Cumbia is the hottest Afro-Colombian musical hybrid and Maguaré is undoubtedly the ambassador of the genre in Europe. This explosive big band fronted by Paola Marquez brings the 60s dancehall cumbia back to life. With cumbia big band Maguaré, jazz singer Paola Marquez is rediscovering her Colombian roots in the electrifying dance rhythms of the cumbia. Throughout the years, this genre has influenced Latin-American music, and is now conquering the rest of the world (check the recent releases on Soundway Records,…).

Maguaré was founded in 2009 as a latin big band, focussing on traditional percussion, a strapping brass section, and a repertoire of cumbia and other Afro- Colombian rhythms. Maguaré interprets the Afro-Colombian music in a very unique way. With respect for the tradition they add elements from big band jazz, avant garde and even hiphop. Maguaré recorded a first album in 2012 with no less than 8 own compositions. Next to those 8 tracks, the group arranges two Belgian cultclassics such as Jungle Fever (originally by Belgian 70’s Latinband Chakachas), which was released on a 45RPM vinyl single as well, and Dominique, by the late Soeur Sourire. The CD Cumbia Insomnia is mixed in Colombia by Mario Galeano (Frente Cumbiero, Ondatropica) and Eblis Alvarez (Meridian Brothers), is mastered by Frankie Francis (Sofrito) and will be released in Europe in the summer of 2013 on Zephyrus Records.