Founded
in 1990, it has taken part in the fandangos and festivities of the
region and, recently, it has focused its musical work en the interpretation
and composition of new sones. The group has been dedicated to the diffusion
and teaching of the traditions of the fandango through workshops of traditional
music and zapateado (a form of tap dancing), writing of verses and the
construction of instruments at the cultural centers in the region, especially
with children.
Chuchumbé
group is also concerned with the investigation of the sonorous and aesthetic
possibilities of the instruments of the son Jarocho, looking to expand
both construction and interpretation techniques. With Chuchumbé
is work, as well as with that of other groups, and with the support of
cultural promoter, researchers and civilian groups, it has been possible
to keep alive one of the most important traditions in Veracruz, as well
as in the country.
Besides
taking part in most of the festivities and reunions of traditional son
in the south of Veracruz, Chuchumbé has given presentations on various
occasions throughout the country, in cities such as Monterrey, Tampico,
Matamoros, San Luis PotosÌ, Cancun, San Miguel de Allende, Juchitán,
San Cristóbal and Mexico City, among others.
They
have taken part in musical exchanges with: Un solo pueblo from Venezuela,
The Cassidys from Ireland, Vieux Diop and Kouyate from Senegal.
The group has organized five traditional Jarocho son festivals, in which, besides offering conferences and conventions of sonero musicians, they gathered many groups of traditional music. They have collaborated in the edition of six issues of the Son del Sur magazine, which promotes the history and cultural roots of the region.
On an international level, the group has given concerts at the Lisner Auditorium at Washington University, at the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco. They have also taken part in festivals such as: the Historical Center Festival of Mexico City; the Caribbean Festival, in Veracruz; the Ibero-American Theater Festival, in Bogotá; the Caribbean Festival, in Cancún; the Latin American Harp Encounter, in Caracas, Venezuela, and at the same Encounter, two years later, in Mexico City. This year the group was invited to participate in the International Cervantine Festival. On top of that, they were representing Mexico, giving concerts in Hanover, Germany, during the Expo 2000.
Its members have participated in various recordings such as Sones campesinos de la región de los Tuxtlas (Peasant Sones of the Tuxtla Regions), Los Utrera (The Utreras), Son pa´ los amigos (Son for friends), Zacamandú (Zacamandú), and Las voces del cedro (Voices from the Cedar), and Monstruos (Monster), this latter with the Mexican rock group La Maldita Vecindad. In February of 1999, they collaborated, along with other groups from Latin America, in editing a disc in honor of Simón BolÌvar
In July of 1999, Chuchumbé presented its first record ¡Caramba, niño! at the Center for Folk Cultures in Mexico City, in which they include their own versions of traditional sones, old sones (with a strong African accent), worked and recreated by the group, and sones written by the group itself.
The group also has as its objective to establish exchange relations with similar cultural processes and with groups and musicians with similar interests.
We believe that the presence and development of traditional cultural manifestations are the basis for the identity of the people and a space for multicultural interaction.
E-MAIL: chuchumbe@yahoo.com
WEB SITE: www.angelfire.com/nv/chuchumbeson