THE MUSIC OF THE MBYÁ GUARANÍ Part I: Luthiers of the Forest

Multimedia story and video.
Once a nomadic forest people, the Mbyá Guaraní of northern Argentina were forced to settle onto Jesuit “reductions” during the 17’th century to escape the slave trade. There they were introduced not only to Christianity, but to Western music and instruments from the Baroque period. As gifted craftspeople and musicians, the Guaraní quickly learned how to play and build their own instruments. When the Jesuits were eventually expelled from the continent, the Guaraní returned to the forest with their new instruments, songs and culture in tow.
Keruchu’i Jochuka’i

An initial video of music by the Mbyá Guarani of Misiones province in northern Argentina.
Site Under Renovation…
I’m currently renovating the website…please bear with me for a bit… Jason
Escape from the City

At times we all need an escape from the madness of the city, and Buenos Aires has plenty of madness. Fortunately, the good folks at Urbanbiking.com provide a way out…at least for a day. Train + bike + kayak = 8 hours of fresh air and adventure in the Tigre delta. Here are a few […]
I can’t help it, I love this desert shot

I just came across this shot of the Kelso dunes in the Mojave National Preserve. I spent the night in my van more or less where the photo was taken (one of my favorite camp sites) after driving 14 hours or so from Jay Maisel’s workshop in Santa Fe, NM. There’s something about the balance […]
La Clave Genetica @ Uni-Club

¡Baile Salsa! Sunday night Salsa dance party at a local club here in Buenos Aires. To get your groove on, check out the band’s website: http://www.elsonar.com.ar/laclavegenetica These guys rock. Baile!
Critical Mass in Bueno Aires, November 09

Bicycles are a growing trend in Buenos Aires and other major cities in Argentina where cars and smog tend to dominate the urban environment. The first of every month, however, cyclists gather at the foot of BA’s most prominent landmark, El Obelisco, to take back the streets. For more information, visit http://www.masacriticabsas.com.ar/ Here are a […]
Photos – SUNSET Season Opener 2009

Here are a few shots from the SUNSET season opener party at Stafford Lake. As always, I’m experimenting with new things…will try and put together an audio slideshow, time permitting. Meanwhile, the appropriate beats can be found at www.pacificsound.net and http://www.davidharness.com/.