Caminos de Ida y Vuelta is a gathering.
It is a meeting of music,
where we are united by music.
It is an experience that has so much value
for our students
and for the featured artists
opening doors for new collaborations.
It all started at a meeting where many of us thought Berklee needed to say
Hello, Colombia
Hello, Latin America!
All of this started
with many nights spent transcribing music.
I took care of the transcriptions,
writing the charts, scores, etc.
When we arrived in Colombia
we were already well prepared.
The musicians from the Berklee band are mostly from Latin America.
Zahili González is a wonderful pianist from Cuba
who I worked with a lot in Boston.
Isaac Matus is a Colombian percussionist.
Our other percussionist from Japan sounds like he's from Cuba.
He plays Latin Music incredibly well.
Takafumi Nikaido
We have a fantastic recent grad from Colombia as a background vocalist, Felipe González Abad Navales.
Nacho González is a guitarist from Uruguay.
Orlando Retana
and Urián Sarmiento are on drums.
Nella from Venezuela and Tonina from the US on vocals.
We have a very powerful band,
that is very balanced. It's like an All Stars band of Berklee musicians.
When it was decided that Colombia would be the place to host this concert,
we started thinking about the different regions in the country
and how the music would be represented.
We made a first selection which included
Monsieur Periné
Totó la Momposina, who had already visited Berklee
and worked with students,
Chabuco, whose voice carries the sound of traditional Vallenato.
We also invited Carlos Vives
and he suggested we add more regions to this musical map.
So, we invited Cholo Valderrama with his music from the Colombian plains (llanuras).
Herencia de Timbiquí with his influence from the Pacific
We also felt the piano should be represented
through the music of someone who performs Andean music
and that is how Francy Montalvo became part of the project.
For me, it was inevitable to be here
as a singer songwriter. I felt very happy to be accompanied by the Berklee band
especially by Esther Rojas who is such an excellent musical director.
It was an easy and natural encounter.
I am sure that someone outside of the production team
could not tell the difference between the Berklee musicians and invited artists.
The vibe of this ensemble with these Colombian musicians,
these artists,
these masters,
was wonderful.
They wanted to mentor, but also learn.
It was a memorable musical experience.
This project exemplifies the diversity of Colombian music.
All of the artists involved in this project have been enriched
by that diversity, and we fight for its survival.
For me it is a joy and a great satisfaction.
I am honored to share the stage with such great musicians.
Colombian music has been very special for the world.
It is amazing that musicians from other parts of the world
come to Colombia, to work on that music, get to know it and re-discover it.
Good evening,
tonight
is a great night for Colombian music!
In Colombia, 365 indigenous ethnicities existed.
So, what is the result of this?
There is great musical richness,
rich jungles,
many rivers,
many climates,
and a lot of love.
Great Colombia
I am not from Cartagena
Popayan or Panama
neither from the valley or Magdalena
or Bogotá.
Such a small land
doesn't fill my heart
I need a large homeland
I am from the nation
José Rafael Po
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