarí is alive with the colors,
flavors, and textures that arise while exploring the group's visual world. They
decided to publish it in both a standard edition as well as a deluxe booklet
featuring artists' interpretations of each song.
Currently, they are getting ready to embark on the Techarí World Tour and
are already gathering material for their next album. It is a voyage that has
only just begun, set to continue into parts unknown...
Contributed by: Ojos de Brujo
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