Laru Beya
Aurelio
One of the most extraordinary and passionate Central American artists of his generation, Aurelio Martinez is a major tradition-bearer of the threatened Garifuna culture that fuses African and Caribbean-Indian roots. Hailing from a small community in Honduras, he is recognised for his preservation and modernization of this musical tradition with his distinctive, powerfully evocative vocals and his talent as a composer, guitarist and percussionist.
Aurelio's soulful blend of Latin, Caribbean and African roots music tells stories of the Garifuna people, and at the heart of every song beats a traditional rhythm. Fittingly, the album was recorded in a beachfront studio in a small fishing village, where they were often joined by local singers and dancers, like the chorus of village women who stopped by to add their voices to the title track, Laru Beya.
Aurelio travelled to Senegal and worked closely with both Youssou N'Dour and Orchestra Baobab for this album and they appear as guests on a number of tracks.
Laru Beya will be available on Real World from 14th February 2011.
